title: Recidivist Sex Offender Is Sentenced To 10 Years For Possession Of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A registered sex offender was sentenced to 120 months in prison for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) yesterday, announced Lawrence J. Cameron, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Thomas Robert Boehm III, 36, of Charlotte, was also ordered to register, again, as a sex offender after his release from prison and to pay restitution to his victims. Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), join Acting U.S. Attorney Cameron in making this announcement. According to court documents and court proceedings, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) referred a tip to law enforcement that a Dropbox account user had uploaded and maintained several video files containing CSAM. Law enforcement determined that the Dropbox user was Boehm. Law enforcement executed a search warrant for Boehm’s Dropbox account, and a forensic analysis of Boehm’s files revealed that Boehm possessed the equivalent of over 6,000 images depicting the sexual abuse of children, including children under the age of 12. Some of the materials maintained by Boehm portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence. Court documents show that Boehm was a registered sex offender for state convictions related to taking indecent liberties with a child. On February 22, 2024, Boehm pleaded guilty to possession and access with intent to view child pornography involving prepubescent minors. Boehm remains in federal custody. He will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. The FBI and CMPD investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Armstrong with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: U.S. Attorney's Office Secures Sentencing in Alien Smuggling Case

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Florida man was sentenced to 41 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to transport illegal aliens, following a dramatic high-speed pursuit and arrest in southern New Mexico. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, on the night of July 15, 2024, Border Patrol agents observed Omar Ozuna-Berneda , 49, a Cuban national and lawful permanent resident, driving a white tractor-trailer on New Mexico State Road 26 near Deming. The vehicle had been previously observed traveling in tandem with other tractor-trailers caught in failed smuggling attempts. When agents attempted to initiate a stop, Ozuna-Berneda led them on a dangerous high-speed pursuit, including swerving into oncoming traffic to avoid a controlled tire deflation device and driving on the shoulder of the highway. After 22 miles, Ozuna-Berneda left the vehicle on New Mexico State Road 26 near the city limits of Hatch, New Mexico, and fled on foot. The abandoned tractor-trailer was blocking both lanes traffic and Border Patrol agents discovered 31 illegal aliens locked inside the trailer, including an unaccompanied 8-year-old child. Ozuna-Berneda was later apprehended by Border Patrol agents hiding in brush several miles from the abandoned tractor-trailer. During questioning, Ozuna-Berneda admitted to knowingly transporting illegal aliens from Las Cruces to Albuquerque in exchange for payment. “Those who violate our immigration laws by engaging in human smuggling endanger both the public and law enforcement through their reckless actions.,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin. “We are resolute in our mission to enforce our immigration laws, dismantle smuggling networks, and prosecute those who put so many lives at risk for their own financial gain." “If you aid in violating U.S. immigration laws by attempting to smuggle individuals into the United States, we will hold you accountable to the fullest extent possible,” said U.S. Border Patrol Interim Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar. “Strengthening border security means enforcing strict consequences for those who break the law. With the support of our partners, we will ensure you face prosecution and serve jail time.” Upon his release from prison, Ozuna-Berneda will be subject to three years of supervised release. Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Chief Patrol Agent Walter N. Slosar of the U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector, made the announcement today. U.S. Border Patrol investigated this case with assistance from the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office and Bureau of Land Management. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joni Autrey Stahl is prosecuting the case.


title: Mexican National Arrested in San Antonio for Illegal Re-Entry was First Convicted in 1990

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A Mexican national was arrested in San Antonio on criminal charges related to his alleged illegal re-entry. According to court documents, the U.S. Marshal Service Fugitive Task Force arrested Pedro Ruiz-Cisneros inside his residence on March 4. A criminal complaint alleges Ruiz-Cisneros was previously removed from the country five times as an aggravated felon—as early as April 1994 and as recently as June 2018. In March 1990, Ruiz-Cisneros was convicted of second-degree robbery in Bell County and sentenced to five years confinement. Less than one year later, he was convicted in Bexar County for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and was sentenced to eight years confinement. Ruiz-Cisneros was later convicted of illegal re-entry—once in the Southern District of Texas and twice in the Western District of Texas—and sentenced to a total of 133 months in federal prison between 2007 and 2016. Ruiz-Cisneros made his initial appearance in federal court on March 5 and is charged with one count of illegal re-entry. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement. The USMS Fugitive Task Force and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement Removal Operations are investigating the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Marie Cordova is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Honduran Nationals Accused of Distributing Fentanyl in Utah

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment charging Honduran nationals with distributing fentanyl in the District of Utah, and with other drug and immigration crimes. Jerez Navarro-Zuniga aka “Jeren Navarro” 27, a Honduran national and U.S. citizen living in West Valley City, Utah, was charged by complaint on February 18, 2025. Helen Coello-Turcios, 20, of West Valley City, Jose Amilcar Zuniga-Acosta, 25, of West Valley City, and Naaman Navarro-Hernandez, 35, of Taylorsville, Utah, were charged by complaint on February 20, 2025. According to court documents, beginning in December 2024, agents with the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) began investigating a drug trafficking organization. A controlled drug purchase was arranged, and law enforcement officers observed Navarro-Zuniga provide fentanyl to a middleman to deliver to a customer. The fentanyl was later seized and tested positive for fentanyl. On January 7, 2025, law enforcement watched a female later identified as Coello-Turcios, conduct an alleged drug transaction. A traffic stop was conducted on the suspected customer and law enforcement seized approximately 10 fentanyl pills. During the investigation, on February 12, 2025, SBI agents observed Navarro-Zuniga make a short term stop at a storage unit registered under his name, and conduct an alleged drug transaction with the driver of a Nissan Sentra. A traffic stop was conducted, and the driver of the Nissan consented to search the vehicle. Agents seized approximately 4,500 fentanyl pills in the vehicle. On February 13, 2025, surveillance footage showed Navarro-Zuniga entering and exiting his storage unit with a backpack. A traffic stop was conducted on a Chrysler 200 registered to, and driven by Navarro-Zuniga. Coello-Turcios was at passenger. Law enforcement seized $34,199.00 from the vehicle. During the investigation, agents also seized approximately 10 pounds of pills that tested positive for the presence of fentanyl at Navarro’s and Coello-Turcios’ residence. On February 13, 2025, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of a Nissan Altima driven by Navarro-Hernandez and seized 2,500 fentanyl pills that were separated into approximately sale-ready 100 pill baggies. On the same day, a search warrant was executed at Navarro-Hernandez’s residence in Taylorsville and 11,000 fentanyl pills were seized. According to court documents, Zuniga-Acosta and Navarro Hernandez are in the United States illegally. They were both previously deported and reentered the United States illegally. Navarro-Zuniga, Coello-Turcios, Zuniga-Acosta and Naaman Navarro-Hernandez are charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, and other charges. Zuniga-Acosta and Navarro-Hernandez are also charged with reentry of a previously removed alien. All defendants’ initial appearances on the indictment are scheduled for March 10, 2025 at 2:15 and 2:30 p.m. in courtroom 7.1 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated jointly by the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) Narcotics Squad, and the Utah County Major Crimes (UCMC) Task Force. Valuable assistance was provided by the Utah Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney Peter Reichman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah 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 gun violence and other violent crime, 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN. 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: Federal Jury Finds Owner and Captain of Southern Comfort Guilty of Seaman’s Manslaughter and Fraud

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – This week, a federal jury in Fort Pierce found Dustin Sean McCabe, 49, of Ocala, Florida, guilty of seaman’s manslaughter (both in his capacity as boat owner and boat captain of the vessel named Southern Comfort), lying to the Coast Guard, and committing Covid-19 pandemic relief fraud. South Florida Assistant U.S. Attorneys presented the following evidence at trial: In early March 2020, McCabe purchased a 48-foot boat, named it Southern Comfort, and falsely claimed on Coast Guard forms that he intended to use the boat recreationally. The truth was that McCabe planned to use the Southern Comfort to run paid scuba charters. He refitted the boat for that purpose by removing the vessel’s main deck engine controls, among other things. On March 28, 2020, McCabe took paying passengers on a scuba trip aboard the Southern Comfort , but things did not go well. During the day’s two scuba dives, the Southern Comfort experienced significant mechanical malfunctions that included one of the vessel’s propellers activating unexpectedly, the loss of steering, and the vessel running aground. One of the incidents involved the port side propeller engaging when the vessel was in neutral during the pickup of a diver, which led to the diver being sucked toward the propeller and narrowly escaping. Despite the close calls, McCabe took more paying divers out the next day, on March 29, 2020, without reporting the prior day’s incidents to the Coast Guard, warning his passengers of what had occurred, or fixing the boat. Again, the port side propeller engaged while the boat was sitting in neutral over a dive spot. As the victim diver and her spouse boarded the vessel, the propeller sucked the victim towards it – as it had done to a diver the day before. This time, unfortunately, there was no narrow escape, only tragedy: The propeller sucked the victim into it, mangling and cutting her. It twisted her leg up in its shaft, holding her under water. A medical examiner testified that while the victim’s many deep chop wounds and leg fractures were not fatal on their own, they caused serious pain that contributed to the victim’s death by drowning. As a result of the March 29 death, McCabe was prohibited from operating the Southern Comfort . He was never again seen working at the marina. As federal prosecutors proved during trial, this did not stop McCabe from applying for two loans from the Covid-19 era Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) – a federal relief program meant to help small businesses financially survive the pandemic. To secure the loans (and later their forgiveness), McCabe falsely claimed in the applications that his business was operational and submitted fraudulent payroll information and fake tax documents to support the lie. Sentencing is scheduled for June 12 at 10 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon. McCabe faces up to 10 years in prison for seaman’s manslaughter, up to five years for making false statements, and up to 20 years for wire fraud. United States Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Josh W. Packer of the Coast Guard Investigative Service (“CGIS”) Southeast Field Office made the announcement. CGIS Southeast Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Lake Worth and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Office of Law Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller, Coast Guard Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner Stiehl, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Koffsky are prosecuting this case. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl . 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 on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-80103. ###


title: California Man Sentenced to 11 ½ Years for Role in California-to-Maine Drug Trafficking

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A California man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and money laundering. U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced Alex Hanna , 31, to 138 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Hanna pleaded guilty on March 14, 2024. According to court records, between May 2022 and March 2023, Hanna and others trafficked methamphetamine in Downeast Maine, receiving the drugs by mail from a source in California. Hanna coordinated drug shipments from the source and found coconspirators in Maine willing to receive the packages. He also sent the sales proceeds to the source via Walmart2Walmart, Cash App and Venmo, using coconspirators’ identifications and accounts to conceal his involvement in the transactions. The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Ellsworth Police Department, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, Holden Police Department, and Hancock County Sheriff’s Office. ###


title: New Bern Man Sentenced to Over Five Years for Role in Craven County Drug Trafficking Operation

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. –A New Bern man was sentenced Tuesday to 64 months in prison for his role in a Craven County drug trafficking organization (DTO). On November 21, 2024, Robert Niquan Bryant, age 26, pled guilty to the following two counts: conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl; and distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine. Bryant is a validated member of the United Blood Nation street gang. According to court documents and other information presented in court, in December 2023, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), in conjunction with the Craven County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), the New Bern Police Department and other local law enforcement, initiated an investigation into the drug trafficking activities of DTO operating in Craven County. Bryant was identified as an individual who was distributing methamphetamine on behalf of the DTO. Two controlled purchases of methamphetamine were made from Bryant in March and April of 2024. In both instances, Bryant sold more than 100 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant. This investigation was an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (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. Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The ATF, the CCSO, and the New Bern Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caroline Webb and Julie Childress prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-cr-00046-BO-BM. ###


title: Registered sex offender who was deported from United States arrested in Snohomish County for receiving images of child sexual abuse

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 42-year-old Mexican citizen was indicted this week for receiving images of child sexual abuse, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Jaime Neri-Soto was arrested by Bothell Police detectives following an investigation prompted by reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Using those cyber tips investigators were able to identify Neri-Soto as the owner of electronic devices allegedly containing images of child sexual abuse. According to records filed in the case, in October 2024, WhatsApp alerted NCMEC that a user of its platform had uploaded images of child sexual abuse. In January 2025, the CyberTip was referred to the Bothell Police Department who immediately began work to connect the phone number and IP address to a particular individual. Working with information on the device and internet service providers, law enforcement was able to determine the location of the phone at various times and ultimately identified Neri-Soto. Following some surveillance, Neri-Soto was arrested and taken to Bothell Police. When he was fingerprinted law enforcement learned he was a previously registered sex offender whose registration was terminated in 2017, when he was turned over to federal authorities for deportation. Federal authorities were involved in the forensic analysis of the electronic devices Neri-Soto possessed. The cyber review allegedly found numerous images of child sexual abuse on one of the devices. Neri-Soto was charged federally by criminal complaint with receipt of images of child sexual abuse. The grand jury returned an indictment for receipt of child pornography late yesterday. The charges are punishable by up to twenty in prison. Neri-Soto is scheduled for arraignment on March 13, 2025. The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The case was investigated by the Bothell Police Department and the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson. This case was also brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Health Care Providers and Laboratory Marketers Agree to Pay Over $1.9 Million to Settle Kickback Allegations

component: Civil Division

body_text: View the settlement agreement . Gerald Congdon, M.D., of Pawleys Island, South Carolina; Gbenga Aluko, M.D., of Charlotte, North Carolina; and Anup Banerjee, M.D., of Gastonia, North Carolina, and their medical practices; as well as Curis Healthcare Inc., of Chicago, Illinois, Omar Hussain, of South Miami, Florida, and Saeed Medical Group Ltd. doing business as Alliance Immediate and Primary Care of Chicago, Illinois, agreed to pay a total of $1,913,808 to resolve alleged False Claims Act violations arising from their involvement in laboratory kickback schemes. The parties have agreed to cooperate with the Department of Justice’s investigations of other participants in the alleged schemes. The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering, paying, soliciting, or receiving remuneration to induce referrals of items or services covered by Medicare, TRICARE, and other federally funded health care programs. The Anti-Kickback Statute is intended to ensure that medical providers’ judgments are not compromised by improper financial incentives and are instead based on the best interests of their patients. The settlements announced today resolve allegations that health care providers received kickbacks in return for their referrals to a laboratory in Anderson, South Carolina, and that a marketer and his marketing company received kickbacks from that South Carolina laboratory to arrange for laboratory testing referrals, in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute. The kickbacks allegedly resulted in the submission of false or fraudulent laboratory testing claims to Medicare and TRICARE in violation of the False Claims Act. Dr. Gerald Congdon, Coastal Urgent Care LLC, and Coastal Wellness Center LLC. Dr. Congdon and his medical practices in Pawleys Island and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, agreed to pay $400,000 to resolve allegations that from May 2016 to November 2021, they received thousands of dollars in remuneration disguised as purported office space rental and phlebotomy payments from the South Carolina laboratory in return for ordering testing. Dr. Gbenga Aluko and Eagle Medical Center PC. Dr. Aluko and his medical practice in Charlotte, North Carolina, agreed to pay $250,000 to resolve allegations that from May 2016 to November 2021, they received thousands of dollars in remuneration disguised as purported office space rental, phlebotomy, and toxicology payments from the South Carolina laboratory in return for ordering testing. Dr. Anup Banerjee and Gastonia Medical Specialty Clinic P.A. Dr. Banerjee and his medical practice in Gastonia, North Carolina, agreed to pay $206,000 to resolve allegations that from April 2017 to November 2021, they received thousands of dollars in remuneration disguised as purported office space rental and phlebotomy payments from the South Carolina laboratory in return for ordering testing. Omar Hussain and Curis Healthcare Inc. Hussain and his marketing company agreed to pay $817,808 to resolve allegations that from April 2020 to August 2021, Hussain and his company received commissions from the South Carolina laboratory as independent contractors based on the volume and value of the Medicare and TRICARE referrals for laboratory testing that they arranged for and recommended. Saeed Medical Group Ltd., Omar Hussain, and Curis Healthcare Inc. Saeed Medical Group and Hussain and his marketing company agreed to pay $240,000 to resolve allegations that from April 2020 to August 2021, Saeed Medical Group received thousands of dollars in remuneration in the form of cash payments from Hussain and his company in return for ordering testing from the South Carolina laboratory. “Integrity must be the standard in our health care system,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Brook B. Andrews for the District of South Carolina. “Kickback schemes divert funds and focus away from patients and their medical needs.” “The public puts immense trust in medical professionals, and disdain for the rule of law damages that trust and erodes their credibility,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Jensen of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “These settlements should serve as a reminder that the FBI and its partners are committed to holding medical practitioners accountable for kickbacks.” “Kickback schemes undermine medical decision-making and jeopardize the integrity of federally funded health care programs,” said Special Agent in Charge Kelly Blackmon of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Our commitment is to safeguard taxpayer-funded health care and the patients who rely on it, and we will rigorously pursue any allegations of False Claims Act violations.” “The trust of the American taxpayer and the wellbeing of our service members are undermined when laboratories and physicians engage in collusive financial relationships,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “DCIS will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to bring to justice medical providers who illegally enrich themselves by prioritizing kickbacks over patient care.” The settlements were the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, with assistance from HHS-OIG, DCIS, and the FBI. The settlements announced today were handled by Senior Trial Counsel Christopher Terranova in the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Beth C. Warren for the District of South Carolina. The United States previously resolved allegations that physicians in South Carolina , North Carolina , and Texas received kickbacks from the same South Carolina laboratory. The government’s pursuit of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). The claims resolved by the settlements are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.


title: New York Woman Pleads Guilty for Role in Deadly Alien Smuggling Conspiracy on the Northern Border

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A New York woman pleaded guilty today for her role in a deadly human smuggling conspiracy that left a family of four, including two children under the age of three, dead in the St. Lawrence River. According to court documents, Janet Terrance, 45, of Hogansburg, conspired with five others to bring Indian and Romanian nationals into the United States for private financial gain. Co-conspirators Dakota Montour, 31, and Kawisiiostha Celecia Sharrow, 43, both of Akwesasne-Mohawk, New York, entered guilty pleas on Jan. 23, 2025, and Oct. 8, 2024, respectively. “The defendant and her coconspirators — fueled by greed, indifference, and recklessness — smuggled aliens via vehicle and boat across the U.S.-Canada border in dangerous weather conditions,” said Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “They endangered the lives of two small children and their parents for profit, resulting in the family’s tragic deaths. Dismantling transnational criminal organizations that smuggle people into and throughout the United States is a top priority for the Department of Justice.” “A family of four died because a smuggling organization put them in harm’s way for profit,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel Hanlon for the Northern District of New York. “Our top priority is the prosecution and dismantling of smuggling organizations. By securing our northern border, we aim to avoid more tragedies like this one.” According to court documents, Terrance, Montour, and Sharrow worked with a human smuggling organization (HSO) on the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Reservation (AMIR) and in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, that smuggled aliens from mainland Cornwall to Cornwall Island, and then into northern New York. The HSO routinely smuggled aliens from various countries into the United States. The HSO arranged for aliens to stay in local motels in Cornwall before transporting the aliens to the AMIR to stage the aliens on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. Members of the HSO would then transport the aliens by boat across the St. Lawrence River to later be driven into New York. Terrance, Montour, and Sharrow admitted in their plea agreements that in late March 2023, the co-conspirators were employed to illegally transport a Romanian family of four — mother, father, one-year-old boy, and two-year-old girl — from Cornwall into New York. The children were Canadian citizens. Both Montour and Terrance admitted that they were hired to transport the Romanian family to the AMIR from mainland Cornwall. Montour admitted that he was aware of the dangerous weather conditions on March 29, 2023 — high winds, freezing temperatures, and limited visibility — yet the family of four was loaded into a small boat by another co-conspirator to cross the St. Lawrence River. The boat capsized, and the family died as a result. “The tragic deaths of two innocent, unknowing toddlers and their parents underscores the devastating impacts of alien smuggling,” said Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI) Buffalo. “Janet Terrance and her co-conspirators moved forward with this smuggling attempt despite the dangerous conditions and sheer illegality of the act, placing these victims in the situation that ultimately killed them. ICE HSI Massena is committed to enforcing U.S. laws at our border to protect the safety and the security of our communities.” “The Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service is dedicated to keeping our community safe,” said Acting AMPS Chief Ranatiiostha Swamp. “By working closely with Homeland Security on this investigation, we are enhancing efforts to combat human smuggling and cross-border illegal activity, ensuring the safety and security of our territory.” Montour pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling, four counts of alien smuggling for financial gain, and three counts of alien smuggling resulting in death. Montour faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each of the conspiracy and alien smuggling for financial gain counts and a mandatory penalty of life in prison on the alien smuggling resulting in death counts. Sharrow and Terrance pleaded guilty to two counts and one count of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling, respectively, and each to four counts of alien smuggling for financial gain. They each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the conspiracy counts and two of the alien smuggling for financial gain counts and a mandatory minimum of five years and maximum penalty of 15 years in prison on two of the alien smuggling for financial gain counts. A federal district court judge will determine the defendants’ sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. HSI Massena engaged in an extensive years-long investigation of the case, with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., CBP’s National Targeting Center, New York State Police, Canada Border Services Agency, AMPS, St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Department, Ontario Provincial Police, Sûreté du Québec, St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Cornwall Police Service. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant support with foreign legal assistance requests. Trial Attorney Jenna E. Reed of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Stitt for the Northern District of New York are prosecuting the case. The investigation is being conducted under the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a joint partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI. The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks, or present grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence and prosecutorial resources. ECT coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.


title: Louisville Felon Sentenced to Over 3 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – A local man was sentenced today to 3 years and 1 month in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm after having previously been convicted of a felony offense. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Acting Special Agent in Charge A.J. Gibes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement. According to court documents, Cameron Lester, 29, was sentenced to 3 years and 1 month in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a Springfield Arms, .45 caliber pistol, and ammunition, on August 30, 2024. Lester was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On July 21, 2023, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Lester was convicted of assault in the fourth-degree domestic violence third or greater offense within 5 years, strangulation in the second degree, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On July 30, 2021, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Lester was convicted of two counts of possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, wanton endangerment in the first-degree, and assault in the fourth-degree domestic violence third or greater offense within 5 years. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the ATF and the Louisville Metro Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Porter prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. ###


title: Louisville Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine and Firearms Charges

body_text: Louisville, KY – A Louisville, Kentucky, man was sentenced yesterday to 20 years in federal prison for engaging in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distributing methamphetamine, possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Acting Special Agent in Charge A.J. Gibes of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Paul Humphrey of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement. According to court documents, Dominique Lewis, 24, was sentenced to 20 years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, distributing methamphetamine, possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Lewis distributed methamphetamine on 12 occasions and conspired to distribute methamphetamine from October 17, 2022, through April 27, 2023. On 2 occasions Lewis possessed of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and on 5 occasions he illegally possessed a firearm because he was a convicted felon. Lewis was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On August 3, 2020, in Shelby County Circuit Court, Lewis was convicted of two counts of theft by unlawful taking and two counts of criminal mischief in the first degree. On August 3, 2021, in Jefferson County Circuit Court, Lewis was convicted of receiving stolen property, two counts of criminal mischief in the first degree, wanton endangerment in the first degree, and fleeing or evading police in the first degree. On March 10, 2022, in Jefferson County Circuit Court, Lewis was convicted of theft by unlawful taking. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the ATF and the Louisville Metro Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Porter prosecuted the case with the assistance of paralegal Aaron Cooper. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF . ###


title: Illegal Alien Charged with Assaulting Federal Agent in Rotterdam Making Arrest Under Laken Riley Act

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Michel Manuel Garcia Rojas, age 38, and a citizen of Nicaragua residing in Albany, was charged today with resisting, impeding, and assaulting a federal officer engaged in official duties and inflicting bodily injury. Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement. According to a complaint filed in federal court today, Garcia Rojas entered the United States illegally in 2023 and has been subject to removal proceedings since that date while residing in the United States. Yesterday, the Rotterdam Police Department contacted HSI to inform agents that Garcia Rojas and another illegal alien had been charged with the New York State misdemeanor offenses of petit larceny and endangering the welfare of a child. Given the nature of the state charges, both aliens were subject to immediate detention under the newly enacted Laken Riley Act. HSI obtained administrative warrants to arrest the pair and promptly went to the Rotterdam Police Department to effectuate the arrests before the subjects were released on the state charges. After the arrival of federal agents, Garcia Rojas was placed inside the back seat of a federal law enforcement vehicle, in handcuffs. While inside, he managed to get one of his hands out of the handcuffs, got out of the vehicle, and began to walk away. A HSI Special Agent confronted Garcia Rojas and attempted to place him back under arrest. Garcia Rojas aggressively fought back, hitting the agent in the jaw and throwing him into a door. Ultimately, it took at least 6 law enforcement officers and the use of a taser to subdue and rearrest Garcia Rojas. During the assault, Garcia Rojas inflicted bodily injuries on the HSI Special Agent, including a bruise on the jaw, abrasions and cuts on the hands and knees, and injuries to the back. Garcia Rojas told authorities during processing late yesterday that he was a police officer in Nicaragua, where he trained others on the use of defensive tactics. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The charge filed against Garcia Rojas carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Garcia Rojas initially appeared today in Albany, before United States Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart, and was ordered detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for March 10. HSI is investigating the case with the assistance of the Rotterdam Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Clark is prosecuting the case.


title: North Country Woman Pleads Guilty to Role in Deadly Alien Smuggling Conspiracy

body_text: WASHINGTON – A Hogansburg, New York, woman pled guilty today for her role in a deadly smuggling conspiracy that left a family of four, including two children under the age of three, dead in the St. Lawrence River. According to court documents, Janet Terrance, age 45, conspired with five others to bring Indian and Romanian nationals into the United States for the purpose of private financial gain. Co-conspirators Dakota Montour, age 31, and Kawisiiostha Celecia Sharrow, age 43, both of whom reside on the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Reservation in New York, entered guilty pleas on January 23, 2025, and October 8, 2024, respectively Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon, of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, stated: “The defendant and her coconspirators — fueled by greed, indifference, and recklessness — smuggled aliens via vehicle and boat across the U.S.-Canada border in dangerous weather conditions. They endangered the lives of two small children and their parents for profit, resulting in the family’s tragic deaths. Dismantling transnational criminal organizations that smuggle people into and throughout the United States is a top priority for the Department of Justice.” Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon said: “A family of four died because a smuggling organization put them in harm’s way for profit. Our top priority is the prosecution and dismantling of smuggling organizations. By securing our northern border, we aim to avoid more tragedies like this one.” According to court documents, Terrance, Montour, and Sharrow admitted to working with a human smuggling organization (HSO) on the Akwesasne Mohawk Indian Reservation (“the AMIR”) and in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, that smuggled aliens from mainland Cornwall, Ontario, to Cornwall Island, Ontario, and then into the Northern District of New York. According to court documents, the HSO routinely smuggled aliens from various countries into the United States. The HSO arranged for aliens to stay in local motels in Cornwall, Canada, before transporting the aliens to the AMIR to stage the aliens on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. Members of the HSO would then transport the aliens by boat across the St. Lawrence River to later be driven into the Northern District of New York. In late March 2023, the co-conspirators were employed to illegally transport a Romanian family of four from Cornwall, Canada, into the Northern District of New York for private financial gain. The Romanian family consisted of a mother, father, a one-year-old boy, and a two-year-old girl. Both Montour and Terrance admitted that they were hired to transport the Romanian family to the AMIR from mainland Cornwall, Canada. Montour admitted that he was aware of the dangerous weather conditions on March 29, 2023 — high winds, freezing temperatures, and limited visibility — yet the family of four was loaded into a small boat by another co-conspirator to cross the St. Lawrence River. The boat capsized, and the family died as a result. HSI Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan stated: “The tragic deaths of two innocent, unknowing toddlers and their parents underscores the devastating impacts of alien smuggling. Janet Terrance and her co-conspirators moved forward with this smuggling attempt despite the dangerous conditions and sheer illegality of the act, placing these victims in the situation that ultimately killed them. HSI Massena is committed to enforcing U.S. laws at our border to protect the safety and the security of our communities.” Acting AMPS Chief Ranatiiostha Swamp stated: “The Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service is dedicated to keeping our community safe. By working closely with Homeland Security on this investigation, we are enhancing efforts to combat human smuggling and cross-border illegal activity, ensuring the safety and security of our territory.” Montour pled guilty to conspiracy to commit alien smuggling, alien smuggling for financial gain, and alien smuggling resulting in death. Montour faces the maximum term of life in prison. Sharrow and Terrance each pled guilty to conspiracy to commit alien smuggling. Additionally, Sharrow and Terrance each pled guilty to alien smuggling for financial gain. Each of those counts carries a mandatory minimum term of 5 years in prison and a maximum term of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the defendants’ sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Stitt and Trial Attorney Jenna E. Reed of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section are prosecuting the case. HSI Massena engaged in an extensive years-long investigation of the case, with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C., CBP’s National Targeting Center, New York State Police, Canada Border Services Agency, AMPS, St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police Department, Ontario Provincial Police, Surete Du Quebec, St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Cornwall Police Service. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant support with foreign legal assistance requests. The investigation is being conducted under the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a joint partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI. The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks, or present grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence and prosecutorial resources. ECT coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.


title: Luzerne County Woman Sentenced To 28 Months’ Imprisonment For Drug Trafficking Offense

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Bethzaida Batista, age 52, of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 28 months’ imprisonment by U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani for conspiring to distribute controlled substances including fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine. According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Batista previously pled guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl from between January of 2020 until June of 2023, within Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General. Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Olshefski prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses. This case is also 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: South Bend Man Sentenced to 97 Months in Prison

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

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Leontis Cornelius, 44 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Senior Judge Jon E. DeGuilio after being found guilty of two counts of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm following a two-day jury trial in 2023, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay. Cornelius was sentenced to 97 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, Cornelius possessed firearm on two occasions. In May 2020, he was engaged in a shootout outside his house when he fired seven .45 caliber rounds at a moving vehicle. Later, in June 2021, he carried a loaded rifle with a large capacity magazine while in another person’s yard in the middle of the night. Cornelius has multiple prior felony convictions, including discharging a firearm toward a building, assault with a dangerous weapon, delivery/manufacturing of cocaine, and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine, any of which prohibit him from possessing the firearms in this case. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the South Bend Police Department, the St. Joseph County Police Department, and the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jerome W. McKeever and Katelan McKenzie Doyle. 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 Who Led Large-Scale Drug Trafficking Organization Pleads Guilty to Narcotics Charges

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal narcotics laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Mikal Davis, 47, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Marilyn J. Horan to Counts One, Three, and Four of the Superseding Indictment. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from in and around April 2019 to July 2021, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Davis conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of a mixture of heroin, five kilograms or more of a mixture of cocaine, 400 grams or more of a mixture of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, 500 grams or more of a mixture of methamphetamine, and 28 grams or more of crack. Davis, who led the drug trafficking organization’s activity in Philadelphia and Johnstown, was one of the targets of a federal wiretap and was intercepted obtaining quantities of the drugs that he distributed to others. Accompanied by distributors below him, Davis frequently traveled between Philadelphia and Johnstown with drug shipments which were then stored and processed at “stash houses” throughout the Western District of Pennsylvania for distribution. During a meeting with a drug source in California for a resupply, Davis arranged for the drug parcels to be mailed to Johnstown for distribution. In the Philadelphia area, Davis met with drug sources and purchased over 2,000 grams of heroin and fentanyl and over 5,000 grams of cocaine from a source in New Jersey. Judge Horan scheduled sentencing for June 26, 2025. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Davis. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, Cambria County District Attorney’s Office, Indiana County District Attorney’s Office, Cambria County Sheriff’s Office, Cambria Township Police Department, Indiana Borough Police Department, Johnstown Police Department, Upper Yoder Township Police Department, Richland Police Department, Ferndale Police Department, 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: Muskogee Resident Sentenced To 45 Years In Prison For Aggravated Sexual Abuse In Indian Country

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jonathan Gage Wiedel, age 19, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 540 months in prison each for 12 counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. The terms are set to be served concurrently, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release. The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office. On September 9, 2024, Wiedel pleaded guilty to twelve counts of a Superseding Indictment. As part of the plea, Wiedel admitted that, beginning in August 2022 and continuing through February 2024, while employed as a teacher’s assistant at St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Muskogee, Oklahoma, he sexually abused four children under the age of twelve. The crimes occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. “The defendant used his position of trust as a teacher’s assistant to prey on the most innocent and vulnerable members of our society,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Doug Goodwater. “Safeguarding children and families in our community is among the FBI’s top priorities, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure predators like Wiedel are brought to justice.” “Today’s sentence reflects the unwavering commitment of federal prosecutors and local and federal law enforcement to seek justice for victims and hold the defendant accountable for his reprehensible actions,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “This office stands firm in its resolve to continue to protect our children and ensure the safety of our communities.” The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Wiedel will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Pippin represented the United States.


title: Turkish national arrested for allegedly selling counterfeit goods at mall kiosks

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: DAYTON, Ohio – A man who operates kiosks at a local mall was arrested today by federal agents for allegedly trafficking counterfeit goods. Emre Teski, 25, is a citizen of Turkey and illegally entered the United States of America from Mexico on September 10, 2022. Teski admitted to illegally crossing the international boundary without being inspected by an immigration officer at a designated Port of Entry. On January 3, 2024, Teski was ordered removed from the United States, but has since appealed this decision and was permitted employment authorization while his appeal is pending. Teski operates kiosks selling counterfeit goods at the Mall at Fairfield Commons in Beavercreek. According to charging documents, Teski ran one kiosk that primarily sold replica professional soccer jerseys and hats containing trademarked soccer teams, including FC Barcelona, Club Internacional de Fútbol Miami, Manchester City and Arsenal. Teski operated another kiosk that sold primarily oversized slippers that look like sneakers and included Nike and Air Jordan trademarks. Teski allegedly sold an investigator counterfeit Nike slippers that illegally used the trademark Nike Swoosh. It is alleged that he also sold a counterfeit pink Messi jersey. Agents executed a search warrant at the kiosks today and seized numerous items containing confirmed or suspected counterfeit trademarks. Trafficking counterfeit goods is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Kelly A. Norris, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Jared Murphey, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Detroit; announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Saunders 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: Multiple Defendants Sentenced In Separate Cases For Federal Firearms Violations

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – This week, multiple defendants were sentenced in federal court in separate cases for violating federal firearms laws, announced Lawrence J. Cameron, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Among the firearms recovered were a “ghost gun” fitted with a “Glock switch,” a machinegun, and other illegal firearms linked to several shootings. “These sentences make one thing clear: if you violate federal gun laws, you will be held accountable. This office and our law enforcement partners are committed to getting illegal guns off the streets and out of the hands of criminals,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Cameron. The following defendants were sentenced this week: Omar Shariff Tobias , 46, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 13 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a felon. Between December 5 th and 6 th , 2022, Tobias held the victim hostage in the home they shared, took her phone and clothes, and physically assaulted her. When the victim ran out the front door to escape, Tobias shot her twice with a Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver he illegally possessed. After shooting her, Tobias dragged the bleeding victim into the house and refused to call 911 for nearly an hour, until he came up with a story to tell the authorities. Officers responding to the call for service determined that Tobias was not truthful about how the victim sustained injuries. The officers conducted a search of the residence, seizing the .38 revolver used to shoot the victim, two rifles, digital scales, marijuana, and other drug paraphernalia. As a result of the shooting, the victim sustained serious injuries and faces a lengthy recovery. Marcus Kantrell Jennings , 35, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a felon. On September 1, 2022, Jennings illegally possessed a firearm he used to shoot at a security officer multiple times, after the defendant was escorted out of a nightclub. Brandon Castro, 25, of Dallas, N.C., was sentenced 57 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a felon. On August 27, 2022, Castro pointed a firearm with a laser scope at an off-duty Charlotte Mecklenburg police officer who was working at a local business before the defendant fled the scene. Law enforcement located and arrested Castro and recovered the firearm, which was loaded with a high-capacity magazine. Jeconiah Amarie Davidson , 25, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 52 months in prison and three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. After having been previously convicted of a felony offense for illegally possessing a firearm, on June 24, 2023, Davidson was involved in two separate shootings. In the first incident, Davidson used an illegally possessed firearm to shoot into an occupied Waffle House restaurant following an altercation in the establishment. Hours later, Davidson used the same gun to shoot another person outside of a Popeyes restaurant. The victim in that shooting sustained injuries to his leg. Days later, Davidson was arrested in possession of a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol equipped with an extended magazine. The firearm was forensically examined and connected to the later shooting. Tiquavion Davonta Ervin , 21, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a machinegun. On July 25, 2023, law enforcement attempted to conduct a traffic stop of Ervin’s vehicle. At first, Ervin appeared to comply but later fled at a high rate of speed. Law enforcement located the vehicle parked in the lot of an apartment complex. During a search of the area near the vehicle officers found a backpack that contained a loaded Polymer 80 handgun (also known as a “ghost gun”), fitted with a machinegun conversion device, or “Glock switch.” During the investigation, law enforcement determined that Ervin was using social media to sell firearms and Glock switches. Geoffrey Quentin McLean , 34, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by convicted felon. On August 28, 2023, McLean was seen driving a vehicle with a fictitious license plate and in possession of a firearm. Law enforcement saw McLean park the vehicle in a hotel parking lot and observed McLean enter one of the hotel rooms. Subsequently, the officers searched the room and found inside a safe a 9mm firearm and an extended magazine that belonged to McLean. Ronetae Antonion Degraffenreid, 40, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for dealing in firearms without a license. According to court records, during a 2022 investigation, law enforcement determined that Degraffenreid was a recurring purchaser of firearms that were later recovered in the hands of individuals other than the defendant. Between 2018 and 2022, Degraffenreid purchased over 76 firearms, many of which were later found in the possession of prohibited persons or used to commit other crimes, including drug trafficking and a shooting. Nehemiah Malik Harris , 27, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by felon. On December 6, 2026, law enforcement stopped Harris’s vehicle for a traffic violation. During the traffic stop, the officers found quantities of narcotics inside the vehicle and retrieved a firearm from Harris. The firearm was loaded with a round in the chamber and was later determined to be stolen. The cases were prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), and in collaboration with federal, state, and local law enforcement, to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. For more information about PSN in the Western District, please visit our website . The cases were prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte. Federal law prohibits individuals from possessing a firearm if they fall into certain restricted categories, including convicted felons, fugitives from justice, illegal aliens, individuals convicted of domestic violence, and unlawful users of controlled substances. Additionally, it is illegal to possess a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime or a violent offense. Federal law also prohibits the straw purchase of a firearm, wherein a person who can lawfully purchase a firearm buys a gun, or attempts to do so, for a prohibited person. Federal law also requires that individuals who are engaged in the business of dealing in firearms be licensed by the ATF. For additional information and resources please visit www.atf.gov .visit www.atf.gov .


title: Bridgeport Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Vehicle Theft Scheme

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Marc H. Silverman, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that STEPHANIE PEREZ, 40, of Bridgeport, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 14 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for her participation in a multistate identity theft and vehicle theft scheme that defrauded dozens of individuals and businesses out of more than $1 million. According to court documents and statements made in court, Perez was involved in a multistate identity theft scheme led by her husband, Tyshon Walker. Beginning in September 2020, Walker obtained personal information stolen from residents of Connecticut and other states and used it to apply for vehicle loans at dealerships in Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Rhode Island for luxury and performance vehicles, motorcycles, an all-terrain vehicle, and a boat. Once the loan was approved by the dealership using the identity theft victim’s information, Walker would send “runners,” to pick up the vehicle utilizing a fictitious driver’s license that included the identity theft victim’s information and a photograph of the runner. The vehicle was then transported back to Connecticut for resale on Facebook Marketplace. Perez helped Walker select coconspirators, including Ryan Testa, to be runners, provided them with payment to make trips to acquire vehicles, and picked up the vehicles from the coconspirators once they returned to Connecticut. Perez recruited and supervised Testa after two other runners involved in the scheme were arrested and charged with related offenses. Between March and May 2023, at the direction of Perez and Walker, Testa used stolen identities to acquire at least nine vehicles with a total value of more than $500,000. Perez was arrested on April 10, 2024. On December 6, 2024, she pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud. Walker and Testa have pleaded guilty and await sentencing. This matter has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New Haven Safe Streets/Gang Task Force, the Bridgeport Police Department, the Hopkinton (R.I.) Police Department, the Westtown – East Goshen Regional (Pa.) Police Department, and the Washington Township (N.J.) Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and Heather M. Cherry.


title: Brevard County Man Pleads Guilty To Distributing Fentanyl And Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Christopher Fitzgerald Spivey, Jr. (40, Melbourne) has pleaded guilty to four counts of distribution of controlled substances. By virtue of Spivey’s prior serious violent felony conviction, he faces a minimum penalty of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court documents, on four occasions between November 5 and December 10, 2024, Spivey distributed fentanyl and methamphetamine to a confidential source. In total, Spivey distributed over 55 grams of fentanyl and nearly 1,300 grams of pure methamphetamine. Prior to Spivey distributing these drugs, he had a felony conviction for a serious violent felony—aggravated assault upon a law enforcement officer—for which he received a 10-year sentence. Additionally, Spivey is on notice that the United States intends to forfeit $10,500, which represents the proceeds of the offenses. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman.


title: Pittsburgh Felon Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Large-Scale Drug Trafficking and Firearms Violations

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 20 years of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of federal supervised release, on his drug trafficking and firearms convictions, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan imposed the sentence on Dante Webb, 43. “The seizure of more than 26,000 doses of illegal narcotics, eight firearms—including two ghost guns and several with extended magazines, and thousands of dollars in drug profits during the 2022 search of Dante Webb’s residence speaks to how dangerous a criminal Webb has been, through both his large-scale dealing and through his use of weapons in carrying out his crimes,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Rivetti. “This sentence reflects the danger and serious nature of his conduct. Our office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners at all levels to identify and prosecute armed drug traffickers such as Webb in order to protect our communities.” “Dante Webb is a dangerous man, peddling deadly drugs while heavily armed, including with a fully automatic firearm,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF's Philadelphia Field Division. “This case is another example of how our strong partnership with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and United States Attorney’s Office is getting violent criminals off the streets and making our communities that much safer.” According to information presented to the Court, on June 3, 2022, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police responded to a Pittsburgh residence, from which, upon law enforcement’s arrival, Webb ran. Law enforcement learned that Webb stored both controlled substances and firearms there and obtained a search warrant for his residence. The subsequent search resulted in the seizure of digital scales, cellular phones, firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and a safe, which contained a garbage bag of over 26,000 doses of packaged controlled substances, including mixtures of fluorofentanyl, heroin, and fentanyl. Officers also seized packaged cocaine and crack. Law enforcement seized eight firearms from Webb’s residence, some of which were loaded with attached extended magazines. Two of the firearms were Polymer 80 pistols, or ghost guns, which are untraceable due to the lack of a serial number; one of these pistols was later determined by a forensic scientist to operate only as a fully automatic firearm. Many of the firearms were easily accessible from a duffel bag located under a bed and were recovered in close proximity to the safe containing the packaged controlled substances. Prior to the seizure, Webb was twice convicted of aggravated assault related to shootings in Allegheny County. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. On June 7, 2022, law enforcement located Webb in the Bloomfield area of Pittsburgh. When a detective attempted to arrest Webb, the defendant fled by running in and out of traffic. After falling while jumping a low wall, Webb was arrested. A search incident to arrest resulted in the seizure from Webb of approximately $6,000, a digital scale, an owe sheet, a flip phone, and packaged controlled substances. The glassine bags seized from Webb bore similar markings to the bags recovered from Webb’s safe on June 3, 2022. A search of one of Webb’s phones revealed numerous photographs of Webb posing with large amounts of cash and multiple firearms inside his residence. Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Ranjan emphasized that fentanyl is a plague on the community and that drug dealers like Webb pose the greatest risk of harm because they use firearms. Judge Ranjan also stated that he did not sense that Webb had any genuine remorse for his crimes. Assistant United States Attorneys Brendan J. McKenna and Justin E. Lewis prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Webb.


title: Grove City Resident Indicted on Sexual Exploitation of a Minor Charges

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Grove City, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal law regarding the sexual exploitation of a minor, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The four-count Indictment named Michael William Boston, 40, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, on three separate occasions between October 2022 and July 2023, Boston transported material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor in interstate commerce. The Indictment further alleges that Boston possessed material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor as recently on October 11, 2024. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, 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 Kelly M. Locher is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. Homeland Security Investigations and the Pennsylvania State Police's Northwest Computer Crime Unit conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Mexican National Indicted For Illegal Reentry

body_text: Orlando, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the return of an indictment charging Juan Jose Ugalde-Monroy (33, Mexico) with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. If convicted, Ugalde-Monroy faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison. According to court documents, Ugalde-Monroy is a citizen and national of Mexico. He was previously removed from the United States on January 11 and January 15, 2017. On February 14, 2025, Ugalde-Monroy was arrested by Osceola County authorities on charges of not possessing a valid driver license, introduction of drugs into a controlled facility, and possession of cocaine. Ugalde-Monroy has not received the consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security for the United States to apply for readmission to the United States. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson.


title: St. Charles Parish Man Guilty of Being Felon with Firearm

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that on February 27, 2025, DARRYL DAVIS (“DAVIS”) , age 30, a resident of St. Charles Parish, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). According to court documents, after reviewing DAVIS’ s social media postings about firearms, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) agents began an investigation which revealed that DAVIS had been twice previously convicted of felonies and knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm. DAVIS was arrested on August 14, 2024 and found in possession of a Glock Model 43X, nine- millimeter semi-automatic pistol and ammunition. DAVIS faces up to 15 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to 3 years of supervised released, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. He is scheduled for sentencing on May 27, 2025. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Greg Kennedy of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: New Hampshire Man Sentenced for Conspiring to Sell Stolen Government Property

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: A New Hampshire man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for conspiring to transport stolen property in interstate commerce and conspiring to sell stolen government property. U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Christopher Hagan , 33, to 12 months plus one day in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. He was also fined $10,000, ordered to forfeit $150,000, and will be required to refile his tax returns for five years. Hagan pleaded guilty on May 13, 2024. According to court records, between October 2017 and September 2021, Hagan obtained stolen government items which he resold on online forums. One of Hagan’s coconspirators, Jonathan Chaisson , 34, of New Hampshire was employed by a national defense contractor based in New Hampshire and received used and/or broken Advance Target Pointer Illuminator Aiming Laser (ATPIAL) devices designated for military and law enforcement use. Chaisson stole or converted new and used parts and components to repair the ATPIALs and provided Hagan with the repaired devices to sell. Hagan also conspired with Wade Walker , 45, and Michael Humphrey, 46, both of Texas, to steal and sell military equipment from the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), an agency of the United States Department of Defense. Both Walker and Humphrey were employed by the DLA Red River Army Depot facility in Texarkana, Texas. On multiple dates in 2019 and in 2020, Humphrey transferred stolen government property to Walker for resale, and Walker provided the stolen property to Hagan for further resale. Through the investigation, agents determined that Hagan had at least one customer in China. On July 24, 2023, Chaisson pleaded guilty to conspiring to transport stolen property in interstate commerce and was sentenced to probation for two years. On October 31, 2023, Humphrey pleaded guilty to conspiring to sell stolen government property and was sentenced to probation for two years. On January 8, 2024, Walker pleaded guilty to conspiring to sell stolen government property and was sentenced to probation for three years. The United States Department of Commerce – Office of Export Enforcement and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service investigated the case with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “That Mr. Hagan and his conspirators would exploit their connections to the defense industry to put their own financial gain ahead of the nation’s security is unconscionable,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Craig M. Wolff . “The U.S. Attorney’s Office commends the remarkable interagency cooperation that underpinned this complex and important investigation.” “The Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the law enforcement arm of the Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Inspector General, is fully committed to protecting the integrity of the DoD supply chain,” said Patrick J. Hegarty, Special Agent in Charge of the DCIS Northeast Field Office . “Profiting from the sale of stolen DoD property undermines the mission of the Defense Logistics Agency and negatively impacts our military members. This investigation demonstrates DCIS’ commitment to work with our law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice to hold accountable those who harm the DoD.” “By stealing sensitive military technology and selling it to China, Christopher Hagan along with those he conspired with, prioritized greed and personal gain over U.S. national security,” said Special Agent in Charge James Guanci, U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement, Boston Field Office . “This case serves as a strong reminder that those who betray the trust of the American people will be held accountable.” ###


title: Indictment Charges District Woman with Failure to Pay Approximately $930,000 in Federal Income and Employment Taxes for Marijuana Dispensary

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Jennifer Brunenkant, 68, of Washington, DC, was charged today in a 19-count indictment unsealed in U.S. District Court with evading and failing to pay federal income and employment taxes associated with her business Herbal Alternatives II, LLC, which at all relevant times operated a marijuana dispensary that was licensed in the District of Columbia. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., and Executive Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation’s Washington D.C. Office. According to the indictment, Brunenkant owned and operated Herbal Alternatives in the District from at least 2013 to 2021. During that time, Herbal Alternatives generated millions of dollars in revenue. The indictment alleges that because Herbal Alternatives was a sole proprietorship with Brunenkant as the sole owner, the income that Brunenkant earned from Herbal Alternatives should have been reported on her annual IRS Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, that was used by United States taxpayers to file individual income tax returns. It is alleged that instead of filing her federal income tax returns, from at least tax years 2018 to 2021, Brunenkant failed to make an income tax return and to pay income tax to the IRS, and in fact willfully attempted to evade and defeat the income tax due and owing by her to the United States. During those years, Brunenkant failed to pay approximately $800,000 in federal income taxes. The indictment further alleges that Brunenkant employed dozens of employees at Herbal Alternatives. Under federal tax laws, Brunenkant was required to collect, account for, and pay over to the IRS on behalf of Herbal Alternatives the employment taxes imposed on its employees by the Internal Revenue Code. According to the indictment, Brunenkant failed to pay over to the IRS approximately $130,000 in such employment taxes that were owed during the charged tax years. Tax evasion and failure to pay over employment taxes each carry a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison. The charges also carry potential financial penalties. The maximum statutory sentence for federal offenses is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes. The sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The case is being investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Brian Kelly is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law ## 25-cr-056


title: Active-Duty and Former U.S. Army Soldiers Arrested for Theft of Government Property and Bribery Scheme

body_text: View the indictment for Jian Zhao . Jian Zhao, and Li Tian, active-duty U.S. Army soldiers stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, along with Ruoyu Duan, a former U.S. Army soldier, were arrested today following indictments by federal grand juries in the District of Oregon and the Western District of Washington. Tian and Duan were charged in the District of Oregon for conspiring to commit bribery and theft of government property. Zhao was charged in the Western District of Washington for conspiring to obtain and transmit national defense information to an individual not authorized to receive it, and also for bribery and theft of government property. “The defendants arrested today are accused of betraying our country, actively working to weaken America’s defense capabilities and empowering our adversaries in China,” said Attorney General Pamela J. Bondi. “They will face swift, severe, and comprehensive justice.” “While bribery and corruption have thrived under China’s Communist Party, this behavior cannot be tolerated with our service members who are entrusted with sensitive military information, including national defense information,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The FBI and our partners will continue to work to uncover attempts by those in China to steal sensitive U.S. military information and hold all accountable who play a role in betraying our national defense. The FBI would like to thank U.S. Army Counterintelligence for their close partnership during this investigation.” “The U.S. Attorney’s Office thanks the FBI and U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command for their hard work on this investigation and commitment to protecting our national security,” said Acting U.S. Attorney William M. Narus for the District of Oregon. “These arrests underscore the persistent and increasing foreign intelligence threat facing our Army and nation,” said Brig. Gen. Rhett R. Cox, Commanding General, Army Counterintelligence Command. “Along with the Department of Justice and FBI, Army Counterintelligence Command will continue to work tirelessly to hold those accountable who irresponsibly and selfishly abandon the Army values and choose personal gain over duty to our nation. We remind all members of the Army team to increase their vigilance and protect our Army by reporting suspicious activity.” The indictment in the District of Oregon alleges that beginning on or about Nov. 28, 2021, and continuing to at least on or about Dec. 19, 2024, Duan and Tian along with others, known and unknown to the grand jury conspired with each other to surreptitiously gather sensitive military information related to the United States Army’s operational capabilities, including technical manuals and other sensitive information, and that Tian transmitted this information to Duan in return for money, in violation of his official duties as an active-duty U.S. Army officer. Specifically, Tian was tasked with gathering information related U.S. military weapon systems, including information related to the Bradley and Stryker U.S. Army fighting vehicles, and transmitting them to Duan. The indictment in the Western District of Washington alleges that beginning in or about July 2024, and continuing to the date of the arrest, Jian Zhao, an active-duty U.S. Army Supply Sergeant, conspired with others known and unknown to the grand jury to obtain and transmit national defense information to individuals based in China. Zhao is further alleged to have committed bribery and theft of government property. Specifically, Zhao was charged for his conspiracy to collect and transmit several classified hard drives, including hard drives marked “SECRET” and “TOP SECRET”, negotiating with individuals based in China for their sale, and agreeing to send the classified hard drives to the individuals in China. In exchange for the sale of the classified hard drives, Zhao received at least $10,000. Zhao is further alleged to have conspired to sell an encryption capable computer that was stolen from the U.S. Government, and sensitive U.S. military documents and information, including information related to the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), and information related to U.S. military readiness in the event of a conflict with the People’s Republic of China. Zhao is alleged to have violated his duties as a U.S. Army Soldier and public official to protect sensitive military information in exchange for money. In total, Zhao is alleged to have corruptly received and accepted payments totaling at least $15,000. The FBI and the U.S. Army Counterintelligence Command investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Geoffrey Barrow and Katherine Rykken for the District of Oregon and Trial Attorneys Christopher Cook and Yifei Zheng of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Tax refund scheme leads to convictions for Hampton Roads fraudsters

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Hampton Roads duo pled guilty to their roles in a refund scheme involving pandemic relief tax credits. According to court documents, between Oct. 11, 2022, and May 24, 2023, Kendra Michelle Eley, 36, of Norfolk, filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) eight Forms 941, Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Returns, for Kreative Designs by Kendra, LLC, (KDK) using the Employer Identification Number assigned to Kendra Cleans Maid Service. These eight forms covered four tax periods in 2020 and four tax periods in 2021. Eley falsely reported wages paid and federal tax withholdings for eighteen purported employees on each of the forms, knowing there were no such employees. For the four forms filed for 2021, Eley claimed false Sick and Family Leave Credits and Employee Retention Credit (ERC) through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, totaling approximately $713,000 and $252,000 respectively, with total refunds claimed of over $900,000. Based on Eley’s filings, on December 9, 2022, and on December 13, 2022, the IRS issued two U.S. Treasury refund checks made payable to '‘Kendra M. Eley, Kendra Cleans Maid Services” totaling $649,050. On Dec. 23, 2022, Eley and Rejohn Isaiah Whitehead, 28, of Portsmouth, opened a business checking account in the name of Kendra Cleans Maid Services LLC (KCMS), and the signatories on the account were Eley and Whitehead. To open the business account, Eley and Whitehead falsely represented the nature and extent of KCMS as a business, including that KCMS had sixteen employees and that the average pay rate of each employee was $2,000. Eley funded the account by depositing one of the refund checks in the amount of $389,640. On Jan. 9, 2023, Eley wrote Whitehead a check from the KCMS account for $20,000. Eley wrote Whitehead another check from the account for $40,000 on Jan. 21, 2023. On Feb. 13, Whitehead pled guilty to engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 26 and faces up to 10 years in prison. Eley pled guilty today to one count each of false claims and engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property. She is scheduled to be sentenced on July 9 and faces up to 10 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Kareem A. Carter, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge of the Washington D.C. Field Office, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Therese O'Brien and Mack Coleman are prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-cr-77.


title: Michigan Businessman Found Guilty of Employment Tax Crimes

component: Tax Division

body_text: A federal jury convicted a Michigan businessman yesterday for not paying employment taxes and not filing his own individual income tax returns. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Dale Thrush, of Farwell, owned and operated several automotive repair service locations and a gas station. Thrush was responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare and income taxes from his employees’ wages and paying those funds over to the IRS on behalf of his employees. From October 2014 through December 2016, Thrush withheld those funds from his employees’ wages but did not pay over the full amount of the withheld taxes to the IRS. Instead, Thrush used some of those funds to pay personal expenses, including the remodeling and construction costs for his wife’s business. In addition, Thrush did not file his own individual income tax returns for 2013 through 2016 despite being legally obligated to do so. Thrush was convicted of three counts of willful failure to pay payroll taxes and four counts of willful failure to file individual income tax returns. He was acquitted of seven counts of willful failure to pay payroll taxes. Thrush is scheduled to be sentenced on July 17. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count of not paying employment taxes and a maximum penalty of one year in prison for each count of not filing his individual income tax returns. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Mark McDonald and Evan Mulbry of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.


title: Suburban Chicago Investment Advisor Charged With Swindling Clients

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: CHICAGO — A suburban Chicago investment advisor has been indicted on federal fraud charges for allegedly swindling clients by soliciting them to invest in nonexistent business opportunities. RALPH ROGERS III, also known as “Tres Rogers,” 62, of Batavia, Ill., is charged with six counts of wire fraud in an indictment returned Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Each count is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison. Arraignment in federal court has not yet been scheduled. According to the indictment, Rogers held himself out as an entrepreneur and investment advisor. From 2021 to 2023, Rogers fraudulently obtained funds from multiple individuals by falsely promising that he would use his professional connections to invest their money in valuable business opportunities, including fiber optic cable installation, copper piping, a physical fitness recovery studio, and materials used to manufacture auto parts, the indictment states. Instead of investing the funds as he had promised, Rogers used the money for his own personal benefit, including for travel, hotel rooms, jewelry, apparel, and gym fees, the indictment states. The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin Pinkston. The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. rogers_indictment.pdf