title: Utah Residents Facing Federal Charges for Alleged Baggage Thefts at Airport

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City, Utah, returned two indictments charging three Salt Lake County residents with stealing baggage from baggage carousels at the Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). According to court documents, Leticia Marie Torres, 42, of Salt Lake City; and Brianna Marie Taylor, 42, of Midvale, Utah, are charged in one indictment and Charles Masters, 31, of West Valley City, Utah, is charged in a separate indictment. As alleged in the indictment for Torres and Taylor, in January 2022, Torres and Taylor stole multiple pieces of baggage on various days from multiple victims with the intent to keep them for their personal use. As part of their scheme to defraud, Torres and Taylor used multiple stolen credit cards belonging to one of the victims and received payment and other items of value during a one-year period. According to court documents, from January 2022 to February 2022, Masters stole thousands of dollars worth of baggage with the intent to keep them for his personal use. Torres and Taylor are both charged with theft of baggage from interstate shipment, illegal transactions with an access device, and aggravated identity theft. Masters is charged with five counts of theft of baggage from interstate shipment. Torres, Taylor and Masters had their initial appearances on the indictment Nov. 16, 2023, before a U.S. District Court Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah, Salt Lake City Police Department (SLCPD) and the Salt Lake City International Airport made the announcement. The investigation is being worked jointly by an FBI Task Force Officer with the Salt Lake City Police Department and the Salt Lake City Police Department Airport Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Jawayria Z. Auchter and Michael Kennedy of the District of Utah are prosecuting the case. As part of ongoing efforts to decrease baggage thefts at airports, Salt Lake City Police Department and the Salt Lake City International Airport say the best way to prevent theft is to ensure your bag is never left unattended. Recognizing that flying with carry-on bags is not always feasible, SLCPD recommends the following tips as travelers enter the holiday and ski season in the beehive state: Place irreplaceable or high value items in your carry-on baggage (Note: Passengers must know which items are required to be checked or prohibited from being checked or brought onto an aircraft). Reconsider purchasing luxury-branded luggage as this could be an allure to potential thieves. Make your checked luggage distinctive using stickers, tape, ribbon or consider purchasing a brightly colored suitcase. Keep a record of what you pack and take a photo of your belongings and your luggage. Photos can be helpful during a police investigation and for insurance purposes. After landing, avoid unnecessary delays and head to the baggage pick-up area immediately so your bag is not left unattended when on the baggage carousel. Ensure your bag is clearly labeled with your contact information. For privacy reasons, an address is not necessary, but a name and phone number should be included. If you believe someone has stolen your luggage, be sure to file a police report and file reports with the airline and TSA. Report anything suspicious to an airport/airline official or airport police. The Salt Lake City Police Department’s Airport Division continues to conduct proactive operations to curb baggage theft from Salt Lake City International Airport. Officers and detectives work closely with airline and airport staff to ensure the security of passenger luggage. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: New York man sentenced to 50 years in prison for surveilling and shooting a man in Miami

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – On Nov. 14, a New York man was sentenced to 50 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for surveilling and later planning the shooting of his victim from point-blank range. Jaime Serrano Jr., 46, of New York, flew down from New York to Miami to kill his victim. Once Serrano arrived in Miami, he surveilled his victim at the victim’s home and business. Serrano rented a vehicle to conceal his surveillance of the victim. After four days of surveillance, Serrano exchanged his rental vehicle for another one to commit the shooting. Serrano’s co-defendant, Jimenez, entered the victim’s residential community wearing a mask, gloves and holding a firearm. While the victim was in his vehicle about to pull into his garage, Jimenez ran up behind him and started shooting. Jimenez fired eight rounds at the victim. The victim survived but was hit three times and needed surgery to remove the projectiles left inside his body. Jimenez ran back to Serrano’s parked car and hid in the trunk. Serrano then drove them away. The sentence comes after Serrano’s conviction following a two-week trial in August. A restitution hearing is scheduled for Feb. 12, 2024. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of FBI, Miami Field Office, announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman. FBI Miami’s Violent Crimes and Fugitive Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Abbie D. Waxman, Michael E. Gilfarb and Katherine W. Guthrie prosecuted it. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 22-cr-20389. ###


title: Brooklyn Gang Leader Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder in Aid of Racketeering and Causing Death Through the Use of a Firearm

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Christopher Acevedo, a founder and leader of the Wood City street gang based in the Woodhull neighborhood of Queens, was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Diane Gujarati in federal court in Brooklyn to two terms of life imprisonment to run concurrently, for murder in aid of racketeering and causing death through the use of a firearm. Acevedo was convicted by a federal jury in May 2023 following a two-week trial. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the sentence. “Christopher Acevedo showed his indifference for human life when he murdered David Hutchinson in broad daylight over a petty gang dispute, in order to maintain and burnish his status as the leader of a violent street gang whose members felt insulted by the taking of a piece of jewelry,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Yesterday’s sentence of life imprisonment demonstrates the heinousness of Acevedo’s crime and sends a message that gun violence has no place in our society.” Mr. Peace thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the New York City Police Department, and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force for their exemplary work on the case. Since at least 2010, the Wood City gang has been engaged in racketeering activity, including murder, drug trafficking, and various forms of fraud and identity theft. Acevedo was the founder and leader of the gang which was so named because many of its members lived around Woodhull Avenue in Jamaica, Queens. Since at least 2011, Wood City has been involved in a war with rival “Snow Gang,” another violent gang based in Queens. During this period, members of Wood City and Snow Gang would regularly taunt and insult each other using social media platforms and phone calls. On August 26, 2019, members of Snow Gang, including one of its leaders, robbed a gold “YTB” chain from a high-ranking member of Wood City while he was at a recording studio in Queens. Shortly after the robbery, the Snow Gang leader posted a photo himself wearing the YTB chain on social media. As a leader of Wood City, Acevedo was expected to retaliate for the chain-snatching to protect his gang’s reputation. Acevedo and other Wood City members drove to Snow Gang territory and spotted a vehicle with the Snow Gang leader who had robbed the chain and other members and associates of Snow Gang. After following that vehicle to the front of a deli in the vicinity of 140th Avenue and Springfield Boulevard, Acevedo pulled alongside the vehicle and fired a dozen shots, killing the driver, David Hutchinson. The murder occurred in broad daylight outside a bodega filled with civilians. The government’s case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kayla C. Bensing and Benjamin Weintraub, and former Assistant United States Attorney James P. McDonald. The Defendant : CHRISTOPHER ACEVEDO Age: 28 Queens, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-162 (DG)


title: Ninth Defendant Convicted of Federal Conspiracy Against Rights and Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act)  Offenses for 2020 Washington, D.C., Clinic Invasion and Blockade

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – A Massachusetts woman was found guilty today of federal civil rights conspiracy and violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act). Paula “Paulette” Harlow, 75, of Kingston, was convicted following a bench trial. All nine defendants have been convicted of federal conspiracy against rights and FACE Act offenses following three separate trials in connection with an Oct. 22, 2020, blockade of a Washington, D.C., area reproductive health clinic. On Aug. 29, a jury convicted defendants Lauren Handy, John Hinshaw, Heather Idoni, William Goodman and Herb Geraghty. On Sept. 15, a separate jury convicted defendants Jonathan Darnel, Jean Marshall and Joan Bell. On March 1, a tenth defendant, Jay Smith, pleaded guilty to a felony FACE Act offense. “Violence and physical obstructions that interfere with access to reproductive health clinics violate the law,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The convictions in this case send a strong message that such criminal conduct against reproductive health care providers and patients will not be tolerated, and the perpetrators will be held accountable. The Justice Department stands ready to protect both those who provide and those who seek access to safe and legal reproductive health care.” “Our Constitution and laws protect many rights – to protest, to debate, to advocate for different laws. But no one is entitled to deprive other people of their civil rights. That’s a crime,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “With locks, with chains, with violence, these defendants conspired to prevent fellow citizens from exercising their rights to receive and to provide reproductive health care. As these verdicts show, our city will not tolerate that, and our department will ensure justice is done.” “FACE Act violations such as this one are not taken lightly – these are serious crimes that endanger people’s physical safety and can be traumatizing for patients and staff,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI and our partners will always work to protect every American’s access to reproductive health care services.” “The First Amendment protects Americans’ right to peacefully express their opinions — not intimidate, threaten or interfere with those who are exercising their civil rights,” said Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office. “The FBI will continue to investigate FACE Act violations to ensure that patients and providers can receive or provide lawful reproductive health care without the threat of violence or intimidation.” Evidence presented at trial established that the defendants executed a clinic blockade planned by the group’s leaders, Handy and Darnel. The defendants used social media, text messages and telephone calls to organize the blockade, and several defendants traveled from northeast and midwestern states to participate in the clinic invasion. Prior to the blockade, the defendants met with other co-conspirators to formulate their tactics, which included making a fake patient appointment to ensure the group’s entry into the clinic, using chains and locks to barricade the facility and passively resisting arrest to prolong the obstruction. The clinic invasion was advertised on social media as an “historic” event and was livestreamed on Facebook. At the outset of the invasion, the defendants forced their way into the clinic, injuring a clinic nurse. The blockade forced one patient to climb through a receptionist window to access the clinic, while another was denied entry as she lay in physical distress in the hallway outside the clinic. On Aug. 7, Smith was sentenced to 10 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release following his guilty plea. The remaining defendants, including Harlow, who were convicted following the three trials face up to 11 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine up to $250,000 each. Those sentencing dates are yet to be determined. The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case, with valuable assistance from the Metropolitan Police Department. Attorneys from the Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia prosecuted the case. The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the District of New Jersey, District of Massachusetts, Eastern District of Michigan, Eastern District of New York, and Southern District of New York; and FBI Field Offices in Pittsburgh, Newark, New York City, Boston, and Detroit provided valuable assistance.


title: Hammond Woman Pleads Guilty To Cares Act Fraud

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that TRACIE L. MIXON , age 42, of Hammond, LA, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Susie Morgan to a bill of information for making false statements related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). On March 27, 2020, The CARES Act established several new temporary programs and provided for the expansion of others to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Among these programs, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) authorized forgivable loans backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to small businesses to retain workers and maintain payroll, make mortgage interest payments, lease payments, and utility payments. The PPP allows the interest and principal on the PPP loan to be forgiven if the business spends the loan proceeds on these expense items within a designated period of time after receiving the proceeds and uses at least a certain percentage of the PPP loan proceeds on payroll expenses. According to court documents, MIXON made false statements on an SBA form to an approved lender on or about February 23, 2021, to fraudulently obtain a PPP loan. MIXON affirmed that she had not been previously convicted of federal program financial assistance fraud when, in truth, she pled guilty, in the Eastern District of Virginia, to conspiracy to commit federal student loan fraud and mail fraud in a scheme that involved stolen identities. Sentencing will be on March 12, 2023. At that time, MIXON faces a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to $250,000 in fines, and up to three years of supervised release for her false statements. MIXON must also pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee after conviction. For more information on the Department of Justice’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 . U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Secret Service in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera of the Financial Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Health Insurance Fraudster Pleads Guilty in El Paso Federal Court

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: EL PASO, Texas – An El Paso man pleaded guilty in a federal court in El Paso to one count of wire fraud. According to court documents, Daniel Steadley, 68, operated two companies in El Paso which marketed and sold a healthcare insurance plan known as the Unique Healthcare MEC Plan. Steadley sold the insurance plan under false claims that it complied with the requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). He also falsely claimed that he was a lawyer who had previously overseen an elite team of lawyers while working for a U.S. Senator at the White House, and that he had been a commander in the Navy, as well as a SEAL team member. Several purchasers of Steadley’s fraudulent Unique Plan suffered injuries or had diseases that required hospitalization or other medical attention. When these individuals attempted to use their Unique Plan card, hospitals and other providers did not recognize the plan and there was no coverage of their medical bills. Several Unique Plan members received medical bills that were significant, ranging from hundreds of dollars to more than $100,000. Approximately 2,600 individuals in the El Paso area purchased the Unique Plan between Dec. 1, 2014 and Aug. 31, 2020. The investigation identified $974,193.68 in victim losses. Steadley faces up to 20 years in prison for one count of wire fraud. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas made the announcement. The FBI and Texas Department of Insurance are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Skillern and Michael Osterberg are prosecuting the case. ###


title: Clearfield Resident Sentenced to 20 Months in Prison on Drug Trafficking Conviction

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Clearfield, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 20 months of imprisonment followed by two years of supervised release on her conviction for violating federal narcotics laws related to a nine-month Title III wiretap investigation into drug trafficking in and around the counties of Jefferson, Clearfield, and Allegheny, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand imposed the sentence on Amy Bortot, age 53. According to information presented to the court, Bortot was a United States Postal Service mail carrier who used her position to identify multiple addresses on her mail route that she provided to Derek Hillebrand, who instructed his Oregon-based supplier to send parcels containing methamphetamine and marijuana to those addresses. Bortot then either delivered the parcels directly to Hillebrand or to one of his associates rather than to the listed mailing address. In total, Bortot delivered at least one parcel containing approximately 4.5 kilograms of methamphetamine and multiple parcels containing approximately 80 kilograms of marijuana to Hillebrand or his associates. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan D. Lusty prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Olshan commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Services, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Police, and Pennsylvania State Police. Also assisting were the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office, and the Clarion Borough Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Bortot. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Bakersfield Man Indicted for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against James Escandon, 39, of Bakersfield, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, on Oct. 18, 2023, Escandon was found in possession of a stolen semi-automatic handgun. Escandon has prior convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for possession of a controlled substance and is prohibited from possessing guns and ammunition. This case is the product of an investigation by the Bakersfield Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Arin C. Heinz is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Escandon faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Philadelphia Resident Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison on Drug Trafficking Conviction

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 46 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release on his conviction for violating federal narcotics laws related to a nine-month Title III wiretap investigation into drug trafficking in and around the counties of Jefferson, Clearfield, and Allegheny, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand imposed the sentence on Yusuf Adekunle, age 29. According to information presented to the court, Adekunle and three other individuals chartered a private plane and transported six kilograms of cocaine from Houston to Pittsburgh International Airport. Investigators obtained a search warrant for the plane and seized the cocaine from two pieces of luggage. The court was further advised that the defendant obtained and distributed between 20 kilograms and 40 kilograms of marijuana between July of 2020 and August of 2021. Agents seized approximately 700 grams of marijuana and a firearm during a search of Adekunle’s residence. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan D. Lusty prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Olshan commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Services, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Police, and Pennsylvania State Police. Also assisting were the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office, and the Clarion Borough Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Adekunle. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Federal Jury Finds Waukesha Man Guilty of Sex Trafficking

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on November 15, 2023, a jury found Cornelius Jackson (age 34) of Waukesha guilty of all counts with which he was charged, including four counts of Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coercion, and Conspiracy to Engage in Sex Trafficking. The evidence presented at trial established that between 2014 and 2020, Jackson used force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion to compel female victims to engage in commercial sex acts in cities and states across the country, including in Waukesha, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Ohio. The evidence showed that Jackson recruited his victims through dating apps and social media. The victims all testified that Jackson kept and controlled all of the money they made, using violence to ensure they all continued to comply with his demands. The victims testified that Jackson strangled them and that they each saw him strangle other female victims. Jackson faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a mandatory minimum of 15 years of imprisonment. Further, he will be required to register as a Sex Offender for life. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation with the assistance of the Waukesha Police Department, Milwaukee Police Department, Ashwaubenon Public Safety Department, and Oneida Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Erica J. Lounsberry and Abbey M. Marzick. # # # For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov 414-297-1700 Follow us on Twitter


title: Olanta, PA Resident Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison for Conviction of Violating Federal Narcotics and Firearms Laws

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Olanta, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 60 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release on his conviction for violating federal narcotics and firearms laws related to a nine-month Title III wiretap investigation into drug trafficking in and around the counties of Jefferson, Clearfield, and Allegheny, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand imposed the sentence on Brent Shaffer, age 39. According to information presented to the court, Shaffer received parcels that were shipped from California to the Western District of California containing a total of between 1.5 kilograms and 5 kilograms of methamphetamine. Investigators searched Shaffer’s residence on August 31, 2021, pursuant to a federal search warrant and seized over 200 grams of methamphetamine and three firearms. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan D. Lusty prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Olshan commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Internal Revenue Services, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Police, and Pennsylvania State Police. Also assisting were the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office, and the Clarion Borough Police Department for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Shaffer. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Milwaukee Felon Indicted for Illegally Importing Machinegun Conversion Devices and Other Firearm Related Offenses

body_text: Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on November 14, 2023, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Demario M. Robinson (age: 21) of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. The indictment charges Robinson with three counts of purchasing and receiving machinegun conversion devices (MCDs) that had been illegally imported into the United States, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 545. According to a criminal complaint previously issued in the case, the MCDs (commonly known as “switches”) converted semi-automatic weapons into fully automatic firing machine guns. The complaint further alleged that Robinson had purchased and received hundreds of MCDs between July 2022 and June 2023. If convicted of any of the three importation charges, Robinson would face a 20-year maximum term of imprisonment. The indictment also alleges that on June 20, 2023, Robinson possessed a machine gun, namely a Glock 9mm handgun that had been converted to firing automatically, and that he possessed a firearm despite being a convicted felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(o) and 922(g)(1). Finally, the indictment also charges Robinson with possession with intent to distribute marijuana on June 20, 2021, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(D). If convicted, Robinson would be subject to a ten-year maximum term of imprisonment for the possession of machinegun offense and 15-year maximum term of imprisonment for the felon-in-possession charge. If convicted of the drug offense, Robinson would face a five-year maximum prison term. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Milwaukee Area Safe Streets Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William Roach and Michael Schindhelm. An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant has pled not guilty, is presumed innocent, and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. # # # For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov 414-297-1700 Follow us on Twitter


title: Four Indicted on Federal Charges for Fraudulent Vehicle Sale Scheme

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – Four St. Louis men are facing multiple federal charges for their alleged actions in a scheme to use fake cashier’s checks to buy vehicles from private sellers online, to then resell for profit. The 11-count indictment charges Alen Saric, 35, Valentino Colic, 32, Emad Hasanbegovic, 33, and Almir Palic, 24, with multiple felonies including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. “Many people use the internet to sell personal property, but unfortunately, scammers also use the internet as a tool to defraud and steal,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. According to court documents, the codefendants participated in a scheme to defraud vehicle sellers on Facebook and Craigslist with fake cashier’s checks from 2018 until August 2023. Once the fraudsters possessed a vehicle, they would then resell the vehicle to another individual for cash before the original victim could try to cash the check and realize it was worthless. “The conspiracy as outlined in the indictment is yet another example of criminals using fake checks to defraud victims,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge David Nanz. “The FBI advises the public to not assume checks are genuine when received from individuals not previously known. Such caution should be exercised whether the check appears to be cashier’s, official, or certified. Criminals are skilled at creating fake checks that look real, so protect yourself by either going to the bank that issued the check to confirm its authenticity or waiting until the check clears your bank before turning over property or otherwise transferring funds.” To keep their names out of the chain of title, the indictment alleges the codefendants used the names of prior victims to buy and sell the vehicles and to complete documents such as titles and bills of sale. When posing as the victims, they often used victims’ photo IDs. The fraudsters bought vehicles from victims in Madison, Jasper, Bond and Fayette counties within the Southern District of Illinois. The indictment alleges the co-conspirators issued more than $1 million in fake cashier’s checks. For allegedly transferring the vehicles from Illinois to Missouri, Colic and Saric are also charged with interstate transportation of stolen goods. An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury. Conspiracy to commit wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment, and interstate transportation of stolen goods is punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment. FBI Springfield Field Office, the Metro East Auto Theft Task Force, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Illinois State Police, Illinois Secretary of State Police, Jefferson County (Missouri) Sheriff’s Department and several local police departments contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter T. Reed is prosecuting the case.


title: Grand Jury Indicts Bakersfield Man for Firearms Trafficking

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Joshua Ruic Kimball, 40, of Bakersfield, charging him with trafficking in firearms, unlawful transfer of firearms in violation of the National Firearms Act, and unlawful transfer of firearms in violation of state law, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, Kimball was the owner of Show Off Sports LLC, a licensed firearms dealer in Bakersfield. Through his shop, Kimball sold firearms illegally, including short-barrel rifles and silencers. He did not require background checks, firearms registration, or any paperwork for the firearms sales. More than 100 firearms traced back to Kimball have been recovered in connection to crimes in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Mexico. This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert L. Veneman-Hughes and Stephanie M. Stokman are prosecuting the case. If convicted, Kimball faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison for trafficking in firearms, 10 years in prison for unlawfully transferring firearms in violation of the National Firearms Act and five years in prison for unlawfully transferring firearms in violation of state law, and a fine up to $250,000 for each count. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Multiple Federal Carjacking Offenses

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

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on November 14, 2023, KYREN WASHINGTON , age 20, of Orleans Parish, pled guilty to a five-count superseding bill of information for five separate carjackings in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2119(1). WASHINGTON faces a sentence of up to 15 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and up to 3 years of supervised release for each count. He also faces a mandatory special assessment fee of $500.00. Sentencing is set for February 27, 2024. According to court documents, WASHINGTON was involved in five separate carjackings on September 29, October 2, October 4, and an attempted carjacking on October 10, 2023. Four of the vehicles were recovered in the Algiers area of New Orleans. After the attempted carjacking, WASHINGTON was identified, and arrested by the New Orleans Police Department who learned that WASHINGTON had discarded a firearm and black backpack in the 1200 block of Poydras Ave. Law enforcement retrieved the discarded black backpack and obtained a search warrant authorizing a search of the backpack. That search revealed two additional firearms and ammunition. Recovered were a Smith & Wesson Model M&P9, nine-millimeter and Glock Model 19X, nine-millimeter firearms along with a magazine loaded with ammunition. The discarded firearm was identified as a Glock Model 22, .40 caliber firearm. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit. * * *


title: Operator of Central California Bio-Lab Indicted for Distributing Adulterated and Misbranded COVID-19 Tests and Lying to Authorities

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Jia Bei Zhu, aka Jesse Zhu, Qiang He, and David He, 62, a citizen of China who formerly resided in Clovis, charging him with distributing adulterated and misbranded medical devices in violation of the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and for making false statements to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, between January 2020 and March 2023, through the companies Universal Meditech Incorporated (UMI) and Prestige Biotech Incorporated (PBI), Zhu sold hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 test kits to companies throughout the United States. UMI and PBI were based in Fresno and Reedley and did not obtain pre-market approval, pre-market clearance, emergency use authorization, or other applicable exemption from the FDA as was required. UMI and PBI received millions of dollars for the sales of the test kits. When questioned by FDA officials, Zhu made several false statements to them, including that (1) his name was Qiang “David” He, (2) he was hired by UMI as a COVID-19 consultant in 2021, (3) he was hired by PBI just a couple of weeks prior to meeting with the FDA to communicate with government agencies on PBI’s behalf, and (4) he did not know anything about the manufacturing or distribution histories for UMI or PBI. This case is the product of an investigation by the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Public Health – Food and Drug Branch. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph D. Barton, Arelis M. Clemente, and Henry Z. Carbajal III are prosecuting this case. If convicted, Zhu faces a maximum statutory penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the adulterated and misbranding of medical devices charges, and five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the false statements charge. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: Tulsa Native Sentenced and Ordered to Repay $800,000  for Bank Fraud

body_text: A Tulsa native, now residing in Texas, was sentenced today for bank fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Shane Michael Hannaford, 41, of Prosper, Texas, to 33 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Judge Frizzell further ordered Hannaford to pay more than $800,000 in total restitution to eleven victims. According to court documents, Hannaford was indicted for ten separate counts of bank fraud covering various fraudulent conduct. On Apr. 15, 2022, Hannaford plead guilty to one count of bank fraud and agreed to pay restitution for the entirety of his criminal conduct. As to the one count conviction, Hannaford admitted that he owned and controlled Hannaford Development Group (HDG). Operating under HDG, Hannaford entered into a verbal and written agreement with a lending company to finance construction costs for a church located in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Hannaford admitted to fraudulently representing to the lender that he intended to repay the monies borrowed, which was false. Hannaford was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility. The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David D. Whipple prosecuted the case.


title: Winnebago Man Sentenced for Striking Man in Head with Baseball Bat

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that David Snow, 39, of Winnebago, Nebraska, was sentenced on November 16, 2023, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm. United States District Court Chief Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Snow to 37 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Snow’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. On January 19, 2021, Snow was at a residence on the Winnebago Indian Reservation with the victim and another witness. Snow and the victim got into a verbal altercation, which escalated to a physical assault when Snow picked up an aluminum bat and struck the victim in the head with the bat. Snow fled the residence. The victim suffered an external headwound as well as a subarachnoid hemorrhage and was hospitalized as a result of the assault. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.


title: Beckley Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Eric I. Day, 52, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 21, 2021, law enforcement officers responding to reports of an altercation on South Huber Street in Beckley encountered Day and his girlfriend. The officers recovered a Lorcin model .380-caliber handgun from the waistband of Day’s shorts. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Day knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for first-degree robbery in Raleigh County Circuit Court on May 16, 2017. Day is scheduled to be sentenced on March 1, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley Police Department. United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-86. ###


title: COVID-19 Relief Fraudster Convicted of Bank Fraud

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A federal jury in Boise, Idaho, convicted a Georgia woman today for fraudulently obtaining and misusing a $338,958 Paycheck Protection Program loan that the Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Khadijah X. Chapman, 59, of Atlanta, worked with co-conspirators to falsify financial information and submit several fraudulent applications to financial institutions in Boise and elsewhere to steal relief funding. Chapman stole $338,958 from a financial institution in Boise and submitted several other false and fraudulent applications to the SBA and financial institutions around the country in hopes of stealing more funding. Chapman used the stolen funds for personal expenses, such as purchasing jewelry and paying off credit card bills for herself and family members. The jury convicted Chapman of bank fraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 6, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Earlier this year, Daniel Labrum and Eric O’Neil, who were both involved in the same COVID-19 fraud ring as Chapman, pleaded guilty before a federal district judge in Boise. They are scheduled to be sentenced later this year. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit for the District of Idaho, Special Agent in Charge Thomas M. Fattorusso of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) New York, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, Special Agent in Charge Matthew Miraglia of the FBI Buffalo Field Office, Inspector General Gail S. Ennis of the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General (SSA-OIG), Special Agent in Charge Sharon B. MacDermott of SSA-OIG, and Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Boston Division made the announcement. IRS-CI, the FBI, SSA-OIG, and USPIS investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Jennifer Bilinkas and Tamara Livshiz of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case, with invaluable assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean M. Mazorol and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho.


title: Four Inmates Sentenced to Prison for Possessing Weapons at FCI Beckley

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Today, inmates Rico Salguero, 40, Jamal Brooks, 26, and Jarvis Burl, 26, were each sentenced to one year and one day in prison and inmate John Durant, 34, was sentenced to one year and three months in prison for possession of a weapon by an inmate at a federal prison. Today’s sentences will run consecutive to the prison terms the inmates are currently serving, and will be followed by three years of supervised release. According to court documents and statements made in court, each inmate admitted to possessing a handcrafted weapon commonly known as a “shank,” at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Beckley in separate incidents on the following dates: Salguero on December 9, 2022; Brooks on January 7, 2023; Burl on February 22, 2023; and Durant on April 10, 2023. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 5:23-cr-105 (Salguero), 5:23-cr-103 (Brooks), 5:23-cr-101 (Burl), and 5:23-cr-102 (Durant). ###


title: Two Texas Men Sentenced to Prison for Firearms Trafficking to Mexico

component: Office of the Associate Attorney General

body_text: Two Texas men were sentenced to prison for their roles in firearms trafficking to Mexico. “Traffickers in fully automatic firearms from the United States to Mexico aid in the cartels’ efforts to manufacture dangerous drugs and smuggle them into our country,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will do everything in its power to find and hold accountable the gun traffickers who are arming the cartels. I am grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas and ATF for their outstanding work in both of these cases.” “ATF cannot and will not stand by while Ghost Guns flow to Mexican Cartels to support their violent and deadly crimes,” said Director Steven Dettelbach of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). “With our partners, ATF is working every day to catch the firearms traffickers, drug dealers, and straw purchasers who arm those criminals with increasingly lethal weaponry, which includes machine guns. We will use every tool provided, including the new laws in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, to try to stop those arming the cartels.” Jaime Jesus Esquivel, 37, of Laredo, was sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a machine gun, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and conspiracy to possess intent to distribute cocaine. Esquivel pleaded guilty on June 6, admitting, in part, to producing and illegally exporting fully automatic firearms to Mexico for the use of drug cartels. Jose Abraham Nicanor, 34, of Houston, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for the illegal purchase and trafficking of firearms. A federal jury convicted Nicanor on May 11 on all 13 counts as charged following a three-day trial. He was also convicted for possessing a firearm after a previous felony for armed robbery. United States v. Esquivel As part of the undercover investigation, authorities conducted four controlled purchases of cocaine and AR-type fully automatic rifles. The weapons were ghost guns, a common term for privately made firearms absent any manufacture marks of identification. Esquivel assembled these weapons for distribution. Esquivel also made the firearms from various components of combat weapons including Colt M4 parts and a 3D-printed polymer AR-type drop in auto sear or machine gun conversion device (MGCD). An MGCD is any part designed and intended solely and exclusively for use in converting a weapon into a machine gun. Law enforcement executed two search warrants and seized privately-made manufactured AR-type lower receivers, firearm parts, firearm manufacturing tools, 950 rounds of assorted ammunition, a 7.62mm rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun and a privately-made short-barrel fully automatic rifle without serial numbers or industry markings. They also found methamphetamines, cocaine, and a 3D printer. As a convicted felon, he is now prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. Esquivel will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) facility. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), ATF, and Laredo Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Scott Bowling for the Southern District of Texas prosecuted the case. United States v. Nicanor At the hearing, the court heard evidence that showed Nicanor aggregated the firearms shipment to Mexico. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Nicanor’s conduct amounted to more than mistakes, but to a pattern of choices to violate the law. At trial, the jury heard that Nicanor recruited two straw purchasers to buy high-caliber rifles that drug trafficking organizations regularly seek. Testimony and evidence presented at court showed that a total of 94 firearms were attributable to Nicanor’s straw purchasing group. Mexican authorities later recovered many of the firearms in the possession of drug trafficking organizations. The jury also heard that Nicanor rented a machine gun at a local gun range and posted a video of himself with the firearm to his social media. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition per federal law. Nicanor was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to an FBOP facility to be determined in the near future. The straw purchasers, James Paxton Jefferson, 34, and Alejandro Garcia, 33, both of Houston, previously pleaded guilty and have been sentenced. ATF investigated the case. Mexican authorities also provided assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lisa Collins and Stuart Tallichet for the Southern District of Texas prosecuted the case.


title: Chief Compliance Officer Sentenced for $50M Medicare Fraud Scheme

body_text: A Florida man was sentenced today to four years and six months in prison and ordered to pay $21.7 million in restitution for his role in a health care fraud and wire fraud conspiracy that resulted in over $50 million in false and fraudulent claims being submitted to Medicare. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Steven King, 45, of Miramar, was the chief compliance officer of a pharmacy holding company that fraudulently billed Medicare for dispensing lidocaine and diabetic testing supplies that Medicare beneficiaries did not need or want. King, along with his co-conspirators, operated A1C Holdings LLC, a holding company for a number of pharmacies in various states, including All American Medical Pharmacy in Warren, Michigan. The pharmacies operated by A1C Holdings LLC secured prescriptions and refills for medically unnecessary prescriptions for lidocaine and diabetic testing supplies, in violation of Medicare’s rules and regulations, as well as the pharmacy benefit managers’ rules and regulations with which the pharmacies had contracts. The evidence presented at trial also showed that King and his co-conspirators took several steps to conceal their scheme, including enrolling their mail order pharmacies as brick-and-mortar retail pharmacies to evade more rigorous oversight, shipping prescription refills for high-reimbursing medications and supplies without patient consent, concealing the ownership of A1C Holdings LLC and its pharmacies, and transferring patients between these pharmacies without patient consent. Each of these steps was taken to ensure that profitable medications and supplies, like lidocaine and diabetic testing supplies, continued to be billed to Medicare. In June, King was convicted of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Special Agent in Charge Mario Pinto of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the FBI Detroit Field Office made the announcement. HHS-OIG and the FBI investigated the case. Trial Attorney Shankar Ramamurthy of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


component: Criminal - Criminal Fraud Section

body_text: BOISE – A federal jury in Boise convicted a Georgia woman today for fraudulently obtaining and misusing a $338,958 Paycheck Protection Program loan that the Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed under the Coronavirus Relief Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Khadijah X. Chapman, 59, of Atlanta, worked with co-conspirators to falsify financial information and submit several fraudulent applications to financial institutions in Boise and elsewhere to steal relief funding. Chapman stole $338,958 from a financial institution in Boise, and submitted several other false and fraudulent applications to the SBA and financial institutions around the country in hopes of stealing more funding. Chapman used the stolen funds for personal expenses, such as purchasing jewelry and paying off credit card bills for herself and family members. The jury convicted Chapman of bank fraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 6, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Earlier this year, Daniel Labrum, 42, of South Jordan, Utah, and Eric O’Neil, 58, of Bethel, Connecticut, who were both involved in the same COVID-19 fraud ring as Chapman, pleaded guilty before a federal district judge in Boise. O’Neil is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 7, 2023 and Labrum is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 14, 2023. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit for the District of Idaho, Special Agent in Charge Thomas M. Fattorusso of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) New York, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, Special Agent in Charge Matthew Miraglia of the FBI Buffalo Field Office, Inspector General Gail S. Ennis of the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General (SSA-OIG), Special Agent in Charge Sharon B. MacDermott of SSA-OIG, and Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Boston Division made the announcement. IRS-CI, the FBI, SSA-OIG, and USPIS investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Jennifer Bilinkas and Tamara Livshiz of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean M. Mazorol of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho. ###


title: Weston Man Charged with Fraud Offenses Related to $890K Embezzlement Scheme

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging CHARLES M. AMEER, 64, of Weston, with three counts of wire fraud stemming from an alleged embezzlement scheme. The indictment was returned on November 8, 2023. Ameer appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti in Bridgeport and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges. He has been released on a $500,000 bond since his arrest on a federal criminal complaint on August 31, 2023. As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, from 2017 through 2022, Ameer was the Chief Financial Officer at Indeco North America, a wholly owned subsidiary of Indeco Ind. S.P.A, headquartered in Milford. In October 2017, Ameer created a $40,000 check, which was drafted on Indeco’s bank account and made payable to the order of “WSC.” Ameer then used the check to reimburse the Weston Soccer Club, located in Weston, for funds he had previously taken from the club without its permission or authority. Ameer subsequently created additional checks, in the total amount of $850,000, which were drafted on Indeco’s bank account and made payable to him. He deposited the checks into his personal bank account and used the funds for his own benefit. If convicted, Ameer faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count of wire fraud. U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Cherry.


title: Pearl River Community Man Pleads Guilty  to Habitual Domestic Violence

body_text: Jackson, Miss. – A Pearl River Community man pled guilty to habitual domestic violence. According to court documents and statements made in open court, on September 21, 2019, in the Pearl River Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Eric Shane Dan 47, using his fist, struck his spouse causing a laceration to her face which required medical treatment. Dan was previously convicted of domestic assault on two separate occasions. Dan is scheduled to be sentenced on February 13, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Choctaw Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway is prosecuting the case.


title: Mexican National Arraigned for Kidnapping, Hostage Taking and Alien Smuggling in Fresno

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Cristian Ortiz Coronado, 31, a resident of Mexico, was arraigned today on a six-count indictment charging him with kidnapping, hostage taking, and transporting illegal aliens, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. Coronado was indicted on November 9 by a federal grand jury. According to court documents, Ortiz Coronado was hired to deliver a family to Fresno on Aug. 25, 2023 after they illegally crossed the border from Mexico. When Ortiz Coronado picked the family up, including a mother, her four-year-old daughter, and her nine-year-old son, he locked the doors and would not let them leave the vehicle. Ortiz Coronado then demanded an additional $21,000 from relatives before he would release the family, including children, in Fresno. When relatives did not have the money and tried to block Ortiz Coronado from driving away, Ortiz Coronado rammed first a relatives’ vehicle and then the father of the children before driving away with the mother and her nine-year-old son, leaving the four-year-old behind. This case is the product of an investigation by the Fresno Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Stokman and Robert Veneman-Hughes are prosecuting the case. If convicted, Ortiz Coronado faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $3 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: New Orleans Man Indicted for Violations of the Federal Controlled Substances and Gun Control Acts

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – CYRUS ROLLINS , age 41, a resident of New Orleans, was charged on November 16, 2023 in a three-count indictment for violations of the Federal Controlled Substances and Gun Control Acts that allegedly occurred on or about August 30, 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. Count 1 of the indictment charged ROLLINS with possession with the intent to distribute quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). For these offenses, he faces up to 20 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least 3 years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. Count 2 charged ROLLINS with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i). For this offense, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years imprisonment, up to life imprisonment, to run consecutive with any other sentence, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to five years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. Count 3 charged ROLLINS with being a felon in possession of firearms, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). For this offense, he faces up to 15 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. For each count, ROLLINS also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Greg Kennedy of the Violent Crimes Unit.


title: Former General Motors Manager Found Guilty of Conspiring to Receive Bribe from Foreign Parts Supplier Seeking Contract

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A former manager at General Motors was found guilty by a jury today of conspiring to solicit and receive a $5 million bribe from a South Korean company in return for a promise to deliver a contract in excess of $100 million for various car parts. Hyoung Nam So, 48, a.k.a. “Brian So,” of Irvine, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. According to evidence presented at a seven-day trial, in 2015 a foreign parts supplier paid So a total of $3.45 million in cash. As a manager and team leader at General Motors (GM), So oversaw the supply of parts used to build interiors for GM automobiles in North America. In October 2015, So promised the contract – which was to be awarded through a competitive bidding process – to the owner of the South Korean parts company – Wookyung MIT – in exchange for $5 million, which So demanded in cash. The following month, the owner of Wookyung MIT arranged to have $1 million in cash transferred from South Korea to Los Angeles through money brokers, which an accomplice then drove to Troy, Michigan, where So was then living. The owner of Wookyung MIT flew to Detroit in late November 2015 and personally delivered the cash to So during a meeting at a hotel in Troy. By the time So received the first $1 million installment of the bribe payment, he had already learned that Wookyung MIT was not the lowest bidder on the contract. So arranged for information to be provided to Wookyung MIT that would allow it to revise its bid. On December 8, 2015, So recommended to GM executives that the contract be awarded to Wookyung MIT, and the contract was awarded to Wookyung MIT on the same day. So refrained from notifying Wookyung MIT that it had won the contract and continued to withhold that information until Wookyung MIT’s owner paid the remaining portion of the bribe. That occurred on December 20, 2015, when the owner of Wookyung MIT paid So $2.45 million in cash at a restaurant in Detroit – cash that also had been driven from Los Angeles to Michigan. The following day, So arranged for Wookyung MIT to be informed that it had won the contract. Homeland Security Investigations seized $3.19 million believed to be proceeds from the bribery scheme from a private vault in Los Altos in 2017, and HSI subsequently returned the money to South Korean authorities. The owner of Wookyung MIT was prosecuted in South Korea for offenses related to the bribery scheme. United States District Judge André Birotte Jr. scheduled a May 24, 2024 sentencing hearing, at which time So will face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison. The investigation into the bribery scheme was conducted by HSI’s Los Angeles El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force, a multi-agency task force comprised of federal and state investigators who are focused on financial crimes in Southern California. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance during the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Jeff Mitchell and David Y. Pi of the Major Frauds Section are prosecuting this case.


title: Former San Francisco Venture Capitalist Convicted Of Multiple Fraud And Money Laundering Charges

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: OAKLAND – Michael Brent Rothenberg, a former San Francisco venture capitalist once described in Bloomberg as “Silicon Valley’s Party Animal,” was convicted today of wire fraud, money laundering, bank fraud, and making false statements to a bank by a federal jury, announced Criminal Division Chief Thomas C. Colthurst, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp, and Acting Special Agent in Charge of Internal Revenue Service- Criminal Investigation Mark Silva. The guilty verdicts followed a seven-week jury trial before the Hon. Jon S. Tigar, U.S. District Judge. All told, the evidence introduced at trial established that Rothenberg’s schemes resulted in approximately $18.8 million in missing money. The jury found that Rothenberg, 39, committed wire fraud with respect to a number of investments from investors in two of the venture capital funds that he managed in 2015 and 2016. In addition, the jury found that Rothenberg committed wire fraud in February 2016 with respect to a $2 million investment made in a company he owned named Bend Reality LLC (which did business as River Studios), and that he thereafter committed money laundering by transferring a large portion of those proceeds through various bank accounts. Finally, the jury found the defendant guilty of committing bank fraud and making false statements to a bank in relation to a line of credit that Rothenberg obtained for his venture capital management company from Silicon Valley Bank in late 2015. Evidence at trial showed that Rothenberg founded a venture capital management company, Rothenberg Ventures Management Company, LLC (“RVMC”), that he used between 2012 and 2018 to raise and manage four annual venture capital funds. The purpose of the funds was to invest in Silicon Valley start-up companies, and particularly companies in the field of virtual reality technologies. The evidence also showed that in approximately 2015, Rothenberg founded River Studios for the purpose of producing content to be used in virtual reality headsets. The evidence presented at trial showed that, throughout 2015 and 2016, Rothenberg told his employees, fund investors, and the investor into River Studios that River Studios had been “self-funded” by him and that no venture capital funds had been used to fund the operations of that company. The evidence showed, however, that Rothenberg misappropriated a large amount of venture capital fund money to pay for River Studios’ operations during that period. In addition to using venture capital funds to pay for River Studios’ operations, the evidence also showed that Rothenberg routinely took excess fees from the venture capital funds that he managed throughout 2015 and 2016 and that investors’ funds were routinely used for purposes other than as represented to fund investors, such as to pay for RVMC’s operating expenses and to secure a line of credit taken out from Silicon Valley Bank by RVMC in late 2015. In addition to defrauding investors in two of the venture capital funds that he managed, the jury also found Rothenberg guilty of defrauding an investor with respect to a $2 million investment that the investor made into River Studios in February 2016. The evidence at trial showed that Rothenberg falsely told that investor that he had “self-funded” River Studios and that he falsely told that investor that its investment would be used for particular purposes, when, in fact, Rothenberg knew that he needed a large portion of that investor’s investment to pay back money he had misappropriated at the end of 2015 from two of the venture capital funds that he managed. The evidence showed that those repayments, in addition to other transactions, constituted instances of money laundering. With respect to the line of credit RVMC obtained from Silicon Valley Bank, the evidence at trial showed that, because of the excess money he took from one of the venture capital funds, Rothenberg faced a shortfall at the end of 2015 that he did not wish to report to his investors. The evidence presented at trial showed that, accordingly, Rothenberg engaged in a scheme to defraud Silicon Valley Bank by making false statements and misrepresentations to the bank to obtain a $4 million line of credit to pay back the fund from which he had taken excess fees. A federal grand jury indicted Rothenberg in August 2020. He was charged with bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344; making false statements to a bank, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1014; wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343; and money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957. Rothenberg is currently on pretrial release pursuant to an unsecured bond. Judge Tigar scheduled Rothenberg’s sentencing hearing for March 1, 2024. The maximum statutory penalty for each count in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344 and 18 U.S.C. § 1014 is 30 years of imprisonment and a fine of $1,000,000. The maximum penalty for each count in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343 is 20 years of imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. The maximum penalty for each count in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957 is 10 years and a fine of $250,000. However, any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle F. Waldinger, Nicholas J. Walsh, and Benjamin K. Kleinman are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Beth Margen, Megan Pagaduan, and Isabel Trevizo. The prosecution is the result of a lengthy investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation.


title: Syracuse Man Sentenced to 151 Months for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - Michael Griswold, age 37, of Syracuse, was sentenced yesterday to serve 151 months in federal prison for possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, made the announcement. As part of his plea, Griswold admitted that, on November 9, 2022, he possessed over 500 grams of crystal methamphetamine hidden inside a bag in his bedroom closet. Griswold also admitted that he intended to distribute the methamphetamine to others. United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also ordered that Griswold serve a 5-year term of supervised release following his release from prison. This case was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Syracuse Police Department, and the Metro-Jefferson Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica N. Carbone prosecuted the case.


title: Cincinnati woman arrested for identity theft, Social Security fraud crimes

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI -- A Cincinnati woman was arrested today on federal charges alleging she stole the identity of a deceased child and used it to avoid a pending criminal prosecution and to obtain thousands of dollars in government benefits. Christina Vaskovsky, 56, is charged with wire fraud, misusing a Social Security Number and aggravated identity theft. According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Vaskovsky was indicted in Hamilton County in July 2008 for allegedly stealing $14,500 from her employer. Vaskovsky failed to appear at her trial scheduled in December 2008. A nationwide warrant was issued for her arrest. In 2010, Vaskovsky allegedly obtained a new Ohio driver’s license using the name, date of birth and Social Security number of a child who was born the same year as Vaskovsky but who died in 1977. It is alleged that the defendant then began using the child’s identity in a variety of contexts over a span of 13 years, including: Receiving $19,570 in food stamp benefits; Filing bankruptcy to discharge nearly $128,000 in debt; Obtaining Social Security disability benefits totaling nearly $36,000; Providing the false identity upon being arrested for shoplifting in Kentucky; Applying on five separate occasions for Economic Injury Disaster Loans; Receiving more than $11,600 in unemployment benefits; and Obtaining Supplemental Security Income disability benefits totaling $4,300. Vaskovsky is scheduled to appear in federal court in Cincinnati at 1:30pm today. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the charges. This case is being investigated by the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General with assistance from the USDA Office of Inspector General, Ohio BMV Investigations, Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Marshals Service. Special Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Landry is representing the United States in this case. A criminal complaint merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. # # #


title: Grand jury indicts 4 Ecuadorian nationals with running national theft ring

body_text: DAYTON, Ohio -- A federal grand jury has indicted four Ecuadorian nationals with crimes related to stealing jewelry and Apple products at retail centers in multiple states to then resell the items on the black market. Those charged include Alexander Wilson Diaz-Remache, 39; Jonathan Eduardo Remache-Diaz, 33; Alvaro Oswaldo Loaiza-Alvarez, 27; and Gustavo Daniel Vinueaza-Bueno, 36. The defendants are scheduled to appear in federal court today. “This office will seek to hold accountable anyone stealing from and endangering the hard-working men and women who deliver our goods and mail. Whether it be UPS, FedEx, the U.S. Postal Service, or any other deliverer, we will not tolerate attacks against individuals simply doing their jobs,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. According to the indictment, between January and September 2023, the defendants conspired to steal interstate shipments and transported stolen goods in interstate commerce. It is alleged three of the defendants entered the United States on travel visas and established California as a base of their illegal activities with Diaz-Remache. From their California base, the coconspirators would allegedly travel by plane and car to other states, including Ohio, Virginia and Maryland, in search of malls and retail centers housing Apple stores, jewelry stores and other businesses. The defendants would allegedly establish surveillance at these retail centers and track deliveries from UPS, FedEx and other common carriers to learn their delivery patterns. The men then allegedly stole the goods on the delivery vehicles, repackaged them, and mailed them back to California to eventually resell them on the international black market. After saturating an area with thefts of interstate shipments, the coconspirators relocated their efforts, often moving from state to state. In the Southern District of Ohio, the men allegedly performed surveillance of a FedEx delivery truck at the Greene Town Center in Beavercreek on Sept. 19. One defendant allegedly attempted to distract the delivery driver in a hallway while the other three forced entry into the delivery truck, stealing 300 Apple watches. A few days later, on Sept. 22, the four defendants allegedly began surveillance of a UPS truck at the Mall at Fairfield Commons in Beavercreek with the intent to steal the interstate shipment within it. Other thefts alleged in the indictment include approximately $300,000 in diamonds and other jewelry from a UPS truck in Rockville, Maryland, and thousands of dollars in jewelry from a UPS truck in Fairfax, Virginia. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Beavercreek Police Chief Jeff Fiorita. Deputy Criminal Chief Brent G. Tabacchi is representing the United States in this case. An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. # # #


title: Lakeland Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Role In Construction-Related Wire Fraud Conspiracy

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday has sentenced Ramon Paz (53, Lakeland) to 33 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $500,731, the proceeds of the wire-fraud conspiracy. Paz had pleaded guilty on February 8, 2023. According to court documents, Paz owned and managed a construction company which purported to supply construction services and labor for construction contractors and subcontractors. In order to comply with Florida law, Paz’s company was required to secure and maintain adequate worker’s compensation insurance coverage. Paz’s company had agreements with contractors and subcontractors to use workers purported to be Paz’s employees at construction sites, and these workers were often undocumented aliens who were actually working for and under the daily supervision and direction of the contractors. Paz or others would then regularly receive “payroll checks” from contractors that were cashed at various financial institutions to pay Paz’s purported “employees” and other related expenses. During the time period charged, Paz falsely and fraudulently represented in insurance applications that his company had a very limited payroll and a very limited number of employees who worked on construction jobsites. Paz also falsely and fraudulently sent wire communications to numerous contractors representing that his company’s “employees” had full worker’s compensation coverage. In reality, Paz’s company received and cashed more than $21 million in checks from various construction contractors for these purported “employees.” These payroll figures far exceeded the very limited payroll figures that Paz had reported to his worker’s compensation insurance company. As a result, these employees, in reality the employees of other entities, performed work on jobsites without adequate insurance coverage. In addition, the insurers lost premiums they would have charged had they been aware of the true number of workers their policies were thus being manipulated to cover. As a result of these misrepresentations, Paz’s company also disclaimed responsibility for ensuring that jobsite workers were legally authorized to work in the United States and that required state and federal payroll taxes were being paid for these workers. The contractors who actually paid these workers’ wages and used their services were thus also able to avoid responsibility for those duties as well. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Florida Department of Financial Services. It is part of a lengthy investigation by those agencies into the use of shell companies and “ghost” employees in the construction industry. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer.


title: Effingham, Illinois, Man Sentenced to 48 Months for Bank Robbery

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – An Effingham, Illinois, man, Dillon Rensner, 22, was sentenced on November 14, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless to 48 months in prison, to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release, for bank robbery. Judge Lawless also ordered restitution in the amount of $1,476.00 and a $200 special assessment. Rensner was indicted in May 2023 and pleaded guilty that same month. At the sentencing hearing, Judge Lawless found that Rensner entered the Regions Bank at 111 South Durkin Drive in Springfield, Illinois, carrying what appeared to be a firearm and demanded money from bank employees. During the robbery, Rensner pointed the firearm at various people inside the bank and threatened them. Judge Lawless stated that, even though the firearm was later proven to be a blank gun, the fear and terror that the victims of Rensner’s crime felt was very real and very traumatic. The statutory penalties for bank robbery are up to 25 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years supervised release. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, with assistance from the Springfield Police Department, the Illinois State Police, the Indiana State Police, and the Terre Haute Police Department. The case against Rensner is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Los Angeles, California, Man Sentenced to 144 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Heroin

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Los Angeles, California, man, Juan Trujillo, 44, was sentenced on November 13, 2023, by Senior U.S. District Judge Sue E. Myerscough to 144 months in prison, to be followed by a 5-year term of supervised release, and a $200 special assessment, for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin. Trujillo was indicted in March 2019 and pleaded guilty in December 2022. The statutory penalties for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine are up to life imprisonment, up to a $10,000,000 fine, and up to a life term of supervised release. The statutory penalties for conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin are up to life in prison, up to a $5,000,000 fine, and up to a life term of supervised release. This case was investigated by the Springfield Police Department, Illinois State Police, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Z. Weir represented the government in the prosecution. The case against Trujillo is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced to 63 Months in Prison

body_text: ANNISTON, Ala. – A convicted felon was sentenced to over five years in prison on gun charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson. U.S. District Court Judge R. David Proctor sentenced Matthew Hal McRraney, 49, of Ohatchee, to 63 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. McRraney pleaded guilty to the charge in August. According to the plea agreement, on September 15, 2022, McRraney got into verbal altercation with his girlfriend, retrieved a short-barreled shotgun, and chased her down the street. The Anniston Police Department received a call reporting that McRaney was chasing a woman with a gun. An Anniston Police Department officer pursued McRraney and apprehended him after he slid down an embankment into a fence. Officers recovered a short-barreled, 12-gauge shotgun in some bushes. McRaney admitted he had possessed a short-barreled shotgun around the time he was in an argument with his girlfriend. McRraney is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of multiple prior felony convictions, including felony battery and battery on a law officer or firefighter. ATF investigated the case, along with the Anniston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel S. McBrayer and Darius C. Greene prosecuted the case.


title: Stilwell Resident Sentenced For Federal Firearm Crime

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Josiah Byron White, age 24, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for discharging a firearm in a crime of violence. The charge arose from investigations by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. On October 12, 2022, White pleaded guilty to an Information on one count of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. According to investigators, White and the victim were visiting a Tahlequah residence on June 6, 2022, when White shot the victim twice in the back with a small caliber firearm and fled the scene of the crime. The crime occurred in Cherokee County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings in Muskogee. Josiah Byron White will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney James Seaman represented the United States at the sentencing hearing.


title: Sand Springs Resident Pleads Guilty To Second Degree Murder

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Nicholas Lane Spearman, age 28, of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information of one count of Murder in Indian Country – Second Degree, punishable by up to life in prison. The Information alleged that on or about April 28, 2022, Spearman intentionally killed the victim with malice aforethought. The charges arose from an investigation involving the City of Stigler Police Department, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The investigation revealed that Spearman shot and killed the victim with a .22 caliber magnum rifle at victim’s residence in Longtown, Oklahoma. The crime occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Reservation and within the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the plea hearing, and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service pending sentencing.


title: Clearfield Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Morrisdale, PA pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Davin Gower, age 30, of Morrisdale, PA, pleaded guilty to Count Two of the Superseding Indictment before Senior United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson on November 14, 2023. In connection with the guilty plea, from July 2019 to June 2020, Gower did conspire to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for March 18, 2024. The law provides for a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life, a fine of up to $10,000,00, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Gower. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office, Erie County District Attorney’s Office, Millcreek Police Department, Erie Bureau of Police, and other local law enforcement agencies. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Shreveport Man Receives Lengthy Federal Prison Sentence for Illegally Possessing an AR-Style Pistol

body_text: SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Broxstonie Demichael Mitchell , 37, of Shreveport, has pleaded guilty to and was sentenced yesterday on a firearm charge. United States District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote sentenced Mitchell to 100 months (8 years, 4 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. He pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to evidence presented to the court, on the afternoon of May 5, 2021, members of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) were conducting surveillance and video recorded Mitchell carrying an AR-style pistol at a local Shreveport motel. Agents observed Mitchell get into the rear passenger seat of a vehicle parked nearby and leave with three other individuals. Soon after, Louisiana State Police troopers conducted a traffic stop and ordered all occupants from the vehicle. As Mitchell exited the backseat, a digital scale fell from his lap onto the pavement. Law enforcement placed Mitchell in custody and advised him of his Miranda rights. A search of the vehicle was conducted, and agents found a loaded AR-style pistol with a high-capacity magazine lying on the floorboard where Mitchell had been sitting. This pistol was determined to be stolen. Also on that floorboard was a single yellow pill, and between the driver’s seat and center console was a clear plastic baggie containing amounts of methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and yellow pills. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) determined that the firearm was a functioning Anderson Arms model AM-15 pistol which had affected commerce. At the time of his arrest, Mitchell was on supervised probation for another felony offense and knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. In 2010, Mitchell was previously convicted in federal court in the Western District of Louisiana, Shreveport Division, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The case was investigated by the DEA, ATF, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Louisiana State Police, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Shannon. # # #