title: California Skilled Nursing Facilities, Owner and Management Company Agree to $45.6 Million Consent Judgement to Settle Allegations of Kickbacks to Referring Physicians

component: Civil Division

body_text: Prema Thekkek, her management company, Paksn Inc., and six skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) owned by Thekkek and/or operated by Paksn have agreed to enter into a $45.6 million consent judgment to resolve allegations that they submitted or caused the submission of false claims to Medicare by paying kickbacks to physicians to induce patient referrals. The six settling SNFs are Kayal Inc. (doing business as Bay Point Healthcare Center), Nadhi Inc. (doing business as Gateway Care & Rehabilitation Center), Oakrheem Inc. (doing business as Hayward Convalescent Hospital), Bayview Care Inc. (doing business as Hilltop Care and Rehabilitation Center), Aakash Inc. (doing business as Park Central Care & Rehabilitation Center) and Nasaky Inc. (doing business as Yuba Skilled Nursing Center) (collectively the SNF Defendants). The Anti‑Kickback Statute prohibits offering or paying remuneration to induce the referral of items or services covered by Medicare, Medicaid and other federally funded health care programs. It is intended to ensure that medical decision-making is based on the best interests of patients and not compromised by improper financial incentives to providers. From 2009 to 2021, the SNF Defendants, under the direction and control of Thekkek and Paksn, systematically entered into medical directorship agreements with physicians that purported to provide compensation for administrative services, but in reality were vehicles for the payment of kickbacks to induce the physicians to refer patients to the six SNFs. Specifically, the defendants hired physicians who promised in advance to refer a large number of patients to the SNFs, paid physicians in proportion to the number of their expected referrals and terminated physicians who did not refer enough patients. On one occasion, a Paksn employee told Thekkek that two physicians were being hired because “they are promising at least 10 patients for $2000 per month,” to which Thekkek responded, “good job. Make sure they give you patients everyday. [W]e can also expand to other buildings with them, if possible.” On another occasion, an employee informed Thekkek that the defendants previously had paid a certain doctor “$1500 each month and he only send [sic] us 2 patients[,] so we didn’t pay him anything from Jan[uary] onwards.” On a third occasion, Thekkek rejected a proposed stipend for a new medical director, explaining that the defendants had paid the previous medical director that amount because “we were getting admission[s] from him,” whereas she did not expect the new medical director to refer many patients. More generally, Thekkek complained that if her employees did not pay medical directors promptly every month, “[t]hese doctors will not give us patients.” “Kickbacks can impair the independence of physician decision-making and waste taxpayer dollars,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department is committed to preventing illegal financial relationships that undermine the integrity of our public health care programs.” “The administrators and beneficiaries of the Medicare Program expect that providers will make decisions based on sound medical judgment, not their personal self-interest” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California. “As this case demonstrates, our office will take decisive action to address allegations that medical providers are paying or receiving improper financial benefits that could impact care provided to patients.” “Kickbacks impose hidden costs on the health care system and compromise medical decision-making,” said Special Agent in Charge Timothy B. DeFrancesca of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Working tirelessly with our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG will continue to combat the waste of valuable taxpayer dollars and protect the integrity of federal health care programs.” Under the settlement announced today, in addition to entering into a $45,645,327.25 consent judgment, the defendants will make scheduled payments to the United States of at least $385,000 over the next five years. That payment schedule was negotiated based on the defendants’ lack of ability to pay. The settlement stems from a whistleblower complaint filed in 2015 by Paksn’s former Vice President of Operations and Chief Operating Officer, Trilochan Singh, pursuant to the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private persons to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the government and to share in the proceeds of the suit. The Act also permits the government to intervene and take over the lawsuit, as it did in this case as to some of Singh’s allegations. In addition to resolving their False Claims Act liability, the defendants have entered into a five-year corporate integrity agreement with the HHS-OIG which requires, among other compliance obligations, an Independent Review Organization’s review of their physician relationships. The United States’ intervention and settlement in this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to HHS, at 800‑HHS‑TIPS (800-447-8477). HHS-OIG investigated the case. The matter was handled by attorneys Matthew Oster, Lindsey Roberts, Jessica Sarkis and Rohith Srinivas, and senior financial analyst Karen Sharp, of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kent Kawakami and Karen Paik, and auditor John Powers, for the Central District of California. The case is captioned United States of America ex rel. Trilochan Singh v. Paksn, Inc. et al. , No. 15‑cv-09064 (C.D. Cal.). T he claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability. Settlement


title: St. Louis County Man Sentenced to 11 Years for Fentanyl, Methamphetamine Conspiracy

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis County, Missouri man who admitted selling fentanyl and methamphetamine, fleeing from police and possessing machine guns was sentenced Wednesday to 11 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Sarah E. Pitlyk also ordered Marvel Sherell, 23, to be placed on supervised release for four years after his eventual release from prison. Sherell was the final defendant to be sentenced of five charged in the drug conspiracy. He pleaded guilty in July to three felony counts: conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, possessing one or more firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possession of a machine gun. The investigation began after the Drug Enforcement Administration learned that Sherrell was selling meth and fentanyl and used a confidential source to make drugs buys from him. “Like many business owners, drug trafficking organizations want to protect their business and assets,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Colin Dickey, lead of DEA investigations in eastern Missouri. “However, there is no similarity to legitimate businesses when dealing in illicit drugs and protecting the business includes illegal weapons. DEA is pleased this criminal enterprise is permanently closed for business." In his plea agreement, Sherrell admitted engaging in a drug conspiracy with others including Nicholas L. Nixon, 24; Jacquez T. Love, 25; Turhan Robinson Jr., 23; and Arion D. Strickland, 29. Sherrell admitted selling methamphetamine and fentanyl to the DEA. He also admitted fleeing from St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers on May 5, 2022. After officers spotted Sherrell driving recklessly, they tried to stop his car. Sherrell sped off, even after police spike strips deflated the tires on the driver’s side of the vehicle. He ran a red light, hit another vehicle and continued to flee from police, who again used spike strips. Sherrell kept going, violating more traffic signals. During the chase, Strickland tossed a KelTec rifle out of the vehicle and Nixon discarded a Micro Draco AK-47-style pistol and 1,181 pills containing fentanyl. A fully automatic AR-15-style weapon was found after the case where Robinson had been sitting. When deputy U.S. Marshals arrested Love at the apartment Sherrell, Nixon and Love shared in St. Louis County on May 12, 2022, they found methamphetamine and a fully automatic .40-caliber Glock handgun in Sherrell’s bedroom, along with two “switches” that convert a Glock into a machine gun. They found a pistol in both Nixon’s and Love’s bedroom and in the kitchen. They also found fentanyl and meth in the kitchen. Nicholas L. Nixon, now 24, pleaded guilty in April to one felony count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Judge Pitlyk sentenced him in August to five years in prison. Strickland and Love pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Strickland was sentenced to six years in prison and Love to 37 months. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the St. Louis County Police Department and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.


title: Collinsville Woman Charged for Dealing Fatal Dose of Fentanyl

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging a Collinsville woman for dealing a lethal dose of fentanyl, leading a man to overdose and die. Tessa R. Webber, 25, is charged with one count of distribution of a controlled substance: fentanyl resulting in death. “Too many lives are lost due to drug-induced homicides,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “Law enforcement agencies are working to secure justice for families of overdose victims.” According to court documents, the Fairview Heights Police Department began investigating a suspected fatal drug overdose on June 11. Discovered by a roommate, a man was found deceased near drug paraphernalia, and the victim’s family confirmed he had a history of substance abuse. “Collaboration between the Fairview Heights Police Department, DEA and the U.S. Attorney’s Office enabled law enforcement to bring just a little bit of justice to the victim’s family,” said Fairview Heights Police Chief Steve Johnson. Law enforcement searched the victim’s phone and discovered messages between the victim and Webber from May and June. Messages between the victim and Webber indicated a buyer and seller relationship for dealing drugs. “Fentanyl is killing Americans at an unprecedented rate,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Joseph Dixon, head of Drug Enforcement Administration investigations in southern Illinois. “Drug traffickers are driving addiction and increasing their profits by mixing fentanyl with other illicit drugs. By arresting and prosecuting the individuals behind the deaths, we send a clear message: if your drug dealing kills someone, you will pay.” The victim’s toxicology report listed his cause of death as drug/poisoning overdose and traces of amphetamine, meth and fentanyl were present in his body. Court documents allege Webber sold the victim two fentanyl pills on June 9. An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury. If convicted, Webber could face up to life imprisonment. Distribution of a controlled substance: fentanyl resulting in death is punishable by no less than 20 years in federal prison. DEA and the Fairview Heights Police Department are contributing to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. Carraway is prosecuting the case.


title: Former Gary, Indiana, Police Officer Sentenced for Using Excessive Force in Violation of Federal Civil Rights Laws

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: A former officer with the Gary, Indiana, Police Department (GPD) was sentenced today to one year and a day in prison and one year of supervised release for violating the civil rights of an arrestee. Terry Peck, 48, previously pleaded guilty to having used unreasonable force during the arrest of the victim, a man the defendant had stopped for an alleged traffic infraction. “All people in our country have a right to be free from excessive force by police officers,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The sentencing of this defendant makes clear that officers cannot violate people’s civil rights with impunity. The Justice Department will continue to aggressively prosecute any law enforcement officer who willfully violates the civil rights of the people they are sworn to serve and protect.” “When interacting with members of the public, even when those public members may have engaged in criminal activity, law enforcement officers are under an obligation to conduct themselves within the limits of the Constitution,” said U.S. Attorney Clifford D. Johnson for the Northern District of Indiana. “This successful prosecution demonstrates how justice can prevail when victims and witnesses bravely report criminal misconduct by those who took an oath to serve and protect.” “When a police officer uses excessive force, it erodes the trust between law enforcement and the community they are sworn to protect,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI and our partners will work to ensure law enforcement officers who use unreasonable force are held accountable under the law.” According to the plea agreement, Peck admitted that, on March 19, 2019, while on duty and acting as an officer for GPD, he conducted a traffic stop and placed the driver under arrest. While the driver was handcuffed and not posing a threat to Peck or anyone around him, Peck slammed the driver’s face and head against a police vehicle, breaking the man’s tooth and causing him bodily injury. The FBI Indianapolis Field Office, Merrillville Resident Agency investigated the case. Trial Attorney Anita Channapati of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section, Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas McGrath and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Chang for the Northern District of Indiana prosecuted the case. Anyone who may have been a victim of a civil rights or hate crime violation should contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit a tip to tips@fbi.gov .


title: Cockeysville Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Scheme to Steal Cell Phones Worth More Than $500,000

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Reginald McElrath, age 40, of Cockeysville, Maryland, to 18 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for a scheme to steal cell phones worth more than $500,000. Judge Hollander ordered that McElrath must pay restitution in the full among of the victims’ losses, which the parties agree is not more than $366,015.50. The sentence was announced by Erek L. Barron, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland and Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division. According to his plea agreement and other court documents, from July 2019 to January 2020, McElrath and his co-defendants, Chantelle Harris, Robert Patterson, and Danisha Thomas used the identifying information of at least 17 individuals to obtain new cell phones. McElrath, Harris, and Patterson worked in Maryland for a vendor contracted by a multinational retail corporation to handle all contractual wireless phone transactions in their stores. As cell service associates, McElrath, Harris, and Patterson were required to obtain the personal identifying information (PII) of customers in order to initiate a new account or upgrade an existing account. McElrath, Harris, and Patterson admitted that they used their positions to apply for new cell phone accounts with various carriers and to apply for upgraded cell phones on existing cell phone accounts in the victims’ names using the PII of the victims without their knowledge or permission. McElrath, Harris, and Patterson also charged purchases of new cell phones to fraudulent cell phone service accounts they opened in the victims’ names and none of the costs were borne by members of the conspiracy. Co-defendant Danisha Thomas and other conspirators received the fraudulently obtained cell phones directly from McElrath, Harris, Patterson and others from inside the retail store. McElrath received cash and payments through CashApp as compensation for his role in the scheme. McElrath and his co-defendants used the stolen PII of approximately 51 individual victims to fraudulently obtain at least $537,000 worth of cell phones. Fraudulent transactions personally conducted or attempted by McElrath in furtherance of the fraud conspiracy and scheme totaled approximately $366,015.50. Co-defendants Danisha Lee Thomas, age 40, of Bladensburg, Maryland; Robert Earl Patterson, Jr., age 22, of Odenton, Maryland; and Chantelle Harris, age 34, of Hyattsville, Maryland, also pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn, who prosecuted the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao/md . # # #


title: California Skilled Nursing Facilities, Owner and Management Company Agree to $45.6 Million Consent Judgment to Settle Allegations of Kickbacks to Referring Physicians

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – Prema Thekkek, her Vacaville-based management company, Paksn Inc., and six skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) owned by Thekkek and/or operated by Paksn have agreed to enter into a $45.6 million consent judgment to resolve allegations that they submitted or caused the submission of false claims to Medicare by paying kickbacks to physicians to induce patient referrals. The six settling SNFs are Kayal Inc. (doing business as Bay Point Healthcare Center), Nadhi Inc. (doing business as Gateway Care & Rehabilitation Center), Oakrheem Inc. (doing business as Hayward Convalescent Hospital), Bayview Care Inc. (doing business as Hilltop Care and Rehabilitation Center), Aakash Inc. (doing business as Park Central Care & Rehabilitation Center) and Nasaky Inc. (doing business as Yuba Skilled Nursing Center) (collectively the SNF Defendants). The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering or paying remuneration to induce the referral of items or services covered by Medicare, Medicaid and other federally funded health care programs. It is intended to ensure that medical decision-making is based on the best interests of patients and not compromised by improper financial incentives to providers. From 2009 to 2021, the SNF Defendants, under the direction and control of Thekkek and Paksn, systematically entered into medical directorship agreements with physicians that purported to provide compensation for administrative services, but in reality were vehicles for the payment of kickbacks to induce the physicians to refer patients to the six SNFs. Specifically, the defendants hired physicians who promised in advance to refer a large number of patients to the SNFs, paid physicians in proportion to the number of their expected referrals and terminated physicians who did not refer enough patients. On one occasion, a Paksn employee told Thekkek that two physicians were being hired because “they are promising at least 10 patients for $2000 per month,” to which Thekkek responded, “good job. Make sure they give you patients everyday. [W]e can also expand to other buildings with them, if possible.” On another occasion, an employee informed Thekkek that the defendants previously had paid a certain doctor “$1500 each month and he only send [sic] us 2 patients[,] so we didn’t pay him anything from Jan[uary] onwards.” On a third occasion, Thekkek rejected a proposed stipend for a new medical director, explaining that the defendants had paid the previous medical director that amount because “we were getting admission[s] from him,” whereas she did not expect the new medical director to refer many patients. More generally, Thekkek complained that if her employees did not pay medical directors promptly every month, “[t]hese doctors will not give us patients.” “The administrators and beneficiaries of the Medicare Program expect that providers will make decisions based on sound medical judgment, not their personal self-interest” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “As this case demonstrates, our office will take decisive action to address allegations that medical providers are paying or receiving improper financial benefits that could impact care provided to patients.” “Kickbacks can impair the independence of physician decision-making and waste taxpayer dollars,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department is committed to preventing illegal financial relationships that undermine the integrity of our public health care programs.” “Kickbacks impose hidden costs on the health care system and compromise medical decision-making,” said Special Agent in Charge Timothy B. DeFrancesca of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Working tirelessly with our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG will continue to combat the waste of valuable taxpayer dollars and protect the integrity of federal health care programs.” Under the settlement announced today, in addition to entering into a $45,645,327.25 consent judgment, the defendants will make scheduled payments to the United States of at least $385,000 over the next five years. That payment schedule was negotiated based on the defendants’ lack of ability to pay. The settlement stems from a whistleblower complaint filed in 2015 by Paksn’s former Vice President of Operations and Chief Operating Officer, Trilochan Singh, pursuant to the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private persons to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the government and to share in the proceeds of the suit. The Act also permits the government to intervene and take over the lawsuit, as it did in this case as to some of Singh’s allegations. In addition to resolving their False Claims Act liability, the defendants have entered into a five-year corporate integrity agreement with the HHS-OIG which requires, among other compliance obligations, an Independent Review Organization’s review of their physician relationships. The United States’ intervention and settlement in this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to HHS, at 800 HHS TIPS (800-447-8477). HHS-OIG investigated the case. The matter was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Karen Y. Paik of the Civil Division’s Civil Fraud Section, investigator Eileen Sofre, and auditor John Powers, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California and by attorneys Matthew Oster, Lindsey Roberts, Jessica Sarkis and Rohith Srinivas, and senior financial analyst Karen Sharp, of the Justice Department Civil Division’s Fraud Section. The case is captioned United States of America ex rel. Trilochan Singh v. Paksn Inc. et al. , No. 15 cv-09064 (C.D. Cal.). The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.


title: Billings felon sentenced to more than five years in prison for illegal possession of firearm

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

body_text: BILLINGS — A Billings man with two prior federal felony convictions was sentenced today to five years and 11 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised released, for illegally possessing a firearm, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Robert John Bigback, 28, pleaded guilty in July to prohibited person in possession of a firearm or ammunition. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The government alleged in court documents that on March 9, Bigback’s mother found him sleeping in her house with a gun next to his head. His father brought the firearm, a Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol, to the United States Federal Probation Office. When Bigback woke up, his mother saw him frantically looking for something where the gun had been. Bigback told his mother he had been using methamphetamine, was paranoid and thought people were after him. Bigback had prior federal felony convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for distribution of meth, and he was prohibited from possessing firearms. Bigback possessed the gun while he was on federal supervised release for the federal convictions. The gun he possessed was stolen, although there was no indication he was involved in the theft. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Racicot prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, United States Probation Office and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. XXX


title: Laurel Man Pleads Guilty to Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme Involving More Than $1.5 Million in Losses

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – Michael Akame Ngwese Ay Makoge, a/k/a “Hype” and “2Hype”, age 28, of Laurel, Maryland pleaded guilty yesterday to a wire fraud conspiracy and to aggravated identity theft, in relation to a Maryland and California unemployment insurance scheme totaling more than $1.5 million. The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division (USPIS); Special Agent in Charge Troy W. Springer of the National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor - Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG); Chief Amal E. Awad of the Anne Arundel County Police Department; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr., Superintendent of the Maryland State Police (MSP); and Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division. According to his plea agreement, from March 2020 to October 2021, Makoge and his co-conspirators impersonated victims to submit fraudulent claims for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits in Maryland and California. As part of the scheme, Makoge and his co-conspirators obtained the birthdates, social security numbers, and other personal identifying information of numerous victims which they used to prepare and submit fraudulent applications for UI benefits. The applications contained false information, including the victims’ contact information, states of residence, and availability for work. These fraudulent applications caused financial institutions to load UI benefits onto debit cards and mail the cards to physical addresses provided and monitored by Makoge and his co-conspirators. Once Makoge and his co-conspirators received the fraudulently obtained benefits on the debit cards, they used them for cash withdrawals and other transactions for their own financial benefit. A search at Makoge’s residence on February 16, 2021, recovered 11 UI debit cards in the names of six victims from the bedroom. The investigation also revealed numerous text messages between Makoge and his co-conspirators exchanging the PII of victims and discussing the execution of the UI fraud scheme. Further, Makoge made numerous ATM withdrawals using the identities of victims, personally obtaining at least $35,540 as a result of his participation in the scheme. In all, Makoge and his co-conspirators submitted fraudulent UI claims using the names and PII of at least 12 victims, resulting in more than $1.6 million in losses. Makoge faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for the wire fraud conspiracy and a mandatory two years in federal prison, consecutive to any other sentence imposed, for aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson has scheduled sentencing for February 1, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the USPIS, DOL-OIG, the Anne Arundel County Police Department, HSI, MSP, and ATF, for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked the United States Marshals Service, the Prince George’s County Police Department, the Montgomery County Police Department, the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and the Charles County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen McGuinn, who is prosecuting the federal case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Susquehanna County Man Sentenced To 36 Months’ Imprisonment For Methamphetamine Trafficking

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Justin Passetti, age 31, of Kingsley, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on November 14, 2023, by U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani, to 36 months’ imprisonment on the charge of conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Passetti previously pleaded guilty and admitted to conspiring with other individuals to distribute high-quality crystal methamphetamine in the Susquehanna County area in March 2020. The charge stems from an incident on March 11, 2020, in which the Pennsylvania State Police conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in which Passetti was an occupant. A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of five pounds of crystal methamphetamine. The charge against the defendant resulted from an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. ###


title: Former Stamford Attorney Sentenced to Prison for Stealing More Than $700K from Clients

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that WILLIAM McCULLOUGH, 63, of Westerly, Rhode Island, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 12 months and one day of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for stealing more than $700,000 from clients of his law practice. According to court documents and statements made in court today, prior to his resignation from the Connecticut bar in March 2019, McCullough operated a law practice in Stamford for several years. As part of his practice, McCullough worked on real estate transactions for clients. In that capacity, McCullough received funds from clients and knew he was required to deposit those funds in an Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Account (“IOLTA Account”) and use them in accordance with his duties to each client. In March 2018, the Connecticut Statewide Grievance Committee audited McCullough’s IOLTA Account and found that he had failed to maintain required documents for several years. The audit revealed that more than $1.27 million was due to clients, but the IOLTA Account held less than $600,000. A subsequent criminal investigation revealed that McCullough defrauded clients by using funds in his IOLTA Account to cover funds owed to others, and for his own use. McCullough made false representations to clients, including providing a false and inaccurate closing statement to at least one individual, to prevent the scheme from being uncovered. McCullough’s clients lost approximately $720,851.05 through this scheme. Judge Bolden ordered him to pay full restitution. On November 22, 2022, McCullough pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. McCullough, who is released on bond, is required to report to prison on January 8. This matter was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the Wallingford Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ross Weingarten.


title: Anderson Man and Phoenix Woman Sentenced to 235 Months and 48 Months Respectively for Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: ANDERSON, S.C. — Darrecos Lamon Taylor, 42, of Anderson, was sentenced to 235 months for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 5 Kilograms or More of Cocaine and 500 Grams or More of Methamphetamine and Possession with Intent to Distribute 500 Grams or More of Cocaine. Jessica Miranda, 41, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced to 48 months for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 500 Grams or More of Cocaine. Evidence presented to the Court showed that since 2022, Darrecos Taylor conspired with other members of the drug trafficking organization (DTO) to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine in the Upstate of South Carolina. In the course of the investigation, law enforcement seized multiple kilograms of cocaine and half a kilogram of methamphetamine Taylor intended to distribute and $124,000 in drug proceeds. Taylor had previously been convicted of a serious federal drug felony in the District of South Carolina. Miranda was a courier for the DTO and was arrested after she was surveilled delivering approximately two kilograms of cocaine to Taylor. Upon her arrest, Miranda was found with more cocaine that she was transporting on behalf of the DTO. United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain sentenced Darrecos Taylor to 235 months imprisonment, to be followed by a 10-year term of court-ordered supervision. Jessica Miranda was sentenced to 48 months imprisonment, to be followed by a four-year term of court ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Schoen is prosecuting the case. ###


body_text: WASHINGTON – A former officer with the Gary, Indiana, Police Department (GPD), was sentenced today to one year and a day in prison, and one year of supervised release after pleading guilty to violating the civil rights of an arrestee. Terry Peck, 48, previously admitted to having used unreasonable force during the arrest of the victim, a man the defendant had stopped for an alleged traffic infraction. “All people in our country have a right to be free from excessive force by police officers,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The sentencing of this defendant makes clear that officers cannot violate people’s civil rights with impunity. The Justice Department will continue to aggressively prosecute any law enforcement officer who willfully violates the civil rights of the people they are sworn to serve and protect.” “When interacting with members of the public, even when those public members may have engaged in criminal activity, law enforcement officers are under an obligation to conduct themselves within the limits of the Constitution,” said U.S. Attorney Clifford D. Johnson for the Northern District of Indiana. “This successful prosecution demonstrates how justice can prevail when victims and witnesses bravely report criminal misconduct by those who took an oath to serve and protect.” “This sentence should send a clear message the FBI won’t tolerate the abuse of power of those who took an oath to serve and protect,” said Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton of the FBI Indianapolis Field Office. “The action of this officer not only violated the victim’s civil rights but damaged the community’s trust in law enforcement. When there is excessive use of force that rises to a federal crime, the FBI will investigate, and those individuals will be held accountable.” According to the plea agreement, Peck admitted that, on March 19, 2019, while on duty and acting as an officer for GPD, he conducted a traffic stop and placed the driver under arrest. While the driver was handcuffed and not posing a threat to Peck or anyone around him, Peck slammed the driver’s face and head against a police vehicle, breaking the man’s tooth and causing him bodily injury. The Merrillville Resident Agency of the FBI Indianapolis Field Office investigated the case. Trial Attorney Anita Channapati of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas McGrath and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Chang for the Northern District of Indiana prosecuted the case. The United States Attorney’s Office encourages anyone who may have been a victim of a civil rights or hate crime violation to contact the FBI at (219) 769-3719 or submit a tip to tips@fbi.gov .


title: Boone County Man Pleads Guilty to Mail Theft

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Cody Allen Dalton, 31, of Madison, pleaded guilty today to mail theft. According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 1, 2020, Dalton stole a black and white striped sports referee jersey from a post office parcel locker at the Madison Post Office. Dalton is scheduled to be sentenced on March 7, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Dalton also owes $1,972 in restitution. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Madison Police Department. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-140. ###


title: Charleston Man Sentenced to Prison for Child Pornography Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Timothy Duncan, 43, of Charleston, was sentenced today to two years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $3,500 in restitution for possession of prepubescent child pornography. Duncan must also register as a sex offender. According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 24, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Duncan’s residence and seized electronic devices including a cell phone. A forensic analysis of the cell phone revealed 18 videos and 13 images of child pornography. One image depicts an adult male sexually assaulting a prepubescent female. A search warrant executed for Duncan’s email account revealed 10 videos of child pornography, including one video that contained 69 individual videos. One of the 69 videos in the collection depicts an adult male sexually assaulting a prepubescent female. The child pornography seized from Duncan includes digital media files that depict 14 known child victims. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the West Virginia State Police-Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office. United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Francesca C. Rollo and Julie M. White prosecuted the case. This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-46. ###


title: Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing a Firearm After Ramming a Vehicle While Fleeing from Police

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A Portsmouth man pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on December 15, 2022, Derek Isenburg, 33, tried to flee from law enforcement officers who were attempting to take him into custody in Portsmouth on several outstanding arrest warrants. Upon seeing officers, he got into a truck, backed it into one police vehicle and rammed another as he tried to escape. After hitting one of the vehicles, Isenburg continued to accelerate in an attempt to move the car out of his way. Isenburg ultimately broke the drivetrain of the truck, rendering it inoperable, and officers were able to take him into custody. A search of the truck resulted in the recovery of approximately 13 grams of pure methamphetamine and a firearm. Law enforcement learned that both the truck and firearm had been reported stolen. Isenburg has multiple prior felony convictions. Isenburg knew that as a previously convicted felon, it was illegal for him to possess a firearm. Isenburg is scheduled to be sentenced on March 8, 2024. He faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division; and Stephen Jenkins, Chief of Portsmouth Police, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr. accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda Cheney and Kristin Bird are prosecuting the case. Assistance was provided by the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force. This case was part of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Operation Overdrive, an initiative aimed at combatting the rising rates of drug-related violent crime and overdose deaths plaguing American communities. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-4.


title: Huntington Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Amy Lynn Carter, 40, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to deliver 5 grams or more of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 20, 2021, Carter was a passenger in a vehicle parked at a Barboursville convenience store when a law enforcement officer approached the vehicle. The officer observed drug paraphernalia in plain view within the vehicle. A police K-9 alerted to the presence of controlled substances in the vehicle. Officers searched the vehicle and found 19 grams of a heroin and fentanyl mixture, more than 242 grams of methamphetamine and $10,300. Carter admitted that she possessed the seized methamphetamine and intended to distribute it. Carter further admitted that she intended to buy additional methamphetamine with the cash found in the vehicle for distribution within the Southern District of West Virginia. Carter is scheduled to be sentenced on March 4, 2024, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a $5 million fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Troy D. Adams is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:22-cr-19. ###


title: Repeat Offender: Deported Cocaine Trafficker Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Federal Charges Again

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – A Jamaican man was sentenced today to 204 months in prison for trafficking kilogram quantities of cocaine. On August 17, 2023, Michael Kenroy Bell aka “Jamaica Mike,” age 47, pled guilty to the charges. Bell had been deported to Jamaica on June 25, 2020, after serving a federal sentence for a previous drug trafficking offense and is in the country illegally. “This career drug trafficker was previously charged, convicted, and deported. This time he was caught trying to dodge accountability with a false identity,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “Drug traffickers operating in Raleigh should take note of this seventeen-year sentence. We are actively partnering with Raleigh Police and the FBI to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking networks like this one.” According to court documents and other information presented in court, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Raleigh Police Department were involved in an investigation of a drug trafficking organization operating in Raleigh in the Fall of 2021. Through physical and electronic surveillance, including a federal wiretap, Bell was observed interacting frequently with known drug dealers that were subjects of the investigation. Though he was not charged in the 2021 investigation, Bell remained under surveillance by law enforcement, and, between February and May 2022, was observed making numerous trips between Raleigh and Huntersville, as well as 11 trips to Miami, Florida specifically to purchase cocaine. He was often observed in the 700-block of Quarry Street, which is frequented by members of the Eight Trey Gangster Crips and is known by law enforcement to be a high drug trafficking area. In June 2022, Bell was pulled over in Florida, and, after detecting an odor of marijuana, officers searched his vehicle and found both cocaine and marijuana. Bell provided law enforcement a fake identification card, but his identity was discovered when he was booked at the local jail. Despite being in custody Bell orchestrated the continuation of his cocaine distribution in the Raleigh area. Bell has a lengthy criminal record including multiple felonies, including a 2009 federal conviction for two drug trafficking charges. This is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, 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. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Raleigh Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Lemons prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-00052-D.


title: High-Ranking MS-13 Fugitive Arrested on Terrorism Indictment

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Today, at the conclusion of a removal hearing, a federal court in Houston, Texas ordered Elmer Canales-Rivera, also known as “Crook de Hollywood,” a high-ranking leader of La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13, to be transferred in custody to the Eastern District of New York where he and 13 other high-ranking MS-13 leaders were indicted in December 2020 on terrorism offenses relating to their direction of the transnational criminal organization’s criminal activities in the United States, El Salvador, Mexico and elsewhere over the past two decades. On November 9 2023, Canales-Rivera was arrested by members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the United States Marshals Service (USMS), when he arrived at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas. Specifically, Canales-Rivera has been charged with conspiracy to provide and conceal material support to terrorists, conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries, conspiracy to finance terrorism and narco-terrorism conspiracy. Merrick B. Garland, United States Attorney General; Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York (EDNY); Christopher A. Wray, Director, FBI; and Alejandro N. Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security announced Canales-Rivera’s arrest and initial appearance. “We allege that Elmer Canales-Rivera, a founding member of MS-13’s ‘Twelve Apostles of the Devil,’ bears responsibility for the gang’s efforts over decades to terrorize communities, target law enforcement, and sow violence here in the United States and abroad,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The arrest of this high-ranking, long-time leader of MS-13 should serve as a warning to MS-13’s other leaders that the Justice Department will hold you accountable for your crimes.” “The defendant’s appearance in a federal courtroom today in the United States is a giant step in holding him accountable for his significant role as an alleged member of the MS-13 gang’s leadership body known as the ‘Twelve Apostles of the Devil’ and later renamed Ranfla Nacional,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “As alleged, Canales-Rivera along with his co-defendants acted as a board of directors, directing acts of violence, intimidation and material support of terrorists in El Salvador and throughout the United States including in the Eastern District of New York where he will appear next in a federal courtroom in Central Islip to answer these charges.” This case was brought by Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV), which was created to combat MS-13, led by Assistant United States Attorney John J. Durham of the EDNY, and comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including the District of New Jersey; the Northern District of Ohio; the District of Utah; the District of Massachusetts; the Eastern District of Texas; the Southern District of New York; the Southern District of Florida; the Eastern District of Virginia; the Southern District of California; the District of Nevada; the District of Alaska; and the District of Columbia, as well as other government agencies and offices have been essential partners in JTFV, including the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the Criminal Division, the FBI; HSI; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the USMS; the U.S. Bureau of Prisons; and the United States Agency for International Development, Office of Inspector General. Mr. Peace expressed his thanks to the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, which has spearheaded JTFV’s MS-13 leadership investigations, with critical support provided by the Criminal Investigative Division’s Safe Streets Gang Unit, along with HSI’s National Gangs and Violent Crime Unit and HSI’s New York and Houston Field Offices. Additionally, FBI Legal Attachés in Mexico City and San Salvador, FBI Houston Field Office, HSI Attaché Mexico City, USMS Legal Attaché in Mexico City and the United States Customs and Border Protection Officers at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston provided critical support in connection with the arrest, as well as the U.S. Attorney's Office and the USMS for the Southern District of Texas for coordinating the initial appearance in Houston. Mr. Peace also thanked the numerous Department of Justice components that contributed to this indictment, including: the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section; the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces Executive Office; the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs; and the Criminal Division’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training. In addition, the Department of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and the United States Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Asset Control have provided valuable assistance for JTFV’s mission. “With determination and coordinated effort, the FBI and our law enforcement and foreign partners successfully apprehended a violent criminal that directly threatened the safety of our communities," said FBI Director Christopher A. Wray. "This pursuit exemplifies the FBI's commitment to safeguard the American public and continued promise to dismantle criminal networks like MS-13.” “This arrest makes it clear that there is no hiding place for leaders of criminal syndicates that threaten our communities,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “Through the dedication and investigative abilities of HSI agents and our federal partners, we are taking on criminal organizations like MS-13 and helping to bring all those who perpetrate transnational crimes to justice.” As set forth in the indictment, which was returned on December 16, 2020 and unsealed on January 14, 2021, and related court filings, Canales-Rivera and his co-defendants are part of MS-13’s command and control structure, consisting of the Ranfla Nacional , Ranfla en Las Calles , and Ranfla en Los Penales. They play significant leadership roles in the organization’s operations in El Salvador, Mexico, the United States, and throughout the world. In total, 27 of the highest-ranking leaders of MS-13 have been charged in the Eastern District of New York in this indictment and the related indictment of United States v. Arevalo-Chavez, et al. As further alleged, in approximately 2002, Canales-Rivera, his co-defendants, and other MS-13 leaders began establishing a highly-organized, hierarchical command and control structure as a means to effectuate their decisions and enforce their orders, even while in prison. They directed acts of violence and murder in El Salvador, the United States, and elsewhere, established military-style training camps for its members and obtained military weapons such as rifles, handguns, grenades, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and rocket launchers. Further, beginning in approximately 2012, Canales-Rivera and other members of the Ranfla Nacional negotiated with officials from the government of El Salvador (GOES) and obtaied benefits and concessions from the GOES. In order to extract those benefits and concessions from GOES, MS-13 engaged in public displays of violence to threaten and intimidate civilian populations, targeted GOES law enforcement and military officials, and manipulated the electoral process in El Salvador. Canales-Rivera played one of the most prominent roles in MS-13’s negotiations and agreements with the GOES. Additionally, as alleged, the Ranfla Nacional directed the expansion of MS-13 activities around the world, including the United States and Mexico, where several high-ranking leaders were sent to organize operations, make connections to obtain narcotics and firearms from Mexican drug cartels such as the Zetas, Gulf Cartel, Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) and Sinaloa Cartel, and engage in human trafficking and smuggling. The Ranfla Nacional also directed MS-13’s large membership in the United States to engage in criminal activities, such as drug trafficking and extortion to raise money to support MS-13’s terrorist activities in El Salvador and elsewhere. Finally, the Ranfla Nacional and MS-13’s transnational leadership structure is alleged to have directed members in the United States to commit acts of violence, including murders, to further its goals and implemented rules that enabled MS-13 to entrench itself in parts of the United States, including within the EDNY where, under the defendants’ leadership and rules, MS-13 has committed numerous acts of violence—including murders, attempted murders, assaults, kidnappings, drug trafficking, extortion of individuals and businesses, obstructed justice and sent dues and the proceeds of criminal activity by wire transfer to MS-13 leaders in El Salvador. For example, this Office’s Long Island Criminal Division has prosecuted hundreds of MS-13 leaders, members, and associates for carrying out more than 65 murders in the Eastern District of New York between 2009 and the present. When the indictment was unsealed in January 2021, Canales-Rivera was in custody in El Salvador serving a prison sentence, and the United States lodged an INTERPOL Red Notice and submitted an extradition request for Canales-Rivera to the GOES. However, in or about November 2021, Canales-Rivera was released from custody by the GOES and then unlawfully entered Guatemala. Canales-Rivera remained a fugitive until November 7, 2023, when he was apprehended by Mexican authorities. Further, in addition to requesting Canales-Rivera’s extradition, in 2021 and 2022, the United States requested the extradition of 11 of his co-defendants, including Borromeo Enrique Henriquez, also known as “Diablito de Hollywood,” who is widely recognized as the most powerful member of the Ranfla Nacional . To date, the GOES has not extradited any of those defendants. Two of Canales-Rivera’s co-defendants, Fredy Ivan Jandres-Parada, also known as “Lucky de Park View” and “Lacky de Park View,” and Cesar Humberto Lopez-Larios, also known as “El Grenas de Stoners” and “Oso de Stoners,” and three related defendants from the Arevalo-Chavez indictment, Jorge Alexander De La Cruz, also known as “Cruger de Peatonales,” Juan Antonio Martinez-Abrego, also known as “Mary Jane de Hollywood,” and Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales, also known as “Veterano de Tribus,” remain at large. Members of the public with information concerning their whereabouts are strongly encouraged to contact the FBI’s toll-free MS-13 tip line, 1-866-STP-MS13 (1-866-787-6713), or HSI’s tip line at (866) 347-2423 or https://www.ice.gov/webform/ice-tip-form . Together, FBI and HSI have offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the fugitives. These charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted, Canales-Rivera faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John J. Durham, Paul G. Scotti, Justina L. Geraci, and Megan E. Farrell from the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Donnelly (District of New Jersey), Matthew Shepherd (Northern District of Ohio), and Stewart Young (District of Utah) from JTFV. Newly Arrested Defendant in U.S. Custody : ELMER CANALES-RIVERA (“Crook de Hollywood”) Age: 47 Fugitive Defendants: FREDY IVAN JANDRES-PARADA (“Lucky de Park View” and “Lacky de Park View”) Age: 47 CESAR HUMBERTO LOPEZ-LARIOS (“El Grenas de Stoners” and “Oso de Stoners”) Age: 44 Defendants with Pending Extradition Requests, Reportedly in El Salvador Custody: BORROMEO ENRIQUE HENRIQUEZ (“Diablito de Hollywood”) Age: 45 EFRAIN CORTEZ (“Tigre de Park View” and “Viejo Tigre de Park View”) Age: 54 RICARDO ALBERTO DIAZ (“Rata de Leewards” and “Mousey de Leewards”) Age: 50 EDUARDO ERAZO-NOLASCO (“Colocho de Western” and “Mustage de Western”) Age: 51 EDSON SACHARY EUFEMIA (“Speedy de Park View”) Age: 49 JOSE FERNANDEZ FLORES-CUBAS (“Cola de Western”) Age: 49 LEONEL ALEXANDER LEONARDO (“El Necio de San Cocos”) Age: 43 JOSE LUIS MENDOZA-FIGUEROA (“Pavas de 7-11” and “Viejo Pavas de 7-11”) Age: 59 HUGO ARMANDO QUINTEROS-MINEROS (“Flaco de Francis”) Age: 50 SAUL ANTONIO TURCIOS (“Trece de Teclas”) Age: 45 ARISTIDES DIONISIO UMANZOR (“Sirra de Teclas”) Age: 45 E.D.N.Y. Docket No.: 20-CR-577 (JMA)


title: North Kingstown Contractor Pleads Guilty to Bankruptcy Fraud, Suborning Perjury, Money Laundering, and Wire Fraud

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A North Kingstown man working as a self-employed contractor admitted to a federal judge today that he executed multiple schemes, made false representations, intentionally omitted significant information in filings, suborned perjury, and intentionally obstructed proceedings before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, all in an attempt to conceal substantial assets during bankruptcy proceedings, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. Ernest P. Ricci, 62, also admitted that he fraudulently applied for and received COVID-related Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) from the Small Business Administration, money that he laundered in an effort to conceal the funds. Ricci pleaded guilty today to charges of bankruptcy fraud, obstruction, suborning perjury, wire fraud, and money laundering. Appearing in U.S. District Court, Ricci admitted that in October 2017, prior to filing a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy petition in an attempt to protect a $1.5 million dollar home in Florida that he and his wife used as both rental property and a vacation home, and on which he had failed to make any mortgage payments for approximately five years, he transferred all of the assets of his business, Premier Home Restoration LLC (Premier), to his wife. Ricci admitted that he then falsely submitted documents to the Bankruptcy Court, under oath, indicating that he had been unemployed for many years, that he had no income, that he garnered no compensation of any kind from his wife’s company, that he controlled no bank accounts, and that he had no assets or properties other than the Florida home. Ricci admitted today that, in fact, he continued to control Premier after he transferred the company to his wife; that he ran its day-to-day operations; and that he made use of income from the company to maintain his lifestyle, all of which he failed to disclose to the Bankruptcy Court. Ricci also admitted that he failed to truthfully disclose rental income from his Florida property and from another property that he owned in New Hampshire. Ricci additionally admitted that he was untruthful when he claimed that he held a $200,000 mortgage in the name of another person for the New Hampshire property when, in fact, he owned the property himself and he was collecting rent, and that he convinced that person to commit perjury before the bankruptcy trustee. According to information presented to the court, in addition to the schemes employed by Ricci to hide assets and mislead the Bankruptcy Court, after the Bankruptcy Trustee was declared to be the equitable owner of Ricci’s former company, Premier, Ricci fraudulently applied for COVID-related Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) from the Small Business Administration, supposedly to pay Premier employees and company expenses. When filing, Ricci failed to disclose that the Trustee was the owner of Premier, and that he and the company were involved in bankruptcy proceedings. After fraudulently obtaining the EDIL and PPP funds, Ricci engaged in money laundering by conducted a series of financial transactions to conceal the location, ownership, and control of the COVID support payments , and used the funds to purchase rental property in Warwick, RI, in the name of another person. Court documents detail a number of stalling tactics, frivolous pleadings, and fraudulent claims by Ernest Ricci, including claims that he was indigent, during the years’ long bankruptcy proceedings. Documents also detail numerous combative communications sent by Ernest Ricci to the bankruptcy Trustee, some laced with profanities. Ernest Ricci is scheduled to be sentenced on February 22, 2024. The defendant’s sentences will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams. The matter was investigated by the FBI, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and the United States Bankruptcy Trustee. ###


title: Two Orlando Men Sentenced To Federal Prison For 17 Kilograms Of Cocaine

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Joe Braiam Pinol Garcia (30, Orlando) to 10 years in federal prison for attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Previously, on June 6, 2023, U.S. District Judge Berger sentenced Hugo Morones Munoz (49, Orlando) to 5 years and 10 months in federal prison for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and attempted possession of cocaine. Pinol Garcia and Murones Munoz previously pleaded guilty to the offenses. According to court documents, on August 17, 2022, Pinol Garcia and Morones Munoz traveled to Mexico so that Morones Munoz could introduce Pinol Garcia to others he knew from Mexico in order to broker a large drug trafficking transaction. Pinol Garcia, Morones Munoz, and others in Mexico came to an agreement to traffic 17 kilograms of cocaine into the United States. Morones Munoz and Pinol Garcia agreed to sell the cocaine in the Central Florida area. On October 3, 2022, 17 bundles of cocaine were sent through the border into Texas to be transported to Florida for Pinol Garcia and Morones Munoz. The cocaine was intercepted in Texas as part of an undercover operation conducted by special agents from Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The agents then set up a controlled undercover operation in which they provided fake bundles of cocaine to the drug buyers in Florida so that they could be identified and arrested. On October 6, 2022, Morones Munoz and Pinol Garcia arrived at the prearranged parking lot, provided the undercover agents with the money for the transportation fee for the drugs, and accepted the duffle bag with the 17 kilograms of fake cocaine inside. Morones Munoz and Pinol Garcia were arrested as they attempted to leave the parking lot. “These sentences are testament to the law enforcement partnerships we have across the nation to stop criminals from attempting to peddle their poison in our communities," said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. "Our agents, alongside our partners, work tirelessly to stop the importation of illicit narcotics into our communities.” This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John M. Gardella.


title: New Haven Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Charge

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CARLYLE HENRY, 39, of New Haven, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to a drug trafficking and firearm possession offense. According to court documents and statement made in court, shortly before midnight on October 12, 2022, Henry crashed his vehicle on a retaining wall on the Yale University campus. Carlyle was arrested after Yale Police found a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun, and a bag containing distribution quantities of cocaine, packaged heroin and fentanyl, and counterfeit pills containing fentanyl. Carlyle pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life. Judge Underhill scheduled sentencing for February 7, 2024. Carlyle has been detained since his arrest. Henry’s criminal history includes state convictions for firearms possession and narcotics distribution offenses, and a federal narcotics conviction in 2006 for which he received a sentence of 50 months of imprisonment. This case has been investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Yale Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Clark through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.


title: Repeat Sex Trafficker Arrested for Sex Trafficking

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Stoughton man previously convicted of multiple counts of sex trafficking has been arrested on sex trafficking charges. Marvin Pompilus, 39, was charged with one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. Pompilus was arrested yesterday and, following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, was detained pending a hearing scheduled for Nov. 28, 2023. “For years, this man allegedly victimized numerous women. Upon his release after a six-year prison sentence on sex trafficking charges, it is alleged that Mr. Pompilus almost immediately returned to targeting and exploiting vulnerable victims to line his own pocket – regularly using violence and drugs to maintain control,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Sex trafficking is a heinous crime that inflicts unimaginable, long-lasting trauma – and it’s happening every day in our communities. Today’s arrest underscores our office’s unwavering commitment to remove sex traffickers from our communities.” “Marvin Pompilus is accused of exploiting his victims in the worst way. By coercing them with drugs, forcing them to engage in commercial sex, and subjecting them to violence if they refused, he took away the freedom and dignity to which these women are entitled,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “FBI Boston’s Child Exploitation – Human Trafficking Task Force will not stop working to find and help trafficked victims, to protect them from further abuse, and keep their traffickers from hurting anyone else.” According to the charging documents, from on or about 2021 through 2022, Pompilus used force, fraud, or coercion to cause one victim to engage in commercial sex and victimized at least four others. In February 2018, Pompilus was convicted in Suffolk Superior Court of multiple counts of trafficking a person for sexual servitude and deriving support for prostitution. He was sentenced to six years in state prison and was released in October 2021. Almost immediately following his release from state custody, it is alleged that Pompilus posed as a sex buyer and responded to the victim’s online advertisement for commercial sex. When Pompilus arrived at the victim’s location, instead of engaging in commercial sex, he allegedly recruited her to engage in commercial sex on his behalf. Over the course of the next several months, Pompilus allegedly used physical violence, threats of violence and drug-based coercion to cause the victim to engage in commercial sex on a daily basis – for which he collected all of the proceeds. It is alleged that Pompilus physically beat the victim regularly and never allowed her to seek medical treatment. At times, Pompilus manually strangled the victim and on one occasion, pointed a gun in the victim’s face. If the victim disobeyed any of the rules that Pompilus set for her, Pompilus would allegedly become physically violent or withhold drugs from the victim until she started to experience the physical symptoms of withdrawal. It is further alleged that Pompilus used a driver to drive him to deliver drugs or pick up money from other vulnerable women who he was coercing to engage in commercial sex for his financial benefit. Pompilus allegedly used force, physical violence, threats of violence and drug-based coercion to victimize at least four other women and cause them to engage in commercial sex. If you or someone you know may be impacted or experiencing commercial sex trafficking, please contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov . The charge of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting U.S. Attorney Levy; Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; and FBI SAC Cohen made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Boston and Randolph Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Riley-Cunniffe, Chief of the Human Trafficking & Civil Rights Unit, Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Arnold of the Criminal Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Tokash of the Justice Department’s Human Trafficking Protection Unit are 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: Decherd Man Pleads Guilty To Tax Perjury, Pays Nearly $1.5 Million In Restitution To IRS

component: USAO - Tennessee, Eastern

body_text: CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – On October 11, 2023, Ross A. Rinkes, 66, of Decherd, Tennessee, pleaded guilty to making and subscribing a false U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, Form 1040, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Sentencing has been set for March 7, 2024, before the Honorable Charles E. Atchley, Jr., in the United States District Court at Chattanooga. Rinkes faces a term of up to three years in federal prison, a fine of up to $100,000, and supervised release for up to one year. As required by his plea agreement with the government, he has paid restitution to the IRS in the amount of $1,485,120.38, which includes unpaid taxes plus penalties and interest required by law. As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Rinkes waived an indictment by a Federal Grand Jury and agreed to plead guilty to the aforementioned charge. Rinkes, the owner of Rinkes Angus Ranch, a farm near Decherd, Tennessee, was in the business of purchasing and reselling chicken litter, which is used as fertilizer, and selling crops to grain aggregators. For 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, he provided his tax return preparer with false information that led to material underreporting of his income for each year. Rinkes signed those tax returns under penalty of perjury. On his tax return for 2017, Rinkes willfully and falsely underreported his income by at least $523,796, which resulted in him underreporting his income tax due for that year by at least $181,659. His false individual income tax returns for 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 resulted in a total tax loss of $679,515 to the United States. United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee and Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division made the announcement. The investigation was led by IRS Criminal Investigation Division Special Agent Michael T. Whitesell. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph G. DeGaetano represents the United States. ###


title: U.S. Attorney Thompson and Law Enforcement Officials Announce Major Drug Trafficking Indictment

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Will Thompson joined with law enforcement officials today to announce an indictment charging 27 individuals for their roles in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Huntington area. The indictment unsealed today is the result of an eight-month multi-state investigation and charges individuals from Michigan, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. The 53-count indictment charges the co-conspirators with distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl transported from Detroit, Michigan, in Huntington and other locations within the Southern District of West Virginia. Law enforcement officers obtained numerous search warrants in support of the investigation, including several executed this morning along with accompanying arrest warrants. Officers have so far seized approximately 2 pounds of methamphetamine, 2 pounds of fentanyl, 26 firearms and $10,500. “This case reflects the continuing commitment of this office to target the individuals who threaten our communities with these drugs and the violence that accompanies drug trafficking,” Thompson said. “This case also provides the latest example of the exemplary investigative effort and determined teamwork of our many law enforcement partners.” The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department. “The arrests demonstrate the continuing impact federal, state and local partnerships have on illegal drug trafficking,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Mike Nordwall. “Huntington has been plagued by illegal drugs and fears of violence for too long, and it must be addressed. The FBI will aggressively investigate criminal organizations that target our communities with their drugs and violence and ensure they are held accountable.” “The Huntington community is safer today with these individuals off of our streets,” said J. Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s Louisville Field Division. “I am proud of the work done by the dedicated men and women of the DEA and our law enforcement partners to dismantle this violent drug trafficking organization. We will always make it our mission to deliver the full weight of the justice system against anyone seeking to sow misery and suffering in our communities.” “Today’s arrests are an example of a combined effort of federal, state, county and local law enforcement agencies working together to indict these 27 individuals, who were bringing large amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl to the Huntington area for an extended period of time, and taking these individuals off the street,” said Cabell County Sheriff Chuck Zerkle. Charged in the 53-count federal indictment are: Derrell Cashawn Massey, also known as "Rell" and "Fat Rell," 33, of Detroit, Michigan; Talon Aaron McIntosh, also known as "Trey" and "T," 27, of Detroit, Michigan; Georgia Alice Jackson, 31, of Huntington; Nehmiah Allen-Griggs, also known as "Newski," 22, of Dallas, Georgia; Donald James Duty, 51, of Huntington; Tyrone John Thurmond, also known as "T.Y.," 23, of Detroit, Michigan; Jashawn William Lawson, also known as "Nitty," 22, of Detroit, Michigan; Mario Alonzo Pettway III, also known as "Mike," 23, of Detroit, Michigan; Hakeem Rashad Mack, also known as "Paper," 30, of Detroit, Michigan; Paul Anthony Rucker, 46, of Nitro; Kayla Dawn Powell, 37, of Hurricane; Vernard Antonio Brown, also known as "Bam," 32, of Detroit, Michigan; Tylar Harrison Harless, 25, of Tomahawk, Kentucky; Trevon Eaarle Godfrey, also known as "Trey," 27, of Detroit, Michigan; Christopher Anthony O'Dell, 38, of Hurricane; Gary Diaz, also known as "Poppy," 66, of Nitro; Sharon Teston, aka Angie Marie Cogar, 47, of Nitro; Mark Lawrence Lowe, also known as "Cell," 22, of Detroit, Michigan; Shakur Raekwan Joyce, also known as "Cheeta," 23, of Huntington; Denzil Roger Grant II, 49, of Hurricane; Ladonna Rae Abner, 49, of Nitro; Kyla Smith, also known as "Flaca," 28, of Huntington; Jerry D. Pemberton, 47, of Ironton, Ohio; Thomas Shane Holland, 53, of Salt Rock; Charles Clinton Cordle, 65, of Ashland, Kentucky; Josie Irene Copley, 58, of Flatwoods, Kentucky; and Walter Alvin Cremeans, 56, of Culloden. Note: An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams and Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor are prosecuting the case. The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-180. ###


title: Pawtucket Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Cocaine Trafficking Charge

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE, RI – Jomar Cruz-Aponte, 28, of Pawtucket, is scheduled to be sentenced by a federal judge in February after admitting today that in December 2021, he retrieved and took possession of a package he believed contained a controlled substance, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. Cruz-Aponte admitted that he agreed to retrieve the package from the front porch of a Pawtucket residence and deliver it to another individual in exchange for $500. According to information presented to the court, the package retrieved by Cruz-Aponte was shipped from Colombia and was intercepted by Customs and Border Protection. An inspection determined that it contained approximately one kilogram of cocaine stashed inside the tube of an old TV. Law enforcement officers set up surveillance at the location that the package was addressed to and, after the package was delivered, minus the cocaine, they observed Cruz-Aponte walking around the area, returning a short time later as a passenger in a vehicle, and then retrieve the package. He left the left the area in the same vehicle in which he arrived. Surveillance officers observed the vehicle leave the area and a Pawtucket Police cruiser effected a car stop a short time later. During the traffic stop, Cruz-Aponte briefly attempted to flee by lunging from the car, with the package in hand, and throwing the package to the ground. He quickly surrendered to law enforcement. Cruz-Aponte pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to a charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 20, 2023. The defendant’s sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney G. Michael Seaman. The matter was investigated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Pawtucket Police Department. ###


title: Greensboro Man Sentenced to Total of 142 Months on Firearm Offense, Supervised Release Violations

component: USAO - North Carolina, Middle

body_text: GREENSBORO – RYAN ROBERT AUGHENBAUGH was sentenced today to a total of 142 months in prison after pleading guilty to one count of felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC). AUGHENBAUGH was indicted in November 2022, and pleaded guilty to the single-count Indictment on July 17, 2023. AUGHENBAUGH was sentenced to a 115-month term of imprisonment for the felon in possession charge by the Honorable Thomas D. Schroeder, United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the MDNC. In addition, Judge Schroeder sentenced AUGHENBAUGH for two supervised release violations, imposing terms of 27 and 24 months, to run concurrently with each other but consecutive to the 115-month sentence. This case arises from an investigation by the Greensboro Police Department (GPD) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. According to documents filed in the case and evidence presented at sentencing, on June 29, 2022, GPD responded to a call reporting someone breaking into cars on Westhaven Drive. As officers approached, AUGHENBAUGH - who matched the description of the suspect given by the caller – attempted to flee on foot. He was taken to the ground, and during the ensuing struggle, AUGHENBAUGH discharged a gun, hitting himself in the leg and wounding one of the officers. Officers ultimately recovered two guns from AUGHENBAUGH, both of which had been reported stolen. As of June 29, 2022, AUGHENBAUGH had been convicted of a crime punishable by more than a year in prison. Most notably, on April 22, 2016, he was sentenced to 36 months of imprisonment for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon by the Hon. Catherine C. Eagles in case number 1:15CR406-1 [MDNC]. He also received a sentence of 24 months of imprisonment on December 14, 2016, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, for bank fraud in case number 7:15CR98-1. The case was prosecuted by First Assistant United States Attorney Randall S. Galyon and former Assistant United States Attorney Tanner Kroeger. ###


title: Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Jimmie Lee Holbrook, 43, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 10, 2023, Holbrook sold a quantity of fentanyl to a confidential informant in a vehicle outside of a service station in Huntington. Holbrook is scheduled to be sentenced on March 4, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Taylor is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-149. ###


title: Man Sentenced to 210 Months in Prison on Drug and Weapons Charges

body_text: GREENSBORO – A Mount Gilead man was sentenced today to more than 17 years in prison after pleading guilty to two drug charges and two firearms charges, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC). SAK KEOSOUMA, age 37, was indicted in March 2023 on one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and three counts related to his possession of firearms. KEOSOUMA entered a guilty plea to the drug counts and two of three gun counts on May 1, 2023. According to court documents, investigators seized approximately 138 grams of methamphetamine, 232 grams of fentanyl, 16 grams of suspected heroin, 3,759 grams of marihuana, 230 grams of suspected hallucinogenic mushrooms, and approximately $26,750 in United States currency. Additionally, according to court documents, the firearms seized included a Glock 9mm pistol, an Aero Precision multi-caliber rifle, and nine privately manufactured firearms bearing no serial numbers. These nine privately manufactured and untraceable firearms are also known as “ghost guns.” Seven of the nine ghost guns were Polymer 80 9mm pistols. The other two ghost guns included a .300Blk caliber rifle with an attached firearm silencer that also lacked serial numbers, and a 7.62x39mm/.223 caliber rifle with a “Wide Open Trigger” installed that allowed the rifle to fire automatically, thus constituting a “machinegun” under the National Firearms Act (NFA). Both the silencer and the rifle with the “Wide Open Trigger” constituted NFA "firearms” that require a license and registration in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR). KEOSOUMA was sentenced to a 210-month term of imprisonment by the Honorable Loretta C. Biggs, United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the MDNC. In addition to prison time, KEOSUMA was ordered to forfeit 11 firearms and more than 500 rounds of ammunition and will be subject to supervised release for 4 years following his release from prison. This case arises from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, the Moore County Sheriff's Office and Drug Enforcement Administration Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Craig M. Principe. ###