title: Jury Convicts Ocala Man For COVID Relief Fraud

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Henry Troy Wade (47, Ocala) guilty of six counts of wire fraud. Wade faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each count. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 2025. A federal grand jury had returned an indictment against Wade on November 22, 2022. According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) provided loans to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of funds came from Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs). Between April 5, 2020, and March 24, 2021, Wade applied for 11 EIDLs on behalf of 5 different businesses he claimed to own. Five of these applications were approved and Wade electronically received $524,400 through four loans and two grants. Wade’s EIDL applications, however, contained multiple factual misrepresentations. Wade claimed he owned a restaurant, a farm, a child daycare, and two heating and air conditioning businesses. In actuality, Wade did not have the necessary licenses for any of these types of businesses. Even though he listed multiple employees on the EIDL applications, Wade never had paid any employment taxes nor had he registered the business names with the Internal Revenue Service or the Florida Department of Revenue. Wade also misrepresented his business income on the assorted applications by hundreds of thousands of dollars. This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.


title: Illegally Armed Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to Fifteen Years in Federal Prison

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS—Desmond Valentine, 32, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to 190 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. According to court documents, on April 14, 2022, Valentine was pulled over by IMPD officers and arrested on a state charge for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. During a search, officers found a plastic baggie containing 7.31 grams of a mixture of fentanyl and heroin in Valentine’s pocket. Officers also found a 9mm Glock handgun inside of the pocket of a jacket laying in the back seat. On the same day, IMPD officers executed a search warrant at Valentine’s Indianapolis home. There, they found items used for preparing and processing fentanyl and heroin, including digital scales, cutting agents, and blender equipment. Through subsequent investigation, officers determined that Valentine had been dealing heroin and fentanyl since the summer of 2021, distributing over 400 grams of fentanyl. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, as little as two milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal, depending on a person’s body size, tolerance, and past usage—a tiny amount that can fit on the tip of a pencil. Seven out of ten illegal fentanyl tablets seized from U.S. streets and analyzed by the DEA have been found to contain a potentially lethal dose of the drug. Valentine is prohibited by law from ever possessing a firearm due to his previous felony convictions for unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, aggravated battery, and robbery. “This violent felon was pumping deadly fentanyl and heroin into our community—all while illegally armed,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Every neighborhood deserves to be safe from criminals dealing deadly drugs and armed with deadly weapons. I commend the DEA, IMPD, and our federal prosecutors for their efforts to hold this defendant accountable and take him off our streets. The federal prison sentence imposed here demonstrates that these very serious crimes carry very serious consequences.” The Drug Enforcement Administration and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by Chief U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Samantha G. Spiro, who prosecuted this case. One Pill Can Kill : Avoid pills bought on the street because One Pill Can Kill . Fentanyl has now become the leading cause of death for adults in the United States. Fentanyl is a highly potent opioid that drug dealers dilute with cutting agents to make counterfeit prescription pills that appear to be Oxycodone, Percocet, Xanax, and other drugs. Fake prescription pills laced with fentanyl are usually shaped and colored to look like pills sold at pharmacies. For example, fake prescription pills known as “M30s” imitate Oxycodone obtained from a pharmacy, but when sold on the street the pills routinely contain fentanyl. These pills are usually round tablets and often light blue in color, though they may be in different shapes and a rainbow of colors. They often have “M” and “30” imprinted on opposite sides of the pill. Do not take these or any other pills bought on the street – they are routinely fake and poisonous, and you won’t know until it’s too late. ###


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced To 22 Years In Federal Prison For Drug Trafficking And Firearms Offenses

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

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Willie Frank Gordon, 42, of Pensacola, Florida, was sentenced to twenty-two years in federal prison after previously being found guilty at trial for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and federal supervised release violations. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. “The investigation and prosecution of armed drug traffickers – in this case by a repeat offender – is central to our mission to protect the public,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “This sentence illustrates our shared resolve to keep our communities safe and the significant consequences associated with federal drug and firearm violations.” On March 15, 2022, Gordon was arrested during a traffic stop for driving without a license. During an inventory search of the vehicle, law enforcement located a black backpack containing approximately 200 grams of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl, and associated drug paraphernalia, along with a loaded, chambered pistol. Law enforcement also located a firearm holster in the glove box of the vehicle, three cell phones, and over $2,000 on Gordon’s person. Gordon initially denied knowledge of the controlled substances and the firearm, but ultimately admitted to his possession of the items during an interview with investigators. Law enforcement also located surveillance footage of Gordon approximately 30 minutes prior to the traffic stop where he was observed carrying the black backpack to a vehicle before driving away. Prior to committing this offense, Gordon had been convicted in six state felony cases and one federal felony case, which included a prior drug trafficking conviction, several drug possession convictions, and firearms convictions. At the time of his current offense, Gordon was on federal supervised release for his federal convictions of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition after serving 85 months in prison. He also had additional violent convictions in his history to include assault and battery. Gordon’s imprisonment will be followed by 5-years of supervised release. This conviction was the result of an investigation conducted by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer H. Callahan prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), 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 works 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. As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors. 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 available 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: U.S. Attorney's Office Announces Sentencing of Datil Man for Filing Fraudulent $20 Million Lien Against Federal Employee

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Datil man previously prohibited from filing liens without court approval, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for retaliating against a federal employee by filing a fraudulent $20 million lien in Catron County. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, on November 28, 2022, Trapper Killsmany , 68, formerly known as David Goldsmith, filed a fraudulent $20 million lien with the Catron County Clerk's Office against several individuals, including a federal employee. The liens were determined to be false, as the listed debtors had no financial relationship or obligations to Killsmany . Killsmany 's actions were in retaliation for the termination of certain Social Security Administration benefits. Killsmany operated a Facebook page titled "Truth for Trapper Killsmany," where he openly stated that the purpose of the liens was to expose alleged frauds and criminal activities by government employees. Killsmany had previously been prohibited by a United States District Court in Alaska from filing liens without court approval. In his plea agreement, Killsmany admitted he was aware of the fraudulent nature of his actions. Upon his release from prison, Killsmany will be subject to 2 years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of Catron County Sheriff’s Office and the Social Security Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ry Ellison is prosecuting the case. # # #


title: New Orleans Man Charged With Transporting Minor to New Orleans Area For Commercial Sex

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that AARON TEROD JOHNSON (“JOHNSON”), age 36, from New Orleans, was charged on September 26, 2024 in a three-count indictment with Sex Trafficking of a Minor, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1591(a)(1) and 1591(b)(2); Coercion and Enticement of a Minor to Engage in Prostitution, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2422(b); and Transportation of a Minor to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 18 U.S.C. § 2423(a). According to court documents, JOHNSON , a local high school teacher, drove to Vicksburg, Mississippi in March 2024 to pick up a 16-year-old female. JOHNSON then brought the juvenile to his apartment in New Orleans, where he had sex with her in exchange for $200. If convicted, JOHNSON faces a minimum of ten (10) years imprisonment up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and a $100 mandatory special assessment as to each count. The defendant also faces supervised release for a term of five years up to life, and mandatory participation in the sex offender registration and notification program. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Authorities with Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) are seeking information that may help identify potential victims JOHNSON may have engaged or exploited. HSI encourages the public to report any suspicious activity through its toll-free Tip Line at 877-4-HSI-TIP or by email at HSINewOrleansTips@hsi.dhs.gov . 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of HSI, the United States Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office, in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Maria Carboni of the Financial Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: MDC Correctional Officer Charged with Federal Civil Rights Violation

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, a complaint was unsealed in Brooklyn federal court charging Leon Wilson, a correctional officer at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC-Brooklyn), with willfully depriving an individual of his constitutional rights while acting under color of law. Last fall, Wilson, while on duty and driving a Bureau of Prisons (BOP)-issued minivan, allegedly chased a civilian vehicle from the MDC-Brooklyn staff parking lot and through a large section of Brooklyn before firing three gunshots towards the car, at least one of which struck one of its occupants. Wilson was taken into federal custody yesterday and is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Marcia M. Henry. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Ryan T. Geach, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, Northeast Region (DOJ-OIG) and James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the charges. “Correctional officers are sworn to uphold the law but, as alleged, this defendant violated his oath and position by starting a dangerous car chase through the streets of Brooklyn ending with him shooting wildly at the passengers in the other car without justification, and wounding one,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “My Office is committed to protecting the civil rights of everyone in this district and will hold accountable those who violate them.” Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and the United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division for their work in this case. “Today’s complaint alleges that Wilson recklessly pursued another vehicle through the streets of Brooklyn and fired a weapon three times, harming a passenger and endangering countless New Yorkers. His alleged conduct was dangerous, illegal, and antithetical to the behavior we expect from an officer of the law,” said Ryan T. Geach, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, Northeast Region. “Leon Wilson, a correctional officer, allegedly failed to report an unlawful on-duty shooting to the Bureau of Prisons following an unauthorized high-speed vehicle pursuit from the Metropolitan Detention Center. The defendant’s alleged actions exceeded the boundaries of his authority and recklessly endangered countless civilians. The FBI is committed to pursuing those who willingly disregard public safety and violate policies designed to protect constitutional rights,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy. As alleged in court documents, Wilson was on duty at MDC-Brooklyn on September 4, 2023 when he chased a BMW out of the facility’s staff parking lot and off MDC-Brooklyn property. Wilson had no authority to pursue the BMW past MDC-Brooklyn’s property line, but he did so anyway, ultimately chasing the BMW to the edge of the Brooklyn Bridge, approximately five miles from the facility. During the chase, Wilson exceeded the speed limit, passed other vehicles, and ran red lights. Approximately two minutes after the chase began—and nearly a mile from MDC-Brooklyn—Wilson fired three shots at the BMW, one of which penetrated the rear of the vehicle and struck a passenger in the back seat. Wilson continued to chase the BMW for several minutes after firing his weapon. He never reported the on-duty shooting to the NYPD, MDC-Brooklyn, or BOP personnel. The charges in the complaint are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Wilson faces up to ten years in prison. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights and Public Integrity Sections. Assistant United States Attorneys Erin Reid and Eric Silverberg are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Eastern District of New York Special Agent Anthony Cunder and Paralegal Specialist Nadya Osman. The Defendant : LEON WILSON Age: 49 Bronx, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-MJ-553 (SJB)


title: Brooklyn-Based Home Health Care Agencies Settle Fraud Claims for $9.75 Million and Agree to Pay $7.5 Million in Wages and Benefits to Underpaid Aides

body_text: Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Letitia James, New York State Attorney General, announced settlement agreements with Brooklyn-based licensed home care service agencies (LHCSAs) Edison Home Health Care of New York LLC (Edison) and Preferred Home Health Care of New York LLC (Preferred) today. The settlement agreements address allegations that Edison and Preferred, which were related companies, violated the federal False Claims Act and New York State’s False Claims Act in claiming that they paid their home care aides the minimum wages required under New York State law. The agencies received payments from Medicaid, which is funded in part by the federal government, and much of that money was meant to pay the wages and benefits of their aides. Today’s settlement with Edison and Preferred follows similar settlements with the LHCSAs All American Homecare Agency, Crown of Life Care NY LLC, and White Glove Community Care, Inc. “Home health aides work long hours at difficult, often thankless tasks to ensure that the vulnerable individuals who they provide services to are properly cared for,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “These aides deserve the hard-earned benefits guaranteed them under the law and my Office will ensure that they are accurately compensated.” Mr. Peace thanked the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Office of the New York State Attorney General for its partnership in the government’s investigation and resolution of this important case. “Home health aides provide crucial care to our most vulnerable neighbors and loved ones, and they deserve to be paid for their hard work,” said Attorney General James. “Edison and Preferred cheated employees out of years of pay and cheated New York taxpayers by defrauding Medicaid for their own benefit. This is a tremendous victory for our ongoing efforts to protect hardworking New Yorkers’ rightfully earned wages. My office will do everything in our power to ensure that companies cannot steal wages and take advantage of the system. Thank you to U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for his continued partnership in rooting out Medicaid fraud.” The New York Wage Parity Act sets minimum wage and benefits requirements for LHCSAs that employ home care aides who render services to Medicaid recipients in New York City and in Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties. Under the Wage Parity law, aides are to be paid a minimum amount in total compensation; only then will the LHCSAs receive Medicaid reimbursement for home care services. The required compensation comes in the form of a base wage and a supplemental benefit. The base wage must be paid in cash. The benefit portion can include the value of vacation, holiday, and sick pay, among other things. It can also include health insurance, pension plans, or educational assistance. Today, the minimum amount of total compensation for an aide in New York City is $19.09 per hour; for Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties, the minimum is $18.22 per hour. Home health aides perform all aspects of personal care for sick or homebound patients and frequently work long shifts lasting up to 24 hours. The tasks performed in caring for patients are demanding and can consist of assisting or lifting patients out of bed and bathing, dressing, grooming, preparing meals for and, in some instances, feeding them. Patients may suffer from physical or mental disorders that can make the work of the aides physically and emotionally taxing. In fact, it was in recognition of the difficulty of this work that New York passed the Wage Parity Act. The Settlement This Office, in coordination with the New York State Attorney General’s Office’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, commenced an investigation after whistleblowers alleged that certain LHCSAs had knowingly defrauded the federal government and New York State by underpaying home health aides in violation of the Wage Parity Act. The government’s investigation determined that Edison and Preferred certified their compliance with the law and sought and received reimbursement from Medicaid, even though the government determined that their payments to their aides fell short of the requisite compensation. Under the terms of the agreements with the United States and New York State, Edison and Preferred have agreed to pay $3.9 million to the United States and $5.85 million to New York State for conduct that took place from 2012 to 2022. In addition to the payments to resolve the government’s fraud claims, Edison and Preferred are required to pay $7.5 million to current and former aides who were and are entitled to compensation under the Wage Parity Act. Moreover, Edison and Preferred have admitted to conduct that led the government to determine that they fell short of Wage Parity Act requirements. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Blume of the Office’s Civil Division.


title: Former Colorado Springs Area Man Sentenced To 168 Months Of Imprisonment After Sex Abuse Of A Minor Conviction

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Mitchel Crow, 32, was sentenced to 168 months of imprisonment and 12 years of supervised release after being found guilty by a federal jury on three counts of sexual abuse of a minor. According to facts established at trial, between May of 2020 and mid-December of 2020, Crow engaged in several sexual acts with a minor within a residence located on Fort Carson, an Army post near Colorado Springs. Crow was a civilian living on post and was responsible for the care of the minor at the time. “There is nothing more important than protecting children in our society,” said Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Matt Kirsch. “This long sentence reflects the seriousness of the defendant’s abuse of a minor he was supposed to be protecting.” "Child sex offenders prey on the most vulnerable victims. This sentence will not erase the harm inflicted upon the victim, but we hope it is a step towards recovery," said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. "The FBI and our law enforcement partners such as U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division will continue to work together to put predators who harm children in prison." United States Senior District Court Judge Raymond P. Moore presided over the sentencing. The FBI Denver Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Tom Minser and Al Buchman handled the prosecution. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the "Resources" tab on the left of the page.


title: Former California Man Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for Attempting to Murder Two Jewish Men Leaving Los Angeles Synagogues Last Year

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: A former California man who shot and wounded two Jewish men last year as they left religious services in the Pico-Robertson area of Los Angeles was sentenced today to 35 years in prison. Jaime Tran, 30, formerly of Riverside, pleaded guilty on June 3 to two counts of hate crimes with intent to kill and two counts of using, carrying, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. “After years of spewing antisemitic vitriol, the defendant planned and carried out a two-day attack attempting to murder Jews leaving synagogue in Los Angeles,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Vile acts of antisemitic hatred endanger the safety of individuals and entire communities, and allowing such crimes to go unchecked endangers the foundation of our democracy itself. As millions of Jewish Americans prepare to observe the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the Justice Department reaffirms its commitment to aggressively confronting, disrupting, and prosecuting criminal acts motivated by antisemitism, or by hatred of any kind. No Jewish person in America should have to fear that any sign of their identity will make them the victim of a hate crime.” “Targeting people for death based solely on their religious and ethnic background brings back memories of the darkest chapters in human history,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California. “Such hate-fueled violence has no place in America. We hope the sentence imposed today sends a strong message to all in our community that we will not tolerate antisemitism and hate of any sort. For those who engage in hate crimes, the punishment will be severe.” “This country was founded by many who fought for religious freedom, and practicing our religion continues to be a sacred and fundamental right,” said Assistant Director in Charge Akil Davis of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. “The FBI will always defend that constitutional right. Those who violate the First Amendment by violent acts, those who would target the innocent based on hatred, will be held accountable.” “While this sentencing cannot fully restore the sense of safety stolen from the two victims and the Jewish community, it is a decisive step towards justice and a clear message that such acts of hate and violence will not be tolerated,” said Los Angeles Police Chief Dominic Choi. According to the government’s sentencing submission, Tran obsessed over his antisemitic hatred for years leading up to the attack. In 2018, Tran left graduate school after making antisemitic comments about other students. From August 2022 to December 2022, Tran’s antisemitic statements escalated and included increasingly violent language, including messages to former classmates such as “I want you dead, Jew,” and “Someone is going to kill you, Jew.” Tran described himself as a “ticking time bomb” and maintained social media accounts with the handle “k1llalljews.” In November 2022, Tran emailed two dozen former classmates a flyer containing antisemitic propaganda, including the statement, “EVERY SINGLE ASPECT OF THE COVID AGENDA IS JEWISH.” The following month, Tran emailed his former classmates excerpts from an antisemitic website further denigrating Jewish persons. As a result of previous mental health holds, as of 2023, Tran was prohibited from purchasing firearms. In January 2023, in Phoenix, Tran asked a third party to buy two firearms for him. Tran selected the firearms he wanted and paid approximately $1,500 in cash to the third party, who then purchased them. Law enforcement identified the third party, who has now pleaded guilty in Arizona to illegally selling Tran the firearm used in the shootings. Messages later retrieved from his phone reflected that defendant had asked multiple people to purchase firearms for him and had offered to pay more if no background check was performed. In early February 2023, Tran sent an online message stating: “it’s time to kill all Jews.” On the morning of Feb. 15, 2023, Tran used the internet to research locations with a “kosher market,” planning to shoot someone near a kosher market because he believed there would be Jewish people in the area. Tran drove to Pico-Robertson and shot a Jewish victim wearing a yarmulke as he was leaving religious services at a synagogue. Tran, believing the victim was Jewish, shot him at close range centimeters from his spine, intending to kill him. Tran then fled the scene in his car. The next morning, Feb. 16, 2023, Tran returned to the Pico-Robertson area, intending to shoot another Jewish person. Tran shot a second Jewish victim, also wearing a yarmulke and leaving a synagogue after attending religious services. Tran shot the victim at close range, intending to kill him, as the victim crossed the street. Tran again fled the scene. Both victims survived the attacks. Law enforcement arrested Tran on Feb. 17, 2023, after a witness reported seeing someone shooting a firearm behind a motel. When he was arrested, Tran told law enforcement that he was “practicing” with his assault weapon. In its sentencing position, the government argued that “[h]ad defendant not been caught the night of his second shooting, his campaign of terror would likely have continued.” The FBI and Los Angeles Police Department investigated the case. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Cathedral City Police Department, Fountain Valley Police Department, Beverly Hills Police Department, and UCLA Police Department, all in California, provided substantial assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathrynne N. Seiden and Frances S. Lewis for the Central District of California prosecuted the case.


title: Romanian National Indicted For Federal Access Device Fraud

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that DORU ADAMESC a/k/a Petru Golban (“ADAMESC”) , age 32, a national of Romania, was indicted on September 26, 2024 with four counts of access device fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1029(e)(8). According to court documents, between May 19, 2024 and May 20, 2024, ADAMESC possessed scanning receivers capable of recording electronic device data at four locations in the Eastern District of Louisiana. If convicted, ADAMESC faces up to fifteen years imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100, as to each count. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The case was investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General; the United States Secret Service; the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office; the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office; the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office; and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Maria M. Carboni of the Financial Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: U.S. Attorney Announces Guilty Plea in Navajo Nation Assault Case

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Shiprock man pleaded guilty today in federal court to assault resulting in serious bodily injury after slicing another man's throat during a gathering. According to court documents, on September 10, 2022, Darron Smith , 24, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was attending a small gathering at an apartment within the Navajo Nation reservation. Shortly after midnight, without warning or provocation, Smith removed a 7.5-inch blade from a knife block and sliced the throat of John Doe. Doe was rushed to the emergency room and hospitalized. He suffered a 5 ½ inch laceration on his neck which required 13 sutures. At sentencing, Smith faces up to ten years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Smith will be subject to up to three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew J. McGinley and Mark A. Probasco are prosecuting the case. View the Plea Agreement (Smith).pdf # # #


title: Man Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison for Attempting to Murder Two Jewish Men Leaving L.A. Synagogues Last Year

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A man who last year shot and wounded two Jewish men as they left religious services in the Pico-Robertson area of Los Angeles was sentenced today to 420 months in federal prison. Jaime Tran, 30, formerly of Riverside, was sentenced by United States District Judge George H. Wu, who set a restitution hearing for December 2, 2024. Tran pleaded guilty on June 3 to two counts of hate crimes with intent to kill and two counts of using, carrying, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. “Targeting people for death based solely on their religious and ethnic background brings back memories of the darkest chapters in human history,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Such hate-fueled violence has no place in America. We hope the sentence imposed today sends a strong message to all in our community that we will not tolerate antisemitism and hate of any sort. For those who engage in hate crimes, the punishment will be severe.” “After years of spewing antisemitic vitriol, the defendant planned and carried out a two-day attack attempting to murder Jews leaving synagogue in Los Angeles,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Vile acts of antisemitic hatred endanger the safety of individuals and entire communities, and allowing such crimes to go unchecked endangers the foundation of our democracy itself. As millions of Jewish Americans prepare to observe the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the Justice Department reaffirms its commitment to aggressively confronting, disrupting, and prosecuting criminal acts motivated by antisemitism, or by hatred of any kind. No Jewish person in America should have to fear that any sign of their identity will make them the victim of a hate crime.” “This country was founded by many who fought for religious freedom, and practicing our religion continues to be a sacred and fundamental right,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The FBI will always defend that constitutional right. Those who violate the First Amendment by violent acts, those who would target the innocent based on hatred, will be held accountable.” “While this sentencing cannot fully restore the sense of safety stolen from the two victims and the Jewish community, it is a decisive step towards justice and a clear message that such acts of hate and violence will not be tolerated,” said Los Angeles Police Chief Dominic Choi. According to the government’s sentencing position, Tran obsessed over his antisemitic hatred for years leading up to the attack. In 2018, Tran left graduate school after making antisemitic comments about other students. From August 2022 to December 2022, Tran’s antisemitic statements escalated and included increasingly violent language, including messages to former classmates such as “I want you dead, Jew,” and “Someone is going to kill you, Jew.” Tran described himself as a “ticking time bomb” and maintained social media accounts with the handle “k1llalljews.” In November 2022, Tran emailed two dozen former classmates a flyer containing antisemitic propaganda, including the statement, “EVERY SINGLE ASPECT OF THE COVID AGENDA IS JEWISH.” The following month, Tran emailed his former classmates excerpts from an anti-Semitic website further denigrating Jewish persons. As a result of previous mental health holds, as of 2023, Tran was prohibited from purchasing firearms. In January 2023 in Phoenix, Tran asked a third party to buy two firearms for him. Tran selected the firearms he wanted and paid approximately $1,500 in cash to the third party, who then purchased them. Law enforcement identified the third party, who has now pleaded guilty in Arizona to illegally selling Tran the firearm used in the shootings. Messages later retrieved from his phone reflected that Tran had asked multiple people to purchase firearms for him and had offered to pay more if no background check was performed. In early February 2023, Tran sent an online message stating: “it’s time to kill all Jews.” On the morning of February 15, 2023, Tran used the internet to research locations with a “kosher market,” planning to shoot someone near a kosher market because he believed there would be Jewish people in the area. Tran drove to Pico-Robertson and shot a Jewish victim wearing a yarmulke as he was leaving religious services at a synagogue. Tran, believing the victim was Jewish, shot him at close range centimeters from his spine, intending to kill him. Tran then fled the scene in his car. The next morning, February 16, 2023, Tran returned to the Pico-Robertson area, intending to shoot another Jewish person. Tran shot a second Jewish victim, also wearing a yarmulke and leaving a synagogue after attending religious services. Tran shot the victim at close range, intending to kill him, as the victim crossed the street. Tran again fled the scene. Both victims survived the attacks. Law enforcement arrested Tran on February 17, 2023, after a witness reported seeing someone shooting a firearm behind a motel. When he was arrested, Tran told law enforcement that he was “practicing” with his assault weapon. In its sentencing position, the government argued that “[h]ad [Tran] not been caught the night of his second shooting, his campaign of terror would likely have continued.” The FBI and the Los Angeles Police Department investigated this matter. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, the Cathedral City Police Department, the Fountain Valley Police Department, the Beverly Hills Police Department, and the UCLA Police Department provided substantial assistance. Assistant United States Attorneys Kathrynne N. Seiden of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section and Frances S. Lewis of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section prosecuted this case.


title: Federal Jury Finds Fresno Woman Tied to M30 King of Fresno Guilty of Trafficking Fentanyl, Cocaine, and Methamphetamine

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — On Friday, Sept. 27, after a four-day trial, a federal jury found Alma Lucia Garza, 23, of Fresno, guilty of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine as well as possession with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to the evidence presented at trial, Garza was a trusted assistant of the self-proclaimed M30 King of Fresno, Horacio Torrecillas Urias Jr. Between Nov. 2, 2021, and March 31, 2022, Garza conspired with Torrecillas Urias and others to obtain, directly from sources in Mexico, tens of thousands of counterfeit M30 fentanyl pills and large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine. The conspiracy included the distribution of these illicit drugs to drug dealers inside and outside of California. On Jan. 27, 2022, Garza mailed a package containing cocaine and methamphetamine to a co-defendant in New Mexico. Law enforcement seized the package before it arrived at its destination. On Feb. 9, 2022, Garza traveled with Torrecillas Urias to Sanger to deliver thousands of pills laced with fentanyl and methamphetamine. Those pills were seized by law enforcement during the execution of a residential search warrant two days later. At the conclusion of the investigation, the United States charged Garza, Torrecillas Urias, and 17 others. With the verdict in today’s case, all defendants have pleaded or been found guilty. Sentencing in Garza’s case is set for Jan. 6, 2025. She faces a maximum sentence of 20 years prison. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The case is the result of an investigation by the Fentanyl Overdose Resolution Team (a multi-agency team composed of Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Fresno Police Department), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Clovis Police Department, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol, and the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin J. Gilio and Antonio J. Pataca are prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.), a program designed to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas as well as identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers. In July 2018, the Justice Department announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the Eastern District of California and nine other federal districts. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.


title: Honduran Man Sentenced for Online and Sexual Contact with Minor

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Daniel Eliazar Ramos Rosa, 24, of Honduras, was sentenced to 327 months in federal prison for the coercion and enticement of a 10-year-old Jefferson County girl. According to court documents and statements made in court, Rosa exchanged over 1,000 messages, photos, and videos with the victim via Snapchat. He ultimately traveled to the victim’s Harpers Ferry home and engaged in sexual activity with her. Rosa recorded the encounter on his phone. Rosa will be on lifetime supervised release following his prison sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley D. Crockett prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The FBI and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department investigated. U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.


title: Morgantown Construction Company Owner Indicted for Harboring Individuals Unlawfully in The United States

body_text: WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Hetzon Marroquin Reyes, owner and operator of A&M Homes, LLC, in Morgantown, West Virginia, was arrested today on charges involving the harboring and concealing of persons who were not citizens and unlawfully in the United States, announced United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld. According to the filed indictment unsealed today, Reyes, also known as “Hector,” age 40, hired and harbored individuals who were not citizens and otherwise unlawfully in the United States to work for his company. Reyes used the social security numbers of others to create tax documents for the individuals who were unlawfully in the country. He also created false driver’s licenses and immigration forms to provide to the West Virginia Division of Labor inspectors. Reyes is charged with one count of conspiracy to harbor aliens for commercial advantage and private financial gain, 32 counts of false representations regarding social security numbers, one count of corrupt interference with due administration of tax code, and one count of fraud related to visas and other documents. Reyes faces up to 10 years in federal prison for each of the conspiracy and fraud counts. He faces up to five years for each of the false representations counts and up to three years for the corrupt interference count. If convicted, a federal district court judge would determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas and Carly Nogay is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, and the Social Security Administration-Office of Inspector General. An indictment is merely an allegation, and each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Former Wyatt Correctional Officer Sentenced for Attempting to Smuggle Contraband into the Facility

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE, RI – A now former Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility correctional officer was sentenced today for attempting to smuggle contraband inside the facility, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. Kristopher White, 26, pleaded guilty on May 13, 2024, to a federal charge of attempting to provide contraband in prison. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith to time served, two years of probation - the first six months to be served in home confinement with GPS monitoring, and 200 hours of community service. At the time of his guilty plea, White admitted to the court that he agreed to participate in an inmate-led scheme to smuggle contraband inside the Wyatt Detention Center. White admitted that, during non-working hours, he met with an associate of a detainee who provided him with several pieces of paper soaked in a controlled substance, as well as payment for White’s participation. On December 2, 2021, while on-duty, White left the detention center and retrieved the contraband from his vehicle. As he reentered the facility, the defendant was intercepted by Wyatt Professional Standards Unit officials and the contraband was seized. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie M. White. ###


title: Siemens Energy, Inc. pleads guilty to stealing confidential competitor information in $104M resolution after former corporate executive and others were sentenced

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – Siemens Energy, Inc. (Siemens), pleaded guilty today and has agreed to pay $104 million to resolve the Justice Department’s criminal investigation into violations related to the misappropriation of confidential competitor information. Additionally, Siemens has agreed to a three-year term of organizational probation. Siemens is a U.S.-based subsidiary of a Germany-based global manufacturing conglomerate, Siemens Energy AG (SMNEY), whose technology is responsible for one sixth of electricity production worldwide. “Corporate accountability remains a top priority for the Department of Justice,” said Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “The actions of these defendants undermined the integrity of the competitive marketplace, harming both competitors and consumers. The Department has established whistleblower programs to encourage corporations and individuals to come forward with timely information regarding misconduct and criminal behavior. Failing to do so invites prosecution and serious consequences.” “The FBI will work to hold those accountable who steal confidential information to obtain a competitive advantage, whether they be agents, employees, executives, or corporations themselves,” said Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office. “We will rigorously investigate those who criminally conspire to defraud companies for their personal gain.” “Corporate fraud schemes ultimately end up hurting the consumers they serve,” said Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Washington Division. "Protecting the U.S. Mail from these schemes will always be a top priority for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. We are proud to work alongside our law enforcement partners to bring this case to a successful conclusion.” According to court documents, in 2019, Dominion Energy, Inc. (Dominion), a utility company based in Richmond that provides electricity to four million customers in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, sought to build a “Peaker” combustion turbine power plant in the greater Richmond metropolitan area. Peaker power plants are specifically designed to add electricity generation capacity to alleviate high grid load and improve electric grid resiliency. The electricity infrastructure project had projected cost of upwards of $500 million. To build the power plant, Dominion opened a competitive, closed bid process soliciting requests for proposals from qualified companies. Three companies bid for the work: General Electric Company (GE), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), and Siemens. All companies executed non-disclosure agreements restricting the disclosure of confidential information provided to Dominion during the bid. After GE and MHI submitted their closed bids to Dominion in May 2019, Account Manager, Michael P. Hillen of Siemens coordinated with a Dominion insider, Director of Generation System Planning Theodore S. Fasca, who used his sensitive position to improperly obtain GE and MHI confidential information. Hillen and Fasca funneled the pilfered GE and MHI bid information through private email accounts, including Hillen’s wife’s Hotmail email address, before sending the confidential information to Hillen’s Siemens email address. Hillen then disseminated the confidential information to Siemens Account Manager Mehran Sharifi, who analyzed the confidential bid information with other employees. Realizing that Siemens had a less competitive bid than GE by some metrics, Sharifi recommended to Siemens Executive Vice President and Head of Sales for North America, John Gibson, that Siemens resubmit a lowered bid to undercut GE’s bid price. Gibson, Sharifi, Hillen, and Fasca all knew the GE and MHI bid information was improperly obtained and that Siemens should not have had access to this information. Gibson strategically disseminated the confidential information to other Siemens senior executives, to leaders within Siemens’ business intelligence unit, and to representatives of Siemens’ then-parent company in Germany. Gibson’s dissemination of the information was calculated to provide Siemens with a competitive advantage in the bid for the Dominion project, improve Siemens’ business intelligence, and provide Siemens with a competitive advantage in future bids, all to the detriment of GE and MHI. After learning of GE’s and MHI’s bids for the Dominion project, Gibson authorized and obtained approvals within Siemens, including from the Chief Executive Officer for Power Generation and representatives of Siemens’ then-parent company in Germany, to resubmit a lower bid for the Dominion project, undercutting GE’s bid. Siemens won the bid with Dominion. Even after submitting the lowered bid, Siemens continued misappropriating GE and MHI confidential information on numerous occasions throughout June 2019. Siemens Energy Inc. is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 5. The company’s plea today comes after Gibson, Hillen, Fasca, and Sharifi entered guilty pleas for their roles in the criminal misconduct. Gibson pled guilty to conspiracy to convert trade secrets and was sentenced to three years and seven months in prison. Hillen and Fasca each pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and were sentenced to three years and one month in prison. Sharifi pled guilty to conspiracy to convert trade secrets and is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 11. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Avi Panth, Kenneth R. Simon, Jr., and Brian J. Samuels are prosecuting the case. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael R. Gill assisted the prosecution. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 3:24-cr-141 (Siemens Energy, Inc.), 3:23-cr-137 (John Gibson), 3:23-cr-83 (Theodore S. Fasca), 3:24-cr-20 (Mehran Sharifi), and 3:23-cr-120 (Michael P. Hillen).


title: Wethersfield Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl and Oxycodone Distribution Charge Stemming from Overdose Investigation

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JIMMY LASSUS, 40, of Wethersfield, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to distribution of fentanyl and oxycodone. According to court documents and statements made in court, in the early morning of October 6, 2023, Meriden Police responded to a residence on a report of a suspected overdose and found a 27-year-old woman unresponsive in a bedroom. She was transported to the hospital where she was pronounced deceased. The investigation revealed that for several months before the victim’s death, the victim engaged in numerous drug-related text message conversations with Lassus. The text messages revealed that Lassus supplied the victim with oxycodone, and that he supplied her with fentanyl that she ingested in the hours before she died. The victim stated in text messages and in a journal entry that it was her first time using fentanyl. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the victim’s death to be caused by acute intoxication due to the combined effects of fentanyl, benzodiazepines, xylazine, and oxycodone. Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for December 23, at which time Lassus faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Lassus has been detained since his arrest on April 11, 2024. This investigation has been conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force and the Meriden Police Department, with the assistance of the Wethersfield Police Department. The Task Force includes members from the DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut State Police and the New Haven, Waterbury, East Haven, Branford, West Haven, Ansonia, Meriden, Naugatuck, and Shelton Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brendan Keefe and Reed Durham.


title: Ozark Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Meth Conspiracy

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – An Ozark, Mo., man and a Springfield, Mo., man have been sentenced in federal court for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Robert Jason Smith, 48, of Ozark, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 25 years in federal prison without parole. Smith was sentenced as a career criminal due to his prior felony convictions. In a separate but related case, Aaron A. Keltner, 41, of Springfield, was sentenced on Thursday, Sept. 26, to 21 years and 10 months in federal prison without parole. On Feb. 15, 2024, Smith pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Smith admitted that he sold 25.17 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant on June 22, 2021. The next day, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop while Smith was driving a black GMC pickup. An officer searched the truck and found a small black backpack on the rear floorboard behind the driver’s seat. Inside the backpack was a Ziploc bag that contained 217.98 grams of methamphetamine and $4,000 in cash. The officer found another backpack, which contained hundreds of rounds of assorted handgun, rifle, and shotgun ammunition, in the bed of the pickup. Officers executed a search warrant at Smith’s residence the same day, on June 22, 2021. In the master bedroom, officers found a Ziploc bag that contained 53.86 grams of methamphetamine as well as a Taurus .22-caliber semi-automatic pistol under the mattress. Smith told investigators he purchased a pound of methamphetamine each week from a co-defendant who was working with Keltner, for which he paid $5,000, and a pound of methamphetamine every two or three weeks from a separate source of supply. According to court documents, Smith is responsible for the distribution of more than 12 kilograms of methamphetamine. Smith has 13 prior felony convictions, six of which were for selling drugs. Smith is the first defendant to be sentenced in this case. Two co-defendants have pleaded guilty and await sentencing. Two co-defendants are scheduled for trial. Keltner, who was charged separately, pleaded guilty on March 11, 2024, to his role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy and to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, Keltner regularly coordinated trips to acquire 14 to 16 kilograms of methamphetamine from Oklahoma per trip, using women to make the trips for him. He would then divide up the methamphetamine for re-distribution. Keltner admitted that he was in possession of an Anderson Manufacturing AR-15 style .223/5.56mm semi-automatic rifle, a Savage Arms .223-caliber bolt-action rifle, and a Marlin .22-caliber bolt-action rifle. The firearms were found by law enforcement officers when they executed a search warrant at Keltner’s residence. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Keltner has numerous prior felony convictions, including for the distribution, delivery, or manufacture of a controlled substance. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Christian County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department. 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: Joplin Man Sentenced for Bank Fraud Conspiracy

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Joplin, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for stealing mail from Joplin residents as part of a conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud. Aaron M. Blake, 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to three years and seven months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Blake to pay $12,482 in restitution to his victims. On Feb. 13, 2024, Blake pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud, one count of bank fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. Co-defendant Emily Anna-Lee Sturgis, 31, pleaded guilty on July 22, 2024, to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud and to one count of bank fraud and awaits sentencing. Sturgis and Blake admitted they conspired from December 2022 to Jan. 26, 2023, to steal mail out of residential mailboxes and off porches in Joplin. The stolen mail included credit cards, debit cards, checks, cash, jewelry, and documents that contained personal identifying information (such as names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and bank account information). They stole Pandora jewelry from one victim’s mailbox, and a Christmas card that contained a $500 check from another victim’s mailbox. They used the stolen credit cards to unlawfully make purchases. Blake, with the knowledge and assistance of Sturgis, used the stolen personal information to open credit card accounts and bank accounts under those stolen names. He then used these fraudulently created credit and bank accounts to make unlawful purchases. Sturgis and Blake attempted to obtain at least $13,845 from their victims and did obtain at least $12,482 from their victims. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark. It was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Carthage, Mo., Police Department and the Jasper County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.


title: Cumberland County Man with Human Trafficking Ties Sentenced to 10 Years on Federal Firearm Charge

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – A Cumberland County man was sentenced today to 120 months for illegal firearm possession. On May 23, 2024, following a four-day trial, a federal jury convicted Markus Odon McCormick, age 39, of possession of a firearm by a felon. Prior to his federal conviction, a state jury found McCormick guilty of human trafficking charges, in a case investigated by the Fayetteville Police Department. According to court documents and other information presented in court, on December 10, 2020, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call from a woman reporting gunfire and an assault. The first responding deputies found McCormick standing by his vehicle and the victim bleeding from head injuries. The victim was later transported to the hospital. A responding law enforcement officer noticed a firearm in a crawlspace opening of a nearby mobile home. Upon further investigation, narcotics and a 9mm caliber pistol were discovered under the home, which was owned by the victim. Subsequent laboratory testing revealed the presence of McCormick’s DNA on the pistol. McCormick has prior felony convictions, including federal conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base (crack), which prohibited him from possessing a firearm. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie A. Childress, along with Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Gainer, prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-276-FL-BM.


title: Pearl River Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine on the Choctaw Indian Reservation

body_text: Jackson, MS – A Pearl River man pled guilty to possession of over 15 grams of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute in the Pearl River Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. Bill Clemons, Jr., 37, was indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2024 for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Clemons is scheduled to be sentenced on January 14, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Todd Gee, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Regional Agent in Charge Whitney Woodruff of the Bureau of Indian Affairs made the announcement. The Choctaw Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.


title: Readout of Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen’s Participation at United Nations General Assembly High-Level Side Event

component: National Security Division (NSD)

body_text: On Thursday, Sept. 26, Assistant Attorney General (AAG) Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division traveled to New York City to lead a multilateral side meeting on stopping the destabilizing flow of sensitive technology as part of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Week. AAG Olsen chaired the meeting, which was co-led by Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin and European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders. In total, officials from 18 countries and the EU attended the meeting, which was held at the Reiss Center on Law and Security at NYU’s School of Law in Manhattan. ©Creighton: Courtesy of NYU Photo Bureau. In the first session, presenters described the threats and risks posed by the acquisition of sensitive technology by malign actors. “Stopping our adversaries from acquiring sensitive, emerging technology is one of our top national security priorities at the Department of Justice and across the U.S. government. And it’s not something we can do alone,” said Assistant Attorney General Olsen. The second session of the meeting focused on the sharing of attendees’ experiences using legal authorities and other tools to stop the illicit flow of sensitive technology, as well as opportunities for collaboration and partnership. During his remarks, AAG Olsen highlighted the work of the Disruptive Technology Strike Force, an interagency enforcement effort co-led with the Department of Commerce to prevent critical technologies from being unlawfully acquired and used by foreign adversaries. “Today’s meeting reflects the understanding that this type of partnership is foundational to our ability to turn the tide against malign uses of sensitive technology — it requires partnership and collaboration within our own governments, and it requires us to come together and find ways to work together on an international level,” said Assistant Attorney General Olsen. ©Creighton: Courtesy of NYU Photo Bureau. ©Creighton: Courtesy of NYU Photo Bureau. Along with AAG Olsen, presenters from the U.S. delegation were: Matthew Axelrod, Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement at U.S. Department of Commerce; Breon Peace, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; and Tom West, head of the Office of Sanctions Coordination at the U.S. Department of State. Presenters from other delegations were: Yamazaki Kazuyuki, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative of Japan to the UN; Ivars Lasis, the Undersecretary of State – Political Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Latvia; Brendan Dowling, Australia’s Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology; and Mina Noor, Head of Counterterrorism and National Security Division and Special Envoy for Counterterrorism at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for The Netherlands. The Disruptive Technology Strike Force is an interagency law enforcement strike force co-led by the Departments of Justice and Commerce designed to target illicit actors, protect supply chains and prevent critical technology from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation states.


title: Florida Woman Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Massachusetts Housing Agency

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Florida woman pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to defrauding a Massachusetts housing agency where she worked in 2022, along with defrauding the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in connection with the pandemic Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Alihea Jones, 51, of Brandon, Fla., pleaded guilty to five counts of wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for Jan. 16, 2025. In 2022, Jones worked remotely for the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) for six months where she worked with the Residential Aid to Families in Transition (RAFT) program, which provides funds to assist low-income Massachusetts residents facing eviction and other housing emergencies. Immediately after she was terminated, Jones, who was still logged into the RAFT database, accessed the files of four RAFT program participants and authorized electronic payments to their landlords in the amounts of $7,500, $8,800, $6,925 and $10,000. However, Jones changed the routing and bank account numbers from the landlords’ accounts to four unauthorized accounts in Georgia: an account in the name of Jones’s business, Beauty Concepts by Alihea, LLC (Beauty Concepts); Jones’s personal account; and the accounts of persons identified in the charging document as “Friend A” and “Friend B” – all without knowledge or permission from DHCD. After these transfers went through, Friend A and Friend B each paid Jones a $2,000 kickback. Earlier, in 2021, Jones also fraudulently obtained a $187,000 PPP loan from a Massachusetts lender, which the SBA later forgave. Under the PPP, authorized lenders issued SBA-guaranteed loans to small businesses during the COVID pandemic to help keep workers employed. If a business spent the money on payroll and other permissible business expenses, the SBA forgave the loan. Jones submitted a PPP loan application to a Massachusetts lender falsely stating that Beauty Concepts had 17 employees and an average monthly payroll expense of $74,800. In fact, Beauty Concepts did not employ anyone. Unaware that Jones’s information was false, the SBA agreed to guarantee a $187,000 loan to Beauty Concepts. The lender transmitted the loan proceeds to the Beauty Concepts account in Georgia. Jones later applied to have her loan forgiven. Again, she included false employee count and payroll information. Unaware that Jones’s representations were false, the SBA forgave the loan principal and accrued interest. In total, Jones caused a loss of $222,074, with $33,225 payable to the DHCD and $188,849 payable to the SBA. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison; three years of supervised release; and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gain or loss, whichever is greater; restitution; and forfeiture. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Massachusetts Inspector General Jeffrey S. Shapiro; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Wichers of the Public Corruption Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: Amsterdam Woman and Las Vegas Man Charged in Pandemic Fraud Conspiracy

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jodi Drygula, age 52, of Amsterdam, New York, and Anthony Camou, age 45, of Las Vegas, Nevada, have been indicted on mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud charges for fraudulently obtaining pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits in the names of other people. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, Northeast Region, United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG); Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); and Lucy Lang, New York State Inspector General (NYS-OIG), made the announcement. Drygula appeared on August 27, 2024, before United States Magistrate Christian F. Hummel in Albany, and Camou appeared on September 13, 2024, before United States Magistrate Daniel J. Albregts in the District of Nevada; both defendants were ordered released with conditions. The indictment alleges that from July 2020 through September 2021, Drygula and Camou fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance benefits from the New York State Department of Labor (“NYSDOL”) in the names of three people. As a result of their conspiracy, which included additional fraudulent applications for unemployment insurance benefits, Drygula and Camou defrauded the NYSDOL out of more than $250,000. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proved guilty. The mail fraud and conspiracy charges carry a maximum term of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. 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. The case is being investigated by USDOL-OIG, USPIS, and NYS-OIG, with assistance from the New York State Department of Labor. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew M. Paulbeck and Joshua R. Rosenthal are prosecuting the case. 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 .


title: Justice Department Secures Agreement with Aiken County Public Schools in South Carolina to Protect Civil Rights of English Learner Students

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today a settlement agreement with the Aiken County Public School District in South Carolina to resolve the department’s investigation into allegations that English learner students were not receiving appropriate instruction and services. The department’s investigation identified concerns that the district failed to provide hundreds of English learner students, including students with disabilities, the language instruction they needed to become fluent in English. English learner students also faced barriers to full participation in core subjects like science, math and social studies. Under the agreement, the district will ensure that English learner students receive sufficient English language instruction from qualified teachers and that teachers of core subjects are trained on instructional strategies to help support English learners in their classrooms. “Students who are learning English deserve the same access to educational opportunities as their classmates,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to ensuring school districts comply with federal civil rights laws designed to provide equal access to education so that all students can pursue their dreams and aspirations. This agreement will help support English learner students in the Aiken County Public Schools so they can participate fully in their schools’ academic programs.” “All South Carolina students deserve a chance to learn and engage in coursework. For English learners that means help in overcoming language barriers,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “We are pleased that the Aiken County School District is working to serve the needs of its English learners so they can fully participate in their coursework and become successful members of our community.” The district cooperated fully throughout the investigation and has already begun making improvements to its English learner program, including hiring a full-time director and training instructional coaches on strategies to better serve students. Under the agreement, the district will ensure its teachers have the qualifications, training and support needed to help students learn English and participate fully in their core subject classes. The district will also provide language translation and interpretation of important school information to parents who are not fluent in English and create an advisory board composed of parents, educators and community members. The department’s Civil Rights Division conducted its investigation under the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974, which was enacted 50 years ago last month. Enforcement of the Equal Educational Opportunities Act is a top priority of the Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available at www.justice.gov/crt , and additional information about the work of the division’s Educational Opportunities Section is available at www.justice.gov/crt/combating-national-origin-discrimination-schools . Members of the public can report possible civil rights violations at civilrights.justice.gov/report/ . View a copy of the settlement agreement here . View the settlement summary here . ( Y en español aquí .) View the settlement cover letter here . ( Y en español aquí .)


title: El Departamento de Justicia llega a un acuerdo con las Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Aiken en South Carolina para proteger los derechos civiles de estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés

body_text: El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy un acuerdo de conciliación con el Distrito Escolar Público del Condado de Aiken en South Carolina para resolver la investigación del Departamento de las acusaciones de que los estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés no estaban recibiendo las horas lectivas y los servicios adecuados. La investigación del Departamento identificó inquietudes de que el Distrito no proporcionó a cientos de estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés –incluidos estudiantes con discapacidades– la enseñanza lingüística que necesitaban para dominar el inglés. Los estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés también se enfrentaron a barreras a la plena participación en asignaturas de contenido básico como ciencias, matemáticas y estudios sociales. En virtud del acuerdo, el Distrito se asegurará de que los estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés reciban suficiente enseñanza de inglés de maestros calificados y que los maestros de asignaturas de contenido básico estén capacitados en estrategias de enseñanza para ayudar a los estudiantes de inglés en sus aulas. «Los estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés se merecen el mismo acceso a oportunidades educativas iguales como sus compañeros de clase», afirmó Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «El Departamento de Justicia se compromete a garantizar que los Distritos escolares cumplan con las leyes federales de derechos civiles diseñadas para proporcionar la igualdad de acceso a la educación para que todos los estudiantes puedan perseguir sus sueños y aspiraciones. Este acuerdo ayudará a apoyar a los estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés en las Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Aiken para que puedan participar plenamente en los programas académicos de sus escuelas». «Todos los estudiantes en South Carolina se merecen la oportunidad de aprender y participar en los trabajos de curso. Para aquellos estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés, esto significa que se debe ayudarles a superar las barreras lingüísticas», declaró Adair F. Boroughs, el Fiscal Federal para el Distrito de South Carolina. «Nos complace ver que el Distrito Escolar del Condado de Aiken esté trabajando para servir las necesidades de sus estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés para que estos puedan participar plenamente en sus trabajos de curso y convertirse en miembros exitosos de nuestra comunidad». El Distrito cooperó plenamente durante toda la investigación y ya ha comenzado a realizar mejoras en su programa de aprendizaje de inglés, lo que incluye la contratación de un director a tiempo completo y la provisión de capacitación a los instructores sobre estrategias para servir mejor a los estudiantes. En virtud del acuerdo, el Distrito se asegurará de que sus maestros tengan las cualificaciones, la formación y el apoyo necesarios para ayudar a los estudiantes a aprender inglés y participar plenamente en sus asignaturas de contenido básico. Por otra parte, el Distrito también proporcionará traducción e interpretación de información escolar importante a los padres que no dominen el inglés y creará un consejo consultivo compuesto de padres que están aprendiendo inglés, educadores y miembros de la comunidad. La División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento llevó a cabo su investigación en virtud de la ley de Igualdad de Oportunidades Educativas de 1974. La aplicación de la ley de Igualdad de Oportunidades Educativas es una de las principales prioridades de la División de Derechos Civiles. Puede encontrar información adicional sobre la División de Derechos Civiles en su sitio web en www.justice.gov/crt , e información adicional sobre el trabajo de la Sección de Oportunidades Educativas de la División está disponible en www.justice.gov/crt/combating-national-origin-discrimination-schools . Los miembros del público pueden denunciar posibles infracciones de los derechos civiles en civilrights.justice.gov/report/ .


title: Registered Sex Offender Sentenced After Sharing Over Seventy Images Depicting the Sexual Abuse of Children

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Bryon Alan Lee, 32, of Sapulpa, for Production, Receipt, Distribution, and Possession of Child Pornography in Indian Country. Judge Russell ordered Lee imprisoned for 360 months, followed by ten years of supervised release. Upon his release, Lee will also be required to register as a sex offender and ordered to pay $6,300 in restitution. “Online and sexual predators like Lee know how to manipulate their way into a child’s life,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “I cannot stress enough that parents and guardians need to know who their children are talking to online. This sentencing shows the unwavering commitment of our office and law enforcement partners to hold sex offenders accountable for their actions and to protect children.” “The lengthy sentence of this repeat offender sends a clear message to those who would attempt to exploit our most vulnerable citizens – our children,” said Travis Pickard, acting Special Agent in Charge HSI Dallas. “HSI through the collaboration of all our law enforcement partners will use every available resource to hold child sexual predators like this defendant accountable for their actions.” According to court documents, in October 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received several CyberTips about an individual online uploading videos and images that contained the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. The investigation revealed that Lee possessed or uploaded more than seven videos and 68 images to social media and file-sharing platforms. Further, Lee would “chat” about his fantasies of raping and abusing young children. In April of 2021, Lee was convicted in State court of Using Technology to Engage in Sexual Communication with a Minor. Even after receiving a ten-year suspended sentence in state court and having to register as a sex offender, Lee continued to exploit minors and created sexually explicit images. Lee is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ashley Robert and Joshua Carmel prosecuted. To learn more about the sex offender registries from all 50 states, please visit the National Sex Offender Public Website . This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page . For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page .


title: Pilates Instructor Sentenced After Fraudulently Obtaining Disability Benefits

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: Salt Lake City, Utah – Hillary Brown, 41, of Taylorsville, Utah, was sentenced today to 12 months’ home detention, five years’ probation, and ordered by the court to pay $148,310.25 in restitution after defrauding the Social Security Administration (SSA) and other government agencies for approximately 15 years. On July 9, 2024, Brown pleaded guilty to wire fraud before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. She was then sentenced before Senior U.S. District Court Judge David Sam. According to court documents and statements made at Brown’s sentencing hearing, beginning by at least May 13, 2009 and continuing until June 1, 2023, Brown deceived SSA to fraudulently obtain funds from the United States. She did so by providing the government with false and exaggerated information. Brown falsely claimed she was experiencing debilitating effects from an October 2008 stroke to such a degree that she had right side paralysis and could not work. On December 15, 2009, Brown underwent a psychiatric assessment to support her application for SSA benefits. The examining doctor documented Brown’s self-reports that she was struggling with brain damage. However, just days prior, Brown completed upper-level college coursework with As and Bs. Unaware of this mismatch in information, SSA granted Brown Title II disability benefits on December 16, 2009. From the outset of her benefits, SSA provided several notices to regularly remind Brown of her obligation to report any improvements in her condition to SSA. However, within months of receiving benefits and claiming cognitive and physical disabilities, Brown graduated from college. She later obtained a driver’s license by certifying that she did not have a condition that impaired her ability to drive, despite claims to SSA that she could not drive due to crippling physical symptoms. She also obtained various physical certifications, including a Pilates Mat Teacher Training program diploma in July 2010, a certification indicating she completed 850 hours of requirements and testing to become a certified Pilates instructor in June 2015, and a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training certification in October 2018. Meanwhile, Brown continued to receive disability benefits and did not report any improvements in function to SSA. After learning Brown was active and working, on February 13, 2021, SSA sent Brown a letter explaining she was not eligible to receive disability benefits and had received overpayment. Brown requested that the overpayment be waived and continued to claim she was too disabled to engage in substantial work, while also continuing to teach physically active classes and post about them on social media. Social Security Administration In the winter of 2022-2023, Brown submitted more false statements to SSA about her ability to work – claiming that right-side paralysis and other ailments still prevented her from working, and that they made basic functions like walking, standing, or using her arms difficult. However, during the same time frame, SSA agents observed and recorded hours of footage documenting Brown’s capable lifestyle and active Pilates teaching. Once SSA had the opportunity to review Brown’s activities since receiving disability benefits, it became clear that she was never eligible for benefits. In fact, evidence from 2009 to 2023 indicates that Brown was highly functional within months of her stroke. “Since 2009, Ms. Brown defrauded the government and stole from benefit programs that provide a critical safety net to those who truly need them and legally apply,” said U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah. “My office, and our law enforcement partners, are committed to protecting these important benefits for their rightful recipients and holding to account those who fraudulently drain them.” “For 15 years, Hillary Brown defrauded SSA by feigning a disabling condition. By purporting debilitating effects from a stroke and partial paralysis, her false exaggerations caused SSA to improperly pay her disability benefits. This sentence holds her accountable for her criminal acts,” said Michelle L. Anderson, Acting Inspector General for the Social Security Administration. “I am grateful for the outstanding work of our Cooperative Disability Investigations Division for conducting this investigation and continually working to protect SSA disability benefits for those who are truly eligible to receive them. I thank Special Assistant United States Attorney Sachi J. Jepson for prosecuting this case.” The case was investigated by the Social Security Administration Cooperative Disability Investigations Unit. Special Assistant United States Attorney Sachi J. Jepson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.


title: Justice Department Secures Agreement with Wisconsin Department of Corrections to Improve Communication Access for Incarcerated People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

body_text: The Justice Department today announced a settlement agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (WDOC) under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The settlement will help ensure that incarcerated individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing have equal access to WDOC’s programs, services and activities, including educational, counseling, medical, recreational and prison employment programs. The agreement resolves the department’s investigation into complaints that WDOC did not provide auxiliary aids and services, such as sign language interpreters, to incarcerated individuals with hearing disabilities. Under the settlement agreement, WDOC will provide inmates with hearing disabilities appropriate auxiliary aids and services, such as sign language interpreters, video telephones, visual notification systems and hearing aids when necessary. WDOC must also make reasonable modifications to its policies, practices and procedures to accommodate inmates with disabilities, such as handcuffing in front to allow an individual who uses sign language to communicate, and allowing additional time for telephone calls that rely on an interpreter. “The ability for incarcerated people with hearing disabilities to understand and to be understood is a critical protection provided by the ADA,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division is committed to ensuring that correctional institutions eliminate barriers, including communication barriers, that prevent inmates with disabilities from participating fully in prison programs.” “People with disabilities in Wisconsin deserve equal access, and that does not change when they are incarcerated,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. “The Wisconsin Department of Corrections has now committed to removing barriers to participation for inmates with disabilities in WDOC facilities, including inmates with hearing disabilities. Our office remains dedicated to supporting efforts to improve access and inclusion for everyone in Wisconsin.” As a result of the agreement announced today, WDOC will implement a process that begins at intake, and continues throughout incarceration, to identify and accommodate inmates with hearing disabilities; develop individualized communication assessment and plans; provide training on the ADA to staff; and pay $15,000 to compensate three incarcerated individuals who were harmed. The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin handled the matter. The Justice Department plays a central role in advancing the nation’s goal of equal opportunity, full participation, independent living and economic self-sufficiency for people with disabilities. For more information on the Civil Rights Division, please visit www.justice.gov/crt . For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TDD 800-514-0383) or visit www.ada.gov . ADA complaints may be filed online at www.ada.gov/complaint . Additional information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Civil Rights Programs is available at www.justice.gov/usao-edwi/civil-rights .


title: Long Beach Man Pleads Guilty to Participating in Smash-and-Grab Robbery at Beverly Hills Jeweler that Caused $2.6 Million in Losses

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A Long Beach man pleaded guilty today to a federal criminal charge for participating in the daylight smash-and-grab robbery of a Beverly Hills jewelry store in 2022 in which more than $2.6 million in merchandise was stolen – and which he later displayed on Instagram. Ladell Tharpe, 39, pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act). According to his plea agreement, on March 23, 2022, Tharpe, Deshon Bell, 22, of Long Beach, and Jimmy Lee Vernon III, 33, also of Long Beach, and other co-conspirators robbed a luxury jewelry store in Beverly Hills. Before, during, and after the robbery, Tharpe led the cars used to transport the robbers and the getaway vehicle to the location. Bell was one of the getaway drivers. Tharpe conducted surveillance and acted as the lookout for the co-conspirators. Once they had arrived outside the jewelry store, some of the robbers – including Vernon – got out of one of the cars, entered the store and used heavy tools to smash the store’s display cases while employees and customers were present. The thieves removed from the store’s display cases at least 19 bracelets, seven pairs of earrings, four necklaces, a pair of obelisks, eight rings, and 20 watches, all of which was valued at approximately $2,674,600. The robbers then returned to the car in which Bell was waiting and then fled the scene. Tharpe posted images of large amounts of cash on Instagram after the robbery with the text “Robbery Gang.” United States District Judge George H. Wu scheduled a January 6, 2025, sentencing hearing for Tharpe, who will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Tharpe has been in federal custody since March 2023. Bell and Vernon each have pleaded guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery. Judge Wu on February 26 sentenced Bell to one year and one day in federal prison and ordered him to pay $2,674,600 in restitution. The sentencing hearing for Vernon, who has been in federal custody since September 2022, is scheduled for December 5. The FBI and the Beverly Hills Police Department investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Kevin J. Butler of the Violent and Organized Crime Section and Kevin B. Reidy of the Major Frauds Section are prosecuting this case.


title: Seven Year Sentence Handed Down for the Carjacking of a Rideshare Driver

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Tykel Wilson, 22, of the District of Columbia, was sentenced on Friday for the armed carjacking of a rideshare driver, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Wilson pleaded guilty on June 28, 2024, to one count of carjacking and one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. On September 27, 2024, Superior Court Judge Robert Salerno sentenced Wilson to seven years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. According to the government’s evidence, with which Wilson agreed, at approximately 1:43 p.m., on April 29, 2023, in the 900 block of Allison Street, NW, the victim, a rideshare driver, had pulled his car over after dropping off a passenger. While parked, Wilson approached the victim’s car, armed with a silver firearm, and demanded that the victim exit his car. The victim complied with the Wilson’s demands and Wilson drove off in the victim’s car. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn Bartz and Randle Wilson, who prosecuted the case. Follow us on Twitter , Instagram , and YouTube