title: Morganfield Man Sentenced to 15 Months in Federal Prison for Threatening to Commit a Mass Shooting

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Owensboro, KY – A Morganfield man was sentenced yesterday to 15 months in federal prison for threatening to commit a mass shooting. United States Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI’s Louisville Field Office, and Sheriff Jason Thomas of the Union County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement. According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 20, 2022, Dennis R. Rigdon, 54, of Morganfield, Kentucky, sent a text message to another person that stated, “Mass shooting at Jim David’s or zebryy up to you.” In addition to the 15-month prison sentence, Rigdon was sentenced to a 3-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. The case was investigated by the FBI Owensboro Satellite Office and the Union County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II, of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, prosecuted the case. ###


title: Palm Beach Resident Headed to Federal Prison for Defrauding Cystic Fibrosis Nonprofit

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A West Palm Beach federal district judge has sentenced 34-year-old fraudster Elizabeth Genna Suarez (formerly known as “Elizabeth Mirson Suit”) to 18 months in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release. The sentence comes after a jury’s verdict finding Suarez guilty of wire fraud and the trial judge’s later ruling that Suarez had lied on the stand and submitted fake character letters to the court. From August 2018 to November 2019, Suarez executed a scheme to defraud Piper’s Angels Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals with cystic fibrosis and their families. During that time, Suarez was married to the foundation’s executive director and used her access to the foundation money to divert it to herself. For example, Suarez used her copy of the foundation’s corporate credit card in July 2019 to make an $8,000 deposit on a cosmetic surgical procedure, pay $1,680 for a cosmetic laser procedure, and spend $800 on a necklace. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks. FBI Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra Chase prosecuted it. Assistant U.S. Attorney G. Raemy Charest-Turken is handling asset forfeiture. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 22-cr-80185. ###


title: Former Payroll Manager for Chicago Museum Admits to Misappropriating More Than $2 Million

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: CHICAGO — The former payroll manager for a Chicago museum pleaded guilty today in federal court to misappropriating more than $2 million in museum funds. According to the written plea agreement, from 2007 to 2020, MICHAEL MAURELLO, 56, of Beach Park, siphoned money from the museum’s payroll account to his personal bank accounts by falsely designating the payments as legitimate compensation to other employees. In his plea agreement, Maurello admitted that he kept spreadsheets and notes to track the misappropriated money so that he could later make reversals within the payroll system to hide his fraudulent scheme. When the museum’s assistant controller asked Maurello in January 2020 about one of the payments, Maurello falsely stated that the transaction had been a test of the payroll system. Maurello then edited and altered a report from the payroll system to conceal information about the misappropriated funds. Sentencing has been set for September 14, 2023. Maurello faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison followed by up to 3 years on supervised release. Maurello may also be sentenced to pay a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from his offense, whichever is greater, and he must be sentenced to pay restitution to the museum of $2,308,772. The guilty plea was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey B. Rubenstein.


title: Owensboro Man Sentenced to 12-Plus Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Firearm Possession, Drug Trafficking, and Supervised Release Violation

body_text: Owensboro, KY – An Owensboro, Kentucky man was sentenced yesterday to a total of 153 months in prison. The sentence included 120 months for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and drug trafficking and 33 months for violation of his federal supervised release. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Acting Special Agent in Charge Robert Maynard of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Art Ealum of the Owensboro Police Department made the announcement. According to court documents, on October 2, 2021, Steven Boehman, 38, possessed with the intent to distribute 63.771 grams of methamphetamine. Boehman, a convicted felon, also possessed a Glock .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol. He was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On January 29, 2015, in Ohio Circuit Court, Boehman, was convicted of receiving stolen property. On January 31, 2017, in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Boehman was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm. When Boehman committed the October 2, 2021, offenses, he was on supervised release for his January 31, 2017, federal firearm conviction. He received an additional 33-month sentence for violating his supervised release. Following the153-month prison sentence, Boehman will serve 5 years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. The case was investigated by the ATF Owensboro Field Office and the Owensboro Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II, of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. ###


title: Final Defendant Sentenced In Upper Peninsula-Based Conspiracy To Distribute And Possess With Intent To Distribute Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: MARQUETTE – U.S. Attorney Mark Totten for the Western District of Michigan today announced that Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou sentenced Elizabeth Jean Decota, also known as “Biz,” to 51 months in prison. She was the tenth and final defendant to plead guilty and be sentenced in United States v. Smith, et al. , No. 2:22-cr-01. Chief Judge Jarbou imposed the sentence after commenting that the conspiracy had a “significant impact on the community,” bringing in a “significant quantity of methamphetamine to an area” already so heavily impacted by drug abuse. “Illegal drugs are a danger to our loved ones and have no place in our communities," said. U.S. Attorney Mark Totten . “The United States Attorney’s Office is working closely with our federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners to disrupt drug trafficking rings in Indian Country and across the state to help rid our streets of meth, heroin, fentanyl, and other potentially lethal poisons.” Between March and December 2021, the conspirators brought significant quantities of methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl from Detroit and distributed those drugs throughout the western half of the Upper Peninsula. The conspirators based their operations on the Hannahville Indian Community and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, distributing significant quantities of methamphetamine to those communities. “Drug-related activity in the L’Anse Indian and Hannahville Reservations contribute to violent crime and imposes serious health and economic difficulties to Tribal communities. These sentences help send a message that drug use and trafficking has no place on the Reservations,” said Jerin Falcon, Deputy Associate Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, Division of Drug Enforcement. “The cooperation between local, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement has once again proven effective,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Detroit Field Division Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene . “This indictment should put drug traffickers on notice that we will use whatever resources necessary to remove them, and the poisons they peddle, from our communities.” The defendants and their respective prison sentences are as follows: Name Sentence Tyler Allen Smith, also known as “Ty Ty,” a/k/a “Ty” 158 months Jason Earl Arnold 120 months Jill Elizabeth Roberts 136 months John Paul Decota, Jr., also known as “Bub” 64 months Elizabeth Jean Decota, also known as “Biz” 51 months Clifford Keith Durant, Jr. 90 months Shanna Marie Decota 52 months Peggy Sue Swartz 46 months Allyson Marie Denomie 41 months Alexander Brandon Sagataw 46 months After serving their terms of imprisonment, the defendants will be on supervised release for several years. The Bureau of Indian Affairs; the Drug Enforcement Administration; Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; FBI – Safe Trails Task Force; Michigan State Police; Delta County Sheriff’s Office; Hannahville Tribal Police Department; Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Tribal Police; and Troy Police Department investigated the case. ###


title: Maryland Heights Man Who Had Sex with 16-Year-Old Sentenced to 11 ½ Years in Prison

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man from Maryland Heights, Missouri who engaged in sexual activity with a 16-year-old he met online was sentenced Wednesday to 11 ½ years in federal prison. Terry E. Kuehnel, 48, met the girl, who was then 15, in 2021 while playing an online game. She initially represented herself to be a young adult, but later told Kuehnel she was 15. He admitted in a guilty plea in December to a felony charge of coercion and enticement of a minor that he knew or had reason to know that the girl was a minor and it was not reasonable for him to believe she was older than 16. The two began corresponding via text and audio and video communications, including 246 phone calls, one lasting 14 hours, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson said in court Wednesday. Kuehnel also requested pornographic images of the victim. On June 5, 2021, ten days after she turned 16 and obtained her driver’s license, the victim and Kuehnel arranged for her to travel from her home to Missouri. Kuehnel met her in a department store parking lot and took her to his home, where he subjected her to unlawful sexual activity. After her family reported her missing, law enforcement found the girl at Kuehnel’s home on June 6. In a letter to U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey, the victim’s parents said she has “distanced herself from almost all of her friends at school,” has suffered from anxiety and is in counseling with a licensed clinical social worker specializing in sexual abuse and trauma. The parents also thanked law enforcement, writing, “It is very possible that our daughter would still be missing if it were not for the hard-working Law Enforcement officials who stepped up to the plate that night and are still stepping up today.” The case was investigated by the Maryland Heights Police Department and the St. Louis County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson 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 Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Superseding Indictment Charges 5 New Haven Men with Fentanyl Trafficking Offenses

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned a superseding indictment charging LUIS SALAMAN , a.k.a. “Bebe,” 41; CHRISTIAN LOPEZ , a.k.a. “Face,” 38; MELVIN SANTIAGO , a.k.a. “Pina,” 34; JESUS SEGUINOT , a.k.a. “Chuchi,” 33; and KELLY QUINONES-ADORNO , 27, all of New Haven, with fentanyl trafficking offenses. The indictment, which was returned on April 6, 2023, was unsealed on April 10 when Lopez, Santiago, Seguinot, and Quinones-Adorno were arrested. On that date, these four defendants appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria E. Garcia in New Haven and were ordered detained pending the submission of bond proposals. Salaman has been detained since his arrest on the original indictment on April 5, 2022. As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in October 2021, the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force learned that Salaman was distributing large quantities of narcotics throughout New Haven. The investigation revealed that Salaman worked with Lopez, Santiago, Seguinot, and Quinones-Adorno to distribute fentanyl. Between November 2021 and March 2022, investigators made multiple controlled purchases of distribution quantities of heroin/fentanyl from these individuals. The indictment charges Salaman with conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. If convicted of this offense, he faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life. The indictment charges Lopez, Santiago, Seguinot, and Quinones-Adorno with conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. If convicted of this offense, each faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years. The indictment also charges each defendant with one or more counts of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years. In addition, the indictment alleges that Salaman is eligible for enhanced penalties because of a prior conviction for a serious violent felony, which potentially increases his mandatory minimum prison sentence to 15 years. U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This investigation is being conducted by FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, which includes members from the FBI, the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Correction, and the New Haven, Milford, East Haven, West Haven, and Wallingford Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Conor M. Reardon and Robert S. Ruff.


title: High Level Member of Chicago Gang Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring To Distribute Heroin

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

body_text: CHICAGO — A high-level member of the Four Corner Hustlers street gang has been sentenced to 120 months, plus eight years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute wholesale quantities of heroin on the West Side of Chicago. RAYMOND BETTS, 56, of Riverdale, a so-called “prince” of a nationwide violent street gang, was charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute in May of 2019. On eight occasions from December 2018 to March 2019, Betts or a co-conspirator acting on his behalf distributed 136.4 grams of heroin to a law enforcement confidential source. Seven of the distributions occurred in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago, while one deal was allegedly conducted in south suburban Riverdale. Throughout his interactions with the confidential source, Betts discussed his plans to expand his drug trafficking enterprise, specifically into Northern Indiana. Betts pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin in January of 2023. Betts’ fellow gang members and co-conspirators ANGELA BELL, 52, of Chicago, and MAURICE WILLIAMS, aka “Big Fella”, “Big Ride” and, “Naz”, 54, of Riverdale both pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin. Williams’ sentencing date is set for July 14, 2023. Bell’s sentencing date is set for May 26, 2023. The sentence is announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Sheila G. Lyons, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Thomas J. Dart, Cook County Sheriff; and Eric Carter, Acting Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan DeMarco represented the government. The multi-year investigation that led to Betts’ arrest was conducted with the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (HIDTA). The mission of the task forces, which are comprised of agents and officers from numerous federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations.


title: South Florida Resident Sentenced to Prison for COVID-19 Paycheck Protection Program Fraud

body_text: MIAMI – Damian Davis, 41, has been sentenced in federal district court to 24 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for bank and wire fraud as part of a scheme to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) out of loan proceeds. These loans are guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. Additionally, the Honorable William P. Dimitrouleas ordered Davis to pay over half a million dollars in restitution. In June and July 2020, Davis applied for PPP loans in the name of the following three companies, which he owns; Wolf of Flagler, LLC, in the amount of $128,400; Crates Tavern, LLC, in the amount of $183,780, and Fifth Marketing Group, LLC, in the amount of $274,365. As a result of these loan applications, Davis received a total of $586,545 in PPP funds, which he used for his personal benefit. For example, in one of the companies’ loan applications, Davis listed a loan amount of $274,365 and an average monthly payroll of $109,746, he falsely certified the companies’ number of employees and payroll payments. Also, he falsely certified that the funds would be used to support the ongoing operations of the company. After receiving the PPP loan proceeds, Davis did not make any payroll, rent, utility, or mortgage interest payments. Instead, he used the PPP funds to purchase a car. On August 28, 2020, Davis wired $31,000, from the PPP loan proceeds for the alleged purchase of “equipment.” However, Davis did not buy any equipment, he purchased a 2001 Blue BMW M3. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe of the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Matthew D. Line of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Miami Field Office, announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Dimitrouleas. IRS-CI Miami investigated the case, with assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG), Investigations Division’s Eastern Region. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bertila Lilia Fernandez prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Stone is handling asset forfeiture. In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was enacted. It was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other sources of relief, the CARES Act authorized and provided funding to the SBA to provide Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDLs”) to eligible small businesses, including sole proprietorships and independent contractors, experiencing substantial financial disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic to allow them to meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could otherwise have been met had the disaster not occurred. EIDL applications were submitted directly to the SBA via the SBA’s on-line application website, and the applications were processed and the loans funded for qualifying applicants directly by the SBA. 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 . On September 15, 2022, the Attorney General selected the Southern District of Florida’s U.S. Attorney’s Office to head one of three national COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams. The Department of Justice established the Strike Force to enhance existing efforts to combat and prevent COVID-19 related financial fraud. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please click here . 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 . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 22-cr-60186. ###


title: Eleven Kentuckians Sentenced to Federal Prison for Animal Fighting Offenses

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky. - Two additional individuals, Jerrard McVey, 48, and Linda McVey, 42, both of Carlisle, Ky, were sentenced on Tuesday to 12 months and a day in federal prison, by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell, for conspiracy to knowingly sponsor and exhibit animals in an animal fighting venture, in connection with the Valley, a chicken pit on the border of Nicholas and Fleming Counties. According to their plea agreements, the McVeys, conspired with others, including Walter Mitchell, 48, of Ewing, Ky., to organize multiple animal fighting ventures in the form of cockfights at The Valley, located on the border of Nicholas and Fleming Counties. Specifically, on July 30, 2021, the McVeys and others organized and managed an animal fight that included at least a dozen entries in a 5-cock fight, and approximately 100 attendees. Jerrard McVey pleaded guilty in December 2022. Linda McVey pleaded guilty in November 2022. Mitchell was sentenced in March 2023, and he received six months in prison and one year of supervised release. In total, eleven individuals have now been sentenced to federal prison for their participation in animal fighting offenses in the Eastern District of Kentucky. Four other individuals were sentenced to home detention or federal probation. In March 2023, Cruz Alejandro Mercado-Vazquez, 43, of Maysville, Ky, was sentenced to 15 months incarceration, 3 years supervised release, and a $10,000 fine, for attempting to bribe the Mason County Sheriff to influence the Sheriff in connection with a planned animal fighting venture. Timothy Sizemore, 43, of Manchester, Ky, was sentenced to 26 months incarceration, 2 years supervised release, and a $1,000 fine, for his role in running an animal fighting venture in Manchester, Ky, called Riverside, and an animal fighting venture in Pike County, Ky, called Blackberry. His co-defendant in running Riverside, Millard Oscar Hubbard, 73, of Manchester, Ky, was sentenced to 12 months and one day incarceration, 2 years supervised release, and a $95,000 fine. A referee at Riverside, Justin Smith, 34, of Manchester, Ky, was sentenced to 1 month incarceration, 18 months supervised release, and a fine of $250. The owner of the property on which Blackberry operated, Perry Hatfield, 58, was sentenced to 8 months home detention and 2 years supervised release. Individuals who worked at Riverside, Beachel Collett, 30, of Oneida, KY, and Lester Collett, 26, of Manchester, Ky, were sentenced to 4 months home detention and 18 months supervised release. In another case involving an animal fighting operation in London, Kentucky, called Bald Rock, Rickie Johnson, 56, of London, Ky, was sentenced to 2 months in prison, followed by 8 months home incarceration, 2 years of supervised release, and a $1,000 fine, for his role in running Bald Rock. Several individuals who fought roosters at Bald Rock were also sentenced. Joshua Westerfield, 36, of London, Ky, was sentenced to 3 months in prison, 6 months home detention, and 2 years supervised release. Dallas Cope, 35, of Livingston, Ky, and Bradley Cye Rose, 43, of Parkers Lake, Ky, were each sentenced to 14 days in prison, 9 months home detention, and 18 months supervised release. Hiram B. Creech, Jr., 47, of East Bernstadt, Ky, was sentenced to a year of probation and a $2,000 fine for causing a minor to attend the animal fighting venture at Bald Rock. "Animal fighting ventures are cruel and illegal,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “We will continue to enforce federal animal cruelty laws and we commend the valuable assistance of all our law enforcement partners, whose dedicated work made these important convictions possible.” United States Attorney Shier; Salina Walker, Acting Special Agent in Charge, United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Louisville Office; Colonel Phillip Burnett, Jr., Commissioner, Kentucky State Police; and Superintendent Rob Townsend, Indiana Gaming Commission, jointly announced the sentencings. The investigation was conducted by USDA, FBI, KSP, and the Indiana Gaming Commission. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kate Smith and Andrea Mattingly-Williams. — END —


title: Pharmacy Student and Pharmacist Indicted by Grand Jury

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging a pharmacy student and a licensed pharmacist with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, obtaining controlled substances by fraud, and distribution of a controlled substance. The indictment charges Blair Guillory , 25, a pharmacy student at a university located in Monroe, Louisiana, and Brian Miller , 37, a licensed pharmacist who worked in pharmacies in Monroe and Ruston, Louisiana. The indictment alleges that beginning on or about June 11, 2022 and continuing until December 16, 2022, in the Western District of Louisiana, Guillory and Miller knowingly and intentionally conspired together to distribute Adderall and Vyvanse, both Schedule II controlled substances. It is alleged in the indictment that Guillory received part of his education and training while working at Monroe area pharmacies, including one where Miller worked, and that is where they met. According to the indictment, Miller would see a medical provider to obtain prescriptions for Adderall and Vyvanse and would sell all or a portion of the drugs to Guillory, knowing that Guillory was going to sell the drugs to other individuals. In addition, it is alleged that Guillory would also see a medical provider to obtain prescriptions for Adderall and would sell all or a portion of the drugs to other individuals. The indictment further alleges that Guillory would obtain prescription drugs from others and sell those drugs to students at the university where he attended pharmacy school in Monroe. Guillory would allegedly use Venmo and other mobile payment services to purchase and sell Schedule II controlled substances. "Americans rely on pharmacies every day to legally dispense prescription medication to whom it is intended,” stated U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “This region is also blessed to have a pharmacy school. Persons who are fortunate enough to work as pharmacists and those who have the chance to study pharmacy should not abuse these privileges. We allege that these persons acted illegally and look forward to proceeding with this case through the judicial process." An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Guillory and Miller face a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and is being prosecuted by Alexander C. Van Hook, Special Counsel to the U.S. Attorney. # # #


title: Dunklin County Woman Accused of Aiding $565,000 Interstate Theft

body_text: CAPE GIRARDEAU – A woman from Dunklin County, Missouri appeared in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau Wednesday to face charges accusing her of aiding in the theft of $565,000 from a victim located in Texas. Sheri L. Reeves, 53, of Kennett, was indicted by a grand jury April 4 on one count each of bank fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud. She pleaded not guilty in court Wednesday. The indictment says Reeves acted as a money courier or “ money mule ,” someone who transfers money obtained by fraud to others. On June 9, 2020, Reeves opened an account at a Bank of America branch in Jonesboro, Arkansas that she would later use to receive the proceeds of various fraud schemes executed by others, the indictment says. She also added the name of another person to the account. That person was the victim of an account take-over fraud, in which conspirators used fraudulently-obtained account information to access the account and transfer $565,000 to Reeves’ account, the indictment says. Reeves sent the proceeds from the various frauds to others using cashier’s checks obtained in Tennessee and Arkansas and via a CoinFlip cryptocurrency ATM in Dunklin County, the indictment says. She also sent the account information to others and withdrew or attempted to withdraw the proceeds in cash or by check, it says. The bank fraud charge is punishable by up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. The other charges are punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Hahn is prosecuting the case. If you believe you are participating in a money mule scheme, please contact the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaints Center at ic3.gov or contact your local FBI office .


title: Springfield Man Indicted for Sexual Exploitation of Two Child Victims

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for the sexual exploitation of two child victims. Yevgeniy Dudko, 51, was charged in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield. Today’s indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Dudko on March 16, 2023, and includes additional charges. The indictment charges Dudko with two counts of using minors, identified in court documents as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2, to produce child pornography from Nov. 20, 2021, to March 14, 2023. Dudko is also charged with one count of receiving and distributing child pornography. According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, investigators found approximately 1,000 images of Jane Doe 1 and potentially other minor victims on Dudko’s cell phone. Some of these images appeared to have been created by a hidden camera. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, and the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.


title: Four Springfield Men Sentenced for Meth Conspiracy

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Four Springfield, Mo., men were sentenced in federal court today for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Keith A. Ball, 38, Elshabazz M. Jackson, 32, Bryce S. Amador, 28, and Richard D. Sweaney, 38, were sentenced in separate hearings before U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips. Ball was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison without parole. Jackson and Amador were each sentenced to 11 years and three months in federal prison without parole. Sweaney was sentenced eight years in federal prison without parole. According to court documents, conspirators transported a large amount of methamphetamine into Springfield for further distribution. Ball and Jackson were stopped by law enforcement officers in Lawrence County on Sept. 7, 2018, while in possession of nearly five kilograms of methamphetamine. Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Ball’s residence the same day and found a Heritage .22-calibe revolver, a Colt .38-caliber revolver, and a Star Bonifacio Echeverria 9mm semi-automatic pistol. Ball, Sweaney and Amador each pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Greene and Lawrence counties from June 6, 2018, to Sept. 7, 2018. Ball, who was a leader of the conspiracy, also pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Amador also pleaded guilty to possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Amador was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by law enforcement in Springfield on Sept. 7, 2018. The officer arrested the driver of the vehicle and saw a Davis Industries .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol on the floorboard near Amador’s foot. Amador also was in possession of a Jimenez Arms .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol during the execution of a search warrant at Ball’s residence on the same day. Jackson pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. The fifth and final co-defendant, Amanda Henderson, 40, of Springfield, was sentenced on June 4, 2021, to five years of probation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica R. Eatmon and Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.


title: Gangster Disciples Member Pleads Guilty to Fraud, Money Laundering, and Drug Charges in Connection with Prison-Based Phone Scam

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala – A former inmate at the William E. Donaldson Correctional Facility (Donaldson) in Bessemer, Alabama pleaded guilty yesterday for his role leading a prison-based phone scam that targeted retailers throughout the country, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis. Ricardo Poole, Sr., aka “Raoul,” 48, of Bessemer, Alabama, entered a guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Karon O. Bowdre to one count of wire fraud conspiracy, one count of money laundering conspiracy, one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances, and one count of aggravated identity theft. Poole Sr. is the seventh member of the conspiracy to plead guilty. According to the plea agreement, between September 2020 and May 2022, Poole Sr. and others tricked retailers into activating gift cards under fraudulent pretenses and then used those fraudulently obtained gift cards to purchase merchandise and make other expenditures. The plea agreement describes Poole Sr. as a high-ranking member of the Gangster Disciples at Donaldson, and the Gangster Disciples as a violent national criminal gang, founded in Chicago, and active across the U.S., including Alabama. According to court documents, Poole Sr.’s co-defendant, Terry Ray Bradshaw, was a “skit runner” who was housed at Donaldson for most of the period charged in the indictment. While at Donaldson, Bradshaw called retailers and used spoofing technology and social engineering techniques to pose as store executives so that he could trick employees into activating gift cards. During the relevant period, Bradshaw worked as a “skit runner” for Poole Sr. and other members of the Gangster Disciples at Donaldson. In exchange for his work as a “skit runner,” Poole Sr. provided Bradshaw with luxury items like Cartier glasses, protection from the Gangster Disciples, and controlled substances like methamphetamine. The maximum punishment for the wire fraud conspiracy charge is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for the money laundering conspiracy charge is 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 or twice the amount laundered. The maximum penalty for the conspiracy to distribute a controlled substances charge is 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. The penalty for aggravated identity theft is an additional two years in prison. The U.S. Secret Service Cyber Fraud Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward J. Canter and John M. Hundscheid are prosecuting the case. The Alabama Department of Corrections Law Enforcement Services Division, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have assisted in the investigation.


title: Two Chicago Men Sentenced to Prison After Coming to Iowa Numerous Times to Acquire Guns

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: Two men from Chicago were sentenced to prison terms after coming to Iowa to purchase firearms illegally. Artin Thomas, age 29, from Chicago, Illinois, received a prison term after a November 7, 2022 guilty plea to making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. In a plea agreement, he admitted buying firearms in May, June, and July 2022 in Iowa and lying about his address at each purchase. He also admitted that he was a marijuana user at the time he purchased the firearms, which he did not disclose at the time of the purchases. He also admitted that he purchased the guns to resell them. Thomas was sentenced on April 3, 2023, to 41 months’ imprisonment. Javon Jones, age 27, from Chicago Illinois, received a prison term after a November 7, 2022 guilty plea to two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon. In his plea agreement, Jones admitted possessing firearms following felony convictions on two separate dates in July 2022. Thomas was previously convicted of mob action - fail to withdraw, simple assault, aggravated battery/peace officer, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful use or possession of a weapon by a felon, resisting a peace officer/correctional officer/firefighter, and felon in possession or use of a firearm. Jones was sentenced on April 11, 2023, to 46 months’ imprisonment. Both Thomas and Jones were sentenced by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. They were each ordered to serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is 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. Thomas and Joes are being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until they can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily K. Nydle and investigated by the Dubuque Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 22-cr-1025. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Felon Who Took Cedar Rapids Police Department on Vehicle and Foot Chase Sentenced to Federal Prison

body_text: A convicted felon who possessed a firearm and attempted to elude police in his vehicle, and on foot, was sentenced today to more than four years in federal prison. Daniel Straw, age 33, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 3, 2022 guilty plea to bring a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. At the guilty plea, Straw admitted he possessed a Glock 9mm pistol when he was prohibited because he was previously convicted of a felony, previously convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, was a drug user, and was subject to a no-contact order. In July of 2022, Straw took the Cedar Rapids Police Department on a chase while driving his vehicle. After going over a curb, Straw abandoned his car and took off on foot. He scaled a fence and ran through residential backyards while being chased by police. He was ultimately apprehended in the backyard of a residential neighborhood and a loaded Glock 9mm pistol was located in his bag, as well as an extended magazine and marijuana. Straw was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Straw was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Straw is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Liz Dupuich and investigated by the Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force. The task force is composed of representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cedar Rapids Police Department. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 22-cr-77-LTS. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced to Over Five Years in Federal Prison for Being a Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm

body_text: A prohibited person who possessed a firearm was sentenced today to 64 months in federal prison. Tylon Randolph, age 22, of Cedar Rapids, received the sentence after a November 7, 2022 guilty plea to one count of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. At the plea hearing, Randolph admitted that, on June 1, 2022, he possessed a Hi-Point 9 mm pistol after having been convicted of a felony and while he was an unlawful user of marijuana and alprazolam. Randolph was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by Chief United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Randolph was sentenced to 64 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is 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. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is CR 22-71. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: 31 Year-Old Yakima Man Sentenced to 7 Years Imprisonment for Being a Felon in Possession of Firearms Stolen From Fish and Wildlife Building

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Yakima, Washington – On April 4, 2023, United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Alexander Scott Stevens, 31, a resident of Yakima, Washington, to seven years in federal prison after his conviction for being a Felon in Possession of Firearms. Stevens will serve a three-year term of court supervision after he is released from custody. According to information disclosed during court proceedings, on January 2, 2022, Yakima Police Department (“YPD”) officers responded to an alarm that had been activated at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Officers observed that someone had severed the chain link fence and cut a hole in the exterior wall of the building. A subsequent inventory revealed that 18 firearms and a suppressor had been stolen from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. A YPD forensic investigator was able to develop a palm print impression that had been left just above the hole in the exterior wall, and detectives confirmed that Stevens was the source of the palm print impression. Given the number of firearms involved, YPD referred the case to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) and the case was worked jointly. On January 24, 2022, Stevens was taken into custody by YPD. A criminal complaint was filed in federal court and Stevens was taken into custody. On February 15, 2022, a federal Grand Jury returned an Indictment charging Stevens with being a Felon in Possession of Firearms. “This case highlights the force multiplier effects of local and federal law enforcement agencies working closely together,” remarked Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. “I commend YPD and ATF, whose hard work and effective investigation resulted in Mr. Stevens being quickly apprehended, and 18 stolen guns being removed from the hands of a convicted felon. The consistent collaboration of YPD and ATF have made our neighborhoods and communities in Eastern Washington safer and stronger.” “ATF will do what it takes to get stolen firearms off the streets,” said ATF Seattle Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan T. McPherson. “The brazen actions of Mr. Stevens truly justify this sentence. It was no small thing to break into a state facility by cutting a hole in the building or to steal more than a dozen firearms. As a convicted felon, Mr. Stevens was not legally permitted to possess firearms in the first place.” “Gun violence is a prevalent and continuing threat to society,” stated Yakima Police Department Chief Matthew Murray. “As we have seen all across the country, violent offenders are using firearms to perpetrate violent crimes that range from robbery to murder. As a result of the remarkable collaboration between state and federal partners in the Eastern District, justice has again been served. I commend and continue to appreciate the partnerships between YPD, ATF, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.” This case was prosecuted under the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program. PSN is a federal, state, and local law enforcement collaboration to identify, investigate, and prosecute individuals responsible for violent crimes in our neighborhoods. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is partnering with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement to specifically identify the criminals responsible for violent crime in the Eastern District of Washington and pursue criminal prosecution. This case was investigated by the Yakima Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Union Gap Police Department, and the Washington State Patrol. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Swensen. 1:22-CR-2017-MKD


title: California Attorney Indicted for Attempting to Entice a Minor

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: United States Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on April 11, 2023, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment charging Michael A. Connor (age: 53) of Newport Coast, California, with attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, attempted production of child pornography, and possession of child pornography, contrary to Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2422(b), 2251(a), 2252A(a)(5)(B), and 2252A(b)(2). If convicted of the attempted enticement charge, Connor faces a mandatory minimum ten years’ and up to life imprisonment. He faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years’ up to 30 years’ imprisonment on the production charge and up to 20 years on the possession charge. He also faces up to a $250,000 fine on each count. This case was investigated by the Green Lake Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan Koenig and Megan J. Paulson. An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. 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 U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the 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 . # # # For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov 414-297-1700


title: Two Arizona Residents Sentenced in South Dakota Meth Conspiracy

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that District Court Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced Sean Gross, of Phoenix Arizona, and Brandie Rinnet, of Bullhead City, Arizona, on charges of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. The sentencings took place on April 10, 2023. Sean Richard Gross, age 40, was sentenced to 26 years and eight months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release on Count 1, Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. Additionally, he was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release on Count 2, Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. These sentences to run concurrently to one another. He was also ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Brandie Rinnet, age 41, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, on the charge of Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. She was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Gross and Rinnet were indicted together, along with three others, by a federal grand jury in December of 2021. Gross pleaded guilty on January 17, 2023, and Rinnet pleaded guilty on January 18, 2023. Gross, along with others, came to an understanding to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in the District of South Dakota, and elsewhere. During Gross’ involvement, he reached an agreement to provide methamphetamine to Christopher Daniels in South Dakota. Daniels was previously sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for his involvement in this conspiracy. Gross sent Daniels methamphetamine to South Dakota through the mail and also delivered it to him in person, so that Daniels could further distribute the methamphetamine throughout South Dakota. Daniels would then send the proceeds of his meth sales in South Dakota to Brandie Rinnet in Arizona, who accepted and attempted to conceal these transactions on behalf of Sean Gross. Gross instructed Daniels, and others, on the manner in which they should wire the money for the purpose of concealing the fact that the money sent was acquired from the sale of methamphetamine and to avoid implicating Gross’ involvement. Gross had multiple conversations with Daniels and Rinnet regarding the movement of funds derived from the sale of methamphetamine on behalf of the conspiracy. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS Criminal Investigation team, Sioux Falls Police Department, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, Moody County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case. Gross and Rinnet were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Sioux Falls Man Charged with Transportation of Child Pornography

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man for two counts of Transportation of Child Pornography. Matthew Richard Hainje, age 44, was indicted in March of 2023. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on April 11, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 40 years in federal prison per count and/or a $250,000 fine, life of supervised release, and up to $200 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered. The Indictment alleges that on December 20, 2022, and again between December 22, 2022, and January 13, 2023, Hainje knowingly transported child pornography. It is alleged that Hainje uploaded graphic images and video files depicting one or more minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct into his Dropbox and Google accounts. The charges are merely accusations and Hainje is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The investigation is being conducted by the Sioux Falls Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper 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 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 . Hainje was remanded to the custody of the State pending trial. A trial date has not been set.


title: Activity in the United States Attorney's Office

body_text: Wildlife Taking Jeremy Daniel Ward, age 49, of Moore, Idaho, was sentenced on March 30, 2023 to four months home confinement and one year probation for transportation of wildlife, valued at more than $350, and stealing elk sheds and game skulls from the National Park Service, valued at more than $1,000. He was also ordered to pay a $25 special assessment. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence. The crimes happened between April and June 2022. The case was investigated by the National Park Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Elmore. Drug Offenses Abel Michael Salazar, age 30, of Greeley, Colorado, was sentenced to 71 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $500 in restitution and a $100 special assessment, for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. He was sentenced on March 30, 2023, by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl. The crime was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Cheyenne Police Department, Greeley Police Department, and Weld County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Coppom prosecuted the case. Cristina Hermosillo, age 44, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 72 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $500 in restitution and a $100 special assessment, for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on March 31, 2023. According to the evidence, the defendant was arrested on May 31, 2022, after she was found nonresponsive in her vehicle surrounded by drug paraphernalia and in possession of approximately 32.5 grams of fentanyl. The Cheyenne Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney T.J. Forwood prosecuted the case. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced Dillard Laquin Whithead, age 50, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, to 120 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release, $300 in community restitution and a $200 special assessment. The hearing took place on April 7, 2023. According to court documents, in September and October 2020, law enforcement learned that Whithead was distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Cheyenne area. Using this information, law enforcement executed a search warrant on October 20, 2022, for Whithead’s residence in Cheyenne, where they recovered approximately 268 grams of methamphetamine and 51 grams of fentanyl. The Cheyenne Police Department, Laramie County Sheriff’s Department, and Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney T.J. Forwood prosecuted the case. Ronnell Lee Robertson, age 35, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment with four years of supervised release and ordered to pay $500 in restitution and a $100 special assessment, for conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of fentanyl. He was sentenced on April 7, 2023, by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl. According to court documents, Robertson pled guilty to an information alleging distribution of fentanyl for his involvement in distributing fentanyl through the U.S. Postal Service. The crime was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Elmore prosecuted the case. About the United States Attorney’s Office The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include: Environmental Justice The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Project Safe Childhood Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious. Project Safe Neighborhoods Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment to reducing gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful. Victim Witness Assistance The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to making sure that victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect. To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime#trafficking


title: Colorado Springs Residents Indicted in Alleged Scheme to Defraud Hundreds of Student Loan Debtors

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: Denver -- The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Jalon Torres, age 45, and Lisa Marie Ritter, age 32, both of Colorado Springs, have been indicted by a Federal Grand Jury as part of an alleged scheme to defraud student loan debtors. According to the allegations in the indictment, Torres was the registered agent for the Student Resolution Center, LLC, which was also known as the Student Resource Center (SRC). Beginning in and around June 2015, Torres devised a scheme to defraud student loan debtors by making false promises to induce them to make payments to his company. As part of the scheme, Torres and others he directed called victims and falsely promised to reduce or eliminate student loan debt for a certain number of payments to the SRC. Torres obtained authorization from victims to withdraw payments from their bank accounts, but then withdrew payments in excess of the amounts listed in each contract. SRC earned more than $1 million from hundreds of victims. The indictment further alleges that both defendants then used the proceeds for personal gain, including purchasing a residence and a luxury vehicle. Defendant Ritter made her initial appearance in Denver before United States Magistrate Judge James P. O’Hara on April 11, 2023. Defendant Torres was arrested in Florida and is awaiting further proceedings in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, IRS-CI, and the Department of Education Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca Weber is handling the prosecution. The charges in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Case Number 23-cr-00113-RMR


title: Shiprock woman pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Evelyn Bustamante pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Bustamante, 59, of Sanostee, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, will remain on conditions of release pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. According to the plea agreement and other court documents, on July 1, 2021, Bustamante lost control of the vehicle she was driving, causing it to crash and ejecting both Bustamante and her two children from the vehicle. Neither of the children were seat belted or in car-seats. One of the children died from their injuries. The second suffered a skull fracture and subdural hemorrhaging but recovered. Tests showed that Upshaw’s blood alcohol concentration was .18 at the time of the accident, which is more than twice the legal limit in New Mexico. The crash occurred near Hogback, New Mexico. Bustamante admitted to drinking alcohol that morning. During a routine toxicological examination, doctors determined that she had methamphetamine and amphetamine in her system. Under the terms of the agreement, Bustamante can be sentenced between 5 and 8 years in prison followed by up to 3 years of supervised release. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and New Mexico State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew McGinley is prosecuting the case. # # # 23-77


body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Evelyn Bustamante pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Bustamante, 59, of Sanostee, New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, will remain on conditions of release pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. According to the plea agreement and other court documents, on July 1, 2021, Bustamante lost control of the vehicle she was driving, causing it to crash and ejecting both Bustamante and her two children from the vehicle. Neither of the children were seat belted or in car-seats. One of the children died from their injuries. The second suffered a skull fracture and subdural hemorrhaging but recovered. The crash occurred near Hogback, New Mexico. Bustamante admitted to drinking alcohol that morning. During a routine toxicological examination, doctors determined that she had methamphetamine and amphetamine in her system. Under the terms of the agreement, Bustamante can be sentenced between 5 and 8 years in prison followed by up to 3 years of supervised release. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and New Mexico State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew McGinley is prosecuting the case. # # # 23-77


title: Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Nationwide “Felony Lane Gang” Conspiracy

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Robert Natson, age 37, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, pled guilty today to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Putnam County Sheriff Kevin J. McConville made the announcement. In pleading guilty, Natson admitted that he was involved in a fraud scheme known as “Felony Lane Gang” between 2015 and 2020. Natson and his co-conspirators traveled across the country breaking into cars, often targeting those parked by women at locations such as health and fitness centers, daycares, parks, and dog parks. Natson and other members of the conspiracy stole debit cards, credit cards, checkbooks, and photo identifications in these “smash-and-grab” vehicle thefts, and they used these stolen items to commit bank fraud by recruiting women to impersonate the smash-and-grab victims and cash checks in drive-through bank lanes. The recruited check cashers were almost always suffering from an addiction to controlled substances and were provided payment at least partially in drugs. Natson admitted that the loss amount from the conspiracy attributable to him is up to $40,000. The charge to which Natson pled guilty carries a maximum sentence of 30 years, a fine of up to $1 million, and a supervised release term of up to 5 years. Natson will be sentenced on August 10, 2023. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Natson was one of nine men charged in a 13-count indictment for their roles in the scheme. Keyshawn Arnold, age 25, of Schenectady, New York; Gary Grier, age 37, of Fort Lauderdale; Joshua Mallory, age 37, of Fort Lauderdale; Terrell McDonald, age 32, of Troy, New York; and Tyrone Parker, age 40, of Fort Lauderdale, previously pled guilty for their roles in the indictment. The remaining co-defendants are: TYRONE PARKER, JR. a/k/a “Ty,” a/k/a “Cheese,” a/k/a “Little Thigh,” age 22, of Fort Lauderdale; CEDRIC LYNCH, a/k/a “City,” a/k/a “C,” age 37, of Orlando, Florida; and RANDALL TAYLOR, a/k/a “Gucci,” a/k/a “Guwop,” age 37, of Fort Lauderdale. Each of the remaining defendants is charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, and they are scheduled for trial in federal court in Albany on July 10, 2023. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants whose cases remain pending are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. This case is being investigated by the FBI Westchester Resident Agency of the New York Field Office and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, with assistance from the FBI Field Offices in Albany, Miami, and Salt Lake City, and Resident Agencies in Savannah, Georgia, and Portland, Maine, and from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine, the Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office, and the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office. Additional assistance was provided by numerous law enforcement agencies, including, within New York, the New York State Police; Columbia County Sheriff's Office; Genesee County Sheriff’s Office; Monroe County Sheriff’s Office; Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office; Warren County Sheriff’s Office; and the police departments of the Town of Bethlehem; Glens Falls; Gloversville; Greenburgh; Greece; and Watervliet; and elsewhere, Connecticut State Police; Florida Department of Law Enforcement; Georgia State Patrol; Illinois State Police; Massachusetts State Police; Broward County, FL Sheriff’s Office; Northern York County, PA Regional Police; Southern Chester County, PA Regional Police; Utah County, UT Sheriff's Office; and the police departments of Auburn, MA; Bath, ME; Biddeford, ME; Bozeman, MT; Brunswick, ME; Caernarvon Township, PA; Chester Township, PA; Cinnaminson, NJ; Darien, CT; East Norriton Township, PA; Easthampton, MA; Greenwich, CT; Lower Moreland Township, PA; Manheim Township, PA; Portland, ME; Portsmouth, NH; Saco, ME; Salisbury, MA; Sanford, ME; Scarborough, ME; Somersworth, NH; South Portland, ME; St. George, UT; Syracuse, UT; Tinicum, PA; Towamencin, PA; Tewksbury, MA; Wakefield, MA; Yarmouth, ME; and York, ME. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew J. McCrobie, Michael F. Perry, and Paul Tuck are prosecuting the case.


title: Physician and Clinic Office Manager Convicted of Unlawfully Distributing Over 600,000 Opioid Pills

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A federal jury convicted a Texas physician and clinic office manager yesterday for operating a pill-mill clinic that unlawfully prescribed over 600,000 opioid pills in exchange for cash. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Dr. Oscar Lightner, 73, and Andres Martinez Jr., 29, both of Laredo, operated Jomori Health and Wellness (Jomori), a purported Houston pain management clinic, as a pill mill. Lightner, who was the owner of and physician at Jomori, unlawfully prescribed dangerous combinations of controlled substances including hydrocodone, carisoprodol, and alprazolam to his patients without a legitimate medical purpose, in exchange for cash payments ranging from $250 to $500 per patient. Martinez, who was Jomori’s office manager and Lightner’s stepson, coordinated with “crew leaders” to bring multiple people – including individuals living in homeless shelters – into Jomori to pose as patients. Jomori received over $1.2 million in cash over fourteen months through its scheme that resulted in the unlawful distribution and dispensing of over 600,000 Schedule II opioids – including hydrocodone – and other controlled substances. Lightner was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute and dispense controlled substances and two counts of unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances. Martinez was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute and dispense controlled substances and one count of unlawfully distributing and dispensing controlled substances. Lightner and Martinez face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count and are both are scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 8. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas, and Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the DEA made the announcement. The DEA investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Monica Cooper and Andrew Tamayo of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, comprised of 15 strike forces operating in 25 federal districts, has charged more than 5,000 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $24 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


title: Ten Defendants Charged With Decade-Long, Multi-Million-Dollar Scheme To Defraud International Cargo Airline

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Thomas Fattorusso, the Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), announced the unsealing of a four-count Indictment charging LARS WINKELBAUER, ABILASH KURIEN, CARLTON LLEWELLYN, ROBERT SCHIRMER, SKYE XU, BENJAMIN WEI, a/k/a/ “Ben Wei,” ALVARO LOPEZ, FABIOLA CINO, ORLANDO WONG, and PATRICK LAU, a/k/a “Pat Lau,” in connection with a massive scheme to defraud Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc. (“Polar”), a leading cargo airline, of tens of millions of dollars in revenue and the honest services of its employees. Nine defendants were arrested today. KURIEN, LLEWELLYN, SCHIRMER, and LAU will be presented in federal court in Manhattan this afternoon. WEI and WONG will be presented later today in federal court in the Central District of California. LOPEZ and CINO will be presented later today in federal court in the Southern District of Florida. WINKELBAUER was arrested today in Thailand and is pending extradition to the United States. SKYE XU remains at large. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, the 10 defendants charged today conducted a widespread scheme that tainted nearly every aspect of Polar Air Cargo Worldwide’s operations and that cost the company an estimated $52 million in losses. The defendants, all of whom were either employed in high-level positions by Polar or were vendors reliant on business arrangements with Polar, allegedly showed a blatant disregard for the integrity of their companies in favor of lining their own pockets. Their pervasive fraud ends today, and each defendant now faces substantial prison time for their alleged crimes.” FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll said: “For more than a decade, the defendants allegedly utilized a complex set of schemes at the expense of Polar Air to line their own pockets. The indictments today serve as a reminder to any unscrupulous actors attempting complex frauds – the FBI will hold you accountable in the criminal justice system.” IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Thomas Fattorusso said: “Today’s charges are the opening salvo against a decade-long scam by a small group of Polar’s executives and others that allegedly tainted every aspect of its business operations. These arrests and charges today will hopefully begin the process of righting the alleged wrongs of those charged and put the company on a path to integrity, which its hardworking employees and legitimate customers deserve.” As alleged in the Indictment: [1] From at least in or about 2009 through in or about July 2021, LARS WINKELBAUER, ABILASH KURIEN, CARLTON LLEWELLYN, ROBERT SCHIRMER, SKYE XU, BENJAMIN WEI, ALVARO LOPEZ, FABIOLA CINO, ORLANDO WONG, and PATRICK LAU participated in a massive scheme to defraud Polar. At all relevant times, WINKELBAUER, KURIEN, LLEWELLYN, and SCHIRMER (collectively, the “Executive Defendants”) were senior executives of Polar. XU, WEI, LOPEZ, CINO, WONG, and LAU (collectively, the “Vendor Defendants”) owned and operated various Polar vendors and customers. The Executive Defendants agreed to accept millions of dollars in kickbacks from the Vendor Defendants and also reaped substantial financial benefits as a result of their secret ownership interests in certain Polar vendors, in exchange for ensuring that those vendors received favorable business arrangements with Polar. The fraud they perpetrated — which involved a substantial portion of Polar’s senior management and at least 10 customers and vendors of Polar — led to pervasive corruption of Polar’s business, touching nearly every aspect of the company’s operations, for over a decade. Polar’s business involved numerous outside vendors and customers. Polar relied heavily on third-party, general sales agents (“GSAs”) in the United States to sell cargo space on its planes. In turn, the GSAs hired by Polar often sold available cargo space to freight forwarding vendors, which had been hired by downstream customers to coordinate transportation logistics for large quantities of goods. Polar also contracted with ground handling vendors to load and unload cargo and with trucking vendors to transport cargo from domestic locations to the appropriate airports. In addition, Polar contracted with other partners for a variety of business reasons, including to secure cargo space on airline routes not serviced by Polar flights. The scheme to defraud Polar touched on each aspect of these operations. Together, the Executive Defendants and the Vendor Defendants defrauded Polar by corrupting Polar’s relationships with GSAs, freight forwarders, and other vendors, including those providing ground handling and trucking services. Unbeknownst to Polar, the Executive Defendants utilized their positions within Polar to secure, among other things, favorable contracts, valuable cargo space, favorable shipping rates, and enrollment in various incentive programs for the Vendor Defendants and their entities. In return, the Vendor Defendants paid the Executive Defendants kickbacks in various forms, including, for example, in payments calculated per kilo of cargo shipped with Polar or as a percentage of the revenue earned as a result of a vendor’s relationship with Polar. In addition, the Executive Defendants, in various combinations, held concealed ownership positions in certain companies which contracted with Polar and that were, in at least one case, associated with the Vendor Defendants. As a result, the Executive Defendants received ownership distributions based, in large part, on revenue derived from contracts with Polar — contracts that had been secured and, often times, renewed due to, in large part, the recommendation of the Executive Defendants with conflicts of interest. To conceal the kickbacks and conflicted ownership interests from Polar, and thereby to continue the fraud scheme, WINKELBAUER, KURIEN, LLEWELLYN, and SCHIRMER often directed the kickbacks and ownership distributions be paid to limited liability companies with non-descript names that they, in fact, controlled. Additionally, the Executive Defendants communicated amongst themselves and with the Vendor Defendants about the scheme primarily using personal email accounts, while the Vendor Defendants conducted official Polar business with the Executive Defendants primarily using their professional email accounts. As a result of the scheme, the Executive Defendants, along with two co-conspirators who also worked as senior executives at Polar, received unlawful payments, either directly or through various limited liability companies they controlled, in excess of approximately $23 million in kickback payments or disbursements received as a result of their ownership of conflicted companies. Additionally, a financial analysis conducted at Polar’s direction estimates that, as a result of the fraudulent scheme, Polar suffered at least approximately $52 million in losses between in or about 2009 and in or about July 2021. In the Summer of 2021, Polar discovered documentary evidence of the conflicted ownership arrangements and kickback agreements. Shortly thereafter, Polar terminated the employment of WINKELBAUER, KURIEN, LLEWELLYN, and SCHIRMER, and reported the conduct to law enforcement authorities. Polar has continued to cooperate with law enforcement authorities through the investigation. * * * WINKELBAUER, 47, of Bangkok, Thailand, KURIEN, 45, of Wilton, Connecticut, LLEWELLYN, 55, of Highland Mills, New York, SCHIRMER, 58, of Port Jefferson Station, New York, XU, 40, of West Covina, California, WEI, 58, of San Marino, California, LOPEZ, 50, of Aventura, Florida, CINO, 45, of Aventura, Florida, WONG, 60, of Manhattan Beach, California, and LAU, 43, of Flushing, New York, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and honest services wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. WINKELBAUER, KURIEN, LLEWELLYN, and SCHIRMER are also charged with one count of honest services wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the FBI and IRS-CI. Mr. Williams also thanked the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Central District of California and the Southern District of Florida as well as the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Thai authorities for their assistance in the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Reilly and Danielle Kudla are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation.


title: Former Federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Officer Sentenced To 6 Months In Federal Prison For Theft Of Public Money

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Louis Paiva, Jr., 29, of Dearborn, Michigan (formerly of Orlando, Florida), was sentenced to 6 months in federal prison after having pleaded guilty to one count of theft of public money. Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the sentence. “The theft of any amount of taxpayer funds is inexcusable, especially when the public trust is violated by a government employee,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “Today’s sentence both punishes the defendant’s criminal conduct and should serve as a significant deterrent to others who would steal from their fellow citizens to unlawfully enrich themselves. With our law enforcement partners, we remain committed to investigating and prosecuting those who engage in acts of covid-related fraud.” The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Inspector General (OIG) COVID Fraud Unit conducted an investigation focused on identifying DHS employees who had received Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits while also being paid by DHS. The investigation revealed that between March 15, 2020, and March 8, 2021, a total of $16,435.00 in UI assistance (including COVID-19 pandemic relief benefits) was deposited into a bank account that was used by Paiva. During this timeframe, Paiva worked as a Transportation Security Officer for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at the Orlando International Airport in Orlando, Florida. Records obtained from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (FL-DEO), which administered the UI program in Florida, revealed that Paiva submitted approximately 24 applications and recertifications to FL-DEO in which he falsely stated that he was not a federal civilian employee, or that he did not work or earn money during the applicable timeframes. “Federal employees are entrusted to protect the integrity of our programs,” said DHS Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari. “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that those who betray that trust will be held accountable for their actions.” Paiva’s prison sentence will be followed by 2 years’ supervised release. The Court also ordered Paiva to pay $16,435.00 in restitution to the FL-DEO. This conviction was the result of a joint investigation conducted by Department of Homeland Security-Office of Inspector General and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. Assistant United States Attorney Justin M. Keen prosecuted the case. In March 2020, the President signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, which expanded states’ ability to provide UI for many workers impacted by COVID-19, including for workers who were not ordinarily eligible for benefits. 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 . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Man Sentenced for Bribery Schemes Involving Millions of Dollars in U.S.-Funded Military Contracts and Visa Fraud

body_text: A Georgia man was sentenced today to three years and 10 months in prison for his roles in two bribery conspiracies – one related to a U.S. military contracts fraud scheme and one related to a Department of State visa fraud scheme. According to court documents, Orlando Clark, 57, of Smyrna, was a manager of projects who deployed to Afghanistan to evaluate bids for U.S.-funded reconstruction contracts awarded by the U.S. military in 2011 and 2012. At that time, Clark and co-conspirator Todd Coleman, an analyst at a different U.S. company who also deployed to Afghanistan, received approximately $400,000 in bribes from an Afghan company. The bribes were paid in return for Clark and Coleman assisting the company in obtaining millions of dollars through at least 10 contracts that involved the construction of an Afghan police station and a security checkpoint for U.S. forces. To conceal their conduct, Clark and Coleman registered fictitious companies in Georgia and opened bank accounts to which bribes were sent via wire transfers from Afghanistan. Clark and Coleman also created false invoices to make it appear as though they were involved in a car-exporting business in the United Arab Emirates. In reality, Clark and Coleman used the bribe payments to purchase personal items, such as BMW cars. During the scheme, Coleman and Clark also travelled to the United Arab Emirates to receive cash bribes, which they smuggled into the United States without declaring the currency. In addition, between 2015 and 2020, Clark also received bribes to sign false letters of recommendation for visas authorized for Afghan nationals who worked as translators with U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Clark signed over 10 letters in which he falsely claimed to have supervised the applicants and in which he stated, without any factual basis, that he had no reason to be believe that they posed a threat to U.S. national security. On Feb. 9, Coleman was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison for his role in the U.S. military contracts bribery scheme. Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia, Inspector General John F. Sopko of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), Inspector General Robert P. Storch of the Department of Defense, Special Agent in Charge Stanley A. Newell of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Transnational Operations Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Economic Crimes Field Office made the announcement. The SIGAR, DCIS, and NCIS investigated the case. Trial Attorney Matt Kahn of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell Phillips for the Northern District of Georgia prosecuted the case.


title: Morristown Man Sentenced To 210 Months Imprisonment For Possession Of A Firearm By A Felon

body_text: GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On April 7, 2023, Robert Lee Allen, Jr., also known as “Skeeter,” 55 of Morristown, Tennessee, was sentenced to 210 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm by the Honorable Clifton L. Corker, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville. As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Allen agreed to plead guilty to an indictment charging him with possession of a firearm by a felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §922(g)(3). Upon release from his imprisonment, Allen will be on supervised release for 5 years. As set forth in the plea agreement filed with the court, Allen has prior, violent felony convictions for Second Degree Murder, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Robbery, and Aggravated Burglary. Allen agreed that, on February 14, 2022, he struck his spouse with a firearm and was arrested the next day for domestic assault. During a search of his vehicle, the firearm he used to assault his spouse was located. The firearm was stolen from Cocke County, TN. Allen admitted that he had acquired the firearm from another felon through a trade of methamphetamine and heroin in exchange for the firearm. This case was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “This sentence sends a powerful message to those with a violent, felony history who continue to arm themselves,” said United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III. “This case is part of the Department of Justice’s comprehensive strategy to target and prosecute the most serious offenders who pose the greatest threats to safety and peace within the community.” “This was extremely great work done by the individuals that took part in this investigation. There is one less criminal off our streets. The ATF will continue to use all of our resources to disrupt the illegal possession of firearms, distribution of narcotics and other acts of violence within our community,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson. Assistant U.S. Attorney B. Todd Martin represented the United States. This case also was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and 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. ###