title: Violent Boston Gang Member Who Posed With Firearms on Snapchat Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Prison

body_text: BOSTON – A Boston-area man was sentenced on Friday, June 7, 2024 for illegally possessing a firearm while under house arrest for three state firearm charges. Trevon Bell, 27, of Boston and Lynn, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 78 months in prison, and three years of supervised release. Bell pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm in November 2023. As part of a 2021 investigation into a violent Boston gang, law enforcement intercepted a Snapchat “chat” comprised of individuals who regularly displayed images of themselves in possession of firearms. One of the individuals identified in the chat was Bell – a member of the violent Boston-based Heath Street gang. Bell had been indicted on three separate unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition cases in state court for which he was released on home detention with location monitoring via GPS bracelet. However, the investigation revealed that, while on state pre-trial release, Bell had posted numerous videos of himself in possession of firearms to Snapchat, including a Nov. 24, 2021 video that showed him in possession of a black semi-automatic Glock 9 millimeter firearm. The firearm has since been recovered: The operation was conducted is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. More information on the OCDETF program is available here: https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf/about-ocdetf . Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Division; and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division made the announcement. Special assistance in the investigation was provided by the Boston, Quincy and Lynn Police Departments and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Pohl of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Statement on FBI’s Quarterly Uniform Crime Report

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: The Justice Department issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on the release of the FBI’s Quarterly Uniform Crime Report , which shows a decrease in violent crime and property crime in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same time period last year: “This data makes clear that last year’s historic decline in violent crime is continuing. In the first three months of this year, violent crime has decreased by over 15 percent compared to same period last year, and murder has decreased by over 26 percent. This continued historic decline in homicides does not represent abstract statistics. It represents people whose lives were saved — people who are still here to see their children grow up, to work toward fulfilling their dreams, and to contribute to their communities. When I became Attorney General over three years ago, we knew that grappling with the violent crime that surged early in the pandemic would be one of the greatest challenges we would face at the Justice Department. That is why we have poured every available resource into working with our law enforcement and community partners to drive down violent crime. But we know there is so much more work to do, and that the progress we have seen can still easily slip away. So, we will continue to deploy our technological and prosecutorial resources to identify and prosecute the principal drivers of gun violence. We will continue to invest in the essential programs that allow police departments to hire more officers. We will continue to build the public trust essential for public safety. And we will continue to support the evidence-based community violence intervention initiatives that save lives. Our work will not be done until all Americans feel safe in their communities.”


title: Hobbs Man Sentenced for Federal Firearms Offense

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

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Hobbs man was sentenced to 71 months in prison for discharging a firearm in a neighborhood following a domestic dispute. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, on August 23, 2022, Lazarus Sanders , 25, discharged a firearm towards the sky from a vehicle in a residential neighborhood in Hobbs, New Mexico. Officers spoke to the residents of the home where Sanders had discharged the handgun and determined that Sanders was in a relationship with the homeowner’s daughter and that they had been in a domestic altercation earlier that day. During the altercation, Sanders pointed a firearm at the homeowner’s daughter. Officers reviewed home security surveillance footage from a nearby house and observed Sanders in a white four-door vehicle with front-end damage discharge approximately three rounds from a firearm outside a residence. Officers determined that another incident had occurred approximately 40 minutes before where Sanders had discharged one round of ammunition from the vehicle in front of the same house. The officer provided a description of Sanders ’ vehicle to other officers on patrol. A short time later, an officer in the area observed a vehicle that matched the description and conducted a felony traffic stop. The officer observed a firearm in plain view and secured the vehicle pending a search warrant. Upon executing the search warrant, officers found a Taurus 9mm handgun under the driver’s seat with an extended magazine capable of accepting 17 rounds with an additional chambered round for a total of 18 rounds. After completing his term of imprisonment, Sanders will be required to serve 3 years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement today. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Force investigated this case with assistance from the Lea County Drug Task Force and the Hobbs Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Ry Ellison is prosecuting the case. # # #


title: Justice Department and FDA Announce Federal Multi-Agency Task Force to Curb Distribution and Sale of Illegal E-Cigarettes

component: Civil Division

body_text: The Justice Department and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced the creation of a federal multi-agency task force to combat the illegal distribution and sale of e-cigarettes. Along with the FDA and the Justice Department, the task force will bring together multiple law enforcement partners, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); U.S. Marshals Service (USMS); U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to coordinate and streamline efforts to bring all available criminal and civil tools to bear against the illegal distribution, and sale of e-cigarettes, vapes, and other electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) responsible for nicotine addiction among American youth. Additional agencies may join the task force in the coming weeks and months. “Unauthorized e-cigarettes and vaping products continue to jeopardize the health of Americans — particularly children and adolescents — across the country,” said Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “This interagency task force is dedicated to protecting Americans by combatting the unlawful sale and distribution of these products. And the establishment of this task force makes clear that vigorous enforcement of the tobacco laws is a government-wide priority.” “The Justice Department is committed to enforcing the laws that prevent the sale and distribution of unlawful e-cigarettes,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will work closely with our task force partners to address this crisis with all of the enforcement tools available to us.” “Curbing the widespread availability of illegal ENDS products is a top priority of the Justice Department’s consumer protection efforts,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Arun G. Rao of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch. “Together with our law enforcement partners, we look forward to advancing aggressive and innovative solutions to the unique and constantly evolving problem of illegal vaping products.” “Enforcement against illegal e-cigarettes is a multi-pronged issue that necessitates a multi-pronged response,” said Director Dr. Brian King of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. “This ‘All Government’ approach — including the creation of this new task force - will bring the collective resources and experience of the federal government to bear on this pressing public health issue.” The 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey found that about 2.1 million youths reported currently using e-cigarettes, which reflects a considerable decline from 5.3 million youth in 2019. However, 10% of high school students and almost 5% of middle school students reported currently using e-cigarettes, and more than 1 in 4 of those e-cigarette users reported daily e-cigarette use. Manufacturers, distributors, and retailers market a wide range of products that appeal directly to school-age users, such as candy and fruit flavors, some of which come in devices designed to be easily concealed. Youth use of tobacco products in any form — including e-cigarettes — is unsafe. According to the CDC , nicotine poses unique dangers to young people. In addition to being highly addictive, nicotine can harm the developing adolescent brain, which continues to develop until about age 25. Young people who use nicotine may also be at risk for addiction to other drugs. To date, the FDA has authorized the sale of 23 specific tobacco-flavored e-cigarette products and devices . These are the only e-cigarette products that currently may be lawfully marketed and sold in the United States. To date, the FDA has issued more than 1,100 warning letters to manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers for illegally selling and/or distributing unauthorized new tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, and has filed civil money penalty complaints against more than 55 manufacturers and 140 retailers for the manufacture and/or sale of unauthorized tobacco products. In addition, the FDA and the Justice Department have obtained injunctions against six manufacturers to stop them from manufacturing and selling unauthorized e-cigarette products. The federal task force will focus on several topics, including investigating and prosecuting new criminal, civil, seizure, and forfeiture actions under the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act of 2009 (PACT Act); the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA), as amended by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (TCA); and other authorities. Violations of these statutes can result in felony convictions and significant criminal fines and civil monetary penalties. They can also result in seizures of unauthorized products, which can help to make illegal e-cigarettes less accessible, including to young people. Through their participation in the task force USMS will help the FDA and the Department effectuate seizures of unauthorized e-cigarettes within the United States. “The U.S. Marshals Service Asset Forfeiture Division stands ready to work with our task force partners in the seizure of unauthorized e-cigarettes from domestic distributors seeking to sell them unlawfully,” said USMS Director Ronald L. Davis. The Justice Department is also collaborating with ATF and USPIS on potential criminal and civil enforcement actions under the PACT Act. The PACT Act requires online sellers of ENDS products to register with ATF and to verify the age of purchasers both at the point of sale and the point of delivery, as well as to comply with tax collection provisions and state and local laws. The task force announced today will support these actions and coordinate enforcement strategies the FDA and the Justice Department are working on with multiple agency partners. “The PACT Act is an important tool for preventing the unlawful sale of e-cigarettes to minors online. ATF looks forward to working with other components of the Department of Justice and USPIS to enforce the law,” said ATF Director Steven M. Dettelbach. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to working with the task force to investigate violations of the PACT Act and other statutes that govern the distribution of e-cigarettes through the mails,” said Chief Postal Inspector Gary R. Barksdale. Finally, the FTC, which releases reports about cigarette, smokeless tobacco, and e-cigarette marketing, and enforces various statutory and regulatory prohibitions on false and misleading advertising, will support the activities of the task force, including by sharing its knowledge about the marketplace for vaping products. “We look forward to sharing our experience with this rapidly changing, multi-billion-dollar market through this important task force,” said Director Samuel A.A. Levine of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. For more information on e-cigarette regulation, including legal compliance and enforcement efforts, see the FDA’s website at www.fda.gov/tobacco-products and the ATF’s website at www.atf.gov/alcohol-tobacco/vapes-and-e-cigarettes .


title: Construction Company Project Manager Convicted of Tax Conspiracy

component: Tax Division

body_text: A federal jury convicted a Massachusetts man on Friday for conspiring to defraud the United States. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Jason Pecoy, of Wilbraham, conspired with his father Kent Pecoy and Kevin Kennedy to conceal income from the IRS. Jason Pecoy was a project manager at Kent Pecoy and Sons Construction Inc., which was owned by Kent Pecoy. Kevin Kennedy operated two municipal golf courses and purchased two custom-build homes from Kent Pecoy’s company. Specifically, the group conspired to conceal income from the IRS by dealing in cash. Jason Pecoy received at least $600,000 in cash payments from Kennedy for the purchase and construction of a custom-built home on Cape Cod. Instead of depositing most of the cash he received from Kennedy into the businesses’ bank accounts, Pecoy distributed the cash directly to vendors and subcontractors. For example, Pecoy used approximately $149,300 of that cash to pay subcontractors under the table for work performed at the Cape Cod home. Pecoy also created and maintained separate ledgers documenting Kennedy’s cash payments, false contracts and cost estimates and at his direction, false entries in the company’s accounting system to conceal the cash payments. Jason Pecoy is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 12. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. As to his co-conspirators, Kent Pecoy pleaded guilty to related tax crimes on May 17 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 20. Kennedy was convicted and sentenced to 13 months in prison for his role in the conspiracy. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy for the District of Massachusetts made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Assistant Chief Eric B. Powers of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Desroches for the District of Massachusetts are prosecuting the case.


title: Muncie Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to a Decade in Federal Prison for Armed Trafficking of Over 2,000 Fentanyl Pills, Selling 500 While on Bond

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Dayten Abram, 22, of Muncie, has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl, carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and distribution of more than 40 grams of fentanyl. According to court documents, on March 16th, 2023, Abram was under investigation by the Muncie Police Department for suspected drug trafficking offenses. At approximately 1:09 PM, officers stopped the defendant after he committed multiple traffic violations. As an officer approached the car, he could smell burnt marijuana and saw a handgun on the driver’s side floorboard, near a BMV receipt with the defendant’s name on it. A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of $8,749 in cash, the loaded Glock 9 mm semiautomatic handgun, and 1,526 fentanyl pills- containing 213.6 grams of the drug. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, as little as two milligrams of fentanyl can be fatal, depending on a person’s body size, tolerance, and past usage—a tiny amount that can fit on the tip of a pencil. Seven out of ten illegal fentanyl tablets seized from U.S. streets and analyzed by the DEA have been found to contain a potentially lethal dose of the drug. Abram was arrested and charged in Delaware County, and later released. On April 27, 2023, while out on bond for the pending state charges, Abram was recorded by law enforcement officers dealing another 503 fentanyl pills to another person, containing 54.7 grams of the narcotic. Abram was subsequently charged in this federal case. “Undeterred after being caught red-handed with over 1,500 deadly fentanyl pills and a loaded handgun, this criminal continued to push his poison into Muncie’s neighborhoods while out on bond,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Fentanyl traffickers care more about making money than they care about the lives destroyed or ended by their deadly product. Thanks to the hard work and skill of the Muncie Police Department, DEA, and our federal prosecutor, the public will be protected from this dangerous, armed trafficker for years. Together with our law enforcement partners, our office is committed to getting these deadly pills off our streets and holding fentanyl traffickers accountable.” The Drug Enforcement Administration and Muncie Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Evans Barker. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry D. Glickman, who prosecuted this case. One Pill Can Kill : Avoid pills bought on the street because One Pill Can Kill . Fentanyl has now become the leading cause of death for adults in the United States. Fentanyl is a highly potent opioid that drug dealers dilute with cutting agents to make counterfeit prescription pills that appear to be Oxycodone, Percocet, Xanax, and other drugs. Fake prescription pills laced with fentanyl are usually shaped and colored to look like pills sold at pharmacies. For example, fake prescription pills known as “M30s” imitate Oxycodone obtained from a pharmacy, but when sold on the street the pills routinely contain fentanyl. These pills are usually round tablets and often light blue in color, though they may be in different shapes and a rainbow of colors. They often have “M” and “30” imprinted on opposite sides of the pill. Do not take these or any other pills bought on the street – they are routinely fake and poisonous, and you won’t know until it’s too late. ###


title: Maryland man sentenced for relentlessly cyberstalking victims

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A man from North Bethesda, Maryland, was sentenced on June 7 to eight years and four months in prison for systematically cyberstalking several victims for approximately a year and a half. According to court documents, Joseph Bourabah, 27, harassed and stalked multiple victims from September 2021 until February 2023. The defendant’s cyberstalking campaign was relentless and extended to the victims’ family members, tenants, and even former employers. The harassment involved hundreds of incidents, including fake Craigslist ads, Facebook postings, events on Eventbrite, and the hiring of unwanted services. In September 2021, Bourabah, using a fake account, began sharing pornographic content of a victim on Facebook and spreading false accusations about the victim. In October and November 2021, Bourabah sent pornographic videos of the victim to the victim’s family members and friends. Bourabah also emailed the victim on various occasions from November 2021 to October 2022, including an email with a link to a pornographic website where Bourabah had posted videos of the victim along with the victim’s true name and former employers. Bourabah targeted the victim’s mother. On multiple occasions, Bourabah posted pornographic videos on the mother’s social media feeds. On Feb. 23, 2022, Bourabah created a Craigslist post advertising her pet ducks for free, resulting in the pets being taken. Bourabah created another Craigslist ad listing her trampoline for free, resulting in the trampoline being taken from her home when she was not there. Bourabah created a fake ad on Craigslist to advertise another victim’s car as available for free and attempted to have the car towed. In January 2023, Bourabah advertised a party titled “[victim’s name] Pedo Kink Party” and used a picture of the victim and the victim’s home address. In an email dated Dec. 26, 2021, Bourabah told the victim, “I’m never going to stop. I’ll be trolling your children’s babysitter 10 years from now.” Bourabah also harassed that victim’s mother through ads on Craigslist that included a Halloween costume party, a New Years Eve party, and an open house event. Bourabah ordered unsolicited services to her residence, including tree cutting, carpet cleaning, junk removal, and towing. Bourabah attempted five times to have her vehicle towed, and on one occasion the tow driver removed a barricade from the driveway and placed the vehicle on the tow truck. Bourabah also harassed the tenants in her rental properties. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Heck and Elizabeth Yusi prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-37.


title: Ohio Man Sentenced for Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficking

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: ASHLAND, Ky. – A Ironton, Ohio man, Freddie Knipp, Jr., 53, was sentenced on Monday, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, to 138 months in prison, for two counts of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of sale of a firearm to a convicted felon. In August 2019, law enforcement officers with KSP and ATF received information regarding drug trafficking and illegal firearms activity being conducted by Freddie Knipp, Jr. During the investigation, agents purchased approximately 65 grams of methamphetamine from Knipp. Additionally, Knipp purchased and provided a firearm to a prohbited person. At sentencing, the Court found that, during a 10-month period from 2018 to 2020, Knipp distributed at least 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine in Boyd and Carter counties. Under federal law, Knipp must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 5 years. Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Phillip J. Burnett, Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police (KSP), jointly announced the sentencing. The investigation was conducted by the ATF and KSP. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. — END —


title: Two Defendants Charged With Federal Narcotics Offenses In Connection With The Poisoning Of Four Children At A Bronx Daycare Plead Guilty

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Darcel D. Clark, the Bronx County District Attorney, announced today that, on the morning he was scheduled to begin trial, FELIX HERRERA GARCIA pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death and serious bodily injury, as well as possession of narcotics with intent to distribute, resulting in death and serious bodily injury, all in connection with the poisoning of four children under the age of three, one of whom died, at a daycare facility in the Bronx (the “Daycare”) on September 15, 2023. Approximately two weeks ago, on May 23, 2024, RENNY ANTONIO PARRA PAREDES pled guilty to conspiring to distribute narcotics and stipulated that his conduct caused death and serious bodily injury, in connection with his role in the poisonings. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “In September 2023, four children at a Bronx daycare were poisoned by fentanyl. The children were seriously injured, and one baby died. This happened because, as they admitted in court, Felix Herrera Garcia and Renny Antonio Parra Paredes operated an illegal fentanyl operation out of the center, where they processed the deadly drugs for sale. We said at the time that this case shocks the conscience of the City, and now Herrera Garcia and Parra Paredes have been brought to justice for this heinous crime.” Bronx County District Attorney Darcel D. Clark said: “Today, on the morning his trial was set to begin in Manhattan Federal Court, Felix Herrera Garcia pled guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Narcotics Resulting in Death and other federal charges for causing the fatal fentanyl ingestion of 22-month-old Nicholas Dominici and the injury to three other babies at the Divino Nino Day Care Center in the Bronx on September 15, 2023. Herrera Garcia has now been held accountable in the tragic loss of little Nicholas, the serious injury of Abel, and the harm to Kiara and Jaziel.” As alleged in public filings: From at least in or about October 2022 through at least in or about September 2023, HERRERA GARCIA, PARRA PAREDES, and others conspired to distribute fentanyl, para-fluorofentanyl, and heroin, including at the Daycare. There, despite the daily presence of children, including infants, HERRERA GARCIA, PARRA PAREDES, and their co-conspirators maintained large quantities of fentanyl, including more than 10 kilograms of narcotics hidden inside secret compartments, or traps, located beneath the floor of the Daycare’s playroom. As a consequence of the drug conspiracy perpetrated by HERRERA GARCIA, PARRA PAREDES, and their co-conspirators, on or about September 15, 2023, four children at the Daycare, who were all under three years of age, experienced the effects of poisoning from exposure to fentanyl. Three of the children were hospitalized. The fourth child, a boy just under two years-of-age, died. * * * HERRERA GARCIA, 35, of the Bronx, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death and serious bodily injury, one count of possession with intent to distribute narcotics resulting in death, and one count of possession with intent to distribute narcotics resulting in serious bodily injury. All three counts carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. PARRA PAREDES, 38, of the Bronx, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death and serious bodily injury, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. The statutory minimum and maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), the Southern District of New York Digital Forensic Unit, the Complex Analytical and Social Media Enhancement Team at the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) New York Strike Force, and the United States Marshals Service (“USMS”). Mr. Williams also thanks the NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force of the USMS, the USMS Office of International Operations, the USMS for the Southern District of New York, the USMS for the Southern District of Texas, the USMS for the Southern District of California, the USMS Mexico Field Office, the USMS Investigative Operations Division, the DEA New York Strike Force, the DEA Regional Office in Allentown, Pennsylvania, the DEA Regional Office in McAllen, Texas, the DEA Regional Office in Mexico City, Mexico, the DEA Regional Office in Hermosillo, Mexico, the DEA Regional Office in Monterrey, Mexico, the DEA Special Operations Division, the NYPD 52nd Precinct’s Detective Squad, the NYPD Bronx Homicide Squad, the Office of International Affairs of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Mexican Federal and State authorities. The OCDETF New York Strike Force provides for the establishment of permanent, multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The specific mission of the New York Strike Force is to target, disrupt, and dismantle drug trafficking and money laundering organizations, reduce the illegal drug supply in the United States, and bring criminals to justice. This case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon C. Thompson, Maggie Lynaugh, and Justin V. Rodriguez, as well as Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Karl P. Miller of the Office of the Bronx County District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Missouri Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting, Threatening Federal Officers at Fort Leonard Wood

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Houston, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to assaulting and threatening federal law enforcement officers at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. James W. Dickens, 32, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of assaulting a federal officer and one count of threatening to murder a federal law enforcement officer. Dickens drove a stolen vehicle to the north gate of Fort Leonard Wood shortly after 1 a.m. on June 11, 2023. He made several statements to personnel at the gate while acting erratically, according to today’s plea agreement, and showed them he had an axe in the passenger seat of the vehicle. Dickens then fled from the gate and, after a high-speed pursuit, he crashed the vehicle he was driving into the north gate drop arm barrier, yelling and cursing as officers surrounded the vehicle. He got out of his vehicle and walked away from the officers. Dickens admitted that, as one of the officers drew his taser, Dickens said, “If you tase me, I will kill you,” or words to that effect. He then charged toward the officer with his fists clenched, and the officer tased him. Dickens fell to the ground but resisted the officers as they attempted to apprehend him, and said he was going to kill the officer who tased him. The officers handcuffed Dickens and placed him in a Military Police vehicle, where he continued to scream and threaten the officers. Officers pulled Dickens out of the vehicle a short time later so fire department personnel could assess his health. Dickens continued to act hostile, according to the plea agreement. He kicked one officer on his right leg and headbutted another officer on his left cheekbone. Dickens again said he was going to kill the officers. The officers placed him back in the vehicle. A few minutes later paramedics arrived and officers opened the car door to ask Dickens if he would cooperate with the paramedics so they could assess him. Dickens spit on one of the officers and yelled, “Yeah, b***h, now you got HIV,” or words to that effect. Later, officers pulled Dickens out of the vehicle and placed him on a gurney to be transported to the hospital. As the officers were restraining him to the gurney, Dickens headbutted one of the officers on the right side of his head and again said he was going to kill them. Dickens was then placed in the back of ambulance, where he spit on the face of one of the paramedics. Under federal statutes, Dickens is subject to a sentence of up to 18 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Cesar Vargas. It was investigated by the U.S. Army, Fort Leonard Wood, Military Police Investigations.


title: Texas U.S. Attorneys announce “Operation Texas Kill Switch” aimed at machinegun conversion devices

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – U.S. Attorneys for the Southern, Northern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas announced “Operation Texas Kill Switch,” a statewide initiative targeting illegal machinegun conversion devices, colloquially known as “switches.” At simultaneous press conferences throughout the state, U.S. Attorneys Alamdar S. Hamdani, Leigha Simonton, Damien Diggs and Jaime Esparza, joined Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agents in Charge Michael Weddel and Jeffrey Boshek and lambasted switches, which transform commercially available firearms into fully automatic weapons capable of firing faster than military-grade M4s. “Today is an important step to put on notice those who traffic in switches and who use switches,” said Hamdani. “We will hold you to account. My office, combining forces with the ATF, and along with the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Eastern , Western and Northern Districts, will do everything in our power to continue to make our communities safer by stemming the flow of switches.” “Today’s important initiative is aimed at raising awareness of illegal machine gun conversation devices also known as ‘switches,’ said Weddel. “Todays’ threat comes from MCDs that easily convert a firearm into a machinegun. These ‘switches’ as they are often called on the streets, not only pose a serious threat to those living in our communities but a unique and deadly threat to law enforcement. Simply possessing one of these devices is a federal crime and we will work endlessly in conjunction with our U.S. Attorney’s Office in addition to our local, state and federal partners to identify and prosecute these criminals.” About an inch long, switches may be made of metal or plastic and can be printed on commercially available 3D printers. They generally slot into the butt of a gun and allow the shooter to fire “full auto,” unloading dozens of rounds with a single pull of the trigger. (In contrast, regular semi-automatic firearms require a separate trigger pull for each round fired.) To date, switches have been used in numerous fatal shootings, including at least one juvenile mass shooting and multiple police killings . Except in very limited circumstances, possession of a switch is illegal, as the National Firearms Act classifies the switch itself as a machinegun. Yet the number of switches law enforcement recovered has risen dramatically in the past few years. Between 2017 and 2023, Texas-based ATF agents seized 991 switches; 490 of those - 50 percent - were seized just last year. They are often sold over social media, marketed to adults and juveniles alike. At Monday’s press conferences, the U.S. Attorneys announced that as part of Operation Texas Kill Switch, they are partnering with Crime Stopper programs statewide to combat the proliferation of these illegal devices. From now until Aug. 31, local Crime Stopper programs will offer cash rewards for information leading to the apprehension or prosecution of those who possess switches or 3D printers being used to manufacture them. Tipsters may use **TIPS to be connected to a Crime Stoppers program in their area. Tips can be submitted 24 hours a day, and anonymity is guaranteed by law. Information may also be submitted directly to ATF at www.atf.gov/contact/atf-tips . U.S. Attorneys Hamdani, Simonton, Esparza and Diggs also urged local law enforcement to partner with federal authorities on switch cases, which carry maximum sentences of up to 10 years in the federal system. They laid out their case in a joint op-ed published Monday in the Austin American Statesman , which you can read here .


title: Texas U.S. Attorneys Announce “Operation Texas Kill Switch” Aimed At Machinegun Conversion Devices

body_text: Today, U.S. Attorneys for the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Texas announced “Operation Texas Kill Switch,” a statewide initiative targeting illegal machinegun conversion devices, colloquially known as “switches.” At simultaneous press conferences throughout the state, U.S. Attorneys Leigha Simonton, Alamdar Hamdani, Damien Diggs, and Jaime Esparza , joined by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives Special Agents in Charge Jeffrey Boshek and Michael Weddel, lambasted switches , which transform commercially available firearms into fully automatic weapons capable of firing faster than military-grade M4s. “We’re here to talk about a roughly one-inch piece of plastic. It looks innocuous enough, a little like a lego or a k’nex block. But this one-inch piece of plastic is killing people,” U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton said at Monday’s press conference. “Machinegun conversion devices can turn Second Amendment-protected firearms into illegal weapons of war, and petty criminals into brutal killers. We cannot have our streets turned into war zones. We cannot – and we will not – allow switches to proliferate in north Texas.” “I have been in this business for a long time, and nothing scares me more than the rapid flood of machine gun conversion devices on the streets of Texas and beyond. Rest assured that ATF and its partners are doing everything we can to stop the flow of these things and to prevent the carnage they can create. I applaud our U.S. Attorney partners for their willingness to aggressively prosecute these criminals and gangsters” stated ATF Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II. About an inch long, switches may be made of metal or plastic and can be printed on commercially available 3D printers. They generally slot into the butt of a gun and allow the shooter to fire “full auto,” unloading dozens of rounds with a single pull of the trigger. (In contrast, regular semi-automatic firearms require a separate trigger pull for each round fired.) To date, switches have been used in numerous fatal shootings, including at least one juvenile mass shooting and multiple police killings . Except in very limited circumstances, possession of a switch is illegal, as the National Firearms Act classifies the switch itself as a machinegun. Yet the number of switches recovered by law enforcement has risen dramatically in the past few years. Between 2017 and 2023, Texas-based ATF agents seized 991 switches; 490 of those, 50 percent, were seized just last year. They are often sold over social media, marketed to adults and juveniles alike. At Monday’s press conference, the U.S. Attorneys announced that as part of Operation Texas Kill Switch, they are partnering with Crime Stopper programs statewide to combat the proliferation of these illegal devices. From now until Aug. 31, local Crime Stopper programs will offer cash rewards for information leading to the apprehension or prosecution of those who possess switches or 3D printers being used to manufacture them. To be eligible for cash rewards, tipsters must provide information to their local Crime Stoppers program . Tipsters may also use **TIPS to be connected to a Crime Stoppers program in their area. Tips can be submitted 24 hours a day, and anonymity is guaranteed by law. Information may also be submitted directly to ATF at www.atf.gov/contact/atf-tips . U.S. Attorneys Simonton, Esparza, Diggs, and Hamdani also urged local law enforcement to partner with the feds on switch cases, which carry maximum sentences of up to 10 years in the federal system. They laid out their case in a joint op-ed published Monday in the Austin American Statesman , which you can read here . Watch clips from a machinegun conversion device shooting demonstration here and here .


title: Albuquerque Man Sentenced for Federal Firearm Offenses

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Albuquerque man sentenced to 66 months in prison after pleading guilty to federal charges arising from the armed robbery of a Federal Firearms Licensee in Albuquerque in 2022. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, on April 29, 2022, special agents from the ATF were notified of an armed robbery that occurred the previous day at the Big 5 Sporting Goods Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) located at 2720 San Mateo Blvd. NE in Albuquerque. According to employees, Dawayne Yates , 53, entered the store and requested to inspect a rifle. After confirming his identity, an employee handed Yates a Ruger Mini-14 rifle. Yates then pulled out a handgun, pointed it at the employee, and demanded another rifle. Fearing for her life, the employee gave Yates an Dickinson, model XX3D-M-2, 12-gauge shotgun. Yates stole both firearms, placing them in a gun case he took from the store, and fled in a vehicle with no license plate. Fingerprint evidence from the crime scene matched Yates . A victim identified him from a photo lineup. On May 2nd, Yates was arrested at a local motel, where police recovered: A 9mm Taurus pistol matching the description of the gun used in the robbery A .22 caliber Remington rifle Ammunition Body armor Suspected fentanyl pills The stolen firearms from Big 5 were not recovered. Yates has prior felony convictions prohibiting him from possessing firearms or ammunition. After completing his term of imprisonment, Yates will be required to serve five years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, made the announcement today. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Patrick E. Cordova prosecuted the case. # # #


title: Bloomfield Man Sentenced for Federal Firearm and Drug Trafficking Offenses

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Bloomfield man was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty in federal court to federal firearm and drug trafficking offenses. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, on April 7, 2023, officers with the Bloomfield Police Department observed Jerome Phillips , 34, on a public street in Bloomfield. Knowing Phillips had an outstanding arrest warrant, they approached him. Phillips fled, and officers pursued. During the pursuit, Phillips reached for his waistband and dropped a firearm. Phillips eventually surrendered and the police discovered approximately 7.87 grams of pure methamphetamine on him. After completing his term of imprisonment, Phillips will be required to serve three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Bloomfield Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph M. Spindle prosecuted this case as part of a referral process between the U.S. Attorney's Office and 11th Judicial District Attorney's Office to bring both state and federal charges against individuals or organizations involved in criminal activities which violate both state and federal laws, such as drug trafficking, organized crime, or large-scale fraud schemes. # # #


title: Brevard County Man Sentenced To More Than 16 Years For Drug Offense

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Sabin Heart Inman (26, Rockledge) to 16 years and 8 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Inman entered a guilty plea on February 8, 2024. According to court documents, throughout 2023, Inman repeatedly distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl to a confidential source and an undercover agent. The transactions with the undercover agent often involved more than 100 grams of pure methamphetamine, and one such deal involved over 50 grams of a fentanyl mixture. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rockledge Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman.


title: Boston Man Convicted of Attempting to Purchase Sex With Minor

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Boston man was convicted by a federal jury in Boston today of attempting to pay for sex with a 14-year-old girl. Dimitri Shawn McKenzie, 29, was convicted following a three-day jury trial of one count of attempted sex trafficking of a child. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Sept. 24, 2024. McKinzie was arrested and charged in November 2022. “Every single person who considers paying to have sex with a minor better take notice – if you are caught you are facing at least a mandatory 10-year sentence in a federal prison. The reason people sell sex with little children is because there is demand for opportunities to engage in such morally reprehensible conduct. The only way to make progress in truly protecting kids from such predatory behavior is to both prosecute the men who traffic young girls and the men whose demand fuels this pernicious market,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Dimitri McKenzie was fully prepared to pay to sexually abuse someone he believed was a child. Instead of a child, he found himself face to face with an undercover HSI special agent and after today’s verdict, he’s facing serious federal prison time,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New England. “It’s a horrible truth that there are predators ready and willing to pay to harm children. HSI is working every day with our partners to find these individuals and bring them to justice.” In November 2022, McKenzie responded to an online post purportedly advertising two minor girls – ages 12 and 14 years old – available to perform sex acts in exchange for money in the Boston area. The post was a fictious advertisement by undercover law enforcement. In subsequent text communications with undercover law enforcement, McKenzie agreed to pay $100 to have sex with the fictious 14-year-old minor at a local hotel. Upon arriving at the hotel, McKenzie met with undercover law enforcement posing as the purported seller in the hotel parking lot, provided cash in exchange for 20 minutes with the fictitious minor and accepted a hotel key. McKenzie was immediately taken into custody. The charge of attempted sex trafficking of a minor provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov . Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and HSI SAC Krol made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lexington, Waltham, Barnstable, Quincy and Cambridge Police Departments as well as the Massachusetts State Police and the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Torey B. Cummings of the Civil Rights & Human Trafficking Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case.


title: Rhode Island Man Sentenced to Over Three Years in Prison for Fentanyl Conspiracy

body_text: BOSTON – A Providence, R.I. man was sentenced today for his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed fentanyl throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Rafael Cesar Cabreja Jimenez, 29 was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to 42 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release. In March 2024, Cabreja Jimenez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl; and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Cabreja Jimenez was one of 10 individuals indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2022 in connection with the conspiracy. In March 2021, an investigation began into a DTO operating in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island led by Estarlin Ortiz-Alcantara. The investigation identified Cabreja Jimenez as a distributor for the DTO who, between approximately March 2022 and June 2022, regularly distributed multi-kilograms of fentanyl to customers and co-conspirators of the DTO from a base of operations at a stash house in Fall River. During a search of the stash house in July 2022, Cabreja Jimenez was found located inside the apartment along with more than 12 kilograms of fentanyl stored in various ceiling panels, blenders, a hydraulic press and baggies. Cabreja Jimenez is the ninth defendant to plead guilty in the case. Ortiz-Alcantara pleaded guilty in December 2023 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 8, 2024. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira; and Fairhaven Police Chief Michael J. Myers made the announcement today. Special assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Homeland Security Investigations; Bristol County Sherriff’s Department; and Fall River, Taunton, Attleboro, Scituate, Yarmouth, Providence (R.I.) and West Warwick (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Mulcahy of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Woman Sentenced for Dozens of Fraudulent Applications for Pandemic Relief Funds Resulting in the Theft of More Than $200,000 from Taxpayers

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A former Derry woman was sentenced today in federal court for her role in submitting fraudulent applications for COVID-19 pandemic relief funds and stealing more than $200,000 from taxpayers, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Tammy Dodge, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Paul J. Barbadoro to 12 months and 1 day in federal prison and 2 years of supervised release. On March 4, 2024, Tammy Dodge plead guilty to one count of bank fraud. Her husband and co-conspirator, David Dodge, was sentenced to 34 months in prison on May 29, 2024. The Dodges were ordered to pay $219,323.34 in restitution. “The defendant, along with her husband, submitted numerous fraudulent applications for COVID relief funds intended for individuals and businesses who suffered financial harm as a result of the pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “The defendant’s fraud not only resulted in the theft of hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars, but her actions also undermined the public of its confidence in pandemic relief programs. The sentence imposed today shows that those who stole from taxpayers during the COVID pandemic face federal prison time for their crimes.” “The Treasury Inspector General for Tax administration (TIGTA) aggressively investigates the abuse of IRS systems to defraud federal and state relief programs through fraudulent applications,” stated Special Agent-in-Charge Michael Carpenter. “In this case, the defendant diverted COVID-19 pandemic relief funds intended for legitimate businesses and their employees for personal gains.” The Dodges claimed to own or control multiple businesses in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, including Teacher Tammy (a/k/a Teacher Tammy’s), Optimized Operations, and Business Done Right. However, these companies had no operations and served no business purpose. The Dodges submitted dozens of fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans from private lenders, Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) from the Small Business Administration, and pandemic relief grants from the New Hampshire Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery (GOFERR) and the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC). To commit the fraud, the Dodges also used the Social Security Number of a minor child to apply for and obtain an Employer Identification Number from the IRS for a fictional company called Consulting Services. The Dodges used fake supporting documents in the applications. For example, on May 6, 2020, Tammy Dodge applied for a $30,064 PPP loan for Teacher Tammy. She provided multiple fake supporting documents, including a fraudulent tax filing claiming she paid employees $132,000 in 2019, and a false Certificate of Formation purportedly issued by the New Hampshire Secretary of State. Overall, because lenders detected most of the fraudulent applications, the Dodges obtained $219,323.34. They misused the fraudulently obtained funds, including to purchase a hot tub and a diamond ring. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case. During the early part of the coronavirus pandemic, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act included multiple relief provisions to help the millions of Americans and many small businesses adversely affected by the pandemic, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Private lenders could participate in the PPP. The loans, which were supposed to be used for payroll, were fully guaranteed by the government. If borrowers used the PPP loans for payroll and other approved expenses as intended, they could apply for loan forgiveness. The CARES Act also opened up the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. As with PPP loans, EIDL loans were supposed to be used for payroll and other business expenses such as rent and mortgage. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . ###


title: Man Pleads Guilty to Multiple Counts of Firearm Possession by a Drug User and Making False Statements to Purchase Firearms

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who possessed firearms as a drug user and made false statements during the purchase of firearms pled guilty on June 7, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City. Brian Lee Byers, age 39, from Christmas, Florida, was convicted of 4 counts of possession of a firearm by an unlawful drug user and 4 counts of making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm. At the plea hearing, Byers admitted that between July of 2019 and February of 2020, in Cero Gordo County, Iowa, Black Hawk County, Iowa, Winnebago County, Iowa, Grundy County, Iowa and Hancock County, Iowa he possessed multiple firearms while using marijuana and methamphetamine. He admitted that on July 25, 2019, November 9, 2019, February 22, 2020, and February 24, 2020, he stated on federal forms he was not a drug user while purchased multiple firearms. Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Byers remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Byers faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ up to life, a fine of $250,000, and 5 years of supervised release. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Fletcher and was investigated by the Mason City Police Department, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-CR-3018. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Graphic Communications National Pension Plan Agrees to Repay Excess Special Financial Assistance Funds

body_text: The Graphic Communications National Pension Fund (the NPF) has entered into a civil settlement agreement pursuant to which it has agreed to repay more than $8 million in excess funds that it received from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) in connection with the PBGC’s Special Financial Assistance Program. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 established the Special Financial Assistance (SFA) Program to protect millions of workers in multiemployer pension plans who faced cuts to their benefits, including potentially catastrophic benefit reductions in many cases. The SFA Program is administered by the PBGC, which was authorized to make one-time payments to certain eligible multiemployer pension plans in the amount that was projected to enable the plans to pay all benefits through 2051. Because inclusion of participants who died in the census data provided with the SFA application could alter the amount of funding that an eligible multiemployer plan would need to pay benefits in future years, the PBGC required SFA applicants to provide documentation of an independent death audit to identify deceased participants in support of plans’ SFA applications. Despite reasonable efforts, the NPF’s census erroneously included approximately 371 deceased participants among the more than 30,000 plan participants identified in the plan’s SFA application. The erroneous inclusion of deceased participants in the NPF’s application was identified during an audit conducted by the PBGC’s Office of Inspector General (PBGC-OIG). The audit determined that as a result of the errors the NPF’s SFA award of approximately $1.5 billion was overstated by approximately $8 million. The NPF cooperated with the government’s investigation in this matter, including assisting with the actuarial analyses necessary to calculate and validate the amount of the excess funds that it received. “The Civil Division will continue to work with PBGC to recover any excess funds paid in connection with the SFA Program,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “I commend the NPF for its cooperation with the government’s efforts to identify and quantify excess SFA Program funds, as well as its prompt repayment.” “Correcting an inaccurate SFA payment serves everyone’s interests and gives the public greater confidence in the stewardship of taxpayer money by Federal employees,” said PBGC Inspector General Nicolas J. Novak. “We appreciate the continuing cooperation of the affected plans with the PBGC and the Justice Department’s efforts.” “PBGC is working diligently with other plans to facilitate return of SFA funds based on inaccurate census data,” said PBGC Acting Director Ann Y. Orr. “PBGC appreciates the collaborative efforts of DOJ and PBGC-OIG involved in these recoveries.” The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, the PBGC-OIG and the PBGC Office of General Counsel, along with the Department of Labor and Department of Treasury. This is the second settlement involving the return of excess SFA funds received from PBGC, with combined recoveries now totaling more than $134 million. Senior Trial Counsel Kelley Hauser of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch handled this matter. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability. Settlement


title: Clear Lake Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of a Firearm

body_text: A man who possessed a firearm as a felon and illegal drug user was sentenced on June 7, 2024, to more than 4 years in federal prison. Riley Joe Morris Brekke, age 24, from Clear Lake, Iowa, received the prison term after a guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon and an unlawful drug user. In a plea agreement, Brekke admitted that on May 11, 2023, while outside a liquor store in Mason City, he was approached by Mason City Police officers regarding outstanding warrants for a probation violation and escape from custody. Brekke ran from the officers, was caught, and arrested. While running, Brekke threw the backpack he was carrying. During a search of Brekke, officers located a needle and a bag of methamphetamine on his person. They also located a gun, ammunition, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia in the backpack he threw. Brekke had previously been convicted of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, a felony, in Cerro Gordo County in 2022. Brekke was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Brekke was sentenced to 54 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Brekke is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Fletcher and investigated by Mason City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-CR-03020. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Justice Department Secures Agreement with Tennessee School District to Protect Students from Racial Harassment

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today a settlement agreement with Hawkins County Schools in Tennessee to resolve its investigation into allegations of race-based harassment and other discrimination targeting Black students. The investigation, conducted jointly by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee, found that the incidents of harassment — including a mock “slave auction” to sell Black students to their white counterparts, white students’ repeated and open use of the N-word and a “monkey of the month” campaign to ridicule Black students — collectively created a racially hostile environment. Although the district took steps to acknowledge some of the harassment, their response was not sufficient to protect the Constitutional rights of Black students. “No student should endure mock slave auctions or racial slurs meant to invoke a shameful period in our country’s history when Black people were treated as subhuman,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “Racial harassment undermines a student's ability to feel safe, eliminates any hope for fostering a supportive educational environment and violates the Constitution’s most basic promise of equal protection. The Justice Department remains committed to protecting the civil rights of all students and will ensure that Hawkins County Schools takes all actions necessary to end racial discrimination in its schools.” “To protect our children and cultivate a successful learning environment, our schools must take complaints of racial harassment and discrimination with the utmost seriousness and address them promptly and effectively,” said U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III for the Eastern District of Tennessee. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office commends the Hawkins County Board of Education for cooperating in the department’s investigation and working to improve its response to complaints of racial harassment and discrimination by reaching a resolution that enhances protections for both students’ constitutional rights and their dignity.” The department opened its investigation in March 2023 under Titles IV and VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The district fully cooperated during the investigation and readily pursued an agreement to address the department’s findings . Under the agreement, Hawkins County Schools will implement significant reforms, including: Hiring a compliance officer to oversee the effective resolution of race discrimination and harassment complaints; Retaining a consultant to support the school district in implementing the agreement and creating a discrimination-free learning environment for all; Creating a new electronic reporting portal to track and manage complaints and the district’s response to complaints; Updating its racial harassment and school discipline policies to more accurately track and consistently respond to complaints of race-based harassment; Training staff on how to identify, investigate and respond to complaints of racial harassment and discriminatory discipline practices; Informing students and parents of how to report harassment and discrimination; Implementing listening sessions, school climate surveys, training and educational events on identifying and preventing race discrimination, including discriminatory harassment; and Analyzing discipline data and amending policies to ensure non-discriminatory enforcement of discipline policies. Protecting students from harassment and other discrimination is a top priority of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available at www.justice.gov/crt , and additional information about the work of the Educational Opportunities Section is available at www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section . Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at www.civilrights.justice.gov/ .


title: International Businessman Sentenced To Two Years In Prison In Connection With Wine Fraud Scheme

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today that OMAR KHAN was sentenced to two years in prison by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer in connection with an investment fraud scheme involving rare and expensive wines and his impersonation of his attorney in furtherance of that scheme. KHAN previously pled guilty on March 28, 2024, to one count of aggravated identity theft. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Whether a fraudulent scheme involves business ventures, cryptocurrency, or expensive wines, the career prosecutors of this Office will bring justice to the perpetrators of these crimes. Omar Khan fleeced his victims of millions of dollars, leaving devastation in the wake of his lies, but he now justly faces two years in federal prison and has been ordered to make restitution to his victims.” FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said: “Omar Khan’s wine-and-dine scheme did not age well. For four years, Khan exploited the prestigious reputation of the wine industry to embezzle millions of dollars from well-intended investors using empty promises of future, lavish networking events while offering excuses for the lack of returns. He utilized his public notoriety as a wine aficionado to lure and coax his victims into financing significant amounts, costing some the entirety of their investments. Today’s sentence emphasizes the FBI’s tireless efforts investigating those who manipulate their social status and relationships to deprive others of their wealth.” According to the charging documents and other filings and statements made in court: From in or about 2015 through 2019, OMAR KHAN orchestrated a global fraud scheme involving the solicitation of investments for wine tasting and networking events. KHAN founded and operated a management consulting firm (“Firm-1”) in New York, New York. Firm‑1’s website described KHAN as one of “the most global consultants and speakers in the world.” KHAN has been profiled by Forbes Magazine as a “fanatical wine connoisseur.” KHAN hosted networking events for successful and wealthy individuals at which he would privately solicit victims to invest in ventures and events involving rare, vintage wines and expensive dinners. For example, on or about December 13, 2017, KHAN hosted a dinner, which he titled, “An Evening of Daring Duos and Tantalizing Trios,” at which KHAN served vintage wines and a variety of expensive food items, including Nantucket bay scallops, oysters, caviar, risotto cooked in bone marrow broth, uni served in its shell, and jalapeño foam. At these extravagant dinners and networking events, KHAN would solicit individuals to invest in other expensive dinners, networking events, and ventures. KHAN represented to his investors that they would earn a profit on their investment. KHAN frequently lied to prospective investors to induce investments. With few exceptions, KHAN embezzled his investors’ investment monies and used the proceeds on personal expenditures. KHAN then made additional false statements to his investors to excuse his failure to pay them back. For example, one of KHAN’s victims (“Victim-1”) was a New York retiree who in early 2015 attended one of KHAN’s dinner parties which involved expensive wines and expensive cuisine. After that first dinner, KHAN began to actively communicate with Victim-1, and they formed a friendship. After Victim-1 attended several of those events, KHAN solicited Victim-1 to invest his money with KHAN to put on similar wine and dinner events for other wealthy individuals. At first, Victim-1 invested smaller amounts of money for the dinner events. Later on, Victim-1 began to invest larger sums of money with KHAN. In approximately 2018, KHAN induced Victim-1 to pool all of Victim-1’s investments to date into one large, purported consulting deal. In doing so, KHAN had Victim-1 invest approximately $5,000,000 with a famous French vineyard located in Bordeaux, France (“Vineyard-1”). KHAN pitched this investment as a consulting deal that involved a New York club backed by Vineyard-1. After stalling for several months, KHAN began to make up excuses about why there was a delay in closing the deal. For example, KHAN falsely claimed in an email to Victim-1 that Victim-1’s money “was on the move” but the very next day falsely claimed that the IRS had placed a lien on his business account for unrelated activity in Dubai (“IRS slapped a lien on us, due to ‘unusual activity,’ ‘unpaid taxes’ and various other allegations, which I learned of this morning to my shock.”). Likewise, in February 2018, KHAN falsely claimed to another victim (“Victim-2”) that KHAN’s bank had delayed a bank transfer from KHAN to Victim-2 due to a lack of authorization documents. In a March 2018 email, KHAN falsely told Victim-2 that KHAN’s attorneys had sent legal demands to the bank to resolve the issue. In both these emails, KHAN purported to forward emails from KHAN’s attorney about the delayed bank wire. The March email also stated that KHAN’s attorneys had “issued a legal demand” to the bank to resolve the issue with the delayed bank wire. The emails appearing to be sent from KHAN’s lawyer were fraudulent, and KHAN had sent them impersonating his own lawyer. On or about September 3, 2019, multiple victims commenced a civil lawsuit against KHAN (the “Khan Lawsuit”), alleging that KHAN induced them to invest in wine dinners and ventures on the basis of fraudulent misrepresentations. In early September, the New York Post published multiple articles about KHAN — one concerning the Khan Lawsuit and another about a criminal investigation into KHAN’s ventures. KHAN then left the country, ultimately residing at a hotel in Sri Lanka for several years. In February 2024, KHAN was expelled from Sri Lanka and arrested at John F. Kennedy airport in New York. * * * In addition to the prison term, OMAR KHAN, 58, was sentenced to one year of supervised release and ordered to make restitution to the victims in the amount of $6,699,582. Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of the FBI. The case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas Chiuchiolo and Nicholas Folly are in charge of the prosecution.


title: U.S. Attorney's Office Secures Agreement in Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Owner and Property Manager of Eagle, Colorado Rental Property

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announced that a federal judge has approved a consent order that resolves a lawsuit filed in federal district court under the Fair Housing Act by the U.S. Attorney’s Office against Butters Investments, LLC, the owner of a rental property in Eagle, Colorado, and Kathryn Butters, the property manager. The United States alleged that the defendants subjected a family to repeated sexual assault and harassment when they lived in a property owned by Butters Investments. To resolve the lawsuit, Ms. Butters and Butters Investments agreed to several terms, including paying $300,000.00 to compensate the family. In the complaint filed in the lawsuit, the United States alleged that in 2019 and 2020, the victim family, a couple and their minor children, rented a residential unit owned by Butters Investments, and that Ms. Butters served as the property manager. The complaint alleged that Ms. Butters repeatedly made unannounced visits to the victim family’s home, during which she made unwanted sexual comments and contact with four family members, including a male child who was only eleven or twelve years old at the time of the events and another male child who was only ten years old at the time. The complaint alleges that Ms. Butters made inappropriate sexual comments to the family, including referring to the genitals of one of the children, and on another occasion speculating about the color of one of the children’s pubic hair. The complaint alleged that Ms. Butters’ conduct also included, on several occasions, slapping both parents’ buttocks, and grabbing the children’s genitals. The complaint alleged that this conduct constituted housing discrimination based on sex in violation of the Fair Housing Act. To resolve the allegations, Ms. Butters and Butters Investments agreed to a consent order, which was signed by the Honorable Kathryn A. Starnella of the United States District Court for the District of Colorado. Under the terms of the consent order, Ms. Butters and Butters Investments agreed to pay $300,000.00 to compensate the victim family. In addition, under the terms of the consent order, Ms. Butters agreed not to have contact with residential housing tenants in the future. Ms. Butters and Butters Investments also agreed that Ms. Butters and the owners and employees of Butters Investments would complete fair housing training, and that their compliance with the Fair Housing Act will be monitored by the U.S. Attorney’s Office under the court’s order. The lawsuit stems from a complaint that the family filed with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity conducted an investigation and found reasonable cause that discrimination based on sex had occurred. The parents then made an election under the Fair Housing Act to have the Department of Justice, through the U.S. Attorney’s Office, file a complaint in federal district court on their behalf. “Sexual harassment in housing is particularly egregious because people deserve to feel safe in their homes,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Matt Kirsch. “We are committed to protecting tenants who are subjected to sexual assault and harassment, and we will continue to work with HUD to hold accountable landlords and property managers who violate the Fair Housing Act.” “Absolutely no one, including families with children, should ever have to worry about being sexually harassed by their landlord or property manager,” said Demetria L. McCain, HUD’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “HUD’s investigation and charge, which resulted in today’s settlement, should serve as notice that this type of behavior is illegal and will not be tolerated.” To learn more about the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s civil rights enforcement program, or to file a complaint, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-co/civil-rights-enforcement . Additional information about the Fair Housing Act, including information about how to file a complaint, can be found on HUD’s website at https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/fair_housing_act_overview . The defendants have denied liability, and the claims made in the complaint are allegations that, if the case were to proceed to trial, the government would need to prove by a preponderance of the evidence. This case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alicia Alvero Koski and Zeyen Wu. Read the complaint here .


title: Two Life Sentences for DTO Leader Guilty of Massive Drug Conspiracy

body_text: MACON, Ga. – The leader of a violent drug trafficking organization (DTO) who directed approximately 2,000 kilograms of cocaine from Mexico into the U.S.—much of which was distributed into the Middle District of Georgia—was sentenced to two life sentences in prison for his crimes today. Albert Ross aka “Big,” 53, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, was sentenced to serve the statutory maximum of life imprisonment for each count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana for which he pleaded guilty on Jan. 22. In addition, Ross was ordered to serve five years of supervised release and pay a $1 million fine by U.S. District Judge Tilman “Tripp” Self III on June 10. There is no parole in the federal system. “Keeping our communities safe is our office’s highest priority,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “These life sentences for Albert Ross help to accomplish this goal, thanks to the incredible dedication and courage displayed by our law enforcement partners at the federal, state and local level to shut down this violent drug trafficking organization and hold its leader accountable.” “Albert Ross deserves every day in prison that he has been sentenced after distributing such a huge amount of drugs into Middle Georgia,” said FBI Atlanta’s Macon Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Robert Gibbs. “FBI Atlanta and our partners across the state will continue to work non-stop to put drug dealers behind bars and stop them from inflicting pain and violence in our communities.” “The guns, drugs and violence are unfortunately all too common tools of drug traffickers,” said Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “Today’s announcement demonstrates DEA’s emphatic commitment to attacking the drug dealers responsible for the devastation in our communities.” “Cases like this exemplify the value of partnerships between local, state and federal agencies,” said Athens-Clarke County Police Chief Jerry Saulters. “The volume of dangerous drugs, not to mention the firearms and acts of violence, impact our communities beyond comprehension. The sentence in this case should be a stern message to the traffickers who bring their poison into our community and threaten the livelihood of our residents.” According to the stipulation of fact read in court and other documents, Ross admitted that he was the leader of a large-scale drug trafficking organization, which was responsible for importing approximately 2,000 kilograms of cocaine into the U.S. from Mexico, along with other illegal drugs. Large amounts of cocaine was distributed by Ross’s DTO into the Middle District of Georgia. The FBI-Athens Resident Agency initiated a long-term investigation focused primarily on Ross’s cocaine distribution activities. Through the use of many investigative techniques including wiretaps, physical surveillance, vehicle trackers and confidential informants, agents identified a network of individuals associated with Ross’s DTO. Working with co-conspirators, investigators discovered that Ross directed individuals to transport large quantities of cocaine from Texas to be distributed to Ross’s customers and associates. Ross’s DTO was supplied cocaine by a source in Mexico affiliated with the Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG ) . Money for the cocaine purchases was given to couriers in Atlanta who would then deliver the money to Ross’s cocaine supplier in Mexico. Agents learned that Ross and co-conspirators flew to Mexico City in August 2019 to meet with Ross’s CJNG cocaine supplier and his cartel boss to negotiate a deal where they would supply Ross’s DTO with 200 additional kilograms of cocaine per month. A text string found on Ross’s seized iPhone detailed that in under a one-month period between March 14 and April 4, 2020, Ross was supplied with 112 kilograms of cocaine. During the same period, Ross sent more than $2.5 million in payment for the drugs to his cocaine source in Mexico. Additional evidence revealed that in a three-month period in 2018, Ross received 1,300 kilograms of cocaine from a different Mexican supplier. Once the cocaine arrived in the Atlanta area, Ross stashed the dope at an elderly family member’s home, who had previously been shot picking up drug proceeds at Ross’s direction. Co-defendants Lonnie Bennett, 44, of Atlanta, and Brandon Payne, 30, of Atlanta, sold cocaine supplied by Ross out of their stash house on Pittman Road in College Park, Georgia. Co-defendant TaMichael Darden, 43, of Athens, Georgia, made over twenty trips from Athens to the Pittman Road stash house to purchase cocaine that he later sold throughout the Middle District of Georgia. Ross is tied to past large drug seizures in Georgia. In March 2018, Ross and his business partner purchased approximately $4 million of cocaine for transport from Texas to Georgia; a tractor trailer was stopped on I-20 by a Georgia trooper, who found 152 kilograms of cocaine in a false wall inside the transport truck. Following the cocaine seizure, Ross asked another co-conspirator to kill the person responsible for overseeing the intercepted drug load. The co-conspirator refused the murder order. In Dec. 2018, DEA agents received information from a confidential source that Ross was moving a large amount of cash from illegal drug sales from Atlanta to California using private aircraft. Agents observed men leave Ross’s Bouldercrest Road stash house and board a plane at Peachtree Dekalb Airport with four suitcases and two backpacks. DEA and FBI agents in California were waiting and seized more than $2 million in drug proceeds from the luggage. In addition, Ross tasked co-conspirators with transporting and distributing large shipments of marijuana from “Murder Mountain,” a region in Humboldt County, California, known for its marijuana production. For example, 24,000 pounds of marijuana was shipped over eight trips from California to Georgia as directed by Ross. Significant amounts were distributed to dealers in the Middle District of Georgia, including co-defendant Reginald Battle, Sr., 49, of Statham, Georgia. Ross was ultimately arrested on Sept. 23, 2021, at his home in Stone Mountain. Agents found more than $300,000 in cash wrapped in tinfoil and vacuum sealed in black trash bags inside Ross’s bedroom closet. Inside an Atlanta area bar owned by Ross, agents seized more than $600,000 in drug proceeds. As part of this entire investigation, law enforcement seized $3,164,210 cash, 73 firearms, 165.22 kilos of cocaine, 1.32 kilograms of fentanyl, 11.25 ounces of heroin, 1.39 kilograms of crack cocaine, 12.57 lbs. of crystal methamphetamine, 25.35 lbs. of marijuana and 198 dosage units of controlled pharmaceuticals. Ross admits his DTO is responsible for importing approximately 2,000 kilograms of cocaine from Mexico into the U.S. for distribution in Georgia. Ross has a prior felony drug conviction in Fulton County, Georgia, Superior Court and numerous felony arrests for drug trafficking. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . The case was investigated by FBI Atlanta – Athens RA Middle Georgia Safe Streets Gang Task Force, DEA, Athens-Clarke County Police Department, Northeast Georgia Regional Drug Task Force, GBI, Georgia Department of Community Supervision, Georgia Department of Corrections, Georgia Department of Revenue, Georgia State Patrol, Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Gwinnett County Police Department, Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, Oglethorpe County Sheriff's Office, Rockdale County Sheriff's Office, Atlanta Police Department, Brookhaven Police Department, Cobb County Police Department, DeKalb County Police Department, Henry County Police Department, Marietta Police Department and South Fulton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mike Morrison and Tamara Jarrett prosecuted the case for the Government.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, joined national, state, local, and Tribal leaders in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15, 2024. Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and increase understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk. “Seniors in our community are among the most likely to be targeted by fraud, false billing scams, and abuse. Financial exploitation is the most common form of elder abuse and is estimated to cost older adults more than $23 billion every year,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “Combatting elder fraud and abuse is a top priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Department of Justice, and our law enforcement partners. As part of our elder justice initiative, my office has expanded our health care fraud practice and focused on holding accountable medical providers who put profits before their obligations to patient care and safety. Everyone can protect their loved ones and the community by reporting instances of elder abuse when you see it.” Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trust relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse. The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force marshals federal and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, as well as trending schemes, such as romance scams. Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud. To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor Schemes, scammers impersonate government employees and falsely report suspicious activity to request that potential victims provide their Social Security numbers for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer to identify a fake problem, and then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In Lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes. To learn more about the Justice Department’s elder justice efforts please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page. The U.S Attorney’s Office continues to work with federal, state, local, and Tribal law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute elder abuse crimes. Additionally, the Office consistently works with courageous whistleblowers who provide vital information to protect patients and the community from fraud and abuse that targets the elderly. Representative examples of cases protecting elder members of our community prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office in 2023 and 2024 include the following: In March 2024, Physician Edward William Salko, D.O., agreed to pay $700,000 to resolve allegations that they participated in a kick-back scheme to bill Medicare for medically unnecessary medical equipment and diagnostic laboratory testing. In February 2024, Thomas Andrew Webster, M.D., pleaded guilty to conspiring to accept kickbacks in connection with a fraudulent telemarketing and medical supply scheme throughout Washington and in other states. In January of 2024, Physician Daniel Case has agreed to pay $95,000 to resolve allegations that he participated in a kick-back scheme and ordered medically unnecessary durable medical equipment that Case caused to be billed to Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal health care programs. In November of 2023, Xander Lee Ostenberg was sentenced to 5 years in prison for an assault that included a violent physical attack against two Kalispel Tribal elders. During the assault, Ostenberg hit one elder in the head causing him to fall to the ground and lose consciousness. Ostenberg then turned to attack another elder, knocking him to the ground, pulling out some of the elder’s hair, and began choking the Tribal elder. In August of 2023, Lincare Holdings, Inc., agreed to pay $29 million and perform extensive corrective actions to resolve allegations that it fraudulently overbilled Medicare and Medicare Advantage Plans for oxygen equipment and wrongfully collected co-pays from elderly beneficiaries on fixed incomes and with limited means. U.S. Attorney Waldref has recorded this message about how we can all protect ourselves and our loved ones from scams targeting the elderly. To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.


title: Career Offender Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Prison for Firearm and Drug Offenses

body_text: BOSTON – A Lowell man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for firearms and drug offenses. Ricardo Colon, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to 66 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Colon pleaded guilty in March 2024 to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. On March 21, 2022, Colon was found in possession of cocaine and fentanyl intended for distribution as well as firearms and ammunition, including a .22 caliber revolver, two 9 mm pistols, multiple gun magazines and 18 rounds of ammunition. Colon is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to multiple previous felony convictions. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Greg Hudon Superintendent of the Lowell Police Department made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .