title: California meth trafficker sentenced to more than eight years in prison

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: BILLINGS — A man who admitted to bringing pounds of methamphetamine to the Billings area community for distribution was sentenced today to eight years and six months years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Alex Valladares, 25, of Fresno, California, pleaded guilty in September 2022 to possession with intent to distribute meth. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. In court documents, the government alleged that between July 2021 and March 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives learned that Valladares was a source of supply for meth in Billings area and acted as a go between for local Montana distributors and larger suppliers in Mexico. Valladares also was identified as being the supplier of approximately 5.8 pounds of meth seized in a March 2021 traffic stop. The government alleged that Valladares was bringing large quantities of meth to Montana as part of a larger criminal conspiracy, and Valladares described receiving pound quantities for distribution. In addition, the government alleged Valladares possessed firearms and described transporting guns to California to eventually make their way to Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas K. Godfrey prosecuted the case. The Drug Enforcement Administration and ATF conducted the investigation. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. XXX


title: Florida Woman Sentenced To 40 Years For Producing Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Brooke Sparks (38, St. Petersburg) to 40 years in federal prison for producing child sex abuse material. The court also ordered Sparks to serve 15 years of supervised release after her prison term and to register as a sex offender for life. Sparks had pleaded guilty on January 30, 2023. According to court documents, in April 2021, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) received a tip from the Australian Federal Police and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that Sparks was sharing child sexual abuse material via Facebook. A federal search warrant was executed on Sparks’s home on April 28, 2021, and investigators discovered text messages between Sparks and an Australian man discussing sexually abusing a three-year-old child. Sparks’s cellphone also revealed that Sparks had produced videos of child sexual abuse material of a nine-year-old child and shared them with the Australian man. The investigation further revealed that Sparks had used multiple platforms to send and receive images and videos of child sexual abuse material. “The internet and social media have made it easier for predators to exploit children and disseminate their abuse around the world,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kristopher Pagitt. “Thanks to the support of the Australian Federal Police and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, we were able to stop her from continuing to create and share child sexual abuse material.” This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa, with substantial assistance from St. Petersburg Police Department and the Australian Federal Police. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin Claire Favorit. This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Essex County Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Possessing Two Loaded Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, man was sentenced to 120 months in prison for drug trafficking and firearms possession in furtherance of drug trafficking, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Tyree Thomas, aka “Hellboy,” 29, of Irvington, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton to nine counts of an indictment charging him with drug distribution, possessing drugs with the intent to distribute, and possessing two firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. Judge Wigenton imposed the sentence on May 24, 2023, in Newark federal court. According to documents in this case and statements made in court: From May 1, 2019, to Aug. 21, 2019, Thomas sold Phencyclidine (PCP) to an undercover law enforcement agent on multiple occasions. He also maintained an apartment in Orange, New Jersey, as a location where he stored the PCP that he was distributing. Thomas kept two loaded firearms as this location to protect the drugs and drug proceeds he had at the apartment. In addition to the prison term, Judge Wigenton sentenced Thomas to five years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller; members of the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan; and the New Jersey Department of Corrections, under the direction of Commissioner Victoria L. Kuhn, with the investigation leading to the sentence. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Olta Bejleri and Megan Linares of the Organized Crime/Gangs Unit in Newark.


title: Businessman Charged with Conspiring to Own Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A businessman and former resident of Utah has been charged with illegally operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Christopher James Scanlon, 43, originally from Utah and now residing in the United Kingdom, is charged by complaint with one count of conspiring to control and own an unlicensed money transmitting business. Scanlon was arrested at Miami International Airport today and is expected to have his initial appearance in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on Friday. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Scanlon was the president, chief executive officer, and founder of the brands Aurae Lifestyle and Club Swann. From as early as 2015 through 2019, Scanlon controlled a series of legal entities – PMA Media Group Inc.; AU Card LLC; AU Card Ltd., and Nvayo Ltd., (collectively, the “AU Entities”) – that he operated as a money transmitting business to provide fiat and cryptocurrency financial services to customers of Aurae Lifestyle. Scanlon served as a customer service representative for several high-net-worth Aurae Lifestyle customers. He often communicated with customers about financial transactions using encrypted messaging applications and directed the AU Entities to conduct financial transactions for customers through U.S.-based banks and cryptocurrency companies. Scanlon operated Aurae Lifestyle during this time without appropriately registering as a money transmitting business with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCen), a bureau of the U.S. Treasury Department. The conspiracy count carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the pecuniary gain to the defendant or loss to the victims, whichever is greatest. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of IRS - Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins, and special agents of the U.S. Attorney’s office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Thomas Mahoney, with the investigation leading to the charges. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jamie Hoxie Solano and Sophie E. Reiter of the Cybercrime Unit in Newark. The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. scanlon.complaint.pdf


title: Bridge City Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Machine Gun and Obstruction of Justice

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that RENE LADMIRAULT , age 21, a resident of Bridge City, Louisiana, pled guilty to a two-count federal indictment . In Count 1, LADMIRAULT was charged with Possession of a Machine Gun, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(o)(1) and 924(a)(2). For this charge, LADMIRAULT faces a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a period of supervised release of up to 3 years. In Count 2, LADMIRAULT was charged with Obstruction of Justice, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(1). For this charge, LADMIRAULT faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a period of supervised release of up to 3 years. For each count, LADMIRAULT faces payment of a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. According to court records, beginning in January 2022, the Federal Bureau of Investigation New Orleans Violent Crime Task Force (“FBI NOVCTF”) and the New Orleans Police Department Violent Crime Abatement Investigation Team (“NOPD VCAIT”) initiated an investigation into the proliferation of machine gun conversion devices. These devices are commonly referred to as “Glock switches” or “auto sears.” Law enforcement officers initially identified LADMIRAULT as a manufacturer of machine gun conversion devices in February 2022 through the execution of a search warrant of LADMIRAULT ’s Instagram account. While reviewing LADMIRAULT ’s account, officers located numerous text messages referencing the sale of the machine gun conversion devices. On August 10, 2022, a federal search warrant was executed at LADMIRAULT ’s residence. LADMIRAULT was inside the residence when FBI agents arrived and, in response, LADMIRAULT flushed a conversion device down the toilet to conceal the device from the FBI. During the search, agents located , a vertical CNC milling machine, and a box containing two black pieces of plastic, items believed to be used in the manufacturing of machine gun conversion devices. LADMIRAULT admitted to manufacturing 3D printed machine gun conversion devices, which he sold for approximately $100.00. LADMIRAULT also admitted to having manufactured the broken conversion device located inside of his residence. United States District Judge, Carl J. Barbier, will sentence LADMIRAULT on September 14, 2023. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brittany Reed of the Public Integrity Unit.


title: Parkersburg Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Robert Anthony Thomas, 46, of Parkersburg, pleaded guilty today to distribution and attempted distribution of child pornography. According to court documents and statements made in court, from about June 1, 2020, through about August 23, 2022, Thomas made over 105,000 digital media files of child pornography available to others by using a peer-to-peer file sharing program. Thomas admitted that he knew the digital media files contained child pornography and would be downloaded by others. Thomas further admitted that the digital media files included a video file of a prepubescent female engaged in sexually explicit conduct. On August 23, 2022, Thomas possessed more than 100 images and 14 videos on his laptop and external hard drive depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Thomas admitted that many of these images and videos depict prepubescent minors, including infants and toddlers. Thomas further admitted that several of the images and videos depict known child victims. Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced on August 30, 2023, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison, five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Thomas must also register as a sex offender. 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). Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Julie M. White is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . 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-70. ###


title: Fentanyl Dealer who Threatened Law Enforcement Officer Sentenced to More than 12 Years Imprisonment

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: NEW BERN, N.C. – A fentanyl trafficker who threatened a Wilson Police Department officer was sentenced to more than 12 years imprisonment. Michael Jarrell Chapman, age 40, pleaded guilty on February 14, 2022 to Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Quantities of Heroin, Fentanyl, and Cocaine Base (Crack) (Count One), and Distribution of Quantities of Heroin and Fentanyl (Count Two). “Fentanyl is a deadly drug that is killing thousands of people,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “We are proud to partner with the Wilson Police Department to investigate and prosecute those pushing deadly fentanyl into our communities. And our office will always prioritize cases against those who threaten violence against the brave men and women of law enforcement who serve and protect us.” On December 30, 2020, a traffic stop was conducted, and Chapman was found in possession of 91 bindles of fentanyl and more than $1,300 in currency. During the course of this investigation, Chapman placed a call to his state probation officer and indicated that he was going to find the detective who investigated him. Chapman then indicated that he was going to get the detective—either outside the courtroom or inside the courtroom. According to court records and evidence presented in court, members of the Wilson Police Department learned that Chapman was distributing various controlled substances in the Wilson area. Officers conducted controlled purchases of fentanyl, cocaine base (crack), and heroin from Chapman on several dates in 2020. At sentencing, Judge Flanagan determined that Chapman was a Career Offender due to his history of prior drug trafficking convictions. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan issued the sentence on May 24, 2023. The Wilson Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Lemmon prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on our website . Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No.5:21-CR-257-FL-1.


title: Chinese National Arrested in Federal Case Alleging Massive Scheme that Shipped Millions of Packages with Counterfeit Postage

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – An Inland Empire resident is expected to be arraigned this afternoon on federal charges alleging the use of counterfeit postage to ship millions of parcels as part of a fraudulent scheme that caused the United States Postal Service (USPS) to suffer losses over the past six months estimated to be more than $60 million. Lijuan “Angela” Chen, 50, of Walnut, was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon by inspectors with the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and IRS Criminal Investigation. The criminal complaint filed May 22 charges Chen with two counts: conspiracy to defraud the United States, and possession and use of counterfeit postage. “The evidence obtained in the investigation shows that Chen is operating a business which provides shipping and postage services to businesses, including e-commerce vendors operating out of China, that seek discounted USPS rates for mailing their products within the United States,” according to the affidavit in support of the complaint. “Multiple examinations conducted by USPS and USPIS staff have revealed that the vast majority of the postage used by Chen and her business to ship goods within the United States is counterfeit.” Chen’s business, which is based in City of Industry, received parcels from the vendors and others, applied shipping labels showing postage purportedly paid, and then arranged for the parcels to be transferred to USPS facilities to be shipped across the nation. The investigation in this case has revealed that the shipping labels were fraudulent and that they included, among other red flags, “intelligent barcode data” from previously mailed items. Investigators also determined that the meter numbers on many of the shipping labels, all of which indicated that they had been purchased and printed in 2023, related to postage meters known to have been discontinued in 2020, according to the complaint. On yet other postage labels used by Chen’s business, information contained in the tracking barcode was inconsistent with other items of information on the label. A USPS analyst estimates that between November 1, 2022, and April 30, 2023, Chen and her employees shipped over 9 million mail parcels containing counterfeit postage, resulting in estimated revenue losses to the USPS of over $60 million, the complaint states. Chen’s shipping business was previously operated by her husband, who left for China two days after being interviewed by Postal inspectors in November 2019, according to the complaint. A complaint contains allegations that a defendant committed a crime. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The two charges in the complaint each carry a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. The United States Postal Inspection Service and IRS Criminal Investigation are conducting the investigation in this matter. Assistant United States Attorney James C. Hughes of the Major Frauds Section is prosecuting this case.


title: Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Traffic Kilograms of Fentanyl

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Mexican man pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring to distribute kilograms of fentanyl bound for Massachusetts from California. Ricardo Peinado Rivera, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Aug. 29, 2023. Peinado Rivera was arrested and charged in May 2022. In September 2021, law enforcement received information about a person living in the Dominican Republic trafficking fentanyl within the United States. Undercover law enforcement contacted the individual, who offered to sell fentanyl that would be delivered in California and then driven to Boston. In November 2021, Peinado Rivera was intercepted delivering the fentanyl in Ontario, Calif. The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 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 Field Division made the announcement today. Special assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Los Angeles Field Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Feldman of Levy’s Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: Sioux City, Iowa Man Found Guilty of Being a Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man with a history of felony convictions was convicted by a jury on May 24, 2023, after a two-day trial in federal court in Sioux City. Jerell Wilson, age 30, of Sioux City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of felon in possession of a firearm. The verdict was returned Wednesday afternoon following about two hours of jury deliberations. The evidence at trial revealed that while Sioux City Police were investigating an unrelated crime, it was learned through witness and video surveillance that Wilson had been at the crime scene prior to, and after, the crime with a Coach backpack containing multiple firearms. Armed with this information, on June 23, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Wilson’s home, where a loaded gun – with a round in the chamber -- was found in his bed, along with the Coach bag and ammunition for multiple guns that were not found in the search. Wilson refused to attend his own trial. Wilson has previously been convicted of possession of a defaced firearm, 1 st degree theft and eluding resulting in death and homicide by vehicle. Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Wilson remains in custody of the United States Marshal. Wilson faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 5 years of supervised release following any imprisonment. The case was investigated by the Sioux City, Iowa Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 22-CR-04061. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Mexican National Sentenced to 9 years for Smuggling Firearms into Mexico from the United States

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), announced today that Jesus Barron was sentenced to 115 months in prison. Barron, 35, of Deming, pleaded guilty on Sept. 29, 2022, to one count of conspiracy, six counts of making a false statement in the acquisition of a firearm, and one count of smuggling goods from the United States. Upon his release from prison, Barron will be subject to deportation. According to the plea agreement and other court records, from January of 2021 to June of 2021, Barron paid his wife, Ana Barron, and their co-defendants, Victor Fierro-Caro, Mayra Madrid, Jose Orona, and Gloria Ramirez, to purchase firearms with the intention of smuggling them into Mexico from the United States. On June 7, 2021, seven of those firearms were seized from a Mexican national by Guardia Nacional (GN) officers operating a checkpoint in Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico. Based on their knowledge, the GN officers believed that the firearms were destined for Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion members in Zacatecas. Mexican Cartels prefer certain makes, models, and calibers of firearms. These "weapons of choice" are generally semi-automatic versions of military type rifles and pistols, which was consistent with the guns seized by GN officers. During the subsequent investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), it was determined that the seven firearms seized by GN officers had been purchased by Ana Barron and two others. ATF special agents interviewed the two other individuals who advised the agents that they and several others had been paid by Barron to purchase the guns from a Federal Firearms Licensee and that they knew the firearms would be smuggled to Mexico. During an interview with special agents from the ATF, Barron admitted to overseeing a firearm trafficking network in the United States. Ana Baron pleaded guilty on March 21, 2022, to one count of conspiracy, three counts of making false statements in acquisition of firearms, and two counts of unlawful disposal of firearms to a prohibited person and was sentenced on Sept. 21, 2022. Mayra Madrid pleaded guilty on Feb. 7, 2022, to one count each of conspiracy and making false statements in acquisition of firearms and was sentenced on May 23, 2022. Gloria Ramirez pleaded guilty on April 26, 2022, to one count of conspiracy and two counts of making false statements in acquisition of firearms and was sentenced on Sept. 26, 2022. Victor Fierro-Caro pleaded guilty on May 11, 2022, to one count of conspiracy, three counts of making false statements in acquisition of firearms, and three counts of unlawful dealing in firearms and was sentenced on April 5, 2023. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Ry Ellison and Maria Y. Armijo prosecuted the case. # # # 23-112


title: Onslow County Drug Dealer Who Supplied Prostitutes in his Home Sentenced to More than Six Years in Prison

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – A Jacksonville man was sentenced today to 78 months in prison for his role in a drug conspiracy that involved the distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl from March 2019 through August 2021. On March 2, 2023, Roderick Wall, 49, pled guilty to drug conspiracy, distribution, and possession with the intent to distribute. “Fentanyl is the single deadliest drug that our nation has encountered, and it is killing far too many in Eastern North Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “This defendant openly sold drugs to pregnant women and prostitutes and dealt deadly narcotics in front of his minor children. We are proud to partner with the FBI and Onslow County Sheriff’s Office to put those pushing deadly drugs into our communities behind bars.” According to court documents and information presented in court, law enforcement initiated an investigation after receiving reports of illegal activity at Wall’s residence. The investigation revealed that Wall sold drugs, including heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine, for at least two and a half years. The investigation also revealed that Wall facilitated prostitution, including by posting online advertisements for sexual services and allowing females to engage in commercial sex out of his home, often while supplying them with drugs. Between April and August of 2021, agents conducted six controlled purchases of narcotics from Wall, at or near his home. In at least two of the purchases, Wall sold fentanyl to a female who was visibly pregnant, and even discussed the pregnancy with her during one of the transactions. Wall’s wife and two minor children lived in the home with him and were present during some of the drug transactions and when investigators executed a search warrant on August 18, 2021. The search recovered pills, over 28 grams of crystal methamphetamine, over 23 grams of fentanyl, a 9mm pistol with an obliterated serial number, two .22 caliber rifles, marijuana, more than $5,000, and a home surveillance system. The surveillance footage from inside the home depicted drug transactions, as well as another pregnant female injecting fentanyl supplied by Wall. A co-defendant in the case was previously sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan M. Stephany prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:22-cr-90-D.


title: New Britain Man Involved in Florida to Connecticut Gun Trafficking Scheme sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ERIC WOODIE, 32, of New Britain, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 66 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for trafficking and possessing firearms, and for distributing cocaine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 18, 2021, Woodie and Dominic Colon-Brown sold a .22 caliber firearm to an individual for $1,200. Woodie, Brown and Julian Judge then conspired to obtain stolen firearms in Florida and sell them in Connecticut. In late February 2021, Woodie rented a car, which Colon-Brown and Judge used to drive to Florida to obtain stolen firearms and bring them back to Connecticut. Woodie also provided Colon-Brown and Judge with cash to purchase firearms. Colon-Brown and Judge purchased three stolen handguns in Florida, transported them back to Connecticut, and provided them to Woodie. Woodie was arrested on March 8, 2021, after he ran from New Britain Police officers and discarded a .40 caliber handgun, equipped with a laser and loaded high capacity magazine, during the chase. The firearm was recovered and a search of Woodie’s person revealed five knotted plastic baggies containing cocaine, as well as $1,038 in cash. A subsequent search of Woodie’s residence revealed the three stolen handguns they acquired in Florida, two extended magazines, more than 100 rounds of ammunition, and an additional distribution quantity of cocaine. During the investigation, Woodie and his associates were captured in recorded conversations discussing the illegal acquisition and sale of firearms. Colon-Brown and Judge also posted photos of themselves on social media in possession of firearms. Woodie has been detained since his arrest. On March 2, 2023, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Colon-Brown, of Farmington, and Judge, of New Britain, each pleaded guilty to one count of transporting stolen firearms across state lines. On May 27, 2022, Judge was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment and ordered to pay a $3,000 fine. On August 22, 2022, Colon-Brown was sentenced to 12 months of imprisonment and ordered to pay a $2,200 fine. This investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, the New Britain Police Department, the Farmington Police Department, the West Hartford Police Department, and the Pasco County (Fla.) Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel M. Krull. This prosecution 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. In May 2021, the Justice Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: Fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Grand Jury Returns Indictment Against Zuni Man for Aggravated Sexual Abuse Against Children in Indian Country

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that a federal grand jury in the District of New Mexico returned an indictment charging Rodney Waikaniwa with multiple counts of aggravated sexual abuse against two victims in Indian Country. Waikaniwa, 51, and an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. According to the indictment, from 2000 to 2013, Waikaniwa allegedly engaged in sexual acts with two children under the age of 12. If convicted, the charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 30 years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment. The incidents of abuse occurred within the exterior boundaries of the Pueblo of Zuni. An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. Special Assistant United States Attorney Mark A. Probasco is prosecuting the case. If you have reason to believe you or your child may be a victim, or if you have information about this ongoing investigation, please call the FBI at (505) 889-1300 or submit their tips online at tips.fbi.gov . # # # 23-113


title: Illinois Man Admits Robbing Ferguson Bank with Note

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man from Illinois on Thursday admitted robbing a bank in Ferguson, Missouri in 2019. Milton Randol, 35, of Alton, pleaded guilty in front of U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp to a felony bank robbery charge. Randol admitted handing a note to a teller at Great Southern Bank in Ferguson on Dec. 13, 2019 that read, “Give me all the money[.] Don’t pull the silent alarm or I will shoot,” his plea agreement says. Randol then handed the teller a bag for the money. He told her not to set off the silent alarm, had her fill the bag then began stuffing money into his pockets before fleeing the bank. Randol’s picture was captured on camera , and friends identified him when the picture was circulated in the St. Louis media. But Randol had fled to Texas, where he lived for a year before returning to St. Louis, his plea says. Randol could face up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both at his August 29 sentencing. The Ferguson Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Dunkel is prosecuting the case.


title: Whitefish man charged with fraudulent voting

body_text: MISSOULA — A Whitefish man accused of fraudulently voting the ballot of another elector in the 2020 general election appeared for arraignment on criminal charges today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Donald Samuel Hill, 52, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with false information in voting and with fraudulent voting. If convicted of the most serious crime, Hill faces a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and one year of supervised release. U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. Hill was released pending further proceedings. “Our voting laws are in place to protect the right of every citizen to cast their ballot and to have that ballot counted. We are committed to enforcing those laws to ensure free and fair elections and will seek to hold accountable persons who attempt to violate them,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said. The indictment alleges that on Oct. 10, 2020 in Flathead County, Hill knowingly gave false information about his name, address and period of residence in the voting district for the purpose of voting in a general election. The indictment further alleges Hill knowingly and willfully defrauded the residents of Montana of a fair and impartially conducted election and that he allegedly completed and signed the ballot of another elector, identified as Person A, and submitted the ballot to the Flathead County Elections Office. Indictments are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John M. Newman and Timothy J. Racicot are prosecuting the case. The FBI conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 23-21. The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html . To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl XXX


title: Orange County Man Pleads Guilty to $1.2 Million Check Fraud Scheme He Promoted on Social Media

body_text: SANTA ANA, California – A convicted felon from Orange County who used social media to instruct his Instagram followers on how to defraud banks pleaded guilty today to conspiring with a bank employee and others to commit a check fraud scheme in which they sought $1.2 million. Meshach Samuels, 26, of Placentia, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and two counts of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. According to his plea agreement, from May 2021 to March 2022, Samuels urged his Instagram followers to join his Telegram chat groups, where – for a fee of up to thousands of dollars – he would provide instructions on how to recruit accomplices and commit check fraud to steal money from banks. Samuels and his accomplices would create fraudulent checks drawn on victim accounts, frequently using stolen information obtained from a bank teller and other sources. Samuels’ co-conspirators, aided and abetted by Samuels, would deposit the fraudulent checks into third-party accounts. Once the check amounts were credited to the third-party accounts, Samuels’ co-conspirators, aided and abetted by Samuels, fraudulently withdrew money in amounts below $10,000 to avoid triggering bank scrutiny. The corrupt bank teller was paid a portion of the cash the conspirators obtained from negotiating fraudulent checks. This check fraud scheme attempted to obtain at least approximately $1.2 million and caused actual losses of at least $400,000. Samuels also admitted in his plea agreement that he participated in a scheme to defraud the California Employment Development Department (EDD) through the submission of fraudulent applications for pandemic-related unemployment insurance that contained stolen identity information. Those fraudulent applications included information from individuals who resided outside California, were deceased, or who otherwise were not eligible for unemployment insurance. Members of the scheme provided EDD with a set of common mailing addresses they controlled for multiple applications. After EDD approved the fraudulent applications and disbursed the pandemic benefits to EDD debit accounts, Samuels and his co-schemers used the debit cards to withdraw cash at ATMs. In total, Samuels caused at least $14,250 in actual losses to EDD. In addition, Samuels, whose criminal history includes felony convictions in Florida for aggravated battery on a law enforcement official with an enhancement for attempted murder, admitted to unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition. Specifically, during an August 2021 traffic stop in Costa Mesa, police officers found a firearm and ammunition concealed on his person. In March 2022, federal agents searched Samuels’ residence and seized five firearms and ammunition. United States District Judge Cormac J. Carney scheduled an October 23, sentencing hearing, at which time Samuels will face a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for the bank fraud conspiracy count and up to 10 years’ imprisonment for each count of illegally possessing firearms and ammunition. In a related case, Sasha Lizette Jimenez, 26, Samuels’ former girlfriend, pleaded guilty on May 22 to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud for running the EDD fraud scheme in which Samuels participated. Jimenez, who was the bookkeeper for the conspiracy, caused the issuance of at least $2.8 million in fraudulent UI benefit debit cards – and at least $2.3 million was withdrawn from those debit cards. Judge Carney has scheduled an October 30 sentencing hearing for Jimenez. The investigation into this scheme was conducted by the Los Angeles El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, a multi-agency task force led by Homeland Security Investigations that includes federal and state investigators who are focused on financial crimes in Southern California. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration also participated in this investigation. The Costa Mesa Police Department, the Inglewood Police Department, the Placentia Police Department, the New York City Police Department, and the Miami Beach Police Department provided assistance. Assistant United States Attorneys Rachel N. Agress of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section, and David Y. Pi of the Major Frauds Section are prosecuting Samuels. AUSA Agress is prosecuting Jimenez.


title: Anchorage Man Guilty of Felon in Possession of Firearms

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE – A federal jury convicted an Anchorage man on May 23, 2023, on one count for being a felon in possession of firearms following a two day trial. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on January 16, 2019, Zachary Lawrence Torres, 35, of Anchorage, Alaska sold three firearms to a confidential source working for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Torres sold the three firearms for $1,100 to the ATF confidential source through a deal brokered by another convicted felon who pleaded guilty to the same charges in 2019. Torres is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law. Torres’ felony conviction is for a 2011 assault during which Torres and another individual instigated a street brawl outside of an Anchorage bar, leaving the victim with a fractured jaw and orbital socket. According to the evidence presented at trial, on January 16 Torres drove his Cadillac to a parking lot on Northern Lights Boulevard in Anchorage, Alaska. Before arriving, Torres told his partner, “All right, I am coming over. If anything happens, I’m shooting everybody.” Inside of his Cadillac, Torres possessed a Romarm/Cugir WASR-10 7.62x39mm semiautomatic rifle, a Legion Izhevsk Saiga 5.45x39mm semiautomatic rifle, and an AR-15-style .223 semiautomatic rifle with a 9-inch barrel and no serial number. Torres was indicted in August 2019 but remained at large until he was located and arrested in Arizona in December 2021. Senior U.S. District Judge Ralph Beistline, who presided over the trial, scheduled sentencing for September 13, 2023. Torres faces a potential sentence of 10 years imprisonment. He will be held in the custody of the U.S. Marshals pending sentencing. “Zachary Torres’ conviction should serve as a warning to felons who are considering illegally trafficking in dangerous weapons that their plans to endanger our community will fail,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska. “Our office and law enforcement partners are committed to protecting Alaskan communities from the threat of armed criminals.” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas C. Bradley and Ainsley McNerney prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted the investigation and controlled buy leading to the charges in this case.


title: Orange County Resident Sentenced To Over Four Years In Prison For Scheme To Defraud Multiple Victim Investors

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN JOSE – Jonathan Vu Hoang, aka Co Vu Hoang, was sentenced today to 49 months in prison in connection with a scheme to create a bogus investment company and defraud multiple victim-investors by falsely promising them he would invest their money, announced U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp. The sentence was handed down by the Hon. Edward J. Davila, United States District Judge. Hoang, 59, formerly of San Jose and residing more recently in Orange County, pleaded guilty to the charges on July 11, 2022. According to his plea agreement, Hoang admitted that beginning June of 2017, he devised and implemented a scheme by which he defrauded multiple investors of their money by promising to make investments that would yield significantly high returns. The scheme continued through May of 2019 by which time Hoang solicited over $1.6 million from his victims. Hoang admitted in his plea agreement that he told his victim-investors he was a wealthy and successful businessman and that he had access to special investment opportunities. Hoang created a bogus investment company called Dunamis Global Holdings, Ltd. and asked his victim-investors to sign Subscription Agreements with the company as a means of assuring the victims that he was making legitimate investments on their behalf. Hoang also established bank accounts and email accounts to create the appearance of a legitimate investment company. For example, when emailing with his victim-investors, Hoang copied fake Dunamis employees with fake titles. Also, Hoang created email addresses and domain names of others that appeared to belong in prominent firms and companies, such as “@deloittewealthmanagement.com” and “@dlapipercapital.com.” Hoang used the fabricated email addresses to generate and transmit emails regarding proposed investment opportunities as a means of bolstering the appearance of his legitimacy. Hoang admitted that he obtained at least $1.6 million in funds from his victim-investors and acknowledged that rather than invest any of the funds he received as promised, he spent the funds on his personal expenses and to support his lifestyle. Hoang was charged by Felony Information on April 7, 2022, with three counts of wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343. Hoang pleaded guilty to the three counts. At sentencing, Judge Davila described Hoang’s conduct as harmful to his community, noting the financial harm and trauma caused to the victims. In directly addressing Hoang, Judge Davila expressed, “It’s a pity that these victims were preyed upon in the way that they were, and a pity that you know better.” In addition to the prison term, Judge Davila also ordered Hoang to pay a $15,000 fine and restitution and entered a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $1.5 million. Judge Davila ordered Hoang to begin serving his sentence on August 17, 2023. Assistant United States Attorney Anne Hsieh is prosecuting the case with assistance from Helen Yee. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.


title: Twenty Charged in Federal and State Court for Drug Conspiracy

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

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that Devon Reed of New Castle, DE, Dawann Reed of Clayton, DE, Gregory Carter of Wilmington, DE, Jaywann Saunders of New Castle, DE, Quincy Clark of New Castle, DE, Eduardo Felix of San Diego, CA, Monyae Fields-Brown of New Castle, DE, Arthur Deramus of New Castle, DE, Janet Cooper of New Castle, DE, Alturo Smith of Wilmington, DE, Airial Boyd of Wilmington, DE, and Ainger Gardner of Wilmington, DE, have been charged by a federal grand jury sitting in Wilmington with conspiracy to traffic and manufacture cocaine, methamphetamine, counterfeit fentanyl pills, and marijuana in the Wilmington, Delaware metropolitan area. Also, as a part of Operation Cripgate, a state grand jury sitting in Wilmington charged Dale Reed of New Castle, DE, Michael Sullivan-Wilson of Wilmington, DE, Braheim Reed of New Castle, DE, Marcus Waller of New Castle, DE, Derwin Evans of New Castle, DE, and Jahnair Murphy of New Castle, DE with drug and gang violations. Finally, a federal grand jury in the District of New Jersey charged George Joyce, Jr. of Haddonfield, NJ with drug and firearm violations. Through a multi-state, multi-agency investigation involving the FBI, the New Castle County Police (“NCCPD”), and the Delaware State Police (“DSP”), the investigation identified a drug trafficking organization (“DTO”), headed by Devon Reed and Dawann Reed, that supplied cocaine, methamphetamine, counterfeit fentanyl pills, and marijuana to the District of Delaware. More specifically, the investigation centered on the Rosegate Community, which is located just off Route 9, north of I-295 and south of I-495, and is comprised of 200 rowhomes on a total of four streets in a secluded, compact neighborhood. Throughout the years, the Rosegate Community has been gripped by drugs, gun violence, and homicides, which has drastically impacted its citizens’ quality of life. The DTO openly operated their drug business. The DTO stored drugs in elderly community members’ homes and vehicles and paid them to store, package, and sell drugs. The DTO also used an abandoned day care facility to manufacture and package counterfeit methamphetamine and fentanyl pills for resale. In fact, during a search warrant at the day care facility, law enforcement located two large pill presses, which weighed approximately 100 pounds each. At the conclusion of the investigation and during search warrants, law enforcement seized approximately: • 3.5 kilograms of counterfeit methamphetamine and fentanyl pills; • 1.7 kilograms of cocaine; • 11 handguns; • 2 assault rifles; • 2 large pill presses; • 7.5 pounds of marijuana; • a quarter pound of methamphetamine; and • $78,000.00 United States Currency. In announcing the Indictment, U.S. Attorney Weiss said, “The defendants openly and brazenly trafficked large quantities of drugs in our community. These defendants also abused the trust of elderly Rosegate community members and flagrantly manufactured counterfeit pills in an abandoned day care. We will pursue these charges to the fullest extent of the law, and we will continue the investigation into those who traffic illegal drugs here in Delaware.” "This case demonstrates why partnerships to combat drug trafficking organizations are so important for our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. "Exploiting vulnerable community members such as the elderly and the young is unconscionable and unacceptable. We intend to use every available resource to combat this terrible problem," said Special Agent in Charge Sobocinski. All of the defendants are charged with conspiracy to distribute narcotics and some are charged with federal firearm charges. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. In announcing the charges, U.S. Attorney Weiss, and Special Agent in Charge Sobocinski, commended the work of those who investigated the case, including FBI's Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Taskforce, NCCPD, and Delaware State Police. They also expressed appreciation for assistance provided by the New Castle City Police Department and the ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin P. Pierce and Eli H. Klein are assigned to prosecute the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-31-MN. An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.


title: North Carolina Man Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion

component: Tax Division

body_text: A North Carolina man was sentenced today to 36 months in prison for tax evasion. According to court documents and statements made in court, Darren Lee Joy of Matthews did not file individual income tax returns for most of the past two decades, even though he was required to do so based on the amount of income he earned. Joy evaded taxes by submitting and maintaining with his employers Forms W-4 and state tax forms that falsely claimed he was exempt from federal and state income tax withholding. As a result, taxes were not withheld from his wages and little to no taxes were paid to the IRS. In total, Joy earned more than $1.8 million in income and owed more than $380,000 in state and federal income taxes. In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Court Judge Frank D. Whitney ordered Joy to serve two years of supervised release and to pay $359,859 in restitution to the United States and $23,058 in restitution to the State of California. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Dena J. King for the Western District of North Carolina and Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins of the IRS-Criminal Investigation Charlotte Field Office made the announcement. IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Trial Attorney Brian Flanagan of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn Finley for the Western District of North Carolina prosecuted the case.


title: Michigan Vascular Surgeon Sentenced to 80 Months in Prison for Health Care Fraud Conviction and Agrees to Pay Up to $43.419 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations

component: Civil Division

body_text: Vasso Godiali, a vascular surgeon from Bay City, Michigan, was sentenced on May 3 to 80 months in prison for orchestrating a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud health care programs by submitting claims for the placement of vascular stents and for thrombectomies that he did not perform and was ordered to pay $19.5 million in restitution collectively to Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM). Additionally, Godiali agreed to pay the United States up to $43,419,000 to resolve related civil allegations that his fraudulent billings to federal health care programs violated the False Claims Act (FCA). According to a plea agreement that Godiali entered on Feb. 8, 2022, Godiali began to knowingly defraud medical insurers, including Medicare and Medicaid, in approximately 2009. Godiali billed for the placement of multiple vascular stents in the same blood vessel and prepared medical records purporting to document the medical necessity justifying that billing. In fact, however, Godiali did not place those stents and admitted to billing for services never rendered while preparing materially inaccurate medical records to justify the fraudulent billings. Godiali also billed for arterial thrombectomies and created medical records that stated he encountered occluded arteries that would justify the performance of the procedures. However, he admitted that he often encountered no such occlusions, performed no such thrombectomies, and thus billed insurers for services never rendered while preparing false medical records to justify the fraudulent claims. Godiali’s fraudulent practices resulted in $14,473,000 in damages to the federal government, and a total of $19.5 million across Medicare, Medicaid, and BCBSM, which he agreed to repay as restitution as part of his plea agreement. In the related FCA action, in addition to alleging that Godiali submitted false claims for procedures that he never performed, the United States alleged that Godiali improperly used Modifier 59 to “unbundle” services that should have been billed together in a single claim to increase his reimbursements from federal health care programs. A civil forfeiture case resulted in the seizure of approximately $39.9 million from financial accounts controlled by Godiali. Except for $7.5 million, which will be released to Godiali’s wife pursuant to an agreement with the United States, all of the seized funds will be used to pay the criminal judgment or the FCA settlement. “We will not tolerate the use of federal health care programs as a source of personal enrichment,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s settlement demonstrates our commitment to protecting the integrity of those programs and the taxpayer funds used to support them.” “A priority of my office is protecting our district against unscrupulous health care providers.” said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan. “Dr. Godiali stole an enormous amount of money from both public and private health insurers over a number of years, and falsified medical records to cover up his scheme to defraud. We hope that today’s sentence and substantial civil recovery deter any other physicians likewise inclined to line their pockets at the expense of the public.” “This provider egregiously stole millions of dollars from taxpayers by billing federal health care programs for services that were neither medically necessary nor rendered to his patients,” said Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “As this case demonstrates, HHS-OIG and our partners remain committed to ensuring that vital taxpayer dollars are used lawfully and for their intended purposes, not for the illegitimate financial gain of an individual provider.” “The scope of Godiali’s fraud is truly stunning,” said Special Agent in Charge James A. Tarasca of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “This investigation proves the collective resources of law enforcement and the private sector can successfully combat fraud in our health care system.” The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Innovative Solutions Consulting, LLC. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. As part of the civil resolution, Innovative Solutions will receive up to $4,341,900. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Innovative Solutions Consulting LLC v. Vasso Godziachvili Godiali, M.D. , Case No. 1:15-cv-14150-TLL-PTM (E.D. Mich.). The criminal case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Neal, Philip Ross, and Craig Wininger for the Eastern District of Michigan. The FCA matter was handled by Senior Trial Counsel Sarah Arni of the Justice Department’s Civil Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney John Postulka for the Eastern District of Michigan. The civil forfeiture action was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Ross for the Eastern District of Michigan. These matters received assistance from HHS-OIG, the FBI, the Michigan Attorney General’s Office, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Except as to conduct admitted in connection with the criminal resolution, the claims resolved by the civil settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Justice Department Announces 10 Additional Steps on the One-Year Anniversary of Executive Order 14074 on Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices to Enhance Public Trust and Public Safety

component: Office of the Associate Attorney General

body_text: To highlight the one-year anniversary of the May 25, 2022 Executive Order on Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices to Enhance Public Trust and Public Safety , three years after the murder of George Floyd, the Justice Department today is releasing a series of 10 new reports and guidance documents as part of its ongoing efforts to implement the Executive Order. The steps being announced today include updated guidance prohibiting racial profiling by federal law enforcement agencies, accreditation standards to encourage adoption of policies in the Executive Order by state, Tribal, local, and territorial (STLT) law enforcement agencies, a report on the Department’s efforts to implement the First Step Act, and guidance on officer wellness, investigating in-custody deaths, and responses to individuals in crisis, among others. “While our work is not done, we are proud of the important changes we have made over this past year to update our internal policies and better provide our state and local partners with the resources and support they need to keep communities safe from violent crime, advance transparency, and build community trust,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “As we remember the life of George Floyd on the third anniversary of his death, the Justice Department renews our commitment to advancing accountability in law enforcement and safeguarding the civil rights of all Americans. We recognize that we have a responsibility to lead by example.” Over the past year, the Department has worked tirelessly on more than 90 Executive Order steps, including robust and substantive engagement with stakeholders from civil rights, law enforcement, and community groups, as well as our federal agency partners. “The Justice Department’s law enforcement partners are integral to our efforts to protect the American people from violent crime and a wide range of security threats,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Law enforcement officers are on the front lines every day, across the country, and they deserve our continued support as we work together to ensure equal justice for all. I am proud of the work the Department has done to implement the Executive Order, and in particular the priority it places on officer safety and mental health, to foster a culture of wellness within law enforcement agencies.” “Public safety requires police-community trust and fair criminal justice policies. The Justice Department has worked hard over the last twelve months to implement the over 90 deliverables from Executive Order 14074, including a focus on mental health, use of force, data collection, officer wellness, reentry, and much more,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “In making progress in all these areas, we have relied on the extensive engagement of our law enforcement and civil rights partners every step of the way. We remain committed to using all of our tools to strengthen trust and build healthy and safe communities.” In addition to the steps announced today, the Department’s work under the Executive Order includes prohibiting the transfer of or use of federal grant funds to purchase military-style weapons and equipment for STLT law enforcement agencies, awarding grants in a manner that supports and promotes the adoption of the Executive Order’s policies, and working to establish a National Law Enforcement Accountability Database. All of this work is part of the Department’s abiding commitment to the Attorney General’s three co-equal priorities: upholding the rule of law, protecting civil rights, and keeping our country safe. Overview of the Justice Department’s Implementation of Executive Order 14074 As part of an all-of-government strategy set forth in the May 2022 Executive Order , the Department is using all of its tools to advance public safety and build police-community trust, while advancing thoughtful, evidence-informed initiatives and reforms throughout the criminal justice system. As the Executive Order makes clear, system-wide change requires funding and support that only Congress can authorize. The mandates of the Executive Order apply only to federal law enforcement agencies. To raise the standards of federal law enforcement agencies , the Executive Order requires all federal law enforcement agencies to adopt policies equivalent to the Department’s policies on using force, chokeholds and carotid restraints, no-knock entries, and proper body-worn camera use. To promote adoption of the Executive Order’s policies by STLT law enforcement agencies and encourage best practices , the Department is awarding discretionary grants in a manner that supports and promotes adoption of the Order’s policies and has created first-of-their-kind accreditation standards to further encourage adoption. The Department, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services, also published guidance on best practices for responding to calls and interacting with persons in behavioral or mental health crisis or with a disability, and published a report on supporting officer wellness. To improve conditions of confinement and promote better outcomes for individuals who are incarcerated or under supervision , the Department published a report on the use of restrictive housing in the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and BOP’s efforts to reduce its use, a report outlining steps BOP and the U.S. Marshals Service are taking to improve conditions of confinement for individuals in their custody, and a report on the Department’s efforts to fully implement the First Step Act. To improve data collection and analysis to help better inform the public, government leaders, and policymakers , the Department is providing training and technical assistance to federal and STLT law enforcement agencies to increase reporting to the FBI’s National Use-of-Force data collection program, the Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) data collection program, the Death in Custody Report Act, and the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). The Department, in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security, updated the Guidance on the Use of Race, Ethnicity, Gender, National Origin, Religion, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity by Federal Law Enforcement Agencies . The updated guidance prohibiting racial profiling by federal law enforcement agencies sets forth limited circumstances when federal law enforcement agents or officers may consider a protected characteristic, adds disability as a protected characteristic, expands application of the guidance beyond law enforcement officers to all federal law enforcement personnel engaged in or supporting federal law enforcement activities, and sets benchmarks and timelines for the development and implementation of training, data collection, and accountability provisions. Last month, the Department released a Strategic Plan outlining actions to safely reduce criminal justice system interactions, support rehabilitation during incarceration , and f acilitate reentry for people with criminal records . In the months and years to come, the Department will continue to operationalize and build upon its implementation of the Executive Order to keep communities safe, support law enforcement, and advance effective, fair policing. The Department’s reports and guidance documents are available here . The Department’s Fact Sheet on efforts to implement the Executive Order is available here .


title: Florida Mortgage Loan Officer Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion

body_text: A Florida man pleaded guilty today to evading his federal income taxes. According to court documents and statements made in court, between 2015 and 2018, Jeffrey Donaldson of Orlando worked as a loan officer for two mortgage companies and made over $750,000 in wages. He submitted to each of his employers false employee withholding certificates (Forms W-4) claiming that he was exempt from any federal income tax withholding. During that same period, Donaldson willfully did not file personal tax returns even though he earned enough income requiring him to do so. As a result, Donaldson caused a tax loss to the IRS of over $150,000. Donaldson will be sentenced at a later date and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Brian Payne of IRS-Criminal Investigation Tampa Field Office made the announcement. IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Isaiah Boyd and Brian Flanagan of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Terry Livanos for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case.


title: Former Little Rock Police Officer Convicted Of Receipt Of Obscene Images And Possession Of Child Pornography After Three-Day Jury Trial

component: U.S. Attorneys (USAO)

body_text: LITTLE ROCK— A jury found former Little Rock Police Officer Eddie Scott Seaton, 55, of Cabot, guilty of receiving obscene images and possession of child pornography. The jury returned their verdict Thursday afternoon to Chief United States District Judge D.P. Marshall, Jr., who presided over the three-day trial. Judge Marshall will sentence Seaton at a later date. Testimony during the trial established that, on December 11, 2019, a Special Agent with the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigations downloaded child pornography from someone using an IP address that returned to Seaton in Cabot. Nineteen days later, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Seaton’s residence and seized electronic devices belonging to Seaton. A search of Seaton’s computer revealed almost 300 images of child pornography and over 120 images of obscene anime. The obscene anime depicted adults raping children and children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Law enforcement also located near Seaton’s computer stories handwritten by Seaton that described various instances of an adult female having sex with two minor boys. Those writings described many of the actions depicted in the obscene anime seized from Seaton’s computer. "This case shows that even those who swear to uphold the law can violate it in the most despicable way," said United States Attorney Jonathan D. Ross. "Commerce in sexually explicit images of children is not a victimless crime, and our office is committed to protecting those most vulnerable in our community. The jury today properly held Mr. Seaton accountable for his receipt and possession of images depicting the sexual exploitation of children." The statutory penalty for receipt of obscene images is not less than five years and not more than twenty years imprisonment. The statutory penalty for possession of child pornography is not more than ten years imprisonment. Both offenses of conviction include a penalty of not more than a $250,000 fine and supervised release of not less than five years and not more than life. The investigation was conducted by the FBI Little Rock Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and Arkansas State Police and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kristin Bryant and John Ray White. # # # This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at https://www.justice.gov/edar Twitter: @EDARNEWS


title: LaVista Man Sentenced for Selling Firearm to a Felon

body_text: United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Bryon S. Bruckner, 34, of LaVista, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for selling a firearm to a felon. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Bruckner to 18 months’ imprisonment, consecutive to his April 19, 2022, Nebraska state sentence of 12 to 14 years for Attempted 1 st Degree Sexual Assault of a Child. There is no parole in the federal system. After his federal sentence is complete, Bruckner will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. On March 3, 2022, Bruckner, while awaiting sentencing in his state case, sold a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confidential source (and convicted felon) a Walther 9mm handgun. The illegal sale occurred in the driveway of Bruckner’s residence in LaVista. The confidential source told Bruckner that he/she was a felon before Bruckner sold the confidential source the gun and yet Bruckner still made the sale. The sale was audio and video recorded. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Omaha Police Department and was 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. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.


title: Nebraska City Woman Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Amy Henner, 45, of Nebraska City, Nebraska, was sentenced on May 23, 2023, by Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard to a term of 66 months’ imprisonment following her conviction for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. After she completes her prison sentence, Henner will also serve three years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. On March 18, 2021, Henner was approached by police investigators in Lincoln. Investigators found that she had about a half-pound of methamphetamine in her purse. The methamphetamine was sent to the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab where a forensic scientist confirmed the presence of at least 190 grams of pure methamphetamine. Henner admitted to investigators that she had been selling methamphetamine to others. This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol and the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force which is made up of officers from the Nebraska State Patrol, Lincoln Police Department, and the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office.


title: Kearney Man Sentenced for Being an Unlawful User in Possession of Firearms

body_text: United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Tyler Ray Tockey, 29, of Kearney, Nebraska, was sentenced today to a 21-month term of imprisonment for being an unlawful user of controlled substances while in possession of firearms. After he completes his prison sentence, Tockey will be on supervised release for two years. There is no parole in the federal system. Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard presided over the case. Tockey pleaded guilty to the offense on November 29, 2022. On March 24, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the Tockey’s residence in Kearney. Inside the residence, they found firearms, ammunition, marijuana, and methamphetamine. Tockey was arrested. After being advised of the Miranda warnings, Tockey said he was the only person who lived at the residence. He admitted to being a regular user of marijuana and methamphetamine. He also said that police would find firearms and drugs in his residence. The investigation was conducted by the Kearney Police Department, the Nebraska State Patrol, the Department of Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Primary Care Physicians to Pay $1.5 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Liability for Submitting Unsupported Diagnoses to the Medicare Advantage Program

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Complete Physician Services, Kenneth Wiseman, DO, and Steven Schmidt, DO (collectively, “CPS”), have agreed to pay a total of $1,500,000 plus interest to resolve False Claims Act allegations that they caused the submission of false claims by misrepresenting the severity of illness and services rendered to increase reimbursement from the Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) and Part B programs. CPS, a primary care physician practice located in Philadelphia, treated patients under the Medicare Advantage program and the Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) program. The government alleges that CPS caused the submission of false claims for payment to Part C from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2018, arising from CPS submitting unsupported diagnosis codes, resulting in increased reimbursement to Part C health insurance companies. Specifically, CPS submitted morbid obesity diagnosis codes to Part C where the diagnoses lacked medical support in that patients had a body mass index under 35. The government contends that the diagnosis of morbid obesity in this situation is inappropriate. Further, the government alleges that CPS’s submission of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (“COPD”) diagnoses were not medically supported or supported by appropriate medical documentation in many instances. As a result of these unsupported diagnoses, CPS substantially increased Part C reimbursement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”). The government also alleges that CPS caused the submission of inappropriate claims to the Medicare Part B program that were not supported by medical documentation from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2018, in order to maximize its reimbursement. Specifically, the government contends that CPS improperly billed Evaluation and Management visits using Current Procedural Terminology Code 99214 without the requisite level and complex medical decision making that this code requires. Further, CPS inappropriately billed physician assistant services “incident to” the professional services of a physician including occasions when the physician was out of the country. Finally, CPS also submitted unsupported billing to CMS for smoking cessation counseling, pulmonary function tests, and unsupported claims for vaccine administration. “Almost half of Medicare beneficiaries are now enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans. Investigation of credible allegations of fraud impacting it is more important than ever,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “The Medicare Advantage Program relies on accurate information about its enrollees’ health status, such as whether they really have morbid obesity or COPD. It is imperative that enrollees receive appropriate treatment and that participating providers and health plans receive proper compensation for the services they actually provide. We will hold accountable those who report unsupported diagnoses to inflate Medicare Advantage payment.” “Today’s settlement shows our attention to and commitment in investigating all potential allegations of fraud against the Medicare Part C Programs, no matter the size of the physician practice, or the complexity of the scheme,” said Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General. “We will continue to partner with the United States Attorney’s Office to evaluate allegations brought under the False Claims Act to ensure the integrity of Medicare programs.” This settlement resolved a lawsuit filed under the False Claims Act in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania by former CPS employees captioned United States ex rel. Michael Helzner, D.O., et al. v. Complete Physician Services, LTD, at al ., No. 16-cv-5401 (E.D. Pa.). Under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, lawsuits like this one may be brought on behalf of the United States and the relators share in any recovery by the government. The relators were represented in this case by John M. Hanamirian of the Hanamirian Law Firm. “We thank the relators and the relators’ counsel for their contributions. Detecting fraud is much easier when we have the cooperation of whistleblowers like the ones in this case,” said Romero. This matter was investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. The investigation and settlement were handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deborah W. Frey, Civil Division Chief Gregory B. David, and Auditor George Niedzwicki. The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Former Nurse Indicted on Computer Fraud Charges

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA - One resident of Pittsburgh, PA, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of computer fraud, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The two-count Indictment named Kevin N. Ukaegbu, age 30, of Pittsburgh, PA, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, on December 5, 2022, Ukaegbu, formerly a graduate nurse at Allegheny General Hospital (AGH), criminally used the hospital credentials of a Highmark resident physician and attempted to modify prescription medications for two patients, putting one of the patients at risk of serious bodily harm. In neither case was the medicine administered to the patients. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 30 years in prison, a fine of $500,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), United States Department of Homeland Security, with the assistance of Highmark Health Police, conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Bethel Park Man Indicted for Transporting an Illegal Alien

body_text: PITTSBURGH - A resident of Bethel Park, PA, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of transporting an illegal alien within the United States, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The one-count Indictment named Blake Thomas Babin, 59, of Bethel Park, PA, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment presented to the Court, Babin, from on or about October 20, 2022, through on or about December 30, 2022, transported and attempted to transport within the United States an alien who had illegally entered the country, knowing that the alien was illegally in the country and to assist the alien in remaining in the United States illegally. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 5 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Pittsburgh conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Small Business Administration Employee Sentenced in Covid Relief Fraud

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: OXFORD – A Marshall County man and employee of the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) was sentenced yesterday to 62 months in prison for his role in a scheme to defraud the SBA of more than $11 million. According to court documents, Lakeith M. Faulkner, 31, of Holly Springs, was an employee of the SBA and used his position to assist borrowers in submitting over $11 Million worth of fraudulent loan applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDL”), which were intended to help small businesses recover from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In return for his assistance in submitting the fraudulent loan applications, those borrowers paid Faulkner and his co-defendant, Norman Beckwood, $2.3 Million. On December 7, 2022, Faulkner entered a plea of guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. On May 24, 2023, Chief U.S. District Judge Debra M. Brown sentenced Faulkner to serve 62 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. In addition to prison time, Faulkner was ordered to pay $10,620,452.26 in restitution to the SBA. On January 17, 2023, Norman Beckwood, Faulkner’s co-defendant, entered a plea of guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Beckwood is scheduled to be sentenced on August 15, 2023. Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton A. Dabbs and Parker King of the Northern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case. The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.


title: Elementary School Students Polish Up Resumes/Interview Skills for Career Day 2023

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – Three classes of fifth-grade students—dressed in their Sunday best—recently brought their resumes and interview skills to “prospective employers” from various community stakeholders during Career Day 2023 at Rock Island Elementary School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Staff from the Law Enforcement Coordination and Community Outreach Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida participated in multiple rounds of mock job interviews. The interviews consisted of 10 scripted questions which the students saw ahead of time. However, interviewers were given free rein to go off script. “I thought the kids did an amazing job,” said Community Outreach Specialist Robin McCowen. “They were so young yet so well prepared for the interview. They were ready for anything and I threw plenty of questions at them that were not on the list.” Why get them started so early? According to Rock Island Elementary School staff, it was so they’d be able to compete in the job market...that years down the road they would reflect on this experience and remember lessons learned. Some of those lessons may seem basic, but many children are not taught them. However, during a job interview they become of paramount importance. “Future employers will seek out candidates that look them in the eye and have a firm handshake,” said Law Enforcement Coordination and Community Outreach Section Chief J.D. Smith. “That was part of what I emphasized with them. It’s more than just what you say. Sit up straight, gesture with your hands periodically, be engaged, and show enthusiasm for the job. Speak up. I’ve hired a lot of people during my time as a supervisor and that’s what I look for in a candidate. That said, I was highly impressed with the young men and women I spoke with.” Many of the students had the handshake and eye contact down, but there are always areas in which to improve. Interviewing is a skill that requires practice. It can be a nerve-wracking experience to speak about oneself in front of a four-person panel, which is why these skills are good to acquire early. “It’s fortunate that these students got to participate in this training,” said Law Enforcement Coordination Specialist Mark McKinney. “Not everyone gets this type of opportunity.” Exercises like these challenge students to get out of their comfort zones and give them an idea of what’s to come. “The situation for these students is changing,” said McKinney. “They are moving from elementary school to middle school and it’s important to give them an idea that more will be required from them moving forward. Exercises like these help them prepare for that.” In addition to Smith, McCowen, and McKinney, three others from the U.S. Attorney’s Office participated in the mock interviews. Those included Re-entry & Community Outreach Specialist Keisha Bazile, Public Affairs Specialist Todd Goodman, and Community Outreach Specialist Jorge Lorente. Law Enforcement Coordination and Community Outreach Section staff from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida participate in mock job interviews for fifth graders at Rock Island Elementary School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. ###


title: Atoka Resident Sentenced For Sexually Abusing Minors In Indian Country

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jimmy Dean Altom, age 56, of Atoka, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 94 months imprisonment on two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. The sentences were ordered to run consecutively for a total of 188 months in the United States Bureau of Prisons. The charges arose from investigations by the Atoka County Sheriff's Office, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On December 20, 2021, Altom pleaded guilty to two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. At the plea hearing Altom admitted he sexually abused two victims under the age of sixteen between 2013 and 2020. “It is unthinkable that someone would sexually abuse another – especially a child,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Unfortunately, it happens far too often. I am thankful for the work of the county, state, and federal investigators, and the members of my staff in this case. The prosecution of the defendant will ensure Altom is punished for his heinous crimes, and the victims receive the justice they deserve.” This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted these cases because the victims are members of federally recognized Indian tribes and the crimes occurred in Atoka County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation and the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings in Muskogee. Altom will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.


title: Sex Offender Sentenced For Failure To Register

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Antonio Juan Paredes, age 33, was sentenced to 24 months in prison for failing to register as a sex offender. The charges arose from an investigation by the United States Marshal Service Sex Offender Registry Unit. On April 12, 2022, Paredes pleaded guilty to one count of Failure to Register as Sex Offender. According to the U.S. Marshal Service, Paredes was previously convicted of Rape-First Degree in the District Court of McCurtain County, Oklahoma and has a lifetime reporting requirement as a level-3 sex offender. Paredes moved outside the state of Oklahoma and failed to update his sex offender registration as required under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). “We work continuously to ensure our community’s safety, and our deputy marshals in Eastern Oklahoma work tirelessly to track offenders who are deliberately out of compliance,” Eastern Oklahoma U.S. Marshal Kerry L. Pettingill said in a statement. “The societal benefits of having a sex offender registry can only be realized if sex offenders are in compliance with their registration requirements," said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to working with the U.S. Marshal’s Sex Offender Registry Unit to ensure offenders like Mr. Paredes are held accountable for intentionally shirking their obligation to register and update their registrations.” The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings in Muskogee. Paredes will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.


title: Kenmore Man Sentenced For Mail Fraud And Tax Evasion

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.- U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Michael MacPherson, 57, of Kenmore, NY, who was convicted of mail fraud and tax evasion, was sentenced to one-year supervised release by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. MacPherson was also ordered to pay $95,000 in restitution to the victim and $125,673 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, who handled the case, stated that in January 2017, MacPherson solicited an individual (victim) from Kansas to invest in a bulk cigarette deal, telling the individual that he had an agreement with a Native American tribe in New York State to purchase cigarettes at a discounted rate and resell them at a significant markup. MacPherson claimed a $75,000 investment would result in a 15-20% return within 90 to 120 days. The individual sent MacPherson a check, but he did not buy cigarettes, instead spending the money on payments to the Niagara Falls Country Club and Canisius High School, airline flights, hotels, car rental, utilities, retail purchases, gas, clothing, groceries, restaurants, and other merchants. In December 2017, MacPherson contacted the victim again to solicit a $20,000 investment for the purchase of carbon fiber, representing that the individual would receive his principal investment, in addition to a 30% return, within 180 days. The victim sent MacPherson a check and once again he did not use the money as stated, instead using it to pay a defaulted business loan, cash withdrawals, airline flights, car rental, utilities, retail purchases, gas, groceries, restaurants, hockey tickets, and other merchants. In addition, MacPherson failed to file a federal income tax return for the tax year 2015 despite receiving gross income totaling approximately $265,254, including approximately $232,500 from a second individual. Once again, MacPherson used the money on personal expenses. For the 2017 tax year, MacPherson omitted approximately $80,156 in gross business receipts. The amount of tax loss to the United States is $93,815.00. The sentencing 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, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Thomas Fattorusso. # # # #


title: Buffalo Man Sentenced For His Role In Credit Union Robbery

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.- U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Carl Wilson, 38, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of aggravated bank robbery, was sentenced to serve 72 months in prison and pay restitution totaling $148,793.90 by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who handled the case, stated that on October 31, 2019, co-defendant Adrian Applewhite entered the Clarence Community and School Federal Credit Union on Sheridan Drive in Clarence, NY, approached the teller and asked whether the credit union had an ATM. Applewhite’s sole purpose was to “case” the credit union and facilitate a future effort to rob it. On November 7, 2019, Carl Wilson, and co-defendant Ronald Morris, armed with a pistol and donning masks and gloves, entered the credit union, and conducted a bank robbery while Applewhite, the getaway driver, sat in a car nearby. Wilson and Morris ordered all the employees to the ground and demanded money. Wilson went behind the teller line and went through teller’s drawers. Morris went to the vault. A total of $148,793.90 in United States currency was taken. Ronald Morris and Adrian Applewhite were previously convicted. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Eugene Staniszewski; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia; the Lackawanna Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Packard; the Evans Police Department, under the direction of Chief Gregory Szarowicz; and the Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief James P. Stauffiger. # # # #