title: Texas trucker tampers with truthful testimony

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 48-year-old Edinburg resident has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction for obstruction of justice, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Jose Manuel Gutierrez pleaded guilty Jan. 26. Today, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos ordered Gutierrez to serve 14 months in federal prison followed by two years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence regarding Gutierrez’s criminal history which includes convictions for assault, money laundering and aiding and abetting the entry of illegal aliens. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the concerning nature and circumstances of the crime. “This human smuggler tried to get witnesses to lie,” said Hamdani. “My office is not going to stand by and let intimidation replace the truth. The seriousness of his threats to justice merit the sentence imposed today.” At the time of his plea, Gutierrez admitted he attempted to influence an official proceeding knowingly and dishonestly, with intent to undermine the proceeding. On April 11, 2022, Gutierrez arrived at the Falfurrias Border Patrol (BP) checkpoint. There, authorities ultimately found 10 people, illegally present in the United States, concealed in the sleeper portion of the tractor he was driving. Two of them described how they were transported and identified Gutierrez in a photo-lineup as the driver who instructed them to get into the vehicle and covered them with blankets. However, the two witnesses later changed their accounts, reporting they did not know Gutierrez and had no contact with them. The investigation revealed Gutierrez had provided the names of the two witnesses to a family member after their initial statements to authorities. He instructed the individual to give the names to another person who could then “work” them. The witnesses later claimed they had changed their statements because Gutierrez had told them to do so. While there were no direct threats, both reported they were afraid something might happen to them if they had not done so. Gutierrez will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. BP conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Liesel Roscher and John Marck prosecuted the case.


title: Four People Charged for Roles in Bank Fraud, Identity Theft Scheme

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – Four people have been charged with conspiring to use and using victims’ personal identifiable information to defraud individuals and financial institutions, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Marc Lazarre, 37, of Secaucus, New Jersey: Fritzgerald Steide, 28, of Valley Stream, New York; Mohammed Khan, 32, of Elmont, New York; and Andrea Lewis, 29, of Inwood, New York, are each charged by indictment with one count of conspiracy to engage bank fraud. Lazarre is also charged with one count of bank fraud and three counts of aggravated identity theft. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From September 2021 through October 2022, Lazarre, Steide, Khan, and Lewis conspired to enrich themselves by fraudulently obtaining victims’ funds. Lazarre utilized unlawfully obtained bank account and personal identifiable information to open accounts in victims’ names without their knowledge, caused the transfer of funds from the victims’ actual financial accounts to the accounts he opened, and then withdrew the funds. Lazarre also unlawfully obtained or fabricated checks made out to victims, used fraudulent identification documents to open accounts in names almost identical to the victims’ names, and then cashed the unlawfully obtained or fabricated checks. Lazarre also worked with Steide and Khan, both of whom were employees of an Oceanside, New York, branch of a victim financial institution. Lazarre sent victims’ personal identifiable information to Steide and Khan, who in turn used this information to determine whether those individuals had bank accounts with Steide and Khan’s employer. In Khan’s role as a customer service representative, he received documents that he knew reflected stolen personal identifiable information from Lazarre and subsequently opened bank accounts using that information. Steide advised Lazarre regarding how to avoid detection, including by telling him when a conspirator should arrive at the bank to meet with Khan. Lewis impersonated numerous victims using false forms of identification provided by Lazarre. On at least one occasion, Lewis communicated with Lazarre in real time for assistance with responding to a bank representative’s questions regarding her purported identity. The conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud counts are punishable by a maximum of 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of up to $1 million or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. The aggravated identity theft counts carry an additional consecutive mandatory minimum term of two years in prison and a maximum fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; and special agents of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Andrew McKay with the investigation leading to the charges. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shawn Barnes, Chief of the OCDETF/Narcotics Unit, and Matthew Belgiovine of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Trenton. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. lazarreetal.indictment.pdf


title: Missouri Nurse Admits Taking Leftover Fentanyl from Hospital

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: CAPE GIRARDEAU – A registered nurse on Thursday admitted illegally obtaining and using fentanyl from the hospital where she worked. Lindsey M. Francis, now 35, was a nurse at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau at the time of the crime. On Jan. 15, 2022, a colleague discovered a used syringe in a locker room in the hospital’s emergency department. A subsequent investigation revealed that a vial of fentanyl had been tampered with. Confronted by hospital staff, Francis said that on that occasion and others since June or July of 2021, she had taken and injected leftover fentanyl due to work and personal stress, her plea agreement says. The total amount of fentanyl diverted was determined to be less than 4 grams. Francis pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to one count of unlawfully acquiring a controlled substance, a felony. The charge is punishable by up to four years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both. Francis is scheduled to be sentenced August 1. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Willis is prosecuting the case.


title: Missouri Felon Sentenced to 66 Months in Prison For Selling 7 Machine Guns

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

body_text: CAPE GIRARDEAU – A man from Dunklin County, Missouri, was sentenced Thursday to five and one-half years in prison for selling seven devices that convert AR-15-style rifles into fully automatic weapons. U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. ordered the sentence for Lamad Cross, 24, of Kennett, Missouri, to run consecutive to any sentence he receives for violating his probation in a Dunklin County Circuit Court case. Cross pleaded guilty in 2021 in that case to resisting arrest by fleeing. “We’ve seen a dramatic increase in the use of these devices on firearms in our area,” said U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming. “They are incredibly dangerous, and anyone contemplating their purchase or use needs to know that we will vigorously prosecute these cases.” “The possession and use of machine gun conversion devices is an emerging threat to the safety of our communities and the law enforcement officers who are sworn to protect them. This investigation and today’s sentencing send a very clear message that the use of these devices will not be tolerated,” said Bernard Hansen, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Kansas City Field Division. The investigation began when police in Cape Girardeau recovered a Glock pistol that had a “switch” installed that converted it to an automatic weapon. Investigators learned that a straw purchaser bought the pistol for Cross, who is a convicted felon and barred from purchasing or possessing firearms, Cross’ plea agreement says. He was also on probation from two state criminal cases at the time. A confidential informant working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives contacted Cross via social media and asked about buying a Glock switch. Cross instead offered a drop-in “auto sear” that converts an AR-15-style rifle into an automatic weapon. On Sept. 19, 2022, Cross’ girlfriend delivered the device in exchange for $800. Cross later said he would send videos showing how to install the auto sear and said he could offer a lower price for bulk purchases. On Sept. 27, 2022, Cross met with the informant in Cape Girardeau and sold three auto sears for $650 each. Cross also said that he was thinking about obtaining AR-15s so he could install the auto sears and then sell automatic rifles. On Oct. 12, 2022, Cross agreed to sell three more auto sears for a total of $1,900 and used a different woman to deliver them to an undercover ATF agent. He also said he’d sold two of the devices to someone else, although that claim has not been verified. Although most of the devices were recovered by law enforcement, “Cross’s conduct posed a tremendous risk to the public,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Willis wrote in a sentencing memo. Glock switches and auto sears, even if not installed in a firearm, are considered machine guns under federal law. Cross pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau in January to one felony charge of unlawful transfer of a machine gun. During a January 5 press conference in St. Louis, local and federal officials warned of an increase in the recovery and use of Glock switches and auto sears, which make firearms difficult to control and “inherently dangerous.” The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Willis is prosecuting the case.


title: Camden Registered Sex Offender Admits Sex Trafficking Minors

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – A Camden man admitted trafficking three minors to engage in commercial sex acts, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Semaj A. Gilmore, 33, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge Renée Marie Bumb on May 3, 2023, to three counts of a superseding indictment charging him with sex trafficking minors. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From September 2020 to April 2021 Gilmore transported, at various times, three minor victims from Philadelphia to New Jersey knowing they would engage in a commercial sex act at Gilmore’s direction. Each of the victims was under age 18 at the time. Each count of sex trafficking of a minor is punishable by a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 5, 2023. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of FBI’s South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jacqueline Maguire in Philadelphia, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. He also thanked members of the Mount Laurel Police Department and the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office for their assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Bender and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn Waegener of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden. gilmore.sindictment.pdf


title: Massachusetts and Connecticut Men Sentenced for Ponzi and Tax Fraud Schemes

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – Two men were sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for a multi-year fraud scheme that caused more than $6 million in losses to investors. Thomas D. Renison, 69, of South Glastonbury, Conn., was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge George A. O’Toole, Jr. to four years in prison and three years of supervised release. Renison was also ordered to pay forfeiture of $526,120 and restitution of $6,240,983. In October 2020, Renison pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two counts of filing false tax returns. Timothy J. Allcott, 65, of Peabody, Mass., was sentenced by Judge O’Toole to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Allcott was also ordered to pay forfeiture of $5,052,661 and restitution in the amount of $6,098,173. In July 2020, Allcott pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. In January 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged Allcott and Renison with fraudulently misleading investors in connection with the same conduct. Renison was the former owner of ARO Equity LLC, a privately-held investment company that purportedly pooled money from investors and then invested it in various New England-based businesses. Between 2015 and 2018, Renison and Allcott fraudulently raised and solicited funds for ARO Equity LLC by misrepresenting to victims how their money would be invested, ARO’s investment track record and the safety of the investments. Allcott and Renison also concealed Renison’s ownership interest and affiliation with ARO because the SEC and regulators in Maine had previously barred Renison from working in the securities industry. Over the course of the scheme, ARO took in over $6 million from investors but only invested half of that amount. Of the investments that ARO actually made, the substantial majority yielded significant losses. Despite these losses, Allcott and Renison failed to inform the victims of the poor performance of prior investments. Instead, they told the victims on many occasions that the investments were doing well and remained safe. ARO paid required monthly payments to earlier investors using funds raised from later investors. The defendants generally told victims that ARO would use their investments to fund one of three different businesses. Instead, Renison and Allcott paid themselves exorbitant commission fees, satisfied monthly interest obligations to other investors and invested in different undisclosed businesses. As part of the scheme, Allcott and Renison disguised commissions paid to Renison as loans to Renison’s wife, which allowed them to continue to conceal Renison’s ownership stake in the company. In addition, Renison failed to declare more than half a million dollars of commission income and failed to pay over $150,000 in taxes. United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Office; and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Saltzman of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Tampa Men Sentenced For Armed Robbery Of A Mail Carrier

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Kimberly Mizelle today sentenced Omar Rochester Miller, Jr. (23, Tampa) and Christopher Diaz, aka “Chico,” (27, Tampa) for the armed robbery of a postal mail carrier. Specifically, Miller was sentenced to 9 years and 2 months in federal prison for armed robbery of a postal mail carrier, theft of postal keys, and brandishing a firearm during the commission of the robbery. Diaz was sentenced to 8 years in federal prison for armed robbery of a postal mail carrier and theft of postal keys. Diaz had pleaded guilty on January 10, 2023. A federal jury found Miller guilty on January 25, 2023. According to evidence presented at trial, Miller robbed a letter carrier at gunpoint while she was delivering mail at an apartment complex. Miller approached the letter carrier from behind, pointed a firearm at her, threatened to shoot her, and demanded her postal keys. After Miller stole the postal keys, he pushed the mail carrier to the ground and ran to a waiting getaway car, driven by Edwin Betancourt Vega. This robbery was organized through phone calls and text messages between Betancourt Vega and Diaz, to coordinate the robbery and sale of the postal keys in exchange for cash. Law enforcement recovered the postal keys, as well as proceeds from the sale of the key from both Miller and Betancourt Vega. They recovered the firearm used in the robbery, which contained Miller’s DNA. Betancourt Vega was also charged for his role in the robbery as a getaway driver. He pleaded guilty to armed robbery of a postal mail carrier and theft of postal keys. On February 3, 2023, Betancourt Vega was sentenced to four years and three months in federal prison. “Employee safety is a top priority for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service,” said Juan Vargas, Inspector in Charge of the Miami Division. “These convictions and sentences demonstrate the commitment of the Inspection Service, as well as our partners at the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, to bring justice to anyone who would endanger the public servants of the Postal Service.” This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ilyssa M. Spergel and Stacie B. Harris.


title: Veterans Affairs Medical Center doctor accused of sexually assaulting female veteran patients

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA - Rajesh Motibhai Patel, a primary care physician at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Decatur, Georgia, has been indicted on multiple counts of violating his patients’ constitutional right to bodily integrity while acting under color of law and for engaging in unwanted sexual contact. “Our Veterans have made incredible sacrifices for our country and deserve the best medical treatment and highest quality of care,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Patel allegedly sexually abused his female patients and violated his oath to do no harm to patients under his care.” “Veterans and their families expect and deserve the highest quality of health care delivered in a safe and accountable setting,” said VA Inspector General Michael J. Missal. “The VA Office of Inspector General is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure the safety of those who entrust their health care to the providers and staff at VA’s 1,200 medical facilities.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court: Between 2019 and 2020, Rajesh Motibhai Patel, a physician at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, allegedly assaulted four of his female patients during routine exams, groped their breasts, and improperly touched their vaginal area. Investigators believe that Dr. Rajesh Motibhai Patel, 68, of Lilburn, Georgia, may have victimized additional patients. If you have information related to Dr. Patel that could further the investigation, or if you suspect that a particular person may have been one of his victims, please call the VA-OIG tipline at (770) 758-6646. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is being investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin N. Spritzer and Jennifer Keen are prosecuting the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Greensboro Man Sentenced for Role in Two Greensboro Shootings and Drug Trafficking in the Middle District

component: USAO - North Carolina, Middle

body_text: WINSTON SALEM – A Greensboro man was sentenced today to 25 years in prison, after pleading guilty to firearms charges connected to two Greensboro shootings and drug trafficking in the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC), announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston. LAJAUREN DAMITRI WIMBUSH, age 36, was indicted in February 2022 for two separate incidents, one involving possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one in which he was charged with three counts of illegal firearm and/or ammunition possession by a felon. According to court records, in September 2020, Surry County Sheriff’s Deputies executed a search warrant on a residence in Mount Airy where they encountered WIMBUSH and confiscated multiple bags of suspected methamphetamine from his vehicle. During his arrest, WIMBUSH claimed ownership of the contents of the bags, which were later confirmed by the State Crime Lab to contain quantities of methamphetamine. WIMBUSH was also indicted in another case with three counts of felon in possession of a firearm and/or ammunition stemming from two Greensboro shootings at the Four Seasons Mall on December 21, 2021, and at Studio Motel 6 on January 6, 2022. According to court documents, the Greensboro Police Department (GPD) responded to reports of a shooting at the Four Seasons Mall in Greensboro on the afternoon of December 21st and located a victim who had been shot multiple times. Mall security footage showed the exchange between the victim and assailant in the parking lot of the mall, and officers were able to locate additional footage tracing the assailant back to a motel room which WIMBUSH was staying in at the time. On January 6, 2022, an officer with the GPD responded to reports of an aggravated assault at the same motel and located a victim who had been shot multiple times and beaten by WIMBUSH. Surveillance footage from the motel confirmed the victim’s account of events and showed WIMBUSH shooting at and attacking the victim. At the time of both shootings, WIMBUSH was a previously convicted felon and was aware that he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. WIMBUSH is facing additional charges in these cases in state court. WIMBUSH pleaded guilty on November 10, 2022, in a combined plea agreement to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and two counts of felon in possession of a firearm. WIMBUSH was sentenced today to 300 months imprisonment in case number 1:22CR44, and two 120-month terms of imprisonment in case number 1:22CR41 to run concurrent with his sentence in case number 1:22CR40 by the Honorable Loretta C. Biggs, United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the MDNC. In addition to prison time, WIMBUSH was ordered to serve concurrent five year terms of supervised release, pay a special assessment of $300.00, and pay $8,762.28 in restitution. The cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Greensboro Police Department, and the Surry County Sheriff’s Department, and are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cliff Barrett. ###


title: University Professor Indicted for Trafficking Images of Child Sex Abuse

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an indictment today against Rodger Githens, 45, of West Sacramento, charging him with receipt and distribution of images of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, in late March 2023, Githens, using the profile “Tall laid back,” initiated contact with an account on the Grindr app controlled by an undercover FBI agent. Githens encouraged the undercover FBI agent to establish an account with the Telegram app, since it was considered more secure. Githens several times discussed traveling to Fresno to meet the agent and a supposed 7-year-old niece for sexual purposes, but law enforcement served a search warrant at Githens’s residence on April 19, 2023, and seized multiple electronic devices. Agents discovered numerous Telegram chats on Githens’s phone, including several in which he was exchanging and commenting on videos of young children being sexually abused. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the West Sacramento Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gappa is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Githens faces five to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, a lifetime of supervised release, and forfeiture of any property used to facilitate commission of the offense. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.


title: New Bedford Man Pleads Guilty to Child Exploitation Charges

body_text: BOSTON – A New Bedford man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to receiving and possessing over 1,500 files of child pornography. Robert David Austin, 42, pleaded guilty to receipt and possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Aug. 16, 2023. Austin was arrested and charged in December 2021. Austin engaged with a number of groups on messaging applications through which child pornography is disseminated. Austin also possessed child pornography on two cell phones and a tablet. Approximately 1,252 images and 450 videos depicting child pornography were located across all three of the devices. Overall, the child pornography files depicted victims as young as infants through approximately 12 years old, with some files depicting bondage and vaginal and oral penetration of the victims. The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime 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. United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Mackenzie Duane, Meghan C. Cleary and Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of Rollins’ Criminal Division are prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.


title: California man sentenced to five years in prison for assisting in the transportation a person to Billings for prostitution

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: BILLINGS — A California man who was convicted in a commercial sex investigation in which a woman brought a minor girl to Billings to engage in prostitution was sentenced today to five years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Cecil Jerome Hatchett, 32, of Carmichael, California, pleaded guilty in January to transportation of a person with intent to engage in prostitution. Co-defendant, Ashley Stella, of Reno, Nevada, was sentenced previously to eight years in prison for transportation of a minor to engage in prostitution. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. In court documents, the government alleged that Hatchett arranged and aided the transportation of Stella and a minor girl, identified as Jane Doe, to travel to Montana and elsewhere to engage in commercial sex. In April 2021, law enforcement responded to a call by Quality Inn staff in Billings about possible commercial sex activity. Upon arrival, officers found an individual emerging from the motel room while buttoning up his shirt and Stella and Jane Doe in the room. Law enforcement interviewed all three individuals and determined that the individual had responded to an ad in setting up the meeting and that Stella and the individual had corresponded about the potential sex encounter before he arrived in the room. Stella later admitted that when law enforcement arrived, she was in the midst of a commercial sex encounter. The government further alleged that these events triggered a federal investigation into allegations of sex trafficking. Investigators found electronic messages between Hatchett and Stella discussing commercial sex appointments, including those that involved Jane Doe. Hatchett also had rented the car that Stella and Jane Doe used to travel to Montana. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zeno B. Baucus and Bryan T. Dake prosecuted the case. The FBI, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Billings Police Department, Reno, Nevada., Police Department and IRS conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Defendants Convicted on Child Pornography Charges Receive Lengthy Prison Sentences

component: USAO - Louisiana, Western

body_text: LAKE CHARLES, La. – Two men convicted of receipt of child pornography appeared in federal court today for sentencing, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr. sentenced Terrence Landry and Steven M. Stinnett as follows: Terrence Landry , 34, of Lake Charles, Louisiana , was sentenced to 210 months (17 years, 6 months) in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. In May 2020, agents with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation received a complaint from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding the possible distribution of child pornography originating in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Further investigation by agents revealed that the subscriber of the IP address associated with the images of child pornography was Landry. Agents obtained a search warrant and subsequently searched the residence of Landry. Numerous computers and electronic equipment belonging to Landry were seized and analyzed by law enforcement. Agents determined that those electronic devices contained over 5,000 still images and more than 400 videos containing child pornography, some of which depicted prepubescent children engaged in sexual activity with adults. Landry admitted to receiving specific images via the internet in May 2016, knowing that they contained child pornography. Landry pleaded guilty to the charge of receipt of child pornography on April 13, 2022. The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and Louisiana Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Bordelon. Steven M. Stinnett , 51, of Lake Charles, Louisiana , a former associate professor at McNeese State University, was sentenced to 151 months (12 years, 7 months) in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. On November 17, 2022, law enforcement officers in Calcasieu Parish executed a search warrant at the residence of Stinnett. Officers seized computers and electronic equipment during the search. Agents with the Department of Homeland Security Investigations conducted a forensic review of Stinnett’s computer and found numerous images and videos containing child sexual abuse material. Stinnett admitted that one of the child pornography images was received via the internet in April 2017 and depicted a prepubescent female in a sexually explicit manner. Stinnett admitted to having 228 still images and 57 videos containing child sexual abuse material in his possession. Stinnett pleaded guilty to a charge of receipt of child pornography on February 3, 2023. The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and McNeese State University Police and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Bordelon. These cases are part of Project Safe Childhood, a U.S. Department of Justice nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . # # #


title: Cartel member imprisoned for drug trafficking in local neighborhood

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A 32-year-old Mexican citizen who illegally resided in Houston has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute meth during a transaction that occurred in a Houston residential neighborhood, announced US Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Ismael Salas Navarro pleaded guilty Nov. 17, 2022. Today, U.S. District Judge David Hittner sentenced Navarro to a total of 135 months in federal prison. Not a U.S. citizen, he is expected to face removal proceedings following his imprisonment. “Mexican cartels and their drugs are not welcome in our cities,” said Hamdani. “Cartels, like the Gulf Cartel, endanger the lives of our citizens and loved ones. Today’s sentence sends a strong message to criminals like Navarro that our communities will not tolerate the scourge of drug traffickers.” Navarro’s arrest and ultimate conviction stems from an investigation into individuals affiliated with the Gulf Cartel operating in Houston. On Jan. 25, 2021, law enforcement recorded Navarro ordering two kilograms of crystal meth from a co-conspirator. Authorities then watched as the narcotics were delivered to Navarro in a quiet Houston neighborhood. They took him into custody before he could drive off with the narcotics. Navarro has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, Houston Police Department, Harris County Precinct 5 Constable’s Office and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office conducted this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shelley J. Sullivan prosecuted the case.


title: Statement by U.S. Attorney Rachael S. Rollins on National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

body_text: BOSTON – Each year, we set aside time to honor crime victims and recognize the work of those who serve and advocate for survivors. The 2023 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week theme—“Survivor Voices: Elevate. Engage. Effect Change.”—called upon communities to amplify the voices of survivors and commit to creating an environment where survivors have the confidence that they will be heard, believed and supported. At the U.S. Attorney’s Office, we are committed to highlighting that theme in our work not just one week a year, but every day. We take a trauma-informed approach to our prosecution and enforcement work that centers the experience of survivors. We seek to elevate and engage survivors to lift their voices, inform policy and practice and effect change. We also stand firmly with families who have lost their loved ones to violent crime by seeking justice, amplifying their voices and ensuring that their loved ones will never be forgotten. It is equally as important that we honor the resilience, courage and love of survivors and their families, who have suffered devastating loss. Some of these moments are well known. For example, as we recognized the 10th anniversary of the tragic events at and following the April 2013 Boston Marathon, we bore witness to the capacity of survivors to conquer the unimaginable. We publicly honored law enforcement, first responders and the medical community, while privately uplifting and acknowledging the bravery and strength of the hundreds of victims. Of course, there are countless other victims whose names are never forgotten, such as Philip McCloskey, Jonathan Rizzo and Robert Whitney ; and the 19 known murder victims of James “Whitey” Bulger, just to name a few. However, many acts of inspiration and strength are not as publicized or documented. I am moved, for example, by families like those of Jeremiah Hurley and Francis Foley, two Boston Police Officers who were killed and maimed, respectively, by a bomb when they responded to a call to investigate a suspicious device in 1991. These families not only endured the initial and continuing devastation and trauma caused by those responsible for the bombing, but also bravely weathered the challenges of the legal system as the case progressed through investigation, trial and the post-conviction process. Members of both families continue to serve as first responders – a testament to the enduring legacy of Officers Hurley and Foley. Often, as time passes, attention shifts away from survivors. For us at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the victims and their families will always remain the center of our focus and the motivation for our work. As we recognize all crime victims, we recommit ourselves to ensuring that our approach and services to victims and survivors are meaningful, responsive and centered on their individual needs. For assistance locating community based services for victims of crime, please see the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime resource directory and the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance resource directory at https://ovc.ojp.gov/directory-crime-victim-services/search and https://www.mass.gov/orgs/askmova.


title: Former Boston Public Schools Dean Who Recruited Students into Latin Kings Gang Sentenced to Over Eighteen Years in Prison

body_text: BOSTON – A former member of the Massachusetts Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation (Latin Kings) who was, at the time, an academic dean in the Boston Public Schools was sentenced today in federal court in Boston on racketeering charges. The defendant attempted to murder a student that he had recruited into the gang and who was selling marijuana in the high school at the defendant’s direction. Shaun Harrison, a/k/a “Rev,” 63, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to 218 months in prison, with credit for 98 months’ time served, and three years of supervised release. In August 2022, Harrison pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct enterprise affairs through a pattern of racketeering activity, more commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy. “The level of betrayal and dishonesty exhibited here is astonishing. Harrison was in a position of trust, but was actually a dangerous predator. As the academic dean at a Boston Public high school he lured and manipulated teenagers into a criminal enterprise that specialized in street terrorism. Harrison was the architect of ruin for an entire generation of promising young lives – exclusively targeting and grooming vulnerable, at-risk youth. The very thing he was hired to work against. When one of his students – the victim in this matter – resisted his recruiting efforts, Harrison attempted to murder him in cold blood. In response to that student bravely doing the right thing and rejecting a life of crime, Harrison shot him point blank in the back of the head. Miraculously, he lived but now has partial face paralysis, neuropathy in his neck and face and permanent hearing loss among other significant injuries. The fact that Harrison continued to associate with Latin Kings members while in state prison for this attempted murder shows a callous disregard for the law and the harm he caused,” said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins. “Today’s sentence is a testament to the tireless efforts of our state, local and federal law enforcement partners. The dismantling of the Latin Kings organization is a significant milestone in our collective efforts to combat violent crime. We will continue to work to ensure that our schools and communities are safe.” “Shaun Harrison led a double life – using his position as a high school dean to engage in violence and recruit at-risk youth into a violent criminal enterprise. Today’s sentence ensures he will stay in prison and off our city streets for a significant period of time,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “The convergence of gangs, guns, and drugs are a serious threat to our communities which the FBI and our law enforcement partners are working hard every day to address.” In December 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment alleging racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and firearms charges against dozens of leaders, members and associates of the Latin Kings. The Latin Kings are a violent criminal enterprise comprised of thousands of members across the United States. The Latin Kings adhere to a national manifesto, employ an internal judiciary and use a sophisticated system of communication to maintain the hierarchy of the organization. As alleged in court documents, the gang uses drug distribution to generate revenue, and engages in violence against witnesses and rival gangs to further its influence and to protect its turf. In 2015, Harrison was hired by the Boston Public Schools to serve as an academic dean at English High School. In that role, Harrison was to act as a mediator between teachers and students, contact families when students struggled, work with at-risk students and run an anger management program for 10 boys after school. While working at the Boston Public Schools, Harrison was a member of the Latin Kings, known as “Rev” or “King Rev,” and used his position as academic dean to recruit a number of the at-risk students into the gang. Harrison directed the recruited students to distribute marijuana and other drugs, which he provided, in the high school and collected the drug proceeds. A number of the students that Harrison recruited included Wilson Peguero, a/k/a “King Dubb,” who later became the “Inca” or the leader of the D5K Chapter of the Latin Kings; Alexis Peguero, a/k/a “King Lexi,” who became the “Cacique” or the second-in-command of the D5K Chapter of the Latin Kings; Dante Lara, a/k/a “King Nasty;” Oscar Pena, a/k/a “King O-Block;” and others. Wilson Peguero, Alexis Peguero, Lara and Pena were each charged in this case and sentenced to serve 30 months, 21 months, two years and 32 months in prison, respectively. In March 2015, Harrison came to believe that one of the students distributing drugs for him had stolen money from him, no longer wished to sell drugs and may tell the police about Harrison’s crimes. On March 3, 2015, Harrison met up with this student, pulled out a handgun and shot the student in the back of the head at point blank range. This shooting was captured on video by a surveillance camera in the area. The student survived. Harrison was arrested soon thereafter and charged in Suffolk Superior Court with crimes related to the attempted murder. In 2018, Harrison was convicted by a jury and sentenced to approximately 25 years in state prison. While in state prison following his conviction, Harrison continued to associate with Latin Kings members, including through jail calls to other co-defendants. The Latin Kings supported Harrison during his state incarceration, discussed Harrison’s loyalty to the Latin Kings and refusal to implicate others and put money into his jail accounts. In December 2019, a federal grand jury returned an indictment alleging racketeering conspiracy, drug conspiracy and firearms charges against 62 leaders, members and associates of the Latin Kings. In total, 60 defendants in the case have pleaded guilty. Of the 62 charged defendants in the indictment, two remain fugitives. All of the remaining 60 defendants have pleaded guilty and have been sentenced or are awaiting sentencing. Harrison is the 59th defendant to be sentenced. U.S. Attorney Rollins; FBI SAC Bonavolonta; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; and New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira made the announcement. Valuable assistance was also provided by the FBI North Shore Gang Task Force and the Bristol County and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of Rollins’ Organized Crime & Gang 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. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The two remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law


title: Union County Man Admits Receiving Child Pornography

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Union County, New Jersey, man today admitted receiving videos and images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Joshua Cremosnik, 49, of Rahway, New Jersey, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Julien Xavier Neals to an information charging him with one count of receipt of child pornography. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From April to August 2021, Cremosnik received videos of child sexual abuse via a publicly available online peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing program. Subsequent to a lawful search of his residence, law enforcement officers recovered numerous videos and images of child sexual abuse on Cremosnik’s laptop and electronic storage media. Cremosnik acknowledged using the P2P network to request and receive child pornography materials and stored those materials on his laptop and electronic storage media. The count of receipt of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 5, 2023. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Farhana C. Melo of the Criminal Division in Newark. cremosnik.information.pdf


title: Colorado Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Hate Crime for Church Arson

component: Civil Rights - Criminal Section

body_text: A Colorado man pleaded guilty today to a hate crime charge in connection with a fire he set to a church in Loveland, Colorado. According to court documents and admissions during the plea hearing, Darion Ray Sexton, 22, intentionally set fire to the church in the evening hours of Jan. 19. Sexton admitted that he set this fire by throwing two Molotov cocktails at the church – one at the front door and the other at the basement. Sexton further admitted that he was motivated to set this fire due to the religious character of the church and that he intended to destroy the church. “Protecting religious freedom and observance is a top priority for the Department of Justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We will continue to vigorously prosecute those who attack houses of worship and target religious communities.” “We all have a right to feel safe and secure in our houses of worship – no matter our religion or belief,” said U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan for the District of Colorado. “An act of violence in one of our sacred places is especially serious, and we will work with our law enforcement partners to vigorously prosecute all such offenses.” “The FBI treats hate crimes as the highest priority of our civil rights program because everyone deserves to feel safe to exercise their religion without fear of violence from others,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek of the FBI Denver Field Office. “FBI Denver is committed to protecting those rights, and we will continue to aggressively work with our law enforcement partners to bring justice to all communities that have been targeted.” "Arson, especially when motivated by hatred, should never be tolerated, and often leads to deadly consequences," said ATF Special Agent in Charge Brent Beavers. "Denver Fire Department Accelerant Detection Canine Peaches responded with our Certified Fire Investigators, who provided expertise and guidance while working in tandem with law enforcement partners to investigate and determine the origin and cause of the arson, making a substantial contribution to this investigation." The sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 21. Sexton faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The FBI, ATF, and the Loveland Police and Fire Departments investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan D. Fields for the District of Colorado and Trial Attorney Maura White of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.


title: Five Charged in an $11 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – Five individuals, including a physician and a certified social worker, were charged in a Second Superseding Indictment for their alleged roles in an $11 million health care fraud scheme, which involved submitting false claims to Medicare for purported psychotherapy services that were induced by kickbacks and/or never rendered, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison. Mohammad Kazkaz is also charged with six counts of money laundering for engaging in monetary transactions exceeding $10,000 including transferring more than $1.4 million dollars in fraudulent health care fraud proceeds to a national restaurant chain. Joining in the announcement were James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Mario Pinto, Special Agent in Charge, United States Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). Charged as members of the conspiracy in the indictment are: Mohamed Kazkaz, 54, of Farmington Hills, Michigan; Ziad Khalel, 52, of Rochester Hills, Michigan; Dr. Mustafa Hares, 76, of West Bloomfield, Michigan; Geraldine Letman, MSW, 70, of Phoenix, Arizona; and Gamela Ali, 33, of Dearborn, Michigan. The indictment alleges that Kazkaz was the owner and operator of Centre HRW, a psychotherapy agency in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Kazkaz offered and provided kickbacks and bribes to Khalel, who was a patient recruiter, as an inducement to refer Medicare beneficiaries to Centre HRW for psychotherapy services, even though such services were medically unnecessary and were never rendered. Khalel would require the recruited Medicare beneficiaries to sign blank Centre HRW sign-in sheets to allow Kazkaz to submit claims to Medicare, through Centre HRW, for psychotherapy services that were never provided. Ali, as the office manager of Centre CRW, was responsible for obtaining information regarding the patients’ legitimate medical visits to ensure Kazkaz did not submit claims for a psychotherapy appointment on the same date the patient had a legitimate appointment with another medical provider. Dr. Hares and Letman would complete fraudulent patient charts indicating they had seen the patient, when in fact, such psychotherapy services were never rendered and/or were induced by kickbacks. As a result of the false and fraudulent claims submitted to Medicare, Centre HRW billed Medicare more than $11 million and Medicare made payments to Centre HRW in an amount more than $5.3 million. Kazkaz and Khalel were originally charged in a January 11, 2023 indictment. Dr. Hares, Letman, and Ali were added as new defendants in today’s Second Superseding Indictment. “My office is committed to prosecuting any individual, especially medical professionals, who exploits Medicare, a taxpayer-funded program that provides essential services to seniors and disabled individuals,” stated U.S. Attorney Ison. “The payment of kickbacks to induce referrals for medical services in Federal health care programs, as well as billing for services not rendered, can undermine the trust we place in our nation’s providers and results in costly reductions to our federal health care programs," said Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who commit fraud and pay kickbacks are held accountable.” “Health care professionals who fraudulently bill Medicare for services never actually provided divert taxpayer money meant to pay for medically necessary services for people enrolled in Medicare,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The FBI is committed to working with our partners to eradicate schemes that defraud government-sponsored health care programs.” An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Regina R. McCullough and Philip A. Ross. Assistant United States Attorney K. Craig Welkener, of the Money Laundering & Asset Recovery Unit, is handling related forfeiture matters. The investigation is being conducted jointly by the FBI and HHS-OIG


title: High-Ranking Wilmington Gang Leader Convicted for Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal jury convicted a high-ranking Bloods gang leader from Wilmington on charges of trafficking heroin, fentanyl and cocaine. Don Eugene Nixon, Jr., age 48, was convicted on eight counts, including conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, distribution of heroin and fentanyl, and possession with the intent to distribute heroin. Nixon faces a minimum term of imprisonment of 5 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years on each count when sentenced later this year, for a total possible sentence of up to 320 years imprisonment. “The gangs pushing deadly fentanyl in our community have a role in fueling the deadliest drug epidemic our country has ever seen,” said U.S Attorney Michael Easley. “Our office is partnering with law enforcement at every level to fight the fentanyl epidemic and put drug traffickers behind bars.” According to court records and evidence presented at trial, a months-long investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Wilmington Police Department resulted in six controlled purchases of large quantities of drugs, including heroin and fentanyl, from Nixon. Nixon would deliver the drugs to the informant pressed into a square block shape, tightly wrapped with black electrical tape. In addition, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Nixon’s home and seized 131 grams of heroin and three handguns. Trial testimony established that Nixon was a large-scale heroin dealer who operated well over a decade in Eastern North Carolina. Additionally, his rank in and reach within the Bloods gang made it difficult to investigate and prosecute his crimes. Witnesses refused to testify due to the threats they faced. Witnesses who did assist in the investigation have had to relocate and are receiving federal protection. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III accepted the verdict. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Wilmington Police Department are investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brad Knott and Jimmie Bellamy are prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on our website . Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No.7:21-CR-00071.


title: Malachi Crockett charged in Federal Court for Carjacking Spree

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Malachi Alan Crockett was arraigned on an indictment charging him with three counts of carjacking, one count of attempted carjacking, and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Crockett, 18, of Albuquerque, will remain in custody pending trial. A federal grand jury indicted Crockett on April 27. According to the indictment and other court records, on March 21, Crockett and accomplices allegedly approached the first victim, identified as Jane Doe 1, while she was stopped in her car, a white Nissan sedan, at the intersection of 86th St SW and Tower Road SW. One of the individuals brandished a handgun and pointed it directly at Doe 1. Doe 1 opened her car door and fled. A second victim, identified in court documents as Jane Doe 2, was parked on the south side of the Westgate Community Park in a grey Chevrolet SUV, waiting for her children. Doe 2 observed the white Nissan pull in front of her vehicle, blocking her in. Two individuals got out of the car and approached her. Doe 2 observed one of the individuals pointing a handgun at her head. Doe 2 exited the vehicle and fled. A witness at the park observed the second carjacking as she drove by the incident. The white Nissan then began to follow her and she observed the occupants pointing firearms at her. She accelerated away and heard multiple gunshots before observing the grey Chevrolet approaching her then striking a tree. An individual exited the Chevrolet with a handgun and she attempted to drive away and observed the white Nissan following her and the occupants shooting at her vehicle. The witness lost control of her vehicle and crashed into a residence. The white Nissan stopped behind her and the individuals exited the car with handguns and the witness fled her vehicle on foot. A short time later, two victims identified as Jane Doe 3 and John Doe, were driving near Carlos Rey Elementary when they observed the white Nissan. A young male exited the vehicle with a handgun and ran towards Jane Doe 3 and John Doe, pointing the handgun at them. As he approached, Jane Doe 3 drove away at a high rate of speed. A few minutes later, Jane Doe 4 was approaching the intersection of Barbados Ave SW and Gibson Blvd SW in a red Chevrolet hatchback. The white Nissan drove past her and parked in front of her, blocking her vehicle. Doe 4 thought the occupants of the white Nissan may need assistance, so she stopped her car, turned it off and exited the vehicle with her keys. Doe 4 then observed three masked males exit the white Nissan and approach her. All three were armed with handguns and dressed in dark-colored clothing. They yelled at her to give them the keys, at which point Doe 4 threw the keys to the ground. One of the individuals picked up the keys, got into her vehicle and drove away while the other two returned to the white Nissan and drove away. Responding APD officers observed the red Chevrolet hatchback and initiated pursuit. The driver crashed the vehicle near the area of Atrisco Dr SW and Bridge Blvd SW. Officers managed to apprehend the fleeing occupants. Crockett was wearing a black hoodie and black pants and in possession of a black mask when he was apprehended. During his attempt to flee, Crockett allegedly disposed of a handgun. Upon observation of the handgun, APD personnel reported the backplate of the handgun appeared to have been modified. An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Crockett faces imprisonment of up to 15 years for each carjacking count and a consecutive term of up to life in prison for using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Thomas J. Aliberti is prosecuting the case. # # # 23-98


title: Local drug distribution network dismantled

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI – The final members of a Corpus Christi drug trafficking organization have been ordered to federal prison following their convictions of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and money laundering, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Gilbert DeLosSantos, 51, and his wife, Corina DeLosSantos, 56, pleaded guilty Nov. 7, 2022, while Lawrence Guevara, 52, and Amber Ramirez, 35, entered their pleas Sept. 29, 2022. All are from Corpus Christi. Today, U.S. District Judge David Morales found Gilbert DeLosSantos to be a leader in the conspiracies and sentenced him to a total of 180 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by 10 years of supervised release. Corina DeLosSantos received a 54-month-term of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release for her role in the money laundering conspiracy. Judge Morales previously sentenced Guevara and Ramirez for their respective involvement in the drug conspiracy to 120 and 51 months, respectively. As a result of the criminal convictions in this case, approximately $13,000 in U.S. currency and six pieces of real property have been forfeited to the United States. In September 2019, a seizure of cocaine at the Sarita Border Patrol checkpoint sparked an investigation into a drug trafficking operation that Gilbert DeLosSantos ran in Corpus Christi. This resulted in the identification of drug distribution locations and multiple individuals ranging from street-level dealers to mid-level suppliers. On May 10, 2022, authorities conducted four federal search warrants at locations in the Corpus Christi area. At one, they arrested Guevara and Ramirez who were workers at the residence and seized 634 grams of cocaine, 331 grams of heroin, 31 grams of crack cocaine, $1,170 U.S. currency and several drug ledgers. Law enforcement later arrested DeLosSantos at his residence and seized approximately $12,000 in U.S. currency, multiple phones and electronic devices, Nueces County property tax statements and banking records. The investigation led authorities to believe DeLosSantos and his organization were selling approximately one kilogram each of cocaine and heroin per week. Previously released on bond, both were permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender at a later date. Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation dubbed Operation New Trap on the Block with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection, Corpus Christi Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage . Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Watt prosecuted the case.


title: St. Bernard Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Student Aid Fraud of Over $74,000

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that ROBERT JOHN , age 48, from St. Bernard, Louisiana, was sentenced on May 3, 2023 for conspiring to commit student aid fraud. According to court documents, JOHN conspired with others to submit fraudulent applications for student loans and grants to two local community colleges, using the names of seven different applicants. In total, the Department of Education paid over $74,000 in loan and grant funds in connection with the fraudulent applications. The applications contained false information for all applicants, and several of the applicants did not even qualify for community college because they had not graduated from high school or obtained GEDs. United States District Court Judge Lance M. Africk sentenced JOHN to five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, $74,576.10 in restitution to the Department of Education, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. “I’m proud of the work of OIG special agents and our law enforcement colleagues for shutting down yet another student aid fraud ring and holding the ringleader accountable for his criminal actions,” said Edd Cole, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General’s Southwestern Regional Office. “The OIG is committed to fighting student aid fraud and we will continue to aggressively pursue those that participate in these types of crimes.” U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Department of Education Office of Inspector General and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas D. Moses, Health Care Fraud Coordinator, is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Gun Crimes

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Thomas Matthew Blankenship, 39, of Akron, Ohio, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 10, 2022, law enforcement officers arrested Blankenship on a warrant as he left a residence in the Pecks Mill area of Logan County, West Virginia. After handcuffing Blankenship, officers found approximately 95 grams of fentanyl, 11 grams of methamphetamine, and a loaded Smith and Wesson, model M&P 9 Shield, 9mm semi-automatic pistol on his person. Blankenship admitted that he possessed the drugs and intended to distribute them. Blankenship further admitted that he possessed the pistol to protect himself, the drugs, and any money from selling the drugs. Blankenship has an extensive criminal history that includes numerous prior felony convictions for felonious assault, improperly discharging a firearm at or into a habitation, tampering with evidence, trafficking in heroin, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer. Blankenship is scheduled to be sentenced on August 3, 2023, and faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a $5.25 million fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police and the Logan County Sheriff’s Office. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-197. ###


title: Federal Grand Jury Indicts Louisville Man for Carjacking and Firearms Offenses

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, returned an indictment on April 19, 2023, charging a local man with carjacking, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Nashville, and Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office made the announcement. According to the indictment, on February 15, 2023, Dekoda Stinson, 29, committed the following offenses: carjacking, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Stinson was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On August 16, 2022, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Stinson was convicted of receiving stolen property. On June 17, 2020, in Hardin Circuit Court, Stinson was convicted of receiving stolen property. On July 11, 2017, in Hardin Circuit Court, Stinson was convicted of burglary in the third degree and bail jumping in the first degree. On April 7, 2016, in Hardin Circuit Court, Stinson was convicted of assault in the third degree. On May 4, 2023, Stinson made an initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, he faces a minimum sentence of 5 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is being investigated by LMPD, HSI, and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua R. Porter is prosecuting this case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Two Men Indicted for Assaulting Correctional Officers at U.S. Penitentiary Atwater

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned an indictment today against Daniel Higgins, 38, of Morro Bay, and Austin Noblitt, 33, of Portland, Oregon, charging each with two counts of assault on a federal officer, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, on Nov. 21, 2022, Higgins and Noblitt assaulted two Federal Bureau of Prisons correctional officers at U.S. Penitentiary (USP) Atwater in Merced County. Higgins and Noblitt punched the officers repeatedly on their heads and torsos, causing bodily injuries to both officers. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Chan Hee Chu and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Spivak are prosecuting the case.. If convicted, Higgins and Noblitt face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: Mexican National Charged with Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Distribution in Madera County

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Jesus Cota Verdugo, 21, of Mexico, charging him with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, on April 11, 2023, Verdugo crashed his vehicle into another vehicle in Chowchilla and then fled from the scene. Law enforcement officers recovered his vehicle on the side of the road with the keys in the ignition and running. Inside the vehicle, officers recovered methamphetamine, fentanyl, an FN Scar rifle, an Aero Precision AR rifle, an Anderson rifle, an HK AR pistol, and a Springfield XD-9 pistol. This case is the product of an investigation by the Chowchilla Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Arin C. Heinz is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Verdugo faces a maximum statutory penalty of a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.) a program designed to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas as well as identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers. In July 2018, the Justice Department announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the Eastern District of California and nine other federal districts.


title: Mexican citizen admits trafficking fentanyl in Kalispell area

body_text: MISSOULA —A Mexican citizen admitted today to allegations that he trafficked fentanyl in the Kalispell area after law enforcement seized 12,000 fentanyl pills, more than $72,000 in U.S. currency and a pistol from his vehicle, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Cuauhtemoc Cervantes Samaniego, 30, pleaded guilty to a superseding information charging him with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Samaniego faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto presided. A sentencing date was set for Sept. 21 before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Samaniego was detained pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that Samaniego trafficked fentanyl in the Kalispell community from about May 2022 through Oct. 5, 2022. Investigators received information in October that Samaniego was in Kalispell with a large amount of fentanyl to distribute. At about 2:50 a.m. on Oct. 5, law enforcement officers located Samaniego at a gas station in Kalispell and searched his vehicle. Officers found 12,000 fentanyl pills, $72,687 in U.S. currency and a 9mm pistol. An individual later told an agent that Samaniego had met with a person prior to law enforcement stopping him and that Samaniego had provided the person fentanyl pills. The person gave Samaniego a firearm. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer S. Clark is prosecuting the case. Homeland Security Investigations and the Montana Highway Patrol conducted the investigation. XXX


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Observes National Police Week 2023: Honoring and Remembering Our Fallen Law Enforcement Officers

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Again this year, communities across the United States will come together during National Police Week to honor and remember those law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as the family members, friends and fellow officers they left behind. This year, the names of 556 officers killed in the line of duty are being added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC. These 556 officers include 224 officers who were killed during 2022, plus 332 officers who died in previous years, but whose stories of sacrifice had been lost to history until now. The fallen officers honored this year include Officer Tyler Lenehan of the Elk Grove Police Department and Officer Gonzalo Carrasco Jr. of the Selma Police Department. On Jan. 21, 2022, Officer Lenehan, while riding his department-issued motorcycle, was struck and killed by a wrong-way driver on Highway 99 near 47th Avenue in Sacramento. On Jan. 31, 2023, Officer Carrasco was shot and killed in the line of duty when he was flagged down by a homeowner regarding a suspicious man on her property. As Carrasco approached, the 23-year-old man immediately fired several shots, striking and killing Officer Carrasco. “This is a time for all of us as Americans to honor and pay tribute to our law enforcement heroes who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty protecting our communities and our country. We keep the families, friends and fellow officers of these heroes in our hearts and minds,” said U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert. “We will never forget their sacrifice.” May 7 Candlelight Vigil, May 8 Enrollment Ceremony in Sacramento All fallen California law enforcement officers will be remembered during the California Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremonies. A Candlelight Vigil will be held on Sunday, May 7 at 8:30 p.m., and the Enrollment Ceremony will take place on the next morning at 10:30 a.m. U.S. Attorney Talbert and many law enforcement officers from around the state will be in attendance during the Enrollment Ceremony on Monday. Both events will be held at the California Peace Officers’ Memorial Monument at 10th Street and Capitol Mall in Sacramento. Individual agencies will also be conducting their own ceremonies during this time period to remember their fallen heroes. May 11 CHP Unveiling Ceremony in Fresno U.S. Attorney Talbert will also attend the unveiling ceremony of the Central Division Officer Down Memorial in Fresno on May 11 at 11:00 a.m. This event is hosted by the California Highway Patrol. In addition to Officers Lenehan and Carrasco, nine California peace officers who gave the ultimate sacrifice in 2022 will be honored and enrolled during this year’s ceremony. For more information on the California memorial events go to www.camemorial.org . May 13 Candlelight Vigil in Washington, DC with live webcast The names of fallen officers nationwide will be formally dedicated on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, during the 35th Annual Candlelight Vigil on the evening of May 13, 2023. So that people across the country can experience this unique and powerful ceremony, the vigil will be webcast live over the internet beginning at 5:00 p.m. (PDT).


title: Former Boy Scout Camp Employee Indicted for Possession and Distribution of Child Pornography

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK N.J. – A federal grand jury indicted a Morris County, New Jersey, man for possessing and distributing child abuse and exploitation material, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. William Mickel, 69, of Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey, is charged by indictment with one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. He had his initial appearance today before U.S. district Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court and was detained. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Mickel was employed by Boy Scout camps in New Jersey, and from February 2022 through April 2022, he distributed and possessed images and videos of child sexual abuse. Mickel used email accounts to distribute these materials, and stored hundreds of images and videos on electronic devices in his home. Some of the videos in Mickel’s possession depicted children who were surreptitiously recorded using bathrooms in the Boy Scout camps where Mickel worked. The count of distribution of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. The count of possession of child pornography carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy, and substantial assistance from the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll; and the Chester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Ryan T. McNamee, with the investigation leading to the charges. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Fatime Meka Cano of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark. If you think you or your child may have been a victim, please contact the FBI at www.fbi.gov . The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. mickel.indictment.pdf


title: Clarksville Man Convicted Of Drug Trafficking & Firearms Crimes

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

body_text: NASHVILLE – A federal jury in Nashville has convicted a Clarksville, Tennessee, man of drug trafficking and firearms offenses, announced United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis. Mark Ellis, 29, was convicted after a two-day trial of conspiracy to distribute, and possession with intent to distribute, more than 400 grams of fentanyl; being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Ellis and his wife, Yennifer Angeles, 23, were indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2022 after their arrests by Clarksville Police Department (CPD) officers in January 2022. "We will relentlessly pursue violent drug dealers like this one to hold them accountable for their crimes," said U.S. Attorney Leventis. "I commend the trial team, the Clarksville Police Department and ATF for their work investigating and prosecuting this important case. The citizens of Clarksville are safer because of their efforts." According to evidence and testimony introduced at trial, CPD officers, using a confidential informant, made a controlled purchase of fentanyl from Ellis while seated in his car at a residence on Mark Spitz Drive in Clarksville. During the transaction, Ellis’ wife exited the car, went into the house, and returned with a baggie of fentanyl which was sold to the informant. A 9mm handgun was visible in the car during the transaction. The resulting investigation and subsequent search of Ellis’ vehicle led to the recovery of a Ruger 9mm pistol and the seizure of almost a pound of fentanyl from the residence, where Ellis lived. During this investigation, and at the time of his arrest, Ellis was under electronic monitoring and out on bond from an unrelated murder charge in Montgomery County. While in the Montgomery County Jail, Ellis called his wife and directed her to continue selling fentanyl. That same day, Angeles was stopped by CPD officers in the same vehicle used to make the drug deal the previous day. Further investigation led to the execution of a search warrant on South Lancaster Road in Clarksville, where more than 40 grams of fentanyl was recovered. “ATF and our law enforcement partners work tirelessly to disrupt the illegal possession of firearms, distribution of narcotics and other acts of violence within our community,” said Marcus Watson, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Nashville Field Division. “The outcome of this case is the result of extremely great work done by the individuals that took part in this investigation.” "I would like to commend the detectives and agents with the Clarksville Police Department’s Special Operations Unit, agents with the ATF, and the federal prosecutors who spent countless hours on this investigation,” said Chief David Crockarell. “Their relentless pursuit of justice culminated with the guilty verdict ensures the citizens of Clarksville are much safer today.” Ellis faces a minimum of 15 years, and up to life in prison when he is sentenced on December 8, 2023. Yennifer Angeles pleaded guilty in March 2023 to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and faces up to 20 years in prison. She will be sentenced on August 9, 2023. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the Clarksville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert E. McGuire is prosecuting the case. # # # # #


title: Deputy Attorney General Recognizes Two Western District of Pennsylvania Assistant U. S. Attorneys

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: WASHINGTON – Two employees of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania were among those recognized by Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco and Director Monty Wilkinson of the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA), at the 38th Director’s Awards Ceremony on May 3, 2023, in Washington, D.C. The ceremony was held in the Great Hall at the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building. Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Shaun E. Sweeney and AUSA Heidi M. Grogan each received the Superior Performance as an Assistant United States Attorney Award for their successful prosecution of Price Montgomery, who was convicted of murdering a federal witness as she was preparing to leave her residence to travel to the United States Attorney’s Office for an interview. Montgomery was also convicted of firearms offenses and being the leader of a significant heroin trafficking organization. Montgomery received a sentence of life imprisonment. EOUSA Director Wilkinson said: “The recipients we honor today have shown remarkable resilience and commitment to justice through challenging times, rising to the occasion with unwavering dedication to their mission. They have worked tirelessly to protect the rights of Americans and exemplify the very best in federal service.” “It is of paramount importance to protect the safety of government witnesses. Through their tireless efforts, AUSAs Sweeney and Grogan brought the perpetrator of this egregious murder to justice. In addition to murdering a federal witness, Montgomery also shot and grievously wounded the witness’s mother during the attack,” said Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti. “We also want to recognize the tremendous investigative work of our partner law enforcement agencies—the Western Pennsylvania Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the IRS Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.” EOUSA provides oversight, general executive assistance, and direction to the 94 United States Attorneys’ offices around the country. For more information on EOUSA and its mission, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao.


title: Federal Jury Convicts Child Psychiatrist Of Sexual Exploitation Of A Minor

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal jury in Charlotte has convicted David Tatum, 41, a child psychiatrist in Charlotte, N.C., of sexual exploitation of a minor, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in North Carolina join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. According to filed court documents, trial evidence and witness testimony, between 2016 and 2021, Tatum possessed images and videos of child pornography. Trial evidence also established that in or about July 2016, Dr. Tatum secretly recorded a minor while the minor was undressing and showering. A forensic analysis of electronic devices revealed that the defendant produced the video of the minor and possessed it, along with other images and videos of child pornography. According to trial evidence, Dr. Tatum made similar surreptitious recordings of others, including of his patient during an outpatient visit who had just turned 18 years old five days before the recording. The jury convicted Dr. Tatum of one count production of child pornography, one count of transportation of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography. Dr. Tatum is currently in federal custody. A sentencing date has not been set. The count of production of child pornography carries a minimum statutory sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charge of transportation of child pornography carries a minimum statutory sentence of 5 years and a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The charge of possession of child pornography carries a statutory penalty of no more than 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended FBI for their investigation of the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Daniel Cervantes and Mark Odulio of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, are prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov .


title: Charleston Woman Sentenced for COVID-19 Relief Fraud Scheme

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Tiffany Bowlin, 33, of Charleston, was sentenced today to five years of federal probation, including four months on home detention, and ordered to pay $20,833 in restitution for wire fraud. Bowlin admitted a scheme to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) of $20,833 in COVID-19 relief loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 27, 2021, Bowlin applied for a PPP loan for her purported sole proprietorship, a hair salon operating under the business name “Tiffany Bowlin.” Bowlin admitted that she falsely stated that “Tiffany Bowlin” was established in 2019, when it in fact was not a legitimate business and had not engaged in substantial business activities on or before February 15, 2020. Bowlin further admitted that she submitted a false IRS Form 1040 stating that “Tiffany Bowlin” received $106,600 in gross income in 2020. The CARES Act, enacted in March 2020, offered emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This assistance included forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the Paycheck Protection Program. Businesses applying for PPP loans had to certify that the business was in operation on February 15, 2020, and were required to provide documentation showing their prior gross income from either 2019 or 2020. Bowlin submitted the loan application electronically from West Virginia and it was uploaded to servers in Kansas for processing. Bowlin’s loan application was approved and she received $20,833 via an electronic transfer to her personal bank account on May 13, 2021. Bowlin admitted that she spent the fraudulently obtained money to benefit herself personally and not for authorized business expenses. On March 2, 2022, Bowlin applied to have the PPP loan forgiven even though she had not spent the loan proceeds on permissible business expenses. The SBA forgave Bowlin’s PPP loan on or about March 9, 2022. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police-Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI), and the Litigation Financial Analyst with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan Blackwell prosecuted the case. 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 . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-205. ###


title: Plymouth Man Indicted on Federal Civil Rights, Arson Charges

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: ST PAUL, Minn. – A Plymouth man has been indicted on one count of arson and one count of damage to religious property, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, on April 23, 2023, at approximately 7:00 p.m., Little, 36, started a fire in the bathroom of the Masjid Omar Islamic Center. On April 24, 2023, just before 7:00 p.m., Little was captured on surveillance video entering the Masjid Al Rahma. Shortly thereafter, a fire broke out on the third floor of the mosque, and the building was evacuated. According to court documents, prior to the arson incidents, on January 5, 2023, Little was captured on surveillance video entering the Minneapolis district office of a U.S. Representative. Little spray-painted the text “500” on the front door of the U.S. Representative’s office and photographed the graffiti. Later that same day, Little spray-painted the same text (“500”) on the side of a patrol vehicle assigned to a Somali Minneapolis Police Department officer as well as in an entryway at a marketplace, colloquially referred to as the “Somali Mall.” Little, who was arrested in Mankato on April 29, was arraigned this morning in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Cowan Wright. He was ordered to remain in detention pending further court proceedings. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights and National Security Divisions, the Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Manda M. Sertich is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Billings man admits sexual abuse crime

body_text: BILLINGS — A Billings man today admitted to sexually abusing a girl in Busby, on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, between 2009 and 2010, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Travis Ridenour, aka Travis Lamere, 34, pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact. Ridenour faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and not less than five years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Aug. 31. Ridenour was detained pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that Jane Doe 1 disclosed that when she approximately 13 years old, in 2009, she was sleeping in the same bed as another female. Ridenour also was in the bed. At some point, Jane Doe 1 woke up, and Ridenour’s hand was underneath her underwear on her vaginal area. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI conducted the investigation. XXX