title: Hartford Felon Sentenced to More Than 8 Years in Prison for Gun Offense, Violating Supervised Release

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DENROY FABLE, 40, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to 102 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for unlawfully possessing a firearm, and for violating his conditions of supervised release that followed a prior federal conviction. According to the evidence presented during Fable’s trial in October 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force and Hartford Police Department conducted an investigation of a business located at 136 Barbour Street in Hartford that was suspected of trafficking narcotics. The business, a purported clothing store, had an awning that read “The HOLE Ex-Con 360 the movement.” In October 2022, investigators made two controlled drug purchases of marijuana from the store. On October 5, 2022, Fable and others were in the store when investigators conducted a court-authorized search of the store and seized quantities of suspected crack cocaine, psychedelic mushrooms, cocaine, marijuana, heroin, synthetic opioid pills, fentanyl pills disguised as oxycodone, MDMA, drug packaging and processing materials, U.S. currency, and five handguns. One of the handguns seized, a loaded .380 semiautomatic pistol, was found in a pocket of Fable’s jacket that was hanging on a shelf. Subsequent forensic testing of the firearm revealed the presence of Fable’s DNA. Fable’s criminal history includes state convictions for criminal possession of a firearm, and carrying a pistol without a permit, and federal convictions for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack. On October 26, 2023, Fable was found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. In March 2019, Fable was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 37 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release. He was released from prison in August 2020, and was on supervised release when he possessed the firearm in October 2022. Judge Williams sentenced Fable to 78 months of imprisonment for unlawfully possessing the firearm, and a consecutive 24 months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release. Fable has been detained since October 5, 2022. This investigation was conducted by the DEA’s Hartford Task Force and the Hartford Police Department, with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory. The DEA Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, and Windsor Locks Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys A. Reed Durham and Brendan J. Keefe.


title: Cape Girardeau Postal Worker Convicted of Stealing Mail

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: CAPE GIRARDEAU – A jury on Wednesday found a former U.S. Postal Service letter carrier guilty of charges accusing him of stealing and failing to deliver customers’ mail. After a trial lasting less than two days, Robert Gafford, 33, of Jackson, Missouri, was found guilty of one count of delaying or destroying mail and one count of embezzlement of mail. Gafford worked out of the Cape Girardeau Post Office annex at the time and was responsible for delivering mail on a rural route in or near Scott City, Missouri. In late 2021, the postmaster received complaints from a couple on Gafford’s delivery route that they were not receiving their mail, including bills and some packages, according to evidence and testimony presented at the trial. The couple have Informed Delivery, a Postal Service program that provides pictures of the mail that is scheduled to be delivered that day. The couple sent postal officials images of mail that was not delivered. The postmaster had a supervisor check daily for mail addressed to the couple. There were days when their mail was not delivered and officials found it at the post office and days in which the mail could not be located, according to evidence and trial testimony. When confronted by supervisors and told he must deliver the mail, Gafford said did not like the location of the victims’ mailbox, according to court records. He was also issued a written warning. Frustrated when their mail was still not being delivered, the couple mailed an Apple AirTag tracking device to themselves and traced it to Gafford’s home when it wasn't delivered to theirs, the trial showed. A special agent with the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General then sent a test piece of mail with a tracking device. Investigators watched as Gafford stopped at his personal vehicle before leaving post office property in his mail vehicle that day. They also independently tracked Gafford’s postal vehicle as he skipped the couple’s mailbox. They tracked the test piece to Gafford’s personal vehicle after he left for the day, then pulled him over and seized the test piece and the couple’s other undelivered mail from his SUV’s glove box, the trial showed. Gafford is scheduled to be sentenced May 21. Each charge carries a penalty of up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and a fine. The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Hahn and Christopher Shelton are prosecuting the case.


title: Kalamazoo Man Sentenced To 20 Years In Prison For Methamphetamine Trafficking

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS , MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Rocky Parker, 48, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for methamphetamine trafficking. At sentencing, Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou noted that Parker had a significant number of prior felony convictions, many of which were for controlled substance offenses. Parker’s prior crimes garnered him the highest criminal history category under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. “I am grateful to our law enforcement partners for their investigative work on this case,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten . “My office will remain focused on disrupting the supply lines that bring drugs into our communities and destroy so many lives.” The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team (KVET) began investigating Parker for drug trafficking based on a series of tips they received that Parker was a pound-level dealer of methamphetamine in Kalamazoo. The investigation yielded 1.4 kilograms of methamphetamine across six purchases from Parker. During the investigation, DEA and KVET learned that Parker traveled to Phoenix, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada on two occasions in June and July to meet with his sources of supply. During the second trip, investigators learned that Parker was shipping methamphetamine back to Kalamazoo. Investigators intercepted and searched a package destined for Parker, which yielded another 1.3 kilograms of methamphetamine. At the end of July, investigators learned that Parker was making a third trip to obtain additional methamphetamine. On August 1, 2023, on his return from out west, police stopped Parker in Berrien County. While he was bringing his vehicle to a stop, Parker threw a black duffle bag out the passenger window. Police searched the bag and found an additional 1.3 kilograms of methamphetamine. Parker was charged with possession with intent to distribute the methamphetamine seized on August 1, 2023, and pled guilty to this offense on September 28, 2023. “This case was a successful collaboration between our State and Federal partners,” said Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Chief David Boysen . “We are pleased to see that Mr. Parker is facing the consequences of his crimes.” “Mr. Parker contributed to the addiction and poisoning of members of our community by distributing methamphetamine, a highly addictive and destructive illicit substance,” Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene . “The DEA, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, and other partners in law enforcement, are committed to protecting our communities from individuals like Mr. Parker who continue to put profits and greed above the safety and well-being of the citizens of Kalamazoo and surrounding communities.” This case was investigated by the DEA and KVET with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Michigan State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joel S. Fauson and Jacob Metoxen handled the prosecution. ###


title: Marion County Man Pleads Guilty To Production Of Child Sex Abuse Material

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Matthew Allen Gahan (24, Summerfield) has pleaded guilty to one count of producing child sex abuse material and one count of possessing child sex abuse material. Gahan faces a minimum mandatory term of 15 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court records, on May 13 and continuing through May 25, 2023, Gahan spoke with a minor outside of the United States. Gahan coerced the minor to participate in video calls in which the minor engaged in sexual activity at Gahan’s direction. Gahan recorded these calls without the minor’s knowledge. On September 13, 2023, the FBI searched Gahan’s home pursuant to a federal search warrant and found multiple videos and images portraying the sexual abuse of young boys. Gahan also used the dark web to distribute and receive child sex abuse material. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk. 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 Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Previously Convicted Felon from McKeesport Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Possession of Firearm and Ammunition

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 48 months of incarceration, to be followed by three years of supervised release, on his conviction of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan imposed the sentence on Rashawn Walker, 32. According to information presented to the Court, on December 28, 2021, at approximately 3:00 p.m., Walker threatened to shoot up the location of his girlfriend. About two hours later, he physically assaulted and pulled a gun on another woman. Almost immediately after this second incident, the defendant was stopped by police and found in possession of a Glock pistol, with a round in the chamber, and a 24-round extended magazine. In connection with the sentencing hearing, the Court also received evidence of the defendant’s ongoing possession of firearms on other occasions. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. In imposing the sentence, Judge Ranjan noted that the defendant’s threatening conduct and ongoing possession of firearms warranted a sentence above the advisory sentencing guidelines range. Assistant United States Attorney Douglas C. Maloney prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Olshan commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Walker.


title: Howard County Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal Prison for His Role in a Murder-For-Hire Conspiracy

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – U.S. District Judge Julie R. Rubin sentenced Jourdain Larose, a/k/a “JBlacc,” age 28, of Ellicott City, Maryland, yesterday to 40 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for the use and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence resulting in death, in connection with a murder-for-hire conspiracy. Larose solicited others to murder victim Juan Ross in exchange for money and in the course of the murder-for-hire Larose aided and abetted his co-conspirators who discharged firearms, resulting in the death of Ross. The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Chief Gregory Der of the Howard County Police Department; and Howard County State’s Attorney Rich Gibson. According to his plea agreement, Larose accused Juan Ross, age 23, of Columbia, Maryland, of cooperating with law enforcement, including on a live social media conversation on September 9, 2020, and in text message. As detailed in his plea agreement, Larose provided a gun to a conspirator on September 12, 2020, for the purpose of killing Juan Ross. On October 3, 2020, when the conspirator had not committed the murder yet, Larose solicited co-defendant Tyrik Braxton to commit the murder instead. On that same date, Braxton texted a cell phone number linked to co-defendant Daquante Thomas with the address where Ross could be found. According to court documents, on October 4, 2020, after text messaging each other about the address where they could find the victim, Braxton, Thomas, and another co-conspirator drove to the area of Basket Ring Road in Columbia to locate Juan Ross, then drove to a drug store nearby, where Braxton got out of the car and left the area. A short time later, Thomas and the co-conspirator returned to Basket Ring Court, shot and killed Juan Ross and drove away together. Although they denied knowing each other in post arrest statements, investigators linked Larose and Braxton through cellphone records and witness interviews. According to the plea agreement, after Ross’s murder, Braxton texted Larose that he had something important to discuss, and Larose told Braxton to Facetime him. As detailed in the plea agreement, on October 7, 2020, Braxton texted Larose, “It’s going to be hot as sh** out here” to which Larose responded, “It already is bro.” Co-defendant Tyrik Braxton, a/k/a “Son-Son,” age 27, of Baltimore, Maryland, previously pleaded guilty to discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence resulting in death and is expected to be sentenced to between 20 and 25 years in federal prison. No date has been set for his sentencing. On January 11, 2023, Judge Rubin sentenced co-defendant Daquante Thomas, age 21, of Baltimore, to 35 years in federal prison for the same charge. Thomas admitted that he was one of the shooters. This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin . 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is 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. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF, the Howard County Police Department, and the Howard County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution and thanked the FBI, the Maryland State Police, the Anne Arundel County Police Department, the Baltimore County Police Department, and the Baltimore Police Department for their assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Y. Hagan, who is prosecuting the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Former Nowata Teacher Sentenced for Abusive Sexual Contact and Enticement of a Minor

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A former Nowata Middle School teacher was sentenced today for Coercion and Enticement of a Minor in Indian Country and Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor in Indian Country, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Kenneth Colby Martinez, 26, Bartlesville, to 120 months imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release. Upon his release, Martinez will also be required to register as a sex offender. “Kenneth Martinez violated the trust of the Nowata community and took advantage of a student he was entrusted with,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “No child should ever need to question if school is a safe place. My office will continue to pursue those who prey on vulnerable children.” According to court documents, Martinez began communicating with a student at Nowata Middle School during the 2021-2022 school year. He started coercing and enticing the student through messaging applications. The messages eventually became sexual in nature. On several occasions, Martinez's abusive sexual contact happened in a classroom with the student. Martinez is not an Indian. The student is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. The crimes occurred within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation. Martinez will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility. The FBI and Nowata Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Valeria G. Luster and Aaron Jolly 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 Justice.gov/PSC .


title: Former Maryland Resident Pleads Guilty to Stealing  More than $350,000 in COVID-19 Relief Funds

body_text: WASHINGTON – Zhong Jie Chen, 47, formerly of Columbia, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to misappropriating $354,520 of COVID-19 relief funds that he was supposed to use to operate his restaurants. Chen used the misappropriated funds to engage in day trading. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division. Chen, who now lives in New Jersey, pleaded guilty to wire fraud, which has a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. As part of his plea agreement, Chen must pay restitution and be liable for a forfeiture money judgment. U.S. District Court Judge Christopher R. Cooper, who accepted Chen’s guilty plea in the District of Columbia, scheduled sentencing for July 2, 2024. In court documents, Chen admitted that, while he was a Maryland resident, he was the sole owner of two restaurants, one in Washington, D.C., the other in College Park, MD. Between May 2020 and July 2021, he applied for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster (EIDL) loans for the restaurants. The Paycheck Protection Program was a COVID-19 pandemic relief program administered by the U.S. government’s Small Business Administration (SBA) that provided forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses. Once PPP loan applications were approved, businesses received loan proceeds from third-party lenders. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the SBA also offered EIDL loans to certain entities, including small business owners. These loans were provided directly from the SBA and were low-interest, fixed-rate, long term loans. Both PPP loans and EIDL loans could only be used for specified purposes. Between May 2020 and July 2021, Chen’s two restaurants received PPP and EIDL loans totaling approximately $964,843. On loan applications, Chen acknowledged understanding how the loans could be used and that if he knowingly used funds for unauthorized purposes, he could be held legally liable by the federal government, and potentially charged with fraud. Chen admitted that he falsely certified that all loan proceeds would be used for business-related purposes even though he knew and intended that he would misappropriate some loan proceeds to a personal investment account to allow him to engage in day trading. He admitted that he misappropriated $354,520 of loan proceeds and used those funds to engage in day trading. This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kondi Kleinman and Ryan Sellinger, who were assisted by paralegal specialists Sonalika Chaturvedi and Michon Tart.


title: Conehatta Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Abuse of a Child

body_text: Jackson, Miss. – A Conehatta man pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact with a child. According to court documents, Brett Keith Thomas, 27, engaged in sexual contact with a minor under the age of twelve. Court records show that the offense occurred in the Conehatta Community of the Choctaw Indian Reservation in 2016. Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced on June 5, 2024, and faces up to life in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Acting Special Agent in Charge Maher Dimachkie of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement. The Choctaw Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian K. Burns 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 the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov .


title: Meridian Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

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

body_text: Jackson, Miss. – A Meridian man was sentenced to 84 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to court documents and admissions in open court, Jacquis LaShawn Houston, 27, was found in possession of a firearm by a Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office deputy on March 16, 2020, during a traffic stop on a vehicle in which Houston was riding as a passenger. Houston threw a 9mm caliber pistol from the vehicle. As a convicted felon, it is contrary to federal law for Houston to possess any firearm. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement. The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham prosecuted the case. This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime .


title: Summers County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – David Nelson Gill, 32, of Hinton, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 6, 2023, Gill was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over by law enforcement in St. Albans. Gill admitted to possessing a loaded Taurus Model PT111 9mm pistol found by officers during a search of the vehicle. Officers also found a loaded Remington Model 870 12-gauge shotgun on the vehicle’s rear passenger seat floor and approximately 3 grams of methamphetamine on Gill’s person following his arrest after the traffic stop. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Gill knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for grand larceny in Summers County Circuit Court on August 11, 2017. Gill is scheduled to be sentenced on June 6, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the St. Albans Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-75. ###


title: Cocaine Trafficker Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. –Manuel Alejandro Beltran-Quintero, 35, of Tucson, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 120 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release. Beltran-Quintero pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine and Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine on September 7, 2023. Five co-defendants also charged in this case pleaded guilty and received sentences of up to 68 months in prison. On April 15, 2020, Beltran-Quintero coordinated the delivery of nearly 20 kilograms of cocaine in Tucson. Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration successfully interdicted the drugs and arrested Beltran-Quintero and his co-conspirators. The investigation revealed that Beltran-Quintero had also coordinated the attempted smuggling of firearms to Mexico on three separate occasions in late 2019, all of which were intercepted by law enforcement. 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 . The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stefani Hepford and Ashley Culver, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-20-01565-TUC-JGZ RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-023_Beltran-Quintero # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Rhode Island Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Southeastern Massachusetts Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Rhode Island man pleaded guilty yesterday to his involvement in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed fentanyl throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Alfredo Valdez, 46, of Providence, R.I. pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for May 21, 2024. Valdez was one of 10 individuals indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2022 in connection with the conspiracy. In March 2021, an investigation began into a DTO operating in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island led by Estarlin Ortiz-Alcantara. Intercepted communications on numerous cellphones identified Valdez as a member of the DTO who conspired with Ortiz-Alcantara to regularly distribute multi-kilograms of fentanyl from a base of operations at a stash house in Fall River. During a search of the stash house in July 2022, Valdez was found inside the apartment along with more than 12 kilograms of fentanyl stored in various ceiling panels, blenders, a hydraulic press and baggies. Valdez is the eighth defendant to plead guilty in the case. Ortiz-Alcantara pleaded guilty in December 2023 and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 9, 2024. 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 a lifetime 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, New England Field Division; New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira; and Fairhaven Police Chief Michael J. Myers made the announcement today. Valuable 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 . The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.


title: Albuquerque Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Towanda R. Thorne-James, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration El Paso Division, announced that Danyell Kerr, Jr. was sentenced to 11 years in prison. Kerr, 32, of Albuquerque, pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams and more of fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on Nov. 27, 2023. According to publicly available court records, on April 20, 2023, DEA agents received information from a citizen that Kerr was a supplier of fentanyl. The citizen called Kerr and set up a time and location to buy fentanyl pills. DEA agents established surveillance at the predetermined meet location and observed Kerr arrive at the location. Agents approached Kerr and arrested him. When they searched the vehicle that he was driving, they located, within arms reach of the driver’s seat, 984.4 gross grams of fentanyl pills and a pistol, loaded with a round chambered. Upon his release from prison, Kerr will be subject to 5 years of supervised release. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case with the assistance of the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph M. Spindle prosecuted the case. # # # 24-85


title: Defendants Sentenced for Drug Trafficking that Resulted in Two Deaths

component: USAO - North Carolina, Middle

body_text: GREENSBORO – Two defendants whose 18-month long drug conspiracy resulted in the death of one college student and contributed to the death of another have been sentenced, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC). CYE LEANCE FRASIER, also known as “The Barber,” age 44, was sentenced today to 29 years in prison, and CARLISA RENEA ALLEN, age 46, was sentenced on February 13, 2024, to 28 years in prison. FRASIER pleaded guilty on October 25, 2023, to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine hydrochloride, and conspiracy to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, resulting in death. ALLEN was found guilty at trial on November 17, 2023, of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and fentanyl resulting in death; distribution of cocaine hydrochloride; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Evidence presented at trial, including thousands of text messages between ALLEN and FRASIER, photographs and a note retrieved from ALLEN’s cellphone, and Cash App and Venmo records, showed that ALLEN and FRASIER marketed themselves to local college students as a source of narcotics, primarily cocaine. On occasion, the pair knowingly sold fentanyl. The evidence also showed that the death of Joshua Skip Zinner on or about March 9, 2023, resulted from the use of cocaine laced with fentanyl that he had purchased from the ALLEN and FRASIER drug conspiracy. At sentencing, the court heard from Zinner’s family members, as well as family members of Elizabeth Grace Burton, who also died after ingesting cocaine laced with fentanyl purchased directly from Frasier. “The heinous and inhumane actions of these defendants led to the senseless loss of two young lives,” said United States Attorney Hairston. “While nothing will ever erase the pain of the families who suffered these tremendous losses, the sentences send a strong message of deterrence to people who consider selling poisonous mixtures of illegal drugs. We also hope this prosecution helps prevent future tragedies by raising public awareness of the serious risk users face when consuming illegal substances, which increasingly contain potentially lethal amounts of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs.” Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division stated, “Dangerous drug traffickers are enriching their lives by profiting off someone else’s pain. The number of lives forever changed as a result of this greed are far too numerous to count.” “We cannot simply sit back and continue watching our community members, including students at our institutions of higher learning, die senseless deaths,” said Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood. “Our education and awareness efforts must prepare people for the realities of today. Fentanyl is in substances everywhere, and it is deadly.” FRASIER was sentenced to a 348-month term of imprisonment and ALLEN was sentenced to a 336-month term of imprisonment by the Honorable William L. Osteen, United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. At the conclusion of his active term of imprisonment, FRASIER will be subject to supervised release for 5 years. ALLEN will be subject to supervised release for 5 years following her release from prison. They were both ordered to pay restitution to the families of Joshua Skip Zinner and Elizabeth Grace Burton in the amount of $8,000 dollars and $11,304 dollars, respectively. Both students died after using fentanyl-laced cocaine provided to them by ALLEN and FRASIER in furtherance of their drug conspiracy. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Durham Police Department, Duke University Police Department, Raleigh Police Department, Raleigh/Wake County City-County Bureau of Identification, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Cary Police Department, North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Nash County Sheriff’s Office, and the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael A. DeFranco and Tracy M. Williams-Durham. 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: Everett Man Sentenced to Nearly Four Years in Prison for Possession of Schedule I and II Controlled Substances

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Everett, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to a total of 45 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, on his conviction of possession with intent to distribute Schedule I and II controlled substances, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines imposed the sentence on Jeffrey Sheeder, 34. According to information presented to the Court, on or about March 25, 2021, Sheeder possessed with intent to distribute Schedule I and II controlled substances, namely, a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of psilocyn, a Schedule I controlled substance, and quantities of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine as well as a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of amphetamine, both Schedule II controlled substances. Assistant United States Attorney Arnold P. Bernard Jr. prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Olshan commended the United States Postal Inspection Service and Pennsylvania State Police for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Sheeder.


title: Hendry County Felon Pleads Guilty To Unlawfully Possessing Firearms

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Ruben Justus Edwards (43, Clewiston) today pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. Edwards faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court records, on July 5, 2023, Edwards sold an undercover law enforcement agent two handguns—a Beretta and a Taurus—in Clewiston. As a multi-time convicted felon, Edwards is prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon Eth. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make out neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Fort Myers Felon Pleads Guilty To Unlawfully Possessing Loaded Firearm

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Jddarrian Christopher Irons (33, Fort Myers) today pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. Irons faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court records, on October 5, 2023, officers from the Fort Myers Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in which Irons was the front seat passenger. During the traffic stop, Irons initially misidentified himself to officers by providing a false name and date of birth. Then, when officers searched the car, they found a loaded Smith and Wesson handgun in a fanny pack wedged between the front passenger seat—where Irons had been sitting—and the door. Just minutes earlier before getting into the vehicle, Irons had been seen wearing the fanny pack in a nearby apartment complex. As a multi-convicted felon who had recently been released from a seven-year state prison sentence, Irons is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Fort Myers Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon Eth. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make out neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Felon Sentenced to 20 Years for Federal Drug and Weapons Offenses

body_text: NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Richmond, Virginia, man was sentenced yesterday to 20 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. According to court documents, Newport News Police Department (NNPD) performed a traffic stop on Ladrale Antonio Putney, 44, shortly after midnight on February 8, 2021, for driving the wrong way down a one-way street without any headlights or taillights illuminated. Putney produced an invalid driver license during the stop. Due to the odor of marijuana and suspected marijuana “shake” – or loose marijuana leaves/particles – visibly scattered throughout the vehicle, NNPD temporarily detained Putney. NNPD discovered approximately 30 grams of cocaine base, three digital scales and narcotics packaging material in Putney’s car. Putney was also in possession of a stolen, loaded handgun, approximately 18 grams of heroin, approximately 10 grams of cocaine base, approximately 2.5 grams of powder cocaine, two small bags of marijuana and approximately $4,308. Forensic laboratory analysis confirmed the controlled substances and detected the presence of fentanyl mixed into the heroin. As a previously convicted federal felon, Putney was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. Putney pleaded guilty on October 13, 2023, to one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter G. Osyf prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:21-cr-56.


title: Ohkay Owingeh Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Abuse

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced today that Dwayne Calvert pleaded guilty in federal court to sexual abuse. Calvert, 34, an enrolled member of Pueblo of Ohkay Owingeh, will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. According to publicly available court records, on July 2, 2022, Calvert spent the night in the living room of a friend’s home on the Pueblo of Ohkay Owingeh. Jane Doe was also asleep in that living room. Knowing that Jane Doe was passed out and unable to provide her consent to sexual intercourse, Calvert vaginally penetrated Jane Doe. When the homeowners confronted Calvert during the rape, Calvert fled the home. At sentencing, Calvert faces five years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Calvert will be subject to a minimum of five years and up to a lifetime term of supervised release and must register as a sex offender. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary Jones is prosecuting the case. # # # 24-86


body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Coroy Dontavia Flournoy (40, Fort Myers) today pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. Flournoy faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court records, on February 21, 2023, Flournoy was arrested at a residence in Fort Myers in connection with an active warrant, after which law enforcement searched the residence and found a loaded Glock handgun, multiple magazines, and several dozen rounds of ammunition under the mattress of a bed inside the house. DNA analysis performed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement later linked the firearm to Flournoy, a multi-time convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Cape Coral Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon Eth. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make out neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Ernest Jeshad Foster (32, Fort Myers) today pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. Foster faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court records, on August 23, 2023, Fort Myers Police Department officers conducted a routine traffic stop on a vehicle in which Foster was the front seat passenger. Upon approaching the vehicle, law enforcement observed Foster reaching into the glove compartment and quickly shutting it. As soon as Foster exited the car, the glove compartment popped open and officers saw a firearm, which was later identified as loaded Taurus handgun. As a seven-time convicted felon, Foster is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Fort Myers Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon Eth. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make out neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Lee County, Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Smuggle Turtles to Germany and Hong Kong and Falsely Labeling the Turtles on Related Paperwork

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A Lee County man pleaded guilty today to federal criminal charges for conspiring to illegally export thousands of turtles to Germany and Hong Kong, and falsifying documents to conceal his conduct. John Michael Kreatsoulas, 36, of Alva, Florida, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to traffic wildlife and nine counts of falsifying records in violation of the Lacey Act. According to the factual proffer in support of the plea and other documents included in the court record, from July 2015 to July 2021, Kreatsoulas was the owner and principal of Omni Reptiles, Inc., an unregistered Florida business located in Alva, Florida. Omni was in the business of domestic and international wholesale trade of wildlife, including protected species of reptiles. Kreatsoulas and Omni shipped wildlife they sold to domestic and foreign customers, including to customers in Germany and Hong Kong through Miami International Airport. Specifically, Kreatsoulas and his co-conspirators collected and captured various species of turtles, including three-stripe mud turtles and Florida mud turtles, from the wild in Florida and sold those turtles to interstate and foreign customers. Kreatsoulas then falsified U.S Fish and Wildlife Service Forms 3-177, which accompanied the international shipments, by including a false “Source” code attesting that the turtles were captive-bred and not wild-caught. Kreatsoulas also falsified invoices related to the sale of the turtles, which purported to show that the turtles sold to co-conspirators in Florida and outside the United States were “captive-bred” hatchling three-stripe mud turtles when, in fact, they were taken from the wild by Kreatsoulas and his co-conspirators. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 17 at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Rodolfo A. Ruiz II. Kreatsoulas faces up to five years in federal prison for each count of conviction. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division and Special Agent in Charge Douglas Ault of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS), Southeast Region, made the announcement. FWS agents in Miami investigated this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Watts-FitzGerald for the Southern District of Florida and Senior Trial Attorney Gary N. Donner of the Environmental Crimes Section of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division are prosecuting this case. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 23-cr-20480. ###


title: Federal Jury Finds Hartford Felon Guilty of Possessing Loaded Handgun

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division, and Hartford Police Chief Jason Thody today announced that a federal jury in Bridgeport has found CHRISTOPHER GASKIN, 47, of Hartford, guilty of a firearm possession offense. According to the evidence presented during the trial, in the afternoon of January 1, 2022, Hartford Police officers stopped a car Gaskin was operating on Irving Street in Hartford. Gaskin was arrested after a search of his person revealed a loaded .380 caliber handgun, a bag containing approximately five grams of crack cocaine, and 35 vials of crack. Gaskin’s criminal history includes several felony convictions, including convictions for assault, robbery and witness tampering offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce. The trial began on February 26, and the jury today found Gaskin guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and not guilty of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (“crack”). Judge Underhill scheduled sentencing for May 22, at which time Gaskin faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. Gaskin is detained pending sentencing. This matter has been investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Hartford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angel M. Krull and Patricia Stolfi Collins through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.


title: Man Arrested for Making Threats to Arizona Election Office

component: Criminal Division

body_text: An Alabama man was arrested today in Cullman, Alabama, for allegedly sending threatening messages to election workers with Maricopa County Elections in Phoenix. Brian Jerry Ogstad, 59, of Cullman, made his initial appearance today at the federal courthouse in Huntsville. “As alleged in the indictment, Brian Ogstad sent threatening messages to a social media account maintained by the Maricopa County Elections office. After referencing claims of voter fraud in Arizona’s 2022 gubernatorial race, Ogstad allegedly made a number of threats to election workers and officials, including that they were ‘dead’ and ‘stupid if you think your lives are safe,’” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Public servants who administer our elections — the cornerstone of our democracy — must be able to do their jobs without fear. The Criminal Division will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who target election officials and workers with threats of violence.” According to an indictment unsealed today, on or about Aug. 2, 2022, Arizona held primary elections for federal and state officeholders, including a gubernatorial primary election that received nationwide media coverage. From the day of the election through on or about Aug. 4, 2022, Ogstad allegedly sent multiple threatening direct messages to an Instagram social media account maintained by Maricopa County Elections. For instance, on or about Aug. 3, 2022, Ogstad allegedly stated (1) “You did it! Now you are [expletive]. Dead. You will all be executed for your crimes”; (2) “[expletive] you! You are caught! They have it all. You [expletive] are dead”; (3) “You are lying, cheating [expletive] . . . you better not come in my church, my business or send your kids to my school. You are [expletive] stupid if you think your lives are safe”; and (4) “You [expletive] are so dead.” On or about Aug. 4, 2022, Ogstad also allegedly stated “[Y]ou people are so ducking [sic] stupid. Everyone knows you are lots [sic], cheats, frauds and in doing so in relation to elections have committed treason. You will all be executed. Bang [expletive]!” “We cannot permit election skeptics to threaten vigilante justice,” said U.S. Attorney Gary M. Restaino for the District of Arizona. “We will continue to prosecute true threats against Arizona’s election officials and other public servants, including direct messages sent on social media, or communications in any other format.” “The FBI takes all threats of violence seriously,” said Special Agent in Charge Akil Davis of the FBI Phoenix Field Office. “The work of election officials, their staffs, and volunteers is essential to our democracy and any threat to these public servants is completely unacceptable. The FBI remains vigilant in our efforts to detect and assess possible threats and, as always, we encourage the public to promptly report suspicious activities which could represent a threat to public safety.” Ogstad is charged with five counts of communicating an interstate threat. If convicted, Ogstad faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on each count. The FBI Phoenix Field Office is investigating the case, with substantial assistance from the FBI Birmingham Field Office. Trial Attorney Tanya Senanayake of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Sue Feldmeier for the District of Arizona are prosecuting the case. This case is part of the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force. Announced by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and launched by Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco in June 2021, the task force has led the department’s efforts to address threats of violence against election workers, and to ensure that all election workers – whether elected, appointed, or volunteer – are able to do their jobs free from threats and intimidation. The task force engages with the election community and state and local law enforcement to assess allegations and reports of threats against election workers, and has investigated and prosecuted these matters where appropriate, in partnership with FBI Field Offices and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. Over two years after its formation, the task force is continuing this work and supporting the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and FBI Field Offices nationwide as they carry on the critical work that the task force has begun. Under the leadership of Deputy Attorney General Monaco, the task force is led by the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and includes several other entities within the Justice Department, including the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Civil Rights Division, National Security Division, and FBI, as well as key interagency partners, such as the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. For more information regarding the Justice Department’s efforts to combat threats against election workers, read the Deputy Attorney General’s memo . To report suspected threats or violent acts, contact your local FBI office and request to speak with the Election Crimes Coordinator. Contact information for every FBI field office may be found at www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/ . You may also contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or file an online complaint at www.tips.fbi.gov . Complaints submitted will be reviewed by the task force and referred for investigation or response accordingly. If someone is in imminent danger or risk of harm, contact 911 or your local police immediately. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Indictment


title: Clandestine Cocaine Laboratory Owner And Former Supplier To Clan Del Golfo Pleads Guilty To Conspiring To Import Cocaine Into The United States

body_text: Tampa, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Edgar Cubillos-Burbano (63, Colombia), a/k/a “Don Julio,” “Julio El Quemado,” and “Efrain Ospina,” has pleaded guilty to conspiring to import 5 or more kilograms of cocaine into the United States. He faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Cubillos-Burbano was arrested in Necocli, Colombia on November 10, 2021, pursuant to a provisional arrest warrant. He was returned to the United States on September 20, 2023. According to the plea agreement, Cubillos-Burbano was the owner and operator of clandestine cocaine laboratories in northern Colombia and was permitted to operate these laboratories with the permission of Clan Del Golfo, Colombia’s largest drug cartel. He supplied various purchasers, including Clan Del Golfo, and the cocaine was sent either to Central America for ultimate importation to the United States or routed to Europe. On July 5, 2015, Colombian law enforcement seized approximately 3,082 kilograms of cocaine near the shoreline of Capurgana, Colombia on the border between Colombia and Panama. One of the defendant’s cocaine purchasers was responsible for smuggling this shipment (pictured below), half of which was intended for the United States. After his arrest in Colombia in connection with this case, Cubillos-Burbano admitted his involvement in this smuggling venture to federal agents. He further admitted to operating clandestine cocaine laboratories with the permission of Clan Del Golfo, including a laboratory capable of producing 300 to 400 kilograms of cocaine every 15 days. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which 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. The specific mission of the OCDETF Panama Express Strike Force is to disrupt and dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations involved in large scale drug trafficking, money laundering, and related activities. The OCDETF Panama Express Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from the Coast Guard Investigative Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Judicial Attaché’s Office at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, and Colombian authorities provided significant assistance in securing the arrest and extradition from Colombia of Cubillos-Burbano. The prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Baeza.


title: U.S. Attorney's Office to Host Youth Outreach Event In Asheville As Part Of Project Safe Neighborhoods

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office will host a youth outreach event in Asheville tomorrow as part of the Justice Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. The event, titled “An Intersection of Youth and the Criminal Justice System,” is a collaboration between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) , in partnership with My Daddy Taught Me That (MDTMT), a youth development organization based in Asheville that receives federal PSN grants. Adolescents invited to the event will actively engage with representatives of the federal agencies. The speakers will lead discussions through story-telling and interactive sessions on topics centered on promoting healthy choices, fostering good decision-making, handling peer pressure, developing conflict prevention strategies, and enhancing positive dispute resolution skills. In addition, the event will provide a platform for participating youths to relay personal experiences engaging with law enforcement and share ideas on how to interact with law enforcement in effective, positive, and productive ways. “Engaging with young people is a key component of our efforts to enhance community safety and develop trust and respect between law enforcement and those we serve,” said U.S. Attorney King. “We are looking forward to connecting with young people and speaking to them directly about how the decisions they make today can impact their future and share ways they can maintain a path to success. We will also share practical tools and skills for safe and effective interactions with law enforcement and what young people can do to help increase safety in their schools and neighborhoods.” “As law enforcement professionals, it is a privilege to take a moment and share what we’ve learned and experienced in our work to make communities better and safer,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “Our hope is that by highlighting what makes our work so rewarding, we can encourage young people to make the right choices and take the right steps towards a better opportunity.” “My Daddy Taught Me That is a program designed to uplift and support the development and education of youth and young males,” said MDTMT Founder Keynon Lake. “Our mission is to foster and empower boys to become healthy men, and to develop into the leaders of tomorrow. This is facilitated through education, hands-on activities, and participation in innovative and unique events like this, that will have a positive and long-lasting effect on all those who participate.” MDTMT is a youth development program designed to support youth through advocacy, education, and mentoring. For more information on MDTMT, please visit https://mydaddytaughtmethat.org/ . Led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, PSN is a collaboration with local public safety agencies, community stakeholders and other agencies and organizations that work to enhance public safety. On May 26, 2021, the Justice Department launched a strategy strengthening PSN, so that it is built on the core principles of 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 of those efforts.


title: Merriam Woods Man Sentenced for Illegal Firearms After Shooting at Police During High-Speed Chase

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Merriam Woods, Mo., man who shot at a police officer during a high-speed pursuit has been sentenced in federal court in two separate cases for illegally possessing firearms. Blake Christopher Basten, 34, was sentenced on Tuesday, Feb. 27, by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 10 years in federal prison without parole. On Feb. 21, 2023, Basten pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm in two separate and unrelated cases. The first case began when Springfield police officers executed a search warrant at another defendant’s residence on June 29, 2022. While conducting surveillance on the residence, a vehicle in which Basten was a passenger pulled up to the residence. Officers searched Basten and found a loaded Kel-Tec pistol in his waistband. Basten told investigators that he traded drugs for the handgun, which he carried because he had recently been shot at. The second case began when a Springfield police officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a black Nissan Sentra, in which Basten was a passenger, on Aug. 18, 2022. When the officer pulled behind the Sentra in a hotel parking lot and activated his lights, the driver put the car in reverse and rammed the officer’s vehicle, pushing it back several feet. The officer got out of his vehicle, pulled his duty weapon, and ordered the vehicle’s occupants to stop. The driver instead drove forward slightly, then put his Sentra in reverse and rammed the officer’s car again before fleeing the parking lot. A police pursuit ensued, with the Sentra travelling at a high rate of speed in a residential neighborhood. The pursuit ended when the Sentra crashed into a Jeep SUV at an intersection. While the Jeep suffered significant damage, the innocent driver appeared to be unharmed. The rear end of the Jeep had heavy damage, the rear passenger tire was missing, and the airbags had been deployed. Basten fled from the crash on foot. Officers searched the vehicle and found two handguns on the front passenger side floorboard – a Smith & Wesson pistol, and a loaded Taurus pistol. The Smith & Wesson had no ammunition, and the slide was locked back, which was either because the slide was locked back manually or after all of the ammunition was fired. Witnesses reported that Basten was seen shooting a gun during the pursuit. Shortly after the crash, Basten was found hiding under a car and arrested by deputies with the Greene County Sheriff’s Office. One witness provided surveillance video that showed the Sentra travelling at a high rate of speed, followed by four audible gunshots. Shell casings and damage from gunfire were located throughout the neighborhood. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearms or ammunition. At the time of his arrest, Basten was on parole for involuntary manslaughter after he threatened his ex-girlfriend with a firearm, and then engaged in a high-speed chase where he pursued her in his vehicle and caused the death of an innocent bystander. Basten, who fled from police in a stolen vehicle after that incident, has eight prior felony convictions. These cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. They were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department. Project Safe Neighborhoods 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: MS-13 Gang Member Sentenced in Connection with 2016 Fairfax Murder

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Salvadoran member of the transnational street gang La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, was sentenced today to 25 years in prison in connection with the kidnapping and murder of an adolescent boy in 2016. According to court documents, Edwin Orellana Caballero, who was 16 years old and living in Alexandria at the time, was one of several members and associates of the Park View Locos Salvatrucha clique of MS-13 who kidnapped and killed a 14-year-old victim, S.A.A.T. On the night of September 26, 2016, the gang lured S.A.A.T. to Holmes Run Stream Valley Park in Fairfax County and murdered him in a wooded area there with knives, machetes, and a pickaxe. Orellana Caballero struck S.A.A.T. multiple times with the pickaxe. Once S.A.A.T. was dead, the gang buried him in a shallow grave. Orellana Caballero, who was transferred for prosecution as an adult under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, pleaded guilty to one count of maiming in aid of racketeering activity. In so doing, he admitted to participating in S.A.A.T.’s murder for the purpose of maintaining and increasing his position in MS-13. To date, a total of 17 defendants have been charged in this case. Of those, five defendants went to trial and were convicted of all charges. Ten defendants pleaded guilty prior to trial. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; David J. Scott, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division; and Kevin Davis, Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Washington Field Office, U.S. Marshals Service, Alexandria Police Department, Prince William County Police Department, Montgomery County (MD) Police Department, and Marin County (CA) Sheriff’s Office provided significant assistance in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander E. Blanchard and Cristina C. Stam prosecuted the case. This prosecution 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 . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:22-cr-153.


title: Colorado Man Sentenced to Serve More than 24 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – Earlier this week, CHAD ALLAN QUINNELL , 46, of Colorado, was sentenced to serve 292 months in federal prison for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, announced United States Attorney Robert J. Troester. On July 19, 2023, a federal grand jury returned a three-count Indictment against Quinnell, charging him with distribution of child pornography, attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. According to public record, in January 2023, Quinnell began communicating with an undercover FBI agent who he believed was a mother of two small children. Quinnell quickly made clear that, if given the opportunity, he intended to sexually abuse the children. Court records also indicate Quinnell shared child pornography with the undercover agent on multiple occasions and traveled to Oklahoma in June 2023, with the intention of sexually abusing the children. He was arrested when he arrived to meet the purported mother and children in Oklahoma City. “This is yet another example of the FBI’s excellent and proactive efforts to protect our children, and the lengthy sentence will serve to deter those who attempt to abuse the most vulnerable in our society,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Troester. “I praise the work done by both investigators and prosecutors in bringing an end to the abhorrent behavior of this defendant.” “Ending the exploitation of children requires quick, decisive action from law enforcement, and that is exactly what this case represents,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray. “Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, we were able to put a stop to Mr. Quinnell’s deplorable crimes before they escalated. His sentencing underscores our commitment to removing child predators from our communities through the federal justice system.” On August 30, 2023, Quinnell pleaded guilty to Count 2 of the Indictment, and admitted he used a cell phone to attempt to entice a minor to engage in sexual activities. At the sentencing hearing on Monday, U.S. District Judge Scott L. Palk sentenced Quinnell to serve 292 months in federal prison, followed by supervised release for life. In announcing his sentence, Judge Palk described the communications sent by Quinnell as “some of the most vile communications” in his experience in the court, and that, if Quinnell were allowed to carry out his intentions, a child would face “a lifetime of horror”. The court also noted Quinnell’s prior convictions for meeting a minor for lewd purposes in Butte County, California Superior Court case number CM040575, and failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements in Butte County, California Superior Court case number CM043939. This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Ganz prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the DOJ Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC 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 PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Somerset County Man Caught with 760 grams of Fentanyl is Sentenced to 57 Months for Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A Somerset County man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Cody Mosher, 29, to 57 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release. Mosher pleaded guilty on September 1, 2023. According to court records, in January 2023, Mosher led law enforcement on a high-speed chase through Norridgewock and Madison after deputies approached his vehicle and informed him they were executing a search warrant and arrest warrant. Once stopped, Mosher was placed under arrest and his vehicle searched. Investigators recovered approximately 760 grams of fentanyl, 21 grams of cocaine, a digital scale, and a substantial amount of cash from the vehicle. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine; just 2 mg of fentanyl is considered a potentially lethal dose. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case with assistance from the Maine State Police. ###


title: Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Smuggle Turtles to Germany and Hong Kong and Falsely Labeling the Turtles on Related Paperwork

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: A Florida man pleaded guilty today to federal criminal charges for conspiring to illegally export thousands of turtles to Germany and Hong Kong, and falsifying documents to conceal his conduct. John Michael Kreatsoulas, 36, of Alva, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to traffic wildlife and nine counts of falsifying records in violation of the Lacey Act. According to the factual proffer in support of the plea and other documents included in the court record, from July 2015 to July 2021, Kreatsoulas was the owner and principal of Omni Reptiles, Inc., an unregistered Florida business located in Alva, Florida. Omni was in the business of domestic and international wholesale trade of wildlife, including protected species of reptiles. Kreatsoulas and Omni shipped wildlife they sold to domestic and foreign customers, including to customers in Germany and Hong Kong through Miami International Airport. Specifically, Kreatsoulas and his co-conspirators collected and captured various species of turtles, including three-stripe mud turtles and Florida mud turtles, from the wild in Florida and sold those turtles to interstate and foreign customers. Kreatsoulas then falsified U.S Fish and Wildlife Service Forms 3-177, which accompanied the international shipments, by including a false “Source” code attesting that the turtles were captive-bred and not wild-caught. Kreatsoulas also falsified invoices related to the sale of the turtles, which purported to show that the turtles sold to co-conspirators in Florida and outside the United States were “captive-bred” hatchling three-stripe mud turtles when, in fact, they were taken from the wild by Kreatsoulas and his co-conspirators. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 17 at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Rodolfo A. Ruiz II. Kreatsoulas faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division and Special Agent in Charge Douglas Ault of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Southeast Region, made the announcement. FWS investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Watts-FitzGerald for the Southern District of Florida and Senior Trial Attorney Gary N. Donner of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section are prosecuting this case.


title: Licensed Big Game Outfitter and Licensed Big Game Guide from Challis Indicted for Violating the Lacey Act

component: U.S. Attorneys (USAO)

body_text: POCATELLO – A federal grand jury sitting in Pocatello returned a six-count indictment on February 27, 2024, charging Jerrod Randall Farr, 52, and Michael Timothy Scott, 67, both of Challis, with Lacy Act violations, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. Farr, a licensed outfitter (White Cloud Outfitters) and licensed guide, was indicted on five counts: two counts of Lacy Act violations, two counts of providing false or fictitious information to a Forest Service officer, and one count of conducting work activity without a special-use authorization. Scott, a former licensed outfitter (White Cloud Outfitters) and current licensed guide, was indicted on two counts of Lacey Act violations. According to court records, the six-count indictment returned yesterday alleges that on two occasions (once in 2020, and once in 2022), Farr, owner and outfitter for White Cloud Outfitters, sold and facilitated Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep hunts that occurred in an area of the Salmon-Challis National Forest that is closed to commercial guiding, and Scott, as a guide for White Cloud Outfitters, illegally guided those hunts. The indictment further alleges that Farr submitted a mandatory outfitter report to account for all White Cloud Outfitter activity on the National Forest in 2020, and falsely omitted information regarding the 2020, Rocky Mountain Big Horn Sheep hunt. The indictment also alleges that on one occasion in 2022, Farr, as outfitter and guide, facilitated and guided a donated mountain lion hunt that involved releasing hunting hounds in the same area of the Salmon-Challis National Forest that is closed to commercial guiding. Farr submitted a mandatory outfitter report to account for all White Cloud Outfitter activity on the National Forest in 2022, and falsely omitted information regarding the 2022, donated mountain lion hunt. Farr and Scott are both scheduled for their initial court appearances on March 21, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah K. Grasham. Two of the alleged Lacey violations are punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to 1 year of supervised release. One of the alleged Lacey Act violations is punishable by up to 1 year in federal prison, a maximum fine of $100,000, and up to 1 year of supervised release. Providing false or fictitious information to a Forest Service officer is punishable by up to 6 months in federal prison and a maximum fine of $5,000. Conducting work activity without a special-use authorization is punishable by up to 6 months in federal prison and a maximum fine of $5,000. If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence for the defendants after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the work of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement, United States Forest Service, and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Paskett is prosecuting this case. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law . ###


title: Fraudulent Tax Return Preparer Sentenced to Prison Term

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on February 27, 2024, United States District Judge Brett H. Ludwig sentenced Rodney C. Smith (age: 60) to 41 months’ imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release, for his willful preparation of false tax returns through his business, Xpert Tax Services in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Smith was also ordered to pay $216,643 in restitution and a $400 special assessment. According to court records, over the course of four years, Smith prepared fraudulent tax returns for his clients by making knowingly false representations in their returns about the clients’ dependents, wages, and income or losses from businesses. These misrepresentations qualified the taxpayers for a refundable Earned Income Tax Credit to which they were otherwise not entitled, thus fraudulently increasing their tax refunds. The estimated loss associated with Mr. Smith’s scheme was $3.3 million. Court records reveal that although the IRS executed a search warrant at Smith’s business in 2020, and he admitted to agents that he was knowingly violating the federal tax laws, he nevertheless persisted in his criminal conduct by continuing to prepare false returns for his clients the next year. Smith ultimately pled guilty in October 2023 to four counts of aiding, assisting, counseling, or advising the preparation of a false return, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(2). Smith was previously convicted in the Eastern District of Wisconsin in 2010 with conspiracy to defraud the United States by filing a false income tax return. When imposing sentence, Judge Ludwig emphasized that the loss to the taxpayers in this case was very significant, and that defendants who willfully flout the law must be sentenced in a fashion that promotes respect for the law. “Mr. Smith willfully and repeatedly sought to defraud the IRS and caused injury to every individual and business who played by the rules and paid their fair share of taxes due to fund vital government operations and programs,” said U.S. Attorney Haanstad. “The sentence in this case reflects the fact that Mr. Smith’s fraud was relentless, and not even a prior conviction or the execution of a search warrant at his business was sufficient to deter him from seeking to line his pockets at the taxpayers’ expense. I commend the hard work of everyone involved in seeking justice in this case.” “The sentence imposed in this case sends a clear message that those who exploit the tax system for personal gain will be held accountable,” said Justin Campbell, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation Chicago Field Office. “Tax preparers are entrusted with accurately and ethically preparing tax returns on behalf of their clients. When individuals like Smith abuse this trust, they not only steal from the government, but they also betray the confidence of the taxpayers they purport to serve. IRS-CI remains committed to safeguarding the integrity of our tax system by holding accountable those who choose to violate their moral and ethical obligations.” This matter was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kate Biebel. ### For further information contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov (414) 297-1700 Follow us on Twitter