title: Hamdani to serve on AG Advisory Committee

body_text: HOUSTON – Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has appointed U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys (AGAC). The AGAC was created in 1973 and advises the Attorney General on matters of policy, procedure and management impacting the offices of the U.S. Attorneys and elevates the voices of U.S. Attorneys on essential matters facing the Department of Justice. “U.S. Attorneys work every day throughout the country to advance our mission of upholding the rule of law, keeping our country safe, and protecting civil rights,” said Garland. “I am grateful for the perspective the newest members of the committee will provide on behalf of federal prosecutors across the country and the communities they serve.” “It is an honor to be chosen to serve on the AGAC,” said Hamdani. “I look forward to learning from and serving with my fellow AGAC members as we advise the Attorney General and the Department of Justice’s leadership.” U.S. Attorney Hamdani will serve alongside chair Damian Williams of the Southern District of New York, vice chair Gary Restaino for the District of Arizona and newest members Alexander M.M. Uballez for the District of New Mexico, Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York, Kenneth Parker for the Southern District of Ohio, Natalie K. Wight for the District of Oregon, Eric G. Olshan for the Western District of Pennsylvania and Christopher R. Kavanaugh for the Western District of Virginia as well as Ryan Buchanan of the Northern District of Georgia, Gregory K. Harris of the Central District of Illinois, Andrew M. Luger of the District of Minnesota and Darcie N. McElwee of the District of Maine. President Biden nominated Hamdani to serve as U.S. Attorney for this district Nov. 14, 2002, upon the recommendation of U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz. The full Senate unanimously confirmed his appointment Dec. 6, 2022. He was sworn in Dec. 12, 2022. As U.S. Attorney, Hamdani is the chief federal law enforcement officer in the Southern District of Texas (SDTX), responsible for prosecuting and defending the interests of the United States in the seventh largest district in the nation. Hamdani has been with the Department of Justice since 2008. Most recently, he has been an Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) with the SDTX, primarily responsible for the investigation and prosecution of national security and official corruption crimes. From 2010 to 2014, Hamdani served in the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, holding the position of deputy chief from 2012 to 2014. Prior to that, he was an AUSA in the Eastern District of Kentucky. The SDTX typically prosecutes more cases against more defendants than most other U.S. Attorney’s Offices nationwide, representing 43 counties and nine million people and covering 44,000 square miles. This district currently comprises seven U.S. District Court divisions with federal district courts in Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo. The U.S. Attorney's office, headquartered in Houston, has branch offices in all seven divisions.


title: Informational: Federal Court arraignments

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt: Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto on a criminal complaint on Oct. 2 was: Efren Zanabriga Zuniga, 35, of Mexico, on charges of transportation of child pornography and possession of child pornography. If convicted of the most serious crime, Zuniga faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 20 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and five years to life of supervised release. Zuniga was detained pending further proceedings. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 23-65. The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html . To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl . XXX


title: Leaders of “Genesis II Church of Health and Healing,” who sold toxic bleach as fake “Miracle” cure for COVID-19 and other serious diseases, sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A federal judge in Miami has sentenced Jonathan Grenon, 37, and Jordan Grenon, 29, to 151 months in prison, for conspiring to defraud the United States by distributing an unapproved and misbranded drug, and for contempt of court. Mark Grenon, 66, and Joseph Grenon, 36, were sentenced to 60 months in prison, the statutory maximum sentence for conspiring to defraud the United States by distributing an unapproved and misbranded drug. All four defendants were found guilty by a federal jury following a trial this summer. The Grenons, all of Bradenton, Florida, manufactured, promoted, and sold a product they named Miracle Mineral Solution (“MMS”). MMS is a chemical solution containing sodium chlorite and water which, when ingested orally, became chlorine dioxide, a powerful bleach typically used for industrial water treatment or bleaching textiles, pulp, and paper. The Grenons claimed that ingesting MMS could treat, prevent, and cure COVID-19. The FDA, however, had not approved MMS for treatment of COVID-19, or for any other use. Rather, in prior official warning statements, the FDA had strongly urged consumers not to purchase or use MMS for any reason, explaining that drinking MMS was the same as drinking bleach and could cause dangerous side effects, including severe vomiting, diarrhea, and life-threatening low blood pressure. See https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/danger-dont-drink-miracle-mineral-solution-or-similar-products . In fact, FDA received reports of people requiring hospitalizations, developing life-threatening conditions, and even dying after drinking MMS. Before marketing MMS as a cure for COVID-19, the Grenons marketed MMS as a miracle cure-all for dozens of other serious diseases and disorders, such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and leukemia, even though the FDA had not approved MMS for any use. The Grenons sold tens of thousands of bottles of MMS nationwide, including to consumers throughout South Florida. They sold this dangerous product under the guise of Genesis II Church of Health and Healing (“Genesis”), an entity they created to avoid government regulation of MMS and shield themselves from prosecution. Genesis’ own websites describe Genesis as a “non-religious church,” and defendant Mark Grenon, the co-founder of Genesis, has repeatedly acknowledged that Genesis “has nothing to do with religion,” and that he founded Genesis to “legalize the use of MMS” and avoid “going [ ] to jail.” The Genesis websites further stated that MMS could be acquired only through a “donation” to Genesis, but the donation amounts for MMS orders were set at specific dollar amounts, and were mandatory, such that the donation amounts were effectively just sales prices. The Grenons received more than $1 million from selling MMS. The federal jury also found defendants Jonathan and Jordan Grenon guilty of criminal contempt of court. The United States previously filed a civil case against the defendants and Genesis II Church of Health and Healing. See United States v. Genesis II Church of Health and Healing, et al. , Case No. 20-21601-CV-WILLIAMS. In that civil case, the United States obtained court orders halting the Grenons’ distribution of MMS. The Grenons willfully violated those court orders and continued to distribute MMS. The Grenons also threatened the federal judge presiding over the civil case, and threatened that, should the government attempt to enforce the court orders halting their distribution of MMS, the Grenons would “pick up guns” and instigate “a Waco.” During trial in July 2023, the jury saw photos and video of a dirty rundown shed in Jonathan Grenon’s backyard in Bradenton, Florida, where the defendants were manufacturing their MMS. These photos showed dozens of blue chemical drums containing nearly 10,000 pounds of sodium chlorite powder, thousands of bottles of MMS, and other items used in the manufacture and distribution of MMS. The blue chemical drums of sodium chlorite powder—the primary active ingredient in MMS—had warning labels advising the product was toxic, flammable, and highly dangerous to consume. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Assistant Commissioner Justin D. Green of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA-OCI), Miami Field Office, announced the sentence. FDA-OCI Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael B. Homer and John Shipley prosecuted the case. Lapointe commends and thanks the government of Colombia for its assistance. Lapointe also extends his gratitude to the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) and the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS) Judicial Attachés in Bogota, Colombia for their substantial assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Mark Grenon and Joseph Grenon to the United States. 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 21-cr-20242. ###


title: New Haven, Vermont Woman Pleads Guilty to Pandemic Fraud

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Jennifer Stocker, 46, of New Haven, Vermont pleaded guilty today in United States District Court in Burlington to a charge of bank fraud in connection with false statements that she made on an application for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. Chief U.S. District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford accepted Stocker’s plea and scheduled her sentencing hearing for March 8, 2024. On August 16, 2023, the United States filed a one count information charging Stocker with bank fraud. The defendant pleaded guilty to that charge today. According to court records, in May 2020, Stocker falsely stated on a PPP loan application for Twelve Acres LLC, an entity that she co-owned, that she had not been convicted of a felony in the past five years and was not on probation. In fact, in 2018, Stocker pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Burlington to making false statements in applications for benefits funded by federal agencies. For that 2018 offense, Stocker was sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to pay nearly $140,000 in restitution. Twelve Acres’ May 2020 PPP loan application was approved, and Stocker received loan proceeds totaling nearly $60,000. In February 2021, Stocker submitted a second PPP loan application for Twelve Acres and included a false statement about her criminal history. That application was also approved, and Stocker received loan proceeds totaling over $26,000. Stocker submitted loan forgiveness applications for both PPP loans that Twelve Acres received, and both forgiveness applications were granted for the full loan amounts plus interest. For Stocker’s 2018 offense, the U.S. Probation Office filed a petition alleging that she violated her conditions of probation by failing to pay restitution from February 2022 to July 2022, by opening auto loans without obtaining approval from the probation officer, and by committing the bank fraud offense described above. In today’s hearing, Stocker admitted these violations; she will be sentenced for the violations on March 8, 2024. For the bank fraud offense, Stocker faces a maximum possible penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. For the probation violation, Stocker faces a maximum possible penalty of five years in prison. The actual sentence will be determined by Chief Judge Crawford with reference to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines and the United States Code. In the plea agreement, the government stated that it would recommend a cumulative total term of imprisonment of 25 months. Stocker is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Sara Puls, Esq. The prosecutor is Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Cate. Addressing pandemic-related fraud is a priority of U.S. Attorney Nikolas Kerest and of the Department of Justice. For 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: Bixby man gets life for carjacking, robbery, and Haikey Creek Park Double Murder

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: TULSA Okla. – A Bixby man was sentenced to life in federal prison Thursday for multiple felonies including carjacking, robbery, and multiple murder charges, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Hunter Isaiah Hobbs, 22, to 3 life sentences for felony murder in Indian Country; causing death by carrying, using, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence; and obstruction of justice by killing a victim. Frizzell further sentenced Hobbs to 20 years each for two counts of conspiracy to carry, use, and brandish a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, 25 years for attempted carjacking and 15 years for robbery in Indian Country. All sentences are to run concurrently. "Hunter Hobbs conspired to rob multiple victims in this case. He and his co-defendant shot one victim, a complete stranger, in an attempted carjacking and then killed two of their own friends during this crime spree,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “The relentless efforts of this Office, the FBI, and the Tulsa and Broken Arrow Police Departments resulted in the life sentences handed down today.” "Today's sentence means Hunter Hobbs will spend the rest of his life behind prison walls for his spree of senseless and violent crimes, which tragically led to the death of two innocent victims," said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray. "This case demonstrates the FBI's steadfast commitment to pursuing justice for victims and holding dangerous criminals accountable." On May 8, 2021, Hobbs and Denim Lee Blount, 21, of Tulsa, lay in wait at the Westminster Apartments, at 7486 E 47 th Place, in Tulsa, looking for a victim of opportunity. They approached a 2005 Chevy Tahoe with guns drawn and ordered the driver out of the vehicle. When the victim tried to maneuver his vehicle and leave, Hobbs and Blount opened fire. The attack was captured on security cameras, which show Hobbs firing an entire magazine at the driver from his .45 caliber Colt Model Combat Commander pistol, as Blount fired a 12-gauge shotgun at the car. The victim managed to flee the area but was struck multiple times. He sustained injuries to his hands, knee, arm, nose, cheeks, and frontal scalp. His injuries required surgery and caused permanent damage to his hand. Hobbs and Blount fled the scene. On May 13, 2021 Hobbs and Blount again conspired to ambush, rob, and kill. This time the targets were two friends, Caleb Vaughan Collier and Kelly Ray Olen John Landsaw-Davis, both citizens of the Cherokee Nation. Hobbs and Blount planned to lure then men to a secluded area of Haikey Creek Park in Broken Arrow and rob them. When Blount stated that the men would be able to identify them to the police, Hobbs stated: “Then we’ll just off them”. The victims picked Hobbs and Blount up in the early morning hours of May 13 and the four men drove to a parking lot in Haikey Creek Park where Blount tricked Landsaw-Davis into handing over a handgun he was carrying. Hobbs then drew his Colt .45 caliber pistol and along with Blount ordered both victims out of the car at gun point. Once exiting the vehicle, Hobbs shot Collier eight times in the torso with his Colt .45 caliber pistol, as Blount shot Landsaw-Davis with a 12-gauge shotgun that had been provided to him by Hobbs. As Collier lay gasping for breath, Hobbs reloaded his pistol and fired another 7-round magazine into Collier’s head and neck, killing him. Hobbs and Blount then stole the victims’ phones and vehicle and fled the scene. They later abandoned the vehicle in Tulsa and set fire to it attempting to destroy evidence. Witnesses testified that Hobbs laughed and joked about the killings, mocking his victims’ last dying breaths. Cheryl Collier, mother of Caleb Collier, in addressing the court said, “When I finally got to go see my son at the funeral home, they told me to be careful with him because his body had a lot of damage done to it. They said that they had to wrap him up from his neck to his feet so he would not come apart.” Hobbs will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Codefendant Blount is still pending adjudication. The FBI, Broken Arrow Police Department, and Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Nassar prosecuted the case.


title: Four Oklahomans Ordered to Pay a Total of $68,000 for Killing Endangered Whooping Cranes

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: Court Also Ordered Forfeiture of Firearms and Nationwide Loss of Hunting Privileges for Five Years OKLAHOMA CITY – This week, four Oklahoman men were sentenced to pay restitution totaling $68,000 for unlawfully killing four endangered whooping cranes protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. On August 22, 2023, JOSEPH M. ROMAN , 43, and JUSTIN M. WINE , 40, of Altus, CHANOD M. CAMPBELL , 32, of Gould, and BRIAN LEE GOLLIHARE JR. , 35, of Hollis, were charged by information with taking a migratory bird for which there is no season. According to information presented in court, on or about November 5, 2021, the four defendants were hunting at Tom Steed Reservoir in southwest Oklahoma when they killed four whooping cranes and attempted to hide the birds before leaving the scene. Whooping cranes are a migratory bird and are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS), the whooping crane is one of the rarest birds in North America and are highly endangered. An FWS report from May, 2023, estimates there are less than 600 total whooping cranes in the wild. All four defendants pleaded guilty and, at sentencing hearings this week, U.S. Magistrate Judge Amanda Maxfield Green ordered each defendant to pay $17,000 in restitution to the International Crane Foundation and pay a $750 fine. The defendants were also each ordered to forfeit their shotguns and will also lose their hunting privileges in all 50 states for the next five years. “Each of us bears responsibility to protect endangered wildlife so that the species is preserved for future generations,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Troester. “My office stands with and commends the work done by our federal and state law enforcement partners, and we hope this case serves as a warning for those who would harm endangered species.” “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement is committed to conducting criminal investigations with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation for the protection of endangered species such as the whooping crane," said Edward Grace, Assistant Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement. "The outcomes of this case are the result of vigorous investigative efforts by the Office of Law Enforcement and our ODWC partners to bring wildlife violators to justice.” "This is a great example of state and federal agencies working closely together throughout the investigation. The outstanding ODWC Game Wardens were tireless in tracking down leads and in their collection of key evidence that led to this outcome,” said Nathan Erdman, Law Enforcement Chief for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. “Rest assured that those committing wildlife violations in Oklahoma will be caught thanks to thorough investigations like this along with tips from the public.” This case is a result of an investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Brown prosecuted the case.


title: Riverton Man Sentenced for Assault by Strangulation

body_text: Steven Cole C’Bearing, age 29, of Riverton, Wyoming, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for assault by strangulation. U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on October 5, 2023, in Cheyenne, Wyoming. According to court documents, on May 18, 2023, C’Bearing had been drinking and became upset with the victim in this case. He struck the victim in the head and neck, then strangled the victim with his hands and later with his leg around the victim’s neck. The defendant was charged by complaint in June, waived the indictment, and pled guilty in July. This crime was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore. Case No. 23-CR-00086


title: U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez Appointed to Serve on Attorney General Merrick B. Garland’s Advisory Committee

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has appointed United States Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez of the District of New Mexico to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys (AGAC). The AGAC was created in 1973 and advises the Attorney General on matters of policy, procedure, and management impacting the Offices of the U.S. Attorneys and elevates the voices of U.S. Attorneys on essential matters facing the Department of Justice. “United States Attorneys work every day throughout the country to advance our mission of upholding the rule of law, keeping our country safe, and protecting civil rights,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “I am grateful for the perspective the newest members of the Committee will provide on behalf of federal prosecutors across the country and the communities they serve.” “It is an honor to advise Attorney General Garland and amplify the needs of New Mexico, the Tenth Circuit, and the hundreds of career civil servants who serve our southwestern communities,” said U.S. Attorney Uballez. “The issues we face are many, but it is through strong partnerships that we rise above our most intractable challenges. I am proud to work collaboratively with U.S. Attorneys from across the nation to shape Department policy and develop innovative and effective strategies to serve our communities.” U.S. Attorney Uballez was appointed by the President Biden and sworn in as United States Attorney on May 24, 2022. As United States Attorney, Mr. Uballez is the chief federal law enforcement officer for the District of New Mexico. He also serves as the vice-chair of the Native American Issues Subcommittee to the AGAC, as well as a member of the Border & Immigration, Environmental Justice and Environmental Issues, Office Management and Budget and Violent & Organized Crime Subcommittees. Prior to his confirmation as United States Attorney, Mr. Uballez was as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of New Mexico where he led organized crime investigations and prosecuted child sexual abuse and human trafficking crimes, transnational and organized crime, and violent crime. Previously, Mr. Uballez served as an Assistant District Attorney in the First and Second Judicial District Attorney’s Offices of New Mexico where he prosecuted crimes against children, community and drug crimes, domestic violence and driving while intoxicated offenses. The AGAC is comprised of 14 United States Attorneys, and U.S. Attorney Uballez will serve alongside the Committee’s Chair: U.S. Attorney Damian Williams (SDNY), Vice-Chair: U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino (DAZ), as well as U.S. Attorney Ryan Buchanan, (NDGA), U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves (DDC), U.S. Attorney Alamdar Hamdani (SDTX), U.S. Attorney Gregory Harris (CDIL), U.S. Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh (WDVA), U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger (DMN), U.S. Attorney Darcie McElwee (DME), U.S. Attorney Eric Olshan (WDPA), U.S. Attorney Kenneth Parker (SDOH), U.S. Attorney Breon Peace (EDNY), and U.S. Attorney Natalie Wight (DOR). # # # 23-242


title: Hate Crime Charges Added in Burning of Douglas Churches Case

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – A federal grand jury in Tucson returned a six-count superseding indictment yesterday against Eric Ridenour, 58, of Douglas, for Arson of Property Used in Interstate Commerce, Obstruction of Free Exercise of Religious Beliefs by Fire, and Using Fire to Commit Federal Felony. The superseding indictment alleges that Ridenour burned down two historic churches in Douglas: Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church and First Presbyterian Church. Both churches are located on Church Square, in a historic district in the border town of Douglas, approximately two hours southeast of Tucson. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, it is the only block in the nation containing churches from four different denominations: Southern Baptist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, and Methodist. According to the superseding indictment, further investigation and evidence elicited in court testimony alleges that Ridenour intentionally started the fires in both churches because of his hostility toward their progressive doctrines, particularly their practice of having women and members of the LGBTQ community serve as church leaders. Ridenour was arrested on May 23, 2023, and charged by complaint with maliciously damaging or destroying both buildings by means of fire, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 844(i). On June 22, 2023, he was initially indicted on two counts of the same. A conviction for Arson of Property Used in Interstate Commerce carries a minimum penalty of five years imprisonment and maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A conviction for Obstruction of Free Exercise of Religious Beliefs by Fire carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A conviction for Using Fire to Commit Federal Felony carries a penalty of 10 years in prison. A second conviction for Using Fire to Commit Federal Felony carries a penalty of 20 years in prison. Any conviction and subsequent mandatory term of imprisonment under Using Fire to Commit Federal Felony shall run consecutively to any other conviction. An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Douglas Police Department are handling the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Rossi, District of Arizona, Tucson, and Ben Goldberg, District of Arizona, Phoenix, are handling the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR 23-00908-TUC-SHR RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-152_Ridenour # # # 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 Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Local Man Sentenced to 120 Months in Federal Prison for Bank Robbery

body_text: Ronald Jones, 54, was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade to 120 months in federal prison, an upward variance, for the robbery of Chase Bank located in Corsicana, announced U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton of the Northern District of Texas. Jones pleaded guilty in June 2023 to one count of Bank Robbery. According to evidence presented at sentencing, Jones, who was on state parole for a 2015 bank robbery conviction, entered Chase Bank located at 101 N. Beaton Street, Corsicana, Texas wearing a mask, presented a demand note which threatened that he had a gun, lifted his shirt as if he had a gun, and received $585 from the teller. The Corsicana Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Robinson was in charge of the prosecution.


title: Wildwood Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison on Child Pornography Charges

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Catherine D. Perry on Friday sentenced a man from Wildwood, Missouri to 60 months in prison for possessing and transporting child pornography. Matthew Ryan O’Connell, 31, was also ordered to pay $10,000 restitution to one of the victims who appeared in the child sexual abuse material he collected. A St. Louis County Police Department sergeant was investigating the use of online and cell phone apps to distribute child pornography in 2020 when someone contacted his undercover profile on “Grindr.” O’Connell told the sergeant that he was into young boys and said he had a collection of child sexual abuse material. He later sent images containing child sexual abuse material via the Kik and Wickr apps. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children also notified the St. Louis County Police Department that someone had used Snapchat to send images containing child sexual abuse material. A detective traced the material to O’Connell and applied for a search warrant. A Homeland Security Investigations agent, who was also investigating O’Connell, joined the search. Investigators found child sexual abuse material on O’Connell’s two cell phones and the laptop he hid under a treadmill when officers arrived to perform the search. O’Connell pleaded guilty in May to one felony count each of transportation of child pornography and possession of child pornography. The transportation charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison. The St. Louis County Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Costantin 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 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: Mother and Son from Sacramento Indicted for False Income Tax Return Scheme

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On Sept. 28, 2023, a federal grand jury returned a seven-count indictment against Dominic Davis, 38, and Sharitia Wright, 59, both of Sacramento, charging them with conspiring to obtain payment of false claims against the United States, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. The indictment also charges Davis with six counts of filing false claims against the United States and Wright with three counts of filing false claims. Wright is Davis’s mother. The indictment was unsealed following their arrests today. According to court documents, between March 2019 and April 2022, Davis and Wright caused at least nine fraudulent income-tax returns to be filed with the IRS claiming more than $2 million in income tax refunds. This case is the product of an investigation by IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas M. Fogg is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Davis and Wright each face a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for conspiracy to obtain payment of false claims count. The maximum penalty for each count of filing false claim against the United States is five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: One Of The Largest-Ever Fentanyl Seizures In New York City Results In Four Charged For Operating Fentanyl Mill In Bronx Residence

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Frank A. Tarentino III, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), and Ivan J. Arvelo, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced today the filing of a Complaint in Manhattan federal court charging WELLINGTON EUSTATE ESPINAL, a/k/a “Ronny,” CRISTIAN EUSTATE ESPINAL, HERIBERTO EUSTATE ESPINAL, a/k/a “Daulin,” and ROBERTO JOSE VARGAS-PAULINO with conspiracy to distribute narcotics and distribution of narcotics. The defendants were arrested yesterday afternoon in the Belmont neighborhood of the Bronx. The defendants were presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Last night, while conducting a Court-authorized search of a residence in the Bronx, law enforcement made one of the largest-ever seizures of fentanyl in New York City’s history — apparently more than 50 pounds of the poisonous drug. And now four defendants are in federal custody for allegedly operating a pill mill. The thought of the potential damage this stunning amount of fentanyl could have inflicted on New Yorkers is terrifying. I express deep gratitude to our law enforcement partners and the career prosecutors of this Office for their continued vigilance in keeping fentanyl off of our streets.” DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino said: “This is one of the largest fentanyl pill mills we have seen in New York City. The DEA recently announced that 7 out of 10 pills tested by the DEA laboratories across the county contain a lethal dose of fentanyl. Allegedly, this industrial pill mill, located in the heart of the Bronx, had enough lethal fentanyl to dispense well over a million lethal doses. Fentanyl pills are being manufactured in these clandestine pill mills right here, in our neighborhoods, and unleashed into our communities. They are then marketed and sold to many who have no idea the pills — many of which are purposefully made to look like other prescription or party drugs — contain fentanyl. With the growing increase of fentanyl-related poisonings, this toxic operation is unacceptable and law enforcement, at all levels, is vigilantly tracking down drug trafficking organizations responsible for bringing the most harm to our communities.” HSI Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo said: “The HSI New York El Dorado Task Force, in conjunction with our dedicated partners, has dismantled yet another clandestine lab, suspected to have operated within a residential building, dangerously close to where families reside and children innocently play. These areas were designated as 'drug-free zones,' emphasizing the severity of the situation. In recent months, we have witnessed a devastating pattern, with multiple instances of deadly activities occurring mere feet away from places we entrust our children's safety. This alarming reality underscores the urgency of our commitment to collaborate with our partners in the relentless fight of safeguarding our communities. HSI New York remains steadfast in our vow to disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations who seek to poison our communities in the ongoing lethal epidemic of fentanyl poisoning.” As alleged in the Complaint filed today in Manhattan federal court: [1] Since at least in or about September 2023, members of law enforcement have been investigating a network of drug traffickers who, among other things, appear to have converted an apartment within a two-family house in a residential neighborhood in the Bronx, New York, to be utilized for the purpose of packaging large quantities of fentanyl into portions for wholesale distribution. In particular, the traffickers used the apartment (the “Fentanyl Mill”) to store kilogram-quantities of fentanyl, combine the fentanyl with other fillers, use dyes to color the combined powders, and use large industrial-scale pill presses to create hundreds of thousands of deadly fentanyl pills at a time. On or about October 5, 2023, members of law enforcement searched the Fentanyl Mill and found all four defendants inside. During their search, investigators found, among other things, approximately 24 kilograms of suspected fentanyl in powder form — comprised of approximately 14 kilograms of compressed powder in brick-shapes members of law enforcement believe to contain fentanyl and approximately 10 kilograms of loose powder members of law enforcement believe to contain fentanyl — as well as over 200,000 suspected fentanyl pills already packaged and ready for distribution to other traffickers for further sale. Some of the pills appear to have been manufactured to mimic prescription drugs, and others were pressed into colorful shapes to resemble party drugs such as ecstasy. A photograph of narcotics and other items recovered during the search is below: Members of law enforcement also found three commercial pill presses and another disassembled pill press; one kilogram press; and various manufacturing and distribution paraphernalia including blenders, dyes, and jars of calcium citrate, that are used in connection with pressing narcotics into pill form and packaging narcotics for further distribution, as well as what appear to be industrial-grade protective face masks. Two of the pill presses found are pictured below. Law enforcement further found that the interior of the Fentanyl Mill appeared to have been converted for dedicated use as a fentanyl repackaging and redistribution facility. For example, in an apparent effort to conceal the narcotics operation occurring in the Fentanyl Mill, the first-floor windows were covered with black trash bags and dark fabric, preventing outside observers from a view of what was occurring inside. The Fentanyl Mill also had a surveillance system, including a television screen mounted in the basement displaying a live feed of camera footage from outside the Fentanyl Mill. Although lab testing is pending for the pills and powders discovered during the search, preliminary field tests reveal that the powders have tested positive for fentanyl. * * * WELLINGTON EUSTATE ESPINAL, 41, of New York, New York; CRISTIAN EUSTATE ESPINAL, 20, of the Bronx, New York; HERIBERTO EUSTATE ESPINAL, 27, of New York, New York; and ROBERTO JOSE VARGAS-PAULINO, 31, of the Bronx, New York, are charged in Count One with conspiracy to distribute narcotics and in Count Two with narcotics distribution. Both Count One and Count Two carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. The statutory minimum and maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the El Dorado Task Force International Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit, which is comprised of law enforcement officers from the DEA, the Department of Homeland Security, HSI, and the New York City Police Department, as well as the work of the New York State Police and the United States Postal Service. Mr. Williams also thanked the New York State Police Contaminated Response Team and the DEA Chemist Team for their processing of the scene. This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maggie Lynaugh is in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office for The Eastern District of Louisiana Observes Domestic Violence Awareness Month

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS - October marks the observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans joins the U.S. Department of Justice in commemorating DVAM, paying tribute to victims and survivors, and saluting the dedication of the advocates, service providers, justice professionals, law enforcement officers, and first responders who tirelessly work in support of survivors. Domestic violence, dating violence, and intimate partner violence can have long-lasting impacts and consequences. Approximately one in four women, and one in seven men, will experience severe domestic violence in their lifetimes. Significantly, the rates of such violence are disproportionately higher for American Indian and Alaskan Native populations, women of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, two-spirit people, and people with disabilities. DVAM provides an opportunity to heighten public awareness of domestic violence and encourage everyone to play a role in stopping gender-based violence. “We want the people of Southeastern Louisiana to know that we are here to support victims and survivors in our Eastern District communities – not just in October, but every month,” said U.S. Attorney Evans. “All of us who serve as federal prosecutors, investigators, and support staff in the Eastern District of Louisiana, have a sworn duty not only to use every tool at our disposal, but also to positively leverage our law enforcement partnerships to provide victims with the safety and justice they deserve.”


title: Illegal Alien from Honduras  Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA –MELVIN DANIEL VARGAS-REYES , 21, a native of Honduras, pleaded guilty on October 4, 2023, to a one-count indictment with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(5)(A). According to court documents, on February 26, 2023, the Kenner Police Department investigated a shooting in Kenner, Louisiana. Based on investigative leads, they identified VARGAS-REYES as a potential suspect. During the investigation, Kenner Police Detectives obtained a search warrant for VARGAS-REYES's residence. As a result of the search warrant, officers found a Hi-Point, 9 mm pistol and several rounds of 9 mm ammunition at VARGAS-REYES's residence. Additionally, investigators discovered that VARGAS-REYES is an illegal alien and therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm. Following the search of his apartment, VARGAS-REYES admitted to being an illegal alien and to possessing the pistol. If convicted, REYES faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to 3 years of supervised release. VARGAS-REYES must also pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. Sentencing is currently scheduled for January 10, 2024. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the United States Department of Homeland Security. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Tacoma man sentenced to more than 16 years in prison for production and possession of images of child sexual abuse

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Tacoma – A 37-year-old Tacoma, Washington, man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 198 months in prison for production and possession of images of child sexual abuse. William Alexander Crisolo has been detained since his arrest on October 1, 2021, when an investigation revealed Crisolo was using computer networks to trade sexually explicit images of young children. At the sentencing hearing, Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo said, "There is one unbreakable rule.... to protect (a) child. To do no harm. You betrayed that rule... The trauma you caused will last a lifetime." According to records filed in the case, Homeland Security Cyber Crimes Center received a tip from a foreign law enforcement agency that Crisolo was claiming, via internet chats, that he was abusing two different minor children and filming the abuse. Law enforcement moved to search Crisolo’s residence and electronic devices. On his custom-built computer, investigators found more than 4,000 child sexual abuse images and 100 child sexual abuse videos. On Crisolo’s phone, law enforcement identified sexually explicit images of the two young child victims. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Tacoma Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zachary Dillon and Matthew Hampton. 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 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 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: New Orleans Woman Pleads Guilty to Misprision of a Felony

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that BYRONEISHA BUTLER , pled guilty on October 4, 2023 to a bill of information, charging her with Misprision of a Felony, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 4, before United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo. According to court records, between January 2019 and December 16, 2021, BUTLER , having knowledge of the commission of a felony, specifically conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, did conceal the same by deleting pictures and text messages from her phone at a co-conspirator’s request, attempting to delete pictures and text messages from the co-conspirators phone, and attempting to conceal the co-conspirator's identity and involvement in a crime, from law enforcement. BUTLER faces a maximum sentence of 3 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to 1 year of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. BUTLER’s sentencing is scheduled for January 17, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Orleans Police Department, and the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Maurice Landrieu of the Narcotics Unit and Elizabeth Privitera, Chief of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Metairie Doctor Charged in  $5,600,000 Medicare Fraud Scheme

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that DR. ALEX L. GLOTSER , age 36, a resident of Metairie, has been charged on September 29, 2023 with defrauding Medicare of approximately $5.6 million in medically unnecessary durable medical equipment (“DME”) and Cancer Genetic Testing (“CGx”). The bill of information charged GLOTSER with health care fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1347. According to the bill of information, GLOTSER worked as an independent contractor for several purported telemedicine companies. From approximately September 2017 to August 2019, GLOTSER , through the purported telemedicine companies, allegedly signed thousands of doctors’ orders for DME and CGx tests for Medicare beneficiaries he never saw, spoke to, or otherwise treated. As a result, it is alleged that GLOTSER’s orders resulted in over $5.6 million in false and fraudulent claims submitted to Medicare, of which Medicare reimbursed over $2.4 million. To conceal and perpetuate the fraud, GLOTSER allegedly made several false and fraudulent statements in support of the orders he referred. These false statements included the false certification in medical records and requisition forms that he was the beneficiaries’ treating physician, that he had personally examined the patients, including performing certain in-person procedures for knee braces, and that he used the DME and CGx tests ordered for the management of the patients’ conditions. In exchange for electronically reviewing patient charts and ordering DME and CGx tests, it is alleged that GLOTSER was paid a set fee per doctor’s order, typically $30, totaling $270,570. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, GLOTSER faces up to ten years in prison. GLOTSER also faces up to three years of supervised release after release from prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain to GLOTSER or the gross loss to any victims, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. Trial Attorneys Kelly Walters and Samantha Stagias of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Moses, Health Care Fraud Coordinator for the Eastern District of Louisiana, are prosecuting the case.


title: New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Trafficking and Hobbs Act Robbery

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that TRAYVON MURPHY, of New Orleans , pled guilty on October 5, 2023 to various violations of the Federal Gun Control Act, the Federal Controlled Substances Act and Hobbs Act Robbery before United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo. MURPHY plead guilty as charged to Counts 1, 2, 10, and 11 of a superseding indictment. Count 1 charges MURPHY with conspiracy to possess, use, carry and brandish firearms in furtherance of and during and in relation to a crime of violence and a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(o). Count 2 charges MURPHY with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and heroin, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C), and 846. Count 10 charges MURPHY with conspiracy to interfere with commerce through robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951. Count 11 charges MURPHY with participating in a Hobbs Act Robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951. As to Count 1, MURPHY faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000.00, and up to three years of supervised release. As to Count 2, MURPHY faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of not more than $1,000,000, and at least four years of supervised release. As to Counts 10 and 11, MURPHY faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000.00, and up to three years of supervised release. As to each count, MURPHY also faces payment of a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. His sentencing is scheduled for January 10, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. According to court records, in 2019, the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated a group responsible for committing various violent crimes and illegal drug trafficking, primarily in New Orleans East and the Ninth Ward. MURPHY, along with nine others, were developed as targets, and ultimately indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2021, for their involvement in conspiracies to possess firearms, traffic drugs and commit armed robberies of other drug dealers. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Orleans Police Department, and the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Maurice Landrieu of the Narcotics Unit and Elizabeth Privitera, Chief of the Violent Crimes Unit.


title: New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Violating Federal Controlled Substances and  Federal Gun Control Acts

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

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – NATHANIEL WILLIAMS , age 27, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, pleaded guilty as charged to a three-count indictment on October 3, 2023 before U.S. District Judge Greg G. Guidry. Specifically, WILLIAMS pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8) (Count 1); possession with intent to distribute cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C) (Count 2); and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A) (Count 3). According to court documents, on March 29, 2023, WILLIAMS was conducting hand-to-hand drug sales near the Valero gas station on South Claiborne Avenue. When marked NOPD vehicles arrived at the gas station, WILLIAMS fled across South Claiborne and threw a loaded gun in the neutral ground. WILLIAMS then hid underneath a house nearby and discarded 66 baggies of cocaine before being apprehended by NOPD. As to Count 1, WILLIAMS faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release. As to Count 2, he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least 3 years of supervised release. As to Count 3, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to life imprisonment, which must run consecutively to the sentences imposed on the other counts, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. WILLIAMS must also pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100 per count. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco, and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Anoka County Felon Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: ST. PAUL, Minn. – An Anoka County man has been sentenced to 72 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegal possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, on December 29, 2022, officers with the Coon Rapids Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Lewis Edward Byrd III, 46. Byrd, a felon with a prior sexual assault conviction, was arrested for violations related to his status as a predatory offender. After the arrest, officers searched Byrd’s vehicle and found a Smith and Wesson 9mm handgun in a pillowcase behind the driver’s seat. Further investigation revealed that Byrd purchased the firearm from a private seller earlier in December 2022. Law enforcement contacted the seller who confirmed the sale of the firearm and said that Byrd stated he was not a felon. Because Byrd has prior felony convictions, including first degree criminal sexual conduct, stalking, and false imprisonment, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time. Byrd pleaded guilty on May 8, 2023, to one count of possession of a firearm as a felon. Byrd was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court before Judge Eric C. Tostrud. This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Coon Rapids Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey E. Middlecamp prosecuted the case.


title: Riverside County Man Sentenced to Five Years for Federal Firearm and Drug Charges After High-Speed Chase

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY –October 6, 2023 SAN DIEGO – Shane Glazer of Riverside County was sentenced in federal court today to 60 months for possessing a firearm in furtherance of his intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin. According to the government’s sentencing papers, on June 10, 2022, San Diego police officers found the defendant in his car, slumped over and unconscious, with the keys in the ignition and the vehicle running. Glazer was wearing a fanny pack. In the pack, officers found fentanyl and methamphetamine as well as $3,600. In the car, officers also found an unserialized personally manufactured firearm, or “ghost gun,” loaded with ten rounds of ammunition, as well as a high-capacity magazine loaded with 29 rounds of ammunition. The defendant was released on bond pending trial. Five weeks later, officers found Glazer again slumped over in the driver’s seat with the keys in the ignition and the vehicle running. This time, the defendant used his car to flee the scene. In his attempts to evade officers, Glazer ran a stop sign and two red lights, and then led officers on a vehicle pursuit that reached speeds of over 125 mph. The defendant swerved in and out of traffic, at one point nearly missing another vehicle as he rapidly careened through traffic lanes and drove onto the freeway. As the defendant attempted to enter the I-8 East freeway, he lost control of the vehicle, crashing into an embankment and eventually stopping at the I-8 median barrier. He then threw a loaded gun onto the I-8 West freeway and ran across the lanes of traffic. Vehicles were forced to swerve around Glazer, who narrowly avoided being hit. In addition to seizing the gun, officers searched Glazer’s vehicle and again found fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin, as well as $1,546 in cash. “Drugs, guns and high-speed pursuits could have been a deadly combination,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “But for the intervention by the San Diego Police Department, this could have been a catastrophe. Today, Mr. Glazer is being held accountable for his brazen disregard for the law.” “ATF acknowledges individuals may lawfully possess, make and use privately made firearms under federal law, but those that use them in furtherance of drug trafficking will be held accountable,” said Chris Bombardiere, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge of Los Angeles Field Division. “ATF will continue to focus on the misuse of firearms to combat violent crime in our communities.” This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandor Callahan. DEFENDANT Case Number 22cr1972 Shane Glazer Age: 30 Sun City, CA SUMMARY OF CHARGES Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime – Title 18 U.S.C. Section 924(c)(1) Maximum penalty: Life in Prison Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute – Title 21 U.S.C. Section 841(a)(1) Maximum Penalty: Twenty Years in Prison Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute – Title 21 U.S.C. Section 841(a)(1) Maximum Penalty: Twenty Years in Prison Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute – Title 21 U.S.C. Section 841(a)(1) Maximum Penalty: Twenty Years in Prison AGENCY The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. 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: Customs Broker Arrested on Superseding Indictment Alleging New $2 Million Fraud Committed after His Release on Bond in Original Fraud Case

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: SANTA ANA, California – A customs broker has been arrested on a superseding grand jury indictment that alleges he defrauded clients out of $2 million while he was free on bond after being charged with bilking another client out of $3.4 million, the Justice Department announced today. Frank Seung Noah, 62, of Corona, was arrested Thursday on an eight-count superseding indictment returned on October 4. He entered not guilty pleas during an arraignment Thursday afternoon. According to court documents, Noah owned and operated Comis International Inc., a logistics and supply-chain company based in Cerritos, which offered customs import brokerage services on behalf of businesses. From 2007 to 2019, Comis was a customs import broker for Daiso, a Japan-based variety and value store with stores in the United States, including Southern California. Noah was initially charged in February 2022 with engaging in a $3.4 million wire fraud scheme that overcharged Daiso on customs duties. From March 2016 until February 2019, Noah – acting through Comis – paid customs import duty fees to U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Daiso’s behalf. Noah then allegedly submitted invoices to Daiso that fraudulently inflated the customs import duty fees that Noah had paid. As a result of Noah’s scheme, the indictment alleges, Daiso paid the inflated invoices, and Noah fraudulently obtained approximately $3,379,774. Noah was also charged in the 2022 indictment with evading the payment of $1.5 million in personal income taxes. The original indictment charged Noah with one count of tax evasion and three counts of wire fraud. Noah was released on bond pending trial in February 2022. A trial was scheduled for February 20, 2024. The superseding indictment adds four wire fraud counts for allegedly defrauding two other victim clients, an online crafts store and a wholesale apparel distributor. Beginning in late 2021 and continuing through June 2023 – with much of this period following the original indictment and while he was free on bond – Noah defrauded two other client companies by invoicing and receiving funds from the two victim companies, and then simply pocketing the funds instead of paying the customs duties to CBP, according to the superseding indictment. After CBP notified the victim clients of their unpaid customs duties, they asked Noah about the unpaid fees, and he allegedly sent the victim clients altered bank statements falsely reflecting that he had paid the customs duties. The two victims in this new part of the case allegedly suffered losses of approximately $2 million. In relation to the tax evasion charge, Noah allegedly willfully attempted to evade the payment of approximately $1,562,684 in federal taxes which the IRS assessed against him for the calendar years 2008, 2009 and 2010. He allegedly did so by making small payments to the IRS, all while making much larger payments on mortgages for properties he controlled – even though they were bought in his girlfriend’s name – including his Corona residence purchased in 2016 and a vacation property in Rancho Mirage that was purchased the following year. 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. Noah appeared this afternoon in United States District Court, where he was released on a $205,000 bond with strict pretrial supervision conditions, including home detention with location monitoring, an agreement that he would no longer directly or indirectly engage in customs brokering services, and a near prohibition on using email or accessing the internet. If convicted of all charges, Noah would face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for the tax evasion count and 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count. IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Faraz Mohammadi of the Santa Ana Branch Office is prosecuting this case.


title: Tennessee Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Transport Aliens

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Juan Manuel Rivera-Aguilar, age 36, of Hixson, Tennessee, pled guilty today to conspiring to transport aliens for financial gain. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Chief Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia, United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector, made the announcement. Rivera-Aguilar admitted that on April 1, 2023, he and German Ojeda-Solano drove to the U.S. side of the international border with Canada in Mooers, New York, seeking to pick up three people who had recently crossed over the border on foot without authorization. When Rivera-Aguilar and Ojeda-Solano saw U.S. Border Patrol agents searching for the people in the woods, Ojeda-Solano reversed the vehicle and began travelling south. Shortly thereafter, agents stopped their vehicle and arrested Rivera-Aguilar and Ojeda-Solano. Rivera-Aguilar admitted that he expected to be paid for transporting the three people to a destination in the United States. On September 18, 2023, Ojeda-Solano pled guilty to conspiring to transport aliens for financial gain, and was sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment by Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes. Sentencing for Rivera-Aguilar is scheduled for February 2, 2024, before Chief Judge Sannes. Rivera-Aguilar faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. Border Patrol investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emmet O’Hanlon is prosecuting this case.


title: Jury Convicts District Man in Shooting That Endangered Residents

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Raekwon Sutton, 26, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty, on October 3, 2023, of two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a previously convicted person, and three counts of felony threats, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acting Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The charges stem from a March 19, 2022 shooting in Southeast Washington. The verdict was returned by a jury sitting in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Sentencing is scheduled for December 1, 2023. According to the government’s evidence, Sutton went to his ex-girlfriend’s apartment armed with a handgun. In a fit of rage, he fired ten rounds at the front door of the apartment while two family members were inside. A few hours before the shooting, Sutton sent multiple text messages and voice messages threatening to shoot at the apartment. Shortly after the shooting, Sutton sent additional messages threatening to return to the apartment and fire additional shots. In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acting Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department, commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals Service. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Yasmin Emrani and Brian Yang, who investigated and prosecuted the case.


title: WMATA Employee Charged with Extortion and Bribery  Connected to Surplus Property Sales

body_text: WASHINGTON – An indictment was unsealed today charging Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) employee Tyrone Hunter, 52, of Seat Pleasant, Maryland, with two counts of extortion under color of official right and two counts of bribery concerning federal programs. Hunter, whose job duties included responsibility for the disposal of WMATA surplus property, allegedly demanded and accepted cash payments from a WMATA surplus customer in exchange for giving that customer favorable treatment in two surplus property sales. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs, of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, and WMATA Inspector General Rene Febles. Hunter made an initial appearance today in the District of Columbia before U.S. Magistrate Judge Moxilla A. Upadhyaya. According to the indictment, WMATA permits customers to conduct vehicle inspections free of charge but does not allow test drives. All WMATA surplus property sales are “as is” with no refunds. Hunter, an Investment Recovery Administrator for WMATA’s Office of Property Reutilization and Disposition Services, demanded that a WMATA customer pay him in exchange for the opportunity to fully inspect and test drive WMATA paratransit vans - which were offered for sale as surplus property - before bidding on them. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. This case is being investigated by FBI’s Washington Field Office and the WMATA Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.


title: Two Gang Members Sentenced in Connection with the Murder of 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson

body_text: Opened Fire on Innocent Bystanders WASHINGTON – Two members of the Wellington Park Crew were sentenced today in connection with the murder of 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson, an innocent bystander gunned down on July 16, 2018, in the courtyard of a Washington, D.C., apartment complex that also left multiple people wounded. The sentences were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Acting Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Isaiah Murchison, 23, was sentenced to 60 years in prison today by D.C. Superior Court Judge Robert Okun after being found guilty on June 13 of first-degree murder while armed, conspiracy to commit a crime of violence, participation in a criminal street gang, multiple counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, and related firearms offenses. Marquell Cobbs, 21, was sentenced to 72 months in prison and three years of supervised release today after being found guilty on June 13 of conspiracy to commit a crime of violence. Previously, the jury found Cobbs not guilty of the charges related to the murder of Makiyah Wilson. However, it did find him guilty of his membership in the Wellington Park Crew. According to the government's evidence, on July 16, 2018, Murchison, Gregory Taylor, Qujuan Thomas, and two others drove to the Clay Terrace neighborhood in Northeast Washington, D.C., armed with guns. The four men stepped out of the car and opened fire on the Clay Terrace courtyard, indiscriminately firing more than 50 shots. Makiyah Wilson, sitting on the front stoop of her home, was killed. Several other people were wounded. Fellow gang members Quentin Michals and Darrise Jeffers assisted the shooters by obtaining the weapons and vehicle used in the shooting. Despite having watched the defendants preparing for the shooting, no witnesses were willing to provide information regarding the gunmen's identity. The government presented forensic evidence, statements the defendants made over social media, and motive evidence in presenting its case. Judge Okun will sentence the four other defendants on October 20. In announcing the sentences, U.S. Attorney Graves and Acting Chief Smith commended the work of the detectives with the Metropolitan Police Department who investigated the case as well as members of the prosecution team. The team included paralegal specialists Sharon Newman and Grazy Rivera and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard Barker and Melissa Jackson, along with former Assistant U.S. Attorney John Timmer, who investigated the case. Finally, they thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Bach and Lindsey Merikas, who prosecuted the case.


title: Omaha Women Sentenced for Paycheck Protection Program Fraud

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Tamika R. Cross, 44, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in Omaha by Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. to 42 months’ imprisonment for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud. There is no parole in the federal system. After her release from prison, Cross will begin a three-year term of supervised release. Chief Judge Rossiter ordered Cross to pay restitution of $552,287.26. Co-defendant Davida J. Anderson, 53, of Omaha, was sentenced on October 5, 2023, in Omaha by Chief Judge Rossiter to four years of probation, with the condition of five months’ home detention, and a fine of $5,000. Anderson pleaded guilty in June 2023 to making False Statements to the Small Business Administration. Anderson was also ordered to pay restitution of $3,921.60, in addition to the loan repayments she had already made in the amount of approximately $78,432. During 2020 and 2021, Cross submitted applications for PPP and EIDL loans on behalf of her purported businesses and herself, as a sole proprietor, and obtained several PPP loans and an EIDL grant. Those loans were created or expanded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, which was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the loan applications, Cross misrepresented the average monthly payroll that her purported businesses paid, the net revenue from her purported businesses, and the gross income she received as a sole proprietor. In fact, the businesses did not have employees and thus had no payroll, and Cross did not generate revenue as a sole proprietor. In addition to loan applications submitted on her own behalf, Cross provided direction and guidance to others concerning creating the appearance of ongoing businesses, creating phony supporting documents, and obtaining larger loans by inflating the amount the applicant businesses purportedly paid in past compensation or had received in revenue. Cross assisted with preparing fraudulent PPP and EIDL applications on behalf of more than ten other persons. The applications substantially inflated the compensation paid by the businesses and the gross revenues earned by the businesses. Cross also prepared fraudulent documents for submission in support of loan applications, such as false tax documents. Cross submitted, and assisted others in submitting, fraudulent applications for PPP and EIDL loans and advances totaling $3,399,769. The applications contained material misrepresentations and were supported by false documents. Cross and the co-defendants obtained approximately $903,238 in loans and advances. “This defendant submitted false documents certifying a number of employees and payroll for a business that had neither. She collected PPP loan proceeds based on lies and helped others do likewise,” said IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) Special Agent in Charge Thomas F. Murdock. “We are committed to investigating those who defrauded the government and robbed businesses truly in need of pandemic relief.” Co-defendant Anderson submitted or caused to be submitted applications for Paycheck Protection Program loans in 2020 and 2021. Anderson worked with Cross to prepare and submit loan applications that misrepresented payroll for a purported business, revenue for a sole proprietorship and falsely stated she had no other business. In fact, the business had no employees and Anderson did not earn income as a sole proprietor. The PPP applications were also supported by false tax documents, some of which Anderson signed. Anderson submitted or caused to be submitted fraudulent applications for loans totaling approximately $118,532, and she obtained $78,432. The following co-defendants were sentenced previously: Bion A. Flint, sentenced on September 15, 2022, to 10 months’ imprisonment, three years supervised release, and ordered to pay $45,833 in restitution; Jeremy D. Sanders, sentenced on March 10, 2023, to four years of probation, and ordered to pay $21,304.88 in restitution; Lakeda R. Sanders, sentenced on March 10, 2023, to four years of probation, and ordered to pay $27,793.79 restitution; and Ronnie E. Cross, sentenced on June 23, 2023, to 21 months’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $78,427.30 restitution. 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 . The cases were investigated by the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.


title: Ada Resident Sentenced For Theft From The Chickasaw Nation

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Christopher Wallace Covington, age 43, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment and ordered to pay $486,431.02 in restitution for Theft Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds. The charges arose from an investigation by the Chickasaw Nation Department of Treasury, the Chickasaw Nation Department of Interior Services, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On March 25, 2022, Covington pleaded guilty to one count of Theft Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds. According to investigators, Covington, a Chickasaw Nation Department of Treasury accounting manager, embezzled $486,431.02 from the Chickasaw Nation from 2017 until May 2021. The Chickasaw Nation is a federally recognized Indian tribal government and an organization which receives federal benefits and assistance. “The defendant deliberately exploited his position to steal nearly half a million dollars in federal funds from his employer,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray. “We will continue to partner with the U.S. Attorney's Office to protect the integrity of taxpayer dollars and take swift action against those who embezzle funds intended to assist our tribal communities.” “The defendant abused his position of trust over many years to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant funds intended to benefit Chickasaw students,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “This office stands together with our Tribal partners in seeking prosecution of crimes that would deprive the future of Native Americans in the Eastern District.” The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the sentencing hearing in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Covington will report on October 26, 2023, to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorneys T. Cameron McEwen and Kara Traster represented the United States.


title: U.S. Attorney Parker appointed to serve on Attorney General Merrick B. Garland’s Advisory Committee

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today announced the appointment of U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio and six other U.S. Attorneys to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC). Created in 1973, the AGAC advises the Attorney General on matters of policy, procedure, and management impacting the Offices of the U.S. Attorneys and elevates the voices of U.S. Attorneys in Department policies. “I sincerely appreciate this appointment to the advisory committee and look forward to continuing my commitment to fairness and accountability in upholding the law,” said U.S. Attorney Parker. Parker added that as a member of the committee, he will reinforce the Southern District of Ohio’s law enforcement and community outreach efforts in order to strengthen the collaborative work of his office with the entire Department of Justice to promote safer communities nationwide. The AGAC appointees also include Alexander M.M. Uballez for the District of New Mexico, Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York, Natalie K. Wright for the District of Oregon, Eric G. Olshan for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Alamdar Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas, and Christopher R. Kavanaugh for the Western District of Virginia. “United States Attorneys work every day throughout the country to advance our mission of upholding the rule of law, keeping our country safe, and protecting civil rights,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “I am grateful for the perspective the newest members of the Committee will provide on behalf of federal prosecutors across the country and the communities they serve.” The bios of all U.S. Attorneys are available here . # # #


title: U.S. Attorney Parker announces more than $105 million in grants to support community safety in Southern District of Ohio

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced today that the U.S. Department of Justice has awarded 31 grants totaling $17 million to cities, counties, local law enforcement agencies, colleges and universities, and social service agencies in the 48-county Southern District of Ohio. Additionally, the Justice Department awarded more than $88.4 million to state agencies and elected offices in Ohio. “The grants will promote safety and strengthen trust, helping communities tackle the proliferation of gun violence and restore bonds of trust between community residents and the justice system,” U.S. Attorney Parker said. “These grants are also going to accelerate justice system reforms, improve the fairness and effectiveness of the juvenile justice system, expand access to victim services, and advance science and innovation to strengthen the knowledge base that policy makers and practitioners can use to develop better strategies to improve community safety.” Parker said the Bureau of Justice Assistance awarded 25 grants totaling $14 million to cities, counties, and non-profit agencies in the district. The funds will support community response to the opioid epidemic, improve reentry education, increase mental health services for those charged with crimes and support investigations into crimes against children. Grants from the Office for Victims of Crime include: Adult Advocacy Center $747,917 OhioHealth Research Institute $400,000 Ohio University $323,000 Women Helping Women $764,000 The National Institute of Justice awarded the University of Cincinnati $105,000 for a graduate research fellowship. Other grants were awarded by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the Sex Offender Monitoring, Apprehending Registering and Tracking (SMART) Office, and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Nine state agencies and elected offices received grants from the Department of Justice to support increasing community safety statewide. In total, the Justice Department awarded more than $4.4 billion nationwide to support community safety efforts. Visit the OJP website for the complete list of grantees as well as more information on the programs. # # #


title: Maryland man sentenced to 18 years in prison for sexually exploiting Ohio teens

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A 72-year-old Annapolis, Maryland, man was sentenced in federal court here to 18 years in prison for numerous child exploitation and pornography crimes. A federal jury found Bernhard Jakits guilty on all eight counts following a trial in May 2023. The jury deliberated for approximately 45 minutes before reaching their verdict. According to court documents and trial testimony, in January 2019, the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office received information relating to two potential exploitation victims. Forensic examination of cell phones and other electronic devices revealed that Jakits had communicated via text message with two teenaged victims and coerced them to send nude photographs of themselves. In December 2018 and January 2019, Jakits sexually exploited a 15-year-old female to create child pornography. Jakits also attempted to exploit a 13-year-old female in January 2019. The defendant coerced the two teenaged victims and used the chat app TextNow to obtain pornographic images of the minors in exchange for money. Jakits sought to video chat with the victims and offered them thousands of dollars, but the minors declined. Jakits met the minor victims based on his relationship with their mother, during which he paid the mother to engage in sex acts via video chats. Jakits owned homes in both Maryland and California. He traveled extensively around the world on his yacht after running and selling a yacht brokerage business. The defendant was indicted in a superseding indictment by a federal grand jury in January 2023. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Belmont County Sheriff David M. Lucas announced the sentence imposed on Oct. 5 by U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Senior Litigation Counsel Heather A. Hill and Assistant United States Attorneys Emily K. Czerniejewski and Kevin A. Koller are representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Northern Panhandle men indicted for sex offenses

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Four Northern Panhandle men were indicted yesterday for federal sex offenses. Harry Fred Wells, age 53, of Follansbee, West Virginia, was charged with enticement of a minor for sex using a computer, transfer of obscene material to a minor, and possession of child pornography. According to court documents, Wells allegedly tried to persuade a child to engage in sexual activity, sent obscene material to the minor, and had child pornography on his cell phone. David Edward Evans, age 53, of Moundsville, West Virginia, was charged with possession of child pornography. According to court documents, Evans uploaded pornographic images of minors to Google Photos. Investigators then searched Evans’ phone and found more images and videos depicting a pre-pubescent minor less than 12 years old. Carl Dennis Colvin, age 70, of Wheeling, West Virginia, was charged with possession of child pornography. According to court documents, Colvin had child pornography on his computer depicting children under the age of 12. Caleb Dale Steiner, age 42, also of Wheeling, was indicted on a charge of failure to register. According to court documents, Steiner must register as a sex offender and traveled across state lines without updating his registration with his new address. “We will continue to aggressively pursue all those who seek to harm children,” said United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld. “Thanks to the excellent work of our law enforcement partners, the individuals charged won’t be able to hurt anyone for a long time to come.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Conklin is prosecuting the cases on behalf of the government. The West Virginia State Police investigated the Evans case. The Wheeling Police Department investigated the Colvin matter with assistance of the Department of Homeland Security Investigations. The Department of Homeland Security Investigations investigated the Wells and matter, and the United States Marshals Service investigated the Steiner case. Indictments are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Woman Pleads Guilty in $1.6M Counterfeit U.S. Savings Bond Scheme

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A California woman pleaded guilty yesterday to her role in a counterfeit savings bond scheme. According to court documents, Summer Marie Creech, 45, of Fontana, conspired with others to create, pass, and transfer counterfeit Department of the Treasury Series I savings bonds at financial institutions in the Southern District of Texas and elsewhere. Creech forged counterfeit Series I savings bonds using genuine bond numbers and then sent them to her co-conspirators, who negotiated them at financial institutions and shared the profits with Creech. To pass the counterfeit bonds, the co-conspirators used means of identification belonging to others without their knowledge or consent. During the conspiracy, Creech and others passed over $1.6 million in counterfeit Series I savings bonds. Creech pleaded guilty to conspiracy to make, pass, and transfer counterfeit U.S. securities and passing counterfeit U.S. securities. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 20 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. One of Creech’s co-conspirators, Daniel Alan Lewis, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to make, pass, and transfer counterfeit U.S. securities and passing counterfeit U.S. securities. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 12. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas, and Special Agent in Charge Craig S. Larrabee of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement. HSI Rio Grande Valley Office is investigating the case, with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service, Department of the Treasury’s Office of Inspector General, and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. Trial Attorney David D. Hamstra of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Edgardo J. Rodriguez for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.