title: Maryland Woman Convicted in $20M Insurance Fraud Scheme

component: Tax Division

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – A federal jury has convicted a Maryland woman for conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, and related charges for wire fraud, money laundering, and filing false tax returns. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Maureen Wilson, 77, of Owings Mills, conspired with her husband James Wilson to defraud insurance companies by obtaining more than 40 life insurance policies for applicants by mispresenting their health, wealth, and existing life insurance coverage. The total death benefits from these policies exceeded $20 million. Wilson also conspired to defraud individual investors to obtain funds that she used to pay premiums on fraudulently obtained life insurance policies. After obtaining the policies, Maureen and James Wilson used forged signatures to make themselves, and other nominees they controlled, the owners and beneficiaries of the life insurance policies. Maureen Wilson also impersonated other people when speaking with the life insurance companies. Maureen Wilson and her husband concealed the fraud by transferring the money they made from the fraud through multiple bank accounts, including accounts in the name of trusts. She also filed false individual income tax returns for 2018 and 2019, which did not report as income the approximately $5.7 million and $2 million, respectively she made from her fraud. She was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, four counts of mail fraud, two counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, one count of money laundering and two counts of filing a false return. Maureen Wilson was acquitted of one count of mail fraud. Sentencing is scheduled for June 20. Maureen Wilson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of conspiracy, wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering; and a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count of filing a false tax return. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, made the announcement with Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Washington, D.C. Field Office. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case with assistance from the Maryland Insurance Administration and the Maryland Office of the Attorney General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys (District of Maryland) Matthew Phelps and Philip Motsay, and Trial Attorneys Shawn Noud and Richard Kelley, Justice Department Tax Division, are prosecuting the case. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Parkersburg Man Sentenced for Firearms Charge

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Michael McHenry, age 23, of Parkersburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 155 months in federal prison for the unlawful possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, McHenry is prohibited from having firearms because of a grand larceny conviction in Wood County. McHenry and a second defendant, Garrett DeBerry, carjacked a vehicle at gunpoint and led officers on a high-speed chase through Monongalia County. McHenry used a 9mm pistol during the crime. McHenry will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. DeBerry, 26, of Morgantown, West Virginia, pled guilty in June 2024 to the unlawful possession of a firearm. DeBerry is prohibited because of a prior firearms conviction in Monongalia County. He will be sentenced in May 2025. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Cogar prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office investigated. Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.


title: Maryland Man Admits to Drug and Firearms Charges

body_text: MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – John Ryan Zajac, age 30, of Parkville, Maryland, has admitted to cocaine and firearms charges. Zajac pled guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. According to court documents, Zajac had a firearm and cocaine in Berkeley County. Zajac is facing up to 20 years in federal prison for the drug charge and faces up to 15 years for the firearms charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Kane is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated. U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.


title: Bloomer Man Sentenced to 8 Years for Emailing Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Paul Clement, 41, Bloomer, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 8 years in federal prison for transportation of child pornography. This sentence will be followed a 20-year period of supervised release. Clement pleaded guilty to this charge on November 26, 2024. Agents with the Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations determined that on January 10, 2024, Clement uploaded thirteen files of child sexual abuse material to Google Photos, a file storage and sharing platform. Agents also determined that Clement emailed three of these files to a second email address that he controlled. The files consisted of videos depicting the sexual assault of girls between the ages of 8 and 12 by adult men. Clement admitted in an interview with agents to receiving these kinds of videos on a social networking site geared towards sexual fetishes. He also admitted to using that networking site to roleplay sexual scenarios involving the sexual abuse of children. At sentencing, Judge Peterson stated that Clement demonstrated “a real and enduring interest in children” and a significant sentence was warranted. Judge Peterson also highlighted Clement’s criminal history and history of inappropriate activity with children as aggravating factors. This includes a 2005 Wisconsin conviction sexual assault of a child. The charge against Clement was the result of an investigation conducted by Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor L. Kraus prosecuted this case. This investigation was a part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Colombian National Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison on Child Pornography Charge

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark on Wednesday sentenced a man from Colombia to nine years in prison for possessing child pornography. Fabio Murillo Sanchez, 51, pleaded guilty in October to one felony count of possession of child pornography. He admitted that in 2023, a St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department detective downloaded child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from an IP address in St. Louis via the BitTorrent peer-to-peer network. Investigators traced the IP address to Sanchez’ home. When they interviewed Sanchez, he admitted possessing CSAM and turned over three computer devices. He also said he’d been looking at CSAM since 2009. The FBI found 686 videos and 1,392 images containing CSAM and over 19,000 images of "child erotica and nude child modeling," his plea agreement says. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hayes is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Calaveras Man Pleads Guilty to Interstate Communication of Violent Threats

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO , Calif. — Cedar Sky Montgomery, of Calaveras County, pleaded guilty today to three counts of interstate communication of threats of violence, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. According to court documents, Montgomery used a cellphone and the internet to make threats to multiple different victims. In one instance, he threatened to kill a victim and have the victim “watch members of your family hanging from trees while your famil[y’]s Houses Burn to ground … .” On another occasion, Montgomery sent text and multimedia messages that threatened to kill a second victim and that victim’s brother, specifically threatening to “kill as many members of your family as I can find!” Montgomery also told the second victim that he would cut the victim’s fingers and hands “off your physical body.” With a third victim, Montgomery sent threatening voicemail messages saying, “the bomb maker is going to kill everybody in your [expletive] family, I’m going to burn your property down, I’m going to slit your [expletive] throat and I’m going to kill everybody in your family.” Additionally, from late November 2023 through early January 2024, Montgomery used his mobile phone to repeatedly call and send hundreds of unwanted text and multimedia messages to a fourth victim’s mobile phone. Montgomery sent obscene cartoons and photos and told the victim he was trying to find the victim and threatening to kill the victim’s romantic partner. Montgomery similarly sent hundreds of unwanted messages to a victim, along with angry voicemails and images of a man’s throat being sliced by a sharp blade, combined with claims that Montgomery would find the victim and cut the victim into pieces. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Ripon Resident Agency of the Sacramento Field Office, the Los Angeles Field Office, and the Washington Field Office, with assistance from the United States Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adrian T. Kinsella and Christina McCall are prosecuting the case. Montgomery is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on June 9, 2025. He faces a maximum statutory sentence of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 per count of conviction, and the parties agree to recommend a total sentence of 30 months in prison. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.


title: Alleged Serial Robber Arrested and Indicted

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah –A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment today charging a Utah man with robbing multiple credit unions over the course of five months. Dennis L. Dyches, 57, of Salt Lake County, Utah, was charged by complaint on March 4, 2025. According to court documents, from October 2024 to February 2025, Dyches allegedly robbed five credit unions across the Salt Lake Valley, and robbed one of them twice. On October 11, 2024 Dyches allegedly robbed the Mountain America Credit Union in Murray, Utah. Less than a week later, on October 16, 2024, Dyches allegedly robbed a Golden West Credit Union in West Jordan, Utah. In this robbery, he allegedly handed a note to the bank teller that read, “Give me the money and no one will get hurt.” The teller complied and Dyches left the bank on foot. On November 20, 2024, Dyches allegedly walked into a Granite Credit Union in Midvale, Utah, and handed the teller a note that read, “This is a robbery, open the drawer, don’t talk to anyone, don’t push the button.” The teller complied, gave the money to Dyches and he left the bank. In December 2024, Dyches allegedly robbed an America First Credit Union located inside a Macey’s grocery store in Murray. In February 2025, Dyches allegedly robbed the same America First Credit Union inside Macy’s grocery store in Murray. On February 27, 2025, Dyches allegedly robbed an America First Credit Union inside a Dan’s Foods grocery store in Salt Lake City. During this robbery, Dyches allegedly approached the teller and showed a note that read, “This is robbery” and “Give me everything.” The teller complied, took the money from the drawer and gave it to Dyches. After taking the money, Dyches was seen on surveillance video walking to the underground parking lot where he drove away in a black Jeep Cherokee with a black license plate. The vehicle was traced back to a Dyches’ family member as the registered owner. On March 4, 2025, Dyches was taken into custody without incident. During a search of the black Jeep Cherokee, law enforcement seized articles of clothing and accessories that matched the descriptions of the suspected robber. Dyches is charged with six counts of credit union robbery. His initial appearance on the indictment is scheduled for March 13, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. in courtroom 7.1 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti for the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Hampton man sentenced to over nine years in prison for defrauding Virginia Medicaid and Virginia Unemployment

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A Hampton man was sentenced yesterday to nine years and three months in prison for healthcare and unemployment fraud schemes that resulted in nearly $1 million in loss. Jamahl Rennelle Burch, aka Jarod or Jerrod Burch, 43, pled guilty on Aug. 29 to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, healthcare fraud, and aggravated identity theft. According to court documents, from May 2015 through November 2023, Burch targeted and defrauded two different government benefits programs: Virginia Medicaid’s consumer directed care program and Virginia’s unemployment program. The Virginia Medicaid Program provides medical assistance to indigent individuals who meet certain eligibility requirements. Under its consumer directed care program, Medicaid authorizes the provision of personal and respite care services to eligible Medicaid recipients by a personal care attendant (PCA). Personal care services include a range of support services to enable Medicaid recipients to remain at or return home rather than enter a nursing facility and include assistance with activities of daily living, access to the community, self-administration of medication, or other medical needs, supervision, and the monitoring of health status and physical condition. Burch targeted Medicaid recipients to sign up for Medicaid reimbursed personal care or respite care services. Burch and his co-conspirators executed agreements that designated numerous different individuals as PCAs for those recipients. Burch used the personal identifying information (PII) of the Medicaid recipients and purported PCAs to create accounts for the submission of timesheets for purported personal care and respite care services. For over eight years, Burch submitted fraudulent timesheets to Medicaid showing thousands of hours of personal care and respite care services. Burch approved these timesheets, attesting that services were provided, when he and his co-conspirators knew that none of the PCAs provided any personal or respite care services to the Medicaid recipients. In total, Burch and his co-conspirators knowingly caused Medicaid to pay at least $936,950.70 in fraudulent reimbursements for personal care and respite care services that never occurred. Burch also submitted fraudulent unemployment applications to the Virginia Employment Commission, causing $15,720 in unemployment benefits to be paid to him from Virginia’s unemployment insurance (UI) program and the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program. UI is a joint state-federal program intended to provide temporary financial assistance to unemployed workers under certain circumstances. In 2020 and 2021, Burch submitted four fraudulent unemployment applications using the PII of two of the purported PCAs from his Medicaid fraud scheme, falsely claiming that they had been terminated from their fake positions as PCAs. Two of these fraudulent applications were approved, one in the name of each of the two purported PCAs. Burch then submitted weekly certification requests for additional unemployment benefits for these applications, falsely representing that the purported applicants were still unemployed and in need of supplementary funds. After his initial arrest in November 2023, Burch repeatedly violated Court orders prohibiting him from having contact with potential witnesses in the pending criminal case, including by contacting several individuals who have since been charged as co-conspirators. In addition to his term of imprisonment, the Court order Burch to pay $936,950.70 in restitution to Medicaid and $15,720 in restitution to the Virginia Unemployment Commission, and to forfeit $806,008.38. Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jason Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS); and Troy W. Springer, Special Agent in Charge, National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit also provided significant assistance in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carla Jordan-Detamore and Brian R. Hood prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-8.


title: Illinois Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Supplying Marathon County Drug Trafficking Organization

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Edwin Lewis, 43, Park Forest, Illinois was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 12 years in federal prison for conspiring to possess and distribute cocaine and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and for possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. The prison term will be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Lewis pleaded guilty to these charges on December 12, 2024. In February 2022, Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force officers began investigating a methamphetamine and cocaine trafficking organization operating in Marathon County, Wisconsin. The multi-year investigation involved the seizure of drug-laden packages from the mail, controlled purchases of narcotics, and seizures of firearms and large quantities of drugs from residence searches. From the investigation, officers believe the drug trafficking organization was distributing kilograms quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine. Edwin Lewis was identified as a large quantity source of supply of methamphetamine and cocaine for the Marathon County based drug trafficking organization. Lewis originally supplied the organization by having bulk shipments of methamphetamine mailed to locations in Wisconsin in 2021 and 2022, including two 11-pound packages containing methamphetamine. On April 29, 2022, Lewis was found in possession of 7 pounds of methamphetamine during a traffic stop in Chicago, Illinois. After that arrest, members of the Marathon County organization began renting cars to drive to Illinois to pick up large quantities of drugs from Lewis. At sentencing, Judge Conley said Lewis was a key member of this large drug trafficking operation. Judge Conley observed that Lewis had already served a federal prison sentence for cocaine trafficking, and essentially doubled down by continuing to traffic much larger quantities of drugs in the present case. Eight others were also charged in connection with this drug trafficking organization. Teala L. Kumbera was convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine and sentenced to 54 months in federal prison. Shandel L. Mohr was convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine and sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in federal prison. Quo Vadis Lewis was convicted of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of both methamphetamine and cocaine and possessing firearms as a felon and was sentenced to 12 ½ years in federal prison. Shelby Gutch pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine on January 7, 2025, and entered into a 24-month diversion agreement. Troy C. Olsen was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine and was sentenced to 45months in federal prison. Craig C. Gates was convicted of possessing cocaine intended for distribution and possessing a loaded firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and was sentenced to 106 months in federal prison. Tommie Haney was convicted of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of both methamphetamine and cocaine and was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison. Samuel A. Teague has pleaded guilty and will be sentenced in the coming months. The charges against Lewis were the result of investigations conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force comprised of investigators from the FBI, Wisconsin State Patrol, Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Mountain Bay Police Department, Wausau Police Department and Wisconsin National Guard Counter Drug Program, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and Chicago Police Department. The Marathon County District Attorney’s Office also assisted with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven P. Anderson and Saqib Mohammad Hussain (Northern District of Illinois) prosecuted this case. This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Eastern District of Louisiana U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects $879,562,972.18 in FY 2024 Civil and Criminal Actions

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced today that the Eastern District of Louisiana collected $879,562,972.18 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2024. Of this amount, $10,272,777.37 was collected in criminal actions and $869,292,194.81 was collected in civil actions . The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs. In addition to those amounts, the MPRU or U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO), working with partner agencies and divisions, also separately forfeited $2,070,396.92 in assets, and 133 firearms connected to criminal activity, in FY 2024. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes. Representative examples of the MPRU’s collection and forfeiture efforts include: In April 2024, the MPRU recovered $868,965,517.00 from BP Exploration & Production Inc., imposed as a result of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Following a trial and guilty verdict, the MPRU collected approximately $3.7 million in restitution from hospice owner, Shiva Akula, by utilizing the All Writs Act to restrain and preserve his assets for restitution prejudgment . The MPRU subsequently filed a post-judgment motion to turn over the restrained assets, including hospice licenses, for restitution to Medicare. In July 2024, the MPRU collected approximately $1.2 million, by utilizing enforcement provisions of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and issuing Writs of Garnishment for several investment accounts belonging to defendant Robert Calloway. Calloway previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Additionally, he admitted signing false statements and making material omissions on dozens of loan documents, in his capacity as Senior Vice President of First NBC bank, over the course of several years. In October 2024, the MPRU collected approximately $1.5 million in criminal penalties for the Crime Victims Fund. This collection stemmed from an environmental crimes case in which defendants, Prive Overseas Marine and Prive Shipping, pled guilty to obstruction of justice. Specifically, the defendants admitted to illegally discharging, and causing the discharge of oil contaminated waste, into U.S. waters. The USAO forfeited $121,785 in cash, two firearms, and a 2020 Infiniti Q50 that was seized during the execution of a June 2024 search warrant from defendant, Wayne Handy, who had previously pled guilty to federal drug and gun violations. The MPRU forfeited approximately $34,570 in proceeds from defendant, Michelle Andre, who had previously pled guilty to distributing misbranded versions of injectable contraceptives to patients, in August 2024. “These statistics demonstrate our continued commitment and dedication to crime victims and to the citizens of the Eastern District of Louisiana through the aggressive collection of civil judgments and criminal fines and restitution,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson. “As such, our office’s Monetary Penalties and Recovery Unit (MPRU) will continue their duty to protect the public by holding accountable those who have profited from the crimes they committed in our District.” Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson thanks Asset Forfeiture Assistant United States Attorney Alexandra Giavotella, Financial Litigation Assistant United States Attorney Churita Hansell, as well as the Office’s outstanding support professionals, Jerrilyn A. Dufauchard, Laquana Bates, Christina Garcia, Danielle Smith-Graham, Megan Snow, David Vigier, and Monica Washington for their hard work and dedication to the pursuit of justice.


title: Brandon Man Sentenced for Brandishing a Firearm During Robberies

component: Department of Justice

body_text: JACKSON, MS – A Brandon man was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment for brandishing a firearm during two convenience store robberies. According to court documents and admissions during public court proceedings, Tramaine Jadell Pettaway, 36, used a firearm to commit two convenience store robberies along with another individual in January and February of 2018. One store was in Clinton and the other was in Ridgeland. The Ridgeland Police Department was able to arrest both Pettaway and his co-defendant after a short chase following the Ridgeland convenience store robbery in February 2018. Pettaway and his co-defendant have been in custody since February 2018. Pettaway pleaded guilty to two counts of violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1) which makes it illegal for anyone to use a firearm during a robbery. Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement. The Ridgeland Police Department, the Clinton Police Department, and the FBI investigated the case. Deputy Criminal Chief Lynn Murray and Assistant United States Attorney Charles Kirkham prosecuted the case. 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.


title: Tennessee Woman Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Employment Tax Credit Scheme

body_text: A Tennessee woman pleaded guilty today to conspiring to commit wire and mail fraud by her role in making claims for refunds of false COVID-19 employment tax credits. According to court documents and statements made in court, Aylissa Glidewell, of Kingsport, conspired with others to file false tax returns seeking fraudulent refunds based on the employee retention credit (ERC) and paid sick and family leave credit, both of which were created by Congress to aid struggling businesses during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Glidewell and co-conspirators created phony businesses, which lacked any employees or operations, for the sole purpose of claiming the bogus credits. Glidewell filed numerous false tax returns for those phony businesses and directed the tax refunds to be mailed to addresses she and co-conspirators controlled. In total, the refunds claimed were over $3.4 million, of which the IRS paid approximately $1.8 million. Glidewell is set to be sentenced on July 9. She faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III for the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Secret Service investigated the case. Trial Attorney Zachary A. Cobb of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac Heavener for the Eastern District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.


title: Brentwood Man Arrested On Charges Of Possession Of 3D-Printed Machine Gun Conversion Device

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: OAKLAND – A Brentwood man has been charged with unlawful possession of a machine gun conversion device. Noah Kanaye Bauer, 21, was arrested yesterday and made his initial appearance in federal district court in Oakland this morning. According to the criminal complaint and court documents unsealed today, on Sept. 6, 2024, officers with the Brentwood Police Department (BPD) responded to a call regarding an individual with a firearm at a grocery store in Brentwood and found Bauer with a 3D printed Glock style firearm. Officers allegedly removed the firearm from the front of Bauer’s waistband and saw that there was no serial number on it. In a search of Bauer’s home after his arrest for carrying a concealed weapon, BPD officers found a 3D printing machine, three 3D printed pistol frames, and a 3D printed machine gun conversion device in Bauer’s room. The complaint describes that machine gun conversion devices, also known as “switches” or “auto sears,” are designed and created for the purpose of converting a semi-automatic Glock type pistol into a fully automatic machine gun. When BPD officers questioned Bauer on what the conversion devices were used for, Bauer allegedly stated, “to make it shoot faster.” Bauer is next scheduled to appear in court on March 17, 2025, for a detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore. Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement. Bauer is charged with one count of 18 U.S.C. § 922(o). A complaint merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. The National Security and Special Prosecutions Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting this case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI with assistance from the BPD and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Noah Kanaye Bauer Complaint


title: Scrap metal dealer sentenced to over two years in prison for multi-state catalytic converter theft conspiracy

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A North Carolina scrap metal dealer was sentenced today to two years and three months in prison for theft and tax charges related to his participation in a multi-state catalytic converter theft conspiracy. According to court documents, Theodore Nicholas Papouloglou, 45, used his business, DG Auto South in Emporia to purchase stolen catalytic converters from thieves. Papouloglou then transported the stolen catalytic converters to his co-conspirators in New Jersey for shipment of the catalytic metals to Japan. In 2020 and 2021, Papouloglou received over $12.2 million in wired payments from his co-conspirators in New Jersey, including for proceeds from his illicit sale of catalytic converters. Papouloglou spent the money he received from DG Auto South on personal expenses, such as purchasing real estate and a luxury motorcycle for his girlfriend and to gamble at casinos in Las Vegas. Despite realizing income from DG Auto South, Papouloglou paid no taxes in 2020 and 2021. Catalytic converters, which reduce toxic gas and pollutants from a vehicle’s exhaust system, use precious metals in their centers, or “cores,” and are regularly targeted for theft due to the high value of these metals, especially palladium, platinum, and rhodium. Papouloglou separately helped his co-conspirators in New Jersey to purchase stolen catalytic converters from other sellers, including sellers in Texas and Oklahoma, by facilitating bulk cash payments. The total value of the funds that Papouloglou illicitly transferred was at least $6.6 million. Papouloglou pled guilty on Aug. 20, 2024, and must forfeit various vehicles associated with the offense: (1) 2021 Ford F250 (Roush) (2) 2021 Jeep Gladiator Sport (Apocalypse) (3) 2017 Lamborghini Huracan (Convertible) (4) 2020 McLaren 720s (Convertible) (5) 2021 Mercedes-AMG G63 (6) 2019 Ferrari 488 Pista (7) 2021 McLaren 765LT (8) 2021 Ford F450 (Super Duty) Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Kareem A. Carter, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge of the Washington D.C. Field Office; and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge David J. Novak. Assistant U.S. Attorney Avi Panth and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Kashan K. Pathan prosecuted the case. The Justice Department’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section assisted with the prosecution. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-42.


body_text: A federal jury convicted a Maryland woman yesterday for conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, and related charges for wire fraud, money laundering and filing false tax returns. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Maureen Wilson, of Owings Mills, conspired with her husband James Wilson to defraud insurance companies by obtaining over 40 life insurance policies for applicants by mispresenting their health, wealth and existing life insurance coverage. The total death benefits from these policies exceeded $20 million. Wilson also conspired to defraud individual investors to obtain funds that she used to pay premiums on fraudulently obtained life insurance policies. To conceal the fraud, Wilson and her husband transferred the money they made from the fraud through multiple bank accounts, including accounts in the name of trusts. Wilson filed false individual income tax returns for 2018 and 2019, which did not report as income the approximately $5.7 million and $2 million, respectively she made from her fraud. Wilson was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, four counts of mail fraud, two counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, one count of money laundering and two counts of filing a false return. She was acquitted of one count of mail fraud. Maureen Wilson is scheduled to be sentenced on June 20. She faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of conspiracy, wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering; and a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count of filing a false tax return. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes for the District of Maryland and Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Washington, D.C. Field Office made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case with assistance from the Maryland Insurance Administration and the Maryland Office of the Attorney General. Trial Attorneys Shawn Noud and Richard Kelley of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Phelps and Philip Motsay for the District of Maryland are prosecuting the case.


title: Pair Convicted at Trial for St. Louis Carjackings

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

body_text: ST. LOUIS – Jurors in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on Wednesday convicted two men of charges related to multiple St. Louis carjackings. Evidence and testimony at trial showed that Quinn Turner and Jaylen Mays stole a 2007 Chevrolet Impala at gunpoint on Nov. 11, 2022, and a 2017 GMC Terrain two days later. A 2015 Malibu was stolen at gunpoint by Mays and others on Nov. 5, 2022, in the downtown business district. Turner drove the Malibu with Mays and a juvenile as passengers to a gas station at the northwest corner of Russell Boulevard and South 7th Street in the Soulard neighborhood, where the GMC was taken. Detectives assigned to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department's Anti-Crime Task Force utilized spike strips to stop the Malibu as it was leaving the gas station, and found Turner, Mays and the juvenile inside. Turner, 22, and Mays, 27, both of East St. Louis, Illinois, were each convicted of two counts of carjacking with the intent to cause death or serious bodily harm and two charges of possession and brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Mays was convicted of an additional carjacking charge. The trial began Monday. Turner and Mays are scheduled to be sentenced on June 18. The carjacking charges carry a potential penalty of up to 15 years in prison. The firearm charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison. The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Martin and Jennifer Szczucinski are prosecuting the case.


title: Tennessee Woman Pleads Guilty To COVID-19 Employment Tax Credit Scheme

component: USAO - Tennessee, Eastern

body_text: GREENEVILLE, Tenn.— On March 12, 2025, Aylissa Glidewell, 35 of Kingsport, Tennessee plead guilty to conspiring to commit wire and mail fraud by her role in making claims for refunds of false COVID-19 employment tax credits before the Honorable Clifton L. Corker, United States District Judge. Sentencing is set for July 9, 2025, at 11:00am., in the United States District Court at Greeneville. Glidewell faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud. A federal district court judge will determine any sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. According to court documents and statements made in court, Aylissa Glidewell conspired with others to file false tax returns seeking fraudulent refunds based on the employee retention credit (ERC) and paid sick and family leave credit, both of which were created by Congress to aid struggling businesses during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Glidewell and co-conspirators created phony businesses, which lacked any employees or operations, for the sole purpose of claiming the bogus credits. Glidewell filed numerous false tax returns for those phony businesses and directed the tax refunds to be mailed to an address she and co-conspirators controlled. In total, the refunds claimed were over $3.4 million, of which the IRS paid approximately $1.8 million. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and the U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III for the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Secret Service investigated the case. Trial Attorney Zachary A. Cobb of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac D. Heavener for the Eastern District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case. ###


title: Las Vegas Return Preparer Pleads Guilty To Filing False Tax Returns For Clients

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – The operator of a Las Vegas tax return preparation business pleaded guilty today to preparing false income tax returns on behalf of her clients causing at least $550,000 in tax loss. According to court documents and statements made in court, since at least 2007, Keisy Altagracia Sosa has operated National Tax Service, a tax return preparation business in Las Vegas, Nevada. From 2016 to 2021, Sosa prepared and filed with the IRS false tax returns on behalf of clients. These tax returns included falsely claiming dependents; claiming fictitious Schedule A expenses, such as sales taxes paid and unreimbursed employee expenses; and claiming fictitious Schedule C expenses purportedly associated with a business operated by the taxpayer. Sosa continued to prepare false returns even after the IRS sent multiple letters notifying her that returns she filed appeared inaccurate, informing her that she may not be meeting her due diligence requirements, reminding her of those obligations, and directing her to resources with more information about those obligations. Sosa caused at least $550,000 in tax loss to the IRS. Sosa pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation and filing of a false tax return. Chief United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon scheduled sentencing for June 11, 2025. The maximum statutory penalty is three years in prison as well as a period of supervised release and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting United States Attorney Sue Fahami for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Carissa Messick for the IRS Criminal Investigation Phoenix Field Office made the announcement. This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Tony Lopez and Benjamin Shiver are prosecuting the case. Taxpayers should remain vigilant against unscrupulous tax preparers. Tax preparers that promise larger refunds than their competition may place taxpayers at risk of being part of a criminal scheme. The IRS urges all taxpayers to verify the information on their tax return is correct before filing. For more tips on how to safeguard yourself against unscrupulous tax preparers, and for information on how to find a preparer, visit the IRS website . The IRS also offers tips on choosing a tax professional as a small business taxpayer. Additionally, the IRS has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers to help taxpayers find professional, credentialed prepares recognized by the agency or who hold an Annual Filing Season Program Record of Completion. ###


title: Convicted Felon Who Attempted To Sell Assault Rifle Found Guilty Of Unlawful Firearm Possession

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – A federal jury today found Timothy Jeffrey, aka “Boo,” 44, of Antioch, Calif., guilty of two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, following a trial before Senior U.S. District Judge William Alsup. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on April 25, 2023, a Pittsburg Police Department officer attempted to stop the vehicle that Jeffrey was driving. Jeffrey drove into a shopping plaza parking lot, parked, exited the car, and fled on foot away from the officer. Jeffrey threw a Glock 9mm semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine and 19 rounds of ammunition over a fence behind the shopping plaza before he was arrested. Jeffrey became a fugitive soon after his arrest, and his whereabouts were unknown until an investigation by the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Marshals Service led law enforcement to suspect Jeffrey’s presence at a relative’s home in Antioch. On March 27, 2024, the United States Marshals Service surveilled the address and spotted Jeffrey entering the home. U.S. Marshals arrested Jeffrey, after which the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the residence. Sheriff’s deputies located and seized an Aero Precision AR-style rifle with a magazine and 25 rounds of ammunition from under a couch in the living room. They also seized a cell phone that had been used by Jeffrey. The phone contained multiple text messages in which Jeffrey attempted to sell the AR rifle and sent a photo of it. At the time of his April 2023 and March 2024 arrests, Jeffrey was on federal supervised release following past felony convictions for being a felon-in-possession of a firearm, escape from custody, and conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. “The defendant, a convicted felon, not only possessed a semi-automatic pistol and assault rifle, but also attempted to sell the rifle on the black market. His actions endangered the community, and law enforcement’s work on this case helped prevent this deadly weapon from falling into the wrong hands,” said Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins. “We will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to combat the presence of illegal firearms in our communities.” “ATF works closely with our partners to track the illegal movement of firearms,” said Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Cicolani, San Francisco Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “The defendant is a convicted felon who attempted to illegally sell firearms. ATF will continue to work side by side with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to ensure that our communities are safe. We will continue to focus on reducing gun violence by disrupting illegal firearms trafficking and ensuring that firearms stay out of the hands of prohibited persons.” Jeffrey was convicted of two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). His sentencing is scheduled for May 28, 2025. Defendant faces a maximum statutory sentence of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count. Any sentence will be imposed by the Court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. 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 of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aseem Padukone and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jillian Harvey are prosecuting this case, with the assistance of Claudia Hyslop, Nina Burney, and Yenni Weinberg. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the ATF, the United States Marshals Service, the Pittsburg Police Department, and the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office.


title: Mexican National Indicted For Series Of Armed Robberies With Privately Made Firearm

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A Mexican national residing in Las Vegas made his initial court appearance today for allegedly robbing four taco vendors while brandishing an unserialized privately made firearm. “The defendant is accused of committing a spree of violent armed robberies over a one-week period,” said Acting United States Attorney Sue Fahami for the District of Nevada. “Violent crime has no place in our community. We are grateful for our federal and local law enforcement partners and their commitment to keeping our neighborhoods safer.” “Today’s indictment should send a clear message that the FBI and our partners will not tolerate this type of violent activity,” said Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI Las Vegas Division. “The suspect, who was in the country illegally, committed brazen acts and instilled fear in our community and put our citizens at risk. We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to keep firearms out of the hands of those prohibited from being able to possess them.” According to allegations contained in the indictment and statements made during court proceedings, Jose Manuel Arce-Martinez, 38, is a national of Mexico unlawfully residing in the United States. As alleged, from January 21, 2025 to January 26, 2025, Arce-Martinez committed four armed robberies of restaurants and food trucks in Las Vegas. In each robbery, he brandished a privately made subcompact .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol, made in part with a Polymer80 PF940SC grip, and threatened employees. Arce-Martinez stole money from the businesses and items belonging to the employees including two cell phones, a gold necklace, a jacket, and a wallet containing debit cards, a driver’s license, and a social security card. Arce-Martinez is charged with four counts of interference with commerce by robbery, four counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and two counts of prohibited person in possession of a firearm or ammunition. United States Magistrate Judge Brenda N. Weksler scheduled a jury trial before Chief United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon to begin on May 19, 2025. If convicted, the maximum statutory penalty is life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Dan Cowhig is prosecuting the case. Submit a tip about a federal crime or report a threat to the FBI tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or online at tips.fbi.gov . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Former Nye County Captain Pleads Guilty To Federal Civil Rights Violation And Wire Fraud

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A former captain with the Nye County Sheriff’s Office pleaded guilty today for violating the civil rights of the former CEO of Valley Electric Association (VEA), a Pahrump-based utility cooperative, and for committing wire fraud. “It is the duty of all law enforcement to protect and serve the community,” said Acting United States Attorney Sue Fahami for the District of Nevada. “Instead, the defendant violated his oath and abused his power. We will continue to work with the FBI to protect the constitutional rights of all individuals and ensure that those who violate positions of public trust are held accountable for their actions.” “Law enforcement officers are granted specific powers by the government to protect the rights of the public and prevent misconduct,” said Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI Las Vegas Division. “When individuals in official roles betray the trust of their communities by misusing that power, they compromise the diligent efforts of all law enforcement personnel. No individual is above the law, and the FBI remains committed to investigating abuses of power under color of law as one of our paramount responsibilities.” According to court documents and statements made in court, on or about February 26, 2019, David E. Boruchowitz, 44, was a Deputy Sheriff with the Nye County Sheriff’s Office in Nye County, Nevada. Boruchowitz admitted that while acting under color of law in that position, he arrested Angela Evans without probable cause on charges of embezzlement under Nevada law. In making the arrest, he willfully deprived Evans of her right under the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States to free of unreasonable seizure without probable cause. Further, Boruchowitz admitted that, on or about February 26, 2019, he devised a scheme to defraud the VEA Board of Directors of a seat on the Board of Directors. As a part of the scheme, he arrested Evans without probable cause. He knew the fraud scheme would influence a member of the VEA Board of Directors to part with his or her position. As a part of the scheme, he posted a press release announcing the arrest of Evans to the Nye County Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook page. Boruchowitz pleaded guilty to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law and one count of wire fraud. Chief United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon scheduled sentencing for June 10, 2025. The total maximum statutory penalty for all offenses is 21 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Steven Myhre and Justin Washburne are prosecuting the case. ###


title: Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to 15 years in Prison

body_text: ST. GEORGE, Utah – Dane Bowler, 43, of Veyo, Utah, was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment today, and a lifetime of supervised release after he admitted to attempting to engage in sexual acts with a 13-year-old and was convicted of coercion and enticement. According to court documents and statements made at Bowler’s change of plea and sentencing hearings, between November 1, 2023 and November 6, 2023, Bowler communicated via cellphone and the internet with an individual he thought was a 13-year-old. Bowler was actually communicating with an undercover officer. During these communications, Bowler attempted to engage in sexual activity with the minor. Bowler had been previously convicted of this very same offense in federal court in 2007 and was sentence to 60 months’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release in that case. Acting United States Attorney Felice John Viti of the District of Utah made the announcement. The case was investigated jointly by the State Bureau of Investigation and The FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Brady Wilson and Christopher Burton of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: San Francisco Man Sentenced To Nine Years In Federal Prison For Possession Of Child Sexual Abuse Materials

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – Cristian Eduardo Mattus Piccardo, 52, of San Francisco, was sentenced today to 108 months in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution for possession of child pornography. U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria handed down the sentence. Mattus pleaded guilty on July 11, 2024, to one count of possession of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2252(a)(4)(B) and (b)(2). He was originally indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2023 and by a superseding indictment in December 2023. According to the plea agreement, Mattus knowingly possessed over 4,000 videos and over 2,000 images of child sexual abuse materials that he downloaded from the Internet using peer-to-peer file sharing software. Many of the videos and images depicted infants and toddlers as young as two, three, four, and five years old. Mattus admitted that he actively searched for and downloaded files depicting infants and toddlers. He also uploaded over 2,000 files of child sexual abuse materials to the Internet for other users to access and download. Mattus further admitted that the minor daughter of a family friend was among the victims to whom he owed restitution. In addition to the prison term, Judge Chhabria sentenced the defendant to a 10-year period of supervised release. The defendant will be required to register as a sex offender. Mattus will begin serving his sentence on May 12, 2025. Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Tatum King made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Hageman prosecuted the case with the assistance of Helen Yee. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by HSI.


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced To More Than 15 Years For Narcotics Trafficking And Firearm Offenses

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Covington has sentenced Lewis James Scott (36, Tampa) to 15 years and 1 month in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Scott pleaded guilty to possession of narcotics with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, but he pleaded not guilty to possessing the firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. In December 2024, a federal jury found Scott guilty of that charge as well. According to court documents, on September 4, 2023, deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office pulled over a vehicle being driven by Scott for multiple driving infractions. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, officers found 37.5 grams of methamphetamine, 10.9 grams of cocaine, and 6.5 grams of fentanyl. These narcotics were found in a portable lock box with a handle, which the passenger in the vehicle told law enforcement Scott had placed at her feet prior to law enforcement approaching the vehicle. The deputies located a scale with a white powdery substance on it inside the center console, along with a firearm, which included a round of ammunition in the chamber and in the magazine. In the trunk of the vehicle, deputies located a bag of a horse joint supplement. A chemist with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement later determined that methylsulfonylmethane was indicated in this bag. Methylsulfonylmethane is a commonly known cutting agent used in narcotics distribution. Scott has a prior felony conviction for tampering with physical evidence (2018) and, therefore, is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. In this case, Scott placed a phone call to a witness prior to trial encouraging her to change her statement. This call was played during Scott’s trial and subjected him to a higher sentencing range. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky. 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 out 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 first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Cryptocurrency Founder And CEO Convicted Of Wire Fraud And Money Laundering In Connection With Marketing And Sale Of AML Bitcoin

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – A federal jury today convicted Rowland Marcus Andrade of wire fraud and money laundering in connection with the fraudulent marketing and sale of a cryptocurrency called AML Bitcoin, a scheme that raised millions of dollars through false and misleading statements to investors about the cryptocurrency and the purported technology behind it. The jury reached its verdict following a five-week trial before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard Seeborg. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Andrade, 47, of Texas, made false statements to the public and potential purchasers of AML Bitcoin misrepresenting the development of the technology, its viability, potential business deals, and release date. Andrade falsely claimed, among other misrepresentations, that the Panama Canal Authority was close to permitting AML Bitcoin to be used for ships passing through the Panama Canal when no such agreement existed. According to the evidence presented at trial, Andrade diverted more than $2 million in proceeds from the sale of AML Bitcoin and spent it on personal expenses, including the purchase of two properties in Texas and two luxury automobiles. The jury also found that Andrade laundered investor funds through various bank accounts and then used the funds for his personal expenses and the purchase of the properties and automobiles. “Fraudsters often tout new and innovative technology in order to raise money from investors. But raising money through lies and misrepresentations is neither new nor innovative. It’s unlawful, plain and simple,” said Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins. “If you deceive investors to enrich yourself and spend their money on personal expenses, homes, and property, you will be held to account.” “Marcus Andrade misled investors, manipulated trust, and exploited the promise of innovation for personal gain,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani. “Today’s verdict reaffirms the FBI’s commitment to protecting the integrity of our financial markets and ensuring that those who engage in financial fraud are held accountable.” “Mr. Andrade’s outrageous lies lured and scammed individuals into investing their hard-earned money into a new cryptocurrency with fabricated features,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Oakland Field Office Special Agent in Charge Linda Nguyen. “But there is nothing advanced about this scheme. Rowland Marcus Andrade stole money from innocent people and used it to further his personal wealth. His attempts to launder and layer ill-gotten gains is what experts at IRS-CI investigate to follow the money and build cases that lead to justice.” Andrade is scheduled to appear on July 22, 2025, for sentencing. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the wire fraud count and 10 years in prison for the money laundering count, and forfeiture of all property that is traceable to his wire fraud and money laundering violations including property that Andrade bought in Texas. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christiaan Highsmith, David Ward, and Matthew Chou are prosecuting the case, with the assistance of Tina Rosenbaum. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI and IRS-CI. Next Hearing Sentencing July 29, 2025 09:30 AM Chief Judge Richard Seeborg 450 Golden Gate Ave., Courtroom 03, 17th Floor San Francisco, CA 94102 FBI Loss Questionnaire | Due June 5th https://www.fbi.gov/amlbitcoinvictims.gov Andrade Indictment


title: Madison County Man Sentenced to More Than 15 years in Prison for Child Pornography Charges

body_text: HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A Huntsville man was sentenced yesterday on two felony charges for his involvement in crimes against children, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples. U.S. District Court Judge Madeline Haikala sentenced David Edward Sanford, 55, of Huntsville, to 190 months in prison, followed by a life term of supervised release. In December 2024, Sanford pleaded guilty to one count of transportation of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. These convictions will require Sanford to register as a sex offender in accordance with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). According to court documents, between September and November 2023, Sanford was actively involved in the online distribution of child pornography in groups dedicated to the sexual exploitation of children. During a federal search warrant for Sanford’s residence executed in November 2023, Sanford admitted to federal agents that he used various file sharing applications to trade videos and images of child pornography with others and expressed his particular preference for videos and images involving children under the age of 11. Sanford’s devices were seized during the execution of the warrant, and forensic analysis of the devices revealed more than 9,600 videos and 500 images of child pornography. FBI Birmingham’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force investigated the case along with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and Huntsville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Leann White prosecuted the case. If you suspect or become aware of the possible sexual exploitation of a child, please contact law enforcement. To alert the FBI Birmingham Office, call 205-326-6166. Reports can also be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov .


title: Washington State Resident Sentenced For Receiving Child Sexual Exploitation Material

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Christopher Dean Robinson-Holm, age 26, of Lynnwood, Washington, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for one count of Receipt of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. This term of imprisonment will be followed by 10 years of supervised release. The charge arose from an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations. On August 26, 2024, Robinson-Holm pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, in June 2022, Robinson-Holm knowingly received a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The subject of that image resided in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . We encourage anyone who suspects or has information regarding child sexual exploitation, trafficking of minors, sextortion, child pornography, or any other means of child exploitation to immediately contact law enforcement. You can file a report through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-843-5678 or online at www.cybertipline.com , through the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or through Homeland Security Investigations at 1-877-4-HSI TIP. The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Robinson-Holm will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Caila M. Cleary represented the United States.


title: Wagoner County Resident Sentenced For Two Counts Of Second Degree Murder

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Nicholas Lapez Scarborough, age 32, of Redbird, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 405 months in prison for two counts of Second Degree Murder in Indian Country. The charges arose from an investigation by the Wagoner County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On May 6, 2024, Scarborough pleaded guilty to two counts of Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree. According to investigators, on October 24, 2023, Scarborough intentionally stabbed two individuals with a steak knife. One victim died after completing an emergency call for help. A second victim died two weeks later from injuries sustained in the attack. The crimes occurred in Wagoner County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Scarborough will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Robinson represented the United States.


title: Dominican National Extradited For Murder, Narcotics, And Firearms Charges

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Leslie R. Backschies, the Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today that MARCO TULIO FERNANDEZ-RODRIGUEZ, was extradited from the Dominican Republic and arrived in the United States this afternoon. FERNANDEZ-RODRIGUEZ was extradited on murder, narcotics, and firearms charges in connection with an attempted gunpoint robbery of a Mount Vernon, New York, warehouse that sold various unlicensed marijuana and nicotine products. Two people—one employee of the warehouse and one member of the roughly 15-man robbery crew—were shot and killed during the failed robbery attempt. FERNANDEZ-RODRIGUEZ will be presented tomorrow in White Plains federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause. Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: “As alleged, Marco Tulio Fernandez-Rodriguez and his co-conspirators attempted a violent armed robbery that left two dead in Mount Vernon. The persistence and dedication of our law enforcement partners led to locating the defendant in the Dominican Republic, where he was arrested. This Office and our partners will not rest until every individual responsible for these senseless deaths is brought to justice.” FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Leslie R. Backschies said: “Last year, Marco Tulio Fernandez-Rodriguez allegedly fled the country after participating in a robbery and massive gunfight which culminated in the murder of two individuals. Not only did his alleged involvement contribute to a highly violent episode which threatened the community’s safety, but Fernandez-Rodriguez also attempted to avoid responsibility by running. Today’s extradition and indictment reflects the FBI’s tireless commitment to ensuring all criminals face accountability for their behavior, regardless of where they may hide.” As alleged in the Complaint unsealed today in White Plains federal court: [1] On or about March 18, 2024, at approximately 10:00 p.m., two customers arrived at a wholesale warehouse in Mount Vernon that sold unlicensed marijuana products. The two customers placed an order for a large quantity of merchandise from the warehouse, and it took warehouse employees about two hours to prepare their order. A little after midnight, after the customers’ order was prepared, two employees from the warehouse helped the customers carry the boxes containing the customers’ merchandise from the warehouse to the customers’ vehicle. At that point, at least 11 members of the robbery crew—including FERNANDEZ-RODRIGUEZ—got out of a large cargo van that had been parked near the warehouse, many brandishing firearms. Some of the robbers, including FERNANDEZ-RODRIGUEZ, ran over to the two employees and the customers, some pointed firearms at them, and others forced them back inside the warehouse. Other robbers who also got out of the van ran inside the warehouse to steal the merchandise, including marijuana. A still image from video surveillance outside the warehouse is depicted below: Shortly after the robbers got inside the warehouse, a gunfight broke out between the robbers and a warehouse employee. As a result, the warehouse employee and one of the robbers were killed. The robbers fled the scene, failing to steal anything. On or about December 4, 2024, FERNANDEZ-RODRIGUEZ was arrested in the Dominican Republic. To date, 12 individuals have been arrested in connection with this crime. * * * FERNANDEZ-RODRIGUEZ, 24, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, is charged with one count of murder through use of a firearm, which carries a maximum possible sentence of death or life in prison; one count of firearms use, carrying, and possession, which carries a maximum possible sentence of life in prison; one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; and one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge. Mr. Podolsky praised the work of the FBI’s Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force and the Mount Vernon Police Department. Mr. Podolsky also thanked the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, the Westchester County Police Department, the New York City Police Department, the Westchester Real Time Crime Center, the FBI Legal Attaché in Santo Domingo, and the Dominican authorities for their invaluable assistance. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in the Dominican Republic to secure the arrest and extradition of FERNANDEZ-RODRIGUEZ. This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared D. Hoffman and Justin L. Brooke are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. u.s._v._fernandez-rodriguez_complaint.pdf [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the descriptions of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Texas Man Sentenced for Supplying Cocaine to Omaha Dealer

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Matthew R. Molsen announced that Luis Perez, 37, of Rosenburg, Texas, was sentenced on March 12, 2025, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to distribute cocaine. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Perez to 87 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Perez’s release from prison, he will begin a three-year term of supervised release. Perez was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. Law enforcement became aware of co-defendant Gary Pope as a dealer of cocaine in the Omaha area. This led to a three-month wiretap of Pope’s cell phone in 2022. The wiretap intercepts and resulting investigation confirmed that Pope would receive cocaine deliveries from Perez. Perez would send kilogram quantities of cocaine from Texas using a courier, co-defendant Joseph Reyes. Reyes was arrested on May 23, 2022, in Kansas with two kilograms of cocaine destined for Omaha. After Reyes’s arrest, Pope began receiving cocaine from a different Texas supplier. Co-defendant Lonnie Embers was arrested on July 15, 2022, in Oklahoma with two kilograms of cocaine destined for Omaha from the Texas supplier that was not Perez. Perez was the last of the four defendants to be sentenced. Pope, 43, was sentenced to 87 months in prison for the Nebraska case and was sentenced to an additional 66 months in prison for a case prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa for charges of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Reyes, 34, of Houston, Texas, and Embers, 53, of San Marcos, Texas, were each sentenced to 46 months in prison. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. This effort was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.


title: Russ Ferguson Sworn In As United States Attorney For The Western District Of North Carolina

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Russ Ferguson was sworn in today as United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina (WDNC). Appointed by Attorney General Pamela Bondi on March 3, 2025, Mr. Ferguson took the oath of office administered by United States District Judge Frank D. Whitney. “It is the honor of a lifetime to serve as United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina,” said Mr. Ferguson. “I am fortunate to be coming into a well-regarded office with some of the best lawyers in North Carolina. I am ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work for the people of my home state. I thank Attorney General Bondi for trusting me to lead this office, and I pledge to serve with utmost integrity and dedication.” As U.S. Attorney, Mr. Ferguson serves as the chief federal law enforcement officer in the Western District, responsible for representing the United States in all civil and criminal litigations. Mr. Ferguson leads an office of nearly 100 federal prosecutors and support personnel, serving 32 counties across western North Carolina, including the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the largest Native American community in the eastern United States. U.S. Attorney Ferguson brings 16 years of significant legal experience to his new role. He began his legal career as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, where he tried 28 cases to verdict. Before his appointment as U.S. Attorney, Mr. Ferguson was a partner at the international law firm of Womble Bond Dickinson, where he led the firm’s complex litigation group and handled complex civil and criminal cases. Mr. Ferguson’s work included representing clients in high-profile and complex criminal and civil trials, as well as in international arbitrations before a number of world arbitral bodies. U.S. Attorney Ferguson has held leadership roles with the Mecklenburg County Bar, which honored him with an award for Best Individual Attorney for his pro bono service. He has been named to Super Lawyers , Best Lawyers in America, North Carolina Business Elite, and received the Charlotte Business Journal’s Forty Under Forty Award. Mr. Ferguson has also served as a speaker and panelist for local and national events and has published numerous articles on topics related to civil and criminal law. Mr. Ferguson also serves on the Board of NourishUp, Charlotte’s food pantry and meals on wheels organization. U.S. Attorney Ferguson received his undergraduate degree from Duke University and earned his law degree and a masters of law from Georgetown University Law Center. After law school, U.S. Attorney Ferguson clerked for the Honorable Frank D. Whitney in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.


title: Portuguese National Admits to Illegal Entry, Faces Second Deportation

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A Portuguese national arrested at his West Warwick home in August 2024 by members of the U.S Marshals Fugitive Task Force on multiple outstanding arrest warrants pleaded guilty on Monday to a charge of illegal entry and was sentenced to time served (six months), announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom. At the time of his arrest, it was learned that active arrest warrants were pending for Joao Luis Vieira, 45, in Bristol County, Massachusetts for cocaine trafficking, for reckless driving/eluding police in East Providence, and a failure to appear in Kent County Court in Rhode Island. A review of immigration data bases performed by Homeland Security Investigations Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents determined that Viera had been removed from the United States to Portugal in December 2013. An immigration judge ordered his deportation a month earlier. U.S. Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond sentenced Vieira to time served (six months). An immigration detainer has been lodged by ICE. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter I. Roklan. The matter was investigated by the U.S Marshals Fugitive Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations Immigration and Custom Enforcement. ###


title: Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced for Possession of a Firearm And Ammunition

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Greenbelt , Maryland – On March 7, 2025 U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Jesus Manuel, age 44, of Silver Spring, Maryland, to 58 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. The sentence was announced by Kelly O. Hayes, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland, with Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby, of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives- Baltimore Field Division (ATF). According to the plea agreement, on October 28, 2023, at approximately 10:30 p.m., a Riverdale Park Police officer arrived at a restaurant in Riverdale Park, Maryland to begin work at his secondary employment position as a security guard. Upon the officer’s arrival, a restaurant employee informed the officer that the defendant had attempted to enter the restaurant earlier in the evening wearing a fanny pack around his body that may have contained a firearm. The employee detailed the defendant’s physical description to the officer. At approximately 2:30 a.m., the officer went to the restaurant parking lot after learning of an altercation taking place there. A male restaurant patron approached the officer and indicated that the defendant had threatened the patron with a firearm. Then, a second male patron approached the officer and indicated that the defendant had also threatened this second patron with a firearm. Both men pointed towards the defendant. The officer called for police dispatch and requested additional officers. At approximately 3:10 a.m., officers saw the defendant standing near the restaurant’s kitchen door and approached him. The defendant was wearing the same fanny pack around his body. The defendant saw the officers approaching and began to walk, then run, away. Officers chased the defendant across the restaurant parking lot, across Baltimore Avenue, and into another parking lot behind a fast-food establishment. As he ran, the defendant fully removed the fanny pack from his body. The defendant threw the fanny pack away from him. The defendant was then placed in handcuffs. An officer retrieved from the ground the fanny pack that the defendant threw. As the officer picked up the fanny pack, he felt what he knew to be the muzzle of a handgun. The officer then used a flashlight to see inside of the fanny pack and pulled out a firearm, specifically a Glock model 21 .45 caliber pistol, loaded with approximately 8 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition. The defendant was prohibited from possessing both the firearm and ammunition because he had at least one prior felony conviction. 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 Hayes commended the ATF and Riverdale Park Police for their work on the case. Ms. Hayes thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Brooke Oki and Dawn Williams who prosecuted the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Concord Man Sentenced for Trafficking Methamphetamine and Illegally Possessing Firearms and Ammunition

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A Concord man was sentenced yesterday in federal court for committing drug and firearms offenses in New Hampshire, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces. Wayne Smith, 49, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Paul Barbadoro to 84 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release. On November 25, 2025, Smith pled guilty to three counts of distribution of controlled substances, namely methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, namely methamphetamine and fentanyl, one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition in furtherance of drug trafficking, and one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person. “The defendant chose to arm himself with a gun in furtherance of his drug dealing,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack. “Let this lengthy sentence serve as a warning to others who choose to do the same in New Hampshire.” "Yesterday’s sentencing serves as a powerful reminder that our efforts to protect New Hampshire’s communities from the dangers of illicit drugs remain unwavering,” said Colonel Mark Hall of the New Hampshire State Police. “The men and women of the State Police are dedicated to keeping our residents and visitors safe, and we will continue to hold those who endanger public safety accountable. This conviction reflects the relentless work of our State Troopers and the justice system’s commitment to ensuring that drug dealers face the consequences of their actions." Between August 22, 2023, and September 6, 2023, Smith sold methamphetamine on three occasions, totaling over 80 grams. On September 12, 2023, Smith was arrested as he prepared to make another sale. On September 14, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant and recovered approximately 348 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 199 grams of fentanyl, a Ruger pistol, and pistol ammunition. The New Hampshire State Police led the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Strelzin prosecuted the case. ###


title: St. Louis County Felon Admits Gun, Fentanyl Possession Charges

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A convicted felon from St. Louis County has pleaded guilty to two gun charges and admitted possessing fentanyl. James C. Taylor, 32, of Velda City, Missouri, pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Taylor admitted that on Jan. 16, 2019, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers responding to a “shots fired’ call found a stolen .40-caliber HS Produkt XD-40 pistol that Taylor had hidden in a couch, a digital scale and two bags of fentanyl in the room where Taylor had been. Witnesses told officers that Taylor was cheated out of $300 in a drug deal and began demanding money from the cousin of the purported dealer. Taylor received $600 but wanted more and held the cousin captive while he tried to get another person to bring more money, witnesses reported. Taylor is disputing the witnesses’ accounts but acknowledges the U.S. Attorney’s office could prove the kidnapping incident by at least a preponderance of the evidence. Taylor also admitted that on Nov. 7, 2020, St. Louis police received calls about a man in a gold Buick LeSabre on Enright Avenue pointing an AR-style firearm at people. Officers arrived and found Taylor in the driver’s seat. When told to exit the car and put his hands on the vehicle, Taylor dropped his phone and ran. He was arrested after a short pursuit. Officers saw a black AM-15 pistol with a large-capacity magazine in plain view on the back floor of the LeSabre and found a baggy containing marijuana. Taylor is scheduled to be sentenced on June 17. As part of the plea, both the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Taylor’s lawyer have agreed to recommend a prison sentence of 12 years. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Bluestone is prosecuting the case.


title: Mexican National Extradited to U.S. to Face Federal Drug Trafficking Charges in New Mexico

component: Criminal - Office of International Affairs

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Mexican national was extradited from Mexico to the United States to face federal drug trafficking charges in New Mexico. Guillermo Amaro-Rodriguez , 42, made his initial appearance last week in federal court after being extradited from Mexico on a charge of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. A federal grand jury indicted Amaro-Rodriguez on October 12, 2022. According to the indictment, Amaro-Rodriguez conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in Bernalillo County and elsewhere. Mexican law enforcement authorities arrested Amaro-Rodriguez at the request of the United States in Chihuahua on October 3, 2024. The FBI assumed custody of Amaro-Rodriguez from Mexican authorities on March 7, 2025. “Mexican authorities' efforts have ensured that the defendant will face justice in the United States for his alleged crimes,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin. “We thank our partners at the Fiscalía General de la República for their commitment to combating drug trafficking and holding those responsible accountable. Our continued collaboration guarantees that international boundaries will not shield criminals from prosecution.” “The extradition of Mr. Amaro-Rodriguez is an example of how the FBI will pursue justice no matter how long it takes,” said Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office. “Thank you to our determined FBI agents and the help of our federal, local and foreign partners for your hard work to hold this man accountable for his actions.” Amaro-Rodriguez will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been set. If convicted, Amaro-Rodriguez faces up to life in prison. Acting U.S. Attorney Holland S. Kastrin and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Albuquerque Police Department and the FBI’s Legal Attaché Office in Mexico City. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Mexico to secure the arrest and extradition of Amaro-Rodriguez. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Hirsch is prosecuting the case as part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.