title: Live Oak Man Pleads Guilty To Conspiring To Possess And Transfer Unregistered Firearm Silencers

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Gregory Austin Eward (25, Live Oak) today pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess and transfer unregistered firearm silencers. Eward faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to the plea agreement, Eward and his father and co-defendant, Dustin Eward, operated Eward Research Inc., a company that marketed and sold firearm silencers (also known as suppressors) over the internet. In lightly coded language, their website, ewardresearch.com, advertised the sale of combinations of parts designed and intended for use in assembling firearm silencers – never using the term “silencer,” but referring to individual components as “toobz,” threaded “end caps,” “spacers,” and “spools.” Sales could be completed with either cash or cryptocurrency. The website included photographs of the items for sale, which were identifiable as components of firearms silencers. In 2018, Dustin Eward was interviewed by two FBI Special Agents. He told the agents that he lived with his son and that they operated a business out of their home. According to Dustin Eward, they produced and sold “solvent traps” and adaptors for firearms. It is common for sellers of illicit firearms silencers to falsely claim that their products are not actually silencers, but instead are “solvent traps,” that is, devices supposedly designed to catch or “trap” dirty cleaning solvent pushed through the barrel of a firearm from the chamber end and out through the muzzle. In January and again in February 2022, an undercover ATF Special Agent ordered three silencers from the Ewards, paying for them with cryptocurrency. Surveillance video from a post office showed Gregory Eward mailing one of the parcels containing silencers that the agent eventually received. The devices were examined by an ATF Firearms Enforcement Officer and firearms expert who concluded that the devices were consistent in design and construction with firearms silencers that he had examined in the past and he recognized the devices to be firearms silencers. The officer noted that to make the silencers functional, an end-user would need to drill center holes through the silencers’ baffles and end cap; the officer estimated, however, that this task only would require five to ten minutes to complete. Notably, also included in the parcels that the Ewards had mailed were 3D-printed tools, including a tool designed to act as a “jig” to accurately guide the drilling of center holes through the silencers. These silencers were not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, as required by federal law. At the time of his arrest, on May 9, 2022, Gregory Eward had a Glock-type handgun on the back seat of the car. The pistol had no serial number and was loaded. Agents also located three rifle bump-stocks in the car’s open trunk. These devices also had no serial numbers. During an interview after his arrest, Gregory Eward acknowledged that he was the CEO of Eward Research and that he and his father worked for the company. He volunteered that his products look like silencers, but he denied that he was selling these products as silencers or silencer kits. He later acknowledged that their products were similar to silencers, and they would operate as silencers if a hole was drilled through them. Eward claimed that these products were intended to store small items, such as fishing line, a syringe, or a towel. On May 10, 2022, FBI and ATF Special Agents executed a search warrant at the Ewards’ home. They located approximately 105 firearms, over 12,000 rounds of ammunition, and 35 assembled firearms silencers. There was also a sufficient quantity of parts (including metallic tubes, baffles, and threaded endcaps), which were designed or redesigned, and intended for use in assembling or fabricating more than 300 additional firearm silencers. Gregory Eward’s co-defendant, Dustin Eward, is scheduled to proceed to trial in June 2023. He is charged by indictment with conspiracy to possess and distribute unregistered silencers, possession of unregistered silencers, transfer of unregistered silencers, and threatening to assault and murder a federal law enforcement officer. 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 outcome reflects the tireless efforts of investigators from several federal, state and local agencies,” said ATF Tampa Field Division’s Acting Special Agent in Charge Richard Coes. “Northeast Florida is much safer today, thanks to their teamwork.” “Although law enforcement continues to fight violent crime, it remains a threat in too many of our communities,” said Sherri E. Onks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. “The FBI and our local, state and federal law enforcement partners remain focused on identifying and investigating those who commit violent crime, including those who traffic in illegal firearms. Let this case be a warning that we will not rest while Americans live in fear of violence in their neighborhoods.” This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office, the Live Oak Police Department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lake City Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kirwinn Mike, Michael J. Coolican, and Cherie Krigsman. 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. Download Plea Agreement


title: Dominican Citizen Pleads Guilty to Selling Cocaine while Illegally in the United States

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Jose Campusano, age 38, a citizen of the Dominican Republic residing in Utica, New York, pled guilty to selling cocaine and illegally reentering the United States. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division; and Thomas Brophy, Field Office Director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO), Buffalo Field Office. As part of his plea, Campusano admitted that, at some point after being deported from the United States in 2009, he returned without permission. While he was living in the Utica area illegally, Campusano sold cocaine to another individual on six separate dates. The charges to which Campusano pled guilty carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 3 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statutes the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE-ERO) are investigating the case with assistance from the New York State Police, Oneida County Sheriff’s Department, Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office, Syracuse Police Department, and Utica Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica N. Carbone is prosecuting the case.


title: Grand Rapids Pain Management Practice Pays $215,000 To Resolve Allegations Of Falsified Medical Records

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten announced that Javery Pain Institute, PC, located in Grand Rapids, has agreed to pay $215,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary moderate sedation services and falsifying medical records to support those claims. “Truthful and accurate medical records are the bedrock of our Medicare system,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten . “This settlement reflects the commitment of my office in working with our law enforcement partners to protect the Medicare population and maintain the system of trust and accountability necessary between the patient, physician, and federal healthcare programs.” The United States alleged that Javery Pain Institute billed Medicare for moderate sedation services in conjunction with certain pain injection procedures when those sedation services did not meet Medicare’s medical necessity requirements. After a Medicaid audit discovered this issue, the practice created template language in its electronic medical records to support medical necessity for these services. The practice then used this templated language for some Medicare beneficiaries receiving moderate sedation services to create medical records that contained statements that were not true. Javery Pain Institute used these statements to justify billing Medicare for moderate sedation services. Additionally, on some occasions, the practice billed Medicare for moderate sedation services when the intraservice time for those procedures was less than the ten minutes required to bill for the service. “The alleged submission of false claims for medically unnecessary services and falsifying of documentation to justify those services, undermines our federal health care programs and potentially places patients at risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (“HHS-OIG”) . “Our agency, working with our law enforcement partners, is committed to working to hold those who seek to defraud federally funded health care programs accountable.” The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan and HHS-OIG. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew J. Hull investigated the matter. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. ###


title: Brookline Man Admits Robbing Dormont Dollar Bank

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal law, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Ahmed Asiri, 26, of the City’s Brookline neighborhood, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on December 7, 2022, Asiri robbed the Dollar Bank located at 3029 West Liberty Ave, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15216. As a result of the robbery, Asiri obtained $20,000 in United States currency. These funds were later recovered by law enforcement. Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for June 21, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. The law provides for a total sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Carl J. Spindler is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Allegheny County Police Department, and the Dormont Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Ahmed Asiri.


title: 7 defendants sentenced for conspiring to launder more than $11.8 million of online romance scam proceeds

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – The final defendant charged in a conspiracy to launder the money generated from online romance scams was sentenced in federal court here today to 18 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Kwame O. Yeboah, 38, of Columbus, conspired to launder more than $1.7 million through bank accounts in his control. As part of his sentence, Yeboah is ordered to pay the $1.7 million in restitution. Yeboah and six other co-conspirators were convicted and sentenced for laundering the proceeds of online romance scams; they did not conduct the actual online scamming. The total amount generated by romance fraud that these individuals laundered was more than $11.8 million. The other defendants convicted and sentenced include: Name Age City of Residence Sentence Received Robert K. Asante 39 Canal Winchester 60 months in prison Eric Ahiekpor 52 Lewis Center 36 months in prison Edward Amankwah 45 Westerville 48 months in prison Uriah Lamdul 30 Columbus 24 months in prison Mohamed Toure 28 Columbus 18 months in prison Alexis Wellington 32 Canal Winchester Term of probation The romance scams involved individuals who created several profiles on online dating sites. They then contacted men and women throughout the United States and elsewhere, with whom they cultivated a sense of affection, and often, romance. After establishing relationships, perpetrators of the romance scams requested money, typically for investment or need-based reasons, and provided account information and directions for where money should be sent. In part, these accounts were in the names of the defendants, their family members and their companies. Funds were not used for the purposes claimed by the perpetrators of the romance scams. Instead, the co-conspirators conducted transactions designed to conceal, such as withdrawing cash, transferring funds to other accounts, buying official checks, sending wires to Ghana, China, the United States, and more. Part of the conspiracy was for the defendants to move the romance fraud proceeds from the United States to Ghana. As part of their sentences, the defendants will pay the approximately $11.8 million in total. Toure was also sentenced for money laundering as part of an unrelated COVID fraud scheme. Another individual submitted a fraudulent application for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). The U.S. Small Business Administration approved the COVID disaster-related loan and sent $110,000 in loan proceeds to Toure’s bank account. He then laundered the funds to conceal and disguise the fraud proceeds. Ahiekpor was also sentenced for Wire Fraud for his role in defrauding the EIDL Program. In June 2020, he obtained a fraudulent $150,000 EIDL for his business. He spent the funds on two boats, an outboard motor, and a boat trailer. Ahiekpor committed part of his fraud scheme while on pretrial release for his money laundering charges, which means he will serve his Wire Fraud sentence after he completes his Money Laundering sentence. The public can report online romance scams and other internet crimes at ic3.gov. Experts offer tips for flagging romance scams: Be careful what you post and make public online. Scammers can use details shared on social media and dating sites to better understand and target you. Beware if the individual seems too perfect or quickly asks you to leave a dating service or social media site to communicate directly. Beware if the individual attempts to isolate you from friends and family or requests inappropriate photos or financial information that could later be used to extort you. Beware if the individual promises to meet in person but then always comes up with an excuse why he or she can’t. If you haven’t met the person after a few months, for whatever reason, you have good reason to be suspicious. Never send money to anyone you have only communicated with online or by phone. Never provide your financial information or allow your bank accounts to be used for transfers of funds. Requests for gift cards are also a red flag. The FBI has additional tips and information for protecting against romance and confidence fraud: https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/safety-resources/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/romance-scams . If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim, and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday–Friday. English, Spanish and other languages are available. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorneys Peter K. Glenn-Applegate and David J. Twombly are representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Wells Fargo Personal Banker Sentenced for  Money Laundering and Bank Fraud

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: SAN DIEGO – Leopoldo Lora-Aguilera, a former Wells Fargo personal banker, was sentenced in federal court today to 33 months in custody for money laundering conspiracy and bank fraud. Aguilera was arrested by FBI agents for his participation in an international money laundering organization based in Tijuana, Mexico which operated primarily in San Diego. The criminal organization laundered funds in excess of $12.5 million dollars before being disrupted by the FBI. According to the plea agreement and other public records, Aguilera abused his position of trust as a personal banker with Wells Fargo Bank by opening bank accounts with false identities and wire transferring millions of dollars to Mexico. Aguilera conducted these transactions in exchange for thousands of dollars in cash payments from the criminal organization. The FBl's investigation linked these funds to the sale of narcotics by a Mexican drug cartel, specifically the sale of multi-kilogram amounts of fentanyl in the Midwest. Aguilera admitted to opening 26 bank accounts for the money laundering organization, including eleven that were created by Aguilera using fictitious identities. Specifically, Aguilera used his position as a personal banker with Wells Fargo Bank to knowingly enter false names, passport numbers, and dates of birth on the fictitious bank accounts. These 11 fictitious accounts alone were used by the criminal organization to wire transfer a total of $3.8 million to Mexico. A majority of those wire transfers were conducted by Aguilera himself. Aguilera's use of these fictitious accounts was identified by Wells Fargo and brought to the attention of the FBI. Agents arrested Aguilar and disrupted the scheme shortly after. In conjunction with Aguilera's arrest, the FBI identified and seized 17 bank accounts that belonged to the money laundering organization containing in excess of $230,000. Further investigation by the FBI resulted in a second round of arrests of Aguilera’s co-conspirators in the Spring of 2022. To date, the FBI has arrested Melisa Valdivia Diaz, Alma Leticia Murillo Valdivia, and Jorge Alberto Ortiz Borrego for participating in the multi-million-dollar money laundering scheme. All three defendants have pleaded guilty in a related case, admitting they participated in the conspiracy. Sentencings are pending. “Money launderers are a lifeblood of the cartels,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “Today’s sentencing underscores that money launderers are key players in the cartel structure and will be treated as such.” Grossman thanked the prosecution team and the FBI San Diego Cross Border Violence Task Force for their excellent work on this case. “This case highlights the FBI’s dedication to holding all individuals accountable who make space for the cartels to function in our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy of the FBI San Diego Field Office. “Although Lara-Aguilera was convicted on the financial aspect of these crimes, his actions directly facilitated the trafficking of fentanyl and other dangerous narcotics throughout our country. The FBI is committed to investigating all who manipulate U.S. financial systems to enable money laundering and drug trafficking.” This case is the result of efforts by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI San Diego Cross Border Violence Task Force, who were assisted by Wells Fargo Bank's internal investigators in Arizona and California. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Blanca Quintero. DEFENDANT Case Number 19-CR-1955-BAS Leopoldo Lora-Aguilera Age: 58 Chula Vista, CA SUMMARY OF CHARGES Money Laundering Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 1956(h) and 1957 Maximum penalties: Twenty years in prison and $500,000 fine Bank Fraud – Title 18 U.S.C., Section 1344 Maximum Penalties: Thirty years in prison and $1 million fine AGENCY FBI San Diego Cross Border Violence Task Force


title: U.S. Attorney's Office Launches “United Against Hate” Initiative With Outreach Event

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. Attorney Dena J. King, along with members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Civil Rights Team and federal and local law enforcement partners, met with representatives of the Sikh community. Today’s meeting was the first of a series of planned outreach and educational events to be conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office as part of the Justice Department’s “United Against Hate” (UAH) initiative. In September 2022, the Justice Department announced the launching of UAH, a nationwide program created to combat the rise in unlawful acts of hate. In the Western District of North Carolina, the UAH initiative will include a series of events focusing on community groups at risk of being targeted in hate crimes and incidents of hate. Each event will give participants an opportunity to directly connect with federal prosecutors and law enforcement to increase community understanding of hate crimes and hate incidents; provide a mechanism for reporting potential hate crimes and civil rights violations; build trust between law enforcement and communities; and create and strengthen alliances with government partners and community groups to combat unlawful acts of hate. “People in communities across the Western District have the right to live their lives free from fear, violence, and intimidation. This fundamental right is guaranteed and protected by the Constitution. Unfortunately, certain groups are frequent targets of acts of hate and abuse,” said U.S. Attorney King. “The purpose of this initiative is to protect our communities, educate members on their rights and the relevant law, provide an avenue for reporting hate crimes and incidents of hate, and increase trust in our criminal justice system. I am looking forward to attending the outreach events, participating in a productive dialogue with community members, and working collaboratively to combat hate crimes.” Today’s event, which was held at the Gurdwara Khalsa Darbar, the Sikh faith center in Charlotte, featured a presentation by Assistant U.S. Attorneys with experience in prosecuting hate crimes and civil rights violations, and law enforcement representatives with the FBI, and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department. In addition to law enforcement, representatives from the Justice Department’s Community Relations Service were also in attendance. The presenters facilitated a discussion with representatives of the Sikh community centered on hate crimes, including defining hate crimes versus hate incidents; the importance of reporting acts of hate to law enforcement; providing options for responding to hate incidents when situations do not constitute federal or state crimes; and distinguishing unlawful conduct from protected First Amendment activity, with a focus on identifying protected speech versus speech that advocates violence or encourages people to commit hate crimes. “The Sikh community of Charlotte greatly values the relationship it has built with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, going back to 2008. With the Office’s help, we have always been able to reach out to federal law enforcement for assistance with any challenge our community faces, whether it is school bullying, diversity training at the airport, security of the Gurdwara, or civil rights matters. Today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to play a pivotal role in shaping and nurturing this relationship. Our community is grateful for everything this Office has done for us,” said Pushpinder Garcha, a representative of the United Sikhs. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will hold additional UAH events in the upcoming months to engage with communities throughout the Western District. On May 27, 2021, U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland issued a memorandum on improving the Justice Department’s efforts to combat unlawful acts of hate, and emphasized the need to actively engage in outreach and educational efforts centered around hate crimes.


title: Springfield, Illinois, Man Convicted of Possession of Firearm by a Felon

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

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A federal jury returned a guilty verdict on February 22, 2023, against Aaron Jackson, 30, of Springfield, Ill. for knowingly possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Sentencing for Jackson is scheduled for June 21, 2023, at the U.S. Courthouse in Springfield. Over two days of testimony in front of United States District Judge Sara Darrow, the government presented evidence establishing that Jackson had previously been convicted of two felonies when he was stopped for traffic offenses on August 18, 2021, and was found to be in possession of a firearm. Officers from the Springfield Police Department located a loaded Ruger LCP 380 in the front seat of the car Jackson was driving. Jackson was the only occupant of the car and was also in possession of methamphetamine, marijuana, and cocaine. Jackson remains in the custody of the United States Marshals Service. At sentencing, Jackson will face statutory penalties of up to ten years’ imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. The case investigation was conducted by the Springfield Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sierra Senor-Moore and Tanner Jacobs represented the government at trial. The case against Jackson 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: Quincy, Illinois, Woman Convicted of Various Drug and Gun Offenses

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A federal jury returned guilty verdicts on February 23, 2023, against Kelsey Hickman, 31, of Quincy, Ill. for distributing more than five grams of methamphetamine, possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. She was acquitted of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Sentencing for Hickman has not yet been scheduled. Over two days of testimony in front of Senior United States District Judge Sue E. Myerscough, the government presented evidence establishing that Hickman sold 7.98 grams of methamphetamine in February 2021; she possessed with the intent to distribute methamphetamine; and she illegally possessed a firearm after having previously been convicted of a felony in March 2021. Following the trial, Hickman was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshals Service. At sentencing, Hickman will face between five and forty years’ imprisonment for the distribution of methamphetamine, up to twenty years’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and up to ten years’ imprisonment for illegally possessing the firearm. She also faces up to a lifetime term of supervised release and up to a $5 million fine. The case investigation was conducted by the Quincy Police Department and the Illinois State Police, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matt Weir and Nate Bertrand represented the government at trial. The case against Hickman 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: Former Correctional Officer Sentenced to More than Six Years for Smuggling Greeting Cards Laced with Drugs into Prison

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: NEW BERN, N.C. –Leann Little, 37, of Lumberton was sentenced yesterday to 75 months in prison for drug and money laundering crimes for providing contraband to inmates in North Carolina prisons. Little previously pled guilty to the charges. In December of 2019, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the North Carolina Department of Public Safety (NCDPS) initiated an investigation involving the distribution of illicit contraband in prisons throughout North Carolina. The evidence revealed that Little, a former correctional officer and postal contractor, conspired with inmates to send them 45-MDMB-BINACA, a synthetic cannabinoid that is smoked for psychoactive effects. The inmates would place the orders over the phone and use CashApp to pay Little. Little would obtain greeting cards or paper, spray them with liquid 45-MDMB-BINACA and mail them to inmates in state corrections facilities. The cards were then cut into dosage units and consumed or used for currency. Little pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of 4F-MDMB-BINACA, distributing a quantity of a mixture and sub substance containing a detectable amount of 4F-MDMB-BINACA and money laundering conspiracy. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety and the United States Postal Inspection Service Office of Inspector General investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad Rhoades prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:20-CR-199-FL. ###


title: Granbury Man Convicted at Trial Following Child Porn Tip by Son

component: USAO - Texas, Northern

body_text: A Granbury man whose son reported him to law enforcement was convicted at trial of child sexual exploitation, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. After three days of trial and just 45 minutes of deliberation, a federal jury found David Earl Boyd, 64, guilty of two counts of producing child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography, and one count of penalties for registered sex offenders. According to evidence presented at trial, in the spring of 2022, Mr. Boyd, already a registered sex offender, took sexually explicit images of two young children, aged 6 and 3. Mr. Boyd’s son discovered nude images of the children in his father’s trash folder. He took a screenshot of the trash gallery and submitted a report to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children , which forwarded the tip to law enforcement. Shortly thereafter, officers arrested Mr. Boyd and seized his Samsung smartphone. During an extraction of the phone, forensic examiners discovered thousands of child pornography images in a directory associated with the application “Hide it Pro,” an application designed to conceal images and videos. (Although Mr. Boyd had previously deleted the app, the directory retained the images and videos.) “We are grateful to the defendant’s son for reaching out to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. It cannot have been easy to report his father’s crimes, but in so doing, he likely saved two children from further victimization. We are proud to hold this predator to account,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. Mr. Boyd now faces a minimum of 45 years in federal prison. He is slated to be sentenced on June 27. Previously, Mr. Boyd was convicted of possession of child pornography in Taylor County. In 2003, the state sentenced him to three years and required to register as a sex offender. Homeland Security Investigations’ Dallas Field Office, the Hood County District Attorney’s Office, and the Dallas Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aisha Saleem prosecuted the case with the help of Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Lewis. U.S. District Judge Terry Means oversaw the trial.


title: Armed Drug Trafficker Who Previously Shot a Wilmington Officer Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Federal Prison

body_text: NEW BERN, N.C. – Kenneth Brown, 41, of Wilmington North Carolina, was sentenced yesterday to 87 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base, five counts of distribution of a quantity of cocaine base and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Brown, a validated member of the United Blood Nation gang, was convicted in 2003 on state charges for shooting at a law enforcement officer and received a sentence of more than 15 years in state prison. According to court documents, evidence presented in court and other documents, on June 23, 2021, Brown sold 13 grams of cocaine base to an undercover Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agent in Brunswick County. During the deal, Brown indicated that he was involved in trafficking guns to New York. On June 30, 2021, Brown sold an additional 13 grams of cocaine base to the same ATF agent. Brown and the agent discussed the sale of a firearm. Brown pulled out a loaded Glock 9mm handgun. The agent attempted to purchase the gun, but Brown declined to sell it. Brown indicated that the gun was registered to his girlfriend. Brown, as a convicted felon, is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Brown sold the agent 26 grams of cocaine base on August 5 and 18. During the last deal, Brown did not produce the amount agreed initially so he retrieved some additional cocaine and cooked it into cocaine base. Brown’s girlfriend who was present during the deal said that Brown was a master crack cooker and she had seen him do on a number of occasions. On October 9, 2021, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a car driven by Brown. During a search of the car, law enforcement found a loaded HK 9mm handgun. On March 15, 2022, Brown was arrested on federal charges and found in possession of a revolver. On March 16, 2022, law enforcement served two search warrants at residences associated with Brown. During a search at an apartment in Wilmington, law enforcement found a loaded Glock 9mm handgun, a loaded rifle with a large capacity magazine and more than 100 rounds of additional ammunition. During a search of a different apartment in Wilmington, law enforcement found more than 65 grams of cocaine. This is part of operation “Golfer” which is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the New Hanover and Brunswick County Sheriffs’ Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Severo and Gabe Diaz prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:22-CR-00011-FL. ###


title: Retired U.S. Air Force Officer Pleads Guilty To Unlawful Retention Of Classified National Defense Information

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Robert L. Birchum (55, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing and retaining classified documents relating to the national defense of the United States. Birchum faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Birchum has also agreed to surrender certain computer equipment that contained classified information and facilitated the unlawful retention of national defense information. According to the plea agreement, Birchum, who retired in 2018 as a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force, had served in various positions in intelligence, including those requiring him to work with classified intelligence information for the Joint Special Operations Command, the Special Operations Command, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. While he was on active duty, Birchum entered into several agreements with the United States regarding the protection and proper handling of classified information. In 2017, however, law enforcement officers discovered that Birchum had removed more than 300 classified files or documents, including more than 30 items marked Top Secret, from authorized locations to his home, his overseas officer’s quarters, and a storage pod in his driveway. None of these locations were authorized for storage of classified national defense information, and Birchum knew as much. For example, Birchum possessed two documents on a thumb drive found in his home that contained information relating to the National Security Agency’s capabilities and methods of collection, and targets’ vulnerabilities. Both documents were classified as Top Secret/SCI, and their unauthorized release could be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security of the United States. This case was investigated by the United States Air Force—Office of Special Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cherie L. Krigsman and Trial Attorney Evan N. Turgeon of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. Download Plea Agreement


title: Naples Felon Sentenced To More Than Seven Years For  $2.6 Million COVID Relief Fraud Scheme

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Daniel Joseph Tisone (35, Naples) to seven years and three months in federal prison for wire fraud, bank fraud, illegal monetary transactions, and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. Tisone was also ordered to forfeit the properties, engagement ring, ammunition, and cash seized from bank accounts, as well as to pay restitution in the amount of $2,617,447.17, all traceable proceeds of the offenses. Tisone had pleaded guilty on August 26, 2022. According to court documents, between March 2020 and April 2021, Tisone, a convicted felon, submitted false and fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), Main Street Lending Program (MSLP), and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications to the Small Business Administration (SBA), as well as PPP and MSLP approved lenders. The loan applications contained numerous false representations, including the criminal history, average monthly payroll, number of employees, and gross revenues of the applicant, Tisone. In support of the fraudulent EIDL, PPP, and MSLP applications, Tisone submitted false and fictitious payroll and tax documents, as well as a fake commercial lease. Further, Tisone fraudulently used the means of identification of individuals who purported to work for Tisone’s companies, including their names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers, to submit false and fraudulent payroll and payroll tax documents. Tisone also fraudulently used the means of identification of an individual, including the individual’s name, date of birth, driver license, and Social Security number, to submit a false and fraudulent EIDL application. Tisone’s false and fraudulent representations caused the SBA, PPP, and MSLP lenders to approve and fund one MSLP, four EIDL, and five PPP loans, resulting in the deposit of approximately $2,617,447 into bank accounts Tisone controlled. Tisone then used the funds for unauthorized purposes and for his own personal enrichment, including the purchase of residences in Naples, Florida, stocks and investment securities, a 2019 Tiara 34LS boat, a 4.02 carat engagement ring, and ammunition. On March 20, 2022, while executing a search warrant at Tisone’s residence, FBI agents discovered more than 800 rounds of assorted .223/5.56 and 9mm caliber ammunition in Tisone’s master bedroom and garage. As a convicted felon, Tisone is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law enacted March 2020. It is designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. In April 2020, Congress authorized over $300 billion in additional PPP funding. The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of one percent. Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if the business spends the proceeds on these expenses within a set time period and uses at least a certain percentage of the loan toward payroll expenses. The EIDL program is designed to provide economic relief to small businesses that are currently experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. EIDL proceeds can be used to cover a wide array of working capital and normal operating expenses, such as continuation of health care benefits, rent, utilities, and fixed debt payments. If an applicant also obtains a loan under the PPP, the EIDL funds cannot be used for the same purpose as the PPP funds. The MSLP was designed to provide support to small and medium-sized businesses and their employees across the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program was intended to help companies, that were in sound financial condition prior to the onset of the pandemic, maintain their operations and payroll until conditions normalized. “Daniel Joseph Tisone seriously abused three federal programs that used taxpayers’ money to aid struggling small businesses through the pandemic, said Brian Miller, the Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery. “SIGPR is glad to have played a significant role teaming with other law enforcement agencies and the United States Attorney’s Office to hold Mr. Tisone accountable.” This case was investigated by the FBI, Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR), IRS – Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Reserve Board OIG. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Trent Reichling, Suzanne Nebesky, and Julie Simonsen.


title: Tampa Man Who Led Officers On High-Speed Chase Sentenced To More Than Six Years For Firearm And Drug Trafficking Offenses

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Raequin Smith (27, Tampa) to six years and three months in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Smith had pleaded guilty on December 1, 2022. According to court documents, on April 5, 2022, Smith was stopped by law enforcement for driving at a high rate of speed. When asked to exit the vehicle, Smith fled in the vehicle. Police helicopters were dispatched and located Smith driving at a high rate of speed and disregarding traffic signals through busy roadways in Tampa. Officers used spike strips to disable Smith’s vehicle, but Smith fled on foot, discarding a bookbag in a driveway as he ran. Officers pursued Smith until he was apprehended. They retrieved the bookbag which contained a firearm, ammunition, cocaine, marijuana, two digital scales, and multiple empty baggies. This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department and the Strategic Pattern Armed Robbery Technical Apprehension (SPARTA) unit of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Guzman. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Tampa Man Pleads Guilty To Attempting To Provide Material Support To ISIS

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Muhammed Momtaz Al-Azhari (26, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, namely, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (“ISIS”). Pursuant to the terms of his plea agreement, Al-Azhari and the United States have agreed to the imposition of a stipulated sentence of 18 years in federal prison. Al-Azhari has also agreed to forfeit certain assets that are traceable to proceeds of the offense, as well as various items of property, including gear involved in, or intended to be used to commit the offense. According to the plea agreement, Al-Azhari is a United States citizen who spent most of his life abroad and came to embrace dogmatic, Islamist/Salafist beliefs. In or around 2015, Al-Azhari was convicted of advocating for Jaysh al-Islam, an armed Islamist group then participating in the Syrian conflict, in Saudi Arabia. Al-Azhari spent approximately three years in Saudi Arabian custody, after which he was removed to the United States. Upon Al-Azhari’s arrival to the United States, in or around December 2018, the FBI began investigating him for potentially providing material support to ISIS, which, at all relevant times, was designated as a foreign terrorist organization under federal law. In or around April 2020, Al-Azhari began planning to carry out an attack in support of ISIS. Around the same time, Al-Azhari began to acquire multiple firearms. He also researched and scouted potential locations in the Tampa Bay area. Since at least May 2019, Al-Azhari consumed ISIS propaganda and spoke favorably about ISIS, to whom he eventually pledged his allegiance through a bay’ah (an Islamic oath of allegiance). Furthermore, Al-Azhari spoke about avenging the United States’ imprisonment of Muslims, including ISIS fighters, and the United States’ military actions in the Middle East. In addition, Al-Azhari rehearsed parts of the plan described above, including practicing statements that he would make during, or in connection with, an attack in support of ISIS. Between late April and May 2020, Al-Azhari also had multiple interactions with an FBI undercover employee (“UC-1”) and a confidential human source (“CHS-1”), during which Al-Azhari tried to buy guns from the UC-1, including a fully automatic rifle, but he was arrested on unrelated state charges while negotiating the purchase. Al-Azhari thereafter met CHS-1, attempted to “convert” CHS-1 to Islam, and confided in CHS-1 about his affiliation with ISIS and his plans to provide material support to ISIS, as well as to send money to ISIS. Al-Azhari recruited CHS-1 to help him carry out the plans described above in support of ISIS, as well as robberies, and he asked CHS-1 to obtain a Glock pistol and an unregistered silencer for him. Agents arrested Al-Azhari when he took possession of the gun and silencer on May 24, 2020. This case was investigated by FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Tampa Police Department, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Petersburg Police Department, the Clearwater Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick Scruggs and Risha Asokan.


title: Former Insurance Executive Indicted For $2B Fraud Scheme

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal grand jury in Charlotte returned an indictment charging a North Carolina man with masterminding and directing a massive scheme to deceive state insurance regulators and defraud thousands of policyholders and others in connection with insurance companies he controlled. According to court documents, from no later than 2016 through at least 2019, Greg E. Lindberg, 53, of Durham, and others allegedly agreed to defraud various insurance companies, other third parties, and ultimately, thousands of insurance policyholders. Lindberg allegedly deceived the North Carolina Department of Insurance and other regulators, evaded regulatory requirements meant to protect policyholders, concealed the true financial condition of his insurance companies, and improperly used insurance company funds for his personal benefit. In particular, the indictment alleges that Lindberg personally benefitted from the fraud in part by using insurance company funds to finance his lavish lifestyle, including the purchase and refinancing of personal real estate and “forgiving” more than $125 million in loans from his affiliated companies to himself. “Policyholders rely on insurance company owners to follow the rules so that the benefits they deserve and depend on will be available when needed,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “In this alleged $2 billion scheme, the defendant defrauded regulators and policyholders alike, causing substantial financial harm to thousands of victims. As this prosecution demonstrates, no matter how complex the scheme, the department will hold accountable corporate executives whose crimes leave policyholders holding the bag while lining their own pockets.” “The indictment reveals a carefully orchestrated scheme that relied on a web of complex financial investments and transactions designed to evade regulators, disguise the financial health of Lindberg’s insurance companies, and conceal the alleged purpose of the scheme: Lindberg’s personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Dena J. King for the Western District of North Carolina. “My office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute financial wrongdoing and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.” “People buy insurance products to provide comfort and security. However, this indictment alleges this was a sophisticated and intricate scheme designed for one reason, to benefit Lindberg,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael C. Scherck of the FBI Charlotte Field Office. “The FBI is unwavering in our efforts to hold those accountable who commit federal financial crimes.” The charged conduct allegedly caused substantial financial hardship to the victims. Lindberg allegedly caused the insurance companies to engage in investments of nearly $2 billion as part of his scheme, most of which remained outstanding as of September 2022. Since 2019, multiple insurance companies controlled by Lindberg have been placed into rehabilitation or liquidation. Lindberg is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit crimes in connection with insurance business, wire fraud, and investment adviser fraud; one count of wire fraud; four counts of false insurance business statements presented to regulators; six counts of false entries about the financial condition or solvency of an insurance business; and one count of money laundering conspiracy. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each of the top counts. In December 2022, one of Lindberg’s top executives, Christopher Herwig, pleaded guilty in a related case to conspiring with Lindberg and others to commit wire fraud, investment advisor fraud, and money laundering, as well as to the making of false statements in the business of insurance. Separately, Lindberg remains under indictment and is awaiting retrial in a case in which he faces several charges stemming from alleged attempts to bribe the Commissioner of the North Carolina Department of Insurance. The FBI Charlotte Field Office is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Ryan for the Western District of North Carolina and Trial Attorney Lyndie Freeman of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. If you believe you are a victim in this case, please contact the Fraud Section’s Victim Witness Unit toll-free at (888) 549-3945 or by email at victimassistance.fraud@usdoj.gov . You are also encouraged to visit our webpage for this case at www.justice.gov/criminal-vns/case/united-states-v-greg-lindberg . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced To Twelve Years In Federal Prison

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew has sentenced Martin Felder, Jr. (43, Orlando) to 12 years in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. The court also ordered Felder to forfeit assets, which are traceable to proceeds of the offense. Felder had pleaded guilty on October 20, 2022. According to court documents, Felder, a previously convicted felon, was under investigation for narcotics distribution in the Tampa Bay area. On two subsequent occasions, Felder sold methamphetamine and heroin to a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) confidential source. A forensic laboratory test of the narcotics seized indicated that the methamphetamine was “ICE” – which is very high purity methamphetamine. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Callan Albritton and Maria Guzman.


title: Cape Coral Man Sentenced To Eight Years For Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Images And Videos

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell has sentenced Karl Patrick Kluge (54, Fort Myers) to eight years and one month in federal prison for possession of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Kluge was also sentenced to a 15-year term of supervised release and ordered to register as a sex offender. Kluge was found guilty following a bench trial on October 31, 2022. According to court documents, in May 2021, an FBI task force agent had connected to Kluge’s computer sharing files depicting a child being sexually abused. The FBI later executed a search warrant at Kluge’s residence and seized Kluge’s laptop computer, cellphones, and a thumb drive. Kluge admitted to agents that he looked at child sex abuse images. A subsequent forensic examination of Kluge’s devices revealed in excess of 300 images and more than 150 videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Fort Myers Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which includes the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office that assisted with this investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava. This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: San Rafael Man Visiting Yosemite Pleads Guilty to Domestic Violence Charge

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Stefan Niels Weiste Kirkeby, 59, of San Rafael, pleaded guilty to domestic violence within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, on Aug. 4, 2022, Kirkeby and his wife got into a verbal confrontation that resulted in park visitors having to intervene due to the yelling as well as the threats of harm being made by Kirkeby. The victim reported she was forcibly grabbed by her wrist and both fell to the ground. Kirkeby was threatening to kill her then kill himself during the altercation. The victim sustained bruising, pain to her wrist, and scratches. This case is the product of an investigation by the National Park Service with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laurel J. Montoya is prosecuting the case. Kirkeby is scheduled to be sentenced on June 26, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. Kirkeby faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.


title: Trinity County Man Indicted for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an indictment Thursday against Anthony Jair Demedeiros, 23, of Weaverville, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, on Feb. 9, 2021, law enforcement received a report of Demedeiros boarding a bus, carrying a duffel bag believed to contain a firearm. Demedeiros was on searchable Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS) from a prior conviction in Tehama County for carrying a concealed firearm when having been previously convicted of a felony, and also had prior arrests for violent crimes. Officers located the bus they suspected Demedeiros had boarded and followed it. When it came to a stop, officers boarded the bus and detained Demedeiros. Next to Demedeiros’ seat, officers saw a bag matching the description of the reported duffel bag. Demedeiros denied the bag was his and no other party on the bus claimed it as theirs. Officers seized the bag and inside it found a Bushmaster Carbon-15 .223-5.56 caliber rifle, with a telescope, partially disassembled (making it more readily concealable). All parts were present to reassemble a complete and operational rifle. The rifle had a round in the chamber and a 10-round magazine loaded with four rounds. A records check of the rifle’s serial number indicated that it had been reported stolen from an address in Trinity County. This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Redding Police Department, and the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Conolly is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Demedeiros faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. 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 U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Missouri Nonprofit Admits False Statements About Care of Foster Youth, Agrees to Pay $1.8 Million

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A Missouri-based nonprofit behavioral health provider has admitted making criminal false statements in claims for services not provided to foster youth and agreed to a series of compliance measures, federal and state officials announced Friday. In a separate civil settlement, Great Circle of Webster Groves, Missouri agreed to pay $1,866,000, consisting of $933,000 in restitution that was doubled under the False Claims Act. “In this non-prosecution agreement, Great Circle admits falsely claiming to have provided enhanced supervision to youth at its residential treatment facility in claims for payment to the State of Missouri,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith Reiter, who is leading the team that worked on the case. “A cascade of issues can arise from inadequate supervision, particularly for children with such intensive need for treatment and assistance.” “These agreements hold Great Circle accountable by requiring it to admit false billing and pay a civil false claims settlement, without jeopardizing continued access to residential treatment services for children in Missouri’s foster care program,” Reiter said. The non-prosecution agreement (NPA) was entered into for, among other reasons, the nonprofit’s past and continuing cooperation, the lack of a prior criminal history and the $1.8 million civil settlement agreement. A major consideration was also the fact that the nonprofit has been providing behavioral health services to children with special needs in the custody of the Missouri Department of Social Services, Children’s Division, and a criminal conviction resulting in exclusion from federal programs could jeopardize that and thus cause hardship to innocent third parties. The multi-year investigation and these agreements are the result of a coordinated effort among the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri, the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Missouri Department of Social Services, the FBI, the Webster Groves Police Department and the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department. “Great Circle falsely submitted bills for services it did not provide but were needed by the children,” said Special Agent in Charge Jay Greenberg of the FBI St. Louis Division. “Prioritizing profit over safety can put already vulnerable children in peril.” “To obtain ill-gotten gains, Great Circle knowingly submitted false claims related to services that are intended to benefit children,” stated Curt L. Muller, Special Agent in Charge with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “We commend the efforts of our agents and law enforcement partners to hold Great Circle accountable and safeguard the integrity of our federal programs that support health and human services.” “I’m committed to enforcing the law as written, and that involves ensuring that anyone who defrauds the state is held accountable,” said Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey. “I’m proud of the collaboration between this office’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and our law enforcement partners to obtain restitution for the state, and we will continue to ensure that those who cheat the state are brought to justice.” “Following a multi-year investigation of Great Circle related to allegations of abuse of child health care recipients, allegations of failure to report abuse and Medicaid fraud, we are pleased with the results,” said Lt. Jillian McCoy of the Webster Groves Police Department. “The ultimate goal of serving and protecting vulnerable youth was obtained by cooperative efforts with federal agencies through the U.S. Attorney’s Office.” “Our goal is to ensure every child across the state lives in a safe, nurturing environment that will ultimately help them thrive,” said Robert Knodell, acting director for the Missouri Department of Social Services. “The Department of Social Services is pleased to assist in holding Great Circle accountable for its actions without further jeopardizing the care of some of Missouri’s most vulnerable youth. We are sending a strong message regarding the care we expect our children to receive, and we will continue to do whatever it takes to help ensure the safety and well-being of Missouri’s children.” As part of the agreement, Great Circle admitted falsely claiming to have provided services for six residents between 2019 and 2020. Great Circle is licensed to provide “intensive residential treatment” services to children, also known as Level IV services, and defined as providing a “highly structured and secure environment designed to: (a) prevent emotionally disturbed youth from runaway behavior; (b) address the likelihood of rage and physical aggression by the residents; and (c) minimize the likelihood of youth injuring themselves or others.” On multiple occasions, Great Circle falsely claimed to have provided services above Level IV, including increased ratios of staff to residents and other enhanced services. The company agreed to cooperate with the government in any additional health care fraud investigation and to promptly report any credible evidence or allegations of conduct violating U.S. law to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Great Circle also has agreed to implement a compliance and ethics program designed to prevent and detect violations of federal fraud and related statutes and adopt new or modify existing internal controls, compliance code and policies and procedures where necessary. Officers, directors and senior management will have to “provide strong, explicit, and visible support and commitment” to the corporate policy against violations of relevant laws. Great Circle has locations throughout Missouri and in Kansas. KVC Missouri has announced it will take over Great Circle April 1. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith Reiter, Suzanne Moore and Gwendolyn Carroll handled the case. great_circle_fully_executed_civil_settlement_agreement.pdf


title: Labor Union Treasurer Convicted After Embezzling More Than $91,000 Over Six Years

component: USAO - Indiana, Southern

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Matthew Archer, 59, of McCordsville, Indiana, has been convicted of wire fraud. According to court documents, from 2006 to December of 2019, Matthew Archer served as the treasurer for an industrial union (the Union) located in Indianapolis, Indiana. As part of his employment, Archer was responsible for maintaining the Union’s bank accounts and records. On multiple occasions between 2013 and 2019, Archer illegally transferred funds from the Union’s bank account into his personal bank accounts. Between 2017 and 2019, Archer also electronically transferred funds from the Union’s bank account into his own to pay his personal car loan. Additionally, in 2018 and 2019, Archer submitted fraudulent Labor Organization Annual Reports to the Department of Labor. On these forms, Archer falsely reported the Union’s assets and overstated how much money was in its bank account. On both occasions, Archer reported that the Union had $151,000 available when it actually had less than $11,000. To conceal his scheme, Archer created fraudulent bank statements that overstated how much money was in the Union’s accounts and forged the signatures of the Union’s auditors on internal reports. In total, Archer embezzled $91,951.86 from the Union, and has been ordered to repay the stolen funds as restitution. “For years, this defendant lied and abused his position of trust to line his own pockets at the expense of the union and members he was supposed to serve,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “This prosecution demonstrates that the Department of Labor and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are watching, and those who embezzle funds will be held accountable.” “Safeguarding financial integrity and combating fraud in labor unions is a high priority for the U.S. Department of Labor,” said Megan Ireland, District Director, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards. “Most union officials do their work with great care, but Matthew Archer betrayed the trust placed in him by the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) and embezzled over $91,000 from LIUNA Local 1325, at the expense of LIUNA and its members. OLMS continuously works to identify criminal violations and pursue legal action when individuals unlawfully exploit their union positions without regard to the best interests of the union and its members.” The U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards, investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Jane Magnus Stinson. Archer has been ordered to pay $82,462.02 in restitution. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Adam Eakman, who prosecuted this case. ###


title: Former Nurse Indicted for Drug Diversion from Boston-Area Hospital

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A former nurse has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for allegedly diverting opioids from a Boston-area hospital. Andrea Falzano, 38, of Winchester, was indicted on three counts of unlawfully obtaining controlled substances by fraud, deception and subterfuge. Falzano was arrested this morning and will appear in federal court in Boston today at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge M. Page Kelley. According to the indictment, while working as a registered nurse at a hospital in the Boston-area, Falzano acquired hydromorphone and morphine both of which are opioids and Schedule II controlled substances. The charge of unlawfully obtaining controlled substances by fraud provides a sentence of up to four years in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Office; and Margret R. Cooke, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Panich of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Former Birmingham-Area Bank Insiders Charged in Connection with Account Takeover Scheme

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A grand jury yesterday indicted two former bank employees for their role in a conspiracy to steal customer account information, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and United States Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick M. Davis A six-count indictment filed in the U.S. District Court charges Chimere Shanta Mitchell, 31, and Jamila Afhtan Davis, 31, both of Birmingham, with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. According to the indictment, Mitchell was previously employed by Wells Fargo Bank as a Fraud and Claims Operations Specialist responsible for working with bank customers who suspected fraudulent activity in their accounts. Davis was previously employed by Regions Bank as a teller responsible for processing transactions and providing customer service. The indictment alleges that between October 2020 and October 2021, Mitchell and Davis used their positions as bank employees to obtain financial account information from accountholders at Wells Fargo and Regions banks. They would then provide that information to another individual who would either use it in connection with account takeover schemes or market it on Telegram, an encrypted mobile messaging application favored by cybercriminals. The maximum penalty for wire fraud affecting a financial institution is 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to commit wire fraud is the same. The U.S. Secret Service Cyber Fraud Task Force investigated the case with assistance from the Vestavia Hills Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Canter is prosecuting the case. An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Informational: Federal Court arraignments

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty: Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Feb. 24 was: Moises Zamora, 38, of Greely, Colorado, on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. If convicted of the most serious crime, Zamora faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Zamora was detained pending further proceedings. The Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force and FBI investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-20. Appearing on Feb. 23 was: Edwin Ivan Don’tMix, 59, of Crow Agency, on charges of abusive sexual contact. If convicted of the most serious crime, Don’tMix faces a maximum of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to life of supervised release. Don’tMix was released pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. PACER case reference. 22-147. Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on Feb. 22 was: Bo Jordan Bradley, 31, of Bozeman, on charges of felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. If convicted of the most serious crime, Bradley faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Bradley was released pending further proceedings. The Montana Probation and Parole and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-01. Appearing on Feb. 21 was: Joseph Anthony Schrantz, 35, of Missoula, on charges of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, prohibited person in possession of a firearm and unlawful taking of firearm form a licensed firearm dealer. If convicted of the most serious crime, Schrantz faces a mandatory minimum 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Schrantz was detained pending further proceedings. The Missoula Police Department, Montana Probation and Parole, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-6. Darcel Portra Saunders, 65, of Bozeman, on charges of wire fraud and money laundering. If convicted of the most serious crime, Saunders faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Saunders was released pending further proceedings. The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-02. The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html . To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl . XXX


title: Former City of Atlanta official sentenced for accepting bribes

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA – Former City of Atlanta Commissioner of Watershed Management Jo Ann Macrina has been sentenced to four years and six months in prison for accepting bribes from an Atlanta contractor in exchange for steering city business worth millions of dollars to the contractor’s company. “Jo Ann Macrina was entrusted to safeguard the water supply for millions of Atlanta residents but instead resorted to corruption by steering work to a city contractor in exchange for cash, luxury items, and a lucrative job offer,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “We are committed to working closely with our partners to rid local government of those who allow personal greed to lead to the abuse of positions of trust.” “Macrina exploited her position to feed her own greed,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This case is especially disturbing because she was the head of a department. This conviction reflects our continuing commitment to root out corruption and bring to justice those who abuse positions of power.” “By enriching herself through bribes, Jo Ann Macrina abused her public trust,” said James E. Dorsey, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “The sentence she received serves notice to public officials that they are not above the law and will be held accountable for using public funds for their own use.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Macrina served as the Commissioner of Atlanta’s Department of Watershed Management from 2011 through May 2016. During Macrina’s tenure, the City of Atlanta awarded millions of dollars in contracts to an architectural, design, and construction management and services firm based in Atlanta. Macrina took multiple steps to steer lucrative contracts toward the firm’s joint venture. Those actions included casting aside prior final scores ranking potential vendors where the joint venture ranked near the bottom, replacing two evaluators who previously represented the Department of Watershed Management with herself and Macrina’s employee, and scoring the joint venture higher than all other evaluators during a reevaluation. In exchange for providing the firm’s executive vice president with access to confidential information and preferential treatment on City of Atlanta projects, Macrina was offered a job and accepted things of value. For instance, Macrina accepted $10,000 in cash, a diamond ring, a room at a luxury hotel in Dubai, and landscaping work at her home from the firm’s executive vice president either directly or through another employee of the firm. Shortly after Macrina’s employment with the City of Atlanta ended, she began working for the firm. Between June 2016 and September 2016, the firm and its executive vice president paid Macrina $30,000 in four separate payments. Jo Ann Macrina, 66, of Daytona Beach, Florida, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones to four years and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and $40,000 in restitution. Macrina was convicted of conspiracy and federal program bribery on October 14, 2022, following a jury trial. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan P. Kitchens for the Northern District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Jolee Porter of the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section prosecuted the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Three Arrested in Attempted Human Smuggling Event Near Morses Line

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont - The United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that three persons were arrested near Morses Line on February 19, 2023 in connection with an attempt to smuggle individuals without legal status into the United States. Aaron Cruz-Castelazo, 32, a Mexican national who has no immigration status in the United States, and Marcos Rosas-Mendoza, 34, also a Mexican national without status here, appeared Wednesday in United States District Court in Burlington on a charge that they attempted to transport individuals without legal status within the United States. Emmanuel Moheno-Gomez, 30, a citizen of Mexico without legal status in the United States, appeared in court yesterday on a charge that he unlawfully entered the country. U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle ordered that all three defendants be held without bail pending trial. Two other individuals without status in the United States who were apprehended with Moheno-Gomez were released to immigration custody for removal from the United States. According to public court documents, in the late afternoon of February 19, law enforcement officials in Canada notified the Border Patrol in Vermont that a vehicle had dropped off three individuals just north of the border in Canada. Believing that the individuals were planning to enter the United States on foot, Border Patrol agents responded to the area and eventually apprehended three Mexican nationals, including Moheno-Gomez. During that investigation, agents also encountered a rental vehicle with North Carolina license plates. An agent stopped that vehicle when it drove to the area just south of the border where the three individuals likely would have crossed into the United States. Agents detained the driver, Cruz-Castelazo, and the passenger, Rosas-Mendoza. Agents later determined that Rosas-Mendoza had been in cellphone communication with one of the three individuals as they walked across the border. The United States Attorney emphasizes that the charges against these defendants are merely accusations, and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty. As currently charged, Cruz-Castelazo and Rosas-Mendoza face up to five years of imprisonment if convicted. The unlawful entry charge against Moheno-Gomez is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months of imprisonment. The actual sentences would be determined with reference to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest credited the agents of the United States Border Patrol for their continued efforts to prevent the exploitation of foreign nationals by human smuggling organizations. Rosas-Mendoza is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Steven Barth. Cruz-Castelazo is represented by Robert Katims, Esq. Moheno-Gomez is represented by John-Claude Charbonneau, Esq. The prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples.


title: Kalispell man charged with making threats to kill U.S. Senator Jon Tester

body_text: MISSOULA — A Kalispell man accused of threatening to injure and murder Montana U.S. Senator Jon Tester was arraigned on Feb. 23 on an indictment, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said today. Kevin Patrick Smith, 45, pleaded not guilty to an indictment filed on Feb. 22 charging him with two counts of threats to injure and murder a United States Senator. If convicted of the most serious crime, Smith faces 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. Smith was detained pending further proceedings. According to court documents, on Jan. 30, Smith allegedly made numerous threatening calls to Sen. Tester by phone, leaving voicemails at Sen. Tester’s office in Kalispell. In one instance, Smith stated: “There is nothing I want more than to have you stand toe to toe with me. You stand toe to toe with me. I rip your head off. You die. You stand in a situation where it is physical between you and me. You die. “I will never stop.…And I would love to destroy you and rip your (obscenity) head from your shoulders. That is no problem. Call that a threat. Send the FBI. “I would love to (obscenity) kill you. I would love to see your FBI at my door. I would love to see something in the news” According to court documents, Smith allegedly acknowledged in the recording that he threatened Sen. Tester and such threats were “on purpose.” Court documents further allege that on Feb. 1, the FBI contacted Smith and instructed him not to threaten physical violence toward Sen. Tester. On Feb. 10, Smith again called Sen. Tester, stating in one voice message, “I want you to understand. If I ever pull my trigger, I know what dies.” As further alleged in the indictment, Smith stated in another voicemail, “It is important for you to understand that I won’t live under your rule.…If it becomes time that I die, I’d take a significant number with me.” An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan G. Weldon is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI and U.S. Capitol Police. PACER case reference. 23-15. The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html . To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl XXX


title: Alabama Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Pornography

body_text: Gulfport, Miss. -- A Grand Bay, Alabama man pled guilty to possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. According to court documents, Walton Stephen Vaughan, 67, was found to be in possession of hundreds of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct when FBI agents and local law enforcement executed a search warrant at his Lucedale residence on February 27, 2019. Vaughan is scheduled to be sentenced on June 15, 2023, at 11:00 a.m., in Gulfport. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. If Vaughan is determined to have a qualifying prior conviction under federal sexual exploitation statues, military law, or state law, to include abusive sexual conduct involving a minor, he would then face a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 20 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov .


title: Meridian Man Sentenced to over Three Years in Prison for  Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon

body_text: Jackson, Miss. – A Meridian, Mississippi man was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. According to court documents, Delontay Preston Scott, 31, was found in possession of a firearm by East Mississippi Drug Task Force agents on December 30, 2021, during a traffic stop. Scott has prior felony convictions for Armed Robbery and Burglary of a Dwelling and was under the supervision of the Mississippi Department of Corrections at the time. As a convicted felon, it is contrary to federal law for Scott to possess any firearm The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam T. Stuart and Charles W. Kirkham is prosecuted the case. This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime .