title: UNITED STATES ATTORNEY KAVANAUGH ANNOUNCES  NEW VOLUNTARY SELF-DISCLOSURE POLICY

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va . - United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh announced today that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia has implemented the new United States Attorney’s Offices’ Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy. The policy, which is effective immediately, details the circumstances under which a company will be considered to have made a voluntary self-disclosure (VSD) of misconduct to a United States Attorney’s Office (USAO), and provides transparency and predictability to companies and the defense bar concerning the concrete benefits and potential outcomes in cases where companies voluntarily self-disclose misconduct, fully cooperate, and timely and appropriately remediate. The goal of the policy is to standardize how VSDs are defined and credited by USAOs nationwide, and to incentivize companies to maintain effective compliance programs capable of identifying misconduct, to expeditiously and voluntarily disclose and remediate misconduct, and to cooperate fully with the government in corporate criminal investigations. The policy was developed pursuant to the Deputy Attorney General’s September 15, 2022 memorandum, “Further Revisions to Corporate Criminal Enforcement Policies Following Discussions with Corporate Crime Advisory Group” (Monaco Memo), which directed each Department of Justice (DOJ) component that prosecutes corporate crime to review its policies on corporate voluntary self-disclosure and, if there was no formal written policy to incentivize self-disclosure, draft and publicly share such a policy. Under the new VSD policy, a company is considered to have made a VSD if it becomes aware of misconduct by employees or agents before that misconduct is publicly reported or otherwise known to the DOJ, and discloses all relevant facts known to the company about the misconduct to a USAO in a timely fashion prior to an imminent threat of disclosure or government investigation. A company that voluntarily self-discloses as defined in the policy, and fully meets the other requirements of the policy by—in the absence of any aggravating factor—fully cooperating and timely and appropriately remediating the criminal conduct (including agreeing to pay all disgorgement, forfeiture, and restitution resulting from the misconduct), will receive significant benefits, including that the USAO will not seek a guilty plea, may choose not to impose any criminal penalty, and in any event will not impose a criminal penalty that is greater than 50% below the low end of the United States Sentencing Guidelines (USSG) fine range, and will not seek the imposition of an independent compliance monitor if the company demonstrates that it has implemented and tested an effective compliance program. The policy identifies three aggravating factors that may warrant a USAO seeking a guilty plea even if the other requirements of the VSD policy are met: (1) if the misconduct poses a grave threat to national security, public health, or the environment, (2) if the misconduct is deeply pervasive throughout the company, or (3) if the misconduct involved current executive management of the company. The presence of an aggravating factor does not necessarily mean that a guilty plea will be required; instead, the USAO will assess the relevant facts and circumstances to determine the appropriate resolution. If a guilty plea is ultimately required, the company will still receive the other benefits under the VSD policy, including that the USAO will recommend a criminal penalty of at least a 50%, and up to a 75%, reduction off the low end of the USSG fine range, and that the USAO will not require the appointment of a monitor if the company has implemented and tested an effective compliance program. In cases where a company is being jointly prosecuted by a USAO and another DOJ component, or where the misconduct reported by the company falls within the scope of conduct covered by VSD policies administered by other DOJ components, the USAO will coordinate with, or, if necessary, obtain approval from, the DOJ component responsible for the VSD policy specific to the reported misconduct when considering a potential resolution. Consistent with relevant provisions of the Justice Manual and as allowable under alternate VSD policies, the USAO may choose to apply any provision of an alternate VSD policy in addition to, or in place of, any provision of its policy. “With this new Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy, there is now a nationwide standard among all United States Attorney’s Offices in determining whether a company has made a voluntary self-disclosure, as well as the specific benefits that a company will receive for doing so,” stated United States Attorney Kavanaugh. “By providing such transparency and clear benefits of early disclosure, this policy will motivate companies to timely report wrongdoing, fully cooperate, and remediate criminal conduct, all while receiving the same treatment across United States Attorney’s Offices.” The Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC), under the leadership of United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams, requested that the White Collar Fraud Subcommittee of the AGAC, under the leadership of United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace, develop policies in response to the Monaco Memo. The policy announced today was prepared by a Corporate Criminal Enforcement Policy Working Group comprised of United States Attorneys from geographically diverse districts, including United States Attorney Peace, as well as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Jessica Aber, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut Vanessa Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Hawaii Clare Connors, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina Michael F. Easley, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of California Stephanie Hinds, United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia Christopher R. Kavanaugh, and United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey Philip Sellinger. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Riedel, White Collar Crimes Coordinator for the Executive Office for United States Attorneys, also participated in the development of the policy.


title: Rodeo and NRG Park resolve ADA violations

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas (SDTX) has completed the investigation into the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR) and NRG Park, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. The investigation announced in 2022 was conducted under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and expanded to include NRG Stadium, NRG Center, NRG Arena and NRG Park Outdoor areas. It evaluated the accessibility for disabled individuals attending the Rodeo and using the NRG complex. “HLSR did the right thing and made its facilities accessible to the entire community, including those with disabilities” said Hamdani. “With the cooperation of the HLSR and NRG Park, and after my office’s investigation, all individuals in the district will have a chance to enjoy the Rodeo.” Title III of the ADA prohibits private places of public accommodation from discriminating against individuals with disabilities. The matter stemmed from complaints that the HLSR violated the ADA. Among the allegations were lack of accessible parking, accessible seating, accessible facilities and accessible routes. SDTX’s investigation found significant barriers to accessibility. However, the HLSR and NRG Park cooperated fully with the investigation. After the barriers were brought to their attention, officials worked diligently and expeditiously to correct all major violations before the start of the 2023 Rodeo. Several areas are now ADA compliant - parking, many bathrooms and toilet areas, temporary ramps and handrails and several permanent countertops within NRG Park. The number of accessible porta-potties, accessible dining areas and accessible seating has increased, accessible paths and surfaces were revamped and obstructions were either modified or removed. They also added a new stair lift in NRG Arena and attendants to assist with self-service kiosks in NRG Stadium. NRG Stadium also revised their elevator policy during the Rodeo to improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Additionally, NRG Park has revised its parking policies to provide improved access to NRG Park events including increased available accessible parking spaces and accessible drop-off points as well as modified placard requirements and improved traffic flow for those areas. They also added the Orange Lot Shuttle along Circle Drive. The SDTX is committed to vigorously enforcing the ADA and welcomes public comments or complaints. To file a comment or complaint, or to learn more about the ADA, individuals can contact the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas at (713) 567-9140 or via email . Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Elizabeth Karpati and former Executive AUSA Keith Wyatt handled the matter.


title: Violent, Wanted Felon Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison After Firing Shot Into Ceiling of Hotel Room in During Standoff with SWAT Team

component: USAO - Indiana, Southern

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Michael Dennis, 38, of Kokomo, Indiana, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a firearm. According to court documents, on April 20, 2021, investigators with the Howard County Sheriff’s Office attempted to arrest Dennis on several outstanding warrants while he was staying at a Baymont Hotel in Kokomo. Dennis refused to let officers into the room and informed them that he had a gun. The Howard County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team responded to the scene and made several attempts to get Dennis to exit the room. Officers eventually emitted pepper spray under the door. Dennis told officers “if you spray that s**t one more time, I am going to shoot,” at which point, he fired a shot into the ceiling of the hotel room. After several hours of negotiations, Dennis exited the room and was safely taken into custody. Officers located a 9mm pistol inside the room. Dennis is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law due to his multiple previous felony convictions including Criminal Recklessness, Strangulation, and Battery on a Child. The sentence was announced by Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Columbus Field Division and Jerry Asher, Howard County Sheriff. “Every day, law enforcement officers do their duty to protect their public, knowing they may encounter a violent offender with a gun,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “We have seen far too many tragedies in Indiana, and across the country when, law enforcement officers encounter criminals with a history of domestic violence and a gun in their hands. It is a testament to the skill, professionalism, and training of the responding Howard County Deputies that this defendant was arrested without injury to the public, law enforcement officers, or himself. The sentence imposed today demonstrates the commitment of our office, the ATF, and our law enforcement partners to protect the public from these dangerous offenders.” The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated this case with valuable assistance provided by the Howard County Sheriff’s Office. The sentence was imposed by Chief U.S. District Court Judge, Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered that Dennis be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison and be subject to a $1,000 fine. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Barry D. Glickman, who prosecuted this case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was brought as part of the LEATH Initiative (Law Enforcement Action to Halt Domestic Violence), named in honor of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Officer Breann Leath, who was killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic disturbance call. A partnership among the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the IMPD, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana, the LEATH Initiative focuses federal, state, and local law enforcement resources on domestic violence offenders who illegally possess firearms.


title: Ringleader of Multi-State Gun Trafficking Scheme  Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Prison

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: NEW BERN, N.C. – The ringleader of a multi-state gun trafficking scheme was sentenced today to 127 months in prison for illegally trafficking more than 100 guns bought by straw purchasers in Eastern North Carolina. Jacintre Holley of Middletown, Connecticut, pled guilty to engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime. Holley, 26, pled guilty on July 7, 2022. “Dangerous felons who are blocked from legally buying guns are turning to gun traffickers and straw purchasers in North Carolina to supply them with the tools to kill,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “The criminal conduct in this case put guns bought in Eastern North Carolina in the hands of a killer in Connecticut – within 6 days. This case shows exactly why Attorney General Garland and ATF Director Dettelbach have made stopping gun trafficking a top priority. We and the ATF are relentlessly pursuing violent felons and the gunrunners and straw purchasers who arm them.” “A federal firearms license is required for anyone engaged in the business of selling firearms,” said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “Individuals selling without a license often means firearms end up in the wrong hands. By identifying and apprehending those involved in illegal firearms sales, we disrupt the firearms trafficking networks and better protect our communities.” According to documents and other information presented in court, Holley bought over 100 firearms from straw purchasers in North Carolina—including at least 37 from codefendant Keshawn Squire and another 34 from codefendants Jasnika Craig and Shyheim Williams. Craig and Williams were romantic partners living together in Williamston, North Carolina. Ten of these firearms were recovered in separate investigations in Connecticut and New Jersey, including a murder investigation and several drug investigations. This gun trafficking investigation began when the Middletown, Connecticut Police Department recovered a Taurus 9mm pistol used in a murder. A trace of the gun’s serial number showed that Keshawn Squire purchased the firearm in North Carolina on May 10, 2021, only six days before the murder. Trace records for Squire further showed that he had purchased at least 16 firearms in the five months between December 13, 2020, and May 29, 2021, suggesting potential gun trafficking. Surveillance video from Smokin' Barrel Gun and Ammo in Raleigh, where Squire had purchased the Taurus, showed that he made a phone call from the store parking lot immediately after buying the firearm. Call records revealed that he called a Connecticut phone number. By comparing phone records and data from a mobile payment application, investigators were able to link the Connecticut phone number to defendant Jacintre Holley. Records also revealed that Squire and Holley had as a mutual contact a phone number associated with codefendants Jasnika Craig and Shyheim Williams. Trace records for Craig showed that she made over 20 firearm purchases in North Carolina since 2020. Law enforcement recovered one of those guns at a crime scene in Connecticut within five days of its purchase. Investigators obtained video surveillance from Academy Sports in Greenville for purchases by Craig on May 11 and 14, 2021. The May 14 footage shows Craig and Williams arrive in the same car. Williams then went alone into the store for 25 minutes while Craig waited in the car. Then Craig entered and immediately bought two pistols. On July 8, 2021, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety conducted a probation search at Williams’ and Craig’s Williamston home. Williams was on state probation for a driving while impaired conviction. Officers found seven firearms hidden in the home. Craig agreed to a recorded interview and admitted to selling firearms. She said she sold firearms for a significant premium over market price and had purchased them from various locations including Academy Sports. Williams identified the guns she should buy and set up the deals, which took place in Craig’s car in their driveway. She admitted that almost all firearms went to Holley, who she estimated had come from Connecticut every two weeks since December 2020 to buy around seven firearms each time. In total, Craig estimated that she had sold around 100 firearms to Holley. Also on July 8, 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant for Squire’s telephone and interviewed Squire at his home. Squire admitted to selling multiple firearms to Holley in at least three meetings beginning in March 2021. He said he did this as a business and sold the firearms for significantly higher than the purchase price. On July 31, 2021, the Greenville Police Department located Holley driving on University Suites Drive and conducted a traffic stop based on an outstanding warrant. Officers searched the car and found a Glock 19 pistol with an extended magazine in a bookbag in the front seat. The pistol had been modified to function as a fully automatic machine gun. In an iPhone box within the same bag, officers found 109 grams of cocaine, a digital scale with white residue, a Glock magazine, over $13,000, and a key to a room at a Quality Inn. Officers obtained and executed a search warrant for the hotel room, where they found a Glock .40 caliber pistol. A trace of Glock .40 revealed that Jasnika Craig had purchased it. Investigators interviewed Holley after his arrest. He confirmed that he had bought firearms from Squire and Williams multiple times over the previous several months and sold those firearms in Connecticut. He admitted to possessing the Glock from the hotel room, claimed that he carried the automatic Glock machine gun in his car for protection, admitted buying the cocaine while in North Carolina. He acknowledged sometimes receiving cocaine as payment in firearm transactions. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) field offices in Raleigh, NC, New Haven, CT and Hartford, CT investigated the case, with assistance from the Middletown, CT Police Department, the Martin County, NC Sheriff’s Office, the NC Department of Probation Services and the Williamston, NC and Greenville, NC Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake D. Pugh prosecuted the case. The court previously sentenced Squire and Craig after they each pled guilty to one count of making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. On February 14, 2023, Craig received a 24-month sentence for that offense, and Squire received an 18-month sentence the same day. Shyheim Williams was arrested federally on February 9, 2023, and his arraignment is set for the April 11, 2023, term of court. 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. 4:22-cr-0019-FL. ###


title: Texas Resident Sentenced to More than 20 Years in Prison on Gun and Drug Charges

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal judge yesterday sentenced a Texas man on gun and drug charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger. U.S. District Court Judge Annemarie Axon sentenced Aaron Martinez, 33, of Houston, Texas, to 248 months in prison. Martinez pleaded guilty in October 2022 to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to the plea agreement, on February 17, 2021, a police officer with the Leeds Police Department conducted a traffic stop at Buc-ee’s located in Leeds on a vehicle driven by Martinez. The traffic stop resulted in the officer recovering 3.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1 kilogram of cocaine, and two firearms. Martinez was travelling from Houston to Atlanta. Martinez has a lengthy criminal history including Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Burglary of Habitation, and is associated with a gang in Houston, Texas. HSI investigated the case along with the Leeds Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany Byrd prosecuted the case.


title: Susquehanna County Man Pleads Guilty To Methamphetamine Trafficking

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Clifford Johnson, age 58, of Franklin Township, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on February 21, 2023, before US. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani, to the charges of distribution of methamphetamine and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Johnson admitted to distributing and conspiring with others to distribute between 500 and 1500 grams of crystal methamphetamine in the Susquehanna County area between August 2019 and April 2020. The charges resulted from an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case. This case is also 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. Under federal law, the drug trafficking offenses carry a maximum possible penalty of up to twenty years in prison, 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. ###


title: Castleton Man Sentenced to Over 3 Years for String of Three Bank Robberies

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Richard Gammon, 26, of Indianapolis, Indiana, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to committing three bank robberies. According to court documents, on December 17, 2020, Gammon entered a Fifth Third Bank on East 82 nd Street in Indianapolis and approached the teller. Gammon showed the teller a cellphone with text on the screen that displayed words to the effect of “give me all the 100s and 50s in your drawer. No sudden moves. No alarms and no one will get hurt.” The teller complied and gave Gammon approximately $1,000 from the drawer. On January 19, 2021, Gammon robbed the Regions Bank on 82 nd Street in Indianapolis. Once again, Gammon showed the teller a cellphone with text on the screen that displayed words to the effect of “Give me all the money in the top drawer. Don’t trip any alarms or signal or message anyone.” The teller complied and gave Gammon $1,360 from the drawer. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department investigators determined the two robberies were likely committed by the same offender. Police later received two Crime-Stoppers tips identifying Gammon as the robbery suspect and began an investigation, which was joined by the FBI. On the morning of April 11, 2021, Gammon entered the PNC Bank located on 96 th street in Fishers, Indiana. Gammon asked the teller about opening an account, and then showed them his phone which displayed a message to the effect of “Give me 5000 dollars. All big bills. No alarm. No button.” The teller complied and gave Gammon $760. Investigators were able to locate Gammon soon after the PNC Bank robbery, and followed him to his Castleton apartment building, where he was taken into custody. Investigators executed a search warrant at Gammons’ apartment and recovered some of the bills he stole that morning. “Bank robbery is a very serious crime that carries very serious consequences,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “The sentence imposed today demonstrates the commitment of federal and local law enforcement agencies to protect the public from repeat criminals like this defendant. I am grateful to the FBI, IMPD, and Fishers Police Department for their persistence in identifying this serial robber and holding him accountable.” “This sentence is the culmination of the investigative collaboration between agencies to ensure that this violent individual was held fully accountable for his actions,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “It should send a clear message that robbing financial institutions in the state of Indiana will have one final outcome - a long sentence in federal prison.” IMPD and FBI investigated this case with valuable assistance provided by the Fishers Police Department. The sentence was imposed by Chief U.S. District Court Judge, Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered that Gammon be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison. Gammon must also pay restitution of $1,000 to Fifth Third Bank and $1,360 to Regions Bank. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Peter A. Blackett, who prosecuted this case. ###


title: Luzerne County Man Pleads Guilty To Fentanyl Trafficking And Firearms Offenses

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Rasjon Walters, age 27, of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on February 21, 2023, before U.S District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani, to one count of fentanyl distribution and one count of carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Walters admitted to distributing fentanyl in the Luzerne County area between June 2021 and December 2021. He also admitted to using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. The charges stem from an investigation in which investigators made multiple purchases of fentanyl and a firearm from Walters. Investigators then obtained a search warrant for Walters’ residence in Wilkes-Barre and seized additional amounts of fentanyl, packaging materials, scales, and other items of drug paraphernalia. The investigation was conducted by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Wilkes-Barre Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case. This case is also 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. Under federal law, the charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison, 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. ###


title: U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers Announces Implementation of New Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy

body_text: Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, announced that the Southern District of Indiana has implemented the new United States Attorney’s Offices’ Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy released yesterday. The policy, which is effective immediately, details the circumstances under which a company will be considered to have made a voluntary self-disclosure (VSD) of misconduct to a United States Attorney’s Office (USAO), and provides transparency and predictability to companies and the defense bar concerning the concrete benefits and potential outcomes in cases where companies voluntarily self-disclose misconduct, fully cooperate and timely and appropriately remediate. “Accountability for businesses and individual wrongdoers are important priorities in our efforts to combat corporate crime,” said U.S. Attorney Myers. “Businesses in America benefit greatly from the protections and opportunities afforded by our rule of law--and must abide by it. This new national Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy for all U.S. Attorney’s Offices provides more predictable outcomes and incentivizes companies to do the right thing when wrongdoing is uncovered. Companies and their counsel should take note: honest businesses that voluntarily self-disclose criminal activity when it is discovered, fully cooperate with investigations and prosecutions, and remediate their criminal conduct, will fare far better than those that do not.” The goal of the policy is to standardize how VSDs are defined and credited by USAOs nationwide, and to incentivize companies to maintain effective compliance programs capable of identifying misconduct, to expeditiously and voluntarily disclose and remediate misconduct, and to cooperate fully with the government in corporate criminal investigations. The policy was developed pursuant to the Deputy Attorney General’s September 15, 2022 memorandum, “Further Revisions to Corporate Criminal Enforcement Policies Following Discussions with Corporate Crime Advisory Group” (Monaco Memo), which directed each Department of Justice (DOJ) component that prosecutes corporate crime to review its policies on corporate voluntary self-disclosure and, if there was no formal written policy to incentivize self-disclosure, draft and publicly share such a policy. Under the new VSD policy, a company is considered to have made a VSD if it becomes aware of misconduct by employees or agents before that misconduct is publicly reported or otherwise known to the DOJ, and discloses all relevant facts known to the company about the misconduct to a USAO in a timely fashion prior to an imminent threat of disclosure or government investigation. A company that voluntarily self-discloses as defined in the policy and fully meets the other requirements of the policy, by—in the absence of any aggravating factor—fully cooperating and timely and appropriately remediating the criminal conduct (including agreeing to pay all disgorgement, forfeiture, and restitution resulting from the misconduct), will receive significant benefits, including that the USAO will not seek a corporate guilty plea; may choose not to impose any criminal penalty, and in any event will not impose a criminal penalty that is greater than 50% below the low end of the United States Sentencing Guidelines (USSG) fine range; and will not seek the imposition of an independent compliance monitor if the company demonstrates that it has implemented and tested an effective compliance program. The policy identifies three aggravating factors that may warrant a USAO seeking a corporate guilty plea even if the other requirements of the VSD policy are met: (1) if the misconduct poses a grave threat to national security, public health, or the environment; (2) if the misconduct is deeply pervasive throughout the company; or (3) if the misconduct involved current executive management of the company. The presence of an aggravating factor does not necessarily mean that a guilty plea will be required; instead, the USAO will assess the relevant facts and circumstances to determine the appropriate resolution. If a guilty plea is ultimately required, the company will still receive the other benefits under the VSD policy, including that the USAO will recommend a criminal penalty of at least a 50% and up to a 75% reduction off the low end of the USSG fine range, and that the USAO will not require the appointment of a monitor if the company has implemented and tested an effective compliance program. In cases where a company is being jointly prosecuted by a USAO and another DOJ component, or where the misconduct reported by the company falls within the scope of conduct covered by VSD policies administered by other DOJ components, the USAO will coordinate with, or, if necessary, obtain approval from, the DOJ component responsible for the VSD policy specific to the reported misconduct when considering a potential resolution. Consistent with relevant provisions of the Justice Manual and as allowable under alternate VSD policies, the USAO may choose to apply any provision of an alternate VSD policy in addition to, or in place of, any provision of its policy. The Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC), under the leadership of United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams, requested that the White Collar Fraud Subcommittee of the AGAC, under the leadership of United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace, develop policies in response to the Deputy AG’s memo. U.S. Attorney Myers sits on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee’s White Collar Crime subcommittee. The policy announced today was prepared by a Corporate Criminal Enforcement Policy Working Group comprised of U.S. Attorneys from geographically diverse districts, including U.S. Attorney Peace, as well as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Jessica Aber, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut Vanessa Avery, U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii Clare Connors, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California Stephanie Hinds, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia Christopher Kavanaugh, and U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Philip Sellinger. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Riedel, White Collar Crimes Coordinator for the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, also participated in the development of the policy. ###


title: High-Ranking Blood Gang Member Sentenced to More Than 17 Years for Armed Drug Trafficking

body_text: ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – Darrick Charles, 31, of Wilmington, was sentenced to 210 months in prison for drug trafficking and gun charges. According to law enforcement, Charles was a high-ranking member of the United Blood Nation in Wilmington. Charles was ultimately apprehended by U.S. Marshals in Leland following a high-speed chase. “Putting a stop to this high-ranking gang member’s criminal conduct is a victory for the citizens of Eastern North Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “Charles recklessly led police a high-speed chase through a residential neighborhood, then fled with a stolen gun. Today’s sentence is a warning. You gamble with your life and your future when you deal in gangs, guns, and drugs.” According to court documents, evidence presented in court, and other documents, between February 12, 2020, and June 2, 2020, law enforcement made five controlled purchases of heroin from Charles in Wilmington. During a sale on February 19, 2020, Charles possessed a 9mm handgun while he sold a confidential informant a quantity of heroin. On February 24, 2020, law enforcement also purchased a handgun from Charles, who said during the deal that the buyer did not have to worry about the gun being stolen because his girlfriend is able to purchase them legally. Charles is prohibited from possessing firearms because of a prior conviction for manufacturing, selling, distributing, or possessing a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school and possession with intent to distribute heroin. On June 4, 2020, law enforcement served a search warrant at Charles’ residence in Brunswick County. Law enforcement found three firearms and materials used for the distribution of heroin. An arrest warrant was ordered by the court for his failure to comply with his conditions of release for the previous charges. On April 4, 2021, U.S. Marshals located Charles operating a vehicle in Leland, NC and attempted to stop him. Charles refused to stop and fled, driving in excess of 95 miles per hour in a residential area until he stopped near a wooded area and fled on foot. Charles was apprehended by the Marshals following a foot chase. While fleeing, Charles threw down a quantity of heroin and a loaded, stolen handgun. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement uncovered that Charles had made trips to New Jersey and Greensboro to pick up heroin to be distributed in Eastern North Carolina. On July 6, 2022, Charles pled guilty to five counts of distribution of a quantity of heroin, possession with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin, two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and two counts of possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug-trafficking crime. This is part of “Operation Golfer,” which is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Wilmington Police Department, and the New Hanover and Brunswick County Sheriffs’ Offices investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Severo and Gabe Diaz prosecuted the case. 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. 7:21-cr-00120-BO-1. ###


title: Las Vegas Man Sentenced To Prison For $12 Million Advance Fee Telemarketing Scheme Targeting Small Business Owners

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas resident was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Kent J. Dawson to 78 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for defrauding hundreds of small business owners – many of them elderly – of about $12 million. Michael Jones (43) pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud and 10 counts of wire fraud. In addition to the prison term, Jones was ordered to pay restitution in the total amount of $11,509,087.67 to the victims, and a forfeiture money judgment in the total amount of $7,934,095.32. According to court documents, from October 2009 to February 2014, Jones and his co-defendants convinced more than 2,100 small business owners to pay nearly $12 million for what Jones and his co-defendants described as advance fees to fund expenses to apply for supposed government, private and charitable grants for the victims’ businesses. Following a script, Jones and others would falsely tell the victims that government, private and charitable organizations would provide grants to them regardless of the type of business they operated, but the victim first needed to pay thousands of dollars in fees to access those grants. Jones and his co-defendants induced the small business owners to give them money in exchange for services that were never provided. The scheme functioned solely to enrich Jones and his co-defendants. United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement. The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Cowhig prosecuted the case. ###


title: Pair Accused of Two St. Louis Carjackings

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

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man and a woman have been indicted and accused of two armed carjackings in St. Louis, Missouri last May. Jermanine Smith, 48, of St. Louis, and Bianka North, 27, of Illinois, were each indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday on two counts of carjacking and two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. The indictment accuses them of stealing a 2006 Pontiac G6 at gunpoint on May 14, 2022 and a 2009 Toyota Scion the next day. A criminal complaint filed February 16 says the pair feigned vehicle problems in North Riverfront Park in St. Louis to lure the owner of the G6 out of the car. A female carjacker then pointed a gun at the victim and stole the car. The Scion was carjacked in the 1600 block of South 9th Street in St. Louis just after midnight on May 15. The criminal complaint says the G6 was used in the carjacking, the Scion was taken to Smith’s block and Smith tried to use Cash App on the Scion victim’s mobile phone to transfer money to himself. Surveillance video at an apartment complex showed someone matching Smith’s description accessing the Scion and the G6, the complaint says. The carjacking charge carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both. The firearm charge carries a mandatory minimum of 7 years in prison consecutive to any other charge. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski is prosecuting the case.


title: St. Louis Man Indicted on Drug and Gun Charges

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Louis, Missouri accused of involvement in a convenience store shootout was indicted Wednesday on drug and gun charges. Kennis Body, 25, was indicted on a drug conspiracy count, one count of possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession of one or more firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. A criminal complaint and a motion seeking to have Body held in jail until trial accuse him of wielding an AR-15-style rifle during a shootout inside a St. Louis convenience store on January 9. After an altercation, people inside the store drew handguns and appeared to fire them out of the store. Body then walked in with the rifle and fired multiple rounds into the store, the complaint and detention motion say. During Body’s January 31 arrest, police, U.S. Marshals and Drug Enforcement Administration agents found the loaded AR-style rifle and about 670 capsules containing suspected fentanyl, the motions say. Body was on probation at the time of the arrest and the shooting. The drug charges each carry a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine or both. The firearm charge carries a sentence of five years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Ogden is prosecuting the case.


title: Newtown Contractor Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, today announced that THOMAS R. SAINT, 67, of Newtown, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday in Bridgeport federal court to one count of tax evasion. According to court documents and statements made in court, Saint is the sole owner of Tom Saint Painting and Remodeling LLC, a Schedule C business engaged in painting and home renovation services. From 2013 through 2019, Saint attempted to evade the assessment of federal taxes by cashing business checks instead of depositing them into his business’s bank account, depositing cash and business checks into his personal bank account, and failing to inform his tax preparer of this conduct, which resulted in the filing of false returns with the IRS that substantially understated his gross receipts and income. For the 2013 through 2019 tax years, Saint failed to report a total of $2,163,645 in gross receipts, resulting in a tax loss to the government of $791,500. Saint has agreed to cooperate with the IRS to pay all outstanding taxes, interest and penalties. Tax evasion carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years. Saint in scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea on May 22 in Hartford. Saint is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing. This investigation has been conducted by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Wines.


title: Brunswick County Man Sentenced to 60 Years in Prison for Child Pornography Charges

body_text: WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Brunswick County man was sentenced today to 720 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release for possessing and trading child pornography. The prison sentence imposed is the statutory maximum allowed for the crimes. Craig Connors Schenck, 39, of Saint James, North Carolina pled guilty on March 8, 2022 to Receipt of Child Pornography, Distribution of Child Pornography and Possession of Child Pornography. Schenk was also ordered to pay $105,000 in restitution and was ordered to pay a special assessment of $15,000. According to court documents and other information presented in court, Craig Connors Schenck, 39 was investigated by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) after Google notified the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children a user had uploaded images of child pornography. The email address used by the individual contained Schenck’s first initial and last name. The IP address associated with the uploaded illegal material was being leased to Schenck’s parents with whom Schenck lived. The cybertip was classified as a priority because it was believed Schenck may have been employed in a capacity which gave him access to children. The SBI executed a search warrant at Schenck’s residence the same day the cybertip was received. Schenck admitted to law enforcement that he was given a thumb drive in 2007 that had child pornography on it. He admitted to being a part of online platforms where child pornography was traded. Schenck also admitted that for some time he had been employed with various companies who cared for cognitively impaired children. Schenck’s digital devices were seized and analyzed by the SBI. During the forensic analysis of Schenck’s digital devices nearly 1,500 images and over 600 videos that depicted child sexual abuse material were discovered. In addition to images, agents located a number of chats in various social media platforms, wherein Scheck discussed the sexual abuse of children, traded child pornography images and described graphic sexual fantasies. Agents also found child pornography images of a child that, in chats with other individuals online, Schenck admitted to producing. The child was identified as a child with whom Schenck had worked in the course of his employment. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after the sentencing was concluded. Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II presided over the sentencing. North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charity Wilson prosecuted the case. 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. 7:21-CR-00012-M. ###


title: Federal Indictment Charges Four Co-Conspirators For Scheme Involving Money Orders Stolen From Post Office

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced that a federal grand jury in Charlotte has indicted four co-conspirators for a scheme involving stolen United States Postal Service (USPS) money orders. Jeff Krafels, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General (USPS-OIG) for the Mid-Atlantic Area Field Office (MAAFO), which oversees Charlotte, joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. Ravenna Lee Dorsey, Jr., 33, of Charlotte, Jaren Jamar Hopkins-Benton, 28, of Charlotte, Gregory Jeremy Singleton, 27, of Charlotte, and Shawn Joanta Brooks, 40, of Shelby, North Carolina, are each charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States by possessing and passing forged and altered USPS money orders, and possession of stolen and fraudulently altered USPS money orders. According to allegations in the indictment, between November 2020 and February 2023, the co-conspirators acquired approximately 2,500 blank USPS money orders stolen from a Charlotte area post office. The indictment alleges that the co-conspirators purchased and used legitimate USPS money orders as “templates” to generate falsified and forged USPS money orders, which they deposited into multiple bank accounts and credit union accounts, and then withdrew the cash proceeds before the financial institutions detected the fraud. As alleged in the indictment, the co-conspirators redeemed approximately 800 of the stolen USPS money orders, causing losses totaling more than $750,000. The charges in the indictment are allegations. The defendants are innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in a court of law. The conspiracy charge and each count of possession of stolen and fraudulently altered USPS money orders carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,00 fine per count. A federal district court judge will determine each defendant’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the USPS-OIG for their investigation of the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Smith of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.


title: South Carolina Methamphetamine Trafficker Sentenced To More Than 12 Years In Federal Prison

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Frank D. Whitney sentenced Brandon Eugene Massey, 38, of Blacksburg, S.C., to 151 months in prison, for conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Judge Whitney also imposed five years of supervised release following incarceration. According to filed documents and information introduced at the sentencing hearing, between 2019 and 2020, Massey was responsible for trafficking one and a half kilograms of methamphetamine, including 150 grams of ultra-high purity methamphetamine, that was seized from his co-conspirators. Court documents show that Massey was responsible for supplying the methamphetamine to individuals who then distributed it in Gaston and Mecklenburg Counties and elsewhere. According to court records, prior to being sentenced, Massey fled from prosecution and was arrested in Myrtle Beach, S.C. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation, which to date has led to the federal prosecution of more than 60 individuals for drug trafficking. Law enforcement have also seized more than 49 kilograms of methamphetamine, 29 kilograms of fentanyl, 27 kilograms of cocaine, 3.5 kilograms of heroin, 70 firearms, more than $385,000 in cash, and over $800,000 in other property. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf . In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, the Gastonia Police Department, and the Huntersville Police Department for their coordination and investigation of the case. Assistant United States Attorney Steven R. Kaufman, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, prosecuted the case.


title: Lebanon Man Indicted On Attempted Child Enticement And Production Of Child Pornography Charges

body_text: SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Mason Morey, age 26, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of attempted online enticement and 14 counts of production of child pornography. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the superseding indictment alleges that between November 28, 2022 and December 8, 2022, Morey used the internet to attempt to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. It further alleges that on December 7, 2022, Morey produced images and videos of child pornography. Agents with Homeland Security Investigations arrested Morey on December 8, 2022, on the attempted online enticement charges in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Following an initial appearance on the charge, U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph F. Saporito, Jr. ordered Morey to be detained pending trial on the charge. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny P. Roberts is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources." The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is lifetime 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 are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Two Previously Deported Men Charged With Illegal Reentry

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that two previously deported men were indicted separately by a federal grand jury for illegal reentry into the United States. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Sandrino Trifu, age 24, of Croaova, Romania, was indicted by a federal grand jury with illegal reentry into the United States by a previously removed alien. The indictment alleges that Trifu was previously removed from the United States on July 10, 2019, through Chicago, Illinois, and it is alleged that he reentered the United States without first obtaining legal permission to do so. The indictment also alleges that on February 6, 2023, Trifu was encountered in Adams County, Pennsylvania. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE). Refugio Pimentel-Garcia, age 28, of Puruándiro, Mexico, was indicted by a federal grand jury with illegal reentry into the United States by a previously removed alien. The indictment alleges that Pimentel-Garcia was previously removed from the United States on October 12, 2016, through Brownsville, Texas, and it is alleged that he reentered the United States without first obtaining legal permission to do so. The indictment also alleges that on January 27, 2023, Pimentel-Garcia was encountered in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 2 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaime M. Keating is prosecuting both cases. 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 are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Huntersville, N.C. Man Is Sentenced For Wire Fraud

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced today that Benjamin Padua Jr., 57, of Huntersville, N.C., was sentenced to 30 months in prison for embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from his employer following the company owner’s death. Padua was also ordered to serve three years under court supervision after he is released from prison and to pay $729,914.32 in restitution. Michael C. Scherck, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. According to filed documents and today’s sentencing hearing, from September 2019 to February 2021, Padua abused his senior finance position with his employer, identified in court documents as Trucking Company, and used falsified documents and improper accounting entries to embezzle hundreds of thousands of dollars. Court documents show that, following the Trucking Company owner’s death in October 2019, Padua forged the owner’s signature on a fake employment agreement Padua created and backdated to prior to the owner’s death. The fraudulent employment agreement purported to increase Padua’s compensation significantly through higher wages, bonuses, and life insurance benefits. After he created the fake employment agreement, Padua received substantial compensation from the Trucking Company, to which he was not entitled. Padua previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud. He will be ordered to report to the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI in Charlotte for their investigation of the case. Assistant United States Attorney Daniel Ryan, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, prosecuted the case.


title: Robert Kelly Sentenced to 20 Years

component: USAO - Illinois, Northern

body_text: CHICAGO — Recording artist ROBERT SYLVESTER KELLY, also known as “R. Kelly,” was sentenced earlier today by United States District Judge Harry D. Leinenweber to 20 years in federal prison, with one year to run consecutive to the 30-year sentence previously imposed in the Eastern District of New York. On September 14, 2022 after a four-week trial a federal jury in Chicago convicted Kelly on three counts of producing child pornography and three counts of enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity. The trial revealed that Kelly enticed multiple underage girls to engage in sexual activity, and that he continued to abuse his victims for years, at times recording some of the abuse on videotape. Kelly met the victims in the late 1990s and engaged in sex acts with them beginning when they were as young as 14, 15, and 16 years old. On multiple occasions over several years Kelly took steps to cover up his abuse and silence his victims. The sentence is announced by John R. Lausch, Jr., United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; R. Sean Fitzgerald, Special Agent-in-Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago; and Justin Campbell, Special Agent-in-Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago. Substantial assistance was provided by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Chicago Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeannice W. Appenteng, Elizabeth R. Pozolo, Jason A. Julien, and Brian F. Williamson represented the government. “With today’s sentence, a sexual predator is being held accountable for the years of abuse he inflicted on minor victims,” said U.S. Attorney John R. Lausch. “Kelly used his celebrity and wealth to attract and victimize young girls, and to obstruct prior criminal proceedings intended to end his despicable conduct. We commend the courage and the strength of the victims who came forward in this case to expose Kelly’s crimes. Our office will never cease seeking justice for victims of child sexual abuse, and the public can take comfort knowing that Kelly will never again be in a position to exploit young girls.” “Robert Kelly used his power and fame for evil when he exploited children for his own gratification,” said Sean Fitzgerald, special agent in charge of HSI Chicago. “We are confident that Kelly’s sentence will empower victims who are facing similar circumstances to come forward knowing they will be supported. HSI, alongside its partners from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Chicago Police Department, and IRS Criminal Investigation, will do everything in our power to ensure perpetrators like Kelly face justice.” If you believe you are a victim of sexual exploitation, you are encouraged to contact HSI’s confidential tip line by calling 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or by logging on to https://www.ice.gov/webform/hsi-tip-form . The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.


title: United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg Announces Implementation Of New Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida has implemented the new United States Attorney’s Offices’ Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy released earlier this week. The policy, which is effective immediately, details the circumstances under which a company will be considered to have made a voluntary self-disclosure (VSD) of misconduct to a United States Attorney’s Office (USAO-MDFL), and provides transparency and predictability to companies and the defense bar concerning the concrete benefits and potential outcomes in cases where companies voluntarily self-disclose misconduct, fully cooperate and timely and appropriately remediate. The goal of the policy is to standardize how VSDs are defined and credited by USAOs nationwide, and to incentivize companies to maintain effective compliance programs capable of identifying misconduct, to expeditiously and voluntarily disclose and remediate misconduct, and to cooperate fully with the government in corporate criminal investigations. The policy was developed pursuant to the Deputy Attorney General’s September 15, 2022 memorandum, “Further Revisions to Corporate Criminal Enforcement Policies Following Discussions with Corporate Crime Advisory Group” (Monaco Memo), which directed each Department of Justice (DOJ) component that prosecutes corporate crime to review its policies on corporate voluntary self-disclosure and, if there was no formal written policy to incentivize self-disclosure, draft and publicly share such a policy. “Transparency and accountability are integral to establish public and private trust,” said U.S. Attorney Handberg. “The new Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy is an important step in encouraging corporate governance. This policy incentivizes corporations to do the right thing by reporting wrongdoing before detected by regulators and law enforcement. We hope that it will have a transformative effect in promoting positive, corporate practices within our district and nationwide.” Under the new VSD policy, a company is considered to have made a VSD if it becomes aware of misconduct by employees or agents before that misconduct is publicly reported or otherwise known to the DOJ, and discloses all relevant facts known to the company about the misconduct to a USAO in a timely fashion prior to an imminent threat of disclosure or government investigation. A company that voluntarily self-discloses as defined in the policy and fully meets the other requirements of the policy, by—in the absence of any aggravating factor—fully cooperating and timely and appropriately remediating the criminal conduct (including agreeing to pay all disgorgement, forfeiture, and restitution resulting from the misconduct), will receive significant benefits, including that the USAO will not seek a guilty plea; may choose not to impose any criminal penalty, and in any event will not impose a criminal penalty that is greater than 50% below the low end of the United States Sentencing Guidelines (USSG) fine range; and will not seek the imposition of an independent compliance monitor if the company demonstrates that it has implemented and tested an effective compliance program. The policy identifies three aggravating factors that may warrant a USAO seeking a guilty plea even if the other requirements of the VSD policy are met: (1) if the misconduct poses a grave threat to national security, public health, or the environment; (2) if the misconduct is deeply pervasive throughout the company; or (3) if the misconduct involved current executive management of the company. The presence of an aggravating factor does not necessarily mean that a guilty plea will be required; instead, the USAO will assess the relevant facts and circumstances to determine the appropriate resolution. If a guilty plea is ultimately required, the company will still receive the other benefits under the VSD policy, including that the USAO will recommend a criminal penalty of at least a 50% and up to a 75% reduction off the low end of the USSG fine range, and that the USAO will not require the appointment of a monitor if the company has implemented and tested an effective compliance program. In cases where a company is being jointly prosecuted by a USAO and another DOJ component, or where the misconduct reported by the company falls within the scope of conduct covered by VSD policies administered by other DOJ components, the USAO will coordinate with, or, if necessary, obtain approval from, the DOJ component responsible for the VSD policy specific to the reported misconduct when considering a potential resolution. Consistent with relevant provisions of the Justice Manual and as allowable under alternate VSD policies, the USAO may choose to apply any provision of an alternate VSD policy in addition to, or in place of, any provision of its policy. The Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC), under the leadership of United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams, requested that the White Collar Fraud Subcommittee of the AGAC, under the leadership of United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace, develop policies in response to the Deputy AG’s memo. The policy announced today was prepared by a Corporate Criminal Enforcement Policy Working Group comprised of U.S. Attorneys from geographically diverse districts, including U.S. Attorney Peace, as well as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Jessica Aber, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut Vanessa Avery, U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii Clare Connors, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California Stephanie Hinds, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia Christopher Kavanaugh, and U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Philip Sellinger. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Riedel, White Collar Crimes Coordinator for the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, also participated in the development of the policy. Download United States Attorney's Office Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy


title: Redmond man pleads guilty to conspiring to defraud COVID-19 Payroll Protection Program

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 62-year-old Seattle man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to conspiring to defraud the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) of $646,000 in COVID-19 relief funds, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Joseph M. Freeman used the names of two companies he registered to try to obtain forgivable Paycheck Protection Loans to protect the salaries of non-existent employees. After detecting the fraud, federal investigators froze approximately $220,000 that remained in Freeman’s bank account and returned it to the Small Business Administration. Freemen will be sentenced for the fraud conspiracy on May 16, 2023. According to the plea agreement, in May 2020, Freeman and his coconspirators used information about a company he formed in 2004 to claim $500,000 in PPP funds. Freeman claimed Special Delivery LLC had 15 employees and a payroll of $200,000 per month, when in fact it had no employees other than Freeman. Freeman used fake Internal Revenue Forms to make it appear the company had employees and sought $500,000 in PPP funds. On May 20, 2020, the loan proceeds were wired to Freeman’s bank. After receiving the funds, Freeman created an account with a payroll service to disburse the funds to individuals who were not employees of the company. On June 15, 2020, Freeman and his coconspirators submitted a second fake application. Freeman claimed New Jack Trucking LLC had 10 employees and a monthly payroll of $58,400. Freeman and his associates claimed the business had been in operation in February 2020 even though the entity never had any genuine business activity. The coconspirators used fake IRS forms and a falsified bank statement to make it appear New Jack Trucking had employees. On June 16, 2020, Freeman and his coconspirators obtained $146,000 for that fraudulent application. Freeman supplied some of the loan proceeds to his coconspirators and used some of the funds for his own benefit. In July 2020, after federal investigators detected the fraud and notified Freeman’s bank, approximately $220,000 of the loan proceeds were frozen and returned to the Small Business Administration. The net loss from the scheme is $426,666. Conspiracy to Commit Theft of Government Funds is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross monetary gain to the defendant or the gross monetary loss to the victims of the offense. Prosecutors have agreed to recommend no more than two years in prison for Freeman. This case was investigated by the U.S Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cindy Chang. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Roseville Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for Distribution and Possession of Child Pornography

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Randy Edward Martin, 40, of Roseville, was sentenced today to eight years and one month in prison for distribution of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, between July 6, 2020, and Sept. 14, 2020, Martin distributed child pornography using the Kik Messenger app. Martin used a smartphone, the internet, and Kik Messenger to distribute videos depicting minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct to a person in Oregon. “Today’s sentence ensures that this defendant will stay far away from minors for a long time,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “But cellphones and messaging apps have increased the ability of predators to sexually abuse children. We need parents, educators, and other responsible community members to be aware of the danger and join the law enforcement effort to protect innocent children from predators who try to exploit them.” “Safeguarding children from being victimized by predators is a top priority for Homeland Security Investigations,” said HSI San Francisco (NorCal) Special Agent in Charge Tatum King. “HSI appreciates the assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Sacramento County Probation, and the Roseville Police Department on this investigation; and appreciates the prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. HSI also reminds parents and caregivers of the dangers children face on the internet and encourages close oversight and vigilance when online.” This case was the product of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Audrey B. Hemesath and Denise N. Yasinow prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.


title: Georgia woman charged with stealing over $450,000 in government and retirement benefits

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA - Sandra D. Smith has been arraigned on federal charges of wire fraud and theft of government funds. The indictment alleges that Smith stole more than $450,000 in Social Security Administration (SSA) retirement benefits and New York State Local and Retirement System (NYSLRS) benefits intended for M.S., who died in 2006 and was no longer eligible to receive those funds. “Smith allegedly stole money that taxpayers and government employees faithfully paid into these retirement systems and to which she was not entitled,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “This joint investigative effort is another excellent example of how collaboration between federal and state investigative partners help to uncover benefits fraud.” “For nearly 15 years, the beneficiary’s death was allegedly concealed by Smith so that she could illegally obtain Social Security benefits, which is a federal crime. These charges exemplify that my office will continue to pursue those who defraud the Social Security Administration,” said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for the SSA. “I thank the New York Office of the State Comptroller for investigating with us.” “The defendant callously took advantage of her mother-in-law’s death to profit at the expense of New York’s retirement system and the Social Security Administration,” said New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, who is trustee of the New York State Common Retirement Fund. “She has now been brought to justice and we will seek full restitution. I thank U.S. Attorney Buchanan and the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General for their partnership on this matter.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court: In approximately September 2005, M.S., Smith’s former mother-in-law, began receiving SSA and NYSLRS benefits directly deposited into a bank account that was solely in M.S.’s name. At the time of M.S.’s death in September 2006, Smith served as her caretaker and handled her finances. Smith had access to M.S.’s bank account as M.S.’s caretaker. After M.S. died, neither Smith nor anyone else notified SSA or NYSLRS of M.S.’s passing. Nor did Smith close M.S.’s bank account. Instead, Smith kept M.S.’s bank account open into which SSA and NYSLRS continued to deposit funds until early 2021. Smith knew exactly when those monthly benefits were deposited, and each month she allegedly withdrew the funds from the account almost as soon as they were deposited. In total, SSA deposited $194,351.00 and NYSLRS deposited $264,699.53 into the account. Smith, who was interviewed in connection with this investigation, admitted that she stole the money and that she knew that she was not entitled to the funds. Sandra D. Smith, 49, of Morrow, Georgia, was arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Justin S. Anand. Smith was charged with 20 counts of wire fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, and 10 counts of theft of government funds in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is being investigated by the Social Security Administration - Office of the Inspector General and New York Office of the State Comptroller. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane C. Schulman is prosecuting the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Richmond Woman Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison for Armed Trafficking of Fentanyl and Methamphetamine

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Amber Bailey, 41, of Richmond, Indiana, was sentenced to six years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. According to court documents, in September of 2020, the FBI began investigating Bailey after she distributed 25 grams of a fentanyl mixture and 9 grams of methamphetamine to another individual. On October 8, 2020, Bailey helped an accomplice distribute 54 grams of methamphetamine and 6 grams of a fentanyl mixture to the same individual. On November 5, 2020, FBI investigators served a search warrant at Bailey’s Richmond residence. During the course of the search, investigators found 6 grams of a fentanyl mixture, a 9mm handgun and ammunition, $500 in cash, and lactose, a known cutting agent for dilution of controlled substances. “The increase in fentanyl overdoses in our neighborhoods is a crisis—drug poisonings are now the leading cause of death for Americans 18 to 45 years old. The defendant had a direct hand in pushing this poison into our community,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Armed fentanyl traffickers are a top priority of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. With our federal, state, and local partners, we are committed to dismantling these operations and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable.” “Fentanyl has become a serious and life-threatening problem in Indiana,” said Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge for the FBI’s Indianapolis Office. “The FBI will join with all our federal, state, and local partners as often as possible to stop the flow of fentanyl into our communities.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case, with valuable assistance provided by the Wayne County Drug Task Force. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge James P. Hanlon. Judge Hanlon also ordered that Bailey be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following her release from federal prison. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Jayson W. McGrath, who prosecuted this case. ###


title: Tyler Orvis Indicted for Federal Drug Crimes

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont - The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on February 21, 2023, Tyler Orvis, 40, of Milton, Vermont, was arrested in connection with an indictment charging violations of the federal Controlled Substances Act for drug trafficking and related activity. According to court records, between October 2022 and December 30, 2022, Orvis conspired with others to distribute cocaine and fentanyl in Vermont. On December 29, 2022, the Milton Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration executed a state search warrant at Orvis’ residence in Milton, Vermont. Inside of the house, investigators found thousands of glassine bags intended for the packaging of controlled substances, and various additional items used to manufacture and distribute controlled substances. The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Milton Police Department, Lamoille County Sheriff’s Office, Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s Office, and the Essex Police Department. The defendant made his initial appearance on February 23, 2023, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle, and is being held in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending further proceedings. If convicted, Orvis faces up to twenty years of imprisonment on each charge. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory Federal Sentencing Guidelines. The United States Attorney emphasizes that the charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty. The United States is represented in this matter by Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary B. Stendig. Tyler Orvis is represented by Mark Kaplan, Esq.


title: Cumberland County Man Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison For Receiving Child Pornography

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Anthony Lauro, age 35, of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment by United States District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner for receiving child pornography. Judge Conner also ordered Lauro to pay $24,000 in restitution to victims of his offenses, and to serve 10 years on supervised release following his prison sentence. According to U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Lauro pleaded guilty to receiving images and videos of child pornography that were sent to him by another Cumberland County resident named Ryan Banks, who created the illicit images with a 14-year-old boy in West Virginia in September 2020 when Banks was 36. Banks is currently serving a 17 ½ to 35-year prison sentence in West Virginia for his offenses. Lauro was found to have been in contact with both Banks and the victim at the time the victim was being sexually exploited. As part of the federal investigation, agents found Lauro in possession of more than 1,000 images and videos depicting the sexual exploitation of other minors. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, the Mechanicsburg Police Department, and the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office in West Virginia. Assistant United States Attorney Christian T. Haugsby prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood , a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. ###


title: Utah Residents Face Federal Charges After Allegedly Attempting to Forcibly Take an Elderly Man’s Vehicle

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: Salt Lake City, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City, Utah returned an indictment charging an Ogden man and woman with carjacking an SUV that belonged to an elderly citizen. According to court documents, on January 30, 2023, Elvis Tahirovic, 33, and Brittany Ann Peters, 33, fled from Salt Lake City Police in a reported stolen Mercedes out of South Salt Lake. Salt Lake City Police initiated a high-speed pursuit, that was terminated due to public safety. Utilizing the Department of Public Safety helicopter, Tahirovic and Peters were tracked crossing into Davis, Weber and Box Elder Counties before troopers utilized a “cold spike” to flatten the Mercedes tires in Weber County. According to the complaint, at the intersection of Higley Road, the Mercedes came to an abrupt stop and Peters ran to a Chevrolet Tahoe at a stop sign and opened the driver’s door. Tahirovic also exited the Mercedes and ran to the driver’s door of the Tahoe, and forcibly removed the elderly victim out of his SUV before getting behind the wheel. Peters entered the passenger’s seat of the Tahoe. Tahirovic and Peters were unable to take off in the vehicle because the victim took the keys out of the ignition. Unable to flee, Tahirovic charged for the victim, but authorities arrived and took Tahirovic and Peters into custody. Tahirovic and Peters are charged with one count of carjacking. The defendants made their initial court appearance on their indictment February 16, 2023, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in Salt Lake City, Utah. U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated jointly by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office and the Utah Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney, Carlos Esqueda, for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Inmate At United States Penitentiary At Canaan Pleads Guilty To Assaulting Another Inmate With A Dangerous Weapon

body_text: SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Isiah Robinson, age 36, formerly of Maryland, and an inmate at the United States Penitentiary, Canaan, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on February 23, 2023, before U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion, to the charge of assault with a dangerous weapon. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Robinson admitted to assaulting another inmate with a sharpened piece of metal commonly known as a “shank.” The charge stems from an incident in October 2020, at the institution, at which time Robinson stabbed another inmate twice. The victim inmate’s wounds were not life-threatening but required outpatient treatment at a hospital. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Prisons Special Investigative Service. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for the charge is ten 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. # # #


title: Parma Man Sentenced to Prison for Conspiracy to Commit Arson During May 30, 2020, Demonstrations and Unrest in Downtown Cleveland

component: USAO - Ohio, Northern

body_text: CLEVELAND – A Parma man was sentenced today to 24 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent after he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit arson related to the destruction of a parking booth during the May 30, 2020, demonstrations and civil unrest in downtown Cleveland. According to court documents, on May 30, 2020, Seth Calig, 51, and other co-conspirators set fire to the Shaia & PPR parking booth on West 3rd Street. Court documents state that during demonstrations and civil unrest in downtown Cleveland, Calig and others gathered around the parking booth, ignited a roll of paper towels and cardboard with a lighter, and placed it inside the booth. As a result of their actions, court documents state that Calig and the others caused significant physical damage to the parking booth. In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Nugent ordered Calig to pay $220 dollars in restitution and recommended he undergo 500 hours of a residential drug abuse program. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Cleveland Division of Police. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly L. Galvin.


title: Former Police Officer Sentenced For Money Laundering

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: Georgia man will serve 59 months in prison for his role in conspiracy to obtain more than $1 million in COVID-19 relief funds GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — United States Attorney Mark Totten today announced that former Georgia police officer Andre Jackson has been sentenced to 59 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for attempting to launder $500,000 in fraudulently obtained COVID-19 relief funds. During sentencing, U.S. District Judge Jane M. Beckering noted that Jackson’s behavior is “gutsy. It’s greedy. It’s concerning.” “Andre Jackson was a con artist who tried to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic for his own personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Totten . “Anyone who tries to get rich quick by stealing money intended to help those in need should expect to be held fully accountable.” Jackson is a former police officer from Clayton County, Georgia. In 2020, he introduced fellow Georgia resident James Williams to Jemar Mason and David Kurbanov, both residents of the Western District of Michigan. Williams helped Mason and Kurbanov prepare fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program loans authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. This Act was a federal law designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who were suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of forgivable loans to small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which was designed to provide small businesses with loans in order to keep employees on payroll. Jackson and his co-conspirators exploited the program to obtain approximately $1.495 million in fraud proceeds. Afterwards, Jackson attempted to launder some of the proceeds by directing two of his confederates to wire $500,000 to an overseas bank account that Jackson selected. Investigators from the Drug Enforcement Administration detected the plot and the Internal Revenue Service took steps to freeze the bank accounts of the conspirators, ultimately recovering approximately $1.123 million of the fraud proceeds. Federal prosecutors in the Western District of Michigan brought charges against five codefendants, including Jackson, all of whom have now been convicted in connection with the scheme. “Pandemic relief funds in the form of PPP loans were established to help legitimate businesses weather the economic crisis created by COVID-19.” said Charles Miller, Acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation, Detroit Field Office . “In concert with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our federal law enforcement partners, IRS-CI will continue to track down individuals who attempt to exploit this federal relief program for their own personal greed and hold them accountable for their crimes.” “Jackson and his co-defendants stole money from the Paycheck Protection Program, which was a critical lifeline for Michigan’s small businesses during the pandemic,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan . “It was a serious crime, and the FBI remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to identify fraudsters like this defendant and hold them fully accountable for their crimes.” The charges in this case were part of an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, dubbed Operation Cashout, by law enforcement officers in the Western District of Michigan and the Northern District of Georgia, including the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, United States Secret Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Michigan State Police, Kent Area Narcotics Enforcement Team (KANET), and the Grand Rapids Police Department. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . ###


title: Hartford Man Sentenced to More Than 6 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Cocaine

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that LUIS CARRASQUILLO, also known as “Cuchi,” 52, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 78 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking cocaine. According to court documents and statements made in court, this matter stems from a joint investigation led by the FBI and the Norwich, New London and Hartford Police Departments into a narcotics distribution network that stretched from southeastern Connecticut to the Hartford, New Britain and Waterbury areas. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps, surveillance, search warrants, and seizures of cocaine and crack cocaine, revealed that Carrasquillo was acquiring large quantities of cocaine and selling the drug to other distributors, some of whom converted the cocaine to crack. On March 17, 2020, law enforcement conducted a court-authorized search of Carrasquillo’s Adelaide Street residence and seized approximately three kilograms of cocaine and $71,340 in cash. On June 30, 2020, a grand jury returned an indictment charging Carrasquillo and eight other individuals with offenses related to their involvement in this drug ring. Carrasquillo was arrested on July 1, 2020. On June 9, 2022, Carrasquillo pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Carrasquillo, who is released on a $270,000 bond, is required to report to prison on April 6. This is Carrasquillo’s second federal conviction for a cocaine trafficking-related offense. This matter has been investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Norwich, New London and Hartford Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret M. Donovan through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .