title: Mother and son tax preparers sentenced to prison for tax fraud

component: USAO - Georgia, Southern

body_text: AUGUSTA, GA: The owners of a McDuffie County, Ga., tax preparation service have been sentenced to prison for filing dozens of fraudulent tax returns to obtain hundreds of thousands of dollars in excess IRS refunds for clients. Annie Bailey , 67, of Thomson, was sentenced to 21 months in prison and her son Tremarcus Bailey , 43, also of Thomson, Ga., was to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Defraud the United States, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall also ordered the Baileys to pay restitution of $683,046 and to each serve three years of supervised release upon completion of their prison terms. There is no parole in the federal system. “The Baileys’ business was a breeding ground for fraudulent activity, illegally enhancing their customers’ income tax refunds at the expense of the U.S. Treasury,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “Thanks to the investigative work of our law enforcement partners, the Baileys are being held accountable for their criminal behavior.” As described in court documents and testimony, including the Baileys’ guilty pleas, Annie Bailey owned Bailey’s Tax Service in Thomson, Ga., and her son Tremarcus was an employee. The company prepared income tax returns on behalf of customers since 2000. The business came to the attention of Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation in 2017, and a subsequent investigation determined the Baileys used fraudulent and fabricated information when filing tax returns for individual customers in order to illegally inflate the amount of refunds the clients would receive. The investigation determined that from 2014 to 2018, the fraudulent returns prepared by the Baileys resulted in $683,046 in criminal tax losses to the IRS. “The sentencings of the Baileys should serve as a notice to dishonest tax preparers that their fraud will eventually be uncovered,” said Demetrius Hardeman, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Atlanta Field Office of IRS-Criminal Investigation. “We will continue to investigate and prosecute tax preparers who willfully include false items on tax returns, and this is a reminder to taxpayers to review their return with the preparer for accuracy.” The case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry W. Syms Jr.


title: Recidivist Westmoreland County Drug Trafficker Indicted on Four Counts of Narcotics and Firearms Violations

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A former resident of Jeannette, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal narcotics and firearms laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. The four-count Indictment named Duran Foster, 29, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, on October 26, 2023, Foster possessed with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine and cocaine base, as well as a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The Indictment alleges that Foster has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple prior felony drug-trafficking convictions and a prior felony conviction for illegal possession of a firearm. Federal law prohibits an individual who has been convicted of a felony from possessing a firearm or ammunition. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 15 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $2 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Katherine C. Jordan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Monroe County Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison After Concealing Father’s Death, Disposing of His Remains to Steal Social Security and Pension Benefits

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Timothy Gritman, 56, of Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Cynthia Rufe to 60 months’ incarceration and three years of supervised release for a fraud scheme in which he concealed his father’s death to steal Social Security Administration ("SSA") retirement benefits and New York State pension benefits totaling approximately $204,985. Gritman was also ordered to pay restitution of $83,188 to the SSA and $110,897 to the New York State and Local Retirement System. He had pleaded guilty to fourteen counts of wire fraud and one count of Social Security fraud on February 13, 2023. Gritman’s father, Ralph, was 79 years old and in poor health when he was last seen alive by relatives at Gritman’s Pennsylvania residence in 2016. In the summer of 2017, Gritman relocated to Wyoming with his father. According to Medicare records, the father’s health benefits were used in September 2017 for an emergency visit to a Wyoming hospital, and then never utilized again. Investigators believe Ralph Gritman died in or about October 2017, with Timothy Gritman concealing the death from family members and disposing of Ralph’s body in an unknown manner. As Ralph Gritman was never reported deceased, his SSA and pension benefits continued to be paid into a joint account with the defendant from approximately October 2017 to October 2022. In that time, the defendant made many false statements to government officials to conceal his fraud and enable him to continue stealing government funds, even physically posing as his father numerous times, using makeup to look older. To date, the defendant refuses to divulge the whereabouts of his father’s remains, which, despite numerous searches, have not been found. “Timothy Gritman chose dollars and cents over a dignified death for his dad,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “He had been living off of his father Ralph’s retirement benefits for years, even before his father’s passing — and after it, went to significant lengths to keep that money coming in. With today’s sentence, he’s finally being made to answer for his criminal greed.” “For several years, Mr. Gritman intentionally concealed his father’s passing in a ploy to collect his pension and social security payments,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “Today’s sentencing is a reminder that the FBI, alongside our partners, will continue our work to hold those to account who engage in these fraud schemes.” “Timothy Gritman schemed to obtain the Social Security retirement benefits intended for his deceased father. His behavior is unacceptable, and this sentence holds him accountable for his criminal actions,” said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for the Social Security Administration. “I thank our law enforcement partners and the New York State Comptroller’s Office for their efforts in investigating, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Curran for prosecuting this case.” “For over five years, Timothy Gritman orchestrated a sometimes elaborate scheme to steal his deceased father’s Social Security benefits,” said Christopher Nielsen, Postal Inspector in Charge of the Philadelphia Division of the Postal Inspection Service. “In doing so, he concealed from the government and his extended family that his father had passed away. Even at sentencing, Mr. Gritman refused to close the door for his family and investigators and identify the whereabouts of his father’s body. This man not only harmed the Social Security system, but he also brought pain upon his extended family. We are pleased to have assisted the United States Attorney’s Office, the Social Security Office of Inspector General, and the FBI in this investigation, and through our collective efforts, bring some closure to the Gritman family, and to protect the Social Security system.” “Timothy Gritman shamelessly hid his own father’s death, going so far as to attempt to disguise himself as him in order to collect his pension and Social Security payments for more than four years,” said New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. “Thanks to the work of my investigative team and our partners in law enforcement, he has been held accountable. My office will continue to bring anyone who seeks to defraud the pension system to justice.” The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Social Security Administration - Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the New York State Office of the Comptroller and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Megan Curran.


title: Former Potosi Police Officer Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Child Sex Trafficking, Other Charges

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Wednesday sentenced a former Potosi, Missouri police officer to 25 years in prison for soliciting sexual acts and nude pictures in exchange for cash, vape cartridges and other items from three male minors. In 2022, Matthew N. Skaggs, now 40, made contact with three minors via social media applications such as Snapchat and through his position as a police officer. Skaggs made the acquaintance of one victim by asking the minor if he wanted to participate in a police ride-along program in Skaggs’s patrol vehicle. Skaggs encountered another minor victim by offering to assist him to get out of some minor legal trouble. The minor victims reported being afraid to report or refuse Skaggs. Skaggs’s crimes came to light when one of the minor victims disclosed Skaggs’s actions to his mother. At the time of his arrest, Skaggs was attending training to become a school resource officer. In a letter to Judge Schelp, the mother of one of Skaggs’ victims said because her son’s abuser was a police officer, he did not feel like he could tell anyone what happened, “because he knew if he called for help that you would be the officer that was sent.” Skaggs, she wrote, began grooming her son when he was 12. Skaggs “played the part of a great police officer that would protect and guide these boys and then completely betrayed that trust.” She went on to add, “He was scared that you would come to our home or his father’s home and take him. He was scared that you would harm his family.” Skaggs pleaded in November to three felony charges: sex trafficking, solicitation of child pornography and coercion and enticement of a minor. The Missouri State Highway Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson 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: Kingston Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Straw Purchase Firearms

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Oryin McLeod, age 23, of Kingston, New York, pled guilty today to conspiring with others to unlawfully obtain firearms from a licensed dealer by making false statements, also known as “straw purchasing” firearms. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), made the announcement. McLeod admitted that he entered into an agreement with Rylan Peterson, a native of Kingston then serving in the Marine Corps at a base in North Carolina, for Peterson to acquire six semi-automatic handguns on behalf of McLeod and others. Peterson then obtained the guns from North Carolina resident Mitchell Locke, who purchased them from a licensed dealer in North Carolina, falsely representing at the time of the purchase that he was acquiring the firearms for himself. McLeod paid Peterson for the guns, which Peterson transported to New York from North Carolina. McLeod was subsequently arrested in unlawful possession of two of the handguns. Sentencing is scheduled for June 26, 2024, before Senior United States District Judge Lawrence E. Kahn. McLeod faces up to 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Peterson and Locke are indicted on the same charge and pending trial. Peterson is also charged with two additional firearms crimes. The charges against these defendants are merely accusations, and they presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ATF and the Kingston Police Department are investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dustin C. Segovia and Emmet O’Hanlon are prosecuting the case.


title: Waterford Resident Indicted for Possession of Materials Depicting Sexual Exploitation of Children

body_text: ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Waterford, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Erie on charges of violating federal laws relating to the sexual exploitation of children, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. The two-count Indictment named Sean Eric Madigan, 44, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, in and around April 2023, Madigan received images depicting prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Madigan also possessed and accessed with intent to view child sexual abuse material from in and around September 2022 to May 2023. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Syracuse Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison Following his Jury Trial Convictions for Drug and Firearm Offenses

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - James Mack, age 40, of Syracuse, was sentenced today to serve 15 years (180 months) in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Syracuse Police Chief Joseph Cecile (SPD), Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New York Division Frank A. Tarentino III, and Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) John B. DeVito made the announcement. The evidence at trial established that Mack used his Honda Accord as a stash location for his drug trafficking operation. During a search of the defendant’s vehicle on February 12, 2020, SPD Detectives located a hidden compartment (or “trap”) in the dashboard. From within the trap, Detectives recovered over 400 grams of cocaine, over 100 grams of cocaine base (crack cocaine), and a loaded .38 caliber revolver. The defendant was at that time under federal supervision from a prior conviction for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Mack was also sentenced today to serve an 8-year term of supervised release following completion of his prison sentence, and a concurrent term of imprisonment for violating his previous federal supervision. The Syracuse Police Department-Special Investigations Division (SID), DEA, and ATF investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adrian LaRochelle and Jessica Carbone prosecuted the defendant.


title: Former North East Resident Indicted for Child Sexual Exploitation Violations

body_text: ERIE, Pa. - A former resident of North East, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Erie on charges of violating federal laws relating to the sexual exploitation of children, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. The two-count Indictment named Kurt Bryan Schultz, 54, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, on or about September 6, 2020, Schultz received images depicting the sexual exploitation of minors. Schultz also possessed and accessed with intent to view child sexual abuse material in and around September 2020. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 15 years and up to 60 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Erie County Detectives Bureau conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Houston man convicted in $6M bribery scheme

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A federal jury has returned a guilty verdict against a 54-year-old man for one count of conspiracy to pay and receive health care kickbacks and two counts of payment of kickbacks to marketers, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. The jury deliberated for an hour following a three-day trial before finding Ifeanyi Ozoh guilty on all counts as charged. Ozoh worked at a local dental clinic known as Floss Family Dentalcare Center from January 2020 to February 2021. At trial, the jury heard how Ozoh paid marketers $20 to $100 for each Medicaid-insured child referred to Floss. The marketers testified that Ozoh secretly paid them in cash and out of sight of other witnesses, sometimes putting their illegal kickback payments on top of a vending machine down the hall from the clinic. One clinic manager testified that she repeatedly warned Ozoh that paying marketers was illegal. The jury also heard that Ozoh paid out over $163,000 in bribes to marketers and received bonuses for reaching a quota of patients. From 2020 to 2021, Floss billed Medicaid over $6 million. Floss received over $4 million on those claims, most of which were predicated on a kickback paid to marketers and for dental services that were not provided. During the trial, a representative testified that Medicaid prohibits the payment of kickbacks for referrals of medical services. The defense attempted to convince the jury that Ozoh was only a “handyman” and was not aware that his actions were illegal. The jury ultimately did not believe those claims and found him guilty as charged. U.S. District Chief Judge Randy Crane presided over the trial and set sentencing for May 21. At that time, Ozoh faces up to 25 years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine. FBI, Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Olson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Valenti are prosecuting the case.


title: Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to Domestic Violence

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced that Norbert Michael Tsosie pleaded guilty in federal court to assault of intimate partner by strangulation or suffocation. Tsosie, 31, of Tsalie, Arizona, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been set. A federal grand jury indicted Tsosie on May 24, 2023. At his plea hearing, Tsosie agreed that on November 2022, he and his intimate partner, Jane Doe argued, and as the argument escalated, he attempted to strangle her. At sentencing, Tsosie faces up to 10 years in prison. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Jicarilla Apache Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Bell is prosecuting the case. # # # 24-71


title: New Bedford Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Conspiracy

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A New Bedford man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to his role in a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) operating in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Jose Santiago, 46, pleaded guilty on Feb. 12, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for May 7, 2024. Santiago was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2022. Between approximately April 2022 and approximately June 2022, Santiago purchased fentanyl from the DTO that he then redistributed to others. Intercepted calls captured Santiago discussing purchasing fentanyl from the DTO. The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira; and Fairhaven Police Chief Michael J. Myers made the announcement today. Special assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Homeland Security Investigations; Bristol County Sherriff’s Office; and Fall River, Taunton, Attleboro, Scituate, Yarmouth, Providence (R.I.) and West Warwick (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Mulcahy of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Philipsburg Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine Charge

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating the federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. David Klanish, 53, pleaded guilty to Count Two of the Superseding Indictment before United States Senior District Judge Kim R. Gibson. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from in and around January 2020 to in and around March 2020, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Klanish conspired with others to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. Klanish was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of methamphetamine that he distributed to others. Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for June 24, 2024. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Klanish. Additional agencies participating in this investigation included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office, Erie County District Attorney’s Office, Millcreek Police Department, Erie Bureau of Police, and other local law enforcement agencies. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Grand jury indicts 2 brothers & their father in narcotics, obstruction of justice conspiracies

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: DAYTON, Ohio – A federal grand jury has indicted two brothers and their father, charging them with crimes related to conspiracies to distribute narcotics and obstruct justice. Chase Alexander Crump, 34, of Centerville, Colin Tanner Crump, 32, of Centerville, and Mark Crump, 56, of Englewood, were arraigned in federal court Monday and today. Chase and Colin Crump are charged in a narcotics conspiracy punishable by at least 10 years and up to life in prison. According to court documents, the brothers conspired to distribute more than two kilograms of methamphetamine, more than 100 grams of fentanyl analogue, and cocaine. It is alleged the drug trafficking took place between November 2023 and January 2024 in Miamisburg, Englewood, Franklin, Centerville and Cincinnati. The brothers are also charged with maintaining a drug premises on River Downs Drive in Centerville. Law enforcement agents discovered approximately half a kilogram of fentanyl analogue at the residence. While executing a search warrant at the defendants’ parents’ house near Oberer Field in Englewood, agents discovered additional fentanyl and a firearm. After the FBI arrested Chase and Colin Crump in January 2024, it is alleged they conspired with their father, Mark Crump, on jail calls to obstruct the investigation. For example, they allegedly conspired to destroy Chase Crump’s burner phone. All three defendants are charged with conspiring to obstruct justice, a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Cheryl Mimura, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Shawn Gibson, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations Detroit; and members of the Warren County Drug Task Force announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Kelly K. Rossi is representing the United States in this case. An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. # # #


title: Missoula felon sentenced to five years in prison for illegally possessing firearms

body_text: MISSOULA — A Missoula man with two prior federal felony convictions was sentenced today to five years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, after he admitted to illegally possessing firearms, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. The defendant, Luke Aldon Hayes, 41, pleaded guilty in October 2023 to felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. The government alleged in court documents that Hayes had two prior federal felony convictions for firearms-related offenses and was prohibited from possessing guns. On Aug. 9, 2023, while at work in Bonner, Hayes accidently shot himself in the foot and immediately drove to his residence. Law enforcement responded to Hayes’ residence and eventually searched his mother’s car because she was seen moving a black, plastic case from the house to the vehicle. Officers seized the black case, which contained seven handguns. None of the guns had serial numbers and one of them, a .40-caliber pistol, was accompanied by a high-capacity magazine capable of holding 22 rounds of ammunition. In addition, law enforcement recovered additional guns, ammunition and accessories from Hayes in October 2023. In total, law enforcement recovered 14 firearms. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Racicot prosecuted the case. The FBI conducted the investigation. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. XXX


title: Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Second Degree Murder While Armed for 2022 Memorial Day Murder

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON- James Jackson, 30, of Silver Spring, MD, pleaded guilty, on February 14, 2024, to second degree murder while armed for the fatal shooting of Christian Monje, 29, of Fairfax, VA, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Superior Court Judge Robert Okun scheduled a sentencing hearing for May 31, 2024. Jackson faces a sentencing range of 19 to 23 years in prison. According to the government’s evidence, on May 30, 2022, at approximately 4:30 a.m., officers of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Second District responded to the 1700 block of Rhode Island Ave, NW, in response to the sounds of gunshots. Officers located Mr. Monje on the steps of St. Matthew’s Cathedral, suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. He was transported to the hospital and died from his injuries a few weeks later. Detectives recovered surveillance footage from nearby cameras which showed an individual approaching Mr. Monje while he sat on the steps of the church. Cameras also captured the individual fleeing down a nearby alley and ducking behind a dumpster. Detectives searched the area around the dumpster and located a 9mm Polymer80 “ghost gun” that was later determined to be the murder weapon. The case remained unsolved for months until law enforcement received notice of a CODIS link between a DNA profile obtained from the magazine of the murder weapon and Jackson’s reference DNA profile. CODIS, or the Combined DNA Index System, is a web of federal, state, and local indexes that allows laboratories to exchange DNA profiles electronically, linking crimes to each other and known offenders. With this valuable investigative lead, and other evidence obtained in the case, detectives confirmed the defendant’s identity as the murderer. The case was investigated by the Homicide Branch of the Metropolitan Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Miles Janssen.


title: Former Somerset Pulaski County Development Foundation Manager Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LONDON, Ky. – A Somerset, Ky., woman, Lisa G. Gadberry, 51, pleaded guilty on Monday, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Hanly A. Ingram, to wire fraud. According to her plea agreement, from November 5, 2012, through May 15, 2019, while employed as the Secretary/Office Manager for the Somerset Pulaski County Development Foundation, Gadberry devised a scheme to defraud the organization by means of materially false and fraudulent representations and promises. Specifically, Gadberry utilized the SPCDF credit card for numerous unauthorized personal expenses, including personal vacations, retail purchases, gasoline, electricity, cell phone, restaurants, and entertainment expenses, and concealed her scheme by paying the bill out of an account the Pulaski Fiscal Court, the SPCDF Board, and the CPA for SPCDF did not regularly control or monitor. In total, Gadberry charged $142,874.69 in personal charges to the card. Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Michael E. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the guilty plea. The investigation was conducted by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Smith is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. Gadberry will be sentenced on a date yet to be scheduled by the Court. She faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. Gadberry will also be required to pay a $142,874.69 money judgement. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes. — END —


title: Five Members of a Methamphetamine and Cocaine Distribution Ring Charged with Drug Trafficking Offenses

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced the unsealing of a seven-count indictment charging five individuals with drug trafficking offenses. The indictment alleges that the defendants were members of a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed methamphetamine and cocaine mailed to, and distributed throughout, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, including in Reading, Quakertown, Bensalem, Plymouth Township, Coopersburg, and elsewhere. Members of the DTO used addresses obtained through associates in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to mail the drugs, and then had members of the organization pick up the packages for subsequent distribution to their dealers. During the investigation, law enforcement seized forty firearms, over 100,000 rounds of ammunition, 60 pounds of methamphetamine, one kilogram of fentanyl, one kilogram of cocaine, 65 pounds of marijuana, fentanyl/heroin, 300 fentanyl pills, six pounds of mushrooms, and $15,000.00 in United States currency. The individuals charged include Michael Sanchez, 32, of Los Angeles, California; Avrian Haywood Mack, 21, of Reading, Pennsylvania; David Matthew Yohn, 53, of Coopersburg, Pennsylvania; Aived Abel Garcia, 25, of Chula Vista, California; and Miguel Aliaga, 36, of Whitehall, Pennsylvania. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Philadelphia’s El Dorado Task Force, HSI Allentown, HSI Los Angeles, HSI San Diego, HSI LAX, Bucks County District Attorney’s Office Drug Strike Force, Quakertown Borough Police Department, Richland Township Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, Liberty Mid-Atlantic High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, Berks County Detectives, United States Postal Inspection Service, Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General (PAOAG), Bensalem Police Department, Montgomery County Detectives, and the Orange County Probation Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lizmar Bosques and Special Assistant United States Attorney Tom Gannon. An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: 17 Charged in Scheme to Smuggle Fentanyl and Other Drugs Hidden Inside Fire Extinguishers Across U.S.-Mexico Border

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – An arraignment is scheduled this afternoon for the final defendant arrested on a federal grand jury indictment that alleges a scheme to smuggle fentanyl, methamphetamine and heroin from Mexico into the United States – narcotics that allegedly were packed into fire extinguishers and concealed in scrap metal loads. The drug trafficking organization used semi-trucks to import fire extinguishers filled with drugs across the United States-Mexico border, according to court documents. During the two-year investigation, called Operation “Smoke Jumpers,” authorities made 13 seizures that yielded approximately 680,992 fentanyl pills, 3 kilograms of fentanyl powder, 17 kilograms of heroin, and 10,418 pills containing methamphetamine. Nine defendants were arrested during law enforcement operations that began on February 8 and continued through Monday. One defendant was already in state custody. Seven additional defendants are fugitives believed to be in Mexico. “These defendants used a sophisticated network to smuggle immense amounts of fentanyl into our country,” said United State Attorney Martin Estrada. “We know that every fentanyl pill can kill, but these defendants did not care about the widespread destruction they were causing. Our office will continue to work intelligently and aggressively to bring international drug-trafficking organizations to justice.” “Law enforcement continues to meet the challenges presented by drug trafficking organizations whose members constantly find novel ways to hide the poison they’re importing from Mexico to U.S. towns and cities,” said Amir Ehsaei, the Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The FBI and our partners on the Strike Force are seeking seven fugitives in this case and ask that anyone with information as to their whereabouts contact the FBI.” The 15-count indictment unsealed on February 8 charges various defendants in drug trafficking counts and a money laundering conspiracy. The nine defendants who were arrested are: Oscar Ahumada Leyva, 43, of Mexico; Miguel Antonio Rabago Valenzuela, 42, of Mexico; Gustavo Rivero Rodriguez, 39, of Mexico; Carlos Espinoza, 38, of Alhambra; Erick Roque Angeles, 39, of Fontana; David Sanchez Balderas, 26, of Denver; Fernando Salgado, 36, of Riverside; Rocio Guadalupe Acevedo Tonche, 32, of Ontario; and Efren Quibrera Espinoza, 29, of Cudahy. Six of the defendants were taken into custody in the Los Angeles and Inland Empire regions. Five of those defendants have been arraigned, entered not guilty pleas, and ordered to stand trial on April 2. Erick Roque Angeles is scheduled to be arraigned in United States District Court in Los Angeles later today. A tenth defendant – Toniel Baez-Duarte, 33, of Apple Valley – was already in state custody. According to a warrant to search a phone seized when Carlos Espinoza was arrested last week, the investigation focused on Carin Trucking, a San Diego-based outfit owned by Leyva that operated at least six semi-trucks that regularly entered the United States from Mexico to deliver suspected narcotics to the Los Angeles area. The drugs, including counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, were concealed in fire extinguishers initially disguised as scrap metal and later in extinguishers that appeared legitimate, according to the search warrant filed Monday. “Investigators have observed multiple drug transactions involving truck drivers and their semi-trucks,” according to the affidavit in support of the search warrant. “The truck driver would drive into the United States from Mexico, and cross the border usually carrying a load of scrap metal, and concealed inside will be a scrap metal fire extinguisher containing drugs. The truck driver would then make his way up to Los Angeles, to meet a courier, who would pick up the drug packed fire extinguishers for further distribution.” An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court. The indictment alleges two narcotics conspiracies and 12 drug possession offenses, each of which carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a potential life sentence. Count 15, which alleges a money laundering conspiracy, carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Operation Smoke Jumpers was led by the FBI Los Angeles Strike Force, which is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative and provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. In addition to the FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the South Gate Police Department, IRS Criminal Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations participated in the investigation. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the California Highway Patrol, the Pasadena Police Department, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Inland Regional Narcotic Enforcement Team, the Alhambra Police Department, the Rialto Police Department, and the Fontana Police Department provided substantial assistance. Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher C. Kendall and Jehan Pernas of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section are prosecuting this case.


title: Metro Attacker Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison for Assault at L’Enfant Plaza Metro Station

body_text: WASHINGTON – Neal Pitt, 36, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 24 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release by D.C. Superior Court Judge Erik Christian following Pitt’s conviction at trial for assault with significant bodily injury. Pitt was convicted for an attack that took place on the L’Enfant Plaza Metro Station platform on March 9, 2021. The verdict was returned on October 30, 2023, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. According to the government’s evidence, on March 9, 2021, at approximately 7:45 a.m., Daniel Olsen was traveling on his way to work. Without provocation, Pitt followed Mr. Olsen on the Branch Avenue bound platform, grabbed him by the throat, and slammed him to the ground. Mr. Olsen landed on his right shoulder, resulting in a broken humerus that required surgery and months of physical therapy to repair. Pitt fled the scene but was identified based on CCTV footage, SmarTrip records, and his own statements that placed him at the scene of the crime. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Metro Transit Police Department Chief Michael Anzallo commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metro Transit Police Department. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kraig Ahalt and Shaniqua Butler, who investigated and prosecuted the case, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caroline Coates Huether, Travis Wolf, Bonnie Lindemann, Sandra Braschi, and Benjamin Bleiberg, who initially investigated the case.


title: Wetzel County Man Sentenced for Federal Methamphetamine Charge

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Duwayne Luis Ueltschy, age 44, of New Martinsville, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 70 months in federal prison for the distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, Ueltschy, also known as “Duane” and “D-Wayne,” sold methamphetamine and offered a shotgun as collateral for another drug deal. Ueltschy has a criminal history involving domestic violence, theft, and drug trafficking. Following his incarceration, Ueltschy will be required to be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years. Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton Reid prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Marshall County Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated. U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.


title: N.C. Woman Sentenced for Theft of Government Funds and Making a False Statement in a Passport Application

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Gayle Smith Gay, 75, of Huntersville, N.C., was sentenced to five years of probation with 240 days of home confinement after pleading guilty theft of government funds and making a false statement in an application for a passport. Evidence presented to the court showed that Gayle Smith Gay and her husband, Ivan Buxton Gay, Jr., engaged in a multi-decade scheme where they collected Social Security benefits under fraudulent identities from 2006 to 2023. Ms. Gay adopted the identity of her deceased sister, who died as an infant after living for only a few hours in February 1944. Mr. Gay adopted the identity of Alvin Vincent Lee, who also died as a child in 1941. Using the name Catherine Faye Smith, Ms. Gay changed the birth certificate of her sister in 1977 to read “Catherine Faye Smith” rather than “baby girl Smith” and applied for a Social Security number in that name in 1992. Using the name Catherine Smith Lee, Ms. Gay applied for a U.S. Passport in 2010 and renewed that passport in 2020. Ms. Gay began receiving Title II retirement benefits under the false identity, Catherine Smith Lee, in 2006 and subsequently began receiving supplemental security income benefits in 2009. Mr. and Ms. Gay continued to collect benefits from the Social Security Administration until April 2023 when their scheme was discovered by law enforcement. United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Gayle Smith Gay to a five-year term of court-ordered supervision to include 240 days of home detention. As a condition of probation, Ms. Gay must pay $132,962.00 in restitution to the Social Security Administration. Ivan Buxton Gay, Jr. pled guilty to the same charges in the Western District of North Carolina and is awaiting sentencing. This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration and the Department of State. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews prosecuted the case. ###


title: Second Wayne County Man Charged With Committing Covid-19 Pandemic Fraud

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Robert M. Reynolds, age 69, of Newfoundland, Pennsylvania, was charged in an information with wire fraud. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the information alleges that from May 2020 to August 2021, Reynolds aided and abetted another in submitting a fraudulent application and weekly certifications for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) benefits with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. The application and weekly certifications allegedly claimed that Reynolds was unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, had earnings for each quarter of 2019, and was available to accept employment if offered a job, when in fact, he was a retiree. Reynolds allegedly obtained approximately $36,000 in PUA benefits as a result of the scheme. The PUA program was created by the March 2020 CARES Act, as part of the United States government’s efforts to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the public’s health and economic well-being. The PUA program was designed to provide unemployment benefits to individuals not eligible for regular unemployment compensation or extended unemployment benefits. In May 2023, the United States Attorney’s Office unsealed charges against a related defendant, Christopher J. Miller, formerly of Newfoundland, Pennsylvania. Miller was charged with 54 combined counts of wire fraud, bank fraud false statements, identity theft, and unlawful monetary transactions, for allegedly obtaining over $1,500,000 in pandemic stimulus funds for himself and for others. Miller was arrested, detained, and pleaded guilty. He awaits sentencing. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and by the Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalties under federal law are 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Former Bookkeeper Sentenced to Federal Prison for Embezzlement and Fraud

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on February 9, 2024, Emilee K. Rueda (age: 42), of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 33 months’ imprisonment for wire fraud and tax offenses. According to court documents, Rueda was the office manager and in-house bookkeeper at a small business. Between September 2018 and February 2020, she made more than $650,000 in unauthorized expenditures on antique jewelry, lifelike dolls, trinkets, and other miscellaneous items, intending to resell many of these purchases. Rueda took advantage of her position of trust and made false entries into the business’s books to hide the theft, which was only uncovered after an employee’s paycheck bounced. Rueda also filed false tax returns hiding this illegal income from the Internal Revenue Service. In announcing the sentence, United States District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller emphasized the seriousness of the offense and the importance of deterring others from similar conduct. “The sentence imposed in this case reflects the substantial financial loss caused by the defendant’s fraud, the harm to all taxpayers caused by her filing of false tax returns, and the sense of betrayal felt by the victim company and its owners, who had trusted and supported the defendant,” said U.S. Attorney Haanstad. “I commend the hard work of the officers and agents who worked hard to hold the defendant accountable for her actions.” “Individuals entrusted with their employer’s finances are held to a higher ethical standard because their actions can have a significant impact on the financial health and reputation of their organization,” said Justin Campbell, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “Because she violated the trust between her and her employer, IRS-CI special agents held her accountable for her actions. The investigation of Ms. Rueda’s misdeeds underscores IRS-CI’s commitment to enforcing a just and transparent tax system.” This case was investigated by IRS-CI and the West Milwaukee Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Farris Martini. ### For further information contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov (414) 297-1700 Follow us on Twitter


title: Essex County Man Sentenced to 138 Months in Prison for Armed Robberies of Three Pharmacies

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 138 months in prison for committing three armed robberies of pharmacies in Elizabeth, New Jersey, for oxycodone and other prescription medication, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Charles Johnson, 28, of Irvington, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Karen M. Williams to an information charging him with three counts of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Judge Williams imposed the sentence today in Camden federal court. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Throughout June and July 2022, Johnson robbed three different pharmacies in Elizabeth using a similar approach for each of the robberies, including brandishing a firearm, committing the robberies in the morning, demanding that employees of the pharmacies provide Johnson with oxycodone, promethazine, and other prescription medication, and threatening to shoot individuals in the pharmacies with a firearm. Law enforcement officials collected extensive video surveillance footage that linked Johnson to the robberies. In addition to the prison term, Judge Williams sentenced Johnson to three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Prosecutor William A. Daniel; and the Elizabeth Police Department, under the direction of Chief Giacomo Sacca, for the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Stern of the General Crimes Unit in Newark.


title: Lewis County Man Sentenced in an 11-Member Drug Trafficking Scheme in Western Tennessee

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Jackson, TN – A federal judge has sentenced a Lewis County man to more than 22 years in federal prison for his role in an organized drug trafficking scheme. William Rainey , 46, of Hohenwald, TN was the last of 11 people in western Tennessee to be sentenced in the case. United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson also ordered Rainey to serve 10 years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee announced the sentence today. “Methamphetamine is destroying people, families, and communities throughout West Tennessee,” said United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz. “Our district will not be a haven for traffickers or for those who help them profit from pain by bringing meth and other drugs into our neighborhoods. I commend the work of our law enforcement partners in shutting down this operation and bringing these defendants to justice.” According to information presented in court, in June of 2019 investigators learned of a drug trafficking organization operating in West Tennessee. Investigators determined Rainey was responsible for trafficking approximately 90 pounds of high purity methamphetamine, making regular trips to his supplier in Kansas until his arrest in November 2019. Rainey and 10 people who obtained and redistributed methamphetamine from him were indicted in January 2020. Agents seized over 4 kg of methamphetamine and 29 firearms from Rainey and other defendants, some of whom were convicted felons, as part of the investigation. On September 21, 2021, Rainey pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. On January 30, Judge Anderson sentenced Rainey to 275 months in federal prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. Additionally, each of the following co-conspirators pled guilty and were sentenced by Judge Anderson and Senior United States District Court Judge J. Daniel Breen as follows: Randal Tinin a/k/a "Roho" , 49, Linden, TN: 168 months and 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Blake Barnett a/k/a "Duck" , 34, Parsons, TN: 170 months and 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. Tenesha Davies , 46, Scotts Hill, TN: 114 months and 5 years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. Christopher Fisher , 43, Readyville, TN: 120 months and 5 years of supervised release for aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. Savannah Hasher , 31, Darden, TN: 51 months and 5 years supervised release for aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. Trista Middleton , 39, Decaturville, TN: 60 months and 4 years supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. Hayley Brodie , 28, Jackson, TN: 60 months and 5 years supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. Shannon Kelley , 44, Scotts Hill, TN: 75 months and 4 years supervised release for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Timothy Stanfill , 35, Huron, TN: 42 months and 4 years supervised release for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, being a drug user in possession of firearms, and unlawful possession of a firearm silencer. Jamie Hickman , 52, Huntingdon, TN: 156 months and 5 years supervised release for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. Jason Moody , 39, Lexington, TN: 160 months and 5 years supervised release for possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of actual methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. This investigation was conducted as 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. This case was investigated by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force; Decatur County Sheriff’s Department; Lexington Police Department; and Selmer Police Department. United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Gregory D. Allen and Hillary L. Parham, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case.


title: Okmulgee Resident Sentenced For Unlawful Possession Of A Machine Gun

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

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Keaton Dwayne Tripp, age 21, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 41 months imprisonment for unlawfully possessing a machine gun. The charges arose from investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Muskogee Police Department. On May 11, 2023, Tripp entered a guilty plea in federal district court to one count of Possession of a Machine Gun. According to investigators, on March 23, 2023, law enforcement responding to a reported home invasion apprehended Tripp and found him in possession of a pistol illegally modified for fully automatic firing. “Converting firearms to fully automatic is an alarming trend which poses a tremendous threat to our communities,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Identifying and prosecuting persons unlawfully converting and/or knowingly possessing these illegal, extremely dangerous weapons is a focus of the Department of Justice.” The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings. Tripp will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.


title: Cherokee County Residents Plead Guilty To Federal Drug And Firearm Charges

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Ricky Dale Degase, age 30, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and Andrea Dawn Winsett, age 34, of Park Hill, Oklahoma, entered guilty pleas to charges of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Degase also entered a plea of guilty to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. The Indictment against Degase alleged that on March 7, 2023, Degase knowingly and intentionally possessed with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of actual methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, along with a loaded firearm prohibited to him as a convicted felon. At the plea hearing, Degase admitted that after a traffic stop on March 7, 2023, he was found to be in possession of 22.36 grams of actual methamphetamine which he intended to distribute, along with a loaded 9mm pistol. At the time of the offenses, Degase knew he had been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year. The Information against Winsett alleged that on March 7, 2023, Winsett knowingly and intentionally possessed with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. At the plea hearing, Winsett admitted that on March 7, 2023, after being arrested for driving under the influence, she was found in possession of 14.75 grams of actual methamphetamine which she intended to distribute. The charges arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the pleas and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Degase and Winsett will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.


title: Stilwell Resident Pleads Guilty To Murder And Firearms Offense

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jerry Lee Matlock, Jr., age 41, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to an Information charging him with one count of Second Degree Murder in Indian Country and one count of Use, Carry, Brandish and Discharge of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Court documents allege that on the evening of September 14, 2021, Matlock intentionally shot an individual with a rifle outside a Stilwell residence before fleeing the scene of the crime. Adair County deputies responding to the shooting discovered the victim dead from a gunshot wound to the chest. The crimes occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The charges arose from an investigation by the Adair County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Matlock was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.


title: Serial Bank Robber Sentenced To 25 Years In Federal Prison

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton today sentenced Timothy Jones, (60, Orlando) to 25 years in federal prison for bank robbery. The court also ordered Jones to forfeit $30,000 of unrecovered proceeds from his robberies. Jones pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery on September 26, 2023. According to court documents, on June 1, 2022, Jones was released from Putnam County Correctional Facility after having served an eight-year term of incarceration for committing a bank robbery of a Wells Fargo bank located on Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando. On the morning of June 2, 2022, Jones walked into a Truist Bank on that same street in Orlando, met with an employee in an office, and announced that it was a robbery. Jones told the employee that he had a gun and would shoot everyone in the bank if they did not give him $150,000 and told the employee that there would be a “bloodbath” if he did not get what he wanted. After employees provided $30,000, Jones took the keys to an employee’s car and escaped. Seven days later, on June 9, 2022, Jones entered a SouthState bank in Kissimmee. He walked into an office with an employee and announced it was a robbery and that he had a gun. Jones told the employee he did not want any “funny business” and demanded $50,000 that they then provided. He again took the keys to an employee’s car and escaped in that car. Later that afternoon, Jones was apprehended near the employee’s car with $1,815 in cash and $47,200 in the vehicle. After being arrested and detained on state and then federal charges, Jones claimed to be mentally incompetent and unable to stand trial. In May 2023, Jones wrote handwritten letter to a relative and attempted to conceal it from law enforcement by marking it as though he was communicating to an attorney. In the letter to his relative, Jones explained that he was pretending to be incompetent in order to “manipulate,” “trick,” and “fool” doctors and the court system into showing him leniency and reducing his sentence. Jones had been convicted of robbery charges in 1995, 2006, and 2013 and had spent almost all of the past 18 years incarcerated for robbery charges. Jones was sentenced as a career offender. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Kissimmee Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Columbia Man Sentenced for Possessing a Firearm While Out on Bond for Possessing a Firearm

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Nicholas Vanover, 26, of Columbia, was sentenced to an additional term in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Vanover had been charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm in a previous federal case. After he pled guilty to the prior felon in possession charge, he was allowed to stay out on bond awaiting sentencing. While awaiting sentencing, agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives learned that Vanover was continuing to sell marijuana from his apartment. While on bond and awaiting sentencing for his prior firearm guilty plea, he violated the conditions of his bond by having multiple positive drug tests. Probation officers obtained an arrest warrant for his bond violations and U.S. Marshals served the warrant at Vanover’s apartment. When they entered the apartment, they saw a digital scale with marijuana with several large capacity ammunition magazines. They obtained a search warrant and found a .40 caliber handgun with a drum magazine capable of accepting 50 rounds of ammunition, several extended magazines capable of accepting more than 15 rounds of ammunition, an AK-47 style rifle, four large bags containing more than 500 grams of marijuana, approximately $16,000.00 in U.S. currency, a money counter, and a pharmacist-sized (one pint) bottle of codeine cough syrup, which had been stolen during a pharmacy robbery in Kershaw County. Senior United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Vanover to 75 months imprisonment consecutive to the 63-month term he is currently serving for his prior conviction. Following his incarceration, he will serve a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. This case was investigated by United States Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Columbia Police Department, and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon prosecuted the case. ###


title: Three Men Sentenced to Prison for Violent Carjacking Conspiracy that Targeted Uber and Lyft Drivers

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: ST. PAUL, Minn. – Three Minneapolis men have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a series of violent carjackings and armed robberies targeting Uber and Lyft drivers, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger. “The defendants targeted innocent people who were simply doing their jobs,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger. “The crimes committed by these four men contributed to the sharp increase in violent carjackings throughout the Twin Cities in recent years and left victims with physical and emotional scars. I commend our law enforcement partners for their tireless efforts in bringing these defendants to justice.” “The residents of Minneapolis have dealt with violent crime for far too long,” said Minneapolis Police Chief, Brian O’Hara. “The sentencing of these individuals sends a clear message: anyone who chooses to use violence and terror for personal gain will be held accountable. I am grateful for the leadership and partnership we have with U.S. Attorney Luger. I’m also thankful for the continued partnership with our law enforcement partners who helped ensure justice was done and accountability was achieved.” “The FBI and our law enforcement partners are determined not to allow our community to become a breeding ground for violent, carjacking criminals,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “These sentencings send a clear message: carjacking will be met with swift and decisive action. We are committed to working tirelessly with law enforcement, community leaders, private sector partners, and residents to eradicate this heinous crime. Our community deserves safety and security, and we are prepared to take whatever steps necessary to ensure that carjackers are brought to justice.” According to court documents, between September and October 2021, Shevirio Kavirion Childs-Young, 20, William Charles Saffold, 21, Javeyon Demario Tate, 23, and Eric Harrell Knight, 20, engaged in a series of violent carjackings and armed robberies, targeting Uber and Lyft drivers. As part of the scheme, the defendants conspired with each other to lure drivers to preplanned locations under the guise of picking up or dropping off passengers. When the drivers arrived, the defendants carjacked the drivers at gunpoint. To intimidate and force compliance, they brandished firearms, beat, and pistol-whipped the drivers. They also demanded keys, wallets, and cell phones and forced the drivers at gunpoint to unlock their phones and provide passcodes. The defendants then used the passcodes to further victimize the drivers by accessing and stealing money from the drivers’ Cash App accounts or other applications. According to court documents, on May 11, 2022, while attempting to execute an arrest warrant, an FBI agent approached Saffold, who immediately drew a pistol and pointed it at the agent before fleeing on foot. All four defendants pleaded guilty to conspiring to use, carry, and brandish firearms during and in relation to crimes of violence. Saffold also pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal officer. Knight was sentenced today to 60 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. On February 13, 2023, Tate was sentenced to 78 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. On February 12, 2024, Childs-Young was sentenced to 96 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Saffold is scheduled to be sentenced on February 20, 2024. Judge Katherine M. Menendez sentenced the defendants. U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger thanked the Minneapolis Police Department and the FBI for their skilled investigative work on the case, and Uber and Lyft for their assistance throughout the investigation. This case was prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger and Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Calhoun-Lopez.


title: Four Individuals Charged in Stolen Vehicles Conspiracy

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – Four individuals were charged for their roles in a conspiracy to receive, retitle, and “re-VIN” stolen vehicles, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Nathaniel Bell, aka “David Jones,” 26, of Linden, New Jersey; Johnathan Tanksley, 30, of Orange; L’Hubermane Felix, 24, of Miami, Florida; and Dayanna Sarango-Hidalgo, 28, of Newark, are each charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to receive stolen vehicles. Bell is additionally charged with five counts of altering or removing motor vehicle identification numbers (VIN) and one count of transportation of stolen vehicles. Felix made his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jessica S. Allen in Newark federal court. Bell, Tanksley and Sarango-Hidalgo made their initial appearances earlier this month before U.S. Magistrate Judge Edward S. Kiel in Newark federal court. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: The defendants conspired to obtain stolen vehicles from New Jersey, New York, Florida, and other states, obtained fraudulent titles for the stolen vehicles, and altered vehicle identification numbers to conceal the fact that the vehicles were stolen. The stolen cars were then sold to dealerships or individual purchasers so the defendants could make a profit. In at least one instance, the defendants sold a stolen car to an individual purchaser and then stole it back so they could sell it again. They accomplished this by placing Apple AirTags in the stolen vehicles to track the location of the vehicle after its sale. Each defendant faces up to five years in prison on the conspiracy charge. The maximum penalty that Bell faces for each count of altering or removing a motor vehicle identification number is five years in prison, and the maximum penalty for transporting a stolen vehicle is 10 years. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the New Jersey State Police Auto Theft Task Force; the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission; the Union County Prosecutor’s Office; the National Insurance Crime Bureau; the Jersey City Police Department; the Belleville Police Department; the Rahway Police Department; the Linden Police Department; the Roselle Police Department; the Eatontown Police Department; the Freehold Police Department; the Elizabeth Police Department; the Miami Police Department (Florida); the Florida Highway Patrol; Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; the Howard County Police Department (Maryland); the New York Police Department; the Nassau County Police Department (New York); the Georgia Department of Revenue; the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice; the Deputy Attorney General’s Office; the FBI Miami Office; the FBI Cleveland Office; and the FBI Milwaukee Office. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Thompson of the General Crimes Unit in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. belletal.complaint.pdf


title: India-based computer-hacking scam that targeted elderly across the country and stole $150,000 from a Kalispell woman sends Indian national to prison for more than four years

body_text: MISSOULA — A federal judge today sentenced an Indian national to four years and three months in prison for his role in stealing $150,000 from a Kalispell woman through an international computer-hacking scheme that targeted elderly Americans nationwide and resulted in more than $1.2 million in total losses, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. The defendant, Sukhdev Vaid, 24, of Haryana, India, pleaded guilty in December 2023 to wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. The court further ordered that upon release from custody, Vaid will be remanded to the Bureau of Customs and Immigration Enforcement for deportation and ordered Vaid to pay $1,236,470 restitution. “It has become all too common for people outside of our country to victimize Montanans, especially as it relates to wire fraud, and get away with it. But not this time. Vaid is going to federal prison due to the sophistication and tenacity of the FBI, for which I am grateful. We will continue to be relentless in tracking down these criminals who prey on our trusting impulses, and we are confident such efforts will result in these fraudsters ending up in the same place as Vaid,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said. “’Phantom Hacker’ scams layer imposter tech support, financial, and government personas to gain access to someone’s computer and personal information. Sadly, these scams are increasingly targeting our seniors. Adding to the depravity of this particular case is that the scammer traveled overseas to collect victim’s money in person,” said Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI. “To protect yourself, never click on unsolicited pop-ups, links sent by text message or email, don’t download software at the request of someone you don’t know, and always remember that the government and law enforcement will never call and ask you for money.” “In an era where innocent folks increasingly fall victim to these types of crimes, I am pleased that our office played an active role in the capture, prosecution, and ultimate conviction of these individuals,” Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino said. “While we know that the convictions of Mr. Vaid and Mr. Joseph cannot fully replace the emotional and financial loss experienced by the victims, they do ensure that these individuals will not have the ability to prey upon our citizens during their time of incarceration. It is a reminder to all citizens that these scams occur frequently and can be devastating. I urge everyone to exercise caution; do not allow strangers access to your computer, bank accounts, or personal information,” Heino said. In a statement to the court, the Montana victim said, “I feel very violated…I have crawled into a shell emotionally and don’t want to be vulnerable in any way. I don’t know who I can safely trust now. I don’t feel safe at all.” A victim from outside Montana wrote to the court, “I’m driving a 2007 car, and this loss has prevented me from affording a new car. The cost of living keeps going up, which doesn’t help when on a fixed income. I’m not sure I will ever have peace of mind again and trust others. This has cost me more than any monetary loss.” The government alleged in court documents that a large enterprise originating from India was involved in stealing $1,236,470 from elderly Americans. The Montana case arose in February 2023, when Glacier Bank notified the FBI that Jane Doe, a 73-year-old woman in Kalispell, had been defrauded. The fraudsters tricked Jane Doe into giving them money through a pop-up notice that appeared on Jane Doe’s computer screen. The notice explained that Jane Doe had been “hacked” and for her to call a number for customer support. Jane Doe complied, and fraudsters directed her to remove cash from her bank accounts for safe keeping at the “Fed.” Jane Doe complied and gave $150,000 in cash to the fraudsters. After learning of the scam, the FBI set up a ruse in which Jane Doe told the fraudsters she still had $50,000 in cash. The FBI arrested Vaid, along with his co-defendant, Eddly Joseph, of Gainesville, Florida, when they traveled to Montana to collect the money. The investigation determined that the fraudsters remotely accessed Jane Doe’s computer, using UltraViewer, which they installed on her computer. Joseph was sentenced previously to two years and nine months in prison for his conviction in the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan G. Weldon prosecuted the case. The FBI and the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Justice Department Sues to Shut Down Ohio Return Preparer

component: Tax Division

body_text: The Justice Department filed a complaint today seeking to bar an Ohio tax return preparer from owning or operating a tax return preparation business and preparing tax returns for others. The civil complaint against Emmanuel Antwi and his Cincinnati-based businesses – Manny Travel Agency & Business Services Inc. and Manny Financial, Insurance & Accounting Firm LLC – was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio. The complaint alleges that Antwi knowingly took unreasonable or incorrect positions on returns he prepared that resulted in understatements of the taxes his customers owed and overstatements of the refunds to which they were entitled to receive. In particular, the complaint alleges that Antwi prepared returns that claimed deductions for purported business losses or employee business expenses that he knew were false. The complaint also alleges that Antwi prepared returns where he knowingly reported the wrong filing status. The government further alleges that Antwi filed hundreds of tax returns each filing season since at least 2020, with at least 95% of the returns he prepares annually claiming a refund. According to the complaint, in addition to seeking an injunction against Antwi and his businesses, the government requested an order of disgorgement to prevent Antwi and his businesses from profiting from their violation of the internal revenue laws. By repeatedly understating his customers’ tax liabilities, the complaint alleges that the United States has been harmed by Antwi’s conduct resulting in the significant loss in tax revenue of an estimated $1,098,186 in 2020 alone. Deputy Assistant Attorney General David A. Hubbert of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. Taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant against unscrupulous tax preparers. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers. In the past decade, the Justice Department’s Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department website . An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page . If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details . Antwi Complaint Filed(22891389.1).pdf


title: Eagle River man sentenced to 35 years for sexually abusing minor for over 5 years

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Eagle River man was sentenced today to 35 years in prison for sexually abusing a minor in order to produce and possess child pornography. According to court documents, Michael Vernon Ross, 32, began sexually abusing a 7-year-old child in 2017. The abuse occurred weekly and lasted for multiple years. Ross documented some of the abuse through pictures and videos kept on his cell phone. The defendant was in possession of over 450 photos and 30 videos of varied length depicting his sexual abuse of the victim. On Sept. 3, 2021, classmates of the victim told school staff that they believed the child was being abused. The school took appropriate and timely action to report the abuse to law enforcement, which led to the prompt investigation and prosecution of the defendant. Ross pleaded guilty in September 2023 to one count sexual exploitation of a child for production of child pornography and one count possession of child pornography. Ross was sentenced to 35 years in federal prison, 25 years’ supervised release, and is required to pay over $28,000 in restitution. In imposing the maximum sentence for the production of child pornography, the court noted that while it doesn’t have the power to “bring back the victim’s childhood, there can be provision for just punishment.” “Mr. Ross’ actions were deplorable. He preyed on a member of our most vulnerable community and caused irreparable damage to those involved,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska. “Individuals who choose to target children should expect to be vigorously investigated and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s office in collaboration with our law enforcement partners. This case highlights why encouraging your children and peers to report suspected abuse is paramount, because it helps our teams continue to prioritize efforts to keep Alaska’s children safe.” “The defendant’s years-long child exploitation crimes are among the most egregious and have no place in our society,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Brandon Waddle of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “May this sentence serve as a reminder that the FBI and our law enforcement partners have zero tolerance for child predators, and will hold them accountable to the fullest extent of the law.” “The Anchorage Police Department thanks the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the prosecution of these offenses. The sexual exploitation of anyone is unacceptable in the Municipality of Anchorage and all communities. The abuse of our youth is a serious matter that will be diligently investigated,” said APD CACU Detective S. Davies. “The Anchorage Police Department encourages anyone who learns of a disclosure of sexual abuse or sexual exploitation, or makes observations of those crimes, to please make a report. It is our hope that the sentence received by Mr. Ross will bring closure to those involved and have a deterrent effect for others.” The FBI Anchorage Field Office and Anchorage Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth Brickey and Adam Alexander 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 . If you are a victim of child abuse or suspect someone you know is a victim, you can report to APD at ReportChildAbusetoAPD@anchorageak.gov or 3-1-1/(907) 786-8900, the state OCS at reportchildabuse@alaska.gov or 1(800) 478-4444, or the FBI at tips.fbi.gov . ###


title: Woman Sentenced for Evidence Tampering

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: A Tulsa woman was sentenced today for three counts of Evidence Tampering, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Ashton Nikoel Mattingly, 31, of Tulsa to 144 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release. According to court documents, in Feb. 2021, Mattingly knew she was the target of a federal Grand Jury investigation. She instructed a third party to go into her home and remove a pill bottle so it would not be available as evidence in the investigation. Mattingly then instructed the third party to tamper with her social media account, attempting to disable the account. She then contacted a different third party instructing them to falsify that her cellphone was stolen and to request the service to be disabled. Mattingly admitted that she knowingly intended to obstruct the Grand Jury investigation. Mattingly will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility. The FBI and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vani Singhal and Timothy Faerber prosecuted the case.


title: Plymouth Man Pleads Guilty to Submitting Multiple Fraudulent Claims for Pandemic Relief

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Plymouth, Mass. man pleaded guilty today to his involvement in a COVID-19 relief fund fraud scheme. Ferris Brooks, 41, pleaded guilty to theft of government property. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for May 21, 2024. Brooks was charged in October 2023. From April to December 2020, Brooks submitted multiple applications for government benefits, both in his own name and in the names of friends and family, that contained false information. Specifically, Brooks submitted an application for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan with the U.S. Small Business Administration in the name of a fake business. Brooks also submitted applications for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and filed tax returns for Economic Impact Payments in the names of friends and family that contained false employment information. Brooks directed payments on the various fraudulent claims to bank accounts that he had opened in his own name and then shared a portion of the proceeds with his friends and family. The various fraudulent claims paid out more than $150,000 in pandemic relief funds. The charge of theft of government property provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Markham of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects $24.4 Million in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2023

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee announced today that the District of Maine collected a total of $24,435,341.37 in civil and criminal actions in 2023. $1,390,922.70 was collected in criminal actions and $23,044,418.67 was collected in civil actions , including $22,589,634.83 from the July 2023 settlement in United States of America v. Martin’s Point Heath Care, Inc ., a collaborative effort with the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. This False Claims Act settlement was the largest Medicare fraud settlement in state history. 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. The VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act of 2021 added a new source of revenue for the Crime Victims Fund, directing revenues collected from deferred prosecution and non-prosecution agreements to be deposited into the Crime Victims Fund. Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Maine, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $1,390,922.70 in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2023. 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. “The Crime Victims Fund is a vital resource that helps fund state and local programs that provide services for victims of crime, and it is funded by the work that occurs in U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country including our district,” said U.S. Attorney McElwee. “Ensuring that the taxpayers of the United States as well as crime victims receive the money that is due to them and that is needed to aid in their recovery is a priority for our office.” ###