title: Michigan Man Pleads Guilty in Pandemic Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Michigan pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of mail fraud and identity theft, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Milton Barth Reed, age 32, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon on May 26, 2023. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that, in September 2020, Reed was located in Pittsburgh, PA, in possession of a notebook containing the personally identifying information of twenty-four individuals. Each of these identities had been used to file a fraudulent application for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. While in Pittsburgh, Reed had attempted to pick up two fraudulently issued PUA debit cards that were supposed to be delivered by commercial carrier to an address near Ben Avon. Sentencing in this matter has been scheduled for October 3, 2023. The law provides for a total sentence of 22 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Pending sentencing, the court ordered that the defendant be detained. Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey R. Bengel is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Inspection Service, and United States Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Milton Barth Reed.


title: West Monroe Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Drug Trafficking

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: MONROE, La. – Paul Anthony Lewis , 50, of West Monroe, was sentenced today on numerous drug trafficking charges, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. United States District Judge David C. Joseph sentenced Lewis to 240 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release. Lewis was convicted by a jury in February of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, cocaine base, and fentanyl; and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, cocaine base, and fentanyl. Evidence introduced at trial revealed that agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Metro Narcotics Unit of Ouachita Parish began an investigation into the suspected drug trafficking activities of Lewis. While conducting surveillance of Lewis’ stash house, agents observed packages that were delivered by the U.S. Postal Service to that address. During a subsequent search of the house, law enforcement agents found large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, cocaine base also known as crack cocaine, and promethazine inside. In addition, Lewis used his telephone to negotiate drug trafficking transactions with unindicted co-conspirators in Texas and in the Western District of Louisiana. “The choices of this defendant to continue to possess and distribute a buffet of illegal substances, even after having spent time in federal prison before, has resulted in him now spending the later years of his life behind bars,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon Br. Brown. “We continue to stand by our commitment to make it a priority in the Western District of Louisiana to have zero tolerance for those who choose to sell narcotics, especially the most dangerous narcotic of all, fentanyl.” Lewis has a lengthy criminal history, including a federal conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine base in the Eastern District of Louisiana in 2001 when he was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison. The case was investigated by the DEA, Metro Narcotics Unit of Ouachita Parish, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William Gaskins and Alexander C. Van Hook, Special Counsel to the U.S. Attorney. # # #


title: Palm Beach Art Dealer Sentenced to Federal Prison for Laundering Money from Art Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – Palm Beach art dealer Daniel Elie Bouaziz was sentenced today to 27 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for laundering money derived from his scheme to sell counterfeit artwork. U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon also ordered Bouaziz to pay a $15,000 fine. The restitution hearing is set for August 16. Bouaziz was the owner of art galleries, to include Danieli Fine Art and Galerie Danieli, located at 226A and 230 Worth Avenue, respectively, in Palm Beach County, Florida. Bouaziz knowingly engaged in and attempted to engage in a monetary transaction, by, through, and to, a financial institution, affecting interstate and foreign commerce, in criminally derived property of a value greater than $10,000, such property having been derived from the unlawful sale of counterfeit art, using means of interstate commerce to carry out the sale and transfer of proceeds. On October 25, 2021, Bouaziz sold counterfeit artwork to a customer, to include pieces purportedly by artist Andy Warhol (“Warhol”) out of his Palm Beach art galleries. Bouaziz had told the customer that the works that he was selling, for between $75,000 and $240,000, were authentic, original Warhol pieces, and that some of the pieces were signed by the artist. Relying upon these false and fraudulent representations, the customer purchased artwork from Bouaziz. The customer gave Bouaziz a $200,000 down payment for the artwork. The money was deposited into Bouaziz’s account and then the comingled funds were wired to other accounts, to include an account controlled by Bouaziz. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Matthew D. Line of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Miami Field Office, announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Cannon. FBI Miami, West Palm Beach Resident Agency, and IRS-CI Miami investigated this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah J. Schall is prosecuting this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter A. Laserna and Daren Grove are handling asset forfeiture. If you believe you have been a victim of art fraud, please contact the FBI’s Art Crime Team at 1-800-CALL-FBI. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 22-cr-80099. ###


title: Bakersfield Man Sentenced to 4.5 Years in Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a Shotgun and Stealing Mail

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Christopher Smith, 36, of Bakersfield, was sentenced today to four years and six months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a shotgun, stealing checks and debit cards from the mail, and committing related financial fraud, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court records, Smith, a previously convicted felon, unlawfully possessed a 12‑gauge shotgun that he was keeping in a storage unit. From March 2020 through July 2020, Smith also obtained hundreds of pieces of stolen mail that included 200 checks with a face value of over $100,000 and 27 debit cards belonging to other individuals and businesses. Smith then altered and forged the stolen checks and used the stolen debit cards to deposit the checks into victims’ bank accounts and make cash withdrawals. This case was the product of an investigation by U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Barton is prosecuting the case.


title: Undocumented Man Who Shot Seminole Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Firearm Crime

component: USAO - Texas, Northern

body_text: A Mexican man who shot a police officer in Seminole, Texas pleaded guilty today to a federal firearm crime, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. Jose Ramon Castillo-Lopez, 28, was charged via criminal complaint in October 2022 and indicted later that same month. He pleaded guilty Tuesday to illegal alien in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, Mr. Castillo-Lopez, a Mexican national in the United States illegally, admitted he was pulled over by a Seminole Police Department officer for traffic violations on Oct. 1, 2022. As the officer approached Mr. Castillo-Lopez’s vehicle, he began firing at the officer with a handgun. The officer was struck but moved to a defensive position and returned fire. Mr. Castillo-Lopez exited his vehicle and fled, dropping a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol as he did so. The officer was able to radio in a description of the defendant, and he was apprehended a few blocks away shortly thereafter. In an interview with law enforcement, Mr. Castillo-Lopez admitted he had been previously deported and was currently in the county illegally. He also admitted to firing the pistol, which he said he purchased from an unknown individual at a traffic light in Midland, Texas for $200. Mr. Castillo-Lopez now faces up to 15 years in federal prison. The victim officer’s body armor prevented serious injury, and he returned to duty shortly thereafter. Homeland Security Investigation’s Dallas Field Office and the Seminole Police Department conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew McLeod is prosecuting the case. The victim officer’s body armor prevented serious injury, and he returned to duty shortly after the incident.


title: Former University of Delaware Student Extradited From Germany and Charged With Stalking and Cares Act Fraud

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – A Mays Landing, New Jersey man who formerly attended the University of Delaware was extradited from Germany to the United States last week on federal charges of cyberstalking and threats made in interstate or foreign commerce. He was separately indicted for wire fraud and money laundering. According to the July 2022 stalking and threatening communications indictment and other publicly filed documents, Kyle Stevens, 29, moved to Germany in October 2020. Thereafter, he began sending threatening messages to two female former classmates from the University of Delaware. Over several months, Stevens used multiple electronic platforms to send the victims numerous messages, including expressing his intent to kill them by “put[ting] a bullet in [their] head[s]” and stating he could do so “whenever [he] want[s].” According to the July 2022 wire fraud and money laundering indictment and other publicly filed documents, while Stevens lived in Germany, he applied for ten fraudulent loans or grants under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Stephens filed those applications on behalf of five fictitious businesses and obtained approximately $1.4 million in fraudulent loan and grant disbursements. Law enforcement has seized over $1.1 million of these funds through associated forfeiture proceedings. Stevens was extradited from Germany to the United States in May 2023. If convicted, Stephens faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for threats and stalking and 20 years in prison for wire fraud and money laundering. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, and Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office made the announcement. This case is being investigated by the FBI with assistance from the University of Delaware Police Department and the Newark Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carly Hudson is prosecuting the case with assistance from Eastern District of Pennsylvania Assistant U.S. Attorney Ruth Mandelbaum. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Germany to secure the arrest and extradition of Stevens. 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 Nos. 1:22-CR-65 and 1:22-CR-66. 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: Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Timothy Blake Parsons, 54, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to possession of prepubescent child pornography. According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 2, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Parsons’ residence and seized several electronic devices including Parsons’ cell phone. A forensic analysis of Parsons’ cell phone and cloud backup revealed an extensive history of searching for and viewing child pornography. Over 1,000 images and a video of child pornography were identified. Some of these images depict prepubescent minors, including toddlers, subjected to sexually explicit conduct, as well as bestiality. One image depicts an adult male sexually assaulting a prepubescent minor female. Parsons is scheduled to be sentenced on September 21, 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. 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). Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Julie M. White and Holly Wilson are 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. 2:22-cr-230. ###


title: Marysville Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation Charges

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Brent Hooton, 50, of Marysville, pleaded guilty today to sexual exploitation of a child and distribution of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, in May 2021, Hooton produced images of a child under the age of 12 engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Hooton then distributed those images to other users over the Kik messaging app. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Audrey Hemesath and Denise Yasinow are prosecuting the case. Hooton is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 12, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd. Hooton faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison on the sexual exploitation of a child count, and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison on the distribution of child pornography count. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.


title: Lodi Man Sentenced to over 12 Years in Prison for Fentanyl Pill and Methamphetamine Trafficking

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Vincent Jose Vasquez, 29, of Lodi, was sentenced today to 12 years and six months in prison for fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, in October 2020, law enforcement officers seized approximately a kilogram of heroin that Vasquez was transporting. On May 5, 2021, more than 10,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, more than 900 grams of cocaine, almost 1 pound of methamphetamine, three firearms, and $21,623 in cash were seized following the execution of a search warrant at Vasquez’s residence in Lodi. This case was the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance by the U.S. Marshals Service, the California Highway Patrol, the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department, and the Lodi Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Spencer prosecuted the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.


title: U.S. Attorney Thompson Joins ATF, AHIDTA, Law Enforcement at Gun Crime Mobile Unit Deployments in Raleigh and Kanawha Counties

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Will Thompson joined officials with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) today to assist law enforcement throughout the Southern District of West Virginia with cutting-edge investigative technology targeting gun violence. An ATF National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) mobile unit, operated in partnership with HIDTA, deployed to the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office in Beckley and the West Virginia State Police Academy in Dunbar to conduct training for local law enforcement and provide investigative support by analyzing ballistic evidence from gun crimes. The training will aid the ongoing support that NIBIN will provide law enforcement throughout the district. “With this mobile unit, we can take this valuable technology to our law enforcement partners throughout the Southern District of West Virginia,” Thompson said. “One of the most pressing problems we face not only in this district and this state but in this country is violent crime. The NIBIN mobile unit will help solve and prevent violent crimes.” NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. ATF maintains and operates NIBIN’s infrastructure at no charge to law enforcement partners. “Our mission is to protect the public from violent crime,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Shawn Morrow of the Louisville Division, which includes West Virginia. “ATF and Appalachia HIDTA are committed to bringing necessary federal resources to West Virginia law enforcement to help keep our communities safe.” The Appalachia HIDTA mission is to enhance and coordinate drug enforcement efforts of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies within areas designated as High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas by pursuing the disruption/dismantlement of Drug Trafficking Organizations, particularly as it relates to the specific drug threat of the Appalachian region. NIBIN technology compares images of submitted ballistic evidence from shooting scenes and recovered firearms and produces a list of possible similar results. Trained NIBIN technicians then conduct a correlation review of these results, identifying NIBIN leads or potential links or associations from the same firearm. A NIBIN lead is an unconfirmed, potential association between two or more pieces of firearm ballistic evidence and is based on a correlation review of the digital images in the NIBIN database. More than 104,200 investigative leads were generated by 278 NIBIN locations in fiscal year 2022. NIBIN helped investigators connect firearms recovered at crime scenes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to gun traffickers who orchestrated the straw purchase of over 140 firearms in the Beckley area. A federal jury convicted conspiracy ringleader Bisheem Jones, also known as “Bosh,” 37, of Philadelphia, and 18 co-defendants pleaded guilty to roles in the firearms trafficking conspiracy. “If there is anything that law enforcement has learned over the past several decades, it is that criminals don’t necessarily operate within a certain area. We need to be able to communicate and collaborate with each other and pool our resources,” said Raleigh County Sheriff J.C. Canaday. “Through these partnerships that we’ve established, like with HIDTA, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the ATF, we’re able to more readily track and prosecute more aggressively the criminals involved in both drug and gun crimes.” NIBIN also matched shell casings recovered from a shooting at a Huntington bar during a 2019 New Year’s Eve party to a firearm seized by Charleston Police officers. The investigation resulted in the conviction of Kymoni Davis for being a felon in possession of a firearm as the admitted shooter. Davis, also known as “Money,” 33, of Redford, Michigan, was sentenced to eight years in prison on December 19, 2022. Since its launch, the technology behind NIBIN has provided participating law enforcement agencies with an automated method to share, research, identify and cross-reference firearms ballistic data across a nationwide network. NIBIN is only used for criminal investigations and does not capture or store ballistic information acquired at the point of manufacture, importation, or sale. 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. ###


title: Tax Preparer Sentenced to Prison for Preparing False Returns

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KEYANTE PAUL, 34, of Florida, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 12 months and one day of imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release, for preparing false tax returns for numerous clients. According to court documents and statements made in court, Paul, through her business Keys Tax Services, operated as a tax return preparer, and she traveled to the Norwich, Connecticut area for part of the year to prepare returns for Connecticut clients. For several years, Paul prepared numerous federal tax returns for clients that included false income “adjustments” that reduced taxpayers’ reported adjusted gross income or false expenses and losses in connection with sole proprietorship businesses that clients did not operate. Paul’s criminal conduct caused losses totaling more than $550,000 to the U.S. Treasury and the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services. Paul was arrested on June 16, 2022. On February 23, 2023, she pleaded guilty to aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false income tax return. Restitution will be determined after additional court proceedings. This investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer R. Laraia and Lauren C. Clark.


title: Clarkdale Resident Sentenced to Prison for Sexually Abusing Young Child

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – Damian Andrew Wathogoma, 22, of Clarkdale, Arizona, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Steven P. Logan to 51 months in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release. Wathogoma was convicted by a federal jury of Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor in March 2023. The evidence presented at trial revealed that Wathogoma sexually abused a seven-year-old girl on the Yavapai-Apache Indian Reservation, on or about December 11, 2021. Wathogoma is an enrolled member of the Yavapai-Apache Nation. The Yavapai-Apache Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-22-08029-SPL RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-079_Wathogoma # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Kansas Man Indicted for Using Guns, Death Threats and Racial Slurs to Intimidate Black People

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: A Kansas man was indicted by a federal grand jury for using guns, death threats and racial slurs to intimidate Black people and interfere with multiple federally-protected rights. The indictment alleges that, on July 27, 2022, Austin Schoemann, 30, of Wichita, brandished a firearm and used racial slurs in order to threaten two Black juveniles, Victims 1 and 2, while they were entering a QuikTrip gasoline station. In addition to intimidating and interfering with the two young men, Schoemann used his firearm to threaten a Black adult, Victim-3, who intervened in support of the juveniles’ federally-protected right to be free from racial discrimination when visiting a gasoline station. The indictment also charges Schoemann with using a firearm during and in relation to these crimes of violence. The indictment further alleges that beginning in January 2022 and continuing through August 2022, Schoemann interfered with the federally-protected housing rights of a white woman, Victim-4, by making threats to hurt or kill any Black people who visited her home. The indictment alleges that Schoemann made many of these threats in-person, and that he would stand outside of Victim-4’s house and shout threats and racial slurs on occasions when he believed she had Black visitors in her house or planned to do so. Schoemann is also charged with two violations of using the internet to distribute videos and messages to Victim-4’s family members and others in which he repeatedly threatened to shoot and kill Black people. Schoemann faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the firearms charges, a maximum penalty of five years in prison for distribution of threating messages online and a mandatory minimum of seven years in prison for brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher for the District of Kansas and Special Agent in Charge Charles Dayoub of the FBI Kansas City Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Kansas City Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith for the District of Kansas and Trial Attorney Thomas Johnson of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Justice Department Highlights Initiatives to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence

component: Office of the Associate Attorney General

body_text: This week, the Justice Department highlighted a series of initiatives aimed at preventing and addressing sexual violence, intimate partner violence, stalking, and other forms of gender-based violence (GBV). With its strong, longstanding commitment to upholding justice and pursuing equality for all, the Justice Department joins its partners across the federal government and communities nationwide to prioritize the safety of all survivors of GBV and lauds the White House’s recent release of the National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence: Strategies for Action . “Gender-based violence violates fundamental human rights, destroys communities, and fosters social inequities,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “Identifying and preventing these crimes is a top department priority, underscored by this first-ever national plan and the government’s collective commitment to this cause. The Justice Department, with our federal partners, will continue to spotlight the repercussions of these crimes on society and applauds those who support survivors in restoring their sense of safety and well-being.” GBV affects individuals from all walks of life and spans all ages, representing a significant public safety crisis. It pervades every sphere of human interaction, be it public or private. In our ever-connected world, this form of violence impacts communities nationwide and can often escalate under disaster, conflict or crisis conditions, including global health emergencies such as a pandemic. During the Launch of the National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence , Acting Director Allison Randall of the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) delivered remarks and facilitated a roundtable discussion with leaders, advocates, and survivors. “Sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, and human trafficking are serious violent crimes that make our nation less equal and less just,” said Acting Director Randall. “Only a comprehensive response that is deeply informed by survivors and historically marginalized communities can end gender-based violence. Today we uplift the ongoing work of the Department of Justice and stand with colleagues across the federal government and with communities across the United States.” The Justice Department’s work to respond to GBV is a whole-of-agency effort to provide comprehensive services for survivors and hold offenders accountable by enforcing the nation’s laws against these crimes. The department’s unwavering commitment to addressing GBV spans across funding, research, policy, technical assistance, training, and guidance that includes, but is not limited, to the following: Funding The OVW and the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) administer grants to prevent, address and coordinate community responses across the nation to address gender-based violence. Funding helps to strengthen the criminal justice system’s response, expand victim services, support community-based efforts and bolster prevention. Of note, the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 (VAWA 2022) includes numerous improvements to legal tools and expansions to OVW grant programs addressing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Also, each year, OJP’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) administers hundreds of millions of dollars to all states and territories for crime victim assistance and compensation, including for survivors of gender-based violence. Policies and Guidance In October 2022, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland issued revised Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance . The revised guidelines address the responsibilities of department employees when working with victims and witnesses of crime to ensure that they are treated with dignity and respect during criminal justice proceedings. The Guidelines address the myriad needs of survivors of gender-based violence. On May 23, the department released the National Protocol for Intimate Partner Violence Medical Forensic Examinations to guide the clinical practice of conducting comprehensive assessments for patients experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) that prioritize the patient’s health and well-being. In April 2022, the department issued Federal Workplace Responses to Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking , an agency policy that aims to improve safety in the workplace for employees and contractors who could potentially be victims of such crimes. In May 2022, the department released updated guidance in Improving Law Enforcement Response to Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence by Identifying and Preventing Gender Bias aimed at enhancing law enforcement's approach to handling sexual assault and domestic violence cases by identifying and preventing gender bias. Projects and Initiatives In April 2023, the Civil Rights Division’s Coordinating Committee to Combat Sexual Misconduct released a fact sheet showcasing its achievements in combatting sexual misconduct throughout the preceding year. In September 2022, OVC funded Restoring Youth: Supporting Sexual Abuse Survivors in Youth Detention , a program aimed at expanding services for sexual abuse survivors in youth detention. The project will build the capacity of four selected grantee partnership sites, comprised of youth detention facilities and community-based sexual abuse survivor service providers, to establish services for youth that are rooted in racial equity and accessible to survivors from traditionally underserved communities. OVC funded several initiatives to prevent Female Genital Mutilation or Cutting (FGM/C) including a Support Line for Survivors of FGM/C , an End FGM/C Network Resources Page , and a Voices to End FGM/C Digital Storytelling Project . They also funded two national trainings for maternal healthcare providers to address FGM/C in May of 2023. OVC funded the Youth Collaboratory to implement projects to prevent and reduce the victimization of Black girls vulnerable to sex trafficking by increasing the capacity of program providers and other stakeholders working to prevent the trafficking of Black girls. The projects included a three-part video series that amplified voices from the field-direct service professionals, researchers, youth and young adults with lived expertise, and multidisciplinary providers. Additionally, the Girls Action Board (GAB) , a national leadership opportunity for youth and young adults (ages 18-24) with lived expertise, wrote and performed a collaborative poetry piece about the importance of centering Black girls. Addressing Crimes Against American Indian and Alaska Native Communities In July 2022, Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco issued a memorandum reiterating the priority of the Department of Justice to address the disproportionately high rates of violence experienced by American Indians and Alaska Natives, and relatedly, the high rates impacting indigenous women and girls reported missing or murdered. The memorandum directed each U.S. Attorney with Indian country jurisdiction – along with their law enforcement partners at the Justice Department – to update and develop new plans for addressing missing and murdered persons crisis. On Aug. 8-10, the OVW will hold the 18th Annual OVW Government-to-Government Tribal Consultation on Violence Against Women in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on behalf of the Attorney General. The 2022 Tribal consultation report is available here . In December 2022, the OVC held its Tribal Nation’s Conference in Palm Springs, California, bringing together thousands of Tribal leaders, victim service providers, and criminal justice practitioners to address crime victimization in Indian Country, including all aspects of gender-based violence. In April 2022, OVW issued an interim final rule governing the Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ) Reimbursement Program , a new program authorized under VAWA 2022 to reimburse Tribal governments for expenses incurred in exercising STCJ over non-Native individuals who commit certain covered crimes on tribal lands. OVC administers the Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside , which provides non-competitive grant funding to support victim services, including gender-based violence. Tribal set-aside awards support activities such as shelters, child advocacy centers, sexual assault services, community outreach and education; and other activities needed to address survivors in tribal communities. Research and Data In May 2022, OVW released the FY 2023 Research and Evaluation Initiative to conduct research that facilitates researcher-practitioner partnerships and studies interventions that address domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. In March 2023, the Department’s National Institute of Justice released a solicitation to conduct research and evaluation projects examining a broad range of topics, including the crimes of domestic and family violence, intimate partner violence, rape, sex trafficking, sexual assault, stalking, and teen dating violence, also known as adolescent relationship abuse, along with the associated criminal justice system response, procedures, and policies. The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) maintains a collection of data that support efforts to address gender-based violence. These measures are collected on several BJS data collections, although the approach to measurement can vary depending on the collection and the year of administration: National Crime Victimization Survey , National Inmate Survey , National Survey of Youth in Custody , and Survey of Prison Inmates.


title: Bodybuilding Coach Arrested for Child Exploitation

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A bodybuilding coach was arrested today in Charlottesville, Virginia, for multiple child exploitation offenses. According to court documents, between 2013 and April 2020, Elliott Simon Atwell, 33, of Charlottesville, allegedly enticed and coerced at least six minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct in order to produce recordings of the conduct. Atwell also allegedly enticed a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity and possessed images of minors – including prepubescent minors and minors under 12 years of age – who were engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Atwell is charged with four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, one count of enticement of a minor, and one count of possession of child pornography. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to life in prison. Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh for the Western District of Virginia, and Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador of the FBI Richmond Field Office made the announcement. The FBI is investigating the case. Trial Attorney Jessica L. Urban of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Melanie Smith for the Western District of Virginia are prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . Any individuals who believe they or someone they know may have been victimized by Atwell are encouraged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing the Service Credit Union in Keene

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A Keene man pleaded guilty in federal court to robbing the Service Credit Union on Winchester Street in Keene, New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Ethan Clark, 31, pleaded guilty to bank robbery. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante scheduled sentencing for September 7, 2023. Clark was charged on May 10, 2023. On November 28, 2022, Clark gave a bank teller at the Service Credit Union in Keene a note demanding money, stealing more than $4,700. Surveillance footage shows that Clark left the bank and walked to a van he stole from his former employer. Later that day, Clark was seen driving the van in Lawrence, Massachusetts. When law enforcement searched the vehicle, they found a note consistent with the robbery note given to the teller. The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 and restitution. 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. The FBI led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Keene Police Department and the Lawrence Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Hunter is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Ada Resident Sentenced For Child Neglect In Indian Country

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

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Dylan Tyler Neal, age 23, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served followed by five years of supervised release for child neglect in Indian Country. Neal was also sentenced to time served followed by three years of supervised release for receiving a firearm and ammunition while under felony indictment. The charges arose from investigations by the Pontotoc County Sheriff’s Office, the Shawnee Police Department, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. On March 4, 2022, Neal pleaded guilty to one count of willfully and maliciously failing to provide adequate and appropriate care, supervision, and medical care to an Indian child under eighteen years of age while responsible for the child’s health, safety, and welfare, resulting in injury to the child. That same day, Neal also pleaded guilty to one count of receiving a firearm and ammunition while under indictment for felony Child Neglect in Indian Country. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted these cases because the defendant is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crimes occurred in Indian Country, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation and the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Jodi W. Dishman, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, sitting by appointment, presided over the hearings in Oklahoma City. Special Assistant United States Attorney Genevieve Ozark represented the United States at sentencing.


title: Texas Resident Pleads Guilty To Arson, Animal Crushing, And Assault In Indian Country

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Raymond David Phillips, age 32, of Lindale, Texas, entered a guilty plea to a Superseding Indictment charging him with one count of Arson, punishable by 5 to 20 years in prison, one count of Animal Crushing in Indian Country, punishable by up to 7 years in prison, and two counts of misdemeanor Assault in Indian Country, each punishable by up to one year in prison. The government alleged in the Superseding Indictment that on September 3, 2022, Phillips and his girlfriend were vacationing at a resort area along the Illinois River when his girlfriend was arrested. Angered by the arrest, Phillips decapitated the resort owner’s cat, then began burning other guests’ camping equipment. Law enforcement arrested Phillips at the Cherokee County Detention Center, where he had arrived to bail out his girlfriend. After being taken into custody, Phillips threatened and assaulted jail and law enforcement officers. The charges arose from an investigation by the Grand River Dam Authority and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted the case because the defendant is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crimes occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation and the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma in Muskogee, accepted the pleas and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report. Phillips was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.


title: Ravia Resident Sentenced For Sexually Abusing A Minor In Indian Country

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Lance Alden Whelchel, age 28, of Ravia, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for sexually abusing a minor in Indian Country. The charges arose from investigations by the Tishomingo Police Department, the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On November 29, 2021, Whelchel pleaded guilty to one count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. At the plea hearing, Whelchel admitted that between June and August of 2020, he sexually abused a child under the age of 16. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted this case because the defendant is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crime occurred in Johnston County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation and the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Charles B. Goodwin, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, sitting by appointment, presided over the hearings in Oklahoma City. Whelchel 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: Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on May 22, 2023. Adrian Fast Dog, 43, was sentenced to three years and seven months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Fast Dog was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in August of 2022. He pleaded guilty on February 13, 2023. Fast Dog was convicted of Aggravated Sexual Abuse on October 15, 2001. As a result of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender and update his registration within three business days of relocation or changing employment or student status. Fast Dog last registered in June of 2021, providing a motel in Sioux Falls as his address. Subsequent address verification checks conducted by law enforcement revealed Fast Dog was not residing at the motel. Fast Dog’s whereabouts were unknown until he was arrested on July 27, 2022. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler prosecuted the case. Fast Dog was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Porcupine Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Porcupine, South Dakota, man convicted of Voluntary Manslaughter. The sentencing took place on May 22, 2023. Trey New Holy, 30, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. New Holy was indicted for Second Degree Murder by a federal grand jury in September of 2022. He pleaded guilty on February 17, 2023. The conviction stems from New Holy beating an individual after an altercation on September 3, 2022, in Porcupine. The victim sustained multiple blunt traumatic injuries to his head and body. He ultimately succumbed to his injuries. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case. New Holy was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Texas Man Sentenced to 19 Months in Federal Prison for Role in ATM Larceny

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier sentenced a Houston, Texas, man, convicted of Bank Larceny. The sentencing took place on May 15, 2023, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Alton Himes, age 25, was sentenced to 19 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay approximately $100,000 in restitution and $100 as a statutorily required special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Himes was indicted for Bank Larceny and Transportation of Stolen Money by a federal grand jury in September 2022. He pleaded guilty to Bank Larceny on March 1, 2023. According to court documents, on December 2, 2021, in the early morning hours, Himes, and his three co-defendants, approached an automated teller machine (ATM) belonging to Dakotaland Federal Credit Union located in Madison, South Dakota. One of the vehicles that Defendant Himes and his co-defendants were driving at that time was a stolen Ford F-350 pickup truck. The truck was stolen from a parking lot located on the campus of South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota. Himes and his co-defendants used the stolen truck and towing equipment, including straps and J-hooks, to physically break into the ATM and remove three cash boxes. After forcefully removing the boxes, Himes and his co-defendants stole the boxes and fled the area in the stolen pickup truck. They then traveled across state lines with the stolen cash. The ATM was destroyed in the process of the larceny and was deemed a total loss, costing over $30,000 to replace. The total amount of cash stolen was $32,300, and it belonged to Dakotaland Federal Credit Union. Himes’s co-defendants – Kytorrion Young, Keivon Jones, and Kendrick Kennedy – knowingly participated with Himes in carrying out bank larceny. Each is awaiting sentencing. This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuted the case. Himes was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to continue serving his sentence.


title: Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Nearly 2 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Fraud & Money Laundering Schemes

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man, convicted of Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments. The sentencing took place on May 17, 2023, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Keyvon Hamilton Hogan, age 23, was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay $563,127.06 in restitution, to forfeit his interest in money and personal property, as well as to pay $100 a statutorily required special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Hogan was indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud and Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments by a federal grand jury in April 2022. He pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments on November 9, 2022. According to court documents, from 2020 to April 2022, Hogan, along with his co-defendants, conspired with others to commit bank fraud. The scheme impacted multiple financial institutions and individuals throughout the Sioux Falls area and elsewhere, as the defendants obtained money from those banks by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises. After obtaining funds through fraud, Hogan and his co-conspirators engaged in depositing, transferring, wiring, and withdrawing currency and electronic funds at financial institutions to conceal and disguise the proceeds of the fraud scheme. This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation; Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; Sioux Falls Police Department; U.S. Postal Service; and South Dakota Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuted the case. Hogan was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to continue serving his sentence.


title: Mission Man Sentenced for Distribution of a Controlled Substance to a Person Under Age 21

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Distribution of a Controlled Substance to a Person Under Age 21. The sentencing took place on May 22, 2023. Jeremy Richards, age 29, was sentenced to five years and one month in federal prison, followed by six years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Richards was indicted by a federal grand jury in August of 2022. He pleaded guilty on February 27, 2023. The conviction stems from conduct that occurred between January 1, 2021, and January 1, 2022, in Todd County, South Dakota, wherein Richards distributed methamphetamine to a juvenile who was between 16 and 17 years old. This case was investigated by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case. Richards was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: White River Man Sentenced for Abusive Sexual Contact

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a White River, South Dakota, man convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact. The sentencing took place on May 22, 2023. Justin Moreno, age 34, was sentenced to nine years and six months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Moreno was indicted by a federal grand jury in May of 2022. He pleaded guilty on February 9, 2023. The conviction stems from conduct that occurred on January 2, 2022, in Mellette County, South Dakota, wherein Moreno engaged in sexual contact with an adult female by the use of force. This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case. Richards was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Clancy man sentenced to 15 years in prison for meth trafficking, firearm crimes

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Clancy man who admitted to trafficking methamphetamine and possessing a homemade firearm was sentenced on May 25 to 15 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today. Matthew Phillip Hamper, 43, pleaded guilty in October 2022 to possession with intent to distribute meth and to possession of an unregistered firearm. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. In court documents, the government alleged that in 2021, law enforcement learned that Hamper, who was on state supervision, was selling meth in the Helena area and identified him as the supplier in several controlled purchases. Montana probation officers conducted a search of Hamper’s home and an RV parked next to the main house. Inside the RV, officers found nearly four pounds of meth and several firearms, including a homemade single shot “slap gun.” The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives determined that the “slap gun” met the definition of a destructive device and that it was not registered in the National Firearms Regulation and Transfer Record. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey K. Starnes prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Missouri River Drug Task Force, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation and Montana Probation and Parole. 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: MEDIA ADVISORY: U.S. Attorney Will Thompson Announces ATF, AHIDTA Gun Crime Mobile Unit to Deploy in Raleigh and Kanawha Counties  on Tuesday, May 30, 2023

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Will Thompson will join officials with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) next week to provide high-tech assistance targeting gun violence to law enforcement agencies throughout the Southern District of West Virginia. An ATF National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) mobile unit, operated in partnership with Appalachia HIDTA, will deploy on Tuesday, May 30, 2023 , to the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office in Beckley and the West Virginia State Police Academy in Dunbar, to conduct training for local law enforcement and provide investigative support by analyzing ballistic evidence from gun crimes. The training will aid the ongoing support that NIBIN will provide law enforcement throughout the district. NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. ATF maintains and operates NIBIN's infrastructure at no charge to law enforcement partners. Thompson, ATF Special Agent in Charge Shawn Morrow of the Louisville Division, which includes West Virginia, and Appalachia HIDTA Executive Director Vic Brown will hold a press conference with law enforcement officials at each location. A tour and demonstration of the NIBIN mobile unit will follow each press conference. WHAT: NIBIN mobile unit press conference, tour and demonstration events WHEN: Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. WHERE: 11 a.m.: Raleigh County Sheriff’s Office, 308 Ned Payne Drive, Beckley 2:30 p.m.: West Virginia State Police Academy, 135 Academy Drive, Dunbar 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. ###


title: Two defendants plead guilty to multiple charges concerning child sexual exploitation

body_text: BRUNSWICK, GA: A Camden County man and woman face substantial prison terms after pleading guilty to multiple charges that concern the sexual exploitation of children. Michael Williams Kersey , 45, of St. Mary’s, Ga., and Lesley M. Henry , 47, of Kingsland, Ga., each await sentencing after pleading guilty to multiple charges before U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Kersey faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, up to 140 years, after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Engage in Sexual Exploitation of Children; two counts of Sexual Exploitation of Children; and Possession of Child Pornography. Henry faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, up to 60 years, after pleading guilty to two counts of Production of Child Pornography. Each defendant also is subject to pay a special assessment of $5,000 and substantial financial penalties and restitution, serve a period of supervised release upon completion of their prison terms, and to register as sex offenders. There is no parole in the federal system. “It is exceptionally difficult to fathom the level of victimization of vulnerable children through the despicable acts of these defendants,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “Our law enforcement partners did exceptional work in identifying these defendants and protecting innocent children from further harm.” FBI agents in 2020 began working to find the origin of child sexual abuse images shared through an internet messaging application, and identified Kersey as the registered user of the account. Agents searched Kersey’s home and found multiple electronic devices with hundreds of images and videos of child sexual abuse, and subsequently identified Henry as a codefendant. Agents determined she had produced multiple images and videos of child sexual abuse and shared them with Kersey. Both defendants are in federal custody. Sentencing will be scheduled before Judge Wood upon completion of a pre-sentence investigation by U.S. Probation Services. “The victimization of a child is particularly heinous when the sexual predators are creating the content to share with other predators. Our office remains relentless in the pursuit to ensure the safety of our children and the punishment of their abusers,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Anyone who suspects a child is being victimized is urged to contact their local law enforcement agency or child protective services.” The case is being investigated by the FBI, with assistance from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service/Kings Bay, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Camden County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Marys Police Department, and the Kingsland Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer S. Kirkland and Criminal Division Deputy Chief Tania D. Groover. Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/ .


title: Guatemalan Man Sentenced to 21 Months for Selling Fraudulent Identity Documents

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Werner Monterroso-Monterroso, 26, of Guatemala, was sentenced on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for unlawful transfer of a document or authentication feature. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Monterroso-Monterroso to imprisonment for 21 months to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Monterroso-Monterroso will be removed (deported) by immigration authorities after he completes his term of imprisonment. On April 22, 2022, investigators made a purchase of fraudulent documents (a Social Security card, California Identification Card, and a Texas birth certificate) in exchange for $1,200. Investigators made a second purchase of fraudulent documents on June 8, 2022, and received a Nebraska Identification Card, a Social Security card, and a Texas birth certificate in exchange for $1,200. Such fraudulent documents are frequently sought by job applicants as they are required to verify the identity and employment authorization of individuals hired for employment in the United States. The Social Security cards were confirmed to have valid numbers and names but are counterfeit. Following the purchases, investigators obtained a warrant to search Monterroso-Monterroso’s residence in Schuyler, Nebraska. The warrant was executed on August 24, 2022, yielding 87 counterfeit documents (in addition to the 6 obtained through the document purchases), many of which appeared to have been issued by or under the authority of the United States. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles Fraud Unit.


title: Former Federal Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty To Sexual Abuse Of An Inmate

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Lenton Jerome Hatten, 54, of Tallahassee, Florida, plead guilty to a one count indictment charging him with sexual abuse of an individual in federal custody. Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the guilty plea. Court documents reflect that between October 2021, and August 2022, Hatten engaged in repeated sexual acts with an inmate while employed as a sports specialist for the Bureau of Prisons at the Federal Correctional Institution in Tallahassee. Immediately after being reported, a forensic examination was conducted of the victim by a sexual assault nurse examiner. A mixed DNA profile was obtained, which confirmed the profile was 33 octillion (3.3 x 1028) times more likely to be from the victim and Hatten than the victim and an unknown, unrelated person. At the time of the report, Hatten was on vacation leave and when made aware, he resigned his position. As such, Hatten had no further contact with inmates. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 10, 2023, at 1:00 p.m., at the United States Courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida, before the Honorable United States Senior District Judge Robert L. Hinkle. Hatten faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison, 5 years to Life on supervised release, and a maximum $250,000 fine. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Previously Charged Virginia Man Admits Additional $3.4 Million Insider Trading Scheme

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: TRENTON, N.J. – A Virginia man who previously pleaded guilty to insider trading admitted engaging in another insider trading scheme that netted millions of dollars in illegal profits, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Sean Wygovsky, 42, of Centreville, Virginia, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Georgette Castner on May 25, 2023, to an information charging him one count of securities fraud/insider trading. Wygovsky previously pleaded guilty to an insider trading scheme in the Southern District of New York. “This defendant admitted using nonpublic information from his job at an asset management firm to further a multimillion-dollar insider trading scheme,” U.S. Attorney Sellinger said. “Combatting securities fraud and market manipulation schemes is a top priority for this Office. This prosecution demonstrates our commitment to holding accountable those who seek to undermine our markets through insider trading.” “Federal insider trading laws protect the integrity of the markets and preserve the public's confidence in them,” FBI Newark Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy said. “No one wants to play a game when the rules are unfair. Wygovsky upset this balance of fairness when he misused his position of authority to serve his own greed. The FBI is committed to weeding out the bad actors like Wygovsky to ensure the financial markets maintain equal opportunity for all.” According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From May 2020 through February 2021, Wygovsky worked as a portfolio manager, securities analyst, and trader at a Canada-based asset management firm that received material, nonpublic information regarding confidential merger negotiations involving special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs). Wygovsky received this information every time a SPAC was placed on his firm’s confidential restricted list, meaning that the firm’s employees were prohibited from buying or selling the SPACs’ securities, either personally or via another person or third party. Despite knowing about these trading restrictions, Wygovsky shared the nonpublic information with his friend, Christopher Matthaei, who was a partner at a New Jersey broker-dealer firm. Matthaei purchased securities in the SPACs using his personal brokerage accounts. In June 2020, Matthaei paid for a private plane and extended trip with Wygovsky and their families to a luxury resort on the island of St. Barth, where they continued to engage in the insider trading scheme. Matthaei made approximately $3.4 million in illegal trading profits from the insider trading scheme. Matthaei was previously arrested on March 30, 2023, and charged by complaint with one count of securities fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud. The charges and allegations against Matthaei contained in the complaint, which are still pending, are merely accusations, and Matthaei is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The securities fraud count carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $5 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 27, 2023. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Dennehy, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Kozar and Marko Pesce of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Unit in Newark. wygovsky.information.pdf


title: Chatham County man sentenced to prison for torching vehicles in downtown Savannah

body_text: SAVANNAH, GA: A Chatham County man has been sentenced to federal prison after an arson spree that damaged multiple vehicles, a residence, and a business. Calvin Frank Robbins , 41, of Savannah, was sentenced to 41 months in prison after pleading guilty to Destruction of Motor Vehicles, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker also ordered Robbins to pay nominal restitution, and to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. “Calvin Frank Robbins potentially endangered dozens of lives, including those of first responders extinguishing multiple raging vehicle fires,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “This sentence will hold him accountable while protecting the community.” As described in court documents and testimony, Savannah firefighters were called to a vehicle fire on West Harris Street late in the evening on Dec. 1, 2021, and while extinguishing the fire – which also damaged a nearby building – firefighters saw heavy smoke coming from the Savannah Visitor’s Center on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. That fire damaged a tour bus and a van in the parking lot, while another nearby fire on Purse Street damaged the front porch of an under-renovation residence owned by the Coastal Heritage Society. Other vehicles also received minor damage. Investigators from the Savannah Fire Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives identified Robbins from witness accounts and surveillance videos, and he was carrying a can of gasoline when agents located and arrested him several days later. “Arson is an extremely violent crime that not only destroys property but also places firefighters, first responders and the general public at great risk,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the ATF Atlanta Field Division. “The ATF, along with the Savannah Fire Department and our other law enforcement partners, are committed to ensuring that our communities are safe and that those who commit these dangerous acts are held accountable.” The case was investigated by the ATF and the Savannah Fire Department Arson Unit, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank M. Pennington II.


title: Federal Indictment Charges Former Thomson Penitentiary Inmate With Murder in Connection With Death of Fellow Inmate

body_text: ROCKFORD — A former inmate at the United States Penitentiary in Thomson, Ill., has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Rockford in connection with the death of his cellmate. JAVIER GONZALEZ-VALENZUELA, 47, of Sonora, Mexico, is charged with second-degree murder and assault in connection with the Feb. 28, 2021, death of Shay Paniry, according to an indictment unsealed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Rockford. Gonzalez-Valenzuela, who was Paniry’s cellmate at the time of the murder, was later released from Thomson but remained in law enforcement custody on an unrelated charge. He pleaded not guilty Tuesday to the new charges and was ordered to remain detained in federal custody. The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vincenza L. Tomlinson and Cassandra L. Quaglia. The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The maximum sentence for the murder charge is life imprisonment, while the maximum for the assault charge is ten years. If convicted, the Court must impose reasonable sentences under federal sentencing statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.


title: Muskegon Man Sentenced To 40 Months In Federal Prison For Illegally Possessing Destructive Device

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten announced that Casey Richard Newman, 40, of Muskegon, Michigan was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Janet T. Neff for knowingly possessing a destructive device. Destructive devices, commonly referred to as “homemade bombs,” are illegal to possess unless registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Newman’s destructive device was not registered as required under federal law. Judge Neff also ordered Newman to spend 3 years on supervised release after his confinement. Newman previously pleaded guilty to the offense on January 25, 2023. “The citizens of the Western District of Michigan should be able to move about their communities without fear of harm or danger by homemade destructive devices,” said U.S. Attorney Totten. “Those who engage in these dangerous crimes will be held accountable.” This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD). In August 2019, officers were dispatched to a residence in Grand Rapids regarding a suspicious device, which was ultimately determined to be a destructive device. The device consisted of a tape-wrapped plastic bottle that was filled with explosive powder and BBs. It was wrapped in electrical tape with a fuse at each end. No victims were harmed as the device was not detonated. The GRPD Bomb Squad made the device safe and conducted preliminary testing, and the ATF Forensic Science Laboratory conducted additional testing. “Accountability for criminal conduct is paramount in ensuring public safety in the community. Casey Newman’s reckless actions could have resulted in an explosion that killed and injured many people while a at work,” said ATF Detroit Special Agent in Charge James Deir . “We investigated this in conjunction with our state and local law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. This partnership was essential in ensuring Newman was held accountable.” "The conviction is a direct result of the interagency cooperation between the Grand Rapids Police Department, the ATF, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Western District of Michigan,” said GRPD Captain Michael Maycroft, Bomb Squad Commander . “Although this type of investigation and conviction is a rare event in the city of Grand Rapids, it was our primary mission to take a dangerous improvised explosive device off the streets and identify the culprit before anyone got hurt.” The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren F. Biksacky. ###


title: Grand Rapids Man Sentenced To 20 Years In Federal Prison For Distributing Fentanyl That Resulted In A User’s Death

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that U.S. District Judge Paul L. Maloney sentenced Tommy Terrell Mims, 52, of Grand Rapids, to 240 months in prison for distributing fentanyl that resulted in the death of a Kent County man, H.C., in August 2020. When Mims is released from prison, he will be on supervised release for 25 years. “Fentanyl is deadly and continues to devastate our families and communities. This drug is so dangerous that even a trace amount can leave a user dead within minutes,” said U.S. Attorney Totten . “Mr. Mims will now serve two decades in federal prison. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to investigating and prosecuting these cases to ensure that drug dealers who peddle this poison and cause death are brought to justice.” On August 8, 2020, officers with the Grand Rapids Police Department and emergency medical personnel responded to a 911 call reporting that H.C. was unconscious and not breathing. Investigators learned that the 911 caller and H.C. purchased and used “heroin” sold by Mims the night before. The “heroin” Mims sold was actually fentanyl. The 911 caller survived, but ultimately H.C. died from fentanyl toxicity. Mims pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl resulting in the death of H.C. pursuant to a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office on February 10, 2023. “The lengthy sentence imposed on Mr. Mims reflects the seriousness of the charge to which he pled guilty,” said Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge of Detroit Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration . “Mims actively contributed to the drug poisoning and overdose epidemic ravaging our communities and our country. This sentence should serve as a warning to those who distribute deadly drugs and place personal gain over human lives, that you will be held accountable, and the consequences of your actions will be severe.” “The Grand Rapids Police Department Vice Unit continues to work diligently with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DEA to investigate and prosecute anyone distributing fentanyl in the greater Grand Rapids area,” said Lieutenant Jon Wu of the Grand Rapids Police Department Vice Unit . “This investigation and sentence illustrate the seriousness of the threat of fentanyl to the community.“ The Grand Rapids Police Department Vice Unit and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case, which was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan McGraw. ###


title: Biloxi Man Sentenced to over 11 Years in Prison  for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Gulfport, Miss. – A Biloxi man was sentenced to 136 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration. Antonio Centrea Leger, 25, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Gulfport. According to court documents, in July of 2021, as part of the investigation into the death of an airman at Keesler Air Force Base, a drug trafficking organization was identified as operating in the sale of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl in Harrison County, Mississippi. As a result of this investigation, Antonio Centrea Leger was identified as a participant, having a leadership role in this drug trafficking organization. Multiple controlled purchases of fentanyl and a search warrant of his residence, which yielded 742 fentanyl tablets, led to Leger’s arrest. Leger was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 7, 2022. He pled guilty on February 15, 2023, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.


title: Two Men in $7 Million COVID Fraud Scheme Plead Guilty

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Manassas and a Bealton man pleaded guilty today to engaging in a joint scheme to defraud banks and the Small Business Administration of over $7 million in COVID relief funds. According to court documents, from approximately April 2020 to March 2021, Bennie Earl Magee, 54, falsified payroll records, created fake IRS business tax returns, and submitted to lenders and the SBA falsified revenue reports of multiple companies to obtain over $7 million in PPP and EIDL loans for himself and others. Gilcher, 45, obtained $1.4 million of the total, but wrote checks back to Magee’s company, Bull Run Capital, totaling approximately $620,000. Magee used the PPP funds to invest in crypto currency, home renovations, to purchase vehicles, and to pay other personal expenses. Magee and Gilcher are scheduled to be sentenced on August 25. Magee faces a up to 20 years in prison, while Gilcher faces up to five years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division; and Brian Miller, Inspector General for the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR), made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Russell L. Carlberg and Kathleen Robeson are prosecuting the case. This case was investigated by an agent assigned to the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Fraud Task Force. The PRAC was established to serve the American public by promoting transparency and facilitating coordinated oversight of the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic response. The PRAC’s 21 member Inspectors General identify major risks that cross program and agency boundaries to detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the more than $5 trillion in COVID-19 spending. The PRAC Fraud Task Force brings together agents from 16 Inspectors General to investigate fraud involving a variety of programs, including the Paycheck Protection Program. Task force agents who are detailed to the PRAC receive expanded authority to investigate pandemic fraud as well as tools and training to support their investigations. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 1:23-cr-86 and 1:23-cr-91.


title: Rutland Woman Sentenced for Making False Statements when Purchasing a Firearm

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Morgan Gates, 28, of Rutland, Vermont, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford to time served (after serving approximately 10 months in prison) for making false statements to a federal firearms dealer in connection with the purchase of a firearm. Judge Crawford also ordered that Gates serve three years of supervised release starting today. According to court documents, on June 29, 2022, Gates attempted to purchase a firearm at a Rutland dealer with a federal firearms license (“the FFL”). The FFL had reason to believe that Gates was an active drug user, delayed her purchase, and contacted the Rutland Police Department. While law enforcement investigated the attempted purchase, Rutland Police detectives learned that Gates had successfully purchased a Glock Model 45 9x19mm handgun from a different FFL located in Rutland on June 29, 2022. In coordination with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Homeland Security Investigations, Rutland Police detectives located Gates on June 30, 2022 and arrested her. A search of Gates’s residence in Rutland did not recover the Glock firearm but did result in the seizure of ammunition of multiple calibers, an empty box of 9x19mm ammunition, and evidence that demonstrated Gates’ participation in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine base. The Glock Model 45 9x19mm handgun purchased by Gates was ultimately recovered on July 19, 2022, in Rutland, Vermont. This case was investigated by the Rutland Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan Ophardt and Zachary Stendig represented the government. Katina Ready, Esq. represented Gates. 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn .


title: MILWAUKEE MAN SENTENCED TO TEN YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR ARMED CARJACKING

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on May 24, 2023, Jerome O. Smith (27) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison related to a carjacking that took place in Milwaukee in May 2022. According to court records, on May 8, 2022, Smith lured his victim to an apartment building in Milwaukee. When the victim arrived, Smith held a gun to his head and stole his jewelry, wallet, watch, and car keys. Smith then fled in the victim’s car. After being charged in federal court, Smith entered guilty pleas to one count of carjacking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2119, and one count of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c). At sentencing, United States District Court Brett H. Ludwig noted that Smith’s crime was among the most serious crimes prosecuted in federal court. Judge Ludwig discussed the violent nature of the crime and the trauma it caused the victim; he concluded that the crime warranted a significant period of incarceration. This case was investigated by the FBI’s Milwaukee Area Violent Crimes Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Julie F. Stewart and Benjamin P. Taibleson. ### For further information contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov (414) 297-1700 Follow us on Twitter


title: Waterbury Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Narcotics Distribution and Firearm Possession Offenses

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that RAMON OQUENDO, also known as “Mimo,” 46, of Waterbury, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for narcotics trafficking and firearm possession offenses. According to the evidence disclosed during the trial, this matter stems from an investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force of a drug trafficking network led by Landdy Rodriguez of Waterbury. In August 2021, investigators intercepted phone calls during which Rodriguez arranged for Oquendo to supply fentanyl to other drug distributors, including Sylvester Vann, also known as “Bug,” of Waterbury, and Pedro Diaz of Red Lion, Pennsylvania. Between August and October 2021, investigators conducted physical surveillance and observed Oquendo engaging in multiple drug transactions with Vann and Diaz. After one transaction, in August 2021, a Pennsylvania State Trooper stopped Diaz’s car in Pennsylvania and seized 48 grams of fentanyl. Oquendo was arrested on October 26, 2021. On that date, a court authorized search of his residence revealed approximately 100 grams of fentanyl, 64 grams of crack cocaine, 102 grams of methamphetamine, a large quantity of marijuana, a polymer 80 privately made firearm (“ghost gun”), ammunition, narcotics processing and packaging materials, and nearly $50,000 in cash. Oquendo’s criminal history includes convictions for felony drug and firearm offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce. Oquendo has been detained since his arrest. On March 2, 2023, a jury found him guilty of conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, 40 grams or more of fentanyl; possession with intent to distribute 40 grams of fentanyl; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (“crack”) and fentanyl; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon. Rodriguez, Vann, and Diaz pleaded guilty to related charges and have been sentenced. This investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Bridgeport High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Connecticut State Police, and the Waterbury Police Department. The Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Bridgeport Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Danbury, Milford, Norwalk, Stamford, and Stratford Police Departments. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth L. Gresham, John T. Pierpont, Jr., and Brendan J. Keefe through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: New Orleans Woman Sentenced for Violation of Federal Drug Control Act

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – TONI JONES , age 33, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced on May 25, 2023, to time served (15 months imprisonment) by U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier for possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine base, and methamphetamine, a violation of the Federal Controlled Substances Act, Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C), announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans. JONES was additionally ordered to serve a three (3) year term of supervised release and to pay a $100 special assessment fee. According to previously filed court documents, JONES was arrested on February 10, 2022 at the intersection of North Claiborne Avenue and Tupelo Street in the lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, Louisiana after she had been observed conducting hand-to-hand drug transactions. At the time of her arrest, JONES was in possession of controlled substances packaged for distribution. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Rayburn of the Violent Crimes Unit. * * *


title: Previously convicted felon sentenced to 37 months in prison for firearms charge

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced today that Lionel Vallo was sentenced to 37 months in prison. Vallo, 39, of Albuquerque, pleaded guilty on Nov. 14, 2022 to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition and failure to update his sex offender registration. According to the plea agreement and other court records, Vallo, who previously was convicted of aggravated sexual abuse in Indian Country in 2003, failed to update his sex offender registration after moving to a new address in Albuquerque. Vallo also failed to update his quarterly registration on July 1, 2020. On July 26, 2022, in Albuquerque, members of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Southwest Investigative Fugitive Team (SWIFT) Task Force initiated a traffic stop on Vallo, who was subject to an arrest warrant for absconding from supervised release. Vallo did not stop immediately, and once stopped, initially was non-compliant with commands to exit the vehicle. After Vallo eventually exited the vehicle and was taken into custody, SWIFT members located loaded firearms in the vehicle. Upon his release from prison, Vallo will be subject to 10 years of supervised release. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Marshals Service investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicholas Marshall and Matthew McGinley are prosecuting the case. # # # 23-114


title: Former Erie Resident Pleads Guilty to Firearms Charges

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: ERIE, Pa. - A former resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal firearms laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Dustin Robert Patterson, 30, pleaded guilty to both counts before United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in and around February 2022, Patterson possessed a firearm while being a convicted felon. Federal law prohibits an individual who has been convicted of a felony from possessing a firearm. In addition, the firearm was possessed while Patterson was subject to a Protection From Abuse order. 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. Judge Baxter scheduled sentencing for September 19, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The United States Marshal’s Service conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Patterson.