title: Ten Members of Area Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug and Gun Charges

component: USAO - Louisiana, Middle

body_text: United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced the sentencing of ten individuals by U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson as the result of an extensive federal, state, and local investigation by the Middle District Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) aimed at a drug trafficking network based and operating in Ascension Parish and surrounding areas. Reshide Wooden, age 26, of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 235 months imprisonment in federal prison following his convictions for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The Court further sentenced Wooden to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and ordered that the firearm involved be forfeited. Rokedrick Tyrell Williby, age 32, of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 128 months imprisonment in federal prison following his convictions for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The Court further sentenced Williby to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. Denzel Dionte Gray, age 30, of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 140 months imprisonment in federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Court further sentenced Gray to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. Malcolm Oliver, Jr., age 33, of Napoleonville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 190 months imprisonment in federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The Court further sentenced Oliver to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. Kelly Derrell Jones, age 41, of Gonzales, Louisiana, was sentenced to 46 months imprisonment in federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Court further sentenced Jones to serve four years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. David Burnell Lewis, age 38, of Gonzales, Louisiana, was sentenced to 28 months imprisonment in federal prison following his convictions for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. The Court further sentenced Lewis to serve four years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. Christopher Dee Harrod, age 42, of Prairieville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 96 months imprisonment in federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Court further sentenced Harrod to serve four years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. Blain Joseph Slayton, age 30, of Gonzales, Louisiana, was sentenced to 46 months imprisonment in federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Court further sentenced Slayton to serve four years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. Robert Jason Slayton, age 52, of Plaquemine, Louisiana, was sentenced to 13 months imprisonment in federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Court further sentenced Slayton to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment. Raven Harris, age 36, of Donaldsonville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment in federal prison following her conviction for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. The Court further sentenced Harris to serve two years of supervised release following her term of imprisonment. Through their pleas, the defendants admitted involvement in a conspiracy to distribute kilogram quantities of methamphetamine between October and December 2021. During that time, Wooden would obtain large quantities of methamphetamine from Williby, Jones, and others and then distributed the methamphetamine, for profit, to Gray, Oliver, Harrod, Lewis, Blain Slayton, Robert Slayton, and others for further distribution to customers within the Middle District of Louisiana. Agents were able to dismantle the organization on December 8, 2021, when they executed search warrants at residences and seized over 20 pounds of pure methamphetamine from Wooden and Harris’ apartment, which Williby had just distributed to Wooden, and multiple firearms. Wooden also pled guilty to illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Harris pled guilty to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine related to the drugs located in her residence on December 8, 2021. This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and task force officers from Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office and Baton Rouge Police Department with critical assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Internal Revenue Service, the United States Marshals Service, East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, Gonzales Police Department, West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, and Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Jarreau, who also serves as Deputy Chief of the Organized and Violent Crime Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Federal Judge Sentences Rockford Man to More Than Six Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearm

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

body_text: ROCKFORD — A federal judge has sentenced a Rockford man to more than six years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm in Rockford. U.S. District Judge Philip G. Reinhard on Tuesday sentenced WILLIE EVANS, 35, to eighty months in prison. Evans pleaded guilty earlier this year to a charge of illegal firearm possession. As a previously convicted felon, Evans was prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm. Evans admitted in a plea agreement that while in Rockford on Feb. 23, 2022, he possessed a handgun that had been loaded with 13 rounds of ammunition, including one in the chamber. Evans also admitted that he possessed several small baggies containing cocaine and ecstasy that he intended to sell to others. The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and Carla Redd, Chief of the Rockford Police Department. “Defendant’s offense endangered the community because he was not only illegally in possession of a firearm but was engaged in drug trafficking,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodora Anderson argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Drug trafficking and gun violence go hand-in-hand and pose a real threat to the community.” Holding illegal firearm possessors accountable through federal prosecution is a centerpiece of Project Safe Neighborhoods ( PSN ) – the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction strategy. In the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners have deployed the PSN program to attack a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, particularly firearm offenses.


title: Former Kentucky Sheriff’s Deputy Charged with Civil Rights Offenses for Excessive Force and Obstruction

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: A federal grand jury in Lexington, Kentucky, returned an indictment today charging a former Boyle County Sheriff’s Deputy with five counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, one count of falsification of records and one count of conspiracy. According to court documents, during 2021, then-Sheriff’s Deputy Tanner M. Abbott, 30, of Danville, Kentucky, violated the civil rights of five people by using excessive force while arresting them. During one of these arrests, Abbott also conducted an illegal warrantless search of a hotel room. The indictment further alleges that on two occasions, Abbott obstructed justice by writing and conspiring with another person to write false police reports to conceal his misconduct. The civil rights charges each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The falsification of records charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The conspiracy charges carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV for the Eastern District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Dembo for the Eastern District of Kentucky and Trial Attorney Alec Ward of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. abbott_indictment_october.pdf


title: Albuquerque Man Sentenced to 6 Months for Assault

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced that Vance Andres Raymond was sentenced to 6 months. Raymond, 27, of Albuquerque, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pled guilty in federal court on Aug. 17, 2021, to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury in Indian Country. According to court records, on April 10, 2018, assaulted Jane Doe by grabbing her arm, resulting in serious injury. Upon his release from prison, Raymond will be subject to 3 years of supervised release. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred J. Federici is prosecuting the case. # # # 23-241


title: U.S. Attorney’s Offices in Rhode Island and Southern District of Texas Resolve Violation of False Claims Act Recovering More Than $465,000

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – The United States Attorney’s Offices for the District of Rhode Island and the Southern District of Texas have resolved a civil investigation into RPS Group, Inc, a global professional services firm, that will result in a recovery of over $465,000, announced United States Attorneys Zachary A. Cunha and Alamdar S. Hamdani. The investigation focused on allegations that between June 2011 and July 2020, in order to maximize revenue and avoid hitting budgetary ceilings, RPS Group, Inc., which held several contracts with the federal government, unlawfully engaged in a practice of moving recorded labor hours between government projects with different funding sources; that RPS submitted invoices for work that was not performed on government contracts; and that RPS falsely inflated employee billing rates. The government alleges that these practices occurred across numerous government contracts and resulted in the submission of false invoices to multiple government agencies. The government alleges that this conduct, brought to the government’s attention both through a corporate disclosure by RPS and through complaints raised by four former employees, violated the False Claims Act. As part of a civil settlement, RPS Group, Inc., will pay the U.S. Government $465,293. At the time of the conduct alleged in this matter, RPS Group’s headquarters in the United States were located in Houston, Texas, with a subsidiary in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. The company has since been acquired by another firm. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bethany Wong of the District of Rhode Island and Jill Venezia of the Southern District of Texas litigated this matter. The case was investigated by the Department of Commerce, Office of Inspector General; Army Criminal Investigation Division; Coast Guard Investigative Service; General Services Administration Office of Inspector General; National Aeronautics and Space Administration Office of Inspector General; Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Service; Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General; Department of Interior Office of Inspector General; and Naval Criminal Investigative Service. ###


title: Hattiesburg Man Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison For Illegal Possession of a Firearm

body_text: Hattiesburg – A Hattiesburg man was sentenced to 27 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. According to court documents, Jamarquis Vasean Tate, 25, was found to be in possession of a firearm by the Hattiesburg Police Department after officers responded to a reported disturbance at a local area hotel on December 3, 2021. Hattiesburg police officers encountered Tate, who fled on foot but was detained shortly thereafter. The officer observed Tate throw a firearm away from his body during the chase, and this was confirmed by bodycam video that recorded the incident. The firearm was recovered. Tate was indicted by a federal grand jury and subsequently pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. The case was investigated by the ATF and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen. This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.


title: Lackawanna County Man Charged With Commercial Bribery And Tax Fraud Offenses

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Jason R. Bonnewell, age 41, of North Abington Township, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury with conspiring to commit honest services fraud and filing false tax returns. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment returned against Bonnewell alleges that, during his tenure as a supervisor at a Pennsylvania food services company from 2014 to 2019, he and his coconspirators accepted cash bribes and other things of value from other coconspirators who owned and operated Global Staffing Services, Inc. and Penns Independent Staffing. Global Staffing Services, Inc. and Penns Independent Staffing were two companies that leased temporary employees to Bonnewell’s company. In exchange for the kickbacks, Bonnewell and his coconspirators entered contracts with and hired the temporary employees of the two staffing companies. Allegedly, over $13,000,000 were paid to the two staffing companies, in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks. Bonnewell also was charged with three counts of filing false tax returns, for tax years 2017 through 2019. Bonnewell allegedly failed to disclose the cash payments on his tax returns, thus underreporting his total income and adjusted gross income for each year. Five other individuals were previously prosecuted in this investigation: Mark Holmes, age 66, of Hughes Springs, Texas, pleaded guilty to accepting, as the General Manager of the Pennsylvania food services company, approximately $400,000 in bribes and kickbacks from Global Staffing Services, Inc. and Penns Independent Staffing, in exchange for hiring their employees. The two temporary staffing companies, in turn, received approximately $7,800,000 from Holmes’s employer. Holmes also pleaded guilty to failing to remit approximately $135,000 in employment taxes to the IRS that were owed by Encore Staffing Solutions LLC, another temporary staffing company that he owned and operated. Encore Staffing Solutions LLC leased temporary employees to manufacturing businesses throughout Pennsylvania. Holmes awaits sentencing. Nari Lam, age 31, of Wilmington, Delaware, pleaded guilty to failing to remit employment taxes to the IRS. From 2016 through 2020, Nari Lam, as the owner of temporary staffing company Penns Independent Staffing, failed to pay approximately $300,000 in employment taxes owed by Penns Independent Staffing to the IRS. Nari Lam awaits sentencing. Madeline Nieves, age 49, of Plains, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to a tax fraud conspiracy. Nieves conspired with other individuals to defraud the IRS, from 2018 to 2020, in connection with staffing company Encore Staffing Solutions LLC, which she owned and operated. Nieves failed to report Encore Staffing Solutions LLC employee wages to the IRS, resulting in approximately $67,000 in employment taxes owed, but never paid, by Encore to the IRS. Nieves also failed to report her own personal income from Encore Staffing Solutions LLC to the IRS. Nieves awaits sentencing. Danny Sing, age 60, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to conspiring with other individuals to evade federal income taxes for approximately $1,600,000 in wages paid by Global Staffing Services, Inc. to its employees, and to failing to withhold and remit approximately $1,360,000 in federal employment taxes to the IRS. Danny Sing and his coconspirators paid Global Staffing Services, Inc. employees in cash, paid themselves in cash, and cashed all checks received from Global Staffing Services, Inc.’s clients, to conceal the income and wages from the IRS. The criminal activities occurred between 2013 and 2020. Sing also pleaded guilty to providing in excess of approximately $400,000 in bribes and kickbacks to managers and supervisors at Global Staffing Services, Inc.’s client, to obtain business for Global Staffing Services, Inc. Sing awaits sentencing. Den Lam, age 49, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was charged in an information alleging that he conspired with other individuals to evade federal income taxes for approximately $1,600,000 in wages paid by Global Staffing Services, Inc. to its employees. Den Lam also was charged with failing to withhold and remit approximately $1,360,000 in federal employment taxes owed, but never paid, by Global Staffing Services, Inc. to the IRS. The cases were investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigations Division. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip J. Caraballo. The maximum penalty under federal law for each tax offense is five years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The maximum penalty under federal law for the commercial bribery offense is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments and Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Chicago Man Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison for $1.5 Million Scheme to Obtain Two Dozen Luxury Vehicles Using Stolen Identities

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Alexander Weatherspoon, a/k/a “Tyler Simmons,” 28, of Chicago, Illinois, has been sentenced to 6 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, and making false statements. According to court documents, from December 2017 to August 2019, Weatherspoon participated in a scheme using other individuals’ names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth, to finance luxury vehicles. Weatherspoon was able to obtain four Dodge Charger Hellcats and a Porsche Panamera GTS from dealerships in Miami, Florida, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Jamestown, North Dakota. Once the vehicles were purchased and delivered to Weatherspoon, he defaulted on the loans he took out in other’s names and either kept or sold the vehicles for less than retail value. On August 27, 2019, FBI agents interviewed Weatherspoon about the scheme. During the interview, Weatherspoon lied to the agents about his identity and falsely stated he purchased one of the vehicles for $25,000. In fact, Weatherspoon used a stolen identity to finance the purchase from a dealer for $56,443. In total, investigators found that Weatherspoon was responsible for securing $1,450,646 in fraudulent financing for 24 vehicles. “For nearly two years, this defendant operated a nationwide scam—fleecing car dealerships and damaging the credit and security of innocent identity theft victims,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “Identity theft can cause lasting economic harm and shake victims’ sense of security in their financial lives. The defendant compounded his crimes by lying to investigators. This investigation and prosecution demonstrate that the FBI, USPIS, Social Security Administration, and our federal prosecutors will continue to unravel complex financial crimes and work together to hold fraudsters accountable.” “This sentence clearly demonstrates the severity of the illegal activity the defendant perpetrated all in an effort to enrich himself at the expense of unwitting victims,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “The FBI and our partners will continue to aggressively pursue swindlers who wreak havoc on the lives of others through identity theft.” “By stealing the identities of consumers to obtain credit lines to purchase expensive vehicles, Mr. Weatherspoon’s criminal actions caused significant financial loss to individuals and businesses, as well as damaged the integrity of the Social Security number,” said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for the Social Security Administration. “Identity theft is not victimless, and this sentence holds him accountable for his harmful actions. I thank the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their extensive work in this investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their efforts in prosecuting this case.” The FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge, Richard L. Young. Judge Young also ordered that Weatherspoon be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 2 years following his release from federal prison and pay $972,591.40 in restitution. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney MaryAnn Mindrum, who prosecuted this case. ###


title: U.S. Attorney's Office Observes Domestic Violence Awareness Month

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – October marks the observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). U.S. Attorney Dena J. King joins the U.S. Department of Justice in commemorating DVAM, paying tribute to victims and survivors, and saluting the dedication of 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 is a recurring pattern of abuse in relationships, that can have a long-lasting impact on victims and survivors,” said U.S. Attorney King. “We want our community to know that we are here to support victims and survivors not just in October, but every month. My Office will continue to be actively engaged with the community we serve to address, respond to, and prevent future domestic violence and bring offenders to justice.” Today, U.S. Attorney King attended Safe Alliance’s “Breakfast of Hope,” an event held annually to raise awareness about domestic violence and sexual assault. Safe Alliance is an organization that provides support to domestic violence and sexual assault victims in the greater Charlotte area, and client-focused services on housing, court assistance, sexual trauma resources, counseling for individuals, couples, and families, and support groups for adult and teen survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Safe Alliance President and CEO, Laura Lawrence, noted, “The epidemic of domestic violence impacts Charlotte-Mecklenburg in countless ways each day but, by partnering during DVAM and all year long, we can make a difference. Safe Alliance is honored to work alongside U.S. Attorney King’s office supporting survivors and holding offenders accountable in order to build a safer community.” DVAM provides an opportunity to spread awareness about domestic violence and encourage everyone to play a role in ending gender-based violence. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline , approximately one in four women and one in seven men will experience severe domestic violence in their lifetimes; however, rates are disproportionately higher for American Indian and Alaska Native populations, women of Color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and two-spirit people, and people with disabilities. To understand more about domestic violence, visit: https://www.justice.gov/ovw/domestic-violence#dv . If you require immediate help, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or Strong Hearts Native Helpline at 1-844-762-8483.


title: Cook County Man Sentenced in Rockford to More Than Five Years in Prison for Mail Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft

component: USAO - Illinois, Northern

body_text: ROCKFORD — A Cook County man has been sentenced to more than five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. ROBERT CARTER, 29, of Homewood, Ill., was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Philip G. Reinhard to 64 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $1 million in restitution. According to his plea agreement, from June 2020 through March 2021, Carter and others schemed to submit fraudulent unemployment insurance claims to the California Employment Development Department, the Maryland Division of Unemployment Insurance, and the Virginia Employment Commission. Carter used Social Security numbers and dates of birth of others without their knowledge or consent to submit unemployment claims. Carter opted to have the unemployment benefits paid via debit cards mailed to residences connected to Carter and others involved in the scheme, then withdrew funds from the debit cards at financial institutions and ATMs in Illinois. The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Region of the Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, and Ruth M. Mendonça, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ladd. “Robert Carter engaged in a scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $1 million in unemployment insurance funds by applying for benefits in the names of identity theft victims,” said SAC Lindow. “Carter stole benefits set aside by the federal government to assist American workers struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their strong partnership and collaboration on these types of investigations.”


title: Fentanyl Trafficker Linked to Fatal Overdose Sentenced

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: The drug dealer who sold the fentanyl that killed an Abilene man was sentenced today to 30 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. Elijah James Perez, 21, pleaded guilty in September 2023 to distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in death or serious bodily injury. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix. According to plea papers, Mr. Perez admitted that he sold fentanyl to a victim, identified in court documents as J.W., on Feb. 11, 2022. The following day, J.W. was found nonresponsive in his bed. After 40 minutes of attempted resuscitation, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Witnesses told law enforcement they believed J.W. had ingested Percocet, but an autopsy found that J.W. died from the toxic effects of fentanyl. According to plea papers, Mr. Perez admitted that approximately three days before J.W.’s death, Mr. Perez offered to sell him “5 percs.” Three days later, Mr. Perez met with J.W. outside his home around 10 p.m. to make the sale. The pills contained fentanyl. Six minutes later, J.W. texted his girlfriend that he’d received some “percs” that were “hella strong.” Hours later, he was dead of an overdose. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Office and the Abilene Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Tusing prosecuted the case. Note: Illicitly produced, fentanyl-laced pills often look similar to legitimate prescription pills like Oxycontin or Percocet, but can pose significantly more danger. On the street, these pills are often referred to as “M30s” (a reference to the markings on some of the pills), “blues,” “perks,” “yerks,” “china girls,” or “TNT.” DEA research shows that six out of ten pills laced with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose. One pill can kill. For resources, visit https://www.dea.gov/onepill .


title: National Children’s Advocacy Center Awarded $4.25 Million in Grants from Department of Justice

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - The Department of Justice has awarded grants totaling $4,250,000 to the National Children’s Advocacy Center (NCAC), announced U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona and NCAC Executive Director, Chris Newlin. “I am proud to announce that the NCAC has received these grants for its important work on behalf of children in Madison County, the Southern Region of the United States, and throughout our nation,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “These grants are vital in sustaining this center’s mission to continue to provide training and support to professionals dedicated to responding to child abuse throughout our nation. I am thankful for the ongoing partnership with the NCAC as we work together to provide a safer future for children.” “We are so thankful for the continuing support from the Department of Justice and our partnership with U.S. Attorney Escalona,” said Chris Newlin. “This grant will provide critical training and support to equip child abuse response professionals and their multidisciplinary teams with the knowledge and skills to be the steadfast guardians of our children's safety, ensuring a brighter tomorrow for all." The NCAC is receiving the funding through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) grant program. The NCAC was awarded $1,250,000 for the Fiscal Year 2023 Victims of Child Abuse Act Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers Program and $3 million for the Fiscal Year 2023-2025 Victims of Child Abuse Act and Training and Technical Assistant for Child Abuse Professionals. Under the Victims of Child Abuse Act Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers Program grant, the NCAC operates the Southern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center program which provides coordinated, strategic training and technical assistance, and resources to state chapters, other Children’s Advocacy Centers (CAC), and multidisciplinary teams within the southern census region of the United States. The Southern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center was formed in 1995 and supports more than 41% of the 1,000+ CACs currently operating throughout the United States which served more than 380,494 youth in 2022. Under the Training and Technical Assistance for Child Abuse Professionals grant, the NCAC will continue to provide model training programs and support for federal, state, tribal and local professionals who assist in the multidisciplinary response to child abuse victims. The grant allows NCAC to continue to provide significant free virtual training through its Virtual Training Center, and continue operating the renowned Child Abuse Library Online TM (CALiO TM ) which is the largest digital library for child abuse resources in the world. The NCAC exists to champion and strengthen the global response to child abuse and give every child the best chance at life, safe from abuse. A global leader and changemaker, the NCAC provides hope, healing, and justice for children through global training for child abuse professionals, community-based child abuse prevention strategies, and a multidisciplinary approach to child abuse that includes forensic interviews, medical and mental health services, and family advocacy. Give every child the best chance at life at www.nationalcac.org .


title: Second Phoenix Poly-Drug Distributors Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – Hector Manuel Cruz, Jr., 29, of Chandler, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge G. Murray Snow to 15 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. On April 25, 2023, Cruz pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Co-defendant Konstantin Shurayeu, 32, of Phoenix, was sentenced this summer by Judge Snow to seven years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. On March 14, 2023, Shurayeu also pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. On July 14, 2022, Cruz and Shurayeu met at an apartment complex in Phoenix to complete a drug transaction. Law enforcement ultimately found 4.93 kilograms of fentanyl, 3.38 kilograms of methamphetamine (actual), 8.49 grams of methamphetamine, 1.20 kilograms of cocaine, 0.77 kilograms of fentanyl analogue, 1.12 kilograms of heroin, 0.35 grams of oxycodone, 0.84 kilograms of marijuana and 12,330 units of Xanax (a Schedule IV substance) between Cruz’s vehicle, Shurayeu’s vehicle, and Cruz’s apartment. Law enforcement also located 16 handguns, two shotguns, one rifle, a ballistic vest and $118,195.00 in United States currency in Cruz’s apartment. The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR 22-00901-PHX-GMS RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-147_Cruz # # # 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: Three Human Smugglers Indicted for Conspiracy

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Saul Parra, Patrick Orozco, and Rafael Gamez-Ramirez, all from Tucson, were indicted on August 23, 2023, for Conspiring to Transport and Harbor Illegal Aliens for Profit. The indictment alleges that, beginning around November 2021, Gamez-Ramirez coordinated with Orozco to purchase a parcel of land located in Bisbee, Arizona, to be used to facilitate the transport of undocumented noncitizens into the United States. Orozco bought and placed a recreational vehicle onto the property where undocumented noncitizens waited to be transported. Law enforcement officers pursued and stopped several vehicles leaving the parcel between November 2021 and January 2022; one such pursuit resulted in the death of an undocumented noncitizen after a driver lost control of the vehicle on I-10 near Exit 297. Parra participated in the human smuggling conspiracy by loaning his vehicles to drivers in exchange for payment. A conviction for Conspiring to Transport and Harbor Illegal Aliens for Profit carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. 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. Homeland Security Investigations-Douglas conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR 23-01261-TUC-RM RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-148_Parra # # # 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: Durango Drug Dealer Who Fled Police, Scattering Fentanyl Pills on Main Avenue, Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DURANGO – Robert James Russell Simmons, age 37, of Durango, Colorado, was sentenced to serve 10 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years on supervised release, for possessing a controlled substance with the intent to distribute. According to court documents and facts presented during sentencing, investigators with the Southwest Drug Task Force observed a drug deal involving Simmons in the Durango Transit Lot in September 2022. La Plata County Sheriff’s Deputies approached Simmons, who was seated in a Dodge Charger. Deputies asked Simmons to step out of the car. In response, Simmons put the Charger into reverse and accelerated, causing the Charger to hit one Deputy in the arm and knee, requiring a hospital visit. Simmons then accelerated forward out of the Transit Lot, turning onto 8 th Street, and then veering the wrong way past “Do Not Enter” signs on Narrow-Gauge Avenue. Halfway down the block, the Charger was blocked by a truck coming the other direction. Simmons pulled into a parking lot, colliding with a parked truck. Simmons then fled on foot carrying a bag of small, blue pills containing fentanyl. He ran through the parking lot, across Main Avenue, and threw the bag of fentanyl pills into a trashcan. Law enforcement later found a trail of blue pills that went from the site of the car crash to the trashcan. Pills were also located on Main Avenue and the nearby sidewalk. Law enforcement later secured a search warrant for the Charger and found 840 grams of a methamphetamine mixture (or roughly 3,360 individual doses). “Durango is a little safer today with this drug dealer being bars,” said U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan. “Fentanyl is extraordinarily dangerous. We will continue to prosecute the dealers who seek to profit from this poison and endanger everyone in our community.” “This sentencing sends the very clear message that HSI and our partners will relentlessly investigate and prosecute those who try to transport drugs across the state filling our communities with poison,” said Ryan L. Spradlin, Special Agent in Charge, HSI Denver. “Every day our agents are on the streets to ensure people like this end up with significant time behind bars.” “The Southwest Drug Task Force is committed to keeping La Plata County safe for everyone in our community,” said Commander Joey LaVenture of the Southwest Drug Task Force. “ We commend the work of our deputies, officers and federal law enforcement partners in this prosecution of this dangerous fentanyl dealer.” According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, 6 out of 10 fentanyl pills tested contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl. https://www.dea.gov/onepill United States District Court Judge Gordon P. Gallagher presided over the sentencing on October 4, 2023, finding that sentencing enhancements applied for use of violence and reckless endangerment based on Simmons’s conduct fleeing from law enforcement. Simmons appeared at the sentencing hearing in custody and was remanded at its conclusion. This case was investigated by the Southwestern Drug Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, and the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office. The defendant was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey K. Graves. Case Number: 23-cr-00006-GPG-JMC


title: Readout of the Justice Department’s Meeting on Law Enforcement and Media Interactions During Mass Demonstrations

body_text: On Tuesday, Oct. 3, the Justice Department's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press convened a meeting of law enforcement executives and members of the press, facilitated by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), to discuss recommendations for law enforcement interactions with journalists during protests and mass demonstrations. The discussion was prompted by a request from the Reporters Committee, which expressed the need for concrete, specific suggestions that would account for both the important role of the working press in a functioning democracy, as well as the challenge of policing large protests and demonstrations. Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta, who asked the COPS Office to convene the meeting, addressed the participants saying, “Each of you in this room has a difficult job. Journalists are entrusted with uncovering truth, holding those in power accountable, and providing the public with the information they need to make informed decisions. Law enforcement officers are constantly balancing their mandate to preserve public safety and fight crime, with the imperative to work constantly and consistently to build trust and maintain positive relationships with the communities they serve.” Associate Attorney General Gupta went on to say that “[t]he recommendations that come from today’s discussion, and the many conversations leading up to this event, will without a doubt accrue to everyone’s benefit.” Last year, the department issued recommendations for law enforcement related to First Amendment issues in the context of mass demonstrations, but yesterday’s discussion focused specifically on best practices for law enforcement interactions with journalists. The group discussed issues including safeguarding First Amendment rights, the identification of members of the news media during protest activity, the utility in a persistent point of contact for open communication between press and police during protest activity, the importance of developing relationships between the press and police in advance of demonstrations, the need for a “playbook” before a planned event, the challenges brought about by social media, and more. The result of the discussion will be a series of recommendations that will be widely disseminated by the Justice Department, law enforcement organizations, and the media. In addition to the Associate Attorney General, attendees included COPS Office Director Hugh Clements, other Justice Department officials and COPS Office staff; representatives of the Reporters Committee; journalists, editors and senior managers from major broadcast and print outlets; and law enforcement executives from across the country.


title: Shreveport Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possession With Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

body_text: SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Leroy Shintell McKinney , 38, of Shreveport, Louisiana , was sentenced on September 18, 2023, by United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr., for possession with intent to distribute fifty (50) grams or more of methamphetamine. McKinney was sentenced to 120 months (10 years) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release. On November 16, 2022, after a nearly two-year investigation into McKinney’s narcotics activity at various locations in Shreveport, investigators with the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) arrested McKinney at a home on N. Southland Park Drive while executing a federal search warrant for narcotics. During the search, investigators found parked in the front yard of the home a red car known to be utilized by McKinney. A narcotics-detecting canine alerted to the odor of narcotics emanating from within the car and investigators located approximately six ounces of methamphetamine hidden inside. In the home were digital scales and packaging material. After being advised of his Miranda rights, McKinney admitted to buying and possessing the methamphetamine for the purpose of distributing it. In total, investigators seized nearly 13 ounces of pure methamphetamine from McKinney throughout this investigation. This case was investigated by members of the DEA, Louisiana State Police, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Postal Service, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Shannon. # # #


title: Former husband and wife real estate investment team indicted for $2.25 million fraud scheme

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A pair of real estate professionals, who as a married couple operated a real estate investment fund, were indicted this week by the federal grand jury for conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Paul Waln, 58, of Dallas, Texas, and his ex-wife Tamara King, aka Tamara Waln, 54, of Toledo, Ohio, previously resided in Bellevue and Kirkland, Washington. The pair are scheduled to appear on the indictment on October 12. According to the indictment, between August 2009 and December 2013, Waln solicited investments in a real estate fund called Halcyon. Twenty-two victims, most of whom were Seattle residents, invested $2.25 million in the fund. Waln told investors their funds would be pooled to purchase and renovate an apartment building in West Seattle, and then used for other real estate projects. Investors were required to leave their money in the investment pool for ten years. Waln said that at the end of the 10-year period, Waln would return the investment principal and earnings, which he estimated amount to a 20 percent annual return. Waln was entitled to receive a 1% fee for managing the investment fund. In 2013, Waln married King, who was also a real estate agent. Waln and King then jointly managed the investment fund. Between February 2014 and December 2018, they conspired to misappropriate money from the fund to pay their personal expenses. The pair secretly transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars at a time from the fund to their management company, and then transferred the money to King’s personal accounts. In some instances, they wrote secret memos characterizing these transfers as “loans,” but the money was never repaid. Investors were never told about the “loans.” Under the terms of the investment, Waln and King were required to distribute the investment funds to investors in 2019. But by the end of 2018, they had misappropriated all the money. In December 2018, Waln sent investors a letter falsely claiming that the fund’s general contractor had been diagnosed with cancer. Waln told investors that this would result in a two-to-three-year delay before he would be able to return investors’ money. The contractor in question never had a cancer diagnosis. Finally, in October 2019, King informed the investors that all the money was gone, and the investment had failed. All the remaining investors lost their entire investments. The defendants are charged with conspiracy, eight counts of wire fraud, and two counts of money laundering. Conspiracy is punishable by up to five years in prison. Wire fraud and money laundering are punishable by up to twenty years in prison. The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The case is being investigated by the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Seth Wilkinson. indictment_waln.pdf


title: Alleged Armed Credit Union Robbery Suspect Captured via GPS and Prosecuted

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment charging a previously convicted felon with armed credit union robbery and firearm charges after he allegedly stole over $3,000. According to court documents, on September 25, 2023, Robert L. Durazo, 41, of Salt Lake City, robbed Golden West Credit Union, located at 769 E. South Temple Street, in Salt Lake City. Upon entering the credit union, Durazo, wearing a face covering and an orange construction sweatshirt, brandished a Glock 19 handgun, and pointed the firearm directly at four employees. Durazo instructed the employees to move backwards and demanded money from three separate tills. Durazo collected the cash and fled the scene. Each of the three tills contained a GPS tracking device inside of the stolen money. The GPS devices were monitored remotely and a Volvo, later identified as registered to Durazo, was tracked to a Chevron gas station in North Salt Lake City, Utah. The responding officer observed a male across the street from the Chevron, later identified as Durazo, digging into a garden. Officers recovered a large sum of money, three tracking devices and a Costco receipt buried in the garden. The Costco membership number on the receipt was later confirmed to belong to Durazo. Officers located the Volvo registered to Durazo parked at the Commons on 2nd apartment complex located in South Salt Lake City. Pursuant to a search warrant for Durazo’s apartment, officers recovered over $2,000 in cash and a black Glock 19 handgun, which resembles the same gun used in the robbery. Durazo was arrested and an additional $151 in cash was found on him. Durazo is charged with armed credit union robbery, using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and felon in possession of a firearm. Durazo is scheduled for his initial court appearance on Oct. 5, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement. An FBI Task Force Officer with the Salt Lake City Police Department is investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney Carlos A. Esqueda for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Durham Man Pleads Guilty to Charges Related to $9.5 Million Scheme to Defraud Investors

component: USAO - North Carolina, Middle

body_text: GREENSBORO –A Durham man pleaded guilty today to wire fraud and securities fraud in connection with a $9.5 million investment fraud scheme, announced Sandra J. Hairston, United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina. According to court documents, between July 2022 and June 2023, NAYEEM CHOUDHURY, 27, solicited investments for his company, Dream Venture Capital Group, which CHOUDHURY marketed as a fund that traded in option contracts. CHOUDHURY raised approximately $9.5 million from investors and induced victims to invest by promising high rates of return and telling victims that they could invest their capital with no risk. CHOUDHURY also falsely represented to investors that Dream Venture was profitable and that it had a proven track record of successfully trading options. CHOUDHURY lost over $5 million in investor money trading options. In addition to the massive trading losses, CHOUDHURY used a portion of the investor money on personal expenses, including the purchase of Mercedes Benz, and to make Ponzi-style payments to other investors. Sentencing is scheduled to take place on March 21, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, courtroom number 4, before United States District Judge Loretta C. Biggs. At sentencing, CHOUDHURY faces a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison, a period of supervised release of up to three years, restitution, and other monetary penalties. The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Waid. ###


title: Los Angeles Resident Convicted of Mailing Over a Kilogram of Methamphetamine to Massachusetts

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A California resident pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to sending more than one kilogram of methamphetamine to an undercover federal agent in Massachusetts. Hagen Dunphy, a/k/a “Molly Ruin” and “~Haley,” 36, of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for Jan. 11, 2024. Dunphy was indicted on Dec. 8, 2021, and was arrested in Los Angeles on Feb. 18, 2022. In March 2020 and again in October 2020, Dunphy agreed to send packages containing methamphetamine to an undercover agent. One of the packages was found to contain approximately 698.3 grams of 98% pure d-methamphetamine hydrochloride (also known as “ice”). The second package contained approximately 294.69 grams of 75% pure d-methamphetamine hydrochloride in one bag and approximately 204.41 grams of 97% pure d-methamphetamine hydrochloride inside a second bag. The charges of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division made the announcement today. Special assistance in the investigation was provided by Los Angeles’ Divisions of the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Arnold of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Montgomery Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

component: USAO - Alabama, Middle

body_text: Montgomery, Alabama – On October 4, 2023, a federal judge sentenced 42-year-old Southern Lausane, III, a resident of Montgomery, Alabama, to 120 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross. Federal prisoners are not eligible for parole. According to his plea agreement and other court records, on June 15, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Lausane’s residence in Montgomery. Inside the residence, officers found a handgun and shotgun. Lausane has a previous felony conviction and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. On June 7, 2023, Lausane pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in federal court. This case was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Montgomery Police Department, and the United States Marshals Service investigated this case, with Assistant United States Attorney Eric M. Counts prosecuting.


title: Jefferson County Agencies Awarded $800,000 to Enhance Responses to Domestic Violence

component: Office on Violence Against Women

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women has awarded One Place Metro Alabama Family Justice Center (One Place) $800,000 to support its mission as the comprehensive service provider for victims of domestic and sexual violence in Jefferson County. The Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama (¡HICA!) and the Jefferson County Department of Health (JCDH) partnered with One Place in its application to enhance services to survivors of domestic violence in Jefferson County. The award comes to One Place through OVW’s Improving Criminal Justice Responses grant program. The collaborative application developed by One Place, ¡HICA!, and JCDH addresses key barriers to victims of violence that are seeking assistance, as well as significant risk factors that correlate with an increased risk of homicide for domestic violence victims. “The awarded funds will allow our team of partners at One Place to expand on-site resources and offer more comprehensive support for survivors of domestic violence,” said Kelly Klehm, One Place’s Deputy Director. “This award advances our shared goals, which are to improve care for the survivors we serve and to make the process of receiving help less intimidating and more efficient.” One Place’s successful grant application with ¡HICA!, and JCDH emphasized addressing barriers and risks faced by survivors. Through the grant by OVW, ¡HICA! will provide legal services to survivors of domestic violence, who might be hesitant to seek help due to language or cultural barriers. Also, JCDH will ensure the provision of specialized nursing services to victims of strangulation. When strangulation occurs in relationships with domestic violence, the risk of lethality to the victim increases by 750%. “This grant allows us to expand our existing work at One Place and underscores our unwavering commitment to ensuring that the Latino community has full access to the essential legal services they need during their most challenging times. Working collaboratively with our partners, we aim to break down language barriers and create a haven where all victims feel heard, understood, and supported,” said Carlos Alemán, Chief Executive Officer of ¡HICA!. “Violence, in any form, has direct and indirect deleterious impacts on society and is a public health concern. JCDH is committed to violence prevention and supporting survivors of violent acts. Receipt of this grant demonstrates the importance of collaborative partnerships to serve those in need,” said Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. David Hicks. Since 2014, One Place has served as Jefferson County’s one-stop community response center for victims of domestic and sexual violence. Local agencies who are on-site partners at One Place include ¡HICA!, the YWCA of Central Alabama, Legal Services of Alabama, United Counseling, the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office – Birmingham Division, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Birmingham Police Department, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama. At One Place, victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence receive wraparound services from one central location, with an emphasis on maintaining a survivor-centered approach. “I am grateful to the Office on Violence Against Women for their support of our partner’s work in Jefferson County. Victims of domestic violence face numerous and life-threatening barriers to seeking help, and they deserve our best efforts and fullest support,” said United States Attorney Prim F. Escalona. “One Place’s work, alongside ¡HICA! and JCDH, will improve protections for victims most at risk of domestic homicide and will address cultural and language barriers that too often separate victims from life-saving care”. In Jefferson County, offenders with a domestic violence history are responsible for the vast majority of homicides committed each year. The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office has identified that more than 70% of homicide offenders in Jefferson County for 2021, 2022, and 2023 have previously committed acts of domestic violence. In October 2020, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama launched Operation Safe Families to bring federal law enforcement alongside local victim service providers, local law enforcement, and local prosecutors to better respond to the needs of victims of domestic violence and the threats presented to the community by domestic violence offenders. Not only do domestic violence offenders often terrorize former intimate partners, national and local crime data confirms that domestic violence offenders present extreme risks to law enforcement officers and are often responsible for significant amounts of violent crimes in Alabama communities. OVW’s Improving Criminal Justice Responses program is designed to encourage partnerships between state and local governments, courts, victim service providers, coalitions, and rape crisis centers to ensure that sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking are treated as serious violations of criminal law. Including this award, the Department of Justice has committed more than $1.6 million of funding for new projects to address domestic violence within the Jefferson County since 2022. The Office of Violence Against Women has awarded $500,000 to One Place Metro Family Justice Center to facilitate and implement the Domestic Violence and Firearms Technical Assistance Project (FTAP) in Jefferson County, and the Bureau of Justice Assistance awarded the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office in Birmingham approximately $340,000 to enhance the response of local law enforcement and prosecutors in Jefferson County. Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has dedicated Project Safe Neighborhoods grant resources to enhance protections for domestic violence victims within the Northern District of Alabama. For more information on One Place and its services contact (205) 453-7261.


title: Utica Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Robbery of Restaurant

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Nay Thar, age 25, of Utica, New York, pled guilty today to committing the armed robbery of a restaurant in Utica, and use of an unregistered sawed-off shotgun to commit the robbery, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Mark Williams, City of Utica Police Department. As part of his guilty plea, Thar admitted that on August 5, 2022, he used an unregistered short-barreled shotgun to rob the Zam Zam Restaurant in Utica. Upon entering the restaurant wearing a ski-mask, Thar pointed the shotgun at an employee and demanded she open the cash register. After she fled to the rear of the restaurant, Thar stole a donation box from a charity on the counter, exited the building, and fled in a car. New York State Parole officers who happened to be in the area responded with Utica Police. After a short vehicle pursuit, Thar was taken into custody by Utica police. The ski-mask, unregistered shotgun, and stolen money were recovered from the car Thar was driving. Sentencing is scheduled for February 7, 2024, in Syracuse, New York, at which time Nay Thar faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000.00 for his conviction for Interference with Commerce through Robbery (Hobbs Act Robbery). He faces a mandatory consecutive sentence of ten-years imprisonment, and a fine of up to $250,000.00 for his conviction for using an unregistered sawed-off shotgun to commit a federal crime of violence. Thar also faces a term of post-incarceration supervised release of up to 5 years following any term of imprisonment. 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. The United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Utica Police Department (UPD), and the New York State Police (NYSP) are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick is prosecuting (with assistance from the Oneida County District Attorney’s Office) the case as 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: Atlantic County Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Involving over 100 Kilograms of Cocaine

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – An Atlantic County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 60 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Lester Santana, 53, of Egg Harbor Township, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Christine P. O’Hearn to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Judge O’Hearn imposed the sentence today in Camden federal court. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Santana admitted that on numerous occasions from March 2019 to August 2020, he and his conspirators flew to San Juan, Puerto Rico, on commercial flights from Philadelphia International Airport. Santana and his conspirators purchased multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine from wholesale drug suppliers based in the San Juan area in exchange for cash payments. Santana and the other conspirators then shipped the kilograms of cocaine by overnight delivery from U.S. Post Offices in San Juan to various addresses in Philadelphia and southern New Jersey, including to Santana’s residence. After the cocaine shipments were delivered, a conspirator resold the cocaine to other drug dealers in the Philadelphia area for a profit. Santana admitted that he was jointly responsible for the possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 50 to 150 kilograms of cocaine. In addition to the prison term, Judge O’Hearn sentenced Santana to five years of supervised release. Two conspirators in this case, Jose Gonzalez and Iran Soler, both previously pleaded guilty before Judge O’Hearn to conspiring to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Gonzalez is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 4, 2024, and Soler is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 6, 2023. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Philadelphia Division, under the direction of Acting Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen; agents of the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Field Office, under the leadership of Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modafferi; agents assigned to the FBI’s Atlantic City Resident Agency, Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy; agents assigned to the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jacqueline Maguire; troopers assigned to the New Jersey State Police Strategic Investigations Unit South, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan; and officers and detectives of the Philadelphia Police Department, under the direction of Interim Police Commissioner John Stanford, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick C. Askin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Criminal Division in Camden.


title: Raleigh Man Sentenced to More than Four Years in Prison for Identity Theft Conspiracy Involving the Fraudulent Financing of Multiple Vehicles Totaling More than $1 Million

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – A Raleigh, North Carolina man, Basilio Rafael Garcia, was sentenced to 54 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy and aggravated identity theft. On May 11, 2023, Garcia pleaded guilty to the charges. According to court documents and other information presented in court, Garcia conspired with others to unlawfully transfer, possess, and use the identities and personal identifying information of Puerto Rico residents to finance and purchase more than $1 million worth of vehicles and watercraft from dealerships in the Eastern and Middle Districts of North Carolina. “This defendant ran a scam to buy high-end luxury cars using other people’s credit. He was driven by greed and greed alone,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “Identity theft like this can leave victims with ruined credit and dire financial straits. We are prosecuting the fraudsters and reminding consumers to protect themselves by securing personal identifying information and monitoring credit reports regularly for suspicious activity.” According to the investigation by the United States Secret Service and local law enforcement, Garcia traveled from Raleigh to Columbia, South Carolina and used the stolen identifying information of a Puerto Rico victim to apply for and obtain a South Carolina identification card. The supporting documents that Garcia provided to the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles included a Social Security card and a purported Puerto Rican birth certificate in the victim’s name, as well as a counterfeit bank statement. Based on the false information provided, Garcia successfully obtained a South Carolina identification card with his photograph but the victim’s identifiers. On the following day, Garcia used the identification card and the victim’s personal information, including his Social Security number and credit report, to finance the purchase of Honda dirt bike from a dealership in Wake Forest, North Carolina. The defendant subsequently used the same victim’s identity to fraudulently finance the purchase of multiple vehicles from dealerships in the Raleigh and Durham areas, including two Jeep Wranglers, a Jeep Grand Cherokee, a BMW X5, and a Range Rover. A search warrant was later executed at Garcia’s residence, during which officers recovered drivers’ licenses, birth certificates, passports, Social Security cards, and vehicle titles in the names of other people. Raleigh-based law enforcement officers have recovered some of the vehicles working with counterparts in other states. Two of Garcia’s co-conspirators in the case, Jarlin Javier Sanchez and Warlin Mateo-Tejeda, were previously sentenced to prison following their guilty pleas. Michael Easley, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The United States Secret Service, based in Raleigh, North Carolina, investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Adam F. Hulbig prosecuted the case for the government. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-CR-48-D.


title: Bronx Man Sentenced To 22 Years In Prison For Drug-Related Shooting On Crowded Manhattan Sidewalk

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that MICHAEL ROWE, a/k/a “MJ,” was sentenced today to 22 years in prison for shooting another man over a $150 drug debt on a crowded sidewalk in Hell’s Kitchen on April 29, 2023. ROWE was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Michael Rowe resorted to a reckless act of violence when his victim failed to pay him just $150. Rowe could have taken someone’s life on that crowded sidewalk in Hell’s Kitchen over a trivial drug debt, but fortunately, no bystanders were hurt, and the victim survived his injuries. Thanks to the quick work of our law enforcement partners and the prosecutors of this Office, Rowe now faces prison time for his dangerous behavior.” According to the Complaint and Information, as well as statements by the Government and defense in connection with the plea and sentencing proceedings in this case: On or about April 29, 2023, ROWE got into a disagreement with another individual (the “Victim”) on the sidewalk in the vicinity of 650 Ninth Avenue in Manhattan. ROWE had given the Victim a quantity of cocaine base to sell, and the Victim had failed to pay ROWE a debt of $150. After they exchanged words, ROWE brandished a firearm and shot the Victim several times as the Victim stood among other bystanders. ROWE shot the Victim in the leg, among other places, and the Victim was hospitalized with serious physical injuries. Video footage from the scene shows ROWE pointing the gun and shooting the Victim, as others in the area fled for safety. ROWE (in black) and the Victim (in blue) Arguing ROWE Shooting the Victim * * * ROWE, 23, of the Bronx, New York, pled guilty to possessing ammunition after sustaining three prior felony convictions for violent felonies and serious drug offenses and to conspiring to distribute cocaine base. In addition to the prison term, ROWE was sentenced to five years of supervised release. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the NYPD. Mr. Williams also thanks the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for its assistance in this case. This case is being handled by the Office's Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank Balsamello, Peter Davis, and Jamie Bagliebter are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Maryland man admits to fentanyl charge

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Michael Anthony Matthews, age 34, of Baltimore, Maryland, has pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, Matthews and a co-defendant supplied fentanyl to at least 10 others who live in the Moorefield/Petersburg area of West Virginia. The others traveled to Matthews’ apartment and purchased fentanyl on hundreds of occasions, each time purchasing more than a personal-use quantity for the purpose of sales in West Virginia. Matthews is facing up to 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.


title: 11 Alleged Fentanyl Traffickers Charged in Amarillo Takedown

body_text: Ten alleged fentanyl traffickers were arrested in Amarillo, Texas on federal drug charges, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. One additional defendant who was already in state custody has also been charged federally. During the bust, agents and officers also seized six firearms, hundreds of fake M-30 fentanyl pills and bulk US currency. The defendants were charged in a seven-count indictment unsealed today. Those charged include: Gary Eugene Carlisle, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl Robert Tucker Witt, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl Rebecca Ann Schmitkons, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl Julian Gabriel Apodaca, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl Rachel Lynn Waddell, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl T Blue Bloomer, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl Michael David Winbigler, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl Lucas Paul Blanke, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl Elesaio Ben Guzman Maestas, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl Katherine Valencia-Morales, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl Kylie Nicole James, charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl “We are tireless in our fight against fentanyl traffickers in the Northern District of Texas and are doing whatever we can to stem the flow of fentanyl into the Amarillo area,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “Each person lost to fentanyl is one person too many. I encourage all parents and guardians to talk with young people about the dangers of taking any pill they get off the street, as it very possibly contains a deadly amount of fentanyl. We are all in this fight together to stop the selling and buying of this deadly drug.” “Criminal organizations are continuing to flood communities with fentanyl at an alarming rate,” said Eduardo A. Chávez, Special Agent in Charge of DEA Dallas, which covers all operations in Amarillo. “This week, DEA Amarillo worked with our area law enforcement partners to investigate those responsible for selling this poison throughout the region. We will keep going. We will not stop until all members of this criminal organization are held accountable for their actions and to make our neighborhoods safer. The potential for an individual to be harmed by illicit fentanyl is greater today than at any other time in our history, as seven out of ten fake pills contain a potential lethal amount of illicit fentanyl.” Amarillo Police Chief Martin Birkenfeld states, “We are very thankful for our federal law enforcement partners that work with us on a daily basis to make our city safer. Fentanyl is sickening and killing people in Amarillo and this is unacceptable. We will continue to hold drug dealers accountable and do everything in our power to bring justice to families who are victimized by these potential murderers.” An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years on each count. The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Amarillo Police Department’s Proactive Criminal Enforcement (PACE) Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Marie Bell is prosecuting the case.


title: Frank James Sentenced to Life in Prison for Subway Mass Shooting

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: Frank James, 62, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William F. Kuntz II to 10 concurrent life sentences in prison, plus 10 years to run consecutively for shooting 10 people during an attack on the New York City subway in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, on April 12, 2022. James previously pleaded guilty to all 11 counts of a superseding indictment, which included 10 counts of committing a terrorist attack or other violence against a mass transportation vehicle – one count for each gunshot victim – and one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of his violent attack. “Nothing can undo the damage that Frank James’s mass shooting inflicted on the 10 victims who were shot or the dozens more who suffered other injuries, but this sentence ensures that he will spend the rest of his life in prison for the devastation he caused,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This sentence also makes clear that the Justice Department has no tolerance for crimes that terrorize our communities and will ensure accountability for those who perpetrate them.” “Whenever domestic violent extremists violate our laws and commit heinous acts of violence against the American public, the FBI will work hand in hand with our law enforcement partners at all levels to pursue justice for the victims and hold criminals accountable for their abhorrent actions,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The public we serve deserves nothing less.” “In an act of cold-blooded terrorism, this defendant shot 32 rounds at defenseless victims trapped in a subway car during their rush hour commute,” said Director Steven Dettelbach of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “ATF agents immediately responded to the scene of the shooting and joined their state, local and federal law enforcement partners in the investigation. When a gun was recovered on the subway platform, ATF conducted an urgent trace of the crime gun to identify the purchaser, ultimately leading to the name of the shooter. Today’s sentence not only reflects the heinousness of the crimes committed, but it reflects the extraordinary work of all the law enforcement and prosecutors involved. It takes the best of the best to catch the worst of the worst.” “Today’s sentence delivered the necessary penalty for Frank James who callously carried out a terroristic mass shooting on a crowded subway car, intentionally attempting to kill innocent people, and spilling much blood,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. “He wounded 10 victims in his planned out attack and affected the lives of many more. Every one of the victims who experienced that horror feared that they would never see their children or loved ones again. It is appropriate that the defendant will never know freedom again and will spend the rest of his life in prison so that no one can be harmed further by him. I hope that this sentence brings some closure to the many victims of this violent attack and brings comfort to the city at large in knowing that justice was done.” During rush hour on the morning of April 12, 2022, James used a Glock 17 pistol he legally purchased to conduct a mass shooting on an N subway train in Brooklyn. James planned his act of terror for years – purchasing smoke bombs, disguises, firearms, and ammunition. He scouted the location for his attack and completed multiple practice runs. As part of his attack, James, disguised in an orange reflective jacket and yellow hard hat to look like a Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) employee, set off a smoke-bomb in a subway car before opening fire on his captive victims. Panicked passengers ran to the far end of the subway car, allowing James to shoot at his victims more easily. When the defendant started shooting, the train was between stations and then temporarily stalled, leaving victims trapped. In total, 10 victims were struck by 16 bullets fired by the defendant. Dozens more suffered from smoke inhalation and other mental and physical injuries due to the defendant’s attack. James then fled the scene of the attack, changing his clothing frequently to evade detection while law enforcement engaged in a 36-hour manhunt to find him and bring him to justice. At some point after the shooting, James purchased a burner phone which he used to follow the coverage of his attack while hiding from law enforcement. For example, James watched 31 videos of news reports about his subway shooting. He also watched a James Bond chase scene from the movie “No Time to Die” 10 times after the attack. Finally, James turned himself in by calling the NYPD crime stoppers hotline on April 13, 2022, the day after the mass shooting. The New York Joint Terrorism Task Force investigated the case, with valuable assistance provided by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara K. Winik and Ellen H. Sise for the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting the case with valuable assistance provided by the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.


title: Jefferson County Man Convicted of Illegally Possessing a Firearm

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

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Jefferson County man was convicted of illegally possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson. The jury returned a guilty verdict against Terrell Corey McMullin , 30, of Fairfield, after two days of testimony before U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala. McMullin was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm. “The illegal possession of firearms by repeat offenders is a persistent threat to the peace and safety of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “Our ongoing collaboration with federal, state, and local law enforcement has been instrumental in removing illegal firearms from our communities. Together, we are making our communities safer every day.” “Today’s announcement is a perfect answer to one of our most important whys, why we chose to protect and serve the public,” said SAC Watson. “This is a positive result of a job well done by the ATF and our partners who work tirelessly to combat violent crime within our communities. We will continue to use all our resources to disrupt the illegal possession of firearms and bring those individuals to justice who continue to disregard the law and the brave men and women who enforce them.” According to evidence presented at trial, on February 1, 2022, a Pleasant Grove police officer conducted a traffic stop on McMullin. The officer attempted to make contact with McMullin, but he sped away. The chase ended when the driver lost control of the vehicle and wrecked a short distance later. McMullin exited the vehicle and fled on foot. The pursuit ended when McMullin crossed into the Fairfield city limits. During the search of the abandoned vehicle, the officer found a tan Glock 9mm pistol with an installed Glock switch in the driver’s seat. The Glock was later determined to be stolen. The maximum penalty for being a felon in possession of a firearm is 10 years in prison. The ATF investigated the case along with the Pleasant Grove Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael A. Royster and William R. McComb are prosecuting the case.


title: Ogden Man Arrested and Charged with Robbing a Bank

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment charging a Weber County, Utah man with bank robbery after he allegedly used a threating note to steal cash. According to court documents, on September 21, 2023, Theophales Kur, 36 of Ogden, Utah, entered Zions Bank located at 2302 South Washington Blvd. in Ogden and stole $500. Wearing a surgical face mask, the suspect later identified as Kur, handed the teller a threatening note. The teller took $500 cash from the cash recycler machine and gave it to Kur. The defendant took the money and the note, made a “finger-gun” with his hand, pointed it at the teller and made a motion with his finger as if he was pulling the trigger. Kur then left the bank on foot. Ogden Police Department responded and viewed video of Ker just before he entered the bank. Still images of the video were sent to law enforcement officers to aid in the investigation. Three blocks from the bank, an officer saw an individual matching the description of the suspect at a Trax platform. The individual was identified by a white hospital bracelet as Theophales Kur. Police recovered $500 and the threatening note that read “This is a robbery no dye packs, no trace, no silent alarm. I have a gun follow instruction and no one will get hurt. Now give me the money,” from Kur’s pocket. Kur is charged with bank robbery. He is scheduled for his initial court appearance on Oct. 5, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement. The FBI Salt Lake City Field Office is investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney Carlos A. Esqueda for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Lead defendant in nationwide foreclosure rescue scam sentenced to 10 years in prison

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – A Hamilton, Ohio, man was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 120 months in prison for his role in a foreclosure rescue scheme that defrauded at least 780 financially distressed homeowners throughout the United States, including more than 100 individuals in the Southern District of Ohio. Lorin Kal Buckner, 67, preyed on homeowners who had defaulted on their mortgages and convinced the victims to pay to take part in fraudulent programs on the promise it would save their homes. Buckner was convicted of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud and conspiracy to commit bankruptcy fraud following a jury trial in November 2022. He is one of 11 individuals charged in the scheme. According to court documents and trial testimony, from 2013 through 2018, the defendants took advantage of homeowners’ desperation to save their homes and used money from homeowner victims to personally enrich themselves. Co-conspirators promised affiliates commissions by recruiting distressed homeowners to companies including: MVP Home Solutions, LLC, also known as Stay In or Walk Away; Bolden Pinnacle Group Corp., also known as Home Advisory Services Network Home Advisory Services Group Inc.; and Silverstein & Wolf Corp. Affiliates were encouraged to be aggressive in recruiting homeowners. Affiliates used online databases and court records to identify vulnerable, financially distressed homeowners who had recently received notice of foreclosure on their home. Buckner and his co-conspirators mailed more than 56,000 postcards in the Southern District of Ohio and elsewhere promising that they could “stop foreclosure” or “stop the sheriff sale” for a fixed fee. Buckner and his co-conspirators also reached out to homeowners using Craigslist ads, websites, email and social media platforms. On the promise of reducing or eliminating mortgage obligations in exchange for a fee, recruiters like Buckner would collect payments from homeowners and refer the victims to the co-conspirator companies. Among other things, the defendants promised: to negotiate with mortgage lenders on the homeowners’ behalf for the purchase of the mortgage notes at a discount; to negotiate the sale of their home and release of their mortgage loans through a short sale and/or deed in lieu of foreclosure sale; to stop an imminent foreclosure sale; to remove the mortgage lien via a tender offer; and achieve short sale prices at a fraction of the value of the outstanding lien/note. Further, defendants represented that they had “proprietary” methods or “legal tactics” to help homeowners stall or completely avoid foreclosure. In actuality, the defendants persuaded homeowners to file chapter 13 bankruptcies to delay foreclosure actions. Defendants filed skeletal bankruptcy petitions that they called “pump fakes” or “missiles,” These petitions intentionally failed to disclose the defendants as preparers giving the appearance that the homeowners had filed the petitions pro se. Any relief from foreclosure delay was temporary until the bankruptcy court dismissed the proceeding. As a result of the defendants’ scheme, victims lost thousands of dollars and in many cases lost their homes. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Robert Manchak, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Housing Finance Agency - Office of Inspector General (FHFA-OIG), Northeast Region; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Lesley C. Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Pittsburgh Division; and Philip R. Bartlett, Inspector in Charge, USPIS, New York Division, announced the sentence imposed today by Senior U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett. Assistant United States Attorneys Ebunoluwa A. Taiwo and Timothy S. Mangan are representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Dunklin County Man Sentenced to 110 Months in Prison for Methamphetamine Conspiracy

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: CAPE GIRARDEAU – U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. on Thursday sentenced a man from Kennett, Missouri to 110 months in prison for his role in a methamphetamine conspiracy involving his twin brother and another man. Jody Renfro, 35, is the third and final defendant in the case to be sentenced. He pleaded guilty in April to a charge of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. In April, Judge Limbaugh sentenced John Andrew Schoolcraft, 32, of Portageville, in New Madrid County, to 15 years in prison for the offenses of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Jammie Renfro, 35, of Kennett, Missouri, was sentenced in August to 130 months in federal prison for the offenses of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine. All three pleaded guilty and admitted distributing methamphetamine throughout Dunklin County from May of 2022 through June 23, 2022. The Missouri State Highway Patrol utilized confidential informants and audio and video recording devices to conduct a series of controlled methamphetamine purchases from the group. The case culminated in the execution of a search warrant at Schoolcraft’s residence in Kennett, where officers seized over four pounds of methamphetamine, a .45-caliber pistol and $2,785 in cash. Jody and Jammie Renfro are twins. The Missouri State Highway Patrol, assisted by the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter prosecuted the case.