title: Five Rock Hill Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Involvement in Fentanyl Distribution Ring

body_text: COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA — Five residents of Rock Hill, South Carolina, have been sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to charges relating to a multi-state drug operation out of the Rock Hill and Charlotte, North Carolina, area. Darryl Hemphill, 35, was sentenced to 16 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release; Mikie Marcell Caldwell, 41, was sentenced to 17 years to be followed by 10 years of supervised release; Drece Larod McMullen, 41, was sentenced to 11 years to be followed by 10 years of supervised release; Odarrius Breonte Adams, 39, was sentenced to 14 years and 3 months to be followed by 6 years of supervised release; and Dontavius Devar Jordan, 35, was sentenced to 11 years to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis imposed the sentences. There is no parole in the federal system. Evidence presented to the Court showed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and York County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit began to investigate a group of defendants who were obtaining large amounts of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and marijuana from a distributor in Southern California. Hemphill and Adams were leaders of the group and helped facilitate the other members’ travel to California. Based upon the investigation, law enforcement was able to determine that members of the group were flying to California and having the drugs shipped back to the Rock Hill and Charlotte area. After the drugs were shipped back, the group distributed the drugs to local dealers. This group shipped more than 255 packages containing the drugs from California during a one-year period and distributed more than five kilograms of cocaine, 280 grams or more of crack cocaine, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, one kilogram or more of heroin, and more than 1000 grams of marijuana. The group used the fentanyl to make more than 1 million counterfeit Roxicodone pills, which were sold to users in Rock Hill, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, Charlotte, and Atlanta. Nineteen defendants were charged in this case. Sixteen defendants, including those listed above, pleaded guilty to their involvement. The remaining three defendants were convicted at trial in August 2022 and will be sentenced later. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . This case was investigated by the FBI, York County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Rock Hill Police Department, York County Sheriff’s Office, and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William K. Witherspoon and Elliott B. Daniels prosecuted the case. ###


title: U.S. Attorney Sellinger to Hold Second Town Hall

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger and members of his staff will meet with residents in Jersey City later this month at the second in a series of planned town hall meetings. The town hall will be held on March 21, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Temple Beth-El, 2419 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Jersey City, NJ, 07304. U.S. Attorney Sellinger will discuss the work of his office in a variety of areas, including hate crimes, civil rights, protecting the community from violence and the opioid crisis, and protecting the environment. This is a community event and is open to the public.


title: Snow Hill Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in COVID-19 Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: NEW BERN, N.C. – A Snow Hill man was sentenced today to 31 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution for laundering fraudulently obtained Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) benefits. On November 8, 2022, Dexter Duncan pled guilty. “This defendant used stolen identities to create fictitious businesses so he could divert taxpayer money intended to support small businesses challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic to himself,” said U.S. Attorney Easley. “My office will continue to make the investigation and prosecution of COVID-19 fraud a top priority.” According to court documents and other information presented in court, Duncan, 24, conspired with others to apply for EIDL funds on behalf of fictitious companies and using stolen identities. Several of the EIDL applications were approved, and $180,988 in loan proceeds was disbursed to bank accounts owned and/or controlled by Duncan, who was not employed at the time but was known live a lavish lifestyle. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa K. Labresh prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-CR-00196-FL. ###


title: Previously Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Possession of Firearms and Ammunition

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Dorchester man pleaded guilty yesterday to unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition as a previously convicted felon. Kevin Blackmore, 45, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper schedule sentencing for June 29, 2023. Blackmore was charged in October 2022. On June 19, 2022, local law enforcement was dispatched to a hotel in Sharon in response to a call for a possible disturbance involving two vehicles. At the scene, the female occupant of one vehicle requested police assistance in collecting personal items from Blackmore, who was driving the second vehicle. When officers assisted Blackmore in searching the vehicle for those items, they recovered a black Smith and Wesson .45 caliber semi-automatic firearm, a Taurus .9mm semi-automatic firearm, 67 rounds of .9mm ammunition and 80 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition. Due to prior felony convictions stemming from 2006 through 2020, Blackmore is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Sharon Police Department and the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: KC Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Machine Gun Used in Fatal Shooting of KC Fireman

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to illegally possessing the firearm used in the fatal shooting of an Independence, Mo., firefighter during an altercation in a liquor store parking lot. Ja’Von L. Taylor, 23, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possessing a machine gun. Taylor has been detained in federal custody without bond since his arrest. By pleading guilty today, Taylor admitted he was in possession of a Glock .40-caliber handgun, which had been converted to a machine gun. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Taylor has prior felony convictions for robbery and distributing marijuana. According to court documents, Independence police officers were dispatched to Liquor Land, 11100 E. U.S. 40 Highway in Independence, on a reported shooting of an Independence firefighter on Oct. 6, 2022. Taylor was located across the street and taken into custody. Officers searched Taylor’s vehicle and found the Glock machine gun, a broken extended magazine, and a 15-round magazine. Taylor told investigators that he bought the gun from a guy off the street a few months ago for $500. Under federal statutes, Taylor is subject to a sentence of up to 25 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing is scheduled on Aug. 3, 2023. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregg R. Coonrod. It was investigated by the Independence, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.


title: President of Beaver Falls Mineral Processing Company Pleads Guilty to Filing False Income Tax Return

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH – The president of a Pittsburgh-area mineral company pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to a charge of filing a false income tax return, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Paul J. Austin pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Arthur Schwab. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that from 2012 through 2017, the defendant was the President of J.P. Austin Associates, Inc., a mineral processing company in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. For calendar years 2012 through 2017, the defendant and his spouse, who served as the company’s Treasurer, jointly filed annual Form 1040 federal income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The defendant admitted in Court that during the relevant time period, payments were made from company accounts for college expenses, which were falsely categorized as business expenses using fictitious vendor names. The return preparer for Mr. Austin and his spouse was not informed about these college expense payments, and the payments were not included as taxable income on Form 1040 returns that were ultimately filed with the IRS. Thus, the defendant willfully made and subscribed Form 1040 returns for calendar years 2012 through 2017 that materially underreported his taxable income. In connection with his guilty plea, the defendant agreed to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $159,982.00, plus interest. Judge Schwab scheduled sentencing for July 19, 2023. The law provides for a maximum sentence of three years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney David Lew is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Information in this case.


title: Wolf Point man suspected in convenience store robbery, carjackings in Billings and Cascade County arraigned on charges

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Wolf Point man suspected in a convenience store robbery in Billings and armed carjackings in Billings and Cascade County appeared for arraignment on March 7 on multiple charges, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today. Santana Cruz Ledeau, 26, pleaded not guilty to an indictment filed on March 2 charging him with robbery affecting commerce, two counts of carjacking, attempted carjacking and two counts of using, carrying and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. If convicted of the most serious crime, Ledeau faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the robbery charge and a mandatory minimum seven years to life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and three years of release on the firearm charge. U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston presided. Ledeau was detained pending further proceedings. The indictment alleges that on June 11, 2022, Ledeau robbed On the Run, a gas station convenience store in Billings, and threatened an employee, identified as John Doe #1. The indictment further alleges that on Sept. 30, 2022 near Billings, Ledeau brandished a firearm while carjacking a vehicle from a victim identified as Jane Doe. In addition, Ledeau is accused of using a firearm while carjacking a vehicle from a victim identified as John Doe #3 on Oct. 17, 2022 near Cascade, in Cascade County, and attempting to carjack a vehicle from a victim identified as John Doe #2 near Ulm, in Cascade County, also on Oct. 17, 2022. An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica A. Betley and Jeffrey K. Starnes are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Great Falls Police Department, Cascade County Sheriff’s Office, Cascade County Attorney’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, Yellowstone County Attorney’s Office, Billings Police Department, Musselshell County Sheriff’s Office and Montana Highway Patrol. PACER case reference. 23-23. The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html . To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl XXX


title: Indianapolis Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Methamphetamine from California in his Airport Baggage

component: USAO - Indiana, Southern

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Tyler Earl Ja Waun Cabell, 25, of Indianapolis, Indiana was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, on June 5, 2021, state and federal law enforcement officers were conducting narcotics searches at the Indianapolis International Airport, when they recovered Tyler Cabell’s baggage. Officers searched a multi-colored bag with Cabell’s name on the tag and found seven grams of marijuana. Cabell’s second bag, a blue roller, contained four vacuum sealed plastic bags containing approximately 8 pounds of pure methamphetamine, and ten vacuum sealed bags containing nearly 11 pounds of marijuana. The plastic bags were concealed inside of towels and clothes. During an interview with law enforcement officers, Cabell admitted that he met someone in California who offered him $7,000 to transport the bag of methamphetamine and marijuana to Indianapolis. Cabell claimed he did not know how he would get paid or for whom he was transporting the drugs. “This defendant transported methamphetamine into our community with no regard for the people and families harmed by this dangerous drug,” said Zachary A. Myers, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Drug traffickers like this defendant further the scourge of substance abuse disorder and must be held accountable. I commend the work of HSI, ISP, and the Plainfield Police Department in intercepting these illicit drugs and getting this defendant off our streets.” “This sentence is a great example of what can be accomplished when federal, state and local law enforcement agencies work in collaboration to stop the trafficking of narcotics,” said R. Sean Fitzgerald, special agent in charge for HSI Chicago. “We will continue our efforts to arrest individuals like Cabell to keep our communities safe from the harmful effects of illicit drugs.” “We value our partnership with Homeland Security Investigations and are proud of the work they are doing to protect our communities from these dangerous drugs,” said Kyle Prewitt, Chief of Police for the Plainfield Police Department. Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case. Valuable assistance was provided by Indiana State Police and the Plainfield Police Department. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Evans Barker. Judge Barker also ordered that Cabell be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison, and pay a $1,000 fine. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney William L. McCoskey, who prosecuted this case. ###


title: Olathe Man Pleads Guilty to Airport Disruption Following Police Chase on Downtown Airport Runway

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Olathe, Kansas, man who led police officers on a high-speed chase down a runway at the downtown airport pleaded guilty in federal court today to disrupting airport operations as well as illegally possessing a firearm. Efren Torres-Rodriguez, 35, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to one count of damaging or disrupting an international airport and one count of being a felon and an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm. Kansas City, Mo., police officers were notified of a suspicious car, a Dodge Charger, parked near a gate at the Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport on Feb. 1, 2022. When officers arrived, they found Torres-Rodriguez passed out in the driver’s seat of the running car. Officers turned off the car and opened the door, which woke up Torres-Rodriguez. Officers ordered Torres-Rodriguez out of the car, but he refused. Instead, Torres-Rodriguez started the vehicle. An officer discharged his taser as Torres-Rodriguez drove away. Officers pursued Torres-Rodriguez, who crashed through the gate to the airfield. Torres-Rodriguez drove at speeds up to 100 miles per hour down the airport runway, with officers in pursuit. Torres-Rodriguez drove on a tarmac on the west side of the airfield. When he attempted to cross over the airstrip into a grassy area, his vehicle became inoperable. Officers removed Torres-Rodriguez from the vehicle after he refused to get out, and placed him under arrest. Officers found a clear plastic bag in his pants pocket that contained 4.6 grams of methamphetamine. When officers searched Torres-Rodriguez’s vehicle, they found a Glock .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine, which were both empty of ammunition, under the driver’s seat. They also found several rounds of ammunition and drug paraphernalia. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Torres-Rodriguez has prior felony convictions for possession of a firearm with a prior violent offense, for being a felon in possession of a firearm, and for robbery. Torres-Rodriguez was interviewed by law enforcement officials and admitted to using methamphetamine every other day and to smoking marijuana daily since he was 15 years old. As a result of Torres-Rodriguez’s actions, the airport’s activities were significantly disrupted. For approximately 40 minutes, operations at the airport were closed and planes were not allowed to land or take off. Torres-Rodriguez’s further interfered with the operations at the airport as two aircraft had delayed departures, one aircraft had a delayed arrival and had to remain airborne for approximately 50 minutes, one aircraft had to cancel its flight and one aircraft did not depart. Torres-Rodriguez destroyed the gate and caused serious damage to the air navigation facility’s fence that is designed to keep both trespassers and animals away from the runways. In addition to disrupting the airport’s aviation services, Torres-Rodriguez’s actions endangered the safety of those utilizing the airport. Under federal statutes, Torres-Rodriguez is subject to a sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the FBI. Project Safe Neighborhoods This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.


title: Colorado Man Charged with Sports Cards Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: A complaint was unsealed this morning in federal court in Brooklyn charging Mayo Gilbert McNeil with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a scheme involving counterfeit sports trading cards. McNeil was arrested this morning in Denver and is scheduled to make his initial appearance this afternoon in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. McNeil will be arraigned in the Eastern District of New York at a later date. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, FBI, New York Field Office, announced the arrest and charge. “Protection from fraud extends to all consumers, regardless of what team they root for,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “As alleged, the defendant orchestrated a years’ long and far-reaching scheme to defraud sports trading cards enthusiasts and the sports memorabilia industry. Our Office is committed to addressing counterfeiting at all levels of the market.” Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to the New York City Police Department, which conducted this investigation with the FBI. “As alleged, Mr. McNeil defrauded sports memorabilia collectors of more than $800,000 by intentionally misrepresenting the authenticity of the trading cards he was peddling when, in fact, they were counterfeit. The FBI remains committed to investigating fraud at all levels and bringing the subjects who engage in it to justice,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll. As set forth in court filings, between April 2015 and July 2019, the defendant conspired with others to sell and trade sports trading cards, including 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie cards, with victims he found via the Internet and through online selling platforms. The defendant misrepresented that the sports trading cards he was offering were graded by a professional authentication company, when in reality the trading cards were not authentic. The defendant defrauded his victims of over $800,000 in cash and authentic sports trading cards that were traded for the counterfeits. The case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section. Department of Justice Trial Attorney Patrick J. Campbell and Assistant United States Attorney Alexander Mindlin are in charge of the prosecution. The Defendant : MAYO GILBERT MCNEIL Age: 82 Denver, Colorado E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-MJ-203


title: Suburban Houston man convicted for falsifying aircraft inspection

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A 52-year-old Pearland resident has pleaded guilty to making false statements in an aircraft maintenance log, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Ronald P. Franklin admitted that on or about Oct. 9, 2020, he knowingly and willfully falsified an aircraft’s annual inspection records. Franklin had fraudulently represented himself as an Inspection Authorization (IA) holder and falsely certified he performed an annual inspection on an aircraft and determined it was in airworthy condition. The aircraft subsequently experienced an in-flight power loss leading to a crash. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates domestic aircraft and air travel. They require most U.S.-registered general aviation aircraft to undergo annual inspections to ensure they are airworthy which an FAA-certified mechanic must perform. Following an annual inspection, FAA regulations require an IA holder to make an entry in the aircraft’s log book certifying the inspection was properly completed and the furnished information is true and correct. IA holders must certify each annual inspection they perform using their unique FAA certificate number. Franklin was not an IA holder and did not perform the inspection as he falsely claimed. U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison accepted the plea and has set sentencing for May 24. At that time, Franklin faces up to five years in federal prison as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Franklin was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing. The Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christian Latham and Jay Hileman are prosecuting the case.


title: New Haven Man Sentenced to More Than 8 Years in Prison for Possessing Gun and Drugs on Supervised Release

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ROBBIE SMITH, 34, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to 100 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for firearm and narcotics offenses, and for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction. According to court documents and statements made in court, in July 2016, Judge Bolden sentenced Smith to 36 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release for participating in a narcotics trafficking organization that distributed heroin and crack cocaine throughout New Haven. He was released from prison in May 2018. In December 2018, New Haven Police received information that Smith was in possession of a handgun and had been involved in a shooting incident. On December 28, 2018, a court-authorized search of Smith’s apartment revealed a loaded Smith & Wesson K-22 revolver, a quantity of crack cocaine, and drug packaging materials. The revolver had been reported stolen in Madison. Smith’s criminal history also includes a state conviction for first-degree robbery. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce. Smith has been detained since his arrest. On July 18, 2019, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (“crack”). Smith also admitted that he had violated the terms of his supervised release. This investigation was conducted by the New Haven Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah P. Karwan. U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office for its cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this case.


title: Five Time Wilmington Felon Receives 63 Months for Gun Offense

body_text: WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Wilmington man was sentenced today to 63 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. On February 7, 2022, Terry Earl Hooper, Jr., age 35, pled guilty to the charge. According to court documents and other information presented in court, on October 4, 2021, officers with the Wilmington Police Department stopped a vehicle driven by Terry Earl Hooper for a window tint violation. In a subsequent search of the vehicle, officers located five oxycodone hydrochloride pills, ten alprazolam pills, and a semi-automatic firearm with a laser attachment. Mr. Hooper has multiple prior felony convictions, including possession of a gun on educational property, attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, selling or delivering a schedule I controlled substance, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Wilmington Police Department’s Gun Crime Task Force, and the Wilmington Police Department and New Hanover County Sheriff Office Mobile Field Force Unit investigated the case and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney William Van Trigt prosecuted the case. Van Trigt is a prosecutor with the New Hanover County District Attorney’s Office assigned to the U.S. Attorney’s Office to prosecute federal violent crimes and other criminal matters. This has been made possible by a grant funded by New Hanover County. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. 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-00142-FL. ###


title: Life Sentence For Sex Trafficking Of A Minor

component: USAO - Arkansas, Eastern

body_text: LITTLE ROCK—A Palestine man was sentenced to life in prison for conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of a six-year-old child. Mario Waters, 34, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Brian S. Miller. In February 2018, a six-year-old child was taken to Arkansas Children’s Hospital due to symptoms that were later determined to be caused by several sexually transmitted diseases. The child was interviewed by an FBI forensic interviewer and disclosed that a man, later determined to be DeMarcus George, had raped her. The child also disclosed that another man, later determined to be Mario Waters, had also raped her. The child told interviewers that the rape occurred in a hotel room with a curtain in the middle of the room, and she described a picture hanging on the wall in the hotel room. According to the child, on at least one occasion, Waters came to the hotel room where she was with George; Waters raped her; and Waters gave George money. Law enforcement was able to locate a hotel in Little Rock that matched the description provided by the minor, including the picture on the wall and the curtain in the room. Financial records from the hotel showed that the minor’s mother had rented a room at the hotel in March 2018 and paid with a credit card. The child has since been removed from the mother’s custody. Doctors at Arkansas Children’s Hospital determined that it was unlikely the child had obtained each sexually transmitted disease from the same offender and that there were likely multiple offenders. Officers obtained search warrants for George and Waters’ blood and urine. Results indicated that George and Waters tested positive for sexually transmitted diseases that the minor had contracted. Both George and Waters were indicted in September 2019, and both pleaded guilty in November 2021. Both defendants admitted in court that they had sexual contact with the minor and were involved in trafficking her with others. George was sentenced to life in prison on October 25, 2022. There is no parole in the federal system. The case was investigated by the FBI and the Little Rock Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Kristin Bryant prosecuted the case. # # # This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at https://www.justice.gov/edar Twitter: @EDARNEWS


title: Final Defendant Sentenced for Distribution of Methamphetamine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

number: 2023-029_Vincent et al.

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – Last week, Darris Manero Vincent, 44, of Maricopa, Arizona, was sentenced by United States District Judge Susan M. Brnovich to 66 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Vincent pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Vincent’s co-defendants were sentenced in 2021 by Judge Brnovich. All four co-defendants had also pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Cristal Anita Perrin, 53, of Maricopa, Arizona, was sentenced on June 2, 2021, to 36 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Paul Zuccarello, 58, of Maricopa, Arizona, was sentenced on June 4, 2021, to 60 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Carlos Renteria Bustamante, Jr., 47, of Maricopa, Arizona, was sentenced on August 13, 2021, to 120 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Carlos Anthony De La Cruz, 36, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced on December 6, 2021, to 72 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. In 2018, Vincent was the subject of an undercover operation involving the sale of methamphetamine on the Ak-Chin Community. During the course of the investigation, Vincent sold methamphetamine to an undercover officer on several occasions in 2018. Vincent then introduced the undercover officer to his co-defendants, who were some of the suppliers. The four co-defendants sold methamphetamine to the same undercover officer in 2018 and 2019. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Ak-Chin Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Christina J. Reid-Moore, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-18-01367-PHX-SMB RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-029_Vincent et al. # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: U.S. Attorney Adair Boroughs Joins DOJ Delegation to Commemorate “Bloody Sunday” and Passage of Voting Rights Act of 1965

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - Adair Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina, joined more than two dozen other U.S. Attorneys from across the country as a delegation to commemorate the 58 th Anniversary of “Bloody Sunday,” the March over Selma’s Edmund Pettus Bridge, and the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Boroughs has served as a member of the Attorney General Advisory Committee’s (AGAC) Civil Rights Subcommittee since taking office in July 2022. “It was an honor to join colleagues from across the United States on this trip to Montgomery and Selma, home to some of the most important moments in the Civil Rights Movement,” said U.S. Attorney Boroughs. “The Department of Justice was founded after the Civil War to ensure protection of civil rights, and the protection of civil rights remains one of the most basic and important parts of our mission. This mission is even more critical in states like South Carolina, where we lack a state hate crimes statute. My office is committed to using every power we have to protect civil rights across South Carolina.” From March 4-7, 2023, U.S. Attorneys from across the country met with community and civil rights leaders while exploring some of the significant and educational civil rights institutions in Alabama. U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington, Nick Brown, hosted the delegation’s visit. In addition to the March 5th Selma March, the U.S. Attorneys met with Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, as part of the subcommittee work supporting the AGAC. Other meetings and visits during the trip focused on both historic civil rights conflicts and issues that are still alive today. The group met with distinguished jurist Myron Thompson , the first Black Assistant Attorney General for Alabama and the second Black Federal Judge in the state. As the former Chief Judge in the Middle District of Alabama, Judge Thompson was instrumental in preserving the Montgomery bus station where the Freedom Riders were attacked in 1961 and the establishment of the Freedom Rides Museum. Judge Thompson is a recipient of the Thurgood Marshall award for his “personal contributions and extraordinary commitment to the advancement of civil rights.” The group also met with Bryan Stevenson, Founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative , a nonprofit organization that provides legal representation to people who have been wrongly convicted, unfairly sentenced, or abused in state jails and prisons. The attorneys also visited The Johnson Institute in the Montgomery federal courthouse where many key civil rights cases were decided. The Johnson Institute demonstrates through its programming the importance of the U.S. Constitution and the independent judiciary. The U.S. Attorneys visited The Legacy Museum , which provides a comprehensive history on the legacy of slavery. Lynching, codified racial segregation, and the emergence of over-incarceration in the 20th century are examined in depth and brought to life through film, images, and first-person narratives at the museum. At the Memorial for Peace and Justice , the group had an opportunity to reflect on America’s History of racial injustice. Set on a six-acre site, the memorial uses sculpture, art, and design to contextualize racial terror. The site includes a memorial square with 800 six-foot monuments to symbolize thousands of racial terror lynching victims in the United States. The U.S. Attorneys from the following districts attended the Selma and Montgomery events: Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, South Carolina, Colorado, Nevada, Idaho, South Dakota, Kansas, Western and Middle Districts of Louisiana, Eastern District of Wisconsin, Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan, Middle District of Florida, Northern and Eastern Districts of California, Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania, Western District of Virginia, Western District of North Carolina, Southern District of Ohio, Western District of New York, and Southern District of West Virginia. The Attorney General’s Advisory Committee was established nearly 50 years ago by Attorney General Elliott Richardson. The Committee’s purpose is to give United States Attorneys a voice in Department policies and to advise the Attorney General of the United States. ###


title: Texas Woman Sentenced For Fraud And Money Laundering Conspiracies Targeting Federally Funded Meal Programs For Underprivileged Youth

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA – A resident of Dallas, Texas, was sentenced yesterday in federal court for her role in defrauding federally funded meal programs, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab sentenced Tanisha Jackson, 50, of Dallas, Texas, to 36 months’ incarceration following her guilty plea to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Judge Schwab also ordered Jackson to pay restitution to the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the amount of $1,500,000 and to forfeit more than $427,000. During Jackson’s plea hearing on May 18, 2022, she admitted, among other things, that she and co-conspirators Charles Simpson and Paige Jackson—Jackson’s daughter—operated HOIN, Inc. (HOIN), a Texas-based non-profit organization. Jackson caused HOIN (a/k/a Helping Others In Need) to enroll as a “sponsor” in two programs funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the purpose of providing meals to underprivileged youth—the Child and Adult Care Feeding Program (CACFP) and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) (collectively, “the feeding programs”). CACFP funded after-school meal service during the school year, while SFSP operated in the summer months. In Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PADOE) administered the USDA-funded feeding programs. Jackson also acknowledged that she previously had been excluded from participating in the same feeding programs in Texas and Arkansas. As part of the conspiracy, Jackson admitted that she caused the submission of false enrollment documentation to PADOE on behalf of HOIN in connection with its participation in CACFP and SFSP between 2015 and 2019. Among other misrepresentations, HOIN’s applications to PADOE used aliases for Jackson and Simpson to obscure their involvement and falsely certified that none of the entity’s principals had been excluded from the feeding programs. Jackson further admitted causing HOIN to submit reimbursement claims for hundreds of thousands of meals that were never served to eligible children by either inflating the number of meals that, in fact, were served, or by seeking reimbursements for meals purportedly served on days on which the identified feeding site was not operating at all. To conceal their fraudulent conduct and justify HOIN’s claimed meal service, Jackson and Simpson submitted fabricated documents to PADOE in connection with periodic program reviews. On certain occasions, Jackson would impersonate her daughter Paige Jackson in interactions with PADOE. Likewise, Paige Jackson used a fictitious name in dealings with PADOE. In total, PADOE issued reimbursement payments to HOIN in excess of approximately $4 million between 2015 and 2019. In connection with the money laundering conspiracy, Jackson admitted that she and Simpson engaged in numerous financial transactions involving the proceeds of the fraud. Specifically, Jackson and Simpson spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in HOIN reimbursements on shopping sprees at high-end apparel stores, personal air travel and lodging, and the acquisition of at least nine luxury vehicles, including a Bentley, two Land Rovers, two Maseratis, two Mercedes, a Hummer, and a Porsche. Jackson and Simpson also withdrew cash from HOIN bank accounts in excess of $10,000 on more than a dozen occasions. Simpson and Paige Jackson separately pleaded guilty for their roles in the conspiracy and were sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment and three years’ probation, respectively. When announcing Jackson’s sentence, Judge Schwab rejected her claim that she was less culpable than Simpson, noting that Jackson had brought her own daughter, Paige Jackson, into the conspiracy. Assistant United States Attorneys Eric G. Olshan and Nicole Vasquez Schmitt prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. The United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation of the defendants in this case.


title: Sarasota Drug Dealer Pleads Guilty To Possessing Firearms And Distribution Quantities Of Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Clinton Justesen (48, Sebring) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. Justesen faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison for the firearm offense and up to 20 years’ imprisonment for the drug offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to the plea agreement, on September 9, 2022, deputies from the Sarasota Sheriff’s Office stopped a truck driven by Justesen near the intersection of Williamsburg Street and North Lockwood Ridge Road in Sarasota. Justesen was towing a motorcycle which had been reported stolen on August 23, 2022. A search of Justesen’s truck and the trailer carrying the motorcycle yielded multiple firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition of different calibers, approximately 12.6 grams of methamphetamine, a vacuum sealer, a digital scale, assorted pills and tablets of various colors, and approximately $12,000. The firearms found in Justesen’s truck included a HS Produkt XD9 9mm pistol, a Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Shield 9mm pistol, and an Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 .223/5.56mm caliber rifle with an installed vertical foregrip. At the time, Justesen had multiple prior felony convictions including vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of a crash with death, armed robbery, and felon in possession of a firearm. As a previously convicted felon, Justesen is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. Justesen admitted to selling narcotics, possessing the firearms, and that he needed the firearms for his protection during his drug dealing activities. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David W.A. Chee. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Missouri Man Admits Machine Gun Charge

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

body_text: CAPE GIRARDEAU– A man from Pemiscot County, Missouri on Wednesday admitted possessing a machine gun after a shootout in 2022. Jamaal L. Jackson Jr., 20, of Caruthersville, pleaded guilty in front of U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. to one count of possession of a machine gun. On Aug. 23, 2022, the Caruthersville Police Department responded to a shootout between two groups in the city. Jackson admitted being among the group standing on a corner and shooting at a vehicle that was driving past. That group then fled to Jackson’s girlfriend’s house, where police later found a backpack containing Jackson’s identification and a Glock 19 pistol with a drum magazine. The pistol had jammed with 16 rounds left in the magazine, Jackson’s plea agreement says. It also had part of a “ Glock switch ,” which converts a semi-automatic firearm into a fully automatic weapon, attached. Another part of the switch was found at the scene of the shooting. Jackson was indicted in November. The charge carries a potential penalty of up to ten years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both. The Caruthersville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Shelton is prosecuting the case.


title: Lexington Man Sentenced to 151 Months for Fentanyl Trafficking and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: FRANKFORT, Ky. — A Lexington, Ky., man, Isaiah Wimberly, 30, was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison on Wednesday, by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to his plea agreement, an arrest warrant was issued for Wimberly in September 2021. Upon executing the warrant, after Wimberly had exited his vehicle, a search of the vehicle discovered two, loaded firearms. A search of his residence then uncovered 90 grams of fentanyl, scales, and an unloaded firearm. Thereafter, in April 2022, law enforcement received information that Wimberly was selling narcotics at a local hotel. Wimberly was arrested and law enforcement seized an additional 191 grams of fentanyl. Wimberly admitted that he possessed the narcotics seized on both occasions and that he intended to distribute it. Wimberly also admitted that he knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm, due to prior felony convictions. Wimberly pleaded guilty in September 2022. Wimberly was previously convicted, in June of 2019, of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, in Fayette Circuit Court. Under federal law, Wimberly must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for four years. Carlton S. Shier IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Louisville Field Division; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Louisville Field Office; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by ATF, FBI, and the Lexington Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cindy Rieker. This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Shier coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. – END –


title: Butler County Man Sentenced to Serve 10 Years in Federal Prison on Methamphetamine, Gun Charges

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: CAPE GIRARDEAU - Jaleel D. Gipson, 31, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in federal prison for the offenses of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Gipson appeared for his sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. at the federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. At a guilty plea hearing last year, Gipson admitted that following a traffic stop and vehicle search on June 11, 2022 in Ripley County, Missouri, a trooper with the Missouri State Highway Patrol found 233 grams of methamphetamine, 126 grams of marijuana and two 9mm semi-automatic pistols. Gipson further admitted that the firearms, fully loaded with ammunition, were for the protection of the narcotics that he intended to distribute to others. After serving his sentence in the Bureau of Prisons, Gipson will be on supervised release for a period of four years. This case was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter handled the prosecution for the government.


title: Missouri Woman Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Possession

body_text: CAPE GIRARDEAU – April M. Rulo, 47, of Branson, Missouri, was sentenced Tuesday to 8 years in federal prison for the offense of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Rulo appeared for her sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. at the federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. At a guilty plea hearing last year, Rulo admitted that she was in possession of 95 grams of methamphetamine that she had picked up from her supplier in Springfield, Missouri, and was delivering to Piedmont, Missouri, for distribution to others. On June 22, 2022, a confidential source alerted law enforcement officers that Rulo was bringing several ounces of methamphetamine into Wayne County and would be arriving at a convenience store in Piedmont to deliver the narcotics. A Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force Officer made contact with Rulo, and she consented to a search of the vehicle she was traveling in. Officers located four baggies of methamphetamine packaged for distribution, marijuana, and Hydrocodone pills. This case was investigated by the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter handled the prosecution for the government.


title: DENVER MAN SENTENCED TO MORE THAN 7 YEARS FOR POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE FENTANYL

body_text: The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming announced today that FLOYD GILBERT VIGIL, 40, of Denver, Colorado, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson, on February 27, 2022, to 90 months in prison with four years of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl. Vigil was also ordered to pay $500 in community restitution and a $100 special assessment. The case arose out of the prosecution of two other fentanyl dealers in the Wyoming area. During those investigations, law enforcement obtained evidence showing Vigil had sold a substantial amount of fentanyl, which was transported by local co‑conspirators from Colorado to Wyoming for redistribution. This crime was investigated by the Cheyenne Police Department, the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Jonathan C. Coppom. Case No: 22-CR-00108-ABJ


title: Kissimmee Felon Given Maximum Sentence For Stockpiling Firearms And Ammunition In His Residence

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Daniel Stephen King (28, Kissimmee) to 10 years in federal prison for possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered King to forfeit nine firearms and multiple rounds of ammunition. A federal jury had found King guilty on November 14, 2022. According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, on April 23, 2022, the Osceola County Sherriff’s Office was called to King’s residence due to a domestic disturbance. When the deputies arrived, a resident of the house frantically ran outside with her four-year old daughter. The deputies were informed that King had a large number of firearms and ammunition in the house and that King had strapped on a bullet proof vest. At the time, King was a convicted felon who was on probation and prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. The deputies surrounded the house, and after approximately two hours, they persuaded King to come out and surrender. A warrant was obtained to search the residence and nine firearms were recovered, including three rifles, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and a ballistic vest. A rifle safe, multiple gun lockboxes, magazines, and an ammunition can were also recovered from inside of the house. King has a criminal history that includes multiple firearms offenses for which he served prison time, as well as violations of probation. This case was investigated by the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John M. Gardella. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Armed Fentanyl Trafficker Sentenced To Life In Prison For Causing Fatal Overdose

body_text: Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell has sentenced Justin Kelly (36, New Port Richey) to concurrent terms of life in prison for conspiracy to distribute 40 grams of fentanyl resulting in death and distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, and 15 years’ imprisonment for three counts of possession/distribution of fentanyl and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. A federal jury had found Kelly guilty on November 16, 2022. According to evidence presented at trial, Kelly was a supplier of fentanyl in Pasco County. He used addicts to sell the drug for him and yielded profits of thousands of dollars per day. In the early hours of November 18, 2020, “E.L.” was found face down in his kitchen by his wife, while his stepchildren were asleep a few feet away. Detectives from the Pasco Sheriff’s Office learned that a dealer named Steven Kinney had supplied the fentanyl. Kinney identified Kelly as his supplier. Search warrants executed at Kelly’s motel room and a storage unit resulted in the seizures of additional fentanyl, cash, kilogram presses, digital scales, and an M&P 15 rifle. Cellphone records corroborated that Kelly was the supplier of the fentanyl that Kinney had distributed to “E.L.” before he died. Kinney previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl. He was sentenced on January 4, 2023, to four years and nine months in federal prison. This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Tarpon Springs Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Stoia and Dan Baeza. 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 www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Postal Worker Sentenced for Mail Theft

body_text: BOSTON – A former U.S. Postal Service employee was sentenced today in Worcester for stealing packages in Gardner. Roberta Feliz, 33, of Fitchburg, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to three years of probation, with the first six months to be served in home confinement. In April 2022, Feliz pleaded guilty to one count of theft of mail by an employee of the U.S. Postal Service. Feliz was employed as Lead Sales and Services Associate with the Gardner Post Office. Between February and July 2020, Feliz stole over $90,000 in cash deposits that were mailed from a Tractor Supply Company to its bank. Feliz, who was scheduled to work on each day that a cash package was mailed, was observed on surveillance camera removing envelopes from the postal service floor into the employee locker area or the women’s restroom. In August 2020, Feliz was approached by law enforcement after she took a control package containing cash from the postal floor into an office, removed money from the envelope and hid it in an unused desk. Feliz admitted to stealing packages from the Tractor Supply Company and stated that she used the money to pay off debt and sent some to family overseas. United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Matthew Modafferi, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Northeast Area Office, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Noto of Rollins’ Worcester Branch Office prosecuted the case.


title: Social Security Administration Employee Pleads Guilty to Fraud and Money Laundering

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announced Justin Skiff, age 36, of Castle Pines, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud, social security fraud and money laundering. According to the plea agreement, beginning around August 2019 and continuing through September 2021, Skiff used his position as a claims specialist with the Social Security Administration (SSA), to fraudulently obtain money from the SSA. Skiff used his knowledge and access to establish Social Security Numbers for ten fictitious children. He then established fictitious records of entitlements for surviving child benefits which he connected to the record of a real deceased individual whose children would receive benefits. These benefits were deposited into a bank account accessible to Skiff through debit cards he directed to be mailed to a P.O. Box to which he had access. Skiff withdrew money and made purchases from this account from October 2019 through September 2021 for a total amount of $324,201.44. Judge Daniel D. Domenico presided over the change of plea hearing on March 8, 2023. Skiff will be sentenced on June 6, 2023. Wire fraud carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Social Security fraud carries a penalty of up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Money laundering carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction. Skiff must also forfeit any property derived from proceeds traceable to the scheme. This case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General. This case is being prosecuted by special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sonia J. Dave. CASE NUMBER: 22-cr-00360


title: Broward Resident Sentenced for Stealing Social Security Benefits of Deceased Father

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – Terri Lynn Hankerson, 59, of Lauderdale Lakes, Florida has been sentenced to five months of imprisonment followed by five months of home confinement for stealing nearly $50,000 in Social Security benefits directed to her deceased father. Hankerson must also pay restitution. Hankerson’s father received Social Security benefits by direct deposit into a retirement account. Hankerson was made a joint owner of this account about a year and a half before her father died in June 2016. Hankerson did not notify the Social Security Administration or the bank of her father’s death. Therefore, the Social Security Administration continued to make the monthly deposits, including cost of living adjustments, from July 2016 until it suspended the benefits in February 2020. Following her father’s death, Hankerson, spent nearly $50,000 in Social Security benefits at concerts, a local strip club, Miami Heat games, Costco, hotels, bars, and other places. After a four-day trial, a federal jury convicted Hankerson of stealing Social Security benefits years after her father died. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Rodregas W. Owens of the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General (SSA OIG), Atlanta Field Division, announced the sentence imposed by Senior United States District Court Judge James I. Cohn. SSA OIG investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Thompson and then-Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jodi Raft prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Annika Miranda is handling asset forfeiture. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 22-cr-60227. ###


title: Florida Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Using a Minor to Produce Sexually Explicit Material

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A New Smyrna Beach, Florida man was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison today for video recording himself sexually abusing a child he met on social media and sharing the abuse video with others online. Michael Wayne Lyon, 39, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison and 10 years’ supervised release. Lyon must also register as a sex offender for life. According to court documents and trial testimony, in October 2017, Lyon began exchanging messages online with a 13-year-old child. He first claimed to be 15 years old and later “confessed” to be being 17. Lyon’s conversations with the child quickly turned explicit and he convinced the child to send him naked photos. By the time Lyon admitted to being in his 30s, he had already extracted extensive personal information from the child including their full name, age, phone number, address, and the names of various family members. When the child tried to end the communication, Lyon persisted, continued contacting the child, and, in March 2018, travelled to the Pacific Northwest in hopes of meeting the child. Fearing for the safety of family, the child agreed to meet Lyon. After traveling across the country, Lyon rented a car in Seattle and traveled to Oregon where he took the child to a hotel. Lyon video recorded himself abusing the child at the hotel and later shared the video online with several of the child’s friends and acquaintances. From 2018 through 2020, Lyon continued contacting the child and created multiple social media accounts to avoid the child’s repeated attempts to block him. Lyon’s messages became increasingly threatening and, later, openly violent. In October 2020, he threatened to kill the child and the child’s family. Soon after, the child’s mother reported Lyon’s abuse and threats to the FBI. On December 11, 2020, Lyon was charged by federal criminal complaint and an arrest warrant was issued. Nine days later, he was arrested by local law enforcement in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania and turned over to the FBI. Lyon has remained in federal custody since his arrest. On February 2, 2021, Lyon was indicted by a federal grand jury in Portland, and, on August 11, 2022, he was convicted at trial. This case was investigated by FBI Portland’s Child Exploitation Task Force (CETF) with assistance from the Hermiston and Umatilla Police Departments. It was prosecuted by Pamela Paaso and Suzanne Miles, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon. Anyone who has information about the physical or online exploitation of children are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov . The FBI CETF conducts sexual exploitation investigations, many of them undercover, in coordination with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. CETF is committed to locating and arresting those who prey on children as well as recovering and assisting victims of sex trafficking and child exploitation. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Woman Sentenced for $5.8 Million COVID-19 Loan Fraud Conspiracy

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Stockbridge, Georgia, woman was sentenced today to 51 months in prison for conspiring with others to submit millions of dollars in fraudulent disaster-related loan applications in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. According to court documents, Nikki Mitchum, 45, participated in a conspiracy to obtain disaster-related loan benefits in the form of Small Business Administration (SBA) sponsored Economic Injury Disaster loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. These programs, initiated and expanded under the Cares Act, are designed to provide support for small businesses for expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nikki Mitchum and her co-conspirators, including Malik Mitchum, 27, and Jenna Mitchum, 27, of Hampton, submitted fraudulent claims for government benefits in the name of businesses that they falsely represented were struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Between March 2020 and May 2021, approximately 13 fraudulent applications for pandemic-related loan benefits were submitted using Nikki Mitchum’s information that contained false statements and misrepresentations about their income, employment, and claimed business entities. Nikki Mitchum is further linked to four other fraudulent loan applications by the IP address used to submit the applications. Finally, Nikki Mitchum is connected with 17 fraudulent loan applications submitted by other co-conspirators who paid kickbacks in an approximate amount of $204,000 to the companies owned and operated by Nikki Mitchum. Malik and Jenna Mitchum previously pleaded guilty and were linked to more than $5.5 million in intended loss and caused approximately $1.4 million in actual loss to the United States and participating financial institutions. Malik Mitchum was sentenced to 51 months in prison and Jenna Mitchum was sentenced to 48 months in prison for their respective roles in the conspiracy. Nikki Mitchum has agreed to pay approximately $1.8 million in restitution to the United States for actual losses from her role in the conspiracy and is linked with intended fraud loss of more than $5.8 million. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen. This case was investigated by the Newport News Financial Crimes Task Force, a partnership between local, state and federal law enforcement to combat financial crimes on the Virginia Peninsula. Assistant U.S. Attorney D. Mack Coleman prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:21-cr-85 and 4:22-cr-47.


title: Birmingham Woman Sentenced to More than Seven Years in Prison for Check Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Birmingham woman was sentenced yesterday for engaging in a check fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and United States Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick M. Davis. U.S. District Court Judge Anna M. Manasco sentenced Myisha Ayana Green , 46, of Birmingham, to 94 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. In October 2022, Green pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to the plea agreement, between May 2020 and May 2021, Green was involved in a conspiracy to produce fraudulent checks using the information on legitimate checks she received from other individuals. Green would then produce a fraudulent check by adding in a different payee name and changing the amount. Green would often include a phone number on the fraudulent check that would reroute to her personal number, in case a bank or business attempted to verify that the check was real, the call would go to Green, and not the actual payor. Green recruited individuals to be “runners,” who would attempt to cash the fraudulent checks. Once they became runners, these individuals often would come back to Green seeking additional checks or recommend friends who were willing to run checks. These runners would text a picture to Green the driver’s license of individuals who were willing to try to pass checks, and Green would use their information to produce fraudulent checks. Additionally, when law enforcement searched Green’s residence pursuant to a search warrant, a firearm was found in her nightstand. The United States Secret Service investigated the case with assistance from the Trussville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan S. Rummage prosecuted the case.


title: Ridgeland Man Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Making Threats Against CDC Director Rochelle Walensky

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Jackson, Miss. – A Ridgeland man was sentenced to two years in prison for making threats in interstate commerce, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. According to court documents and statements made in court, in July 2021, Robert Wiser Bates, 39, placed phone calls to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, and left voicemails for CDC Director Rochelle Walensky that were threatening in nature. Through the investigation it was determined that Bates made similar threats towards Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Disease at the National Institutes of Health. The root of his anger was due to the COVID-19 vaccination program. Robert was indicted by a federal grand jury and he pled guilty on December 19, 2022. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie prosecuted the case.


title: United States Obtains Warrant for Seizure of Airplane Owned by Russian Oil Company Valued at Over $25 Million

body_text: The United States of America obtained a warrant to seize a Boeing 737-7JU aircraft owned by PJSC Rosneft Oil Company (Rosneft), a Russian integrated energy company headquartered in Moscow, Russia headed by Igor Ivanovich Sechin. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York authorized the seizure, finding probable cause that the Boeing aircraft was subject to seizure based on violations of the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA) and the recent sanctions issued against Russia. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Task Force KleptoCapture Director Andrew C. Adams, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Jonathan Carson, Special Agent-in-Charge, US Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement, New York Field Office (BIS), announced the unsealing of the seizure warrant. “Today’s enforcement action demonstrates there is a price to pay for Russian companies and oligarchs that flagrantly evade sanctions that the United States has imposed in response to the unjustified war against the people of the Ukraine,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This Office, together with our law enforcement partners, will relentlessly pursue the proceeds of unlawful conduct, be it on land, in the air, or at sea.” Mr. Peace thanked the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Office of International Affairs, and the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control for their assistance in the investigation. “By violating Commerce Department export controls, Rosneft has converted its jet into contraband. Today’s unsealing provides a roadmap to those in the private sector and to our foreign partners who are committed to upholding the rule of law – and to stifling the Russian state’s efforts to wage an illegal war – who will refuse to provide refuge and support to the operators of this aircraft as the United States pursues its seizure and forfeiture in aid of Ukraine,” said Task Force KleptoCapture Director Adams. “Our enforcement action today makes clear that the U.S. Government will not tolerate Russian companies and oligarchs evading BIS export controls in order to support Russia’s war effort,” stated BIS Special Agent-in-Charge Carson. “BIS’s Office of Export Enforcement, working with our Kleptocapture partners, will continue to aggressively investigate export violations and bring violators to justice.” According to the seizure warrant and affidavit unsealed today: In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in February 2022, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security issued sanctions against Russia. The sanctions impose export controls and license requirements to protect U.S. national security and foreign policy interests. The Russia sanctions expanded prohibitions on the export, reexport or in-country transfer of, among other things, U.S.-manufactured aircraft to or within Russia without a valid license or license exception for aircraft owned or controlled, or under charter or lease, by Russia and/or Russian nationals. In this case, these sanctions bar a plane that was built or manufactured in the United States from entering Russia without a valid license. Since February 2022, when the Russia sanctions went into effect, the plane has left and reentered Russia at least seven times, in violation of federal law. The Boeing jet, which was manufactured in the United States, was last in the United States in March 2014, and is currently believed to be in, or traveling to or from, Russia. Rosneft—which is headed by sanctioned oligarch Igor Ivanovich Sechin—owns the Boeing aircraft. The Boeing was flown from a foreign country to Russia in violation of the ECRA and regulations issued thereunder, including the Russia sanctions. The Boeing (pictured below) is believed to be valued at over $25 million. The government’s case is being investigated by the Eastern District of New York’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section and the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Francisco J. Navarro, Tara B. McGrath and Madeline M. O’Connor are investigating the case in partnership with Trial Attorney Barbara Levy. The seizure action is being coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls and economic countermeasures that the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2, 2022, and run out of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all the department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression. E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-MJ-174


title: Virginia Beach Naval Nurse Sentenced for Attempted Coercion of a Minor

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Beach man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for attempting to coerce and entice a 14-year-old minor to have sex with him. According to court documents, Curtis Wade Spencer, 44, was on active duty in the Navy Nurse Corps. On or about July 27, 2022, Spencer contacted who he believed to be a 14-year-old minor online and began to have sexually explicit conversations with the minor. Spencer also sent videos and photographs of his genitals to the purported minor. On August 17, 2022, Spencer left his workplace at the Langley Air Force Base Hospital and traveled to a prearranged meeting spot expecting to meet the minor for sex. Instead, Spencer was arrested as the 14-year-old minor he hoped to meet was an undercover agent. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Mack Hickman, Special Agent in Charge of the of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Victoria Liu prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-117.


title: Keys Lobster Company and its President Pled Guilty to Exporting Falsely Labeled Product

body_text: MIAMI – Aifa Seafood, Inc., (Aifa), a Florida corporation, and its president, Jiu Fa Chen, 57, of Parkland, Fla., have pled guilty to exporting falsely labeled spiny lobster from Florida to China. According to court documents, including a Joint Factual Statement submitted by the parties, from May through August 2019, Aifa purchased seafood products for export to China. To meet the high demand for spiny lobster, Aifa imported lobster from Haiti for reexport to China. Aifa reexported approximately 5,900 pounds of lobster and falsely labeled the product in shipping documents as “Live Florida Spiny Lobsters, Product of U.S.A.” Aifa faces a sentence of up to five years’ probation and a fine of up to $500,000. Chen faces a term of imprisonment of up to five years, a fine of $250,000, and a period of three years supervised release. Judge Moreno set the sentencing hearing for both defendants on May 23, at 9:30 a.m. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Assistant Director Manny Antonaras of the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Southeast Division, acting Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Buckley, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami, and Major Alberto Maza, Regional Commander of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Division of Law Enforcement, South B Region, announced the convictions. NOAA Office of Law Enforcement, HSI Key Largo, and FWC Division of Law Enforcement investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Watts-FitzGerald is prosecuting the case. If you have any information regarding this investigation, or other wildlife crimes, you may contact the NOAA Office of Law Enforcement Hotline: (800) 853-1964 and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at 1-800-344-9453. Locally, environmental crimes, including wildlife violations and environmental justice matters may be reported to the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 305-961-9001 or USFLS.Environmental@usdoj.gov . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 22-cr-20479. ###


title: Leader of Illegal Copyright Infringement Scheme Sentenced to 5 ½ Years’ Imprisonment

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Bill Omar Carrasquillo, 36 years old, of Swedesboro, NJ, was sentenced to 66 months’ imprisonment, five years of supervised release, more than $30 million in forfeiture, and more than $15 million in restitution by United States District Court Judge Harvey Bartle III, for crimes arising from a wide-ranging copyright infringement scheme that involved piracy of cable TV, access device fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, and hundreds of thousands of dollars of copyright infringement. As the Indictment set forth, from about March 2016 until at least November 2019, Carrasquillo along with his co-defendants operated a large-scale internet protocol television (IPTV) piracy scheme in which they fraudulently obtained cable television accounts and then resold copyrighted content to thousands of their own subscribers, who could then stream or playback content. The defendants also made fraudulent misrepresentations to banks and merchant processors in an effort to obtain merchant processing accounts. During the period of their scheme, the defendants earned more than $30 million. Carrasquillo, in particular, converted a large portion of his profits into homes and dozens of vehicles, including high-end sports cars. When agents attempted to seize those items pursuant to judicially-authorized warrants, Carrasquillo made false statements about and attempted to hide some of those vehicles, including a Freightliner recreational vehicle and a McLaren sports vehicle. Carrasquillo was convicted of one count of conspiracy; one count of violating the Digital Millennium Copyright Act; 1 count of reproduction of a protected work; 3 counts of public performance of a protected work; 1 count of access device fraud; 1 count of wire fraud; 1 count of making false statements to a bank; 1 count of money laundering; 1 count of making false statements to law enforcement officers; and 1 count of tax evasion. In addition to a sentence of 66 months’ imprisonment, the court ordered Carrasquillo to pay $10.7 million in restitution to the victim cable companies, more than $5 million in restitution to the IRS, and to forfeit over $30 million in illegal proceeds that he reaped from the scheme. "Income gained from the infringement of copyrights is taken seriously, and the federal government will continue its commitment to protecting copyright holders, creators, and the millions of customers who enjoy the fruits of a strong intellectual property rights system," said U.S. Attorney Romero. "Carrasquillo and his co-defendants operated a large-scale cable piracy scheme. They fraudulently obtained cable television accounts and then resold copyrighted content to tens of thousands of subscribers across the country and abroad, earning over 30 million dollars in illicit revenue in about three years, none of which was reported on state or federal income tax return. Accordingly, today's sentencing of Omar Carrasquillo includes prison time and substantial forfeiture and restitution reflecting the severity of his actions." “Making money off of someone else’s copyrighted work is theft, plain and simple,” said Jacqueline Maguire, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “Mr. Carrasquillo hijacked all of this content, sold it to his subscribers, and lived large off the illegal proceeds. Today’s sentence should send a message that willfully stealing another party’s intellectual property is a serious crime and the FBI is committed to holding violators accountable.” “Whether obtained legally or illegally, all income must be reported,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Yury Kruty. Carrasquillo took multiple steps to evade his tax liability, including attempting to hide the source of his ill-gotten gains by depositing them into bank accounts held in names other than his own. Thanks to the hard work of IRS-CI and its law enforcement partners, Carrasquillo has been held accountable for his criminal conduct.” The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew T. Newcomer and Sara A. Solow, and DOJ Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section Trial Attorneys Adrienne Rose and Jason Gull. Special Assistant United States Attorney David Weisberg and Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Baer also assisted with the prosecution, forfeiture, and restitution.


title: Local banker sent to prison for money laundering conspiracy

component: USAO - Texas, Northern

body_text: BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A former Wells Fargo branch manager has been ordered to federal prison for helping a drug trafficking ring launder their money through his bank, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Stephen Roland Reyna, 36, pleaded guilty Sept. 1, 2021. Today, U.S. District Judge Rolando Rivera ordered Reyna to serve 20 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by 16 months of supervised release with home detention. At the hearing, the court Reyna was given and held a position of trust with the bank, of which he took advantage. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the amount of money Reyna laundered and the sequence of events in which he participated. “If you help drug traffickers ‘clean’ their money, you will be prosecuted,” said Hamdani. “It is especially disappointing that a bank manager for Wells Fargo chose to violate his position of trust for easy money, money from organizations that are destroying our communities.” Reyna was the manager of a Wells Fargo branch in Harlingen. While serving in that position and utilizing his position and knowledge of the banking industry, Reyna assisted a drug trafficking organization to launder $410,000 in drug sale proceeds. The organization would transport multi-kilogram cocaine loads from the Rio Grande Valley to northern states. Upon successful delivery, thousands of dollars in drug proceeds would then be dispersed through multiple Wells Fargo bank accounts in the northern states. Reyna would coordinate with multiple co-conspirators in the Rio Grande Valley to launder the funds through their accounts at Wells Fargo. Reyna ensured the proceeds were successfully withdrawn from his branch in Harlingen. Co-conspirators would frequently pay Reyna in cash right after he helped them get their drug proceeds out of the bank. Reyna ultimately admitted he suspected the funds were from illegal activity, including narcotics trafficking. Reyna was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with assistance from the Cameron County District Attorney’s Office and Wells Fargo. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David A. Lindenmuth and Karen Betancourt prosecuted the case.


title: Federal Jury Convicts McCurtain County Resident Of Aggravated Sexual Abuse And Abusive Sexual Contact Of A Child In Indian Country

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced today that Brett Dewayne Cole, age 33, of Ringold, Oklahoma was found guilty by a federal jury of two counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country and one count of Abusive Sexual Contact of a Child in Indian Country. The jury trial began on Monday, March 6, 2023, and concluded on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. During the trial, the United States presented evidence that the defendant engaged in sexual acts with a minor victim, who had not reached the age of 12, on at least two occasions from January of 2019 through May of 2019. The guilty verdicts were the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the McCurtain County Sheriff’s Office. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted the case because the victim in this case is a member of a federally-recognized Indian tribe and the crimes occurred in McCurtain County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation and within the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma in Muskogee, presided over the trial and ordered the completion of a presentence report. Sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report. Cole was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending the imposition of sentencing. Assistant United States Attorneys Hannah Jones and Casey Richmond represented the United States.


title: Federal Jury Convicts Henryetta Resident Of Aggravated Sexual Abuse And Sexual Abuse Of A Minor In Indian Country

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced today that Sean Paul Baker, age 30, of Henryetta, Oklahoma was found guilty by a federal jury of two counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country and one count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country. The jury trial began on Monday, March 6, 2023, and concluded on Wednesday, March 8, 2023. During the trial, the United States presented evidence that, for a 6-year period, the defendant, Sean Paul Baker, repeatedly engaged in sexual acts with a child under the age of 12. The guilty verdicts were the result of an investigation by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Lighthorse Tribal Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted the case because the defendant in this case is a member of a federally-recognized Indian tribe and the crimes occurred in Okmulgee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation and within the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Ronald A. White, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma in Muskogee, presided over the trial and ordered the completion of a presentence report. Sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report. Baker was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending the imposition of sentencing. Assistant United States Attorneys Caila M. Cleary and Nicole Paladino represented the United States.


title: Utah Pedestrian Struck by Vehicle during Alleged Drug Trafficker’s Attempt to Flee from Police

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: Salt Lake City , Utah – A federal grand jury in Utah returned an indictment today charging a foreign national with possession of methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl with intent to distribute. According to the complaint, on March 1, 2023, detectives with the Salt Lake Area Metro Gang Unit (MGU) witnessed Marcos Adrian Garcia Lugo, 21, speeding in the area of 3100 South Bangerter Highway in Salt Lake County, Utah. Detectives attempted to stop the vehicle with lights and sirens, but the driver fled, and detectives terminated their pursuit. Moments later, an MGU detective who is also an ATF task force officer observed Lugo make a sharp turn at 3600 West and 3150 South, where he slammed into another car that struck a pedestrian. The detective watched Lugo exit the driver’s seat and take off on foot away from the crash. Along Lugo’s flight path, detectives found a softball-sized amount of field-tested-positive methamphetamine and a stolen Smith and Wesson Shield 9mm firearm. Lugo was later arrested at a residence north of the crash. In Lugo’s vehicle, detectives also found 3.5 pounds of field-tested-positive methamphetamine, a half-pound of heroin, approximately 3,000 fentanyl pills, and $2,557.00 in cash. Lugo is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and alien in possession of a firearm. The defendant is scheduled for his arraignment hearing March 9, 2023, at 9:15 a.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in Salt Lake City, Utah. U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated jointly by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Salt Lake Area Metro Gang Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney, Stephen L. Nelson, for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. Learn more about the danger of illicit fentanyl at https://www.dea.gov/fentanylawareness or www.dea.gov/onepill . This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: U.S. Coast Guard officer convicted of operating illegal firearms business

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A chief petty officer has been convicted of running a firearms sales business without a license, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Matthew Keith Staton was not a licensed dealer of firearms. However, he admitted he sold five Palmetto State Armory “Build the Wall” .308 caliber rifles to Luis Enrique Vallejo. Vallejo, 41, San Benito, was a former law enforcement officer who was federally convicted for his role in attempting to export the same firearms into Mexico with the serial numbers removed. At the time of the incident, Staton was a member of the U.S. Coast Guard and is currently an E7 chief petty officer. U.S. District Judge Olvera accepted the plea and has set sentencing for May 31. At that time, Staton faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Vallejo has already been sentenced to 13 months in federal prison for his crime. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Coast Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Lindenmuth is prosecuting the case.


title: Merced Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Sexual Assault in Yosemite National Park

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Ramonchito Racion, 52, of Merced, was sentenced today to seven years and one month in prison for one count of attempted sexual abuse and one count of abusive sexual contact, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to evidence presented at trial, Racion, who was working as a cook for a private company in Yosemite in the summer of 2019, sexually assaulted his roommate while the roommate was sleeping. Racion was found guilty by a federal jury after a six–day trial. This case was the product of an investigation by the National Park Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael G. Tierney and Justin J. Gilio prosecuted the case.