title: Bradenton Man Pleads Guilty To Firearms And Narcotics Offenses

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Terry McDonald, Jr. (32, Bradenton) today pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. McDonald faces a minimum penalty of 5 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court records, on October 5, 2023, deputies from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a home in Bradenton based on a series of controlled fentanyl purchases from another individual at the residence. At the time of the execution, McDonald was the sole occupant of a vehicle backed into the driveway. The vehicle was searched, and McDonald was found to be in possession of a loaded Smith and Wesson handgun, a digital scale, fentanyl, and cocaine. At the time, McDonald had multiple prior felony convictions, including possession of cocaine with intent to sell or deliver, fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer, and carrying a concealed firearm. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. McDonald has agreed to forfeit a Smith & Wesson firearm and ammunition which were used in the commission of the offenses. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Tampa Man Pleads Guilty To Recruiting Individuals To Pass Counterfeit Federal Reserve Notes

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Trentavius Quntez Scott (37, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to passing counterfeit Federal Reserve notes. Scott faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and restitution to the victims he defrauded. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court documents and public records, Scott appeared in federal court on September 26, 2024, pursuant to a writ bringing him to Jacksonville from the Hillsborough County Detention Center where he is serving a sentence for a counterfeit-related crime. The court ordered Scott detained. Scott is also wanted on a felony arrest warrant out of Hernando County on an unrelated financial crime case. According to the plea agreement, in July 2023, Scott recruited an individual to assist him in passing counterfeit Federal Reserve notes. Scott provided the individual with counterfeit the counterfeit currency, then the two traveled to Ocala. In Ocala, Scott and the individual went to a retail store and passed multiple counterfeit bills. In March 2024, Scott recruited two more individuals and provided them with counterfeit cash. Scott and the two individuals traveled to St. Johns County where they passed more counterfeit Federal Reserve notes at a retail store. This case was investigated by the Ocala Police Department, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Secret Service - Jacksonville Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.


title: Little Rock Man Convicted of Illegally Possessing Firearms Multiple Times Will Spend 20 Years In Prison

component: USAO - Arkansas, Eastern

body_text: LITTLE ROCK—A Little Rock man federally convicted twice for illegal gun possession received a 15-year prison sentence for his latest crime. Combined with his previous federal sentence, Juantay Jackson, 37, will spend 20 years in federal prison following the ruling handed down Thursday by United States District Court Chief Judge Kristine G. Baker. A federal grand jury indicted Jackson on May 3, 2023, on three charges, including being a felon in possession of a firearm, possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, following an arrest on September 8, 2022. He pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm on October 19, 2023. Jackson had been previously indicted on identical charges on March 6, 2018, stemming for a separate incident that occurred in 2017 when Jackson also had a gun and drugs in his vehicle. After pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm in that case, Jackson was scheduled to be sentenced on May 9, 2019. However, Jackson failed to appear for that hearing and evaded police until his arrest on September 8, 2022, when he again had a gun and drugs in his vehicle. Ultimately, Jackson received a 10-year sentence for his 2017 crime. On Thursday, Judge Baker sentenced Jackson to 15 years in federal prison for his 2022 crime, plus three years of supervised release. From that 15-year sentence, 10 years are to be run consecutive to the 10 years Jackson received in his previous case, resulting in 20 years of total imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. In Jackson’s most recent case, an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) revealed that on September 8, 2022, North Little Rock police officers attempted to stop on a vehicle driven by Jackson, however Jackson fled from officers in the vehicle while driving at speeds in excess of 65 mph in a 30-mph zone before ultimately crashing into a light pole. Jackson then fled on foot but was apprehended. Officers located two bags of pills which contained methamphetamine in Jackson’s pocket. Officers also searched Jackson’s vehicle and found a loaded handgun in the driver’s side floorboard, additional ammunition, and a large-capacity magazine. Officers also located a backpack containing marijuana in the rear seat. This case was investigated by the ATF with assistance from the North Little Rock Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shelby Shelton. # # # Additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at https://www.justice.gov/edar X (formerly known as Twitter): @USAO_EDAR


title: Romanian Group Indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property from Walmart

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – COSTEL ALIMAN (“ALIMAN”) , SABINA MUNTEANU (“MUNTEANU”) , and RAMBO HARNA (“HARNA”) , citizens of Romania, were charged on November 21, 2024 in a three-count superseding indictment for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and interstate transportation of stolen goods, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. ALIMAN and MUNTEANU were previously indicted in Counts 2 and 3 for illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a). According to Count 1 of the superseding indictment, ALIMAN , MUNTEANU , and HARNA, conspired to defraud Walmart stores across the country, out of merchandise, money orders, and money transfer requests. ALIMAN would count out money in front of a Walmart cashier, while one of his co-conspirators, including MUNTEANU and HARNA , would distract the cashier. Using a sleight-of-hand technique, ALIMAN would pretend to hand the cashier the full amount while secretly retrieving a large portion of the cash. The co-conspirators would then return merchandise for a refund to other Walmart stores in a different state or obtain the full value of money orders and money transfer requests after having only paid for a fraction of the cost. If convicted of Count 1, ALIMAN , MUNTEANU , and HARNA each face up to 5 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. As to Counts 2 and 3, ALIMAN and MUNTEANU each face up to 2 years of imprisonment, up to 1 year of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the superseding indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of Homeland Security Investigations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations, and Walmart Home Office Central Investigations Organized Retail Crime Division in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Paul J. Hubbell of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Justice Department Announces an Organizational Assessment of the Marysville, Kansas Police Department under the COPS Office’s Collaborative Reform Initiative

component: Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)

body_text: The Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) today announced that it will provide an Organizational Assessment of the Marysville, Kansas Police Department through its Collaborative Reform Initiative. This is a voluntary program that is offered at the request of law enforcement agencies that are seeking to improve their services and operations. Over the next year, the Marysville Police Department will work in partnership with the COPS Office Collaborative Reform Initiative team to focus on: Community Policing Workforce Development Strategic Planning Employee Wellness Technology, Data, and Organizational Learning “Requesting an Organizational Assessment review shows that an agency is being pro-active in its efforts to create the best department possible to serve the needs of its community,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “I applaud the Marysville Police Department for taking this important step, and the Department looks forward to working with them.” “It is only by examining what’s going well, and what could be improved upon, that an agency can make strides to building a department the community wants and deserves,” said Director Hugh T. Clements Jr. of the COPS Office. “Ultimately, it’s the members of the Marysville Police Department and the Marysville community who will be the beneficiaries of this work.” Regular updates on the team’s work with the Marysville Police Department will be provided at: www.cops.usdoj.gov/active-oa-site-marysville-ks-police-department as part of the transparency and public accountability of this new Organizational Assessment effort. The Collaborative Reform Initiative encompasses three programs offering expert services to state, local, territorial, and Tribal law enforcement agencies: the Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center, Critical Response, and Organizational Assessment programs (complete details of these programs can be found at www.cops.usdoj.gov/collaborativereform ). Managed out of the COPS Office, this continuum of services is designed to build trust between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve; improve operational efficiencies and effectiveness; enhance officer safety and wellness; build agencies’ capacity for organizational learning and self-improvement; and promote community policing practices nationwide. The Organizational Assessment program provides the most intensive form of technical assistance on the continuum, involving in-depth assessments and long-term assistance to improve the fairness, effectiveness, and efficacy of agency operations that build trust with communities. A continual assessment and implementation process ensures that time and resources are used to focus on identifying areas for improvement, reinforcing agency strengths, and assisting with the implementation of improvements expeditiously. At the same time, the process provides transparency and accountability with routine public reporting and community input. Each engagement will be supported by a multidisciplinary assessment team composed of subject matter experts with diverse experience and perspectives, including in law enforcement, community engagement, research and evaluation, program management and organizational reform. The COPS Office is the federal component of the Justice Department responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Justice Department agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served. The COPS Office has been appropriated more than $20 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, territorial, and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 138,000 officers.


title: Shelton Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Assault Rifle and Ammunition in Waterbury

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MIGUEL RIVERA, also known as “Macho,” 32, of Shelton, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing an assault rifle and ammunition. According to the evidence presented during Rivera’s trial, in the early morning hours of July 5, 2020, Waterbury Police officers responded to a shots-fired complaint in the area of William Street and Laurel Street in Waterbury. When officers arrived on William Street, Rivera, who was wearing a body armor vest, attempted to flee by climbing over a fence. Rivera was apprehended, and a search of the area from which he had run revealed a Romarm/Cugir, AK Type Model, 7.62 x 39mm caliber, semi-automatic rifle containing a fully-loaded 30-round magazine. Rivera also possessed one round of ammunition in his pocket. Rivera’s criminal history includes convictions for felony firearm, robbery, and burglary 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. On October 19, 2023, Rivera was found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. It is alleged that on June 21, 2022, while he was released on bond and awaiting trial in this case, Rivera unlawfully possessed a stolen 12-gauge shotgun, ammunition, and two Kevlar bullet proof vests. He has been detained since July 13, 2022, and additional charges are pending in Hartford federal court. U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that a charge is only an allegation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This investigation has been conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Waterbury Police Department, and the Connecticut State Police. These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha M. Freismuth and Patricia Stolfi Collins through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Justice Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn .


title: Former Bronx Resident Arrested For Attempting To Provide Material Support To ISIS And Distributing Instructions Regarding Homemade Explosives

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; James E. Dennehy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”); and Rebecca Weiner, the Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism for the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today that ERALD ALIMEHMETI was arrested in connection with a Complaint charging ALIMEHMETI with attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (“ISIS”) and distributing instructional information regarding the making of explosives. ALIMEHMETI was presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron and ordered detained. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Erald Alimehmeti distributed—on pro-ISIS channels—dozens of instructional materials, including those he personally created, that describe handling firearms and making specific explosives. Alimehmeti also allegedly discussed planning and training for terrorist attacks on behalf of ISIS, provided instructions on how to spray explosives on innocent people, and went so far as to claim that ‘it’s time for a genocide.’ I commend our law enforcement partners and this Office’s career prosecutors who worked tirelessly to detect and disrupt Alimehmeti’s alleged terrorist activities.” FBI Assistant Director in Charge James E. Dennehy said: “Erald Alimehmeti not only allegedly attempted to provide material support to ISIS by trying to recruit and train who he believed to be like minded individuals online, but also repeatedly shared multiple instructions on how to make explosives for use in a terrorist attack. Thankfully, due to the dedication and determination of the New York Joint Terrorism Force, Alimehmeti was stopped before he could further his evil aims. The FBI New York, the NYPD, and all law enforcement partners on the JTTF continue to be unrelenting in our mission to protect our country from anyone attempting to cause violence and mayhem in the name of terrorism.” NYPD Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Weiner said: “As we continue to see, allegedly attempting to provide material support to a designated terrorist organization usually has just one outcome: Arrest. I commend the NYPD and all the members of the FBI’s New York JTTF, for their unwavering focus on keeping New York City and our nation safe. In today’s borderless world, public safety demands the level of teamwork that defines this and all of our joint investigations.” As alleged in the Complaint: [1] ALIMEHMETI is a U.S. and Albanian citizen and former resident of the Bronx, New York, and moved to Albania in 2014. ALIMEHMETI was arrested by Albanian authorities and imprisoned in late 2015 to 2019 and again from late 2020 to 2022 for weapons and assault offenses. Between prison terms, ALIMEHMETI created and used numerous online accounts on encrypted messaging applications and social media websites to communicate with others about planning and training for attacks on behalf of ISIS. For example, in 2019, ALIMEHMETI expressed interest in “DC sniper” style attacks and referenced an “op” for which he sought the participation of confidential sources, writing, among other things, “Do you know sniping akhi? The formulas and ballistics?” and “I will brief you brothers right before the op, not here akhi. Do you both know how to use red dot optics and how to zero them?” ALIMEHMETI also requested what he described as “tactical” equipment and “gear” for “training” and “operations” in support of ISIS, including particular models of vests capable of holding “ballistic plates,” “magazine pouches,” and “knives,” and described modifications he intended to make to his “AKM,” an apparent reference to an assault rifle. In addition, in 2019 and 2020, ALIMEHMETI regularly posted pro-ISIS propaganda online, praising specific ISIS leaders and promoting ISIS-issued publications and videos. For example, ALIMEHMETI’s social media posts included praise of the ISIS propagandist Shaykh ul-Haqq Musa Cerantonio and the Libyan terrorist and high-ranking al Qaeda official Abu Yahya al-Libi; photographs of various jihadist publications, such as “The Islamic Ruling of the Permissibility of Self-Sacrificial Operations: Suicide, or Martyrdom?” and “The Book of Jihad”; and a video depicting the killing of U.S. Special Forces in Niger and an accompanying comment in Albanian, which translates to: “The Islamic State in Africa killing crusaders, American and French special forces. Look at how the US special forces scream before they die!!! Hahaha!” ALIMEHMETI also described his work compiling resources on mixing dangerous chemicals and making explosives to a confidential source and discussed how to make specific types of incendiaries to spray at innocent bystanders in a terrorist attack. On an encrypted messaging channel, ALIMEHMETI posted dozens of links and downloadable documents on topics such as explosives-making, firearms-handling, defensive tactics, and outdoor survival, with comments encouraging the use of these resources. For example, he posted a video and described it as “a video release from the official media of the Khilafa, explaining how YOU O Muwahid can make TATP explosives in your own home ... SO FIGHT THEM O MUWAHID,” an apparent reference to a well-known ISIS video titled, “You Must Fight Them O Muwahhid,” which provides step-by-step instructions for constructing a TATP-based explosive device and attacking a human target with a knife. * * * ALIMEHMETI, 33, of Tirana, Albania, is charged with one count of attempting to provide material support to ISIS, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of distribution of information pertaining to explosives, destructive devices, and weapons of mass destruction in furtherance of a federal crime of violence, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, which consists principally of agents and analysts from the FBI and detectives from the NYPD. Mr. Williams also thanked Homeland Security Investigations, the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, the Office of International Affairs of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, and law enforcement partners in Albania and Australia, including the Australian Attorney-General’s Department , for their valuable assistance. The case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas S. Bradley and Jane Y. Chong are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney Jessica K. Fender of the Counterterrorism Section. The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the complaint and the description of the complaint set forth herein constitutes only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Members of Massive Methamphetamine Conversion and Trafficking Ring Sentenced

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ROME, Ga. - Rosa Elena Rangel Pantoja, Dustin Burgess, and Berzain Leal Batrez have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in operating a large methamphetamine conversion and distribution organization. “Methamphetamine production and distribution continues to pose a grave threat to public safety, especially when trafficked using the large-scale and international operation utilized by the defendants in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Thanks to the vigilance and investigative work of our law enforcement partners, this operation has been dismantled and these drug traffickers have been prosecuted for their crimes.” “Driven by greed, these drug traffickers’ activities posed a significant threat to our communities, and to the lives of several children who lived in close proximity to this highly volatile clandestine lab,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “The success of this investigation is proof that those destroying our communities with methamphetamine and other dangerous drugs will be held accountable.” “While communities across our state continue to struggle with the ongoing drug crisis, there are criminal enterprises, like Rangel’s drug trafficking organization, whose sole purpose is to profit from addiction and suffering,” said, Mitchell Jackson, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Dalton office. “The FBI is committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners to shut down these dangerous organizations that pump poison into our neighborhoods.” “These sentences reflect the consequences these defendants received for their destructive impact they caused on communities,” said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Atlanta that covers Georgia and Alabama. “HSI is committed to holding those accountable who distribute their poison into our communities.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: From at least October 2021 until August 2022, Rosa Elena Rangel Pantoja (“Rangel”) led a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that manufactured crystal methamphetamine in Georgia. Members of the DTO transported liquid methamphetamine from Mexico to the Northern District of Georgia in the gas tanks of semi-trucks. The DTO members then pumped the liquid methamphetamine out of the semi-trucks and cooked it into crystal methamphetamine, using at least two clandestine laboratories to convert the methamphetamine. In March 2022, law enforcement first began investigating the DTO when Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) agents were notified that a Hispanic female, later identified as Rangel, was purchasing large amounts of acetone, which is a critical component in converting liquid methamphetamine into crystal methamphetamine. Based on the substantial amount of acetone that was being purchased, agents suspected Rangel was supplying the acetone to a methamphetamine laboratory. In August 2022, agents found one of the methamphetamine conversion laboratories in Canon, Georgia, after observing a semi-truck delivering liquid methamphetamine to the lab. A search warrant was executed and agents seized over 250 gallons of liquid methamphetamine and nearly 10 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine. Rangel rented the property where members of the DTO cooked the methamphetamine on the lower level of a barndominium, while she and her four children lived in the upper level of the same building. Agents also seized two firearms from Rangel’s bedroom. In November 2022, agents found a second methamphetamine conversion laboratory in Austell, Georgia, after tracking Batrez’s movements to the Mexico border and back to Georgia. Agents later observed members of the DTO delivering liquid methamphetamine to the laboratory, and upon executing a search warrant, over 160 gallons of liquid methamphetamine and 75 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine was seized at that location. After the seizures, further investigation revealed that Rangel had been working with a “boss” based in Mexico to run the operation, with whom she had regular communication. Rangel then relayed communications to other DTO members, including threats from the boss. Rangel was also responsible for paying other DTO members, as well as giving instructions on supplying the methamphetamine labs with the acetone needed for the conversion process. U.S. District Judge William M. Ray, II sentenced the defendants in the case as follows: Rosa Rangel, 40, of Canon, Georgia, was sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Rangel was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on November 6, 2023, after she pleaded guilty. Dustin Burgess, 36, of Ellijay, Georgia, was sentenced to 13 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Burgess was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on October 5, 2023, after he pleaded guilty. Berzain Leal Batrez, 44, of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced to seven years, 11 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Batrez was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on October 5, 2023, after he pleaded guilty. Judge Ray is also scheduled to sentence two other defendants in the case, Martha Karina Rangel-Pantoja, 42, of Ellijay, Georgia on January 13, 2025, and Uriel Plancarte Mendoza, 31 of Canon, Georgia on March 21, 2025. This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations, with valuable assistance provided by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia State Patrol, Bartow County Sherriff’s Office, Calhoun Police Department, Cherokee County, North Carolina Sheriff’s Office, Pickens County Sheriff’s Office, Gilmer County Sheriff’s Office, Fannin County Sheriff’s Office, Murray County Sheriff’s Office, Dalton Police Department, Chatsworth Police Department, Gilmer County Homeland Security Agency, and Tennessee 10th Judicial District Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cal Leipold and Bethany L. Rupert are prosecuting the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Justice Department Announces an Organizational Assessment of the Maryland Natural Resources Police under the COPS Office’s Collaborative Reform Initiative

body_text: The Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) today announced that it will provide an Organizational Assessment of the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) through its Collaborative Reform Initiative. This is a voluntary program that is offered at the request of law enforcement agencies that are seeking to improve their services and operations. Over the next year, NRP will work in partnership with the COPS Office Collaborative Reform Initiative team to focus on: Community Policing Workforce Development Strategic Planning Employee Wellness Technology, Data, and Organizational Learning “The work of law enforcement encompasses a wide range of duties and responsibilities, but there are key and standard tenets to building all successful agencies,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “I applaud the Maryland Natural Resources Police for voluntarily taking on the work of applying these tenets to its operation.” “Every law enforcement agency can benefit by taking an in-depth look at the work of its department and seeing what’s working and where there are opportunities for improvement,” said Director Hugh T. Clements Jr. of the COPS Office. “Focusing on key areas such as workforce development and employee wellness are critical for an agency to continue to grow and improve.” Regular updates on the team’s work with the NRP will be provided at www.cops.usdoj.gov/active-oa-site-maryland-dnr as part of the transparency and public accountability of this new Organizational Assessment effort. The Collaborative Reform Initiative encompasses three programs offering expert services to state, local, territorial, and Tribal law enforcement agencies: the Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center, Critical Response, and Organizational Assessment programs (complete details of these programs can be found at www.cops.usdoj.gov/collaborativereform ). Managed out of the COPS Office, this continuum of services is designed to build trust between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve; improve operational efficiencies and effectiveness; enhance officer safety and wellness; build agencies’ capacity for organizational learning and self-improvement; and promote community policing practices nationwide. The Organizational Assessment program provides the most intensive form of technical assistance on the continuum, involving in-depth assessments and long-term assistance to improve the fairness, effectiveness, and efficacy of agency operations that build trust with communities. A continual assessment and implementation process ensures that time and resources are used to focus on identifying areas for improvement, reinforcing agency strengths, and assisting with the implementation of improvements expeditiously. At the same time, the process provides transparency and accountability with routine public reporting and community input. Each engagement will be supported by a multidisciplinary assessment team composed of subject matter experts with diverse experience and perspectives, including in law enforcement, community engagement, research and evaluation, program management and organizational reform. The COPS Office is the federal component of the Justice Department responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Justice Department agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served. The COPS Office has been appropriated more than $20 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, territorial, and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 138,000 officers.


title: Federal Law Enforcement Initiative Leads to Charges Against Six Individuals for Drug Trafficking and Firearms Offenses

component: USAO - Louisiana, Middle

body_text: United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. has announced that an investigation into a drug trafficking organization based out of Ascension Parish has resulted in a federal grand jury indictment leading to the arrest of six individuals on various charges, including firearm and drug trafficking offenses. According to the Indictment, the defendants engaged in an extensive drug trafficking venture where they distributed cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine, oxycodone, and heroin in the Middle District of Louisiana. During the investigation, agents seized over 443 grams of substances containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and 68.1 grams of cocaine, along with several firearms: a Springfield Armory pistol, model Saint, 5.56 Nato caliber; a Taurus, model Judge, .45 caliber and 410 gauge revolver; a Kimber pistol, model Stainless Ultra Carry II, .45 ACP caliber; and a Davis Industry Derringer, model DM-22, .22 Mag caliber pistol. Charged and arrested as part of this initiative were the following individuals: Leroy Miles, age 45, of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon, and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Joseph Brown, age 37, of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and distribution of heroin and fentanyl. James Miles, age 47, of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Corey Powe, age 55, of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Marishell Ealem, age 39, of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and distribution of heroin and fentanyl. Destiny Renee McBride, age 35, of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and task force officers from the Baton Rouge Police Department, Iberville Sheriff’s Office, Gonzales Police Department, Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office with critical assistance from Homeland Security and the Internal Revenue Service. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy S. Johnson. The investigation is another effort by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program that was established in 1982 to mount a comprehensive attack against organized drug traffickers. Today, the OCDETF Program is the centerpiece of the United States Attorney General’s drug strategy to reduce the availability of drugs by disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations and money laundering organizations and related criminal enterprises. The OCDETF Program operates nationwide and combines the resources and unique expertise of numerous federal, state, and local agencies in a coordinated attack against major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. NOTE: An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. The defendants are presumed innocent until and unless adjudicated guilty at trial or through a guilty plea.


title: DOJ and U.S. Health and Human Services settle claims that MultiCare Health System violated Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – MultiCare Health Systems of Washington will change procedures and set aside more than $2 million to compensate patients whose civil rights were violated by a failure to provide appropriate interpreter services, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. An investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) revealed that two patients, who are deaf-blind, failed to receive appropriate interpreter services both before and after surgery. The two patients will each receive $100,000. The family members of each patient who were forced to become interpreters in these stressful situations are each being compensated with $40,000. “This settlement with MultiCare not only compensates those whose rights were violated, it also ensures better care in the future for patients who are deaf and deaf-blind,” said U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. “MultiCare is designating a point person who will be responsible for providing appropriate assistive devices and ensuring the health system has resources, including three interpreter firms, who can be called on to ensure effective communication with all patients.” Under the terms of the settlement, MultiCare will provide training to employees about assessing and meeting the communication needs of patients who are deaf or deaf-blind. The settlement calls for MultiCare to put information on its website and in its handbook about interpreter services for those who are deaf or deaf-blind. The detailed agreement will be in place for three years and requires reporting every four months to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and HHS about requests for assistive devices or interpreters and how those needs were met. This investigation began in 2020 when the U.S. Attorney’s office received a complaint that a patient who is deaf-blind, failed to receive appropriate communication assistance at multiple appointments both before and after surgery. MultiCare had the patient’s spouse who is deaf and visually impaired act as an interpreter – something she was not qualified or prepared to do. While that investigation was underway, a second deaf-blind patient reported that his rights were also violated when MultiCare failed to provide appropriate communication aids both before and after his surgery. That patient’s son had to act as an interpreter, something he too was not trained to do. While not admitting fault, MultiCare acknowledges that there may be additional patients whose rights under the ADA were violated. MultiCare will establish a fund of $2 million and will seek to identify any patients who failed to receive appropriate interpreter services. Under the terms of the settlement, MultiCare will establish a third-party claims administrator to allocate the settlement funds based on the harm suffered by each complainant. The administrator will work with MultiCare records to locate claimants. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will review the allocations after the claims have been submitted and reviewed. In addition to the settlements to claimants, MultiCare will pay $95,000 to the U.S. Attorney’s office. This is the 8 th settlement in the last eight years regarding failure to provide appropriate interpreter services in the health care setting. The U.S. Attorney’s Office investigated and resolved complaints against PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver, Washington , University of Washington Medical Center – Northwest (UWMC-NW) in Seattle, and Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington (KFHPW) among others. The matter was investigated, and the settlement was negotiated, by Assistant United States Attorneys Susan Kas and Matt Waldrop. AUSA Kas serves as the Civil Rights Coordinator for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Washington. You can learn more about our Civil Rights work here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/civil-rights


title: Second Former NYCHA Superintendent Convicted Of Bribery And Extortion Offenses At Trial

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Jocelyn E. Strauber, the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”); William S. Walker, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”); Vicky Vazquez, the Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General (“HUD OIG”); and Jonathan Mellone, the Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Region of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General (“DOL-OIG”), announced that HECTOR COLON, a former New York City Housing Authority (“NYCHA”) superintendent, was convicted today of bribery and extortion under color of official right for taking thousands of dollars from contractors in exchange for awarding those contractors no-bid contracts or approving payment on previously awarded contracts at NYCHA developments for approximately three years. The verdict followed a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Corruption is an insidious crime—difficult to detect, corrosive in its effect on government agencies, and damaging to the public’s trust in government institutions. As a NYCHA Superintendent, Hector Colon abused his position of public trust by demanding thousands of dollars of bribes from contractors, betraying his duty to NYCHA residents, the City of New York, and taxpayers. The jury’s unanimous verdict sends a clear message that those who use their public offices for personal gain will be held accountable.” DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said: “When public servants demand payoffs from vendors providing services to the New York City Housing Authority, they drive up the cost of those services, diverting valuable resources from the residents of public housing. Today, this suspended NYCHA employee stands convicted by a jury for this criminal conduct, joining 59 convicted colleagues, among the 70 who have been charged. And to date, NYCHA has implemented 11 of DOI’s 14 recommendations intended to thwart employees who would use positions of trust to enrich themselves at the expense of New Yorkers that NYCHA serves. I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and our federal law enforcement partners for their commitment to protect public resources and to hold accountable those public servants who abuse their authority.” HSI Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker “Today’s guilty verdict — the second successful trial following HSI’s sweeping task force investigation into bribery and extortion amongst NYCHA personnel — underscores the importance of collaboration among law enforcement partners in protecting and serving New Yorkers. The pervasive corruption exemplified by Colon’s conduct continues to be brought to light, and HSI New York’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force is proud to have played a role uncovering the exploitation of an underserved community for personal gain.” HUD OIG Special Agent in Charge Vicky Vazquez said: “Colon took advantage of his position of trust and engaged in a deplorable bribery and kickback scheme to enrich himself. Moreover, he violated the fair process for awarding government contracts, putting the integrity of HUD programs at risk. HUD OIG remains steadfast in its commitment to working with our prosecutorial, law enforcement, and oversight partners to aggressively pursue individuals who engage in activities that jeopardize HUD programs.” DOL-OIG Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone said: “Suspended NYCHA superintendent Hector Colon abused his position to extort contractors in exchange for no-bid construction contracts that violated the requirements of federal law. Today’s conviction sends a clear message that public corruption will not be tolerated. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate those who corruptly exploit federally funded governmental programs at the expense of American taxpayers.” According to the evidence presented in court during the trial: NYCHA is the largest public housing authority in the country, providing housing to New Yorkers across the City and receiving over $1.5 billion in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) every year. When repairs or construction work at NYCHA housing require the use of outside contractors, services must typically be purchased via a bidding process. However, when the value of a contract was under a certain threshold, designated staff at NYCHA developments, including superintendents, could hire a contractor of their choosing without soliciting multiple bids. With either type of contract, a NYCHA employee needed to certify that the work was satisfactorily completed in order for the contractor to receive payment from NYCHA. COLON, a superintendent at multiple NYCHA developments in Manhattan between 2019 and 2021, including Harlem River Houses, Fort Washington Houses, and Drew Hamilton Houses, demanded and received cash in exchange for NYCHA contracts by either requiring contractors to pay up front in order to be awarded the contracts or requiring payment after the contractor finished the work and needed COLON to sign off on the completed job. COLON typically demanded approximately 10% of the contract value—between $500 and $1,000 depending on the size of the contract—or a flat bribe of $1,000 for signing off on invoices for completed work. In total, COLON demanded and received thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars in NYCHA contracts. Of the 70 individual NYCHA employees charged with bribery and extortion offenses in February 2024, 58 have pled guilty, and two have been convicted after trial. If you believe you have information related to bribery, extortion, or any other illegal conduct by NYCHA employees, please contact OIGNYCHA@doi.nyc.gov or (212) 306-3356. If you were involved in such conduct, please consider self-disclosing through the SDNY Whistleblower Pilot Program at USANYS.WBP@usdoj.gov. * * * COLON, 46, of the Bronx, New York, was convicted of one count of federal program bribery, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and one count of extortion under color of official right, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Department of Investigation, U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), the HUD Office of Inspector General, and DOL-OIG, which work together collaboratively as part of the HSI Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force, as well as the special agents and task force officers of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (“OCDETF”) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. This case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacob R. Fiddelman, Catherine Ghosh, and Jane Kim are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Jayda Foote and Shirel Garzon.


title: Former Hulbert Schools Encumbrance Clerk Pleads Guilty To Theft Of Federal Funds

component: Office of the Inspector General

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Rebecca Deanne Morehead, age 53, of Locust Grove, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Theft or Bribery Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds. The Indictment alleged that between June 2019 and October 26, 2021, Morehead stole or embezzled over $5,000.00 from the Hulbert Public School District while serving as district encumbrance clerk. The charge arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Education – Office of Inspector General (OIG). The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Morehead was released on a personal recognizance bond pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kara Traster and Joshua Satter represented the United States.


title: Man Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Federal Prison for Threatening Law Enforcement and Illegally Possessing Firearms

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ROCKFORD — A Machesney Park, Ill. man has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for threatening to assault and murder federal law enforcement officers and unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition. JACOB BALABUSZKO, 28, admitted in a plea agreement that after an FBI Task Force Officer and an FBI Special Agent interviewed him in 2020 and 2021 as part of an official investigation, he threatened, “Next time you two come to my house unannounced, I’m going to shoot you on sight, that is a threat.” Balabuszko made additional threats in a Signal chat group, inciting others in the group to kill law enforcement officers and collect their badges, shoot out their tires, and burn down their homes. Balabuszko admitted in the plea agreement that he had the capacity to carry out these threats by illegally possessing firearms, ammunition, and body armor in his home. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston sentenced Balabuszko to 41 months in federal prison. The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Illinois State Police assisted in the investigation. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ladd.


title: Man Admits Selling Fatal Dose of Fentanyl

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis man pleaded guilty Friday and admitted selling the fentanyl that killed a 52-year-old in 2023. Sylvester Clay, 50, admitted that on Dec. 8, 2023, he sold fentanyl to the victim on the parking lot of a gas station on the St. Louis – St. Louis County line. The victim’s friend had picked him up from a hospital in Springfield, Missouri earlier that day, and the victim asked the friend to take him to St. Louis to get something for the pain he was having. The drug transaction was captured on video. After leaving the station, the victim consumed some of the fentanyl, said it was a hard hit and then passed out. His friend drove the victim to the hospital in Hermann, Missouri. The victim was found dead in the car. He was killed by a lethal dose of both fentanyl and oxycodone, but the fentanyl alone was enough to kill him, his plea agreement says. On Jan. 19, 2024, investigators interviewed Clay, who admitted selling the victim drugs and identified himself in photos taken from the gas station surveillance video. Clay pleaded guilty to one felony count of distribution of a controlled substance. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 20, 2025. Both sides have agreed to recommend 13 years in prison. The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerome McDonald is prosecuting the case.


title: Tucson Woman Sentenced to 60 Months for Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Mariana Garcia-Tapia, 32, of Tucson, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Scott H. Rash to 60 months in prison. Garcia-Tapia pleaded guilty on July 10, 2024, to Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit Placing in Jeopardy the Life of Any Person. She was given an additional 12 months in prison to run consecutive to her sentence for violating the conditions of her supervised release in a separate case (CR-22-00816-002-PHX-DJH). On February 2, 2024, near Naco, Arizona, a United States Border Patrol camera operator observed four suspected undocumented noncitizens approach a 2011 Volkswagen Routan. Another Border Patrol agent responded and observed the group get into the Routan. When Border Patrol stopped the vehicle, they found that it was only occupied by the driver and co-defendant, Sharnesia Latrice Cooley, her two-year-old minor son and the defendant, Garcia-Tapia. A search of the area revealed four injured people strewn along the road just east of the San Pedro Bridge. Their injuries were consistent with having jumped from a moving vehicle. They were transported to the hospital with serious head trauma among other injuries, and it was determined that all four were illegally present within the United States. One of the undocumented noncitizens admitted that they had made arrangements to be smuggled into the United States for a sum of money. The co-defendant, Cooley, was found guilty by way of jury trial. She is currently set for sentencing on January 16, 2025, before Judge Rash. Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alicia Renee Quezada and Caroline Allen, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR 24-00910-2-TUC-SHR RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-161_Garcia-Tapia # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Man Who Shot at Nashville Police Officer Charged with Federal Firearms Violation

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

body_text: NASHVILLE – A man who shot at a Metro Nashville police officer was charged with a federal firearms violation, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Thomas J. Jaworski. According to the complaint, Knykholas Lane, 21, of Nashville, was already on probation after having been convicted of two felony counts of Aggravated Burglary when Metro Nashville police officers responded to the 700 block of Lewis Street based on a citizen complaint that an armed man was attempting to break into a woman’s residence. In the early morning hours of November 19, 2024, officers observed Lane as the suspect in the possible break-in and ordered him to stop. However, Lane fled on foot and, as officers pursued him, they observed a pistol in his right hand. According to the complaint, Lane then pointed the pistol at an MNPD officer and fired a shot. The officer returned fire, striking Lane twice. Officers recovered a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol which Lane had used to shoot at the officer. Lane was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. After the shooting, officers learned that Lane also had outstanding warrants for his arrest on charges of Domestic Violence and False Imprisonment. “Stopping armed felons who put members of our community at risk is among our highest priorities,” said Acting United States Attorney Thomas J. Jaworski. “When those individuals put not just citizens but also our police officers in danger, we will act swiftly to hold offenders accountable.” If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum of 15 years in federal prison. This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Kurtzman is prosecuting the case. A federal complaint is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. # # # # #


title: Gulfport Man Sentenced to 87 Months in Prison for Possession of over 80 Videos of Child Pornography

body_text: Gulfport, Miss. - A Gulfport man was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison followed by 20 years of supervised release for possession of over 80 videos of child pornography. Roy Alexander Johnson, 31, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport. In addition to his term of imprisonment, Johnson was ordered to pay $13,000 in restitution to victims, and $3,000 in mandatory restitution under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018. According to court documents, Johnson was the user of accounts which contained visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Johnson was identified after CyberTip reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children led to email accounts which were traced to Johnson. The email accounts contained over 80 videos of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct including minors who had not attained 12 years of age. Johnson was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 14, 2024. He pled guilty on August 15, 2024. U.S. Attorney Todd Gee and FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the Cyber Crime Division of the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.


title: Jacksonville Man Indicted For Money Laundering

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Mauricio Chahine (52, Jacksonville) with five counts of money laundering and attempted money laundering. If convicted, Chahine faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. Chahine was arrested on a criminal complaint on November 12, 2024, and has been ordered detained while awaiting trial. According to the indictment and other court documents, beginning in March 2024, Chahine met several times with undercover federal agents who were posing as drug traffickers. Chahine explained to the undercover agents the various ways that he could launder money for a fee on their behalf. On four separate occasions, Chahine accepted cash from the agents, totaling more than $200,000. Chahine then caused the cash to be divided up and deposited into the bank accounts of various corporate entities, only to return the money to the agents – less his fee – through a series of wire transfers to a bank account controlled by the agents. The purpose of these transactions was to conceal or disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the cash, which Chahine believed to be drug trafficking proceeds. The indictment also alleges that Chahine attempted to engage in money laundering on a fifth occasion shortly before his arrest. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kelly S. Milliron and Michael J. Coolican. This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Two Chicago-Area Residents Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conducting Online Inheritance and Romance Scams

component: USAO - Illinois, Northern

body_text: CHICAGO — An undercover law enforcement investigation has resulted in federal prison sentences for two Nigerian nationals residing in the Chicago suburbs who conducted online inheritance scams and other fraud schemes. Using aliases, ANTHONY EMEKA IBEKIE and SAMUEL ANIUKWU communicated with victims throughout the United States, convincing them they had received substantial inheritances and needed to send money to individuals associated with the defendants in order to claim it. In addition to the inheritance scam, the pair carried out an online romance scam that involved communicating with victims via social media and dating websites, building trust with the victims through a purported online romance, and convincing them to send money to a predetermined recipient. Aniukwu and Ibekie also orchestrated a “business email compromise” scam that targeted corporate email accounts. The fraud schemes were uncovered by a covert law enforcement investigation. The scams resulted in losses to victims of at least $3.5 million. A federal jury earlier this year convicted Ibekie, 59, of Oswego, Ill., on all 14 counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, making false statements to a bank, and passport fraud. U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger on Thursday sentenced Ibekie to 20 years in federal prison. Aniukwu, 50, of Romeoville, Ill., pleaded guilty last year to wire fraud and money laundering charges. Judge Seeger on Nov. 8, 2024, sentenced Aniukwu to ten years in prison. A third defendant, JENNIFER GOSHA, 52, a U.S. citizen from Oak Park, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges of wire fraud and making false statements to a federal agent. Gosha is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Seeger on Dec. 18, 2024. Aniukwu’s and Ibekie’s sentencings were announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Ramsey E. Covington, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation Chicago Field Office, Sean Fitzgerald, Special Agent-in-Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago, and Ruth Mendonça, Inspector-in-Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Chicago. Valuable assistance was provided by the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paige A. Nutini and Megan DeMarco represent the government.


title: Jacksonville Contract Postal Carrier Pleads Guilty To Credit Card Fraud And Theft Of Mail Charges

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Daniel Diaz Garcia (35, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to credit card fraud and theft of mail. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison for the credit card fraud offense, up to 5 years’ imprisonment for the mail theft offense, and payment of restitution to the victims in the case. Garcia was arrested on July 29, 2024, by the U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG). A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court documents, in September 2023, Garcia began working as a highway contract carrier handling First Class mail delivery in Jacksonville. While working in that capacity, Garcia stole mail, opened it, and removed the contents to include credit cards. An investigation by the USPS-OIG determined that Garcia stole credit cards belonging to various victims on his mail route. Video surveillance from various businesses showed Garcia using the stolen credit cards to purchase more than $1,000 in merchandise. While questioning Garcia about his use of the stolen credit cards, law enforcement located an additional stolen credit card in his wallet. This case was investigated by United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein.


title: Serial Burglar Sentenced

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A Tulsa man was sentenced today for three counts of second-degree burglary and four counts of third-degree burglary in Indian Country, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Mark Alfred Foreman, 38, to 70 months imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Hill further ordered Foreman to pay more than $3,200 in restitution. Between 5 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. on November 16, 2023, Foreman admitted to committing seven burglaries around Tulsa. Foreman broke into two homes and four vehicles using various destructive methods. His final stop that morning alerted Tulsa Police officers. When officers saw Foreman, they pursued him until he crashed into a fence. From there, he took off on foot and was ultimately found by a K-9 officer and detained. During Foreman’s string of burglaries, his girlfriend was assisting him. She was detained later that day. The Tulsa County District Attorney’s office prosecuted and convicted her for her role in the burglaries. Foreman is a citizen of Sac and Fox Nation. He will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Flynn prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about PSN, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: St. Petersburg Drug Trafficker Sentenced To More Than 21 Years In Federal Prison

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell has sentenced Eric L. Lemon (46, St. Petersburg) to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison for drug trafficking offenses. Lemon entered a guilty plea in July 2024. According to court documents, Lemon and his co-conspirators sold methamphetamine, cocaine, bath salts, and a variety of prescription pills out of various trap houses in St. Petersburg. During the investigation into Lemon, law enforcement seized more than 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine and four firearms. Lemon previously served 10 years in federal prison for drug trafficking offenses. This case was investigated by the St. Petersburg Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David P. Sullivan and James A. Muench. This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Elizabeth City Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Fentanyl and Firearm Offenses

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – Karem Felton, age 31, from Elizabeth City, was sentenced to 147 months in prison for possession with the intent to distribute forty grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl and ten grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a fentanyl analogue after investigators with Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office searched Felton’s residence on May 19, 2023, in response to shots fired a day earlier. “Disrupting drug trafficking in our communities is a critical part of our mission. The FBI and our local partners are working very hard to take dangerous drugs off of our streets, along with the people who peddle them. This case is another great example of law enforcement working together to make our communities safer,” said Robert M. DeWitt, the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina. “I want to thank my Deputies at the Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office, Elizabeth City Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigations and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the great work that has been done to combat the drug and violent crime issues we face on a daily basis,” said Pasquotank County Sheriff Tommy Wooten. On May 18, 2023, Elizabeth City Police officers responded to shots fired at a vehicle. Officers collected eight .300 caliber rifle shell casings in the area and reviewed city cameras around the area of the incident. They were able to see a male step out of a BMW and fire shots at a Dodge Charger. Law enforcement saw Felton driving the same BMW with the same license plate earlier in the month on March 6, 2023. On May 19, 2023, investigators from the Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office conducted a search of Felton’s residence. During the search, they discovered several items in the bedroom: a 7.62 x 39mm pistol hidden under the bed, a .300 Blackout pistol in the closet, and a 10mm pistol containing fentanyl inside the headboard of the master bed. Additionally, officers found two AR pistol braces in a soft-sided cooler and a .300 Blackout magazine with 18 rounds of .300 Blackout ammunition placed between the mattress and box spring. In a spare bedroom, officers located a safe that contained $11,050 in cash, assorted ammunition, and a digital scale. In the living room, they found $1,108 in cash and two cell phones hidden inside the couch. A firearm holster was also discovered in the children's bedroom. After conducting a further search of the vehicle, officers uncovered fentanyl, cocaine, and additional cash. Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by United States District Court Judge Louis W. Flanagan. Elizabeth City Police Department, Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie A. Childress and Katherine S. Englander are prosecuted the case. This investigation was an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No.5:24-CR-114-M-BM.


title: Armed Career Criminal Sentenced To 15 Years In Federal Prison

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Perry Ivory Wims (39, Tampa) to 15 years in federal prison for possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute it and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Wims entered a guilty plea in August 2024. According to court records, the Tampa Police Department (TPD) learned that Wims was selling fentanyl out of his motel room in Tampa and obtained a search warrant for the room. Prior to the execution of the warrant, officers observed Wims point a firearm at individuals in the motel parking lot. Inside the motel room, officers located fentanyl, cocaine, two firearms, ammunition, and a drum magazine. Wims previously served a 15-year federal sentence for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. He completed serving that sentence less than three months before his arrest in this matter. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David P. Sullivan and James A. Muench. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Three Charlotte Men Charged With Stealing High-End Vehicles Appear In Federal Court

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Three Charlotte men charged with conspiring to steal high-end vehicles appeared in federal court today, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. A grand jury returned the criminal indictment earlier this week, which remained under seal until today. Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. Jonathan Marquis Stitt, 36, Francisco Arnoldo Lopez Pena, 41, and Jason Randall Spearman, 43, all of Charlotte, are charged with conspiring to violate federal laws prohibiting the transportation, possession, and sale of stolen vehicles and the altering and removal of Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs). Each defendant is separately charged with altering the VINs of specific vehicles. In addition, Stitt is also charged with two counts of possession of a stolen vehicle and Spearman is charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The indictment alleges that, between 2020 and October 2024, the defendants and their co-conspirators engaged in a conspiracy to steal high-end motor vehicles worth millions of dollars from businesses and individuals in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, and Maryland. In order to maximize profits, Stitt and other co-conspirators allegedly sought to obtain high-end vehicles, including various luxury models made by Acura, Cadillac, Lamborghini, Land Rover, and Mercedes-Benz, as well as trucks and other expensive models from Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Freightliner, and GMC. According to allegations in the indictment, once in possession of the stolen vehicles, the defendants and their co-conspirators regularly altered or tampered with the stolen vehicles’ original VINs to avoid detection by law enforcement and to maximize resale value. Stitt and his co-conspirators also used fraudulent 30-day tags on the stolen vehicles, caused certain of the stolen vehicles to be fraudulently registered with state motor vehicle agencies, and repainted stolen vehicles, all in an effort to further avoid detection from law enforcement. According to allegations in the indictment, Stitt and his co-conspirators often sought to sell the stolen vehicles at prices significantly below their fair market value, and also possessed several of the stolen vehicles for personal use and to further facilitate the scheme. The defendants were detained by the U.S. magistrate judge at their initial appearance pending detention hearings next week. The conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The charge of possession of a stolen vehicle carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The charge of altering or removing a VIN carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. And the charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon carries a maximum prison term of 15 years. This is the fifth indictment filed in the U.S. District Court in Charlotte related to federal offenses involving stolen vehicles since August 2023. In July 2024, a Charlotte man was indicted for stealing high end luxury vehicles and altering VINs, including several vehicles from the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Also, in March 2023, two individuals were charged for a scheme that involved buying and selling stolen vehicles from across the country. In August 2023, five individuals were indicted for stealing luxury vehicles from dealerships throughout the United States, and two additional individuals were indicted in November 2023, for orchestrating high-end auto thefts from businesses in South Carolina. The charges against the defendants are allegations and they are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. U.S. Attorney King commended the FBI and CMPD for their investigation of the case and thanked the National Insurance Crime Bureau and Homeland Security Investigations for their assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Bozin and Daniel Ryan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte are prosecuting the case.


title: Jury Finds Convicted Sex Offender Guilty Of Attempted Child Sex Offense

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Chad Allen Pease (48, Fort Pierce) guilty of attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity and committing a felony offense involving a minor when required to register as a sex offender. Pease faces a minimum penalty of 20 years, up to life, in federal prison. He must also forfeit a cellphone which he used in the commission of the offense. According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, on February 3, 2024, Pease began communicating with an undercover law enforcement officer (UC) whom Pease believed to be the father of a 13-year-old girl. During the course of the conversation, Pease made plans to meet up with the UC and his “daughter” so that Pease could sexually assault the child. Pease drove 18 miles to the meeting location and conducted countersurveillance before fleeing the scene. Nevertheless, law enforcement was able to identify Pease, reconstruct his activities that evening, and later arrest him at his residence in Fort Pierce. Pease was previously convicted of a sex offense in 2008 after sending explicit photographs and traveling to have sex with someone he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. He has been required to register as a sex offender ever since. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard Varadan and Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro. The 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 Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Fort Totten Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Abusing Children

component: USAO - North Dakota

body_text: Fargo – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that Wendell James Snell, age 42, from Fort Totten, ND, was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison on November 21, 2024. Snell had previously pled guilty to five counts of Abusive Sexual Contact of a Child. At sentencing, the Honorable Peter D. Welte, Chief Judge United States District Court for the District of North Dakota, imposed six-year, statutory maximum sentences on each count, to run consecutively. Following his thirty-year sentence, Snell will be subject to a lifetime of supervised release and a number of conditions, including not having contact with minors. Snell’s guilty pleas and sentence relate to his sexual abuse of three children, each under the age of 12 years old, between the years of 2011 to 2014 on the Spirit Lake Reservation. “This serious sentence is seriously appropriate considering the defendant’s unforgivable abuse of multiple children,” Schneider said. “We hope it will provide some space for the victims to heal and deter this kind of abhorrent behavior in the future. Our career prosecutors and FBI partners are committed to protecting kids in Indian country and wherever we have jurisdiction, and as this case shows we will firmly hold abusers to account in federal court.” "The depravity of Snell's actions is reflected in today's sentencing," said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. "When the most vulnerable of our citizens – our children – are victimized, the FBI will do everything in our power to hold the perpetrators accountable and to protect others from harm." This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Lori H. Conroy. # # #


title: Tampa Woman Sentenced To Prison For Smuggling More Than $100,000 In Cash Into The United States

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Mirtza Ocana (39, Tampa) to five months in federal prison for smuggling bulk cash into the United States. The court also ordered Ocana to pay a $10,000 fine and to forfeit more than $100,000 that she had tried to smuggle into the United States. Ocana entered a guilty plea on August 12, 2024. According to court documents, on February 5, 2024, Ocana returned to the United States on a flight from Cuba. As Ocana passed through passport control, she told U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents that she did not have anything to declare, including any cash over $10,000. When agents searched Ocana’s bags, they discovered $31,409 in cash in her luggage and purse. Agents then patted down Ocana and found an additional $71,300 concealed under her clothing. In total, Ocana attempted to smuggle approximately $102,400 into the United States. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Buchanan.


title: San Fernando Valley Man Sentenced to More Than 1 Year in Prison for Sending Emails in Which He Threatened to Bomb FBI’s L.A. Office

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A San Fernando Valley man was sentenced today to 15 months in federal prison for sending threatening emails to the FBI, including ones in which he threatened to bomb the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office and referenced the notorious “Unabomber.” Mark William Anten, 53, of Sun Valley, was sentenced by United States District Judge Wesley L. Hsu. At the conclusion of a three-day trial, a jury on June 5 found Anten guilty of two counts of threats by interstate communication. “Federal agents deserve our appreciation for risking their lives to enforce the law and protect our community,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Threats against law enforcement are unacceptable and we will continue to stand with the FBI and the rest of our law enforcement partners against those who threaten them.” “Mr. Anten double-downed on his intimidation and credible death threats to FBI employees at their place of employment,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “There are civil, productive ways to disagree with the government if so inclined, but threats of violence is not one of them and – as evidenced by today's sentencing – will only lead to prison.” From July 2023 to December 2023, Anten sent a series of increasingly threatening communications to the FBI, culminating in two threats to bomb the FBI field office in Westwood. The emails included repeated references to Theodore John Kaczynski, a.k.a. “The Unabomber,” whose 20-year bombing campaign killed three people and injured nearly two dozen more. Kaczynski was convicted of federal crimes, spent the bulk of his prison sentence in the Supermax federal prison in Colorado and died in a different federal prison last year. On November 20, 2023, two FBI task force officers interviewed Anten in front of his residence. During the interview, Anten admitted to sending the previous communications and the officers admonished him to stop contacting agents. Despite the admonition, Anten’s conduct escalated. On December 5, 2023, Anten sent to FBI agents an email in which he wrote, “I AM THE UNABOMBER” and “I WILL UNABOMB THE LOS ANGELES FBI HQ.” The next day, Anten wrote to FBI agents, “I can go on a mass murder spree. In fact it would be very explainable by your actions.” He concluded the email with, “[y]ou ain’t getting away with this one,” and signed the email, “SuperMax or Death.” Anten also sent FBI agents an email, which attached a photograph depicting the results of an internet search for “how to make a dirty bomb.” Later that day, Anten visited the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office and later emailed agents that he visited their building and would continue to do so. Surveillance footage confirmed Anten’s presence there. The FBI investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Clifford D. Mpare of the General Crimes Section and Kedar S. Bhatia of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section prosecuted this case.


title: Chicago Man Sentenced to 120 Months in Prison

body_text: HAMMOND- Tido Kirby, 44 years old, of Chicago, Illinois was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to distributing fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Kirby was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by 6 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, on three occasions between March and April of 2021, law enforcement purchased fentanyl from Kirby in Hammond, Indiana. Kirby’s criminal history includes 8 prior felony convictions involving firearms, drugs, and an aggravated fleeing offense. He was also on federal supervision during this time period. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Toth.


title: Ex-employee Sentenced for Arson at St. Louis Airport Hotel

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk on Friday sentenced a St. Louis woman to two years in prison for igniting multiple fires in a hotel shortly after her employment there was terminated. Ramona Cook, 26, was also placed on supervised release for three years and ordered to pay $119,067 in restitution. Cook was a housekeeper at the Marriott St. Louis Airport until she was fired on Dec. 22, 2022. After being fired, she refused to leave until the police were called to escort her out. She later returned and set seven small fires in various locations within the hotel, beginning around 5 p.m. The hotel was evacuated, the sprinkler system was activated and the hotel suffered damages. Cook pleaded guilty in August to a felony charge of use of a facility of interstate commerce with intent to commit a crime of violence. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Finlen prosecuted the case.


title: Harrison County Man Admits to Firearms Offense

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Martin Lynn Queen, age 61, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, has admitted to the unlawful possession of a firearms charge. According to court documents, during a traffic stop, officers found a firearm in Queen’s car. A subsequent search of his other properties found more firearms and ammunition. Queen is prohibited from having firearms because of a prior firearms conviction in the Northern District of West Virginia. Queen faces up to 15 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Perri is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. 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 Justice.gov/PSN . U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.


title: KC Man Indicted for Computer Hacking

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for hacking into the computer systems at an area nonprofit and a health club business. Nicholas Michael Kloster, 31, was charged in a two-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Tuesday, Nov. 19. That indictment was unsealed and made public today following Kloster’s arrest and initial court appearance. The federal indictment charges Kloster with one count of accessing a protected computer without authorization and obtaining information. Kloster allegedly entered the premises of a business, identified in court documents as Company Victim 2, which operates multiple health clubs in Kansas and Missouri, shortly before midnight on April 26, 2024. The following day, Kloster sent an email to one of the owners of Company Victim 2, claiming that he had gained access to the computer system. Kloster also claimed to have “assisted over 30 small to medium-sized industrial businesses in the Kansas City, Missouri area” and attached a copy of his resume. Following Kloster’s intrusion, the indictment says, employees with Company Victim 2 noted that Kloster’s monthly gym membership fee was reduced to $1, that his photograph was erased from the gym’s network, and determined that Kloster stole a gym staff nametag. A few weeks later, Kloster posted an image to a social media profile which appeared to be a screen capture of his desktop showing control of the security cameras for Company Victim 2, with a chatbox window with the message “how to get a company to use your security service.” The federal indictment also charges Kloster with one count of causing reckless damage to a protected computer during unauthorized access. Kloster allegedly entered the premises of a nonprofit corporation, identified in court documents as Company Victim 3, on May 20, 2024. Kloster entered an area that is not available to the public and accessed a computer with access to the company’s network. Kloster utilized a boot disk, the indictment says, which enabled him to access Company Victim 3’s computer through multiple user accounts. By accessing Company Victim 3’s computer in such a manner, the indictment says, the use of this boot disk enabled Kloster to circumvent the password requirements on Company Victim 3’s computer and change the password assigned to one or more of the users of Company Victim 3’s computer. Kloster was able to install a virtual private network on this computer. Since Kloster’s intrusion into its computer and its network, Company Victim 3 has sustained losses in excess of $5,000 in an attempt to remediate the effects from this intrusion. In addition to these two victims, the indictment refers to a third victim, identified in court documents as Company Victim 1. According to the indictment, Kloster was employed by Company Victim 1 in March and April 2024. Kloster allegedly used a company credit card to make numerous personal purchases, including a thumb drive that was advertised as a means to hack into vulnerable computers. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Daly and Nicholas Heberle. It was investigated by the FBI and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.


title: Federal jury finds Anchorage man guilty of cyberstalking

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal jury convicted an Anchorage man yesterday after a four-day retrial for cyberstalking a woman over four years. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between 2016 and 2020, Rolando Hernandez-Zemora, 41, stalked the victim using location tracking applications, text messages and video calls, and other means in order to try and control her life. Evidence presented at trial showed that from April 29, 2020, to May 27, 2020, Hernandez-Zemora called the victim 1,317 times. In 2020, the harassment extended to some of the victim’s work colleagues and family members and included threats of violence. Hernandez-Zemora’s harassment of the victim continued even after she obtained a protective order. As a result of his threats, the victim’s workplace went into lockdown for multiple days from late April to early May 2020. Hernandez-Zemora was arrested at the end of May 2020 after he evaded the police for two days. Hernandez-Zemora was convicted by a federal jury of the same crime in June 2024. In August 2024, U.S. District Court Judge Marco A. Hernandez of the District of Oregon was assigned to the case following the resignation of former Judge Joshua Kindred and granted Hernandez-Zemora a new trial. Judge Hernandez presided over the November 2024 retrial. “I commend the victim for her extraordinary courage in coming forward, and we hope this conviction brings a measure of justice and closure to all those impacted by this case,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “Mr. Hernandez-Zemora represents a serious danger to the community, demonstrated by his intent to harm not only the victim, but her colleagues and family as well. My office remains resolutely committed to holding accountable those who perpetrate violence and endanger our communities.” “The defendant’s years-long cyberstalking harassment and eventual threats of violence caused substantial emotional distress and fear of harm,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “This verdict reaffirms our commitment to hold accountable those who commit such crimes.” The FBI Anchorage Field Office and Anchorage Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Ivers and Seth Beausang are prosecuting the case. ###