title: Durham Man with Previous Conviction for Domestic Violence Pleads Guilty to Possessing Multiple Firearms

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: A Durham man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. According to court records, on April 9, 2024, a deputy from the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office served Richard Leblond , 51, with a temporary protection from abuse order. The deputy explained that as part of the order, Leblond was required to relinquish any firearms in his possession. Leblond informed the deputy that he possessed several firearms and consented to a search of his residence. During the search, investigators located multiple handguns, pistols, rifles and shotguns, all of which were recovered from two gun safes inside the residence. Further investigation revealed that Leblond had a 2009 conviction for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, which precluded him from possessing any firearms. Leblond faces up to 15 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. Any sentence would be followed by up to three years of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Leblond will also forfeit the firearms seized. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case with assistance from the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Office. ###


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison for Gun and Drug Crimes

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

body_text: BIRMIHGHAM, Ala. – A convicted felon pleaded guilty and was sentenced today for possessing drugs and a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson. U.S. District Judge Madeline Haikala sentenced Nathaniel Kasheen Rembert, 37, of Bessemer, to 156 months in prison. Rembert pleaded guilty to a two-count information charging him with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. According to the plea agreement, on July 2, 2021, a Birmingham Police Department officer conducted a traffic stop on Rembert. The officer asked Rembert if he had any weapons in the car. Rembert admitted to having a pistol, and he did not have a pistol permit. After determining that Rembert had multiple outstanding warrants, the officer arrested Rembert on the warrants and for not having a pistol permit. From the car, officers recovered a Glock .45 caliber pistol, a magazine loaded with .45 caliber bullets, a box of .45 caliber ammunition, drugs, and drug paraphernalia. Rembert is prohibited from having a gun because of multiple prior felony convictions. ATF investigated the case, along with the Birmingham Police Department and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant United States Attorney Darius Greene prosecuted the case.


title: Ex-Energy Trader for Vitol Pleads Guilty to Second International Bribery Scheme

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Will Forfeit More than $7.1 Million in Funds Involved in Laundering Bribes to Mexican and Ecuadorian Officials; Defendants Ordered to Pay Over $200 Million in Forfeiture and Criminal Penalties Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Javier Aguilar pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and engaging in interstate and foreign commerce to promote and to distribute the proceeds of commercial bribery for paying bribes to officials at PEMEX Procurement International (PPI), a wholly owned affiliate of the Mexican state-owned oil company, PEMEX. The plea follows Aguilar’s conviction at trial earlier this year in a related case for paying bribes to Ecuadorian officials and laundering the bribe money for both the Ecuador and Mexico bribery schemes . The plea proceeding was held before United States District Judge Eric N. Vitaliano. When sentenced in both cases, Aguilar faces a maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment as well as $7,129,938 in criminal forfeiture. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York (EDNY), Nicole M. Argentieri, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General and head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Jeffrey B. Veltri, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office (FBI), announced the guilty plea. “With today’s guilty plea the defendant admits his role in the widespread corruption of the international commodities market and to casting aside laws and rules that apply to all to unfairly line the pockets of the few,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “The actions of the defendant and his co-conspirators, and of those who act similarly, destroys people’s faith in their governments, disadvantages those who play by the rules, undermines confidence in American businesses worldwide, and will not be tolerated by this Office or our law enforcement partners.” Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas for their assistance on the case. “The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act has been the law of the land, and enforceable worldwide, for decades. Yet unscrupulous businessmen still try to bribe their way to profit,” said Jeffrey B. Veltri, Special Agent in Charge for the FBI’s Miami Field Office. “My message to them is that the charges and penalties you will face are not worth the gain. I want to commend the U.S Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, and the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs for their diligence pursuing this case, but especially the agents and analysts who leave no stone unturned in pursuit of FCPA violators.” Between 2015 and 2020, Aguilar was a trader in the Houston office of Vitol, Inc. (Vitol), the U.S. affiliate of the Vitol group of companies, which together form one of the world’s largest energy trading firms. As part of the scheme, Aguilar and his co-conspirators paid approximately $600,000 in bribes to two senior officials at PPI to obtain numerous contracts for Vitol to supply hundreds of millions of dollars of liquid ethane to PEMEX. To conceal the scheme, Aguilar and his co-conspirators used a series of fake contracts, sham invoices and shell entities incorporated in Curaçao and Mexico. The defendant and his co-conspirators also used alias email accounts to communicate about the scheme, and code words, including “shoes,” “medicine,” “invitations” and “coffee,” to describe the bribes. In December 2020, Vitol admitted to bribing officials in Ecuador, Mexico, and Brazil in violation of the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA. Vitol entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of New York. As a part of the resolution, Vitol agreed to pay a combined $135 million in penalties as part of a coordinated resolution with the Department of Justice, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and authorities in Brazil. The FCPA conspiracy charge, based in the Southern District of Texas (SDTX), was initially filed in the EDNY in December 2022 as part of a superseding indictment consolidating both the Ecuador- and Mexico-related conduct. In May 2023, the government consented to Aguilar’s pre-trial motion to dismiss that charge in the EDNY on venue grounds. That charge and others related were then refiled in SDTX in August 2023. As part of his guilty plea, Aguilar consented to transfer the SDTX case back to the EDNY, reconsolidating the cases. Seven of the defendant’s co-conspirators have pleaded guilty in connection with their roles in the scheme and are awaiting sentencing. Together, these individuals have agreed to forfeit more than $63 million. In July 2022, Mr. Peace was selected as the Chairperson of the White Collar Fraud subcommittee for the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC) . As the leader of the subcommittee, Mr. Peace plays a key role in making recommendations to the AGAC to facilitate the prevention, investigation and prosecution of various financially motivated, non-violent crimes including bribery and corruption offenses. The government’s case is being handled by the Business and Securities Fraud Section of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS). Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan P. Lax and Matthew R. Galeotti of the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting the case with Assistant Chiefs Derek J. Ettinger and Jonathan P. Robell and Trial Attorney Clayton P. Solomon of the Fraud Section, Deputy Chief Adam J. Schwartz and Trial Attorney D. Hunter Smith of MLARS, with assistance from Deputy Chief Suzanne Elmilady and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherin Daniel of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas. Assistant United States Attorney Brian Morris assisted with forfeiture matters. The MLARS Special Financial Investigations Unit and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided substantial assistance in this case. The Defendant : JAVIER AGUILAR Age: 50 Houston, Texas E.D.N.Y. Docket Nos. 24-CR-304 (ENV) / 20-CR-390 (ENV)


title: Latvian National Extradited for Scheme to Illegally Export Advanced U.S.-Origin Aircraft Technology to Russia

component: Criminal - Office of International Affairs

body_text: Oleg Chistyakov, also known as Olegs Čitsjakovs, 55, of Latvia, made his initial appearance in a federal court in Kansas City, Kansas, today after being extradited from Latvia. Chistyakov is the third defendant in this case to face charges in connection with a years-long conspiracy to sell sophisticated avionics equipment to Russian companies, after Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine and despite heightened additional U.S. economic countermeasures levied against Russia. According to court documents, Chistyakov allegedly conspired with U.S. citizens Cyril Gregory Buyanovsky, 61, of Kansas, and Douglas Edward Robertson, 56, of Kansas, to facilitate the sale, repair and shipment of U.S.-origin avionics equipment to customers in Russia and in other countries that operate Russian-built aircraft, including the Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB). Buyanovksy and Robertson were charged and arrested in March 2023 and have both pleaded guilty. Buyanovsky is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 14 and Robertson is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 3. As alleged, Chistyakov, while operating from Latvia and often through his Emirati company RosAero FZC, worked with Buyanovsky and Robertson through their U.S. company, KanRus Trading Company Inc. (KanRus), to circumvent U.S export laws by purchasing avionics equipment from U.S. companies for customers in Russia. Chistyakov allegedly acted as a broker for KanRus by soliciting quotes, negotiating prices and terms of delivery and facilitating payments between KanRus and customers in Russia. As alleged, Chistyakov and his conspirators attempted to conceal their illegal activities by creating false invoices, transshipping items through third-party countries, such as Germany and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), using bank accounts in third-party countries, such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and the UAE, and exporting items to intermediary companies which then reexported the items to the ultimate end destinations. Many of the entities and individuals involved in Chistyakov’s alleged scheme were added to the Commerce Department’s Entity List in December 2023, which imposes specific license requirements on transactions made by all listed individuals and entities. Chistyakov is charged with conspiracy, Export Control Reform Act violations, smuggling and money laundering violations. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and up to a $1 million fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod of the Commerce Department, Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI National Security Branch and U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher for the District of Kansas made the announcement. The FBI and the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Rask and Ryan Huschka for the District of Kansas and Trial Attorney Adam Barry of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with Latvian authorities to secure the extradition of Chistyakov to the United States. The investigation was coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls and economic countermeasures that the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2, 2022, and under the leadership of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all of the department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.


title: Final Member Of A Hillsborough Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced To 10 Years In Federal Prison For Conspiracy To Distribute Heroin And Fentanyl

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Jose Miriel Morales Sanchez (32, Tampa) to 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl. Morales Sanchez entered a guilty plea on March 4, 2024. According to court documents, beginning on an unknown date not later than September 1, 2017, and continuing through August 27, 2020, Morales Sanchez conspired with William Franqui and others to distribute heroin and fentanyl in the Middle District of Florida. Franqui, who was the leader of the drug trafficking organization (DTO), used “runners” to field calls from customers and fulfill orders. The runners distributed the heroin to users in plastic baggies for $10 a bag. The DTO included co-defendants Kevin Darnell Diaz Tirado, Edgardo Colon Rosado, Orlando Muniz Escalera, Marie Rodriguez, and others. More than a kilogram of heroin was distributed through the runner network. Franqui also distributed larger quantities of heroin and fentanyl to other drug dealers. Investigators connected multiple overdoses to the heroin and fentanyl distributed by the DTO. William Franqui was sentenced in August 2023 to 14 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl. Morales Sanchez and codefendants Diaz Tirado, Colon Rosado, and Muniz Escalera were all part of Franqui’s runner network and also pleaded guilty to the conspiracy and were sentenced in previous hearings. Judge Barber previously sentenced Diaz Tirado to 5 years, Muniz Escalera to 10 years, and Colon Rosado to 6 years and 6 months in federal prison. Franqui’s wife, Marie Rodriguez, who pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of heroin, was sentenced to 3 years and 4 months in federal prison. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sinacore. This investigation is the result of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.


title: Philadelphia Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Trafficking Charge

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. James Pearcy, 60, pleaded guilty to Count One of the Superseding Indictment before Senior United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson on August 20, 2024. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from in and around January 2021 to in and around June 2021, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Pearcy conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Pearcy was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of cocaine that he distributed to others. Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for January 6, 2025. The law provides for a total sentence of no less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $5 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Pearcy. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, Cambria County District Attorney’s Office, Indiana County District Attorney’s Office, Cambria County Sheriff’s Office, Cambria Township Police Department, Indiana Borough Police Department, Johnstown Police Department, Upper Yoder Township Police Department, Richland Police Department, Ferndale Police Department, and other local law enforcement agencies. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Johnstown Woman Pleads Guilty to Heroin and Cocaine Trafficking

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of violating federal narcotics laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Amanda Weidner, 40, pleaded guilty to Count One of the Superseding Indictment before Senior United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from in and around February 2021 to in and around June 2021, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Weidner conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute quantities of heroin and cocaine base. Weidner was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of the drugs that she distributed to others. Judge Gibson scheduled sentencing for January 7, 2025. The law provides for a total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Weidner. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, Cambria County District Attorney’s Office, Indiana County District Attorney’s Office, Cambria County Sheriff’s Office, Cambria Township Police Department, Indiana Borough Police Department, Johnstown Police Department, Upper Yoder Township Police Department, Richland Police Department, Ferndale Police Department, and other local law enforcement agencies. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Federal Jury Convicts Maryland Man for Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Hagerstown, Maryland man was convicted today by a jury on federal drug trafficking charges, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced. Darryl Donnell Moore, also known as “Boss” and “Boss Hog,” 36, was found guilty of five felony counts involving the distribution of fentanyl and crack cocaine. The jury considered testimony regarding how Moore conspired with his co-defendant, Stephanie Guessford, to cause the distribution of illicit substances in Berkeley County, West Virginia, and elsewhere. As part of the investigation, agents searched a storage unit and motel room connected to the drug operation and seized crack cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl capsules, suboxone, and other controlled substances. “The sale of illicit fentanyl has caused tremendous pain and suffering in the Eastern Panhandle and it’s critical that we hold those who sell it accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. “Thanks to the excellent work of law enforcement officers and federal prosecutors, the community won’t have to worry about Mr. Moore for a long time to come.” Guessford, 29, of Williamsport, Maryland, previously pled guilty to the distribution of fentanyl and was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison in December 2023. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lara Omps-Botteicher and Kyle Kane prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; West Virginia State Police; and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office investigated. U.S. District Court Judge Gina M. Groh presided.


title: Cheektowaga man going to prison for using stolen credit card numbers to purchase tens of thousands of dollars worth of gas

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Cross Malik Williams, 25, of Cheektowaga, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, was sentenced to serve 12 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, who handled the case, stated that between August 2022, and July 2023, Williams, along with co-defendant Kingsley Brown, purchased approximately 570 stolen bank cards from various online marketplaces. Williams and Brown then used a card-making device to load the stolen banking card information onto blank plastic bank cards with magnetic strips, which allowed purchases to be made using the victims’ funds from the victims’ bank accounts. Williams and Brown used, or allowed others to use, the stolen bank card information to purchase gas for other individuals. The gas customers would then pay Williams and/or Brown an amount of money less than the cost of the gas. Williams agreed that he was responsible for between $250,000 and $550,000 of total loss. Kingsley Brown was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia. # # # #


title: Businesswoman Sentenced For Tax and Mail Fraud

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Randolph woman was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for her involvement in a payroll tax avoidance scheme. Lilian Giang, 56, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 18 months in prison followed by two years of supervised released and ordered to pay $845,382 in restitution. In April 2024, Giang was convicted following a three-day jury trial of four counts of failing to collect and pay over taxes and one count of mail fraud. Giang was indicted in March 2023. Between 2015 and 2019, Giang owned and operated Able Temp Agency (Able), a temporary employment agency in Quincy that served client companies in Massachusetts. The client companies paid Able for the temporary employees’ work on an hourly basis. Giang deposited those payments into bank accounts in the name of Able that she controlled, and then paid the temporary employees “under the table” through a combination of checks and cash. In doing so, Giang hid more than $3.2 million in payroll and avoided paying more than $800,000 in required payroll taxes. Giang also falsified Able’s payroll numbers to obtain worker’s compensation insurance at lower premium rates. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Markham and Kristen A. Kearney of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Canadian National Extradited To The United States Pleads Guilty To Production Of Child Sex Abuse Material And Enticement Of Minors

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Paul Creighton (67, Ontario, Canada) has pleaded guilty to production of child sex abuse material and enticement of a minor. Creighton faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to the plea agreement, between 2012 and 2017, Creighton coerced and enticed a 14-year-old girl in Osceola County into an online relationship. Their interactions began over a messaging app and progressed to texting, emails, and phone calls. While the victim was a minor, Creighton repeatedly directed her to send explicit photos and videos of herself, including videos in which the minor was performing sexual acts. In April 2017, the victim confided in a friend about the relationship she had engaged in with Creighton. The friend notified a high school guidance counselor, who notified the victim’s parents, who then immediately called law enforcement and provided the minor victim’s cellphone and laptop to law enforcement. After being discovered, Creighton advised the victim on what to say to her parents, to reset her phone, reformat her hard drive, and delete data from an online storage account. Creighton later threatened the victim and told her he would share her images and videos if the victim did not continue to speak to him. In October 2017, FBI agents stopped Creighton as he landed at Dulles Airport in Washington, DC, traveling from Toronto. Agents searched his carry-on luggage and collected various electronic items from Creighton, who refused to provide passwords to those items. Agents obtained search warrants and conducted forensic reviews of those devices, which revealed photographs of the victim, online searches for the victim and her family, as well as numerous searches for other children throughout the United States. On October 24, 2017—at the same time that Creighton was flying to Washington, DC, from Toronto—detectives with the Niagara Regional Police, in coordination with the FBI, executed a Canadian search warrant at Creighton’s residence in Ontario. From his home, agents recovered hundreds of images of minor children, including the explicit images of the victim, as well as other minor victims. Based on these images and the items found in his personal electronic devices, FBI agents identified a number of other minor victims throughout the United States that Creighton had victimized or obtained child sexual abuse material from, including in Florida, Virginia, Georgia, and California. Creighton was taken into custody by Canadian authorities on November 12, 2020. On February 8, 2024, Creighton was extradited to the United States, and has been in custody since. This investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Tampa Field Office. Substantial assistance was provided by the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the United States Marshals Service, and the Niagara Regional Police. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes. It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 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 child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.jutice.gov/psc.


title: BURTON MAN SENTENCED TO DECADES IN FEDERAL PRISON  FOR SEXUALLY EXPLOITATING CHILDREN

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: FLINT – Nicholas Dunn, 42, of Burton was sentenced yesterday to 40 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting children, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today. Ison was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Angie M. Salazar, Homeland Security Investigations Detroit. United States District Court Judge F. Kay Behm imposed sentence on Dunn following his guilty plea to two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Judge Behm also sentenced Dunn to 5 years of federal supervised release following his release from incarceration. According to court records, in December of 2022, an HSI special agent working online in an undercover capacity observed one of Dunn’s co-defendants, Preston Creed-Boehm, post an image of child pornography. Creed-Boehm also sent child pornography directly to the undercover agent and described how he sexually abused two minor victims. Shortly thereafter, law enforcement arrested Creed-Boehm, searched his cell phones, and discovered that Dunn had manufactured one of the images of child pornography found on Creed-Boehm’s cell phone. Law enforcement then executed a search warrant at Dunn’s residence, which he shared with another co-defendant, Joshua Hippensteel. Further investigation revealed Dunn’s extended sexual abuse of five minor children, including grooming, sexual acts, and the production of additional child pornography. Witnesses also disclosed to law enforcement that Dunn had possessed and viewed substantial quantities of child pornography that he obtained over the internet. Creed-Boehm and Hippensteel have also been charged with sexual exploitation of a minor. Additionally, Creed-Boehm has further been charged with distribution and possession of child pornography. The charges against Creed-Boehm and Hippensteel are still pending. “This defendant’s actions were heinous, and the sentence underscores our office’s commitment to bringing to justice those who sexually exploit and victimize children,” U.S. Attorney Ison said. “This conviction would not have been possible without the work of our dedicated law enforcement partners at HSI and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.” “Protecting children in our communities across Michigan is a team effort from investigation to prosecution,” said HSI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Angie M. Salazar. “HSI Detroit is proud to partner with the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring accountability and justice to sexual predators while providing care and support to the victims. It is my hope that this 40-year sentence brings some measure of solace to the victims in this case so they can continue to heal from these terrible crimes.” “This conviction demonstrates our unyielding determination to combat child abuse and sexual violence. The safety and well-being of our children is our highest priorities. We hope this case serves as a reminder that we must remain vigilant and proactive in protecting our communities,” said Detective Lieutenant Robert Nicklesen, Genesee County Sheriff’s Office. “We urge anyone who suspects child abuse or has experienced it themselves to reach out to local authorities or organizations dedicated to child protection. You are not alone, and help is available.” This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann Nee.


title: Founder of Miami-Based Cryptocurrency Token CluCoin Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – Austin Michael Taylor, 40, was the founder of cryptocurrency project CluCoin and owner of CLU LLC, a company incorporated and headquartered in Miami-Dade County Fla., that handed CluCoin’s operations. On Aug. 15, Taylor pled guilty to wire fraud for a scheme involving the transfer of $1,140,000 of CluCoin investor funds to Taylor’s personal account. According to court records, Taylor leveraged his sizable social media following to generate interest in a digital token he called “CLU.” Taylor generated interest in CLU’s initial coin offering (“ICO”), which is a capital raising event in which an entity offers investors a unique digital token in exchange for a more established cryptocurrency or fiat currency. Taylor created a “white paper” for CluCoin, which was meant to educate and entice investors to participate in the ICO, which promised to have a charitable focus. After raising investor funds, Taylor successfully launch CluCoin’s ICO on May 19, 2021. Taylor then shifted CluCoin’s focus to other projects he devised: the minting of non-fungible tokens (“NFTs”), the development of a computer game, and a metaverse platform. According to court records, Taylor organized and paid for an event called “NFTCon: Into the Metaverse,” which took place in a hotel in Miami on April 4 and 5, 2022 to drive interest and investment in CLU, CluCoin, and related projects. Shortly after the conference, in May 2022, Taylor gained the ability to make withdrawals from the cryptocurrency address he controlled into which a portion of the CLU investor funds automatically flowed. From May 2022 and continuing through December 2022, Taylor sent approximately $1.14 million in investor funds to his personal account at a virtual currency exchange and then used the funds at multiple online casinos, where he lost these investor funds to gambling. Taylor’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 31, at 10:00 A.M., before U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Becerra. Taylor faces a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison for the wire fraud conviction. Judge Becerra will determine Taylor’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri, FBI Miami, made the announcement. FBI Miami and Washington Field Offices are investigating the case. Assistant U.S Attorney Manolo Reboso is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S Attorney Emily Stone is handling asset forfeiture. Identified victims will be notified via NFT. If you invested in CLU, believe you are a victim, and/or received an NFT, please visit https://www.fbi.gov/CluCoinInvestors to provide relevant information to the FBI. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-20308. ###


title: Ponsford Man Charged with Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor on the White Earth Reservation

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – A Ponsford man has been indicted for sexually abusing a minor on the White Earth Indian Reservation, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, between October 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023, within the exterior boundaries of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe Indian Reservation, Joseph Schultz, 42, knowingly engaged in sexual acts with a minor under the age of 12. The indictment charges Schultz with one count of aggravated sexual abuse and one count of abusive sexual contact. Schultz made his initial appearance today in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Jon T. Huseby. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the White Earth Tribal Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carla J. Baumel and Michael P. McBride are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Stafford fentanyl trafficker sentenced to 10 years in prison

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A Stafford man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents, on Oct. 2, 2023, the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office recovered a parcel with 16,245 counterfeit blue oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and stamped with "M30." On Oct. 17, 2023, agents executed a search warrant at the residence of Dwaine Tyrone Jones Jr., 27, which he shared with his girlfriend and his girlfriend's parents. During the search of the residence, agents recovered approximately 20,240 blue M30 pills containing fentanyl, along with approximately 40.5 grams of cocaine, a scale, $47,770 in cash, a half-pound of marijuana, and a loaded 9mm semiautomatic handgun. The total weight of the fentanyl pills was 2,137.04 grams. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck. Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia L. Norman prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-27.


title: Wasilla man charged with child pornography, firearm offenses

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Wasilla man was charged by criminal complaint last week for allegedly possessing child pornography and possessing a firearm as a felon. According to court documents, in June 2022, law enforcement obtained and executed a search warrant for a cell phone belonging to Paul Allen Greeno, 44. Upon review of the phone’s contents, agents found images of child sexual abuse, including sexual abuse of toddlers aged one to four years old. On Aug. 5, 2024, the FBI executed a search warrant on Greeno’s person and residence. During the search, agents found four long gun rifles from a vehicle on his property. Several boxes of ammunition were also found in Greeno’s closet in his bedroom. Greeno was convicted of felony misconduct involving a weapon in December 2023. The criminal complaint filed against Greeno alleges that he befriended vulnerable youth in Anchorage with promises to supply them with drugs and then sexually exploited them. Greeno is charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possession of child pornography depicting minors who have not attained 12 years of age. If convicted, Greeno faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Anchorage Field Office is investigating the case. If anyone has information concerning Greeno’s alleged actions or may have encountered someone in person or online using the name Paul Allen Greeno, please contact the FBI Anchorage Field Office at (907) 276-4441 or anonymously at tips.fbi.gov . Assistant U.S. Attorney Alana Weber is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Connecticut Man Admits Role in $7.8 Million Health Care Fraud and Kickback Scheme

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Connecticut man admitted his role in a multimillion-dollar durable medical equipment (DME) health care fraud and kickback scheme, Attorney for the United States Vikas Khanna announced. Jesse Foote, 58, of Fairfield, Connecticut, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court to a two-count information charging him with conspiracy to violate the Federal Anti-Kickback statute and conspiracy to commit health care fraud. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From December 2017 to March 2021, Foote conspired with overseas telemarking call centers, DME suppliers, telemedicine companies, and doctors to submit fraudulent claims to health care benefit programs, including Medicare and TRICARE, through a circular scheme of kickbacks and bribes. Foote controlled a marketing company though which he purchased patient “leads” from overseas telemarking companies, which consisted of information about Medicare and other beneficiaries and pre-written doctors’ orders for DME. The telemarketing call centers targeted Medicare beneficiaries and others with health insurance to persuade them to accept DME, including orthotic braces, without regard to medical necessity. Foote paid bribes and kickbacks to telemedicine companies, which in turn paid bribes and kickbacks to doctors, to obtain doctors’ orders for DME based on the leads. The doctors often approved the DME orders without having had any contact with the beneficiary and without making a bona fide assessment that the DME was medically necessary. Foote then sold the signed doctors’ orders to others with whom he had kickback arrangements. The doctors’ orders were ultimately submitted to DME suppliers, including DME suppliers controlled by Foote, which submitted fraudulent claims for reimbursement to health care benefit programs including Medicare, TRICARE, and private insurance companies. In total, Foote and his conspirators caused the submission of false and fraudulent claims to health care benefit programs totaling more than $7.8 million for DME. The kickback conspiracy charge is punishable by a maximum of five years in prison, and the health care fraud conspiracy charge is punishable by a maximum of 10 years in prison. Both charges are punishable by a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 21, 2025. Attorney for the United States Khanna credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz, and U.S. Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Northeast Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian J. Solecki, with the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine M. Romano of the Health Care Fraud Unit and Senior Trial Counsel Barbara Ward of the Asset Recovery and Money Laundering Unit in Newark. foote.information.pdf


title: Violent Offender Arrested for Selling Counterfeit Pills to Undercover Officer

body_text: BOSTON – A Taunton man who allegedly sold over a kilogram of counterfeit pills to an undercover officer was arrested yesterday in connection with an ongoing investigation of the manufacturing of counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine. Shavon Gurley, a/k/a “Soo Soo,” 29, of Taunton, was charged with distribution and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. The defendant was arrested yesterday morning and, following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, was detained pending a hearing scheduled for Aug. 27, 2024. According to the charging documents, Gurley was identified as being involved in trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine in conjunction with a Brockton-based drug trafficking organization. As part of the investigation, between Aug. 2-5, 2024, undercover law enforcement allegedly communicated with Gurley about purchasing methamphetamine pills. On Aug. 5, 2024, Gurley allegedly sold 6,000 counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine, weighing over a kilogram, to an undercover officer. During the interaction, Gurley allegedly stated that he would drop the price per pill if the undercover officer were to buy 10,000 or 20,000 pills. It is further alleged that Gurley continued to discuss his drug operation with the undercover officer and boasted about selling kilograms of fentanyl that his customers then go on to sell in Maine. During the controlled purchase with the undercover officer, Gurley allegedly stated that he sells kilograms of fentanyl for $30,000, and that the fentanyl is such high quality that it can be adulterated with cutting agents into 10 kilograms. It is further alleged that Gurley then stated he also sells a higher quality and purity fentanyl for $50,000, which can be adulterated into 50 kilograms. Gurley also allegedly boasted about property he has already acquired through selling narcotics and that he intends to reach $600,000 in profits. As alleged in the charging documents, Gurley complimented the undercover officer’s “aura” and promised to do business with the officer in the future. At the time of the sale, Gurley was allegedly on pretrial release for a domestic violence offense. Lastly, during the execution of search warrants at Gurley’s residence and vehicle yesterday, law enforcement allegedly recovered a loaded black firearm, two posters depicting cherubim – with captions that read, “I Only Fear the Feds,” and “Rats Don’t Make it To Heaven,” – a bag containing an amount of controlled substances believed to be fentanyl, as well as a number of plastic bags containing approximately 10,000 counterfeit Adderall pills believed to contain methamphetamine. According to the charging documents, Gurley has a lengthy juvenile record and criminal history that includes a number of prior firearm and violent offenses – including a 2012 conviction for assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon for attacking a man with a pistol and pointing the firearm at the victim’s head, for which he served a six to 10 year term in state prison. The charge of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of methamphetamine provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, five years and up to lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. 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 and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Taunton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: New York Man Arrested for Operating as an Illegal Agent of the Chinese Government in the United States

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Yuanjun Tang, 67, a naturalized citizen of the United States and resident of Queens, New York, was charged by criminal complaint with acting and conspiring to act in the United States as an unregistered agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and making materially false statements to the FBI. Tang was arrested today in Flushing, Queens, and will be presented this afternoon. According to court documents, Tang is a former PRC citizen who was imprisoned in the PRC for his activities as a dissident opposing the one-party authoritarian political system controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the PRC’s sole ruling party. In or about 2002, Tang defected to Taiwan; he was subsequently granted political asylum in the United States and has since resided in New York City, where he has regularly participated in events with fellow PRC dissidents and leads a nonprofit dedicated to promoting democracy in China. Between at least in or about 2018 and in or about June 2023, Tang acted in the United States as an agent of the PRC by completing tasks at the direction of the PRC’s Ministry of State Security (MSS), which is the PRC’s principal civilian intelligence agency. The MSS is responsible for, among other things, the PRC’s foreign intelligence, counterintelligence, espionage and political security functions. Specifically, through a particular email account, encrypted chats, text messages and audio and video calls, Tang regularly received instructions from and reported to an MSS intelligence officer regarding individuals and groups viewed by the PRC as potentially adverse to the PRC’s interests, including prominent U.S.-based Chinese democracy activists and dissidents. He also traveled at least three times for face-to-face meetings with MSS intelligence officers and helped the MSS infiltrate a group chat on an encrypted messaging application used by numerous PRC dissidents and pro-democracy activists to communicate about pro-democracy issues and express criticism of the PRC government. Law enforcement recovered instructions Tang received from the MSS and photographs, videos and documents that he collected or created for transmission to the MSS from numerous electronic devices and accounts belonging to Tang. Tang also made materially false statements to the FBI. He falsely claimed that he was no longer able to access an email account through which he had communicated with his MSS handler through draft emails. Tang is charged with one count of conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government without notifying the Attorney General, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison; one count of acting as an agent of a foreign government without notifying the Attorney General, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison; and one count of making false statements, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York and Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI’s National Security Branch made the announcement. The FBI is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jane Yumi Chong for the Southern District of New York and Trial Attorney Scott Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Jacksonville Man Pleads Guilty To Attempting To Entice And Meet An 11-Year-Old Child To Engage In Sexual Activity

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Amol Chandrashekhar Khedkar (59, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to using his cellphone and the internet to attempt to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity. Khedkar faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison and a potential lifetime term of supervised release. Khedkar was arrested on November 29, 2023, and he has been detained since that time. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 19, 2024. According to court documents and evidence discussed in open court, on November 28, 2023, an undercover FBI agent (the “UC”) in the Jacksonville area was conducting an online undercover operation to identify adults seeking to meet and engage in sexual activity with children. Posing as the parent of an 11-year-old child, the UC posted a notice in the open forum of an online social messaging application (the “app”). Minutes later, an individual named “drbrownee,” who was subsequently identified as Khedkar, contacted the UC online via private message on the app. After being advised of the “child’s” age, Khedkar confirmed that he would “love to see [the “child.”] He asked the UC specific questions about access to the “child” and the “child’s” sexual experience. Khedkar and the UC discussed meeting in person the next day at the “child’s” residence. Khedkar stated, “I’ll show up, … [t]hen you can invite me inside.” On November 29, 2023, Khedkar and the UC exchanged text messages and confirmed meeting later that day at a prearranged location in St. Johns County. When Khedkar arrived at the location, he was arrested by FBI agents as he exited his vehicle. During an interview, Khedkar stated that his username was “drbrownee,” he used his online account to communicate with the UC, he asked the UC about sexually abusing the “child,” and he directed the UC to take a shower with the “child.” A review of the contents of Khedkar’s cellphone, pursuant to a search warrant, revealed that it contained the online communications and text messages exchanged between Khedkar and the UC, as well as photos depicting the sexual abuse of children. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown. It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 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 child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.jutice.gov/psc.


title: Rhode Island Man Pleads Guilty to Role in International Money Laundering Conspiracy

body_text: BOSTON – A Rhode Island man pleaded guilty yesterday to his involvement in a sophisticated international money laundering and drug trafficking organization. Agustin Villa, age 61, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley scheduled sentencing for Nov. 25, 2024. In May 2023, a federal grand jury in Boston returned a superseding indictment charging 12 individuals from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York and California for their alleged involvement in a sophisticated international money laundering and drug trafficking organization. The network was first detected in greater Boston in 2021. The leader of the organization, Jin Hua Zhang, based in Staten Island, New York, and a number of his criminal associates, were eventually identified. For a fee, Zhang laundered bulk cash for drug dealers and laundered profits from other illegal businesses. In less than one year, Zhang and his organization laundered at least $25 million worth of drug proceeds and funds from other illegal businesses. Villa was identified as a courier for a drug trafficking organization that used Zhang’s group to launder drug money. On May 26, 2022, Villa delivered over $75,000 in cash to a cooperating witness. Those funds were converted to Tether, a type of cryptocurrency, and transferred to Zhang, the organization’s leader, minus a fee. Funds were traced from the Zhang organization to Hong Kong and elsewhere in China, India, Cambodia, and Brazil, among other locations, and seized cash and cryptocurrency in accounts tied to Zhang at the conclusion of this investigation. The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000, or twice the amount involved, whichever is greater. 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. Zhang pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 15, 2024. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl, Brian A. Fogerty and Meghan C. Cleary of Levy’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case. The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Last Defendant Sentenced To Prison For Role In Heroin Distribution Conspiracy

body_text: LAS VEGAS – Jose Carlos De La Rosa-Lopez was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Andrew P. Gordon to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for his role in a conspiracy to distribute heroin in Las Vegas. From August 2021 to May 4, 2022, De La Rosa-Lopez and co-defendants Eduardo Lopez, Jose Luis Marin-Flores, Luis Alfredo Vela-Aguirre, Jose Rivera-Hernandez, Irene Alejo-Hernandez, and Luis Alberto Lopez Benitez conspired to distribute over three kilograms of heroin, a Schedule I controlled substance. Previously, six co-defendants were sentenced. Eduardo Lopez was sentenced to 70 months in prison. Jose Luis Marin-Flores was sentenced to 46 months in prison. Luis Alfredo Vela-Aguirre was sentenced to 46 months in prison. Jose Rivera-Hernandez was sentenced to 60 months in prison. Irene Alejo-Hernandez was sentenced to time served. Luis Alberto Lopez Benitez was sentenced to 37 months in prison. United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kevin Adams for the DEA Las Vegas District Office made the announcement. This case was investigated by the DEA. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Brister prosecuted the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF . If you are aware of controlled substance violations in your community — which may include the growing, manufacture, distribution or trafficking of controlled substances — please submit your anonymous tip through the DEA Tip Line at https://www.dea.gov/submit-tip . ###


title: Husband and Wife Sentenced for Defrauding an Elderly Victim Out of Her Home and Obstruction of Justice

component: U.S. Attorneys (USAO)

body_text: BOISE – James Dougherty, 44, of Boise, was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for wire fraud involving a scheme to defraud an elderly victim of money and real property, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also sentenced Dougherty to three years of supervised release to follow his prison term. His wife, Jessica Dougherty, 43, also of Boise, was sentenced to three years of probation for obstruction of justice. According to court records, in early 2015, James Dougherty and his wife, Jessica Dougherty, moved into a building on the victim’s 46-acre ranch in Boise to ostensibly provide the victim with assistance with her ranch and horses in exchange for free rent. Prior to 2015, the victim, a retired elementary schoolteacher, lived independently on her ranch and enjoyed a comfortable retirement. In late 2015, the victim’s health deteriorated. During that time, James Dougherty gained control of the victim’s finances, including being named as the victim’s power-of-attorney for finances. A trust was executed, ostensibly signed by the victim, naming James and Jessica Dougherty as primary beneficiaries of the victim’s estate, including the ranch, and naming James Dougherty as successor trustee. Shortly thereafter, in December 2015, the victim’s ranch was transferred from the victim to the newly formed trust benefitting the Doughertys. In March 2016, the victim was then declared incapacitated by two doctors, and James Dougherty was appointed sole trustee of the trust. In 2015 and 2016, James Dougherty began to access, use, and transfer funds from the victim’s banking and financial accounts for his own personal use, benefit, and ownership. James Dougherty used the victim’s funds without her knowledge or consent to pay his and Jessica Dougherty’s creditors to rehabilitate their credit and to qualify for a mortgage to ultimately transfer the victim’s ranch into the Doughertys’ personal names. In July 2017, James and Jessica Dougherty entered into an agreement to purchase the ranch from the trust, executed by James Dougherty, as trustee. The victim was not involved in the transactions. James Dougherty as trustee sold the ranch to himself and Jessica Dougherty, signed as both the “Buyer” and as the “Seller” on the purchase and sale agreement, for less than the market value. James Dougherty did not place the ranch for sale on the public market and the purchase price he paid simply represented the amount to clear the existing debt on the ranch. According to the Ada County Assessor, however, the value of the ranch at the time was approximately twice the amount of the purchase price. The sale of the ranch to James and Jessica Dougherty was a breach of fiduciary duty under the trust and James Dougherty admitted he acted with the intent to defraud. In total, as a result of James Dougherty’s fraud, the victim suffered a loss of more than $250,000. After James and Jessica were arrested in August 2022, and while in pretrial custody, Jessica Dougherty made a call from the Ada County jail and requested that an individual “flash” or “reset” a Dell laptop computer located at the ranch. Within hours, an individual followed Jessica Dougherty’s request and records relevant to the investigation involving the victim were permanently destroyed from the Dell laptop computer. Jessica Dougherty admitted to knowingly causing the destruction of the records with the intent to obstruct the Department of Justice’s investigation. “Defrauding this vulnerable victim out of her home was a reprehensible crime,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “I am grateful for the dedication of the investigators and prosecutors in this case. The justice achieved here reinforces our commitment to protect our senior citizens from fraud and abuse.” “These sentences should serve as a reminder to anyone attempting to defraud or manipulate a senior citizen that their actions will bring severe consequences,” said Tom Demeo, Acting IRS CI Special Agent in Charge, Denver Field Office. “As a community, it is our responsibility to care for our elders. As a law enforcement community, it is our duty to hold individuals accountable who abuse their position of trust and we will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to protect our senior citizens.” “Elder abuse preys on vulnerable individuals, stripping seniors of their hard-earned savings, and will not be tolerated,” said Special Agent in Charge Steven J. Ryan of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG will continue working with our law enforcement partners to raise awareness of this growing crisis and pursue those who engage in this abhorrent conduct.” U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the work of the Ada County Sherriff’s Office, the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations Division, and the Office of Inspector General of Health and Human Services, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Mazorol and Brittney Campbell prosecuted the case. Combatting elder abuse and financial fraud targeted at seniors is a key priority of the Department of Justice. The mission of the Department’s Elder Justice Initiative is to support and coordinate the Department’s enforcement and programmatic efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial fraud and scams that target our nation’s seniors. To learn more visit www.justice.gov/elderjustice . The public is encouraged to report their victimization and suspected fraud schemes. To find the right reporting agency visit www.justice.gov/elderjustice/roadmap or call the victim connect hotline at 1-855-484-2846. ###


title: Four People Indicted On Charges Related To Robbery Of Denver Jewelry Store

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The United States Attorney for the District of Colorado announces that Oswaldo Lozada-Solis, 23, Jesus Daniel Lara Del Toro, 20, Jean Franco Torres-Roman, 21, and Edwuimar Nazareth Colina-Romero, 18, all Venezuelan nationals, were indicted by a federal grand jury this week on charges related to the armed robbery of a Denver-area jewelry store. According to the indictment, on the afternoon of June 24, the suspects entered the Joyeria El Ruby Jewelry Store on West 38 th Avenue in Denver. During the robbery, suspects pointed weapons at employees, struck several employees with their weapons, and took a large amount of gold and jewelry. The suspects were later located in the El Paso, Texas area. Lozada-Solis, Del Toro, and Torres-Roman are charged with armed robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Colina-Romero is charged with transporting stolen goods and possession of stolen goods. The defendants made their initial appearances in Denver on August 20 and 21 in front of Magistrate Judge James P. O’Hara. The charges contained in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent of the charges unless and until proven guilty. The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations Denver, the Denver Police Department, the FBI Denver Field Division, FBI El Paso Field Division, Homeland Security Investigations El Paso, U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector, Texas Department of Public Safety, El Paso Police Department, and West Texas Anti-Gang Center. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Leah Perczak and Assistant United States Attorney Garreth Winstead. Case Number: 24-CR-00247-NYW


title: Indiana man sentenced to 30 years for producing child pornography

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Indiana man was sentenced today to 30 years in prison and life on supervised release for his role in a conspiracy to produce child sexual abuse materials. According to court documents, Darin Schilmiller, 26, and his co-conspirator Denali Brehmer, 24, conspired to murder Cynthia Hoffman in June 2019 while Schilmiller was residing in Indiana. While they were conspiring to commit Hoffman’s murder, they also conspired to exploit a minor victim to produce sexually explicit images, which Brehmer took and sent to Schilmiller via text message at his direction. Schilmiller and Brehmer pleaded guilty to production of child pornography in the U.S. District Court in July 2023. Brehmer was sentenced to serve a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and the rest of her life on supervised release. Both defendants were also sentenced by the State of Alaska to 99 years in prison for their roles in Hoffman’s murder. In imposing the sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Ralph R. Beistline cited public safety as a paramount consideration, describing the defendant’s actions as predatory, perverted and sophisticated. Judge Beistline stated, "I can't think of anything worse than what that I've seen here,” and that, “the defendant can't be permitted to hurt anyone else." “This sentence marks the conclusion of a years-long effort to hold the defendants accountable for the tragic consequences of their actions,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “I want to thank the FBI Anchorage Field Office and the Anchorage Police Department for their commitment to protecting Alaska’s children, and to the Alaska Department of Law for diligently prosecuting the homicide. We remain committed to keeping our state safe and pursuing justice.” “Mr. Schilmiller committed some of the darkest crimes imaginable, causing immeasurable harm to the victims and their families,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day. “This sentencing underscores the unrelenting efforts by the investigative and prosecution teams to ensure that none of his sadistic crimes went unpunished. The FBI, the Anchorage Police Department, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prioritize holding dangerous offenders accountable and protecting our most vulnerable.” “This heinous crime had a profound life-long effect on the victim’s family and on this community as well,” stated Anchorage Police Chief Sean Case. “It is important that those responsible are held accountable for their actions. Our department is grateful for the assistance we received from the local FBI Office in bringing this case to its conclusion.” The FBI Anchorage Field Office and Anchorage Police Department investigated the case as part of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: President of UMI Learning Center Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison, Ordered to Pay $3.7 Million back in Stolen Childcare Benefits

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – August 21, 2024 SAN DIEGO – Mohamed Muriidi Mohamed was sentenced in federal court today to 27 months in prison for participating in a childcare-benefits fraud scheme that bilked a California welfare and benefits program of millions of dollars. At today’s hearing, U.S. District Judge Ruth Bermudez Montenegro also ordered Muriidi to pay $3.7 million in restitution to Child Development Associates. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) funds a program known as “Alternative Payment Program/Stage 2 Childcare.” This childcare benefits program allows eligible parents to select a licensed childcare provider that best fit a family’s needs. In San Diego, this program is administered by two contractors: Child Development Associates (CDA) and the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA). CDA and YMCA disburse the funding from HHS and the state of California directly to the designated childcare providers. In administering the program, CDA and YMCA require verification forms to be completed by the parent and the parent’s employer and/or school. Muriidi and his three co-defendants fraudulently caused CDA and YMCA to pay out millions in childcare benefit program funds by falsely verifying that parents were working or attending school at the UMI Learning Center, a vocational and language school located on University Avenue, although the parents were not actually participating in classes or employment as claimed. As part of the scheme, Muriidi also issued paychecks to make it appear that the parents were working at UMI but told the parents not to cash them. Meanwhile, childcare providers submitted daily childcare attendance forms falsely claiming that childcare was provided for days and hours when the parents were supposedly at UMI Learning Center for work or school. In exchange for these false verification forms, parents were expected to pay $200 to UMI Learning Center each month, and the childcare providers were expected to split the childcare benefit program funds they received with the parents. The defendants’ scheme caused CDA and YMCA to pay out $3.7 million dollars in childcare benefit program funds to approximately 150 households. Muriidi and his wife, co-defendant Amina Abdirazak Omar, received childcare benefits for their own children. Muriidi signed his own and his wife’s verification forms for their own benefits under his alias to hide the fact that he was the one falsely verifying their presence at UMI. Amina Omar and her sister, co-defendant Osob Abdirazak Omar, and their brother, co-defendant Omar Omar, submitted false timesheets claiming Osob Omar and Omar Omar were providing childcare for Muriidi and Amina Omar’s children for days and hours they were not. Co-defendants Amina Abdirazak Omar, Osob Abdirazak Omar and Omar Omar have also pleaded guilty to the same charge. Osob Omar was sentenced on July 26, 2024, to 12 months and 1 day in custody and ordered to pay $298,910 in restitution. Omar Omar was sentenced on August 2, 2024, to 90 days in custody and ordered to pay $101,153 in restitution. Amina Omar is scheduled to be sentenced on October 4, 2024. “These defendants stole money intended to provide safe care for children of working parents,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to safeguarding government funded programs like this one, so families can better manage the heavy burden of childcare expenses.” “These thieves organized a financial scheme with the sole purpose of lining their pockets with ill-gotten money,” said Christopher A. Davis, acting special agent in charge for HSI San Diego. “The defendants in this case stole from the government and American taxpayers. We are committed to identifying fraudsters and bringing them to justice.” This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Valerie H. Chu and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa J. Sanniti. DEFENDANTS Case Number 23CR0552-RBM Mohamed Muriidi Mohamed Age: 47 Spring Valley Amina Abdirazak Omar Age: 41 Spring Valley Osob Abdirazak Omar Age: 33 San Diego Omar Omar Age: 26 San Diego SUMMARY OF CHARGES Wire Fraud and Theft Conspiracy - Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371 Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and fine of the greater of $250,000, or twice the pecuniary gain or loss INVESTIGATING AGENCIES U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of the Inspector General


title: Queens Man Arrested For Operating As An Illegal Agent Of The Chinese Government In The United States

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Christie M. Curtis, the Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today the unsealing of a Complaint charging YUANJUN TANG, a naturalized citizen of the U.S. and resident of Flushing, Queens, with acting and conspiring to act in the U.S. as an unregistered agent of the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) and making materially false statements to the FBI. TANG was arrested today in Flushing, Queens, and was presented this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, for years, Yuanjun Tang used his position as a leader among pro-democracy activists in the U.S. to collect information for the Chinese government and to report on people critical of the PRC and events conducted in support of democracy. Today’s charges reflect this Office’s commitment to combating the repressive and illegal use of foreign agents in the U.S. to sow fear and distrust within our communities and subvert our country’s most basic freedoms.” Acting Assistant Director in Charge Christie Curtis said: “Yuanjun Tang conspired with the PRC's Ministry of State Security, operating covertly to further the interests of a foreign power at the expense of our nation's security. This behavior is not just illegal; it is harmful to the sovereignty of the United States, and we will not stand for it. Let this serve as a clear warning: the FBI will hunt down and hold accountable those who seek to betray our country.” As alleged in the Complaint unsealed today in Manhattan federal court: [1] TANG is a former PRC citizen who was imprisoned in the PRC for his activities as a dissident opposing the one-party authoritarian political system controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (“CCP”), the PRC’s sole ruling party. In or about 2002, TANG defected to Taiwan; he was subsequently granted political asylum in the U.S. and has since resided in New York City, where he has regularly participated in events with fellow PRC dissidents and leads a nonprofit dedicated to promoting democracy in China. Between at least in or about 2018 and in or about June 2023, TANG acted in the U.S. as an agent of the PRC by completing tasks at the direction of the PRC’s Ministry of State Security (“MSS”), which is the PRC’s principal civilian intelligence agency. The MSS is responsible for, among other things, the PRC’s foreign intelligence, counterintelligence, espionage, and political security functions. Specifically, through a particular email account, encrypted chats, text messages, and audio and video calls, TANG regularly received instructions from and reported to an MSS intelligence officer regarding individuals and groups viewed by the PRC as potentially adverse to the PRC’s interests, including prominent U.S.-based Chinese democracy activists and dissidents. He also traveled at least three times for face-to-face meetings with MSS intelligence officers and helped the MSS infiltrate a group chat on an encrypted messaging application used by numerous PRC dissidents and pro-democracy activists to communicate about pro-democracy issues and express criticism of the PRC government. Law enforcement recovered instructions TANG received from the MSS and photographs, videos, and documents that he collected or created for transmission to the MSS from numerous electronic devices and accounts belonging to TANG. TANG also made materially false statements to the FBI. He falsely claimed that he was no longer able to access an email account through which he had communicated with his MSS handler through draft emails. * * * TANG, 67, of Flushing, Queens, is charged with one count of conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government without notifying the Attorney General, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of acting as an agent of a foreign government without notifying the Attorney General, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; and one count of false statements, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and its New York Field Office, Counterintelligence Division, and thanked the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, for their assistance. This case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and International Narcotics Trafficking Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jane Yumi Chong is in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney Scott Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint constitutes only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.


title: Former Crafton Resident Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute Cocaine and Heroin from Mexico and Commit Money Laundering

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A former resident of Crafton, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of violating federal narcotics and money laundering laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Andrew Beatty, 40, pleaded guilty to two counts before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon: conspiring to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and one kilogram or more of heroin, and conspiring to commit money laundering. Beatty has a prior federal drug trafficking conviction from 2007 for which he was sentenced to 78 months in prison. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that communications intercepted on federal wiretaps by law enforcement between September 2013 and March 2014 revealed that Beatty was obtaining kilogram quantities of heroin and cocaine from a Mexican drug trafficking organization, communicating directly with an unidentified Mexican male known only as “Guero.” Guero arranged for heroin and cocaine to be hidden in vehicles in California and then transported to Pittsburgh and several other cities via car carrier trucks. Beatty, with the assistance of conspirators, would receive the cars and unload the heroin and cocaine, and also sell the drugs to other individuals, who further distributed the drugs throughout Western Pennsylvania. Once the drugs were sold, Beatty, again with the assistance of co-conspirators, hid the money in vehicles that he shipped to the Mexican organization in California. Often, the vehicles involved were older model Acura sedans equipped with sophisticated concealed compartments with hydraulic arms that were opened through a series of actions. In December 2013, DEA agents arranged for the Ohio Highway Patrol to conduct a traffic stop of a car carrier truck based on information obtained through Beatty’s intercepted communications. The truck was carrying a car that Beatty had shipped to the Mexican organization in California, a search of which resulted in the seizure of approximately $130,000 in U.S. currency. On January 12, 2014, and again on February 9, 2014, an undercover DEA agent posing as a money courier received from Beatty and his associates approximately $225,000 (on each occasion). The money was then deposited into bank accounts specified by the Mexican organization. In early March 2014, agents intercepted communications between Guero and Beatty that revealed a car containing cocaine had been shipped to Pittsburgh and left in a parking lot for Beatty. On March 5, 2014, the agents located and towed the car before Beatty had the opportunity to retrieve it. A search warrant was executed, resulting in the seizure of approximately six kilograms of cocaine hidden in metal containers bolted to the wheels inside of the tires. On March 19, 2014, agents executed search warrants, along with arrest warrants for Beatty and others, and seized approximately $400,000 in cash, the bulk of which was found in Beatty’s storage locker. A search of a conspirator’s residence resulted in the seizure of approximately 40 bricks of heroin and $40,000 in cash. During the execution of the search warrant at Beatty’s home, Beatty showed the agents how to open the concealed compartment of a silver Acura located at the residence, the only contents of which was marijuana, and claimed that he had sold the gold Acura for which the agents also had a warrant. The following day, agents located the gold Acura belonging to Beatty parked on a city street near a conspirator’s home. The vehicle had an anti-theft steering wheel lock, the key to which, along with the key to the car itself, was found in Beatty’s residence on March 19. The agents also had observed Beatty move the same vehicle the previous night via a pole camera they had installed outside of Beatty’s residence. Upon the execution of a search warrant for the vehicle, agents found approximately 3.5 kilograms of heroin, three firearms, and four cell phones belonging to Beatty inside of a trap compartment in the door panel, which opened in the same unique manner that Beatty showed the agents on the silver Acura located at his residence the previous day. A later search of those cellular telephones revealed that they were among the cellular telephones that were intercepted during the wiretaps, as well as other incriminating evidence. Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing for December 17, 2024. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Brendan T. Conway is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Baldwin Police Department, Munhall Police Department, Scott Township Police Department, Allegheny County Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, Duquesne Police Department, West Homestead Police Department, and Ohio Highway Patrol conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Beatty. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Salt Lake County Man Found Guilty on All Counts for Bankruptcy Crimes

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A federal jury convicted Richard Villanueva Mitchell, 53, of Midvale, Utah, today for bankruptcy crimes he committed in 2017. After a three day trial, Mitchell was found guilty of bankruptcy fraud, false bankruptcy declaration, and bribery in bankruptcy. According to evidence presented at trial, from April 2017 through November 2017, Mitchell schemed to defraud the bankruptcy court, bankruptcy trustee, and his creditors through fraudulent bankruptcy proceedings. As part of the scheme to defraud, Mitchell concealed several hundred appliances such as dishwashers, refrigerators, washers, dryers and ranges, appliances that Mitchell had previously borrowed roughly $500,000 to purchase. Mitchell was self-employed, supplying, installing and repairing appliances for building contractors. At trial, the jury was presented with evidence that Mitchell filed a voluntary bankruptcy petition in May 2017, seeking to eventually discharge more than $1 million in debt. Mitchell’s petition falsely stated he had assets worth less than $50,000. Mitchell filed his mandatory Schedules of Assets and Liabilities and Statement of Financial Affairs, signing them under penalty of perjury, but failed to disclose the appliances, worth over $350,000 by his own later estimation. Mitchell also withheld mention of the appliances when questioned under oath by the trustee about his assets during standard bankruptcy proceedings. While the bankruptcy proceedings were ongoing, Mitchell attempted to conspire with a third party to sell the appliances outside the bankruptcy process, thereby enriching himself and harming his creditors. The trustee eventually learned of the appliances and obtained a court order to sell them at auction to partially satisfy Mr. Mitchell’s debts. Mitchell is scheduled to be sentenced in December 2024 at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah made the announcement. Assistant United States Attorney Brent L. Andrus and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Kuhn of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah are prosecuting the case. The case is being investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office.


title: Former Alliance, Nebraska Man Convicted by Jury for Transportation & Possession of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that a federal jury in Lincoln, Nebraska, returned a guilty verdict today, August 21, 2024, against Tyler Denby, age 39, formerly of Alliance, Nebraska, for one count of transportation of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. The verdict subjects Denby to a potential prison term of up to twenty years on each count and a minimum of five years on the transportation count. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis presided over the trial and set sentencing for November 21, 2024. On July 30 th of 2021, Alliance Police Department received two separate calls for assistance concerning an individual threatening others in the Alliance area. Denby, who was then a Montana resident visiting the town of Alliance, was identified as the suspect and was contacted at a local gas station. During the encounter, the officer’s gained probable cause to search Denby’s vehicle when a marijuana pipe was spotted in his pocket. A stolen firearm was then located on Denby’s person. During the search of his vehicle, a large number of electronic devices, along with some other very concerning items, including a pillowcase filled with stained children’s underwear, were discovered by the searching law enforcement officers with the Alliance Police Department and Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office. The items were seized from the vehicle and Denby was arrested for several state crimes. A search warrant was received for the numerous electronic devices. The devices were later reviewed by the Alliance Police Department. Three microSD cards which had been located in Denby’s wallet contained a substantial amount of child pornography files. While Denby was in custody, he was interviewed by law enforcement and he admitted to having child pornography on those devices. He also admitted to travelling from Montana to Nebraska with the child pornography on his devices. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by the Alliance Police Department.


title: Jury finds members of violent Third World Mob gang guilty of trafficking more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal jury has convicted two members of the Third World Mob gang with conspiring to traffic more than 2,000 pounds of marijuana. Third World Mob is a violent criminal organization in Columbus. After an 8-day trial before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr., jurors deliberated for less than six hours before finding Klegewerges Abate, 35, and Abubakarr Savage, 34, both of Columbus, guilty on all counts. Abate, who is also known as “Bells,” “Robell” and “Sosa,” was convicted of conspiring to traffic at least 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, firearms offenses, and wire fraud related to illegally obtaining COVID-19 pandemic relief funds. Savage was charged with and convicted of conspiring to distribute at least 1,000 kilograms of marijuana. Savage is also known as “Sav” and “Savdripp.” According to court documents and trial testimony, Third World Mob members brought hundreds of pounds of marijuana into Ohio from other states like California and Georgia to sell in central Ohio. They used U-Haul trucks and rental cars to move the drugs. Coconspirators used rental houses or houses leased or owned in other individuals’ names as “stash houses” or “trap houses” to facilitate the drug trafficking and to store significant amounts of cash from the drug proceeds. For example, in August 2019, Abate and others possessed a suitcase with approximately $940,000 in cash in it in a house on Phlox Avenue in Blacklick. During a November 2022 search of a residence on Chapel Stone Road in Blacklick, law enforcement officials found Abate and two of his co-conspirators, along with more than 700 kilograms of marijuana and three firearms. Third World Mob leaders and members used violence and the threat of violence to maintain authority over their drug trafficking. Surveillance video presented at trial showed Abate, a convicted felon, shooting a man at a restaurant in Columbus. Jurors also heard testimony about numerous shootings, a pistol-whipping, and other acts of intimidation. Abate was also convicted of wire fraud for falsely applying for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, fraudulently claiming that he had been a self-employed landscaper during the time he trafficked drugs. In total, seven members of the Third World Mob have been charged federally since 2021. Fellow member Menelik Solomon pleaded guilty in November 2023 and was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison. Coconspirator Teddy Asefa entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana and wire fraud just prior to trial. Another defendant stood trial with Abate and Savage and was acquitted of the single obstruction of justice charge against him. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Detroit; and Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin announced the verdict. U.S. Attorney Parker recognized the assistance from the Columbus, Whitehall and Tucson, Arizona, police departments and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth A. Geraghty and S. Courter Shimeall represented the United States in this case. # # #


title: Pilot Convicted for Lying on Applications to the Federal Aviation Administration to Obtain a Medical Certificate Necessary to Pilot Commercial Passenger Aircraft

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – A federal jury has convicted OLUKAYODE ADURAGBENRO OJO , 36, of Dallas, TX, of two counts of making a false statement to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to obtain a medical certificate necessary to pilot a commercial passenger aircraft, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. On June 4, 2024, a federal jury returned a two-count Superseding Indictment against Ojo, charging him with two counts of making a false statement. On August 16, 2024, a federal jury found Ojo guilty on both counts. Evidence presented at trial indicated that Ojo, an FAA-certified commercial airline pilot, pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor theft charges on February 8, 2023, in Kentucky state court in connection with a theft of passenger luggage from the baggage carousels at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. Ojo then made false statements to the FAA in March 2023 and March 2024 while applying for an FAA First Class Medical Certificate to conceal his history of prior criminal convictions. A First Class Medical Certificate permits an airman to pilot commercial passenger aircraft. Following the guilty verdict, U.S. District Judge Jodi W. Dishman ordered Ojo to be detained pending sentencing, where he faces up to five years in federal prison and fines up to $250,000.00 on each count. This case is the result of an investigation by the Transportation Security Administration–Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jackson Eldridge and Matt Dillon are prosecuting the case. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.