title: U.S. Attorney Office for Eastern District of Kentucky Observes Domestic Violence Awareness Month

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky .— The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky commemorates and emphasizes Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) this October, by reaffirming its unwavering commitment to supporting survivors, raising awareness, and promoting justice for those affected by domestic violence. DVAM serves as a crucial opportunity to shed light on the profound impacts of domestic violence and emphasize the importance of collective action. Each year, millions of individuals are impacted by intimate partner violence, and far too many families endure the tragic consequences of domestic abuse. The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that survivors are heard, perpetrators are held accountable, and to strengthening partnerships with communities to prevent domestic violence. This year’s commemoration of DVAM is special because it also marks the 30th anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act. In 1994, the passage of this landmark, bipartisan legislation transformed the way our nation addresses domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, by increasing protections for survivors, providing critical federal resources to support a coordinated community response to these crimes, and awarding grants at the local, state, territory, Tribal, and national levels. “Domestic violence accumulates a massive toll, not only on its victims, but also on the friends, families, and communities that surround them,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Home is where people go to feel safe and secure, not where fear, abuse, and violence should engulf their lives. We remain committed to doing our part to combat this destructive threat, to making our communities safer, and to holding people responsible for these shameful acts of violence and abuse.” Domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking can have long-lasting impacts and consequences, and survivors in underserved communities are disproportionately impacted due to the lack of resources or barriers to accessing services. DVAM provides an opportunity to spread awareness about domestic violence and encourage everyone to play a role in ending gender-based violence. We also encourage everyone to learn more about domestic violence and take steps to support friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors who may be affected. By understanding the signs of abuse, providing a safe space for survivors, and connecting them to available resources, we can all play a role in creating safer communities. Victims of domestic violence deserve safety, dignity, and justice. We are committed to prosecuting those who violate federal laws, collaborating with local law enforcement and prosecutors to identify domestic violence offenders who violate federal firearms prohibitions, and ensuring survivors have access to the resources they need for safety and healing. Together, we can bring hope to those in need and build a future free from domestic violence. For more information on Domestic Violence Awareness Month or to access to local resources, please visit https://www.sos.ky.gov/safe-at-home/Pages/Survivor-Resources.aspx — END —


title: U.S. Attorney's Office Secures Sentencing of Repeat Domestic Violence Offender

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Bosque Farms man has been sentenced to three years in prison for domestic assault by a habitual offender. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, on August 9, 2022, Daniel Vincent Olguin , 38, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Isleta, assaulted his intimate partner by striking her in the head, causing a concussion. The assault occurred on the Isleta Pueblo. Olguin had previously been convicted by the Isleta Tribal Court of aggravated assault against an intimate partner in 2012 and in federal court of assault against an intimate partner in 2016. Upon his release from prison, Olguin will be subject to 3 years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today. The Isleta Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Robert James Booth II is prosecuting the case. # # #


title: Hyannis Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Being a Felon in Possession

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Hyannis man was sentenced yesterday for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Specifically, the defendant possessed and sold a Chinese SKS .762 caliber rifle. Ryan Diefenbach, 33, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Judge William G. Young to six years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. In July 2024, Diefenbach pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. In November 2022, Diefenbach, along with co-defendant Donnell Pina, was indicted by a federal grand jury. In September 2021, Diefenbach, and allegedly Pina, sold a Chinese SKS .762 caliber rifle to a confidential informant in Hyannis. Due to previous felony convictions, including prior convictions for carrying a firearm without a license, unlawfully possessing a firearm, possessing a firearm with a defaced serial number and assault with a dangerous weapon, Diefenbach was prohibited from possessing firearms. At the time Diefenbach committed the offense, the charge of being a felon in possession provided for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant United States Attorney Elianna J. Nuzum of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. Pina is scheduled to plead guilty on Nov. 21, 2024. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN . The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Orlando Man Indicted For Arson Resulting In Injury At Inter&Co Stadium

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Giovanni Isai Ramirez Reyes (37, Orlando) with arson of a building that led to personal injuries. If convicted, Ramirez Reyes faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 7 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison. According to court documents and information provided during a hearing, Ramirez Reyes lit two flares and threw them into the crowd during a soccer match on February 24, 2024, at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida. The flares produced a larger fire that damaged the stadium and caused burns to a child attending the match. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Orlando Police Department, and the Orlando Fire Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Nate. indictment.pdf Download Indictment


title: Owner of Tennessee Mental Health Counseling Center Charged with Employment Tax Crimes

component: Tax Division

body_text: NASHVILLE – A former business owner was charged by a federal grand jury yesterday with eleven counts of willfully failing to account for and pay over employment taxes to the IRS. According to court documents, from at least 2011 through 2023, Mari Ross-Alexander, of Columbia, South Carolina, was the owner and president of Ross Behavioral Group, a mental health counseling center with multiple locations in middle Tennessee. Alexander controlled Ross Behavioral Group’s financial affairs and was responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare and federal income taxes from employees’ wages and paying them over to the IRS. From at least 2015 through 2020, Alexander withheld these taxes from her employees’ wages but did not fully pay the withheld taxes over to the IRS. Each year, from at least 2015 through 2020, Ross-Alexander issued tax W-2’s and paystubs to the employees that showed taxes taken out of their pay, which falsely implied that the withheld taxes were paid over to the IRS. In total, Ross-Alexander is alleged to have caused a tax loss to the IRS of more than $1 million dollars. If convicted on all counts, Alexander faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. She also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. Acting U.S. Attorney Thomas J. Jaworski for the Middle District of Tennessee and Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case with assistance from Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitchell T. Galloway of the Middle District of Tennessee and Trial Attorney Ashley J. Stein of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. #####


title: North Carolina Man Indicted For Production Of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Brayan Garcia-Vazquez, age 24, of Havelock, North Carolina, was indicted on October 16, 2024, by a federal grand jury on one count of production of child pornography. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that Garcia-Vazquez took video of himself engaging in sexual intercourse with a minor victim on April 5, 2023, in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. The case is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Scalera is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is thirty years imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Man Sentenced for Robbery and Intimidation of a Witness by Attempted Murder

component: USAO - North Carolina, Middle

body_text: GREENSBORO – A New York man was sentenced yesterday in Greensboro, North Carolina, to 35 years in prison after pleading to robbery, firearm, and intimidation charges related to an attempted murder stemming from conduct in the Middle District of North Carolina and the Southern District of New York, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC). RYAN LEWIS LITTLE, age 40, of New York, was sentenced to a 420-month term of imprisonment and 5 years supervised release by the Honorable William L. Osteen, Jr., United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the MDNC. In addition to prison time, LITTLE was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $56,970.75. LITTLE pleaded guilty on May 10, 2024, to interference with commerce by robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a), and retaliating against a witness by attempted murder, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1513(a)(1)(B), for conduct occurring in the MDNC. On June 20, 2024, he pleaded guilty to a separate charge for interference with commerce by robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951(a), and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), for incidents occurring in the Southern District of New York. According to court records, on April 8, 2022, at approximately 7:00 PM, Greensboro Police Department (GPD) officers responded to a report of attempted armed robbery at the Chemistry Nightclub Food Truck located in the parking lot of 2901 Spring Garden Street, Greensboro, NC. The food truck employee reported that an armed man attempted to rob the food truck at gunpoint. Footage from the food truck’s surveillance cameras showed a man (later identified as LITTLE) walking up the steps of the food truck, pulling out a silver handgun, pointing it at the food truck employee and asking, “Where is the money?” The employee told LITTLE that there was no money. LITTLE then pushed the victim and ran from the food truck. The Chemistry Nightclub Food Truck attempted robbery was one in a series of robberies that law enforcement officers had been investigating since March 2022. A witness, Victim-1, spoke with law enforcement as part of the ongoing investigation. In retaliation for speaking with the officers, on the morning of April 12, 2022, LITTLE shot Victim-1 in the face. He then fled North Carolina. On April 20, 2022, at approximately 10:30 pm, New York Police Department (NYPD) officers arrived at the scene of a reported robbery at a restaurant. An employee stated that a man entered the restaurant, brandished a silver firearm partially concealed beneath a newspaper, and took approximately $1,500 from the cash register. The employee followed the suspect to a nearby park. While canvassing the area, officers saw LITTLE emerge from the bushes and attempt to flee the area. Officers chased him and he was apprehended moments later with approximately $1,100 cash on him. Officers traced the path LITTLE had fled and recovered a loaded silver pistol. After his arrest, a witness approached the NYPD officers and told them that shortly after robbing the restaurant LITTLE attempted to carjack him. The case was investigated by the Greensboro Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, and Firearms, and New York Police Department. The case was prosecuted by MDNC Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole DuPré and Lindsey Freeman, SDNY Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Bodansky, and former MDNC Assistant United States Attorney Tanner Kroeger. ###


title: Wyoming County Man Charged With Drug Trafficking And Firearm Offenses

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Anthony C. Donnora, Sr., age 79, of Forkston Township, Pennsylvania, was indicted on October 15, 2024, by a federal grand jury and charged with drug trafficking and firearm offenses. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment charges Donnora with the distribution of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, maintaining a drug involved premises, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person. The alleged offenses occurred in Wyoming County between August 6, 2021 through February 27, 2024. The charges stem from a joint investigation involving Homeland Security Investigations– Scranton Office, ATF, the Wyoming County District Attorney’s Office, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Tunkhannock Borough Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Tatum R. Wilson is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The maximum penalty under federal law is life in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Wabash Man Sentenced to 100 Months in Prison

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

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Roy Skeens, 40 years old, of Wabash, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after being found guilty of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm following a 2-day jury trial in July of 2024, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Skeens was sentenced to 100 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, in November 2020, Skeens possessed a handgun while at a home in Wabash County. Specifically, police were called after multiple rounds were heard having been shot outside the basement of the home. When police arrived, Skeens refused to leave the home and a standoff ensued. He was later taken into custody and the firearm was recovered. Skeens has 13 prior felony convictions, any one of which prohibit him from possessing the firearm in this case. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Wabash Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Katelan McKenzie Doyle and Joseph P. Falvey. 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: U.S. Attorney’s Office Appoints District Election Officer to Monitor Federal Election Law Violations in Southern District of Indiana

component: Civil Rights - Voting Section

body_text: United States Attorney Zachary A. Myers announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Tiffany J. Preston will lead the efforts of the Southern District of Indiana’s Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. AUSA Preston has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Southern District of Indiana, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington. U.S. Attorney Myers said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.” The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations. Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English). U.S. Attorney Myers stated that: “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, DEO Preston will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. She can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: 317-226-6333.” In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 317-595-4000. Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931. United States Attorney Myers said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.” Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency. ###


title: FBI Arrests Alabama Man in the January 2024 SEC X Hack that Spiked the Value of Bitcoin

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: WASHINGTON – Eric Council Jr., 25, of Athens, Alabama, was arrested this morning, in Athens, in connection with a January 2024 unauthorized takeover of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) X account, formerly known as Twitter, in which hackers posted a fake message from the SEC Chair that caused the value of bitcoin (BTC) to spike by $1,000. Council is expected to make an initial appearance today in the Northern District of Alabama. Council is charged by indictment, unsealed today, with conspiracy to commit aggravated identity theft and access device fraud. The arrest and the indictment were announced by United States Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge David Geist of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, and SEC Inspector General Deborah Jeffrey. According to the indictment, on January 9, 2024, Council conspired with others to take unauthorized control of the @SECGov X account (sometimes called the SEC’s Twitter account) and transmitted a fake post in the name of the SEC Chair, falsely announcing, in part, “Today the SEC grants approval for #Bitcoin ETFs for listing on all registered national securities exchanges.” Immediately after the tweet, the price of BTC increased by more than $1,000 per bitcoin. Shortly after the unauthorized post, the SEC regained control over their X account and confirmed that the announcement was unauthorized and the result of a security breach. Following this corrective disclosure, the value of BTC decreased by more than $2,000 per bitcoin. (At the time, the SEC had been deliberating whether to approve exchange traded funds (ETFs) that held bitcoin.) An unauthorized actor gained control of the SEC X account through a “SIM swap.” "These SIM swapping schemes, where fraudsters trick service providers into giving them control of unsuspecting victims’ phones, can result in devastating financial losses to victims and leaks of sensitive personal and private information,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “Here, the conspirators allegedly used their illegal access to a phone to manipulate financial markets. Through indictments like this, we will hold accountable those who commit these serious crimes." “The indictment alleges that Eric Council, Jr. unlawfully accessed the SEC’s account on X by using the stolen identity of a person who had access to the account to take over their cellphone number,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Argentieri. “Council, Jr.’s co-conspirators then allegedly used this unauthorized access to the X account to falsely announce that the SEC had approved listing Bitcoin ETFs, which caused the price of Bitcoin to rise by $1,000 and then fall by $2,000. Council’s indictment underscores the Criminal Division’s commitment to countering cybercrime, especially when it threatens the integrity of financial markets.” “The FBI works to identify, disrupt, and investigate cyber-enabled frauds, including SIM swapping,” said FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Geist. “SIM swapping is a method bad actors exploit to illicitly access sensitive information of an individual or company, with the intent of perpetrating a crime. In this case, the unauthorized actor allegedly utilized SIM swapping to manipulate the global financial market. The FBI will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners around the country and globe to hold accountable those who break U.S. laws.” “Today’s arrest demonstrates our commitment to holding bad actors accountable for undermining the integrity of the financial markets,” said SEC Inspector General Jeffrey. A Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card is a chip that stores information identifying and authenticating a cell phone subscriber. When a cell phone carrier reassigns a phone number from one physical phone to another — such as when a customer purchases a new phone but wants to retain the same number — the carrier switches the assignment of the cell phone number from the SIM card in the old phone to the SIM card in the new phone, a process sometimes referred to as “porting” a number. A SIM swap attack refers to the process of fraudulently inducing a carrier to reassign a cell phone number from the legitimate subscriber or user’s SIM card to a SIM card, and telephone, controlled by a criminal actor. A SIM swap attack allows a criminal actor to defeat multifactor authentication (MFA) and/or two-step verification process to access a victim’s account so that the criminal actor may steal money and/or data from the victim or access the victim’s online accounts. As described in the indictment, Council, who used online monikers including “Ronin,” “Easymunny,” and “AGiantSchnauzer,” received personal identifying information (PII) and an identification card template containing a victim’s name and photo from co-conspirators. Council then used his identification card printer to create a fake ID with the information. Council proceeded to obtain a SIM card linked to the victim’s phone line by presenting the fake ID at a cell phone provider store in Huntsville, Alabama. He then purchased a new iPhone in cash and used the two items to obtained access codes to the @SECGov X account. Council shared those codes with members of the conspiracy, who then accessed the account – and issued the fraudulent tweet on the @SECGov X account in the name of the SEC Chairman, falsely announcing the SEC’s approval of BTC ETFs. Council received BTC payment for performing the successful SIM swap. Shortly after, Council drove to Birmingham, Alabama to return the iPhone used in the SIM swap for cash. He later conducted internet searches for “SECGOV hack,” “telegram sim swap,” “how can I know for sure if I am being investigated by the FBI,” and “What are the signs that you are under investigation by law enforcement or the FBI even if you have not been contacted by them.” This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, the SEC-Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, and the Department of Justice’s Market Integrity and Major Frauds Unit (MIMF) and Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS). Significant assistance was provided by the FBI’s Birmingham Field Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Rosenberg, and DOJ Trial Attorneys Ashley Pungello and Paul Zebb from the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, and Lauren Archer from the Fraud Section. Valuable assistance was provided by Assistant United States Attorney John Hundscheid from the Northern District of Alabama. For more information on SIM Swapping, go to: https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2024/PSA240411 An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. councileric_indictment_24-cr-457_0.pdf


title: Federal Inmate At MDC Brooklyn Charged With Orchestrating Murder-For-Hire Using A Contraband Cellphone

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; and Patrick J. Freaney, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the United States Secret Service (“USSS”), announced the unsealing of a Superseding Indictment charging DAJAHN MCBEAN, a/k/a “Jeezy Mula,” a/k/a “Freeze,” KARL SMITH, a/k/a “Pacavell,” and CHELSEY HARRIS, a/k/a “Ms. Chinn” with murder‑for‑hire conspiracy resulting in personal injury and death, stalking resulting in life threatening bodily injury and death, and conspiracy to destroy records. These charges relate to MCBEAN, SMITH, and HARRIS’s roles in attempting to murder an individual in December 2023, which resulted in the shooting death of Clarisa Burgos on December 26, 2023. MCBEAN is already serving a federal sentence for directing a separate gang-related shooting in January 2017 and will be presented today in Manhattan federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave. SMITH and HARRIS were arrested previously and are detained pending trial. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Dajahn McBean and his co-conspirators planned and carried out an elaborate plot to murder another individual by causing others to shoot at the target several times in New York City. During one of those shootings, an innocent bystander, Clarisa Burgos, was killed. McBean allegedly directed this murder plot using a contraband cellphone from within a federal jail while waiting to be sentenced for a separate gang related shooting. Thanks to the hard work of the prosecutors in this Office and our law enforcement partners, McBean and his co-conspirators will be held to account for this crime. These charges make clear that this Office and our law enforcement partners are dedicated to prosecuting those who commit violence on our streets and any federal inmate who causes such violence.” U.S.S.S. Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Freaney said: "The abiding intent to cause death, as alleged in this murder-for-hire case, is truly shocking. The relentless investigation that followed evinces the Secret Service’s unwavering commitment to take the worst among us off the streets. I want to thank the NYPD Financial Crimes Task Force for their incredible partnership and devotion to this critical work." As alleged in public court filings, statements at public court proceedings, and the Superseding Indictment: [1] In December 2023, MCBEAN was detained at Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York (“MDC Brooklyn”) awaiting sentencing for directing a separate gang-related shooting in January 2017. While in federal custody, MCBEAN feuded over social media with another gang member (“Victim-1”). MCBEAN then used a contraband cellphone from inside MDC Brooklyn to conspire with SMITH and HARRIS, who were at liberty in the community, to lure Victim-1 to various nightclubs in New York City where MCBEAN had arranged for gunmen to kill Victim-1. MCBEAN paid SMITH and HARRIS through intermediaries for their roles in this conspiracy. The plot to kill Victim-1 resulted in two shootings. First, on December 24, 2023, MCBEAN and his co‑conspirators lured Victim-1 to a nightclub (“Club-1”) in Queens, New York. Outside Club-1, gunmen shot and struck Victim-1’s car multiple times but missed Victim-1. Second, on December 26, 2023, MCBEAN and his co-conspirators tried again to kill Victim-1, this time luring him to a different nightclub (“Club-2”) in Queens. At MCBEAN’s direction from within MDC Brooklyn, gunmen again fired on Victim‑1’s car when it was parked outside Club-2. The bullets struck Victim-1 multiple times, but Victim-1 survived. The bullets also struck and killed Victim‑1’s girlfriend, Clarisa Burgos, who was seated in Victim-1’s car. Clarisa Burgos was twenty-eight years old. * * * MCBEAN, 29, of Queens, New York, SMITH, 26, of Queens, New York, and HARRIS, 23, of the Bronx, New York, are charged with one count of murder-for-hire conspiracy resulting in personal injury and death, which carries a mandatory minimum term of life in prison or death; stalking resulting in life threatening bodily injury and death, which carries a maximum term of life in prison; and conspiracy to destroy records, which carries a maximum term of five years in prison. The mandatory minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. Mr. Williams praised the work of the USSS Financial Crimes Task Force and the New York City Police Department. Mr. Williams also thanked the Special Agents from Homeland Security Investigations’ El Dorado Task Force for their assistance in the investigation. He added that the investigation is ongoing. This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent & Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan W. Allison, Andrew K. Chan, and Jared D. Hoffman are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. u.s._v._dajahn_mcbean_et_al_s2_indictment_24_cr._541.pdf [1] As the introductory phase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Tennessee fentanyl trafficker sentenced to six years in prison after distribution led to death of Great Falls man

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Tennessee man who admitted to mailing fentanyl pills to a Great Falls couple that led to the overdose death of the husband was sentenced yesterday to six years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today. The defendant, Malice Clark, Jr., aka Greg Clark, aka “Greed”, 58, of Memphis, Tennessee, pleaded guilty in June to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court also ordered $9,000 restitution. “The Defendant’s nickname, Greed, encapsulates what our state and nation are facing regarding our drug epidemic. Those who are greedy are preying on those who are addicted, so much so that the greedy are killing people, which the Defendant’s fentanyl distribution did here. It’s as tragic as it is illegal, which is why we will remain relentless in our pursuit of those poisoning our communities,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said. The government alleged in court documents that from February 2021 to April 2022, Clark repeatedly mailed small quantities of fentanyl from his home in Tennessee to his friend, the victim, John Doe, and his wife in Great Falls. On April 5, 2022, Doe and his wife received a package of fentanyl in the mail from Clark. That evening, both Doe and his wife took some of the fentanyl. At about 2:20 a.m. on April 6, 2022, Doe’s wife called 911 and reported that Doe had overdosed. Doe was found unresponsive and pronounced dead. An autopsy confirmed that Doe’s death was caused by acute fentanyl intoxication. Law enforcement collected pills that were determined to be fentanyl from Doe’s home. Doe’s wife admitted they had obtained the pills from Clark through the mail. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Russell Country Drug Task Force, Great Falls Police Department, Memphis (Tennessee) Police Department, FBI, U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Drug Enforcement Administration and Montana Medical Examiner Office conducted the investigation. 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN . XXX


title: Denver Woman Sentenced To One Year And One Day For Stealing Nearly $500k From Her Employer

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Tiffany Vo, age 37, of Denver, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison, three years of supervised release, and restitution in the amount of $483,393.58 after pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud for a scheme to defraud her employer, Amazon. According to the plea agreement, between approximately the summer of 2020 through at least June of 2022, Vo worked for Amazon in a role in which she administered virtual employee programs during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Vo devised and participated in a scheme to fabricate invoices and expense reports to claim reimbursement for approximately $483,393.58 in purported corporate event expenditures that did not occur. Vo spent the stolen funds on a variety of personal expenses including designer handbags and sunglasses, payments toward her condo, two vehicles, exercise equipment, and thousands of dollars of beauty products. “White collar crimes like this one cause financial impact to not just corporate entities, but to consumers and taxpayers,” said Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Matt Kirsch. “This office will continue to prosecute criminals who exploit access for personal gain.” “Instead of working for her employer, this defendant was furtively working against her employer. Over the course of her deception, she stole nearly $500,000 and used the money to live exorbitantly beyond her means,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “Members of the FBI Denver complex financial crimes squad were able to unravel the defendant’s embezzlement scheme, and now she faces the justice she earned.” Judge S. Kato Crews presided over the sentencing. The FBI Denver Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca Weber handled the prosecution. Case Number: 1:24-cr-00102-SKC


title: Leader of South Shore Drug Trafficking Ring Sentenced to 32 Years in Prison

body_text: BOSTON – The leader of a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed fentanyl, fentanyl analogue and cocaine throughout Quincy and Weymouth was sentenced on Oct. 15, 2024 in federal court in Boston. Aderito Patrick Amado, 34, of Brockton and Quincy, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 32 years in prison to be followed by 10 years supervised release. In June 2024, Amado was convicted by a federal jury of two counts of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 100 grams or more of a fentanyl analogue and 500 grams or more of cocaine – and conspiracy to do the same; one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of fentanyl analogue; one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl; two counts of possessing firearms as a convicted felon; and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug offense. The Court sentenced Amado to 27 years in prison on counts one through four and counts six through seven, to be followed by five consecutive years in prison on count five. At sentencing, the Court applied a stash house and leadership enhancement and found that Amado obstructed justice at trial through his testimony. In September 2022, Amado was indicted by a federal grand jury along with co-defendants Erica Vieira, Neylton Fontes and Chaasad Cyprien. The defendants were subsequently charged in a superseding indictment in December 2022 and, later, a second superseding indictment in October 2023 . Amado was charged in a third superseding indictment in May 2024. “Mr. Amado was the leader of an organization that pumped multiple kilograms of dangerous and deadly drugs into our communities, including fentanyl and fentanyl analogue. He will now have more than three decades in prison to contemplate his critical role in driving fentanyl addiction and contributing to overdose deaths through his wholesale and street-level distribution all in pursuit of the almighty buck,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “This case demonstrates that people like Aderito Patrick Amado, who terrorize communities with their guns, drugs, and manipulation of others, will pay a heavy price. This was an exceptionally skilled and dogged investigation by the prosecutors in our office, the FBI, the Quincy Police and other law enforcement partners. This lengthy sentence should send a strong message to others, do not engage in the toxic brew of illicit narcotics and guns or you will go to jail for a very long time.” “Aderito Patrick Amado and his crew were a crime wave unto themselves. As the leader of this large-scale drug trafficking operation that brought in and sold multi-kilo quantities of fentanyl and cocaine, protected by high-capacity firearms, Mr. Amado could have cared less about this area’s raging opioid crisis,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Boston Division. “The FBI’s Metro Boston Gang Task Force worked with our law enforcement partners on the South Shore to make this case that led to Amado being sent to prison for the next three decades, and we’re all gratified to see such a prolific criminal finally held accountable.” “I would like to thank the Detectives assigned to the Quincy Police Drug Control Unit, our local, state and federal partners and particularly the prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s office for bringing this case forward. Taking this individual off the streets undoubtedly saved lives in our community,” said Quincy Police Chief Mark Kennedy. Until at least January 2021, Amado helped lead a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, fentanyl analogue and cocaine in and around the Quincy and Weymouth areas. The investigation determined that the drug distribution conspiracy operated primarily out of a stash house in Weymouth, with additional evidence located inside Amado’s apartment in Quincy and in his vehicle. Specifically, a January 2021 search of Amado’s Quincy apartment resulted in over 40 grams of fentanyl, a quantity of cocaine, over $270,000 in cash, a money counter, a loaded Glock and ammunition being recovered. Amado’s vehicle contained over 40 grams of fentanyl and over 100 grams of fentanyl analogue, along with approximately $50,000 cash and multiple cellphones. Additionally, the Weymouth stash house was, in essence, a drug factory – housing two presses used to form controlled substances into kilogram-sized bricks and extensive drug paraphernalia, including blenders, digital scales, cutting agents, a money counter, and packaging equipment. The stash house also contained more than 10 kilograms of fentanyl, fentanyl analogue and cocaine as well as three firearms and ammunition, including two high-capacity magazines and a speed loader. One firearm was equipped with a laser beam and another firearm had a custom slide. Given Amado’s status as a felon, he is prohibited from possessing any firearms. At least one of Amado’s fingerprints were recovered on the ammunition tray located inside one of the boxes of ammunition in the stash house. His fingerprints were also recovered on one of the bags of cutting agents. Information from a court-ordered GPS ankle monitor placed Amado at both his residence and the stash location nearly every day over a two-month period while on probation for a state drug conviction. Additionally, web history information from one of Amado’s devices showed that he conducted online reviews of various items ultimately recovered from the stash house, including the kilogram presses, firearms and cutting agents. Vieira pleaded guilty in May 2024 and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 24, 2025. Fontes pleaded guilty in May 2024 and was sentenced in September 2024 to two years in prison and three years of supervised release. Cyprien pleaded guilty in April 2024 and in July 2024 was sentenced to two years in prison and three years of supervised release. Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy, FBI SAC Cohen and Quincy Chief Kennedy made the announcement. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Weymouth, Braintree, Randolph and Brockton Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin R. O’Donnell and Philip A. Mallard of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Butte man sentenced to more than five years in prison for trafficking cocaine, fentanyl

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Butte man who admitted to trafficking cocaine and fentanyl after law enforcement stopped his vehicle in Butte and found 1,700 fentanyl pills and cocaine taped to the steering column was sentenced yesterday to five and one-half years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today. The defendant, Adam Hassan Abdel Aziz, 40, pleaded guilty in June to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. In court documents, the government alleged that on June 1, 2023, drug task force officers conducting surveillance on the home of a suspected drug trafficker in East Helena saw Aziz arrive, go inside the residence and leave a short time later. Surveilling officers notified drug task force members, and the Montana Highway Patrol later stopped Aziz’s car near Butte. Aziz was on state parole at the time and consented to a search of the car, during which officers observed drug paraphernalia. During another search authorized by Aziz’s parole officer, law enforcement located a package containing a bag of approximately 1,700 fentanyl pills and 27 grams of cocaine taped to the underside of the car’s steering column. Aziz admitted he had acquired approximately four to five thousand fentanyl pills in the last month and had paid approximately $10,000 for the drugs. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Missouri River Drug Task Force, Southwest Montana Drug Task Force, Montana Highway Patrol, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Montana Probation and Parole and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN . XXX


title: Former Monmouth County Resident Admits Fraudulently Obtaining over $3.7 Million in Cares Act Loans

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A former resident of Monmouth County admitted his role in a scheme to fraudulently obtain Payroll Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Kevin Aguilar, 54, previously of Farmingdale, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp in Trenton federal court on Oct. 15, 2024, to a superseding indictment charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud; seven counts of bank fraud; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud; three counts of wire fraud; one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering; one count of money laundering; and one count of aggravated identity theft. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From April 2020 to April 2021, Aguilar conspired with others to submit seven fraudulent PPP loan applications and three fraudulent EIDL applications on behalf of four businesses. Based on the fraudulent applications, Aguilar received approximately $3.3 million in PPP loan funds and approximately $450,000 in EIDL funds. After receiving the PPP and EIDL funds, Aguilar caused those funds to be transferred to other businesses that he created to give the false appearance that the PPP and EIDL funds were being used for legitimate purposes. Aguilar then used the PPP and EIDL funds to purchase residential properties in Sherman, Texas, a new truck for approximately $100,000, and to pay for other personal expenses. The bank fraud conspiracy count and each count of bank fraud carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The wire fraud conspiracy count and each count of wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain to the defendant or loss to the victim, whichever is greatest. The money laundering conspiracy count and money laundering count each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain to the defendant or loss to the victim, whichever is greatest. The aggravated identity theft counts carry an additional consecutive mandatory minimum term of two years in prison and a maximum fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Aguilar’s sentencing is scheduled for March 25, 2025. Charges remain pending against Aguilar’s co-defendant, Jean E. Rabbitt, formerly of Farmingdale, New Jersey. The charges and allegations against Rabbitt are merely accusations and she is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Patricia Tarasca in New York; IRS – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan; special agents of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Corwin Rattler; postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge is Christopher A. Nielsen; special agents of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Robert Manchak; and special agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Thomas Mahoney, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney David V. Simunovich of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Health Care Fraud Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer S. Kozar, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Economic Crimes United in Newark. The District of New Jersey COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force is one of the five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . aguilar.sindictment.pdf


title: U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref Appoints Election Officer  for the Eastern District of Washington

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington - United States Attorney Vanessa Waldref announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Frieda Zimmerman will lead the efforts of her Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. AUSA Zimmerman has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Eastern District of Washington, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington. United States Attorney Waldref said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.” The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations. Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English). United States Attorney Waldref stated that: “The right to vote is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to this right can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO Zimmerman will be on duty in this District on election day. She can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: (509) 353-2767.” In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at (509) 458-8100. Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931. United States Attorney Waldref said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.” Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over ballot drop boxes, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.


title: United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison Appoints Patrick Martin as District Election Officer

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT - United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Patrick Martin will lead the efforts of her Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. AUSA Martin has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Eastern District of Michigan, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington. United States Attorney Ison said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.” The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations. Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English). United States Attorney Ison stated that: “Voting is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to vote can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO Martin will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: (313)226-9168.” In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at (313)965-2323. Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931. United States Attorney Ison said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.” Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.


title: Alabama Man Arrested for Role in Securities and Exchange Commission X Account Hack

component: Criminal Division

body_text: An Alabama man was arrested by the FBI this morning in Athens, Alabama, on charges related to the January hack of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)’s social media account on X, formerly known as Twitter. According to court documents, on or about Jan. 9, Eric Council Jr., 25, of Athens, allegedly conspired with others to take unauthorized control of the SEC’s X account and, in the name of SEC Chair Gary Gensler, prematurely announced the approval of bitcoin Exchange Traded Funds. Immediately following the false announcement, the price of bitcoin increased by more than $1,000 per bitcoin. Shortly after this unauthorized post, the SEC regained control over its X account and confirmed that the announcement was unauthorized and the result of a security breach. Following this corrective disclosure, the value of BTC decreased by more than $2,000 per bitcoin. The conspirators gained control of the SEC’s X account through an unauthorized Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) swap, allegedly carried out by Council. A SIM swap refers to the process of fraudulently inducing a cell phone carrier to reassign a cell phone number from the legitimate subscriber or user’s SIM card to a SIM card controlled by a criminal actor. As part of the scheme, Council and the co-conspirators allegedly created a fraudulent identification document in the victim’s name, which Council used to impersonate the victim; took over the victim’s cellular telephone account; and accessed the online social media account linked to the victim’s cellular phone number for the purpose of accessing the SEC’s X account and generating the fraudulent post in the name of SEC Chairman Gensler. “The indictment alleges that Eric Council Jr. unlawfully accessed the SEC’s account on X by using the stolen identity of a person who had access to the account to take over their cellphone number,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Council’s co-conspirators then allegedly used this unauthorized access to the X account to falsely announce that the SEC had approved listing bitcoin ETFs, which caused the price of bitcoin to rise by $1,000 and then fall by $2,000. Council’s indictment underscores the Criminal Division’s commitment to countering cybercrime, especially when it threatens the integrity of financial markets.” “These SIM swapping schemes, where fraudsters trick service providers into giving them control of unsuspecting victims’ phones, can result in devastating financial losses to victims and leaks of sensitive personal and private information,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “Here, the conspirators allegedly used their illegal access to a phone to manipulate financial markets. Through indictments like this, we will hold accountable those who commit these serious crimes.” “The defendant allegedly deceived the public by impersonating the victim and making fraudulent statements on behalf of the SEC,” said Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI and our partners will continue to investigate and hold accountable those who attempt to manipulate financial markets for their own gain.” “The FBI works to identify, disrupt, and investigate cyber-enabled frauds, including SIM swapping,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge David E. Geist of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division. “SIM swapping is a method bad actors exploit to illicitly access sensitive information of an individual or company, with the intent of perpetrating a crime. In this case, the unauthorized actor allegedly utilized SIM swapping to manipulate the global financial market. The FBI will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners around the country and globe to hold accountable those who break U.S. laws.” “This criminal indictment demonstrates our commitment to holding bad actors accountable for undermining the integrity of the financial markets,” said Inspector General Deborah Jeffrey of the SEC. A federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment on Oct. 10 charging Council with one count of conspiracy to commit aggravated identity theft and access device fraud. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI Washington Field Office and SEC Office of Inspector General are investigating the case. Trial Attorney Ashley Pungello of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Trial Attorney Lauren Archer of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Rosenberg for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case. For more information on SIM swapping, go to www.ic3.gov/PSA/2024/PSA240411 . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Art Advisor Lisa Schiff Pleads Guilty To Defrauding Clients

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that LISA SCHIFF, a Manhattan-based art advisor focused on contemporary art, pled guilty before United States District Judge J. Paul Oetken to one count of wire fraud for perpetrating a multi-year scheme in which she defrauded the clients of her art advisory business of approximately $6.5 million in connection with the purchase and sale of approximately 55 artworks. SCHIFF will be sentenced by Judge Oetken on January 17, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “For years, Lisa Schiff breached the trust of her art advisory clients by lying to them and diverting millions of dollars her clients had entrusted to her. Instead of using client funds as promised, Schiff used the stolen money to fund a lavish lifestyle. Today’s guilty plea serves as a reminder that the Southern District of New York will vigorously investigate and prosecute those who engage in fraud wherever we may find them, including the art market.” Assistant Director in Charge James E. Dennehy said: “Lisa Schiff attempted to paint a picture of a successful fine art advisory business, when in reality—as she admitted today—it was actually a multimillion-dollar fraudulent scheme. After half a decade of deceit, Ms. Schiff will now be held accountable for her lies and duplicitous actions. FBI New York will continue to ensure that individuals attempting to defraud their clients are brought to justice.” According to the Information, plea agreement, and statements made in court: From 2018 through May 2023, SCHIFF engaged in a scheme to defraud clients of her art advisory business, Schiff Fine Art (“SFA”) by diverting her clients’ funds—profits from the sale of her clients’ artworks or payments they made to purchase artwork—to pay her own personal and business expenses. SCHIFF advised clients regarding the purchase and sale of artworks and bought and sold artworks on behalf of clients in exchange for a commission. In her role as an art advisor, SCHIFF acted as an intermediary between art galleries and auction houses, and her clients, who were art collectors. Typically, when SCHIFF’s clients bought or sold artworks, payments were routed through SCHIFF’s business, SFA. In addition, when SCHIFF sold artworks on behalf of a client, she often had custody or control of the artworks to coordinate the sale. At times, SCHIFF, through SFA, also sold artwork on consignment on behalf of artists and other galleries. Starting in about 2018, SCHIFF began defrauding her clients in two ways: (1) not remitting payments to her clients when she sold their artwork while not disclosing to her clients that their artworks had, in fact, been sold; and (2) not purchasing artworks on behalf of clients despite representing to her clients that she would purchase certain artworks on their behalf using their funds. Instead of using client funds as promised, SCHIFF diverted her clients’ money to pay her business and personal expenses. SCHIFF lied to her clients and galleries in furtherance of her fraud scheme. For example, when defrauding clients in connection with selling their artwork, SCHIFF at times lied to clients, claiming she had not sold the artwork, or the buyer was delayed in making the payment and SCHIFF still had custody of the artwork when, in fact, SCHIFF had sold the artwork, received payment from the buyer, and delivered the artwork to the buyer. When defrauding clients in connection with purchasing artwork on their behalf, SCHIFF lied to galleries from which she was supposed to purchase artwork on behalf clients, blaming delays in payment on clients when, in fact, clients had already paid SCHIFF for the purchase of the artwork but she had diverted the funds for her own use. Over several years, SCHIFF defrauded at least twelve clients, one artist, the estate of another artist, and one gallery, collectively, of at least approximately $6.5 million. During her fraud, SCHIFF lived lavishly and incurred substantial debts, which she paid in part using her victims’ diverted funds. In about May 2023, SCHIFF could no longer conceal her scheme due to mounting debts. SCHIFF confessed to several clients that she had stolen their money. * * * SCHIFF, 54, a Manhattan resident, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum prison term of 20 years. Under the terms of her plea agreement, SCHIFF agreed to forfeit approximately $6.4 million. The statutory maximum sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Art Crime Team and the FBI/New York Police Department's Joint Major Theft Task Force. This case is being handled by the Office’s Illicit Finance and Money Laundering Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Ong and Cecilia Vogel are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Tucson Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Murder of a Child

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. –Pablo Martinez, Jr., 36, of Tucson, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Scott H. Rash to 25 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Martinez, Jr. pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder on April 15, 2024. On September 26, 2019, Martinez murdered the six-year-old victim by holding the victim’s face under the running bathtub faucet for between five to ten minutes, while giving the victim a bath. The victim inhaled water that caused liquid thermal burns, resulting in his death. The victim was an enrolled member of the Pascua Yaqui Indian Tribe. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pascua Yaqui Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frances M. Kreamer Hope and Matthew C. Cassell, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-19-2617-TUC-SHR RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-140_Martinez, Jr. # # # 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 X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: 16 Defendants Charged in Superseding Indictment Alleging Bulk Shipments of Cocaine to Canada, Four Murders

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A Canadian former Olympic snowboarder and 15 other defendants have been charged in a 16-count superseding indictment for allegedly running and participating in a transnational drug trafficking operation that routinely shipped hundreds of kilograms of cocaine, from Colombia, through Mexico and Southern California, to Canada and other locations in the United States, and whose leaders orchestrated multiple murders in furtherance of these drug crimes. Ryan James Wedding, 43, a Canadian citizen residing in Mexico, and Andrew Clark, 34, a Canadian citizen also residing in Mexico, were previously charged in the original indictment with running a continuing criminal enterprise, murder, and conspiring to possess, distribute, and export cocaine. Clark was arrested October 8 by Mexican law enforcement and is detained. Wedding is a fugitive. The first superseding indictment, unsealed on October 16, names 14 additional co-defendants. The superseding indictment alleges that Wedding, Clark, and others conspired to ship bulk quantities of cocaine – weighing hundreds of kilograms – from Southern California to Canada through a Canada-based drug transportation network run by Hardeep Ratte, 45, of Ontario, Canada, and Gurpreet Singh, 30, of Ontario, Canada, from approximately January 2024 to August 2024. The cocaine shipments were transported from Mexico to the Los Angeles area, where the cocaine trafficking organization’s operatives would store the cocaine in stash houses, before delivering it to the transportation network couriers for transportation to Canada using long-haul semi-trucks. As alleged in the superseding indictment, the organization resorted to violence – including multiple murders – to achieve its aims. Wedding and Clark allegedly directed the November 20, 2023, murders of two members of a family in Ontario, Canada, in retaliation for a stolen drug shipment that passed through Southern California. Another member of that family survived the shooting but was left with serious physical injuries. Wedding and Clark allegedly also ordered the murder of another victim on May 18, 2024, over a drug debt. Clark and Malik Damion Cunningham, 23, a resident of Canada, are charged with the April 1, 2024, murder of another victim in Ontario, Canada. Wedding, whose aliases include “El Jefe,” “Giant,” and “Public Enemy,” and who competed for Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, is the superseding indictment’s lead defendant. Wedding is charged with eight felonies: two counts of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, one count of conspiracy to export cocaine, one count of leading a continuing criminal enterprise, three counts of murder in connection with a continuing criminal enterprise and drug crime, and one count of attempt to commit murder in connection with a continuing criminal enterprise and drug crime. Clark, whose aliases include “The Dictator,” is charged with the same eight felonies, plus an additional count of murder in connection with a continuing criminal enterprise and drug crime. “As alleged in the indictment, an Olympic athlete-turned-drug lord is now charged with leading a transnational organized crime group that engaged in cocaine trafficking and murder, including of innocent civilians,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “My office’s mandate is to protect the public and stopping sophisticated and violent organized crime groups goes to the heart of that mission. We will continue to collaborate with our federal, local, and international law enforcement partners to bring these groups to justice.” “The FBI remains steadfast in its mission to identify, target, and dismantle violent transnational organized crime syndicates in our communities. Today, in collaboration with several local, federal, and international partners, we reaffirm our commitment to the American people by dismantling a violent organized crime network trafficking large quantities of drugs into the United States and orchestrating multiple homicides to eliminate the competition,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The organization, led by former Olympian Ryan Wedding, cultivated a violent transnational drug trafficking empire that extended from Canada to the United States, Mexico, and Colombia. While key members of Wedding’s criminal enterprise were successfully apprehended this week, he remains at large. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for any information leading to his arrest.” “Organized Crime groups create immense harm in all our communities, not just with the poisons they ship, but through the tragic violence that inevitably comes with it,” said Liam Price, Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s Director General of International Special Services. “This network presented a threat to communities in Canada, the United States and overseas. That is why we, as Canada’s national police force, worked closely with the FBI and others to disrupt it. This operation demonstrates the value and the impact of close collaboration with amongst international partners to combat transnational organized crime, helping keep our communities safe. We will always look beyond our borders to where these threats originate and try to stop them at source.” “The Wedding Drug Trafficking Organization and its unremitting, callous and greed-driven crimes has been operating for far too long, spanning several countries, from Colombia through Mexico, the U.S. and to Canada,” said Matthew Allen, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Los Angeles Field Division. “They have triggered an avalanche of violent crimes, including brutal murders. Wedding, the Olympian snowboarder, went from navigating slopes to contouring a life of incessant crimes. DEA and our partners stand firmly in our resolve to dismantle his operation. I want to thank our DEA investigators and all our partners, including the FBI, LAPD, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police International for their collaboration, experience and tremendous value that help embolden our mission.” "This complex investigation spans multiple jurisdictions and agencies, with an alleged retaliation over stolen drugs tragically impacting an innocent family in Ontario, Canada," said Marty Kearns, the Deputy Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police. "Today's announcement reflects the tireless months of work undertaken by agencies in both Canada and the United States, as well as support from law enforcement in Mexico and Colombia. This is a testament to how collaboration and investigative diligence cross borders to identify perpetrators and bring crucial answers to victims and their families." "Today's investigative outcomes stand as a powerful testament to the tireless dedication and collaboration of law enforcement agencies across Canada, the U.S., Mexico, and Colombia,” said Peel Regional Police Chief Nishan Duraiappah. “These investigative outcomes are important for the families who have endured tragic loss, casualties of criminal greed and a drug trafficking war. Peel Regional Police remains unwavering in its commitment to working alongside our global partners to bring those responsible for violent acts and homicides – both within Peel and beyond – to justice." During the investigation, law enforcement has seized more than one ton of cocaine, three firearms, dozens of rounds of ammunition, $255,400 in United States currency, and more than $3.2 million in cryptocurrency. According to the superseding indictment, in March 2024, the organization delivered a total of approximately 293 kilograms (646 pounds) of cocaine to representatives of Ratte and Singh for eventual shipment to and distribution in Canada. The following month, the organization attempted to deliver approximately 375.1 kilograms (827 pounds) of cocaine to representatives of Ratte and Singh for eventual transportation to Canada, but investigators interrupted the delivery and seized the cocaine. In total, several defendants possessed a total of approximately 1,800 kilograms (1.8 metric tons) of cocaine, according to the superseding indictment. One-thousand eight hundred kilograms of cocaine carries a street value between $23.4 and $25.2 million dollars in Los Angeles. Several of the defendants arrested are expected to make their court appearances within the coming week in Los Angeles, Michigan, and Miami. An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court. If convicted, Wedding, Clark, and Ratte would face a mandatory minimum penalty of life in federal prison on the continuing criminal enterprise charge. The murder and attempted murder charges carry an additional 20-year mandatory minimum penalty. The drug trafficking charges also carry mandatory minimum penalties between 10 and 15 years in prison. The FBI investigated this matter with the Los Angeles Police Department, the DEA Los Angeles, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police – Federal Policing. In addition, significant assistance was provided by U.S. law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations – Detroit and United States Customs and Border Protection – Buffalo; Canadian law enforcement partners, including Niagara Regional Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police, Toronto Police Service, and Peel Regional Police; Mexican law enforcement partners, including the Attorney General’s Office ( Fiscalía General de la República ) and the Criminal Investigation Agency ( Agencia de Investigación Criminal ); and Colombian law enforcement partners, including Colombian National Police – Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Interpol, Special Interagency Investigation Group ( Policía Nacional de Colombia – Dirección de Investigación Criminal e Interpol, Grupo Especial de Investigación Interagenciales ). This investigation was conducted with the support of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). Assistant United States Attorneys Lyndsi Allsop and Maria Jhai of the Violent and Organized Crime Section and Ryan Waters of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section are prosecuting this case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Man Sentenced to 37 Years in Prison for Violent Robberies

component: USAO - Ohio, Northern

body_text: CLEVELAND – David Johnson, 37, of Euclid, has been sentenced to 37 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Dan Polster after pleading guilty to multiple charges of armed robbery at places of business. Additionally, Johnson pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm due to his previous convictions for involuntary manslaughter and aggravated robbery. According to court documents, between November 2019 and January 2020, Johnson entered several businesses in Northeast Ohio and threatened employees with a loaded firearm to commit the robberies. The affected business locations were: Sunoco gas station, Euclid, Nov. 27, 2019 BP gas station, Parkman, Jan. 18, 2020 Dollar General, Chardon, Jan. 18, 2020 Gas Mart gas station, Euclid, Jan. 25, 2020 During the investigation, law enforcement officials located a stolen vehicle used in the robberies at Johnson’s residence. Clothing and a firearm observed in surveillance videos were recovered during a search warrant execution of his residence. This case was investigated by the FBI, ATF, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Geauga County Sheriff’s Office, Geauga County Prosecutor’s Office, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, Euclid Police Department, Willoughby Police Department, and the Cleveland Division of Police. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret Kane and Joseph Dangelo for the Northern District of Ohio.


title: Lowell Man Arrested for Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Conspiracy

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Lowell man has been arrested for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. Jorge Manuel “Manny” Huertas, 46, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl and more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Huertas will make his initial appearance in federal court in Boston later today. According to the charging document, Huertas distributed counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine to a confidential source. Search warrants were conducted this morning at Huertas’s residence and the residences of his associates. The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl and more than 50 grams of methamphetamine carries a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of 40 years, at least four years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $5,000,000. 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. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration; and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lowell Police Department and the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Panich of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: U.S. Attorney Mark Totten Announces District Election Officer, Hotline, Website To Help Ensure Safe, Secure November 2024 Election

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. – U.S. Attorney Mark Totten announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Austin Hakes will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. AUSA Hakes will serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Western District of Michigan, overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington, D.C. In addition, U.S. Attorney Totten announced a hotline, 616-808-2140, and website for members of the public to make a complaint or share information related to voting rights concerns. “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten . “Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.” WATCH: Voting Rights Video Message from U.S. Attorney Mark Totten The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations. Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English). United States Attorney Totten stated: “Voting is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who have the right to vote can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice.” To respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA Hakes will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public. Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931. United States Attorney Totten said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.” Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency. # # #


title: Portland Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing Pandemic Unemployment Benefits

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A Portland man was sentenced to federal prison Wednesday for stealing more than $147,000 in pandemic unemployment benefits from the Oregon Employment Department (OED). Matthew Kemp, 41, was sentenced to six months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. Kemp was also ordered to pay $147,294 in restitution to the OED. According to court documents, between July 2020 and January 2021, Kemp devised and carried out a scheme whereby he used the personal information of 17 people, including their dates of birth and social security numbers, to fraudulently apply for pandemic unemployment insurance benefits. Some individuals knew Kemp had used their personal information because he had promised to obtain benefits on their behalf while others were unaware. To ensure the benefits went to him instead of the named applicants, Kemp requested the benefits be paid out by check or prepaid debit card, and put his own mailing address, email address, and phone number on the claims. If there was a delay or issue in processing his various fraudulent claims, Kemp called the OED and impersonated the named applicant to ensure he got (in his words) “my money.” On February 7, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a seven-count indictment charging Kemp with mail fraud, bank fraud, and theft of government funds. On June 14, 2024, Kemp pleaded guilty to theft of government funds. This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG). It was prosecuted by Meredith D.M. Bateman, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Grand jury indicts 5 defendants in multi-state narcotics, nearly $25 million money laundering conspiracies

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal grand jury charged five defendants with narcotics and money laundering conspiracy crimes involving multiple kilograms of drugs in at least eight states and nearly $25 million of allegedly laundered proceeds. Those charged include: Name Age City of Residence Charles Wooden 46 Pickerington, Ohio Gregory Fountain 37 Columbus, Ohio & Montgomery, Illinois Alexis Ortega 31 Columbus, Ohio Carl Campbell 30 Newnan, Georgia Courtney Musick 37 Pickerington, Ohio According to the 25-count indictment, the defendants conspired to traffic five kilograms or more of cocaine and 400 grams or more of fentanyl in a years-long multi-state narcotics operation. From 2015 until 2024, it is alleged that defendants conspired to launder at least $24,848,490 in drug proceeds. The indictment details that defendants allegedly used FedEx to ship drug proceeds from the Columbus area to California, Texas and other states to buy more narcotics for distribution. They also allegedly shipped the money in an attempt to conceal the nature of the drug proceeds. Some defendants are alleged to have purchased, renovated, rented, and sold real estate as a means of money laundering. Coconspirators allegedly used drug proceeds to rent houses, buy airline tickets, pay for hotel rooms and facilitate travel to traffic the cocaine, fentanyl and cash between Columbus and California, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas and other states. The narcotics conspiracy as charged in this case against Wooden, Fountain, Ortega and Campbell is punishable by at least 10 years and up to life in prison. The money laundering crimes carry a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison. Wooden, Musick and Ortega were arrested today. The indictment was returned on Oct. 15 and unsealed following the arrests today. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Cincinnati Field Office; and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced the charges. Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Pakiz and Jennifer M. Rausch are representing the United States in this case. An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, and gangs that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. # # #