title: Largest International Operation Against Darknet Trafficking of Fentanyl and Opioids Results in Record Arrests and Seizures

component: USAO - Ohio, Northern

body_text: WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Justice, and its Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement (JCODE) team and international partners, announced the results of Operation SpecTor, which included 288 arrests – the most ever for any JCODE operation and nearly double that of the prior operation. Law enforcement also conducted more seizures than any prior operation, including 117 firearms, 850 kilograms of drugs that include 64 kilograms of fentanyl or fentanyl-laced narcotics, and $53.4 million in cash and virtual currencies. Operation SpecTor was a coordinated international effort spanning three continents to disrupt fentanyl and opioid trafficking on the darknet, or dark web. The operation was conducted across the United States, Europe, and South America, and was a result of the continued partnership between JCODE and foreign law enforcement against the illegal sale of drugs and other illicit goods and services on the darknet. Operation SpecTor builds on the successes of prior years’ operations and takedowns of marketplaces, which result in the seizure of darknet infrastructure providing investigators across the world with investigative leads and evidence. JCODE and Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) continue to compile intelligence packages to identify entities of interest. These leads allow U.S. and international law enforcement agencies to identify darknet drug vendors and buyers, resulting in a series of coordinated, but separate, law enforcement investigations, resulting in the statistics announced today. This year’s law enforcement operation was accompanied by a public awareness campaign called Operation ProtecTor aimed to promote public safety and spread awareness of resources for those struggling with substance abuse and who go through extreme lengths to obtain opioids. JCODE has worked with every FBI field office in the country to facilitate outreach to households that have purchased individual amounts of opioids from the darknet. The interagency efforts are aimed to both identify those who use anonymizing technologies to purchase illicit narcotics and direct them to available resources. “Operation SpecTor was a coordinated international law enforcement effort, spanning three continents, to disrupt drug trafficking on the dark web and represents the most funds seized and the highest number of arrests in any coordinated international action led by the Justice Department against drug traffickers on the dark web,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Our message to criminals on the dark web is this: You can try to hide in the furthest reaches of the internet, but the Justice Department will find you and hold you accountable for your crimes.” “The availability of dangerous substances like fentanyl on dark net marketplaces is helping to fuel the crisis that has claimed far too many American lives,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “That's why we will continue to join forces with our law enforcement partners around the globe to attack this problem together. The FBI is proud to stand with our domestic and foreign partners as we continue to shine that light into the deepest corners of the dark net and hold those accountable who continue to peddle this poison around the world.” “The Sinaloa and Jalisco drug cartels, and the global networks they operate are killing Americans by sending fentanyl into the United States. Their associates distribute this fentanyl into communities across America by every means possible, including the dark web,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “The DEA is committed to shutting down the fentanyl supply chain from beginning to end, and we will relentlessly pursue the associates of these cartels wherever they hide, even in the dark corners of the internet.” “Our coalition of law enforcement authorities across three continents proves that we all do better when we work together,” said Executive Director Catherine De Bolle of Europol. “This operation sends a strong message to criminals on the dark web: international law enforcement has the means and the ability to identify and hold you accountable for your illegal activities, even on the dark web.” “Collaboration with our law enforcement partners is key to combatting fentanyl and opioid trafficking,” said Chief Jim Lee of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). “Under the JCODE umbrella, law enforcement agencies across the globe have joined forces to take down criminals who use the darknet to buy and sell narcotics. Our team at IRS-CI plays an integral role in these investigations by following the money trail, whether it’s in fiat currency or digital assets on the blockchain.” “The illicit movement of opioids poses a significant threat to public health and safety – whether by known transnational criminal gang members across international borders or anonymously through darknet spaces,” said Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Director P.J. Lechleitner of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “Our HSI special agents, alongside federal and international partners, continue to aggressively investigate, disrupt, and dismantle networks responsible for trafficking dangerous, deadly narcotics and other contraband across global communities we are charged with protecting. We will continue to pursue bad actors engaged in these crimes to ensure they face justice, while protecting victims from these lethal substances.” “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service leverages our specialized knowledge of the postal system as part of sophisticated dark web investigations such as Operation SpecTor with great results,” said Chief Postal Inspector Gary R. Barksdale of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “We are committed to taking all necessary actions to combat illicit drugs in the mail. And we thank our law enforcement partners for working with us to achieve this; removing dangerous illicit substances from the mail and American communities saves lives.” “Addressing our nation’s drug overdose crisis and epidemic of substance use disorders is an issue of great concern and remains a top public health priority for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA),” said Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D., of the FDA. “The FDA has undertaken strategic and impactful actions to prevent drug overdoses and reduce deaths and is committed to using all of our cyber-resources to shed light on the darkest corners of illicit medical supply chains for the health and safety of all Americans.” Operation SpecTor resulted in over 100 federal operations and prosecutions, including: On Dec. 1, 2022, Anton Peck, 29, of Boca Raton, Florida, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin. According to court documents, between May 2021 and May 2022, Peck distributed narcotics from various darknet markets using the vendor profile “Syntropy.” After the transactions were carried out using cryptocurrency, Peck and co-conspirators Kevin Fusco and Vincent Banner mailed parcels containing fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine to cities around the country using the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). Fusco, 35, of West Palm Beach, Florida, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine. Banner, 31, of Boynton Beach, Florida, is scheduled to be sentenced on June 8 after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin. Law enforcement recovered kilogram quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin from business and storage locations in West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, and New York City. Peck possessed a list of more than 6,000 customers living across the United States. The DEA, FBI, USPS Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG), U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is prosecuting the case. On Nov. 18, 2022, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Christopher Hampton, 36, of Cerritos, California, with heading an organization that obtained bulk fentanyl, operated labs in California that used high-speed pill presses to create fake pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine, and sold millions of pills to thousands of customers on the darknet. Hampton was named in an 11-count indictment that charges him with various narcotics and weapons offenses that could result in a sentence of life in prison. According to court documents, he was active on at least nine darknet marketplaces where he typically used the moniker “Narco710.” Hampton allegedly sold nearly $2 million worth of narcotics on two of these darknet marketplaces alone. He was arrested on Nov. 2, 2022, at which time federal law enforcement executed search warrants that led to the discovery and seizure of 450 pounds of suspected narcotics; six pill press machines, some of which were capable of producing thousands of pills per hour; and illegal firearms that included assault rifles and a machine gun. Agents later located a storage unit linked to the drug conspiracy and seized over 80 pounds of pressed fentanyl pills, eight guns, and precursor materials to press additional pills. The FBI JCODE and DEA HIDTA Tactical Diversion Squad investigated the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California is prosecuting the case. On May 12, 2022, a federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Holly Adams, 31, and Devlin Hosner, 33, of Indio, California, with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, and with conspiracy to launder money. According to court documents, Adams and Hosner operated the vendor accounts “igogrrawwr” and “its4real” on the darknet marketplaces ToRReZ and Darkode, respectively, through which they sold tens of thousands of counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl in exchange for cryptocurrency. Adams and Hosner shipped these fentanyl pills to buyers throughout the United States, using the USPS, UPS, and other means of delivery. In the course of their conspiracy, Adams and Hosner finalized over 1,100 transactions of narcotics and other contraband and received more than $800,000 in cryptocurrency. Federal law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a hotel in Riverside county where Adams and Hosner were residing and recovered more than 10,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills as well as approximately 60 grams of methamphetamine. The IRS-CI, HSI, FBI, USPIS, and USPS-OIG investigated the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California is prosecuting the case. Operation SpecTor was a collaborative initiative across JCODE members, including the Department of Justice, FBI, DEA, USPIS, HSI, IRS-CI, ATF, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), and the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations. This operation was aided by non-operational supporting participation from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Local, state, and other federal agencies also contributed to Operation SpecTor investigations through task force participation and regional partnerships. The investigations leading to Operation SpecTor were significantly aided by support and coordination by the Justice Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF); multi-agency Special Operations Division; the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section’s Digital Currency Initiative, Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, and Fraud Section; the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs; Europol and its Dark Web team; and international partners. The international partners include Eurojust; Austria’s Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt); France’s Directorate-General of Customs and Indirect Taxes (Douane); Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt), Central Criminal Investigation Department of Oldenburg (Zentrale KriminaIinspektion Oldenburg), General Prosecutor’s Office in Frankfurt/Main - Cybercrime Center (Generalstaatsanwaltschaft Frankfurt/Main, Zentralstelle zur Bekämpfung der Internetkriminalität), Berlin Police (Polizei Berlin), various police departments (Dienststellen der Länderpolizeien), German Customs Investigation (Zollfahndungsämter); the Netherland’s National Police (Politie); Poland’s Central Cybercrime Bureau (Centralne Biuro Zwalczania Cyberprzestępczości); Brazil’s Civil Police of the State of Piauí (Polícia Civil do Estado do Piauí), Civil Police of the Federal District (Polícia Civil do Distrito Federal), National Secretariat of Public Security - Directorate of Integrated Operations and Intelligence - Cyber Operations Laboratory (Laboratório de Operações Cibernéticas da Diretoria de Operações Integradas e de Inteligência - Secretaria Nacional de Segurança Pública); Switzerland’s Zurich Cantonal Police (Kantonspolizei Zürich) and Public Prosecutor’s Office II of the Canton of Zurich (Staatsanwaltschaft II); and the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC). Federal investigations and prosecutions are being conducted in more than 30 federal districts, including the District of Arizona, the Central District of California, the Eastern District of California, the Northern District of California, the Southern District of California, the District of Colorado, the District of Connecticut, the District of Columbia, the District of Delaware, the Southern District of Florida, the Northern District of Georgia, the Southern District of Indiana, the Eastern District of Kentucky, the District of Maryland, the District of Massachusetts, the Eastern District of Michigan, the Western District of Michigan, the Eastern District of Missouri, the Western District of Missouri, the District of Nebraska, the District of Nevada, the District of New Jersey, the Eastern District of New York, the Southern District of New York, the Western District of North Carolina, the Northern District of Ohio, the Southern District of Ohio, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Middle District of Pennsylvania, the District of South Dakota, the Eastern District of Tennessee, the Eastern District of Texas, the Northern District of Texas, the Southern District of Texas, the District of Vermont, the Eastern District of Virginia, and the Western District of Washington. The Justice Department established the FBI-led JCODE team to lead and coordinate government efforts to detect, disrupt, and dismantle major criminal enterprises reliant on the darknet for trafficking opioids and other illicit narcotics, along with identifying and dismantling their supply chains. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Guam Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 78 Months in Federal Prison

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Hagatña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Vhavna Kumari Damai, age 29, from Dededo, Guam, was sentenced to 78 months imprisonment by the District Court of Guam. Damai was convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Fifty or More Grams of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1). The Court also ordered three years of supervised release, in addition to the forfeiture of $32,531.00 and a 2013 Infiniti G37 coupe. Defendants convicted of a federal drug offense may no longer qualify for certain federal benefits. Between January 1, 2019, and July 5, 2020, the Damai conspired with others to purchase and distribute 839 grams of methamphetamine in Guam. She was found with the drugs, in addition to morphine tablets, following a vehicle crash in Mangilao on July 5, 2020. Agents later executed search warrants on Damai’s residence and car. At the residence, investigators found scales and a drug ledger, indicating quantities sold by and money owed to Damai. Her car was seized as proceeds of illegal drug distribution. The DEA Southwest Laboratory later determined that the methamphetamine was 100% pure. “As this case demonstrates, drug traffickers face substantial time in prison and the loss of any property used in their illicit trade,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “I applaud the efforts of DEA in pursuing this investigation following the report by GPD. Working together, our law enforcement partners make Guam a safer place to live.” This investigation was conducted by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and Guam Police Department. The matter was prosecuted by Rosetta L. San Nicolas, Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Guam.


title: Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 57 Months in Federal Prison

body_text: Hagatña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Matthew J.V. Salas, age 29, from Agana Heights, Guam, was sentenced to 57 months imprisonment by the District Court of Guam. Salas was convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Fifty or More Grams of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(a)(1). The Court also ordered three years of supervised release and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. In addition, defendants convicted of a federal drug offense may no longer qualify for certain federal benefits. On May 17, 2022, a United States Postal Service package was intercepted by law enforcement. The package contained 112 grams of methamphetamine with a purity of 99 percent. Salas claimed the package at the Barrigada Post Office two days later. Following his arrest, he admitted receiving drug packages mailed to him from Arizona for further distribution in Guam. He received two other packages, each containing about two ounces of methamphetamine, the previous month. Salas re-packaged the drugs into 10-gram and 5-gram bags for further distribution. “The Postal Inspection Service and Guam law enforcement agencies continue to target drug traffickers who use the mail system in furtherance of illegal activity,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “Their frequent seizures of methamphetamine demonstrate that this conduct does not go undetected. Those associated with this activity will be held accountable.” “This sentence is a statement that Postal Inspectors will not allow the U.S. Mail to be used to distribute harmful narcotics in our communities in Guam or anywhere else. I would like to thank the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, and the Guam Police Department for their tireless work to keep dangerous substances out of the mail and out of the community,” said U.S. Postal Inspection Service San Francisco Division Inspector in Charge Rafael Nuñez. This was a multi-agency investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration Los Angeles Field Division – Guam Resident Office, United States Postal Inspection Service, and Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency. The case was prosecuted by Marivic P. David, Assistant United States Attorney in the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.


title: CNMI Inmate Sentenced to 27 Months in Federal Prison  for Assaulting Corrections Officer and Possessing Contraband

body_text: Saipan, MP – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Derik Jonathan Camacho Reyes, age 41, from Saipan, was sentenced to 27 months imprisonment by the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands. Reyes was convicted of Assault on a Federal Officer or Employee, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111(b), and Possessing Contraband in Prison, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1791(a)(2). The Court ordered three years of supervised release, 100 hours of community service, and a mandatory $200 special assessment fee. This federal sentence will run consecutive to the sentence Reyes is currently serving by prior order of the Superior Court for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). On February 15, 2022, Reyes was an inmate at the CNMI Department of Corrections in Susupe Village on Saipan. He was held in a maximum-security section with 22 other inmates, including three federal inmates. CNMI corrections officers attempted to seize a drug pipe from Reyes after observing suspicious behavior in his cell. Reyes resisted and attempted to flush the pipe and a small baggie containing methamphetamine down a toilet. During the struggle, one of the officers hit his head on the corner of Reyes’s cell doorway. The officer was treated at a local hospital for a contusion on his head, and minor chemical burns on his hand from methamphetamine and contaminant residue. Given there is no federal detention facility in the CNMI, the United States Marshals Service contracts with the CNMI for federal prisoners to be housed at the CNMI jail. As a result, CNMI corrections officers perform a federal function and serve in the capacity of federal employees when the corrections officers care for federal inmates. “Acts of violence toward detention facility employees will not be tolerated,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “The Court’s sentencing order is a strong measure of accountability. We will continue to pursue cases that improve the safety of these facilities.” This investigation was led by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration in partnership with the CNMI Department of Corrections, and prosecuted by Albert S. Flores, Jr., Assistant United States Attorney in the District of the Northern Mariana Islands.


title: EDVA Announces Continued Availability of Grant Funding for Project Safe Neighborhood Initiatives

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA), announced today the continued availability of approximately $325,000 in grant funding for Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) initiatives. On March 10, 2022, EDVA announced the availability of $535,653 in grant funds to programs and initiatives that support the PSN violence reduction strategy. Since then, four organizations have received grants totaling approximately $500,000. The initiatives that received funding last year were: The City of Richmond RVA League for Safer Streets, which seeks prevention and intervention for young individuals who may be susceptible to or involved in gangs; Ballistic IQ technology for the police departments of the cities of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, and Hampton; A three-year research grant on the impact of effectiveness of Group Violence Intervention by the George Mason Center for Evidence Based Policy; and Real Life Group Violence Intervention and services for individuals making re-entry into the community from correctional facilities. EDVA’s PSN violence reduction strategy, which is supported by these initiatives, sets the following goals to reduce violent crime: Engage, collaborate, and invite community stakeholders to share responsibility in efforts to reduce violent crime. Build trust between law enforcement and the community through effective communication, regular interaction, and the support and protection of crime victims. Reduce accessibility and possession of handguns among minors. Reduce re-offending and break the cycle of re-victimization. Disrupt and dismantle the region’s most organized and violent gangs. Identify chronic violent offenders responsible for a disproportionate level of violent crime. Work with citizens in neighborhoods most impacted by violent crime on harm reduction strategies. In the fall of 2021, the U.S. Attorney’s office formed a Grant Committee in collaboration with local, state, and community partners to help identify and allocate grant funds to programs and initiatives that support EDVA’s PSN violence reduction strategy. The Committee is currently prioritizing three regions impacted most by violent crime—Richmond, Newport News, and Norfolk—but will evaluate grant applications from across the Eastern District. The U.S. Attorney and the PSN Grant Committee encourage organizations and local and state agencies whose programs support our PSN goals within the district to apply for the remaining grant assistance by visiting the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) website at https://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/grants/programs/fy-2023-project-safe-neighborhoods-psn-grant-solicitation . Applications must be submitted in the DCJS Online Grants Management System (OGMS) no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 26, 2023. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia .


title: Columbia County Man Sentenced For Threatening The President, Congressman Bennie Thompson, And A Federal Judge

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that United States District Court Judge Juan R. Sanchez, Chief Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, sentenced Robert Maverick Vargo, age 26, of Berwick, Pennsylvania, to 37 months in prison for threats against a sitting congressman, a federal judge, and the President of the United States. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, in October of 2022, Vargo mailed a letter to United States Representative Bennie Thompson, threatening to kill him, his family, President Joseph Biden, and United States District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani. Vargo mailed the letter from Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania to Congressman Thompson in Washington, D.C., with intent to intimidate and interfere with Congressman Thompson’s official duties. Congressman Thompson is the Chair of the Committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the United States Capitol Complex. Vargo cited Thompson’s role as Chairman of that committee in making his threats. Vargo also invoked the name of domestic terrorist Timothy McVeigh, who bombed the Oklahoma City federal building in 1995. Judge Sanchez noted Vargo’s lengthy criminal history and the disturbing nature of the threats in imposing the 37-month sentence. Upon release from prison, Vargo must serve three years on federal supervised release. Vargo’s federal sentence will begin after he finishes serving a three to six year term in state prison for a 2022 escape conviction. The case was investigated by the U.S. Capitol Police, Protective Service Bureau and the Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts prosecuted the case. # # #


title: Former Lafayette and Vermilion Parish Educator Arrested on Federal Criminal Complaint

component: USAO - Louisiana, Western

body_text: LAFAYETTE, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Jacob Conrad De La Paz is in federal custody pursuant to an arrest warrant issued by United States Magistrate Judge David J. Ayo on a federal criminal complaint for attempted production of child pornography. An initial appearance will be held in the John M. Shaw United States Courthouse on May 1, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. He has been held without bond. Following the initial appearance, a detention hearing will be held later in the week and the government will argue that De La Paz be held without bond pending a formal charging decision and possible presentment of the case to a federal grand jury. Pursuant to federal law, this must take place within 30 days of the arrest date and the government will continue its investigation, while evaluating all evidence. A criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office and Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office. Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact HSI at 337-262-6619 . # # #


title: Romanian man sentenced for car burglary crimes in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA - Mihail Ilie has been sentenced for violations of the federal Assimilative Crimes Act for possession of burglary tools and attempted car burglary in the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. “National Parks and Recreational Areas serve as refuges for people to relax and enjoy the outdoors without fear of being targeted by criminals like Ilie,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “This case is an example of the importance of citizens reporting property crimes. Without the reports from other visitors to the park who were victims of car burglaries, Rangers would not have identified and arrested Ilie in the act of committing another offense.” “Parks are places where people tend to let their guard down. Their minds enter a safe mode and they become less vigilant when they start their hike or bike ride,” said Jeston Fisher, Chief Ranger, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. “Law Enforcement at Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area and around the Metro Atlanta area work very hard to deter crime and more importantly, educate the visitors. Please help by remembering to leave your valuables at home or take them with you when you recreate.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: In August and September 2022, Park Rangers at the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area began investigating a rash of car burglaries. The burglaries fit a pattern. The passenger door lock of the car would be forced with a special tool, and any credit and debit cards left in the car would be stolen. The cards would then be used almost immediately at local malls to make high dollar amount purchases, such as jewelry and Apple products. Hikers returning to their cars sometimes did not immediately recognize they had been victimized because many drivers unlocked their cars with key fobs and approached from their driver’s side door. Using trail cameras and other investigative techniques, Rangers identified two vehicles frequently present when burglaries were reported. On September 10, 2022, a Law Enforcement Park Ranger saw Ilie crouched between one of these suspicious vehicles and another car he appeared to be tampering with, and arrested him in the act of breaking into the other car. Ilie was using a young girl, then just 12 years old, as a lookout. A search of Ilie’s car revealed receipts for jewelry and Apple products, including some out of state purchases, and burglary tools. After an initial appearance on September 12, 2022, Ilie was detained pending trial as a flight risk. On October 4, 2022, a grand jury indicted Ilie with two felony violations of the federal Assimilative Crimes Act for possession of burglary tools and attempted car burglary. Ilie was convicted of these charges on December 12, 2022, after he pleaded guilty. Mihail Ilie, 24, of Lawrenceville, Georgia, was sentenced on April 25, 2023, to one year and a day in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $802. This case was investigated by the National Park Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alana R. Black prosecuted the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Atlanta man indicted on multiple counts of bank fraud and identity theft based on falsified money orders

body_text: ATLANTA - Jeremiah Carbon has been indicted on federal bank fraud and aggravated identity theft charges, arising from a scheme to defraud banks by depositing hundreds of fraudulent money orders into multiple bank accounts to enrich himself and his co-conspirators by more than $1.5 million. He also has been charged with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. “Carbon allegedly engaged in a scheme in 2019 through 2022 to defraud multiple banks by copying hundreds of blank money orders that he used to pay himself and his co-conspirators,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “He also allegedly stole and used the identities of others to perpetrate and conceal the scheme.” “The Secret Service is committed to defending our nation’s financial security and pursuing those who aim to exploit it,” said Steven R. Baisel, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Atlanta Field Office. “We appreciate our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and will continue to work alongside each other to ensure that individuals who engage in fraudulent activities are held accountable.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the indictment, and other information presented in court: Carbon allegedly used multiple fake driver’s licenses, and stolen driver’s license numbers belonging to several individuals, to purchase hundreds of blank money orders from dozens of different locations of a popular retail store in the Atlanta area. He and his co-conspirators then made copies of the blank money orders and deposited them into multiple bank accounts, often listing a fictitious purchaser’s name. After depositing funds from the fraudulent money orders into bank accounts opened in his and his co-conspirators’ names, Carbon returned the original money orders to the retail store locations for a full refund. Between 2019 and 2022, Carbon allegedly purchased, copied, and returned more than 1,500 money orders, resulting in stolen funds of over $1.5 million. Jeremiah Carbon, 34, of Atlanta, Georgia, was indicted on April 18, 2023, in an 11-count indictment alleging charges of conspiracy to commit, and commission of, bank fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1344 and 1349; aggravated identity theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A; and possession of a firearm while being a convicted felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is being investigated by the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bethany Rupert is prosecuting the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Roswell escrow manager pleads guilty to wire fraud

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced today that Christopher Adam Jensen-Tanner pleaded guilty to wire fraud and engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity. Jensen-Tanner, 44, of Roswell, is not in custody. In his plea agreement, Jensen-Tanner admitted that from January 2017 through October 2019 while owning and operating Roswell Escrow Services, Inc. (RES) he knowingly and intentionally engaged in a scheme to defraud and obtain money by making fraudulent and false promises with a provable loss amount more than $550,000 and less than $1,500,000. Specifically, he admitted to making a personal purchase from an RES corporate account and making payment to Living Reflections, LLC, Luxury Rehabilitations in the amount of $53,000.00. Jensen-Tanner also admitted to purchasing a $19,500.00 cashier’s check payable to Bullock’s Jewelry. Jensen-Tanner faces up to 20 years in prison. If you were a client of Jensen-Tanner and/or RES and believe you are a victim, please contact the FBI tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or login at tips.fbi.gov to notify the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Roswell Division of the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this case with assistance from the Securities and Financial Institutions Divisions of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Ry Ellison and Richard Williams are prosecuting the case. # # # 23-92


title: South Carolina Man and Florida Woman Sentenced in COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA — Mohammad Ribhi Farraj, 43, of Florence, South Carolina, and Marvet Masoud, 34, of Homestead, Florida, were sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud related to unemployment insurance benefits. Evidence presented to the court showed that Farraj and Masoud engaged in a scheme with others to fraudulently obtain unemployment insurance benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the scheme, members of the conspiracy submitted applications in four states – Arizona, New York, Florida, and South Carolina – using the personal identifying information of other individuals, sometimes without the person’s permission. In some instances, members of the conspiracy would apply for benefits in multiple states using the same individual’s information. Members of the conspiracy then received the funds associated with the fraudulent claims, primarily through either direct deposit or debit cards. The investigation revealed a total of 69 fraudulent claims associated with the scheme, resulting in a total loss of $454,074.00 in unemployment insurance funds. Through this scheme, defendants exploited the flexibility afforded to those unemployed during the COVID-19 pandemic. As to Farraj, evidence presented to the court showed that Farraj obtained debit cards with unemployment insurance funds which were associated with the fraudulent claims and then withdrew the funds at ATMs. In addition, Farraj fraudulently obtained an Economic Injury Disaster Loan under the name of a fictitious business. After receiving a deposit of $149,900.00, Farraj transferred the funds to cryptocurrency accounts or used the funds to pay credit card bills. As to Masoud, evidence presented to the court showed that Masoud completed withdrawals of funds associated with fraudulent unemployment insurance benefits claims and also received a deposit of $9,321.00 into an account in her name. The deposit was also associated with a fraudulent claim. Farraj was sentenced to ten months, with five months to be served in the Bureau of Prisons and five months to be served on home detention with location monitoring, followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Farraj was ordered to pay $604,074.00 in restitution. Masoud was sentenced to 24 months of probation and ordered to pay $454,074.00 in restitution. United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III imposed the sentences. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Labor, the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, the New York State Department of Labor, the Arizona Department of Economic Security, and the Small Business Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Hummel is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Lebanon Man Sentenced To 20 Years’ Imprisonment For Sexually Exploiting A Child


title: Russian charged with money laundering and illegally transmitting more than $150 million

body_text: ATLANTA - Feliks Medvedev has been indicted on one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business and 39 counts of money laundering. “Medvedev allegedly used the American banking system to illegally transmit more than $150 million,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “These types of criminal actions pose a serious danger to the integrity of our financial system.” “Money laundering is not a victimless crime.” said FBI special agent in charge Keri Farley, “The FBI is committed to the fight against money laundering and to find those who are trying to hide right in our own backyard and illegally send cash overseas.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the indictment, and other information presented in court: Feliks Medvedev allegedly registered eight companies in Georgia that were used to transmit over $150 million in a series of 1,300 transactions. The companies were purportedly headquartered in Buford, Georgia, and Dacula, Georgia. But the companies did not generate typical business expenses or maintain employees. The money was used, in part, to purchase more than $65 million in overseas gold bullion. Medvedev, a Russian citizen who resides in North Georgia, allegedly transferred millions overseas from multiple bank accounts in Georgia. Feliks Medvedev, 41, of Buford, Georgia, was indicted by a federal grand jury for these offenses on April 11, 2023. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Huber and Radka T. Nations are prosecuting the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Hartsville Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Drug and Firearms Crimes

body_text: FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA — Darnikius Trayvon Sutton, 31, of Hartsville, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Evidence presented to the court showed that in August 2022, the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a Hartsville home from which Sutton had previously sold methamphetamine. Inside the home, law enforcement found approximately 58 grams of methamphetamine, quantities of cocaine and crack cocaine, three firearms, and more than 100 rounds of ammunition. Sutton claimed responsibility for everything in the home. Chief United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell sentenced Sutton to 120 months in prison, to be followed by a 5-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. This case was investigated by Hartsville Police Department, Darlington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Flynn prosecuted the case. ###


title: Rapid City Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of a Firearm

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on April 28, 2023. Marcel Boyd, 37, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Boyd was indicted for Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in October of 2022. He pleaded guilty on February 2, 2023. In August of 2022 in Rapid City, Boyd, a previously convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms, was found in possession of a Taurus, 9x19 mm Luger caliber, semi-automatic pistol, as well as 9mm caliber ammunition, which was found when Boyd came into contact with law enforcement after officers responded to a domestic violence call for service. 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. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case. Boyd was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Charlotte Auto Repair Auto Shop Owner Is Sentenced And Fined For Violating The Clean Air Act

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Frank D. Whitney sentenced Jamal Saymeh, 59, of Charlotte, N.C., to 12 months and one day in prison followed by two years of supervised release for violating the Clean Air Act, by fraudulently coding over 15,000 vehicles that would have otherwise failed the required State emissions inspection, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Judge Whitney also ordered Saymeh to pay a $1,202,288.50 fine and $82,026 in restitution to the State of North Carolina. Michael Sparks, Special Agent in Charge of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Inspector General (EPA-OIG), Charles Carfagno, Special Agent in Charge of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division (EPA-CID), and Colonel Michael Oates of the North Carolina Department of Transportation License and Theft Bureau (NCDOT) join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. Saymeh is the owner and operator of Friendly Auto Repair (FAR) shop, located in Charlotte. In addition to auto repairs, in 2017, FAR became licensed by the North Carolina Department of Transportation to perform emissions inspections. According to filed documents and court proceedings, between 2017 and 2022, Saymeh used his business to execute a scheme to violate the Clean Air Act by falsely changing the information of vehicles that would have otherwise failed the required State emissions testing, so that they were no longer required by the State’s registration system to have a passing emissions test. According to court records, in some instances Saymeh executed the scheme by doing “county swaps,” meaning by falsifying in the system the county of registration for 11,568 vehicles from a county that required an emissions test to a county where no emissions testing was required. In other instances, Saymeh changed in the system the characterization of 3,622 trucks, from light duty trucks that require emissions inspections to heavy duty trucks that do not require such testing. During the relevant time period, court documents show that Saymeh falsified the information for at least 15,190 vehicles that would have otherwise failed their State emissions inspections. In exchange for falsifying vehicle information, Saymeh received cash payments from customers that far exceeded what customers would have paid to have an emissions inspection. In addition, Saymeh paid the State of North Carolina only $0.85 per non-emissions/safety inspection, instead of the $6.25 per vehicle charge he should have paid for an inspection. “Vehicle emissions testing is required to protect the health and safety of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney King. “As part of my Office’s Environmental Justice Initiative , we will hold polluters accountable for their actions and protect communities harmed by environmental violations.” “Today, Jamal Saymeh faced the consequences of knowingly and intentionally making false material statements affecting an EPA program,” said Special Agent in Charge Sparks. “Fraudulent activities like these harm our fellow Americans and diminish the public’s trust in EPA programs and operations. The EPA Office of Inspector General will continue to diligently protect both.” “Mr. Saymeh was sentenced today for conspiring to violate the Clean Air Act and for fraudulent vehicle emissions testing,” said Special Agent in Charge Carfagno. “The defendant’s criminal activity intentionally increased air pollution in communities where these vehicles operate further exacerbating respiratory illnesses and environmental degradation. Today’s sentence serves as a reminder that EPA and our partners are steadfast in our commitment to protect human health and the environment.” On December 14, 2022, Saymeh pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the Clean Air Act, and two counts of violating the Clean Air Act. Saymeh will be ordered to report to the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the EPA-OIG, EPA-CID, and NC DOT for their coordination and investigation of the case. Assistant United States Attorney Steven Kaufman, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, prosecuted the case.


title: Military impersonation scheme lands local man in prison

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A 30-year-old Houston man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of conspiracy to commit mail fraud in a scheme to defraud victims through a variety of internet scams, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Ganiyu Abayomi Jimoh pleaded guilty Aug. 1, 2022. Today, U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen ordered Jimoh to serve 36 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. Jimoh was also ordered to pay $405,427.80 in restitution. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence including that at least one of the victims was an 84-year-old man who was defrauded of money by an online “girlfriend” and how $13,500 of his losses were deposited into accounts Jimoh opened. In 2019, Jimoh began working with co-conspirators pretending to be U.S. military soldiers deployed to Afghanistan. They would solicit victims wishing to assist soldiers stationed overseas and persuaded them to contribute monies toward non-existent real estate deals. As part of his plea, Jimoh admitted to using counterfeit passports to open bank accounts to receive funds from the victims for his personal benefit. Jimoh will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Hileman prosecuted the case.


title: Armed Waterbury Drug Dealer Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that on April 28, 2023, CORNELIUS CONEY, also known as “C Nizzy,” 35, of Waterbury, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents and statements made in court, in July 2021, Waterbury Police retrieved a bag from Coney’s vehicle, which had been towed by a private towing company. The bag contained a loaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun that had been reported stolen, approximately 50 grams of crack cocaine, approximately 50 does bags containing fentanyl, a digital scale, and other items. Subsequent lab analysis revealed the presence of Coney’s DNA on the firearm. Coney was arrested on September 21, 2021. On January 3, 2023, he pleaded guilty to possession of firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Coney has been detained since his arrest. This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Waterbury Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Natasha M. Freismuth and John T. Pierpont, Jr. U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the State’s Attorney’s Office for the Judicial District of Waterbury for its close cooperation in investigating and prosecuting this matter. The prosecution 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. In May 2021, the Justice 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: Camden County Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Distributing Child Pornography

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – A Camden County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 120 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release for distributing videos and images of child sexual abuse. Ryan Osinski, 33, of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on Nov. 17, 2022, before U.S. District Judge Christine P. O’Hearn in Camden federal court to an information charging him with one count of distribution of child pornography.


title: Antioch Man Sentenced to over 19 Years in Prison for Sex Trafficking of Minors at the Bakersfield Desert Star Motel

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Darnell Bernard Edwards, 33, of Antioch, was sentenced today to 19 years and seven months in prison to be followed by 15 years of supervised release for the sex trafficking of two minors, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, in April and May 2019, Edwards transported two minors to the Desert Star Motel in Bakersfield and had them engage in prostitution. Edwards also transported the minors to other locations within California, supplied them with marijuana, and all three had the letter D and a crown tattooed on their bodies. This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bakersfield Police Department with assistance from the Antioch Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa prosecuted the case. 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 those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.


title: FBI DISRUPTS VIRTUAL CURRENCY EXCHANGES USED TO FACILITATE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT - On April 25th, the FBI’s Detroit Field Office, with assistance from the Virtual Currency Response Team (VCRT), the Cyber Police Department and Main Investigation Departments of the National Police of Ukraine, and the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine conducted coordinated, court authorized activity involving nine virtual currency exchange services. Domain names offered by organizations which were engaged in cryptocurrency conversions and provided assistance to cyber-criminals were seized, and related servers were shut down. U.S. based servers used in the scheme were taken offline by U.S. authorities. These nine seized domains, 24xbtc.com, 100btc.pro, pridechange.com, 101crypta.com, uxbtc.com, trust-exchange.org, bitcoin24.exchange, paybtc.pro, and owl.gold offered anonymous cryptocurrency exchange services to website visitors. Noncompliant virtual currency exchanges, which have a lax anti-money laundering program or collect minimal Know Your Customer information or none at all, serve as important hubs in the cybercrime ecosystem and are operating in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Sections 1960 and 1956. Many of these services are advertised on online forums dedicated to discussing criminal activity. By providing these services, the virtual currency exchanges knowingly support the criminal activities of their clients and become co-conspirators in criminal schemes. Much of the criminal activity occurring at the affected exchanges involved cyber actors responsible for ransomware, but also other scammers, and cybercriminals. The service’s website offered support in both Russian and English. The investigation is ongoing. Visitors to the sites will now find a seizure banner that notifies them that the domain name has been seized by federal authorities and operating an unlicensed money service business and facilitating money laundering is a federal crime.


title: Orleans Parish Man Sentenced to 57 Months for Violation of the Federal Gun Control Act

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

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On Thursday, April 27, 2023, REGIS GRIMES , age 34, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced in the United States District Court after previously pleading guilty to a one-count indictment charging him with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. On May 4, 2022, the New Orleans Police Department arrested GRIMES after receiving a concerned citizen’s call that he was distributing narcotics on the steps of Triumph Church, in the 3400 block of Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana. When officers approached GRIMES , they saw he had a pistol concealed in his waistband. GRIMES is convicted felon, and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. United States District Court Judge Eldon E. Fallon sentenced GRIMES to 57 months of imprisonment. Following his imprisonment, GRIMES will be placed on supervised release for 3 years. The court did not impose a fine, but imposed a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. 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 federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brittany Reed of the Public Integrity Unit.


title: Fruitland Man Pleads Guilty to Assault

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Anderson Buck pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Buck, 40, of Fruitland New Mexico, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. According to the plea agreement and other court documents, Nov. 17, 2022, Buck assaulted his girlfriend while they were intoxicated and in Buck’s vehicle. The victim was seriously injured during the assault and was hospitalized in the ICU for several weeks where she was intubated while fighting for her life. The assault took place on the Navajo Nation. Under the terms of his agreement, Buck can be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison followed by up to 3 years of supervised release. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander F. Flores is prosecuting the case. # # # 23-95


title: Former Creve Coeur Pharmacy Owner Admits Paying Kickbacks for Prescriptions

body_text: ST. LOUIS – The former owner of a Creve Coeur pharmacy on Monday admitted paying illegal kickbacks to marketing companies to generate prescriptions for expensive medications. Michael J. McCormac, 55, pleaded guilty in front of U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel to two counts of violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute. At the time of the crimes, McCormac owned GoLiveWell Pharmacy, which operated primarily as a mail-order pharmacy supplying customers across the country. McCormac admitted striking deals with marketing companies in which GoLiveWell would illegally kick back a percentage of the pharmacy’s net profit on prescriptions obtained through the marketing companies’ efforts. In exchange, the pharmacy received prescriptions obtained by the marketing companies in various ways, including by running ads in hopes that patients would “opt in” to receiving prescriptions for expensive drugs. The companies also engaged in the so-called “doctor chase,” in which they fax prescriptions to doctors’ offices in hopes that the doctors sign them. Those prescriptions included topical creams, oral medications and antibiotic and antifungal “foot bath” drugs. Claims for payment for the drugs were submitted to federal health plans including Medicare and the Missouri Medicaid and Ohio Medicaid programs. GoLiveWell paid one company 60 percent of the pharmacy’s net profit and another 45 percent. One month, GoLiveWell paid one marketing company $260,836. In total, the government alleges that Medicare paid GoLiveWell $4.7 million to which it was not entitled, with another $490,000 coming from Missouri Medicaid and $330,000 from Ohio Medicaid. McCormac is scheduled to be sentenced August 16. Each charge carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine. He will also be ordered to pay restitution. The case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the Medicaid Fraud Control Units of Missouri and Ohio, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith Reiter and Derek Wiseman are prosecuting the case.


title: New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty  to Federal Weapons Offense

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JUSTIN HENRY , age 41, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on April 27, 2023 before U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier to being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to court documents, NOPD officers observed HENRY , a convicted felon, in an SUV that was suspected to be stolen from the Norfolk Southern railyard. HENRY attempted to flee from the officers on foot and in the process discarded a semi-automatic pistol loaded with an extended magazine. HENRY faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. 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. This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crimes Unit.


title: Orleans Parish Man Charged  With Concealment of Bankruptcy Related Assets

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – JOSHUA BORGES (“BORGES”) , age 37, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was indicted by a federal grand on April 28, 2023 for Concealment of Assets, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 152(1), announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to the indictment, on or about April 17, 2018, in the Eastern District of Louisiana, BORGES knowingly and fraudulently failed to disclose property that belonged to him in Bankruptcy Case No. 18-10985, titled In re Joshua Borges , specifically, $9,000.00 in cash on hand, and his business interest in Elite Enterprise Holding, LLC, which had a value of at least approximately $89,771.08, to the trustee charged with control of the debtor’s property as well as to the creditors and the United States Trustee. United States Attorney Evans reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, BORGES faces a maximum penalty of five (5) years imprisonment, followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, and the Office of the U.S. Trustee for the Eastern District of Louisiana with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward Rivera and Andre Lagarde of the Financial Crimes Unit.


title: Californian convicted of fraudulently passing over $1M in counterfeit savings bonds at South Texas banks

body_text: BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A 58-year-old resident of Hemet, California, has pleaded guilty to passing counterfeit U.S. savings bonds over three years, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani along with Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. Daniel Alan Lewis and others conspired to create counterfeit U.S. Series I savings bonds. They then passed them at financial institutions using other people’s identities and split the proceeds. As part of his plea, Lewis further admitted that in November and December 2021, he passed numerous counterfeit savings bonds at banks in both the Houston and Brownsville areas. U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. accepted the plea and set sentencing for Aug. 10. At that time, Lewis faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Secret Service, Department of the Treasury - Office of Inspector General and the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edgardo J. Rodriguez is prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorney David D. Hamstra.


title: Missouri Woman Accused of Multiple Pandemic Frauds

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A woman from St. Peters, Missouri has been indicted in federal court and accused of fraudulently obtaining a total of $137,000 during the COVID-19 pandemic via two assistance programs. Regina Brand, 51, was indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis April 5 on three counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. She pleaded not guilty April 13 and is next scheduled to appear in court Tuesday. The indictment alleges that between Sept. 1, 2021, and at least March 30, 2022, Brand submitted at least 12 fraudulent applications for rental assistance under the Missouri State Assistance for Housing Relief Program to the Missouri Housing Development Commission. The program was intended to provide emergency assistance to landlords and renters to prevent a wave of evictions during the pandemic. Brand lied on each application, listing two fake landlords, Angels Voices and Brand Construction, and submitting fraudulent lease agreements, the indictment says. She received a total of $96,825 in assistance. Brand also submitted several fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program loans between April 1, 2020 and at least August 25, 2021, the indictment says. In one example listed in the indictment, Brand submitted a fraudulent application for a loan for Angels Voices and received $40,535.55. The loan application contained false and inflated information about payroll and the number of employees, and Brand spent the money for personal and vehicle expenses, the indictment says. The wire fraud charges carry a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a penalty of at least two years in prison consecutive to any other charge. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman is prosecuting the case.


title: Metairie Residents Indicted for Federal Drug and Firearms Violations

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – DESHAUN WHATLEY , age 43, and LEATRICE FRANKLIN , age 36, both of Metairie, LA, were indicted on April 28, 2023 on one (1) count of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841 and one (1) count of Possession of Firearms during a Drug Trafficking Offense in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A). WHATLEY was additionally indicted on one (1) count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to the indictment, both FRANKLIN and WHATLEY possessed firearms while possessing with the intent to distribute large quantities of cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. WHATLEY was further prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a previous felony conviction. If convicted on the drug charge, both FRANKLIN and WHATLEY face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, up to a $10,000,000 fine, and at least five years of supervised release. As to the firearms possession while trafficking charge, both FRANKLIN and WHATLEY face a minimum of five years up to life imprisonment. Any sentence imposed must be served consecutive to any other sentence, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to five years of supervised release. As to the felon in possession of a firearm charge WHATLEY faces up to ten years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine and up to three years of supervised release. Each count also requires a payment of a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. United States Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. United States Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jefferson Parish Sherriff’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit.


title: U.S. Attorney Joins Law Enforcement, Stakeholders to Combat Antisemitism

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ga. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia, the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Civil Rights Division, the FBI, the Columbus Police Department (CPD) and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) joined with Temple Israel in Columbus to discuss the rise of antisemitism in the nation and ways for citizens to safely and effectively respond to and report antisemitic activity. The program was developed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in part, due to antisemitic literature being distributed in Columbus neighborhoods in the recent past. Hosted by Temple Israel on Sunday, April 30, U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary kicked off the three-hour program entitled, “Combating Antisemitism: A Legal Perspective.” He was joined by the Civil Rights Coordinators for the Middle District of Georgia, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lance Simon and Hannah Couch. Panel discussions were led by DOJ’s Civil Rights Division Deputy Chief Barbara Bosserman; FBI-Columbus Supervisory Special Resident Agent Richard Bilson; Columbus Police Department Lt. Jeff Bridges; ADL Southern Division Sr. Associate Director for Jewish Community Outreach Eric Ross; and ADL Center on Extremism Associate Investigative Researcher Katie McCarthy. “It makes sense that this timely gathering of federal prosecutors, law enforcement and stakeholders to discuss the rise of antisemitism and how best to combat it as a community should occur at Temple Israel, one of the first Jewish congregations in Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Peter Leary. “Antisemitism is a growing threat to both the safety of our Jewish citizens and the United States, undermining the very foundation upon which our nation was built. My hope is that more communities in the Middle District of Georgia will join in this discussion, as we work together to defeat hatred and the violence it creates.” “Of all the forms of religious and ethnic hatred, anti-Semitism is one of the oldest and most persistent, and it is on the rise,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke. “The Justice Department continues to use all resources at its disposal to hold accountable people who engage in unlawful, bias-motivated acts of hate, including acts of anti-Semitism. In addition to our prosecutions of those who commit hate crimes against Jewish individuals and houses of worship, we are bringing together the Justice Department, local law enforcement and community leaders through our United Against Hate program, to strengthen our overall efforts to combat hate crimes and prevent hate incidents. Our communities, schools, workplaces and religious institutions are all safer when we stand unified in the fight against hate.” “We feel privileged to host such a prestigious panel, the Jewish communities and its allies to discuss the realities of antisemitism and the dangers it poses to our city, state and the entire country,” said Terrie Potts, Temple Israel’s President. “It’s encouraging to see the extent to which law enforcement resources are being used to fight this and other forms of hate against all people.” “Antisemitic incidents have reached an all-time high in this country, and Georgia is no exception. In this state, we saw a 63% increase in incidents from 2021 to 2022, and numbers that nearly quadrupled since 2020,” said Eytan Davidson, ADL Southeast Regional Director. “It’s incumbent upon us all to combat hate together, and the coming-together that we see at events like this is exactly what we all need to make the world a better, more inclusive and safer place.” “The FBI is the lead investigative agency for criminal violations of federal civil rights statutes”, said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “We are proud to work closely with our partners throughout Georgia communities to combat antisemitism, even when federal charges are not able to be pursued. If you have been a victim of a hate crime, the FBI wants to help. Call 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov to report.” “The Columbus Police Department appreciates any opportunity we have to meet with members of our community to discuss, teach and learn about concerns and issues. We commend Temple Israel’s leaders and congregates for their proactiveness in addressing the issues they’re experiencing in terms of antisemitism. We want to send a clear message that hate has no place in our community, and we will continue to do everything we can to help ensure citizens of all faiths and backgrounds have the peace, safety and security they deserve. This gathering and discussion is very much needed because it takes all of us to combat the issue of antisemitism and hatred in our community and the nation as a whole,” said Lt. Jeff Bridges with the Columbus Police Department. More than 50 people were present for the panel discussions and dialogue, with speakers addressing many topics including the increase in antisemitic incidents, current examples of antisemitic extremism in the District and beyond, law enforcement’s response to such acts, suggested security measures and the Department’s record in prosecuting antisemitic hate crimes. Citizens are urged to report antisemitic incidents to the local authorities first and then contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or tips.fbi.gov and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia at 478-752-3511. For more information about hosting a training to combat hate crimes in your community, please contact Pam Lightsey, Law Enforcement Coordinator with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, at pam.lightsey@usdoj.gov .


title: Abingdon Man Sentenced to Seventy-Seven Months in Prison for Gun Crimes

body_text: PEORIA, Ill. – An Abingdon, Illinois, man, Micah Mowen, 44, was sentenced on April 26, 2023, to 77 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possessing a shotgun with a barrel less than 18 inches long and for possessing a firearm as a felon. At the sentencing hearing in front of Chief U.S. District Judge Sara L. Darrow, the government proffered evidence that in August 2019, deputies from the McDonough County Sheriff’s Office found Mowen sleeping in a truck in an unauthorized area. Upon further investigation, they found a stolen handgun and a sawed-off shotgun in the truck. Mowen initially fled but was quickly apprehended. Mowen has been in the custody of the United States Marshal since his federal arrest in August 2020. Mowen faced statutory penalties of up to ten years imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine for both counts. The McDonough County Sheriff’s Office, Galesburg Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jen Mathew and Sarah Seberger represented the government in the prosecution. The case against Mowen 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: Charleston Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Taylor Womack, 28, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 7, 2020, Womack possessed a loaded FEG, Model PA-63, 9mm firearm in Amandaville. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Womack knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for delivery of a controlled substance and conspiracy to commit delivery of a controlled substance in Wayne County Circuit Court on September 15, 2017, and for daytime burglary by breaking and entering in Kanawha County Circuit Court on October 16, 2014 Womack is scheduled to be sentenced on September 14, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan T. Storage and Monica D. 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 Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-12. ###


title: Massachusetts Man Sentenced for Gun and Fentanyl Offenses

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on May 1, 2023, Varian Lefebvre, 29, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Christina Reiss to 77 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 7-year term of supervised release for possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and for being a felon in possession of a loaded firearm on January 21, 2021. Lefebvre had previously pleaded guilty to the offenses. According to court records, on January 21, 2021, two women were walking down a hallway at the Holiday Inn in Rutland, Vermont, when they encountered Varian Lefebvre, who was at that time in the middle of an armed confrontation with another person. Lefebvre pointed his handgun at the women and ordered them back to their room. When Vermont State Police responded to the hotel, they encountered Lefebvre wearing a backpack as he was leaving the hotel. A search of the backpack turned up a fully loaded handgun (including a bullet in the chamber) and 220 bags of fentanyl. DNA evidence from the gun confirmed that Lefebvre had possessed the weapon. The case was investigated by the Vermont State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Mary Nerino of the Office of the Federal Public Defender represented Lefebvre. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Ang and Michael Drescher represented the government. 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn .


title: Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Brennon Michael Adkins, 22, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to possession of a stolen firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, Adkins admitted that he and another individual broke into Tri-State Pawn and Jewelry in Huntington on July 15, 2022, to steal various electronics from the store’s inventory. After entering, the other individual stole three firearms. Adkins admitted that he possessed one of the stolen firearms, a Stoeger, model M3000, 12-gauge shotgun, following the breaking and entering. Adkins is scheduled to be sentenced on August 14, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Huntington Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Troy D. Adams is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-214. ###


title: Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Robert Lee Taylor, 42, Huntington, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 8, 2022, a law enforcement officers encountered Taylor asleep in the driver’s seat of his running vehicle, parked at a Milton gas station. The officer saw controlled substances in Taylor’s lap. Taylor admitted that he possessed approximately 28 grams of methamphetamine and 16 grams of fentanyl that he intended to distribute. Taylor further admitted to possessing $24,724 in drug proceeds. Taylor also admitted to conspiring with Phillip Antoine Rucker, also known as “Chocolate,” 43, of Proctorville, Ohio, and Marshall Luther Williams, also known as “Chuck” and “Chubs,” 41, of Chicago, Illinois, to distribute heroin in the Southern District of West Virginia from around February 2021 to around September 2022. Taylor was provided heroin and fentanyl on consignment at the direction of Williams. Taylor gave the proceeds from selling the controlled substances to Williams. Taylor is scheduled to be sentenced on August 14, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. On March 14, 2023, Rucker pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. On that same date, Williams pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. Rucker and Williams are scheduled to be sentenced on July 10, 2023, and face a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, four years of supervised release, and a $5 million fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Milton Police Department, and the Huntington Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Courtney L. Finney and Joseph F. Adams are prosecuting the cases. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-58 (Taylor) and 3:22-cr-34 (Rucker and Williams). ###


title: Florida Doctor Charged for Unlawfully Distributing Opioids

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A South Florida doctor has been arrested on charges of illegally distributing opioids at his pain management clinic. According to court documents, Dr. Daniel Alberto Carpman, 70, of Miami, allegedly engaged in the unlawful distribution of oxycodone at his pain management clinic, Daniel Carpman MD Medical Center. The indictment alleges that Dr. Carpman conspired to illegally distribute opioids with two other individuals, both of whom have already pleaded guilty for their roles re-selling the oxycodone acquired at Dr. Carpman’s pain management clinic. Dr. Carpman is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute opioids and four counts of illegally distributing opioids. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, made the announcement. FBI Miami and DEA Miami Field Division are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Clark for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Alexander Thor Pogozelski of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole S. Grosnoff is handling asset forfeiture. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-cr-20175. ###


title: Jackson Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison  for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

body_text: Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. According to court documents, Mario Butler, 42, was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 26, 2021, for two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Butler was also charged in a third count with possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. Butler subsequently pled guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The case is the result of an extensive Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation, “Hailstorm,” which began as an operation targeting illegal methamphetamine distribution in central Mississippi. 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. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the Jackson Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Keesha Middleton prosecuted the case.


title: Federal judge convicts Missoula man of firearms crimes in trial

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: MISSOULA — A federal judge today convicted a Missoula man on multiple firearms crimes after presiding in a bench trial, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen found Michael Blake DeFrance, 29, guilty on all counts charged in a second superseding indictment, including prohibited person in possession of a firearm and three counts of false statement during a firearms transaction. The trial began on April 26 and concluded the next day. DeFrance faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on each count. Sentencing was set for Sept. 21. DeFrance was released pending further proceedings. “These verdicts are victories for Montana women, domestic partners, and families. The verdicts show that those like DeFrance who illegally possess firearms despite having been convicted of a domestic violence crime and make false statements on firearms forms so he could obtain guns at a pawn shop will be held accountable for their actions. I thank Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer S. Clark and Timothy J. Racicot, along with the FBI, for their extraordinarily hard work on this case,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said. In court documents and at trial, the government alleged that on June 27, 2018, a Missoula Police Department detective located a Smith and Wesson .357-caliber revolver and a box of .357-caliber ammunition in the console of DeFrance’s truck. Two .22-caliber rifles were located under the back seat. On Oct. 2, 2018, law enforcement executed a search warrant on DeFrance’s residence and located a .357-caliber revolver on a desk by the front door. The detective recognized this gun as the revolver DeFrance had in his truck in June. DeFrance also had two rifles in his bedroom. When asked if he knew he was not supposed to have guns, DeFrance replied, “I was never clear on that.” The government further alleged that in May 2013, DeFrance was sentenced for partner or family member assault on Jermain Charlo in Sanders County. A justice of the peace presided over DeFrance’s change of plea hearing and imposed sentence. DeFrance signed a waiver of rights form in which he acknowledged his rights, which included – on a list of possible consequences of pleading guilty – the loss of firearms rights. The same form contained space for DeFrance to explain the basis for his guilty plea, and his form stated, “On 4-14-2013, in Sanders County I caused bodily injury to my girlfriend.” In addition, the government alleged that on three occasions in 2018, DeFrance completed Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives forms at a Missoula pawn shop in which he represented that he had not been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. Prior to and after the assault in 2013, Charlo stayed with DeFrance in a camper on property belonging to the DeFrance family. Charlo and DeFrance were in an intimate relationship. The government alleged DeFrance was prohibited from possessing firearms because he had been convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence and that he knowingly made false written statements on three occasions in 2018 at a Missoula pawn shop in connection with his acquisition and attempted acquisition of three firearms. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer S. Clark and Timothy J. Racicot prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI. 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. XXX