title: Georgia Laboratory Owner Pleads Guilty to Felony Charge and Pays $14.3 Million to Resolve Liability Relating to Kickbacks and Unnecessary Testing

component: Civil Division

body_text: Andrew (Drew) Maloney, 57, of Roswell, Georgia, has pleaded guilty to a criminal information charging him with conspiracy to pay health care kickbacks, the Justice Department announced today. Additionally, Maloney and the clinical laboratory that he owned, Capstone Diagnostics, of Atlanta, Georgia, have agreed to pay $14.3 million to resolve allegations that they violated the Anti-Kickback Statute by paying volume-based commissions to independent contractor sales representatives to arrange for or recommend medically unnecessary urine drug tests and respiratory pathogen panels (RPPs). Maloney and Capstone have agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department’s investigations of other participants in the alleged schemes. As alleged in the criminal information filed in the Northern District of Georgia, between August 2017 and December 2018, Capstone entered into an arrangement with a program operating as Do It 4 the Hood (D4H), which held itself out as providing after school mentoring services to at risk teenagers in Georgia. Once enrolled, participants were required to submit to frequent urine specimen collections for drug testing without regard to medical need or the history of the participant. Maloney was aware that the participants needed the tests to participate in the program and that many of these participants were covered by Medicaid. Capstone, with Maloney’s knowledge and approval, paid the operators of D4H a percentage of Medicaid reimbursements for samples submitted by the program, in violation of federal law. While the scheme was ongoing, Capstone submitted over $1 million in claims, causing Georgia Medicaid to pay out at least $400,000 in claims related to the fraudulent drug testing. In addition to Maloney’s guilty plea, four other individuals have pleaded guilty in connection with this fraudulent drug testing scheme: Duriel Gray, 45, of Cartersville, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to receive health care kickbacks in the Northern District of Georgia. Gray is licensed to practice medicine in Georgia and was recruited to be the “medical director” for D4H in Georgia. D4H used Gray to provide a “standing order” under which Capstone could submit the fraudulent drug testing claims to Medicaid. Gray did not have a physician-patient relationship with the students, never examined any of them, and did not review or discuss the drug tests with any of the participating students. For his role in the scheme, Gray received approximately $30,000. On April 13, 2023, Gray was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to pay $417,200.40 in restitution. Bree’Anna Harris, 32, of Phoenix, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and money laundering in the Western District of North Carolina to charges filed in the Northern District of Georgia and Western District of North Carolina. Among other things, Harris incorporated an entity, BPolloni Consulting LLC, which entered into a purported marketing agreement with Capstone. The arrangement between BPolloni and Capstone was used to receive and conceal the fraudulent kickback payments and distribute them to her coconspirators. On Dec. 5, 2023, Harris was sentenced to 36 months in prison for her role in the D4H scheme and related schemes in North Carolina and elsewhere. Glenn Pair, 36, of Stonecrest, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and money laundering in the Western District of North Carolina to charges filed in the Northern District of Georgia, Western District of North Carolina and District of South Carolina. On July 27, 2022, Pair was sentenced to 70 months in prison for his role in the D4H scheme and related schemes in North Carolina, South Carolina and elsewhere. Rachel Sheats, 48, of Woodstock, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to pay health care kickbacks in the Northern District of Georgia in January. Sheats was Capstone’s chief operations officer during the relevant time and served as a key point person for D4H at Capstone. Sheats has yet to be sentenced. Maloney and Capstone also entered into a civil settlement agreement under which they agreed to pay $14.3 million to the federal government and several states to resolve claims arising from the submission of false claims to government health care programs. In addition to the allegations described above, the civil settlement resolves allegations that, between April 2020 and December 2021, Maloney and Capstone sought to profit off the COVID-19 pandemic by paying independent contractor sales representatives to recommend RPPs to senior communities interested only in COVID-19 tests. RPPs are an expensive panel that tests for many different respiratory pathogens, some of which are very rare, do not cause overlapping clinical syndromes and are found only in specific patient populations. To generate orders, Capstone’s independent sales representatives completed test requisition forms for RPPs using forged signatures of physicians who had only ordered COVID tests and sham diagnosis codes that did not reflect the medical conditions of the senior community residents receiving the tests. Capstone subsequently billed federal health care programs for these medically unnecessary tests and paid its sales representatives a commission for each test. The federal share of the settlement is approximately $13.9 million and approximately $400,000 constitutes a recovery for state Medicaid programs. “The law prohibits health care providers, including laboratories, from paying kickbacks to third parties to generate business,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “As we have repeatedly witnessed, such payments can undermine the integrity of federal health care programs by inducing unnecessary services and other fraudulent practices.” “Unfortunately, Capstone and Maloney are hardly alone, as we have witnessed some clinical laboratories and their owners across the country engage in unscrupulous kickback and billing schemes that caused incalculable harm to Medicare,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia. “We are committed to aggressively investigating and prosecuting those who defraud valuable government programs designed to benefit our most vulnerable citizens. By simultaneously obtaining criminal and civil resolutions, as well as working with our partners from the Georgia Attorney General’s Office, this case demonstrates our office’s commitment to using all available tools to hold accountable those who seek to steal from federal health care programs.” “To maintain public trust in the health care system, we must ensure patients and taxpayers that care provided by federally funded healthcare programs is dictated by clinical needs, not fiscal greed,” said Special Agent in Charge Keri Farley of the FBI Atlanta Field Office. “To do that, the FBI and our partners are committed to combining resources and holding providers who bill the government for unnecessary services accountable.” “Health care providers who cause the submission of Medicare and Medicaid claims for medically unnecessary services pose a significant risk to these programs and the patients who rely on them,” said Special Agent in Charge Tamala E. Miles of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG works diligently with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable individuals who, to satisfy their own greed, exploit federal health care programs.” “The citizens of our country place immense trust in the integrity of our federal health care programs, and with it, the ability to ensure adequate care for all,” said Special Agent in Charge Darrin K. Jones of the Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Southeast Field Office. “Corruption in all forms undermines that trust, and we will work relentlessly with our investigative partners to pursue and hold accountable those who illegally profit from DoD healthcare programs.” The civil settlement resolves, in part, a lawsuit filed under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private individuals to sue on behalf of the government for false claims and to share in any recovery. As part of today’s resolution, whistleblower Jesse Allen will receive approximately $2.86 million. Mr. Allen worked as Capstone’s laboratory manager from April 2017 to January 2019. The FBI, HHS-OIG, DCIS and the Medicaid Fraud Division of the Georgia Attorney General’s Office assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex R. Sistla for the Northern District of Georgia and Deputy Attorney General Jim Mooney of the Georgia Attorney General’s Office prosecuted the case. Deputy Director Paul R. Perkins of the Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section; Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeli Ben-David and Civil Investigator Alena Evans for the Northern District of Georgia; and Richard Tangum, Senior Assistant Attorney General of the Medicaid Fraud Division, George Department of Law handled the civil settlement. The government’s pursuit of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Justice Department in partnership with agencies across the federal government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international actors committing civil and criminal fraud and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department's National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . Except for the conduct admitted in connection with the criminal plea, the claims resolved by the civil agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of civil liability. Settlement


title: Fox Valley Man Sentenced to 14½ Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Firearm Possession and Fentanyl Trafficking

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on February 27, 2024, Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach sentenced Gene W. Wolf (age: 26) to 174 months in federal prison. According to court records, on August 31, 2023, agents searched Wolf’s residence in Menasha, Wisconsin, and located three handguns, over 9,000 fentanyl pills, and over $50,000 cash. One of the handguns was a “ghost gun” that was not marked with a serial number. Wolf, a felon with several prior convictions for narcotics trafficking, was prohibited from possessing firearms. After being charged with gun and drug trafficking offenses related to the search, Wolf pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a firearm and acknowledged his role in fentanyl trafficking in the Fox Valley area. The pills recovered from Wolf’s residence were in the form of counterfeit “Percocet” pills that appeared to be legitimate. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), 7 out of 10 fentanyl pills seized by the DEA contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl. “Fentanyl continues to cut a path of death and devastation in communities across the country,” said U.S. Attorney Haanstad. “Individuals who sell this extremely dangerous substance – which in this case was disguised as another controlled substance – appropriately face substantial prison terms. This is especially so when the trafficking is accompanied by the unlawful possession of ghost guns and other firearms. Working with our federal, state, local, and tribal partners to combat fentanyl trafficking and firearms offenses remains among our office’s highest priorities.” “Fentanyl is a scourge on our communities, and we must continue working to keep Wisconsinites safe from this extremely dangerous drug,” said Attorney General Josh Kaul. “Thank you to the investigators whose work led to this significant sentence for the defendant in this case.” This case was investigated by the Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group – Drug Unit (LWAM), with assistance from the United States Marshals Service, the Appleton Police Department, and the Menasha Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Alex Duros prosecuted the case. ### For further information contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov (414) 297-1700 Follow us on Twitter


title: Jacksonville Man Previously Convicted Of Domestic Battery Indicted For Illegally Trying To Buy A Firearm

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Peter Lawrence (42, Jacksonville) with making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer during the attempted purchase of a firearm. According to the indictment, Lawrence completed an ATF Form 4473 during the attempted purchase of a firearm from Cash America Pawn, a federally licensed firearms dealer. Lawrence indicated on the required paperwork that he was not previously convicted of a crime involving domestic violence. The indictment alleges that this was a false statement, and that Lawrence was previously convicted of domestic battery. 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 is another case uncovered through the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). All NICS denials are reported to federal law enforcement and are reviewed daily for potential criminal prosecution. Federal law makes it a felony offense to make a false statement to a firearms dealer when trying to buy a gun. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brenna Falzetta. 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: Alien In Possession Of Firearms And Ammunition Sentenced To Federal Prison

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Richard A. Lazzara sentenced Jose Jaime Morado Zepeda (28) to three years and six months in federal prison for being an alien in possession of multiple firearms and ammunition. Morado Zepeda entered a guilty plea on November 15, 2023. According to court documents, on June 27, 2023, a deputy from the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office arrested Morado Zepeda for driving under the influence. From the truck that Morado Zepeda was driving, deputies recovered two Colt MK IV 45 caliber pistols, a Riley Defense Inc. RAK47 7.62x39mm caliber rifle, a Romarm/Cugir GP WASR-10/63 7.62x39mm caliber rifle, a Winchester 94AE 30-30 caliber rifle, and assorted ammunition. Subsequent to his arrest, an agent from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations performed an immigration records check on Morado Zepeda and determined that he was a native and citizen of Mexico with no legal status in the United States. On July 14, 2023, during an interview with federal agents, Morado Zepeda admitted that he was born in Mexico, did not have legal status in the United States, and that he bought and owned the firearms located in the truck. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations Sarasota, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Port Police. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karyna Valdes.


title: Baltimore Man Sentenced to 40 Months in Federal Prison for a Series of Fraud Schemes With Losses of More Than $1.5 Million

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Noel Chimezuru Agoha, age 40, of Baltimore, Maryland, today to 40 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud related to a series of fraud schemes with losses of more than $1.5 million. Judge Hollander also ordered Agoha to pay restitution of $1 million. The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Special Agent in Charge Karen L. Brown Cleveland of the Washington Field Office of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; and Commissioner Richard Worley of the Baltimore Police Department. According to his plea agreement, between February 2015 and November 2018, Agoha conspired with others, including co-defendants Sessieu Oulai and Kelechi Ntibunka, to execute a business email compromise (“BEC”) scam. As part of the scheme, “drop accounts” were opened with financial institutions and controlled by the Agoha and his co-conspirators, in order to receive money from victims of criminal fraud schemes, including the BEC scam, and launder fraud proceeds. Specifically, as detailed in the plea agreement, members of the fraud conspiracy used false and fraudulent e-mails to deceive individuals and companies who were engaged in financial transactions and/or ongoing business relationships with other individuals or entities by impersonating clients, persons in positions of authority, and representatives of companies with whom the victims had ongoing business. Through these false and fraudulent e-mails, the conspirators induced the victims to send money via electronic transfer or deposit into bank accounts controlled by Agoha and other conspirators. In this way, the Defendant and other conspirators intercepted payments intended for others. Agoha, Oulai, Ntibunka, and other conspirators also monitored drop account activity (deposits, transfers, and balances), relayed information, and provided instruction about transactions to co-conspirators via text messages. In total, the defendants and their co-conspirators received, or attempted to receive, more than $1.1 million in proceeds from BEC scams. Agoha personally obtained approximately $111,242 as a result of the BEC scheme to which he is pleading guilty. Agoha also joined a fraud conspiracy that conducted dating or romance scams targeting individuals looking for romantic partners or friendships on dating websites and other social media platforms. Specifically, members of the fraud conspiracy created profiles using fake names, locations, images, and personas in order to initiate and cultivate relationships with prospective victims under false pretenses. Once a relationship with a victim was initiated, conspirators attempted to convince or induce the victim to provide money through electronic transfer or deposit into bank accounts controlled by the conspiracy, and/or items of property through interstate delivery or international shipment. Victims were sometimes induced to conduct transactions at the direction of the conspirators, such as transfers in and out of particular bank accounts. Agoha used business bank accounts he controlled in Maryland to receive and launder proceeds of dating scams. Proceeds of the fraud that were deposited into Agoha’s accounts were withdrawn and spent through various purchases and payments. Agoha and his co-conspirators accrued more than $1 million in dating scam proceeds. After pleading guilty to their roles in the fraud scheme, Sessieu Ange Oulai, age 37, of Parkville, Maryland, was sentenced to 32 months in federal prison and Kelechi Arthur Ntibunka, age 35, of Essex, Maryland, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison. Judge Hollander also ordered that Oulai and Btibunka pay restitution of $300,000. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron praised HSI’s Mid-Atlantic El Dorado Task Force, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darryl Tarver and Paul A. Riley, who are prosecuting the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Boston Man Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation Charges

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for sexual exploitation of children as well as distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Robinson Alberto Baez-Nova, 39, of Jamaica Plain, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to 22 years in prison followed by a lifetime supervised release. In August 2023, Baez-Nova pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of children, one count of distribution of child pornography and two counts of possession of child pornography. “This Office will do everything in our power to protect children and punish those who traffic in child pornography. Mr. Baez-Nova callously preyed upon some of society’s most vulnerable people, perpetuated a cycle of harm and exploitation and inflicted irreparable damage upon innocent lives. Today’s sentence ensures that this predator will be removed from our communities for nearly two decades and should be a stark warning for anyone who exploits children,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “There is no higher priority than protecting the vulnerable, especially children, from this type of horrific conduct.” “Robinson Alberto Baez-Nova is a manipulative sexual predator who eagerly took advantage of children living in poverty in the Dominican Republic to sexually exploit them, apparently thinking he would just continue to fly under the radar,” Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division. “Today’s lengthy sentence proves him wrong and should send a message to anyone else sexually exploiting children: FBI Boston’s Child Exploitation – Human Trafficking Task Force will investigate, hold you accountable, and ensure your destination is federal prison.” In November 2020, Baez-Nova was identified as the owner of a Google account that uploaded images and videos of CSAM between November 2018 and August 2020. A subsequent search of Baez-Nova’s cellphone revealed a WhatsApp chat with a 17-year-old male living in the Dominican Republic who had access to his nine-year-old niece. Beginning in or around July 2020, Baez-Nova said that he would send money to the individual and his family in the Dominican Republic if the individual produced CSAM of the minor niece. Ultimately, the individual sent Baez-Nova five different videos of his minor niece in response to the Baez-Nova’s specific requests. Additionally, a separate WhatsApp chat with a 14-year-old minor female residing in the Dominican Republic was also found on Baez-Nova’s cellphone. In the conversations, Baez-Nova solicited the minor female to obtain images and videos of “little kids” engaged in sexual conduct in exchange for money and sent the minor CSAM, including a video of the nine-year-old minor discussed above. In total, over 200 images and over 400 videos of CSAM were found on Baez-Nova’s cellphone and in his Google account. Acting U.S. Attorney Levy, FBI SAC Cohen and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office; Nashua Police Department; Hillsborough County (N.H.) District Attorney’s Office; and Homeland Security Investigations, Boston Field Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mackenzie Duane and Mark Grady of the Major Crimes Unit 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington Hires Assistant United States Attorney Dedicated to Prosecuting MMIP Cases in the Northwest United States

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Yakima, Washington - United States Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref announced today that Bree R. Black Horse has joined her office as an Assistant United States Attorney dedicated to prosecuting cases involving Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP), in connection with the Justice Department’s MMIP regional program. AUSA Black Horse will work out of our Yakima Office, but she will serve throughout the Northwest Region – including in Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, and California. AUSA Black Horse is an enrolled member of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, AUSA Black Horse worked in the Native American practice group at the law firm of Kilpatrick Townsend advising Tribal governments and enterprises on all aspects of federal, state, and tribal law, including tribal sovereignty, economic development, treaty rights, and complex Indian country litigation. AUSA Black Horse previously served as a law clerk to Chief U.S. District Court Judge Brian M. Morris for the District of Montana, and as a legal aid attorney and public defender for the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. AUSA Black Horse was the Program Director for the 2023 Law School Admission Council’s Pre-Law Undergraduate Scholars Program, which aims to make a law degree more accessible for diverse students from Central Washington. She is a 2013 graduate of Seattle University School of Law where she was the Douglas R. Nash Native American Scholar as well as the co-founder and editor-in chief of the American Indian Law Journal. She received her undergraduate degree from Seattle Pacific University in Political Science and Government in 2010. “Our District is committed to being a leader in addressing the MMIP crisis. I am honored to welcome AUSA Black Horse as the newest member of the Department of Justice,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. AUSA Black Horse will serve as the Assistant United States Attorney dedicated to prosecuting cases involving matters related to MMIP on Native American Reservations. Her appointment demonstrates DOJ’s commitment to combating the root causes of MMIP crisis and holding those who commit these crimes accountable. I am also grateful for the close relationships with have with our Tribal, Federal and State partners as we work together in the joint mission of ensuring justice for all. As we welcome AUSA Black Horse, we reiterate our shared commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all who call Eastern Washington home.” AUSA Black Horse expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to serve in this important role. “For far too long Indigenous men, women and children have suffered violence at rates higher than many other demographics,” stated AUSA Black Horse. “As I step into this role, I look forward to working with our local, state, and tribal partners to identify concrete ways of reducing violence and improving public safety in Indian country and elsewhere. I also look forward to honing my skills as a federal prosecutor and working with others who are dedicated to DOJ’s mission to seek justice on behalf of victims and their families.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office plans to hold a formal swearing in for AUSA Black Horse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will provide additional details when the schedule for that event is set. The MMIP regional program prioritizes MMIP cases consistent with the Deputy Attorney General’s July 2022 directive to United States Attorneys’ offices promoting public safety in Indian country. The program fulfills the Justice Department’s promise to dedicate new personnel to MMIP consistent with Executive Order 14053, Improving Public Safety and Criminal Justice for Native Americans and Addressing the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People , and the Department’s Federal Law Enforcement Strategy to Prevent and respond to Violence Against American Indians and Alaska Natives, Including to Address Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons issued in July 2022. The program dedicates five MMIP Assistant U.S. Attorneys and five MMIP coordinators to provide specialized support to United States Attorneys’ offices to address and combat the issues of MMIP. This support includes assisting in the investigation of unresolved MMIP cases and related crimes, and promoting communication, coordination, and collaboration among federal, Tribal, local, and state law enforcement and non-governmental partners on MMIP issues. The five regions include the Northwest, Southwest, Great Plains, Great Lakes, and Southeast Regions, and MMIP personnel will be located within host United States Attorneys’ offices in the Districts of Alaska, Arizona, Eastern Washington, Minnesota, New Mexico, Northern Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, and Western Michigan. Programmatic support will be provided by the MMIP Regional Outreach Program Coordinator at the Executive Office for United States Attorneys. More broadly, this MMIP Program will complement the work of the Justice Department’s National Native American Outreach Services Liaison, who is helping amplify the voice of crime victims in Indian country and their families as they navigate the federal criminal justice system. Further, the MMIP Program will liaise with and enhance the work of the Department’s Tribal Liaisons and Indian Country Assistant United States Attorneys throughout Indian Country, the Native American Issues Coordinator, and the National Indian Country Training Initiative Coordinator to ensure a comprehensive response to MMIP.


title: Justice Department Finds Conditions at Three Mississippi Prisons Violate the Constitution

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced today its findings that conditions of confinement at three Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) facilities violate the 8th and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The Department’s 60-page report details its findings from a thorough investigation of the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility, South Mississippi Correctional Institution, and Wilkinson County Correctional Facility. These three prisons currently house about 7,200 people. The report concludes that MDOC routinely violates the constitutional rights of people incarcerated at all three facilities by failing to protect them from widespread physical violence. The state does not adequately supervise the incarcerated population, control the flow of contraband, adequately investigate incidents of serious harm, or provide adequate living conditions. These problems are exacerbated by chronic understaffing that has allowed gangs to exert improper influence inside the prisons. The report also concludes that Mississippi unconstitutionally subjects persons at Central Mississippi Correctional Facility and Wilkinson County Correctional Facility to prolonged restrictive housing under harsh conditions that places them at substantial risk of serious physical and psychological harm. “People living in prisons and jails have a constitutional right to safe and adequate living conditions,” said Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “Our investigation uncovered that people in these three facilities were subjected to violent and unsafe conditions, in violation of the Constitution. We look forward to working with Mississippi officials to remedy these violations and improve safety and living standards for people incarcerated in the state of Mississippi.” “Every state is constitutionally obligated to protect the people it incarcerates from known, pervasive and deliberately unchecked violence, and to house people in conditions that do not pose a serious risk of physical and psychological harm,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Our investigation uncovered chronic, systemic deficiencies that create and perpetuate violent and unsafe environments for people incarcerated at these three Mississippi facilities. The unconstitutional conditions in Mississippi’s prisons have existed for far too long, and we hope that this announcement marks a turning point towards implementing sound, evidence-based solutions to these entrenched problems. The Justice Department stands ready to enforce the dictates of the Constitution that protect the safety and human dignity of all people housed at state prison facilities. Our work makes clear that people do not abandon their civil and constitutional rights at the jailhouse door.” “Ensuring constitutional and humane conditions of confinement in our prisons is a key part of public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner for the Northern District of Mississippi. “By allowing physical violence, illegal gang activity, and contraband to run rampant, Mississippi not only violates the rights of people incarcerated at these facilities, but also compromises the legitimacy of law enforcement efforts to protect our communities. Our office remains committed to upholding the rights of all our district’s residents. We look forward to working with the Mississippi Department of Corrections to protect the constitutional and civil rights of those incarcerated at these three Mississippi prison facilities.” “The conclusion of the investigation and the issuance of findings is only the start of the work necessary to ensure that the state of Mississippi and the Mississippi Department of Corrections fulfill their constitutional obligations to the people it incarcerates,” said U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee for the Southern District of Mississippi. “The minimum remedial measures outlined in this report create the framework for what the state must do to reasonably protect people in these facilities from violence and prevent deprivation of fundamental physical and psychological needs. While this report makes clear that there is much work for the state to do, we are committed to working with state officials to ensure that Mississippi abides by its constitutional obligations.” Today’s announcement follows the Department’s April 2022 report finding that conditions at the Mississippi State Penitentiary (known as Parchman) violated the constitutional rights of persons incarcerated there by subjecting them to violence, failing to provide adequate care for serious mental health needs, or adequate suicide prevention measures and using prolonged restrictive housing in a manner that poses a risk of serious harm. The Justice Department launched its investigation of Parchman, Central Mississippi Correctional Facility, South Mississippi Correctional Institution, and Wilkinson County Correctional Facility in February 2020, under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA). As required by CRIPA, the department provided the State of Mississippi with written notice of the supporting facts for its conclusions and the minimum remedial measures necessary to address the alleged violations. The Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi conducted the investigation. For more information about the Civil Rights Division and the Special Litigation Section, please visit www.justice.gov/crt/special-litigation-section . You can also report civil rights violations to the section by completing the complaint form available at civilrights.justice.gov/ . To provide information related to the Department’s investigation of the four Mississippi prisons, please call 1-833-591-0288 or email the department at Community.MSDoc@usdoj.gov .


title: Kansas Man Sentenced to Prison for 14 Years for Fentanyl Distribution

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Joel Medina, 26, of Wichita, Kansas, was sentenced on February 28, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for distribution of 100 grams or more of fentanyl analogue. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Medina to 168 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Medina’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. In 2022, an undercover special agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) established contact with a known Mexico-based fentanyl supplier. On September 26, 2022, Medina contacted the undercover agent by phone and set a meeting for September 27, 2022, for the undercover agent to purchase 300 fentanyl pills. On September 27, 2022, the undercover officer purchased the 300 fentanyl pills from Medina at a prearranged location in Omaha. On October 21, 2022, the undercover agent made another purchase of more than 500 fentanyl pills from Medina in Omaha. Laboratory testing confirmed that the pills contained the substances ANPP (an analogue of fentanyl) and fentanyl. On November 22, 2022, investigators responded to the hospital to investigate a drug overdose. Investigators contacted the victim at the hospital, and the victim identified “Joel Talamantes” as a fentanyl supplier. “Talamantes” was later determined be the Medina. The victim told investigators he received approximately 20 fentanyl pills and bags of cocaine from Medina about a week prior. The victim told investigators he agreed to sell fentanyl pills for the Medina while Medina was out of town and was to be paid a portion of the proceeds from those sales. The victim told investigators that he took one of the pills provided by Medina and woke up in the hospital. Investigators obtained text messages between the victim and Medina corroborating the information provided by the victim. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.


title: Omaha Man Sentenced to 1 ½  Years’ Imprisonment for Gun Charge

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

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Shawn David Johnson, 40, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced February 28, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for being a felon in possession of a firearm. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Johnson to 18 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Johnson’s release from prison, he will begin a 2-year term of supervised release. On February 1, 2022, a cooperating witness working with law enforcement purchased a 9mm handgun with a 6-round capacity magazine from Johnson inside of his Omaha residence. At the time, Johnson was a convicted felon. Law enforcement has since determined that the handgun had been shipped in interstate commerce prior to the transaction. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.


title: Two Men Sentenced for Government Loan Program Fraud

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Shawn A. Prater, 49, of Omaha, Nebraska, and Trevor A. McNeil, 35, formerly of Omaha and currently of Fairburn, Georgia, were both sentenced on February 28, 2024, in federal court in Omaha by United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher, following the conviction of each for wire fraud. Prater pled guilty in November 2023. He was sentenced to 5 years’ probation and ordered to pay $82,532.98 in restitution. As a condition of probation, Prater must pay at least $1,500 per month toward restitution. McNeil pled guilty in December 2023. He was sentenced to 16 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay $402,070.60 in restitution. There is no parole in the federal system. After McNeil’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. During 2020 and 2021, Prater and McNeil, assisted by another person, submitted applications for Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) program loans. Those loan programs were created or expanded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, which was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The applications misrepresented how much Prater’s and McNeil’s businesses had paid employees in past compensation and how much revenue McNeil’s business had received, resulting in significantly inflated loan amounts under the PPP and EIDL programs. The PPP applications were supported by false tax documents. The fraudulent applications on behalf of Prater sought loans totaling approximately $157,514.50, and he obtained $80,165. The fraudulent applications on behalf of McNeil sought loans totaling approximately $492,494, and he obtained $379,994. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General.


title: Omaha Man Sentenced for Distribution Amounts of Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Matthew Frederick Strohl, of Omaha, Nebraska was sentenced February 28, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Strohl to 150 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. On April 22, 2022, the Omaha Police Department stopped Strohl for a traffic violation. During the traffic stop, officers found Strohl in possession of a meth pipe and small amounts of narcotics. Officers believed that Strohl had more narcotics located in his apartment, which was located in Sarpy County. With the assistance of the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office, Strohl’s apartment was searched. Inside, nine different types of narcotics were located, including 69 grams of meth, hydrocodone, Adderall, Xanax, cocaine, and psychedelic mushrooms. Strohl’s prior criminal history was taken into consideration when being sentenced. In 2009, Strohl was sentenced in an Omaha federal court to 120 months for drug and firearm charges. This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department and Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office.


title: Sinaloan Man Sentenced for 32 Pounds of Methamphetamine

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Jose Emmanuel Vaca-Saldana, 24, of Sinaloa, Mexico, was sentenced February 28, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Vaca-Saldana to 108 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. On April 15, 2023, the Nebraska State Patrol stopped Vaca-Saldana for a traffic violation. Vaca-Saldana was with his wife, and he told troopers that they had flown out to Los Angeles for their honeymoon. Troopers became suspicious after hearing that the two flew to Los Angeles on April 13, and had rented the car the same day. Accounting for the time the two would have been driving from Los Angeles to reach Nebraska, they would not have been in Los Angeles very long. This behavior was consistent with drug smugglers. Troopers asked Vaca-Saldana for consent to search the vehicle, which he granted. During the search, 32 pounds of meth was located. Vaca-Saldana took responsibility for the meth. This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol.


title: Two Men Convicted in a Scheme to Defraud a Professional Athlete

body_text: ANNISTON, Ala. – Two men were convicted of financial crimes, including money laundering, structuring, tax fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud against a professional athlete, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, ATF Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson, IRS-CI Acting Special Agent in Charge, Atlanta Field Office Demetrius D. Hardeman, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service Inspector-in-Charge Scott D. Fix, Houston Division. The jury returned a guilty verdict against Anthony Lamon Frazier, 41, of Talladega, and Frederick Andre Spencer, 38, of Birmingham, after four days of testimony before U.S. District Court Judge Corey L. Maze. Frazier was convicted on twenty-four counts of money laundering, four counts of structuring, and three counts of tax fraud. Both Frazier and Spencer were convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. “This fraud was driven by the defendants’ greed,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who commit complex financial crimes. I want to thank the prosecutors and our law enforcement partners for their hard work investigating and prosecuting this case.” “The verdict brought in this trial will have an immediate impact on this community,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Watson. “This collaborative investigation, and the verdict rendered, will ensure those responsible for criminal activity in our community are held responsible. We at ATF will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners in our continuing effort to combat violent crime, maintain public safety, and remove criminals who continuously show total disregard for the law.” “A primary component of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service mission is to ensure public trust in the mail,” said Scott Fix, Inspector-in-Charge of the Houston Division. “When individuals like Frazier and Spencer challenge that mission, Postal Inspectors will aggressively investigate and remain steadfast in our resolve to seek justice to the end.” “The defendants unjustly enriched themselves through financial fraud on their victim,” said Demetrius Hardeman, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation special agents and our law enforcement partners will continue actively pursuing those who engage in these types of illegal financial activities.” According to evidence presented at trial, between 2017 and 2020, Frazier worked as a Talladega County Tax Assessor, and used his county work truck for drug trafficking and money laundering the proceeds of drug trafficking. Frazier purchased and deposited postal money orders and input false information on the orders, purporting that they were for car sales, to launder his drug proceeds into his business bank accounts. Frazier also structured these proceeds into bank accounts and, in doing so, avoided reporting requirements for the U.S. Postal Service and for PNC Bank. At the same time, Frazier and Spencer agreed to work on behalf of a professional athlete to create a sports-marketing agency called “Head of Game.” The professional athlete invested $500,000 for the purpose of building this agency and, based on promises made by Frazier and Spencer, wired the money into a “Head of Game” bank account held by Frazier. Frazier immediately wired almost half of the funds into a bank account for “Mom and Son’s Towing,” which was held by Spencer’s mother. In 2019 and 2020, Spencer and Frazier used the athlete’s money on various personal expenses rather than to build the marketing agency. Spencer and Frazier spent the money on luxury travel and dental bills and repeatedly withdrew bulk cash. By mid-2020, almost all the initial $500,000 investment had been spent to enrich Frazier and Spencer and not for the agreed-upon purposes. Frazier used over $100,000 of the Head of Game money to purchase a house in Atlanta on a short sale and deposited the proceeds of the sale into one of his own accounts. The evidence also showed that Frazier substantially underreported his income on his 2017, 2018, and 2019 tax returns. Specifically, he did not report income relating to drug proceeds and fraud proceeds from Head of Game. Prior to trial but as part of the same indictment, Spencer also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, false statements on a loan application, and wire fraud for his involvement in submitting false loan materials under the Paycheck Protection Program and obtaining “Covid loan” money from the Small Business Administration based on those false representations. This investigation is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF is an independent component of the U.S. Department of Justice. Established in 1982, OCDETF is the centerpiece of the Attorney General’s strategy to combat transnational-organized-crime and to reduce the availability of illicit narcotics in the nation by using a prosecutor-led, multi-agency approach to enforcement. OCDETF leverages the resources and expertise of its partners in concentrated, coordinated, long-term enterprise investigations of transnational organized crime, money laundering, and major drug trafficking networks. ATF, IRS-CI, and USPIS investigated the case along with the Talladega County Drug Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Allison Garnett, Blake Milner, and Austin Shutt prosecuted the case.


title: Jefferson County man pleads guilty to federal crimes related to $4.9 million investment fraud scheme

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Toronto, Ohio, man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court here today to crimes related to a multi-million investment scheme that victimized at least 65 individuals. William T. Caniff, Jr., 54, admitted to committing wire fraud and money laundering. According to court documents, Caniff executed an investment scheme through a business he helped establish called Berkley Capital Management, LLC purportedly to trade binary options. Binary options are a type of options contract in which the payout depends on the outcome of a yes/no proposition. For example, a person may invest in a binary option related to whether a company’s stock reaches a certain value, but the binary option does not give the investor any property interest in the company’s stock itself. From March 2016 through December 2018, Caniff’s investment funds received more than $4.9 million from investors, most of whom were Dutch nationals. Caniff misappropriated approximately $2.3 million of the investors’ funds for his own personal benefit like the purchase a residence, car payments and credit card payments. Caniff used new investments to make payments to past investors and invested only $85,000 in binary options. As part of his scheme, Caniff fraudulently obtained membership to the North American Derivatives Exchange, Inc. (Nadex), an online binary-options exchange headquartered in Chicago. He lied about having been convicted of multiple felonies to be approved as a Trading Member on Nadex. Parties involved in this case have recommended a sentence of 30 months in prison. As part of the plea, Caniff has agreed to pay approximately $2.3 million in restitution. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Karen Wingerd, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. The United States Attorney’s Office and IRS-Criminal Investigation thanked the Dutch Fiscal Information and Investigative Service and the Dutch Ministry of Justice for their assistance in the investigation. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate and Deputy Criminal Chief Jessica W. Knight are representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Talladega County Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison on Child Pornography Charges

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Sylacauga man was sentenced on child pornography charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Acting FBI Special Agent in Charge James DeLoatch. Chief U.S. District Court Judge R. David Proctor sentenced Lavon Paul Tarpley, 45, to 240 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release for distribution of child pornography. Tarpley pleaded guilty to the charge in November 2023. According to the plea agreement, in December 2020, an FBI Online Covert Employee (OCE) who is a member of the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force in Albany, New York, was conducting an undercover operation involving the Kik messenger application. As part of the FBI’s operation, they discovered that Tarpley was an administrator of a specific group that was frequented by individuals who have a sexual interest in children, incest, and the production of child sexual abuse material. Tarpley distributed child pornography to members in this group. Additionally, on February 21, 2021, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a CyberTipline Report from Kik who reported Tarpley for uploading numerous files of child pornography on its application. “The harms caused by child pornography are so extensive. Child pornography is a permanent record of a child’s horrific abuse and the continued circulation by individuals like Tarpley magnifies the harm to the child,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “Victims and their families live every day with the knowledge that this cycle of revictimization may never end due to individuals like Tarpley. Deterrence in these type cases is of utmost importance. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement partners in Alabama and Albany, New York, this predator has been held accountable for his actions.” “There is an inherent risk to children anywhere the opportunity exists to communicate online. That’s why the FBI continues to be proactive in our efforts to protect them, casting a wide net over the various online applications and internet platforms where children are vulnerable,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge James DeLoatch. “Investigations like these demonstrate the outstanding work achieved in a collaborative environment with our law enforcement partners.” The FBI Birmingham's Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force investigated the case with the assistance of FBI Albany’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), and Homewood Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Leann White prosecuted the case. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. 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, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov .


title: Colbert Resident Sentenced For Abusive Sexual Contact In Indian Country

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Sidney Dewayne Woods, age 31, of Colbert, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 210 months in prison for one count of Abusive Sexual Contact in Indian Country. The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On May 10, 2023, Woods pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, Woods confessed to sexually abusing a minor who was in his care at the time of the abuse. The crime occurred in Bryan County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Keith Starrett, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee. Woods was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.


title: Ardmore Resident Pleads Guilty To Federal Firearm Charge

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Ricky Gene McGee Jr., age 37, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. The Indictment alleged that on October 12, 2022, McGee, having been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year, and knowing of that conviction, possessed a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and ammunition which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce. The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ardmore Police Department. The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, 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. McGee was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.


title: Seminole Resident Sentenced For Escape From Federal Custody

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Coker Dean Barker, age 37, of Seminole, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for Escape from Custody. The charge arose from investigations by the United States Marshals Service and the Okmulgee County Criminal Justice Authority, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Okmulgee County Sheriff’s Office, the Tulsa Police Department, the Rogers County Sheriff’s Office, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. On November 7, 2022, Barker pleaded guilty to the charge. In November 2021, Barker and another inmate, Dustin Marris, escaped from federal custody at a detention center in Okmulgee. Both escapees were apprehended the next day as a result of a successful multi-agency manhunt. Marris was sentenced in February 2023 for his involvement in the escape. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Barker was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States at sentencing.


title: McAlester Resident Sentenced For Child Abuse In Indian Country

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Paula Amber Chisholm, age 38, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 48 months in prison for Child Abuse in Indian Country. The charges arose from investigations by the McAlester Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On January 12, 2023, Chisholm was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of Child Abuse in Indian Country. According to investigators, on December 3, 2019, a five-year-old child was rushed to the hospital after school officials became concerned about the child’s physical state and demeanor. During a medical evaluation it was revealed the child had multiple wounds, abrasions, and bruises and was extremely malnourished. Chisholm was the primary caregiver at the time the abuse occurred. The crime occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Chisholm was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.


title: Former Marine Sentenced For Travel With Intent To Engage In Criminal Sexual Activity

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Bryan Todd Richardson II, age 25, of Wyoming, Ohio, was sentenced to 120 months in prison each for two counts of Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Activity and 120 months in prison for one count of Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Activity. The terms of imprisonment on all counts shall be served concurrently. Richardson will also be required to register as a Sex Offender. The charges arose from investigations by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Okmulgee Police Department. On September 27, 2022, Richardson pleaded guilty to a superseding Indictment of two counts of Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Activity and one count of Transportation of a Minor with Intent to Engage in Criminal Activity. According to investigators, Richardson, a Marine stationed in North Carolina, cultivated an online relationship with a fourteen-year-old child in the state of Oklahoma for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct. Richardson traveled to Oklahoma in May of 2020, and again in June of 2021, both times engaging in illegal sexual activity with the minor. After the June incident, Richardson transported the minor across state lines and later returned the victim to Oklahoma. The Honorable Keith Starrett, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearings in Muskogee. Richardson was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources” . We encourage anyone who suspects or has information regarding child sexual exploitation, trafficking of minors, sextortion, child pornography, or any other means of child exploitation to immediately contact law enforcement. You can file a report on the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)'s website at www.cybertipline.com , call 1-800-843-5678 , contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI ( 1-800-225-5324 ), or call 877-4-HSI TIP .


title: Eufaula Resident Pleads Guilty To Federal Firearm Charge

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Michael Shaun Davis, age 56, of Eufaula, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. The Indictment alleged that on June 15, 2023, Davis, having been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year, and knowing of that conviction, possessed firearms and ammunition which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce. The charges arose from an investigation by the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. District 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. Davis was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing. Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin Gross and Jonathan E. Soverly represented the United States.


title: Armed Carjacker who Shot at Victim Sentenced to Eleven Years in Federal Prison

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Anthony Porter, 36, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to 11 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to carjacking, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to court documents, on April 17, 2023, around 8:30pm, Porter had been loitering by the entrance of a local convenience store located at 9852 East 21st Street in Indianapolis, Indiana, when he followed a male customer to his car. Porter approached the victim’s car alone, brandished a firearm, and forced him to leave the car. As the victim was getting out of the car, Porter discharged his firearm at the victim as he fled to safety with his hands in the air. Porter fled the scene in the stolen vehicle. After a brief search for the victim’s vehicle, Porter was later located, arrested, and interviewed. During a subsequent search of the victim’s vehicle, officers found a 9mm handgun inside of Porter’s fanny pack. At the time of his arrest, Porter had been previously convicted of two residential entry felonies. The felony convictions prohibit Porter from ever legally possessing a firearm. “This violent criminal illegally armed himself, carjacked an innocent victim, and fired his weapon at the victim with utter disregard for human life,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Reducing gun violence in our communities is a top federal law enforcement priority, and I commend the FBI and IMPD for their work to hold this repeat offender accountable.” “The sentence the defendant received demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to investigate violent crimes, and highlights the teamwork between agencies to protect the public and ensure this predator is behind bars and no longer able to terrorize our community,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. The FBI and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson. Judge Stinson also ordered that Porter be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 5 years following his release from federal prison. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy C. Fugate, who prosecuted this 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. ###


title: Readout of Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri’s Trip to Germany

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Acting Assistant Attorney General (A/AAG) Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division traveled to Berlin, Germany, to participate in and deliver remarks on Feb. 23 at the Bundesministerium der Justiz’s (BMJ) — also known as Germany’s Federal Ministry of Justice — International Conference on International Criminal Law titled, “Responding to crimes under international law: Holding war criminals to account.” She also met with international law enforcement partners and U.S. law enforcement assigned to U.S. Embassy Berlin to discuss law enforcement efforts between the two countries and advance the bilateral relationship with Germany on complex transnational criminal and national security matters. A/AAG Argentieri was joined by U.S. Special Prosecutor for the Crime of Aggression Jessica Kim and War Crimes Accountability Team (WarCAT) Director Christian Levesque, who also participated on different panels at the conference, and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs former Attaché to Germany Andrea Tisi Austin. On Feb. 22, A/AAG Argentieri met with U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission W. Clark Price to express the Justice Department’s gratitude for the Embassy’s support of Justice Department attachés. She then had a bilateral meeting with prosecutors of the German Federal Ministry of Justice, including Dr. Bernhard Böhm, who leads the International Criminal Law Division. She thanked them for the strong law enforcement relationship between the United States and Germany and cooperation on mutual legal assistance matters, as well as shared challenges. Following the meeting, she attended an evening reception at the Federal Ministry of Justice where conference participants were welcomed by German Federal Minister of Justice Dr. Marco Buschmann. U.S. Special Prosecutor for the Crime of Aggression Kim, A/AAG Argentieri, Deputy Chief of Mission Clark Price, former Attaché to Germany Tisi Austin, and WarCAT Director Levesque. The BMJ organized and hosted an international conference on Feb. 23, with high-ranking representatives from government, the judiciary, lawyers, and victim representatives. The aim of the conference was to underline the need for and importance of continued cooperation at the international level in the context of addressing conflict-related issues in support of Ukraine. A/AAG Argentieri delivered remarks on the work that the department has done to assist Ukraine and participated on the first conference panel entitled, “Supporting Ukraine Two Years after the Russian Attack,” with German Minister of Justice Buschmann and his Polish counterpart, Dr. Adam Bodnar. A/AAG Argentieri delivering remarks at the International Conference on International Criminal Law. Polish Minister of Justice Bodnar and German Minister of Justice Buschmann seated. On Friday, A/AAG Argentieri met individually with Polish Minister of Justice Bodnar to strengthen ongoing cooperation with Poland in advancing accountability for Ukraine, including joint efforts in the Eurojust-based Joint Investigation Team (JIT) for atrocity crimes and at the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine (ICPA). Separately, she met with President of Eurojust Ladislav Hamran to reiterate the value the department places in Eurojust and thank him for everything he has done to facilitate the Justice Department’s expanded partnership with Eurojust, which is exemplified by the three U.S. prosecutors assigned to Eurojust, including two liaison prosecutors and U.S. Special Prosecutor for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine Kim. A/AAG Argentieri also met with Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin to express appreciation for their excellent law enforcement relationship and discuss how the United States can further efforts supporting Ukraine. Lastly, she met with Germany’s Acting Federal Public Prosecutor General Dr. Lars Otte to discuss continued cooperation and shared law enforcement priorities on Russian war crimes and other atrocities committed in Ukraine, and violent extremism impacting both countries. In her meetings, A/AAG Argentieri looked to bolster the close collaboration between the United States and the international community on bilateral justice matters. From left to right: German Minister of Justice Buschmann, A/AAG Argentieri, Polish Minister of Justice Bodnar, and Ukrainian Prosecutor General Kostin. A/AAG Argentieri and President of Eurojust Hamran. “The Justice Department is working closely with our international partners to pursue comprehensive accountability for Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine,” said A/AAG Argentieri. “Our efforts are not limited to war crimes accountability, but through various initiatives and legal tools, targeting those responsible for fueling the Russian war machine — while holding the highest levels of leadership accountable for the aggression against Ukraine. I was honored to stand with our international partners to discuss furthering these efforts.” A/AAG Argentieri and Germany’s Acting Federal Public Prosecutor General Dr. Otte. During the visit, A/AAG Argentieri also visited the Topography of Terror Museum to learn more about the International Military Tribunals at Nuremberg and Tokyo, as well as other special tribunals and accountability mechanisms focused on accountability for aggression and war crimes committed during the war. A/AAG Argentieri remains committed to continued cooperation between the United States and its European partners including Germany, Poland, and Ukraine.


title: Raleigh Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Child Pornography

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Raleigh man was sentenced to 144 months imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release, and $81,000 in restitution, for receipt and possession of child pornography. Klaus De La Fuente, age 27, pled guilty on September 11, 2023. According to court documents and other information presented in court, De La Fuente, was found using peer to peer file sharing networks to receive and distribute child pornography during an investigation by the Cary Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security. Law enforcement officers identified child pornography files that were associated with De La Fuente’s IP address. Based upon this, a search warrant was executed at his residence on April 1, 2022. When the search warrant was executed, multiple digital devices were seized including a cell phone that was actively downloading child pornography at the time. When all devices were forensically examined, law enforcement discovered De La Fuente had been collecting child sexual abuse images since 2018 and had amassed a large collection of images and videos. In total, De La Fuente possessed 8,839 images and 278 videos depicting child sexual abuse. The collection of images and videos included very young children, infants and toddlers. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the sentencing was concluded. U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle presided over the sentencing. The Cary and Raleigh Police Departments, the United States’ Marshals Service and the Department of Homeland Security investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charity Wilson 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 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 https://www.justice.gov/psc. 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. 5:23-CR-101-BO.


title: Tallahassee Physician Agrees To Pay $60,000 To Settle Allegations That She Violated The Controlled Substances Act

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Dr. Mary C. Watson of Tallahassee, Florida, settled potential violations of the Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”) by agreeing to pay a fine of $60,000 after previously voluntarily surrendering her DEA Registration in October 2023. The settlement was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. “This settlement, involving a fine and surrender of the physician’s DEA Registration, reinforces required compliance with the Controlled Substances Act,” said U.S. Attorney Jason R. Coody. “Accurate record keeping is not only required but helps ensure controlled substances are not abused by physicians and diverted for personal use. With the assistance of investigators in the Drug Enforcement Administration, Diversion Control Program, we remain committed to holding physicians accountable for their responsibilities under federal law.” Dr. Watson entered into a civil settlement agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida after the investigation revealed numerous potential violations of the Controlled Substances Act. The government contended that Dr. Watson issued at least 76 controlled substance prescriptions for Phendimentrazine (a diet drug) and failed to maintain any patient files for those prescriptions. “The Controlled Substance Act requires DEA registrants to maintain accurate inventorying, tracking, and record keeping to prevent the diversion of controlled substances,” said DEA Miami Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “The DEA Miami Field Division remains committed to working with our law enforcement and regulatory partners to hold DEA registrants accountable to protect the safety and health of our Florida communities.” This civil settlement agreement is not an admission of any liability by Dr. Watson, nor a concession by the United States that its potential claims were not well-founded. Assistant United States Attorneys Mary Ann Couch and Marie Moyle represented the United States in this matter, which was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Diversion Control Program. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Alexander City Man Sentenced to 99 Months in Prison for Unlawful Possession of a Machinegun

component: USAO - Alabama, Middle

body_text: MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA – Today, Acting United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross announced the sentencing of an Alexander City, Alabama man for possessing a handgun converted to function as fully automatic by a machinegun conversion device. On February 20, 2024, a federal judge sentenced 23-year-old Alan Lyrenski Sandlin to 99 months in prison. Federal inmates are not eligible for parole. Previously, on October 30, 2023, Sandlin pleaded guilty to the offense. According to the plea agreement and other court records, in April 2023, law enforcement agents conducting a narcotics investigation arrested Sandlin at a residence in Goodwater, Alabama. Agents searched the house following the arrest and found a handgun equipped with a machinegun conversion device. Machinegun conversion devices, commonly known as “switches” or “auto sears,” are installed on firearms and allow the guns to function as fully automatic weapons capable of firing up to 20 rounds per second. Weapons equipped with these devices pose a significant threat to communities and law enforcement due to their rapid rates of fire. Under the relevant federal statute, possession of a conversion device alone is considered to be possession of a machine gun, meaning that it is illegal to have a machine gun conversion device, regardless of whether the device is attached to a firearm. This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force investigated this case, with assistance from the Alexander City Police Department, the Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Office, the Coosa County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorney Brandon W. Bates prosecuted the case.


title: Bronx, New York, Man Admits Soliciting Kickbacks in Multimillion-Dollar COVID-19 Testing Kickback Conspiracy

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Bronx, New York, man admitted his role in a kickback conspiracy involving COVID-19 testing, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. David Weathers, 61, of Bronx, New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Brian R. Martinotti in Newark federal court on Feb. 26, 2024, to an indictment charging him with conspiring to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute by soliciting kickbacks for the referral of COVID-19 test samples. “The defendant in this case has admitted to seeking payments for sending COVID-19 tests to a particular lab for processing. There is no place in our health care system for illegal payments made in attempt to influence medical decisions. My office will continue to prosecute those who attempt to corrupt the health care system.” U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger “It took fraudsters no time at all to hunt for a get rich quick scheme when the pandemic started,” FBI – Newark Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy said. “Weathers and his conspirators set their eyes on the federal government and the funding made available under the CARES Act. He now admits to asking a lab in New Jersey for kickbacks when he provided COVID-19 test samples, which were ultimately paid for by federal funding. Anyone who believes they will get away with their crimes as time passes should take note of this case, you will be brought to justice.” According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court: Weathers and his conspirators solicited kickbacks in exchange for providing COVID-19 test samples to Metpath Laboratories, a clinical laboratory located in Parsippany, New Jersey, that, among other things, conducted testing to detect the presence of COVID-19 in samples obtained from individual patients. Metpath paid kickbacks for the referrals of COVID-19 test samples and subsequently billed Medicare and other health care benefit programs for the tests, causing a loss of more than $3.5 million to federal programs. The charge of conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross profit or loss caused by the offense, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for July 10, 2024. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney DeNae Thomas of the Health Care Fraud Unit in Newark. weathers.indictment.pdf


title: Career Offender Sentenced to More Than 15 Years for Fentanyl and Firearm Possession

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Memphis, TN – A federal judge has sentenced a Shelby County man to more than 15 years in federal prison for unlawful possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the sentence today. According to information presented in court, in 2020, the Multi-Agency Gang Unit (MGU) initiated an investigation into the drug activities of Ehren Coble , 46, of Memphis. After their surveillance, investigators obtained a search warrant for Coble’s residence, recovering seven firearms and a variety of illegal drugs including cocaine, heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana, oxycodone, suboxone, Xanax, promethazine, and approximately 282 grams of fentanyl. Investigators also seized approximately $426,000 in drug proceeds. After his arrest, Coble provided a statement claiming ownership of the narcotics and admitted to selling fentanyl. On November 7, 2023, Coble pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. On February 15, 2024, United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Coble to 188 months in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release. This case was investigated by the Multi-Agency Gang Unit, including the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and Memphis Police Department, and assisted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Gregory D. Allen, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case.


title: India- and New Jersey-Based Jeweler Charged with Multimillion-Dollar International Trade Fraud Scheme and Unlicensed Money Transmitting

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – An India- and New Jersey-based man who operated jewelry companies in New York City’s Diamond District was charged with spearheading a scheme to illegally evade customs duties for millions of dollars of jewelry imports into the United States and with illegally processing millions of dollars through unlicensed money transmitting businesses, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Monishkumar Kirankumar Doshi Shah, aka “Monish Doshi Shah,” 39, of Mumbai, India, and Jersey City, New Jersey, was charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of operating and aiding and abetting the operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business. He was arrested over the weekend and appeared appear on Feb. 26, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa in Newark federal court. Shah was released on $100,000 bond, with home detention and location monitoring. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From January 2015 through September 2023, Shah engaged in a scheme to evade duties for shipments of jewelry from Turkey and India to the United States. Shah would ship or instruct his conspirators to ship goods from Turkey or India – which would have been subject to an approximately 5.5 percent duty if shipped directly to the United States – to one of Shah’s companies in South Korea. Shah’s conspirators in South Korea would change the labels on the jewelry to state that they were from South Korea instead of Turkey or India, and then ship them to Shah or his customers in the United States, thereby unlawfully evading the duty. Shah would also make and instruct his customers to make fake invoices and packing lists to make it look like Shah’s South Korean companies were actually ordering jewelry from Turkey or India. During the scheme, Shah shipped millions of dollars of jewelry from South Korea to the United States. From July 2020 through November 2021, Shah operated numerous purported jewelry companies in New York City’s Diamond District, including MKore LLC (MKore), MKore USA Inc. (MKore USA), and Vruman Corp. (Vruman). Shah used these entities to conduct millions of dollars in illegal financial transactions for customers – including converting cash to checks or wire transfers. Shah would also collect cash from customers and use conspirators’ jewelry companies, which were also located in the Diamond District, to convert the cash into wires or checks. At times, Shah and his conspirators moved more than a million dollars of cash in a single day. In exchange for their services, Shah and his conspirators charged a fee. None of Shah’s or his conspirators’ companies were registered as money transmitting businesses with New York, New Jersey, or the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). The wire fraud conspiracy charge is punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison. The charge of operating and aiding and abetting the operation of an illegal money transmitting business carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Each count is also punishable by a maximum fine of either $250,000 or twice the gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents and task force officers of IRS - Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins in Newark; special agents with Homeland Security Investigations New York, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan; special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso; and officers with U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Port of New York/Newark, under the direction of Port Director TenaVel Thomas, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked U.S. Customs and Border Protection in New York; Homeland Security Investigations in Seoul, South Korea; the Korea Customs Service in South Korea; the Seoul Customs Special Investigation Office in South Korea; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in Paterson; the Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department; the Morristown Police Department; the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General; and the Justice Department’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) for their assistance in the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marko Pesce and Olta Bejleri of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark, with assistance from William Kanellis of the Department of Justice Trade Fraud Task Force. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. shah.complaint.pdf


title: Wiggins Man Pleads Guilty to Possession  with Intent to Distribute over 250 Grams of Fentanyl

component: USAO - Mississippi, Southern

body_text: Gulfport, MS – A Wiggins man pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute over 250 grams of a substance containing fentanyl. According to court documents, on September 7, 2023, the Wiggins Police Department received information that George Tavoris Moore, Jr., 28, was expected to receive a package containing fentanyl at a Wiggins address. A subsequent investigation led to a search of the Wiggins residence and the package. The search yielded approximately 252 grams of pills containing fentanyl. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. The DEA reports that two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, and one kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people. More facts on fentanyl can be found at https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl and https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl . Moore pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 20, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans made the announcement. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Wiggins Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case.


title: Meriden Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Robbery Charges

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that KENNETH MICHAEL STROTHERS, 27, of Meriden, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to federal robbery charges. According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from an investigation by the FBI and several local police departments into a series of armed robberies that occurred across Connecticut in early 2021. The investigation revealed that Strothers committed at least 10 robberies over an approximately two-week period. Strothers pleaded guilty to two counts of interference with commerce by robbery (“Hobbs Act robbery”) and specifically admitted that he robbed businesses in Wethersfield and New Britain. On February 9, 2021, Strothers entered the Valero gas station store at 930 Silas Deane Highway in Wethersfield, used a firearm to pistol-whip the store clerk in the head, stole approximately $260 from two cash registers, and fled the scene in a stolen car. The store clerk was hospitalized with a serious head wound. On February 10, 2021, Strothers entered Broad Street Pawn at 210 Broad Street in New Britain, used a firearm to pistol-whip a store employee in the head, stole approximately $2,000, and fled the scene with two associates in a stolen truck. Three children of the store owner hid in a bathroom during the robbery. Strothers was arrested on February 12, 2021, and investigators seized from him the handgun he used during the robberies. He has been detained in state custody since his arrest. At sentencing, Strothers faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years. Under the terms of a binding plea agreement, if accepted by the court, the parties have agreed that an effective sentence of 14 years of imprisonment is appropriate in this case. This investigation has been conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Britain Police Department, the Wethersfield Police Department, the Newington Police Department, the Cromwell Police Department, the West Hartford Police Department, the Meriden Police Department, and the Connecticut Department of Correction. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen L. Peck.