title: United States Seeks to Forfeit 200,000 Tether (“USDT”) Cryptocurrency, Valued at $200,000, Fraudulently Transferred from the Virtual Currency Wallet of an Ohio Victim

body_text: CLEVELAND - The United States filed a civil complaint in forfeiture against a total of 200,000 Tether (“USDT”) cryptocurrency, valued at approximately $200,000. In February 2024, bitcoin valued at approximately $340,000 was fraudulently transferred from the virtual currency wallet of an Ashtabula, Ohio, victim to a cryptocurrency address unknown to the victim. The victim did not initiate or authorize the transaction. Many virtual currencies publicly record all of their transactions on what is known as a “blockchain.” The blockchain is essentially a distributed public ledger, run by the decentralized network of computers, containing an immutable and historical record of every transaction utilizing that blockchain’s technology. The blockchain records every virtual currency address that has ever received virtual currency and maintains records of every transaction and all the known balances for each virtual currency address. Through several steps of “blockchain analysis,” investigators were able to trace approximately $200,000 of the funds that were fraudulently transferred out of the victim’s virtual currency wallet to two cryptocurrency addresses on the Ethereum blockchain. As part of this analysis, it was determined that the fraudulently transferred bitcoin had been converted by the fraudsters to USDT cryptocurrency. USDT is a “stablecoin,” a type of blockchain-based currency that is tied - or tethered - to a fiat currency and exists on several third-party blockchains, including Ethereum. Tether seeks to peg USDT to the U.S. Dollar at a 1:1 ratio. In March, 2024, the USDT tokens - valued at approximately $200,000 - at the two cryptocurrency addresses were frozen by Tether Limited Inc. Thereafter, pursuant to a federal seizure warrant issued on July 31, 2024, 200,000 USDT tokens were transferred by Tether Limited to a U.S. law enforcement-controlled virtual currency wallet. By the Complaint in Forfeiture filed on October 3, 2024, the United States seeks to forfeit the subject 200,000 USDT cryptocurrency. If successful, the United States would then seek to return the forfeited funds to the Ashtabula, Ohio, victim. It is specifically noted that the claims made in the Complaint in Forfeiture are allegations that the United States will need to prove by a preponderance of the evidence should the case proceed to trial. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cleveland Field Office, is actively investigating cryptocurrency fraud schemes perpetrated on victims throughout the United States, including in the Northern District of Ohio. This case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys James L. Morford and Daniel J. Riedl. View Complaint in Forfeiture


title: Guatemalan Man Sentenced to More Than One Year in Prison for Unlawful Reentry

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Guatemalan man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston to unlawful reentry. Wilson Hernandez-Bautista, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 21 months in prison. In June 2024, Hernandez-Bautista pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien. Hernandez-Bautista was indicted by a federal grand jury December 2023. Hernandez-Bautista was deported from the United States on Oct. 9, 2013. Sometime after his 2013 removal, Hernandez-Bautista unlawfully reentered the United States. In On Nov. 23, 2024, Hernandez-Bautista was convicted of rape of child with force in Essex County Superior Court. While serving a five-to-seven year sentence, immigration authorities became aware of Hernandez-Bautista’s unlawful presence in the United States. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Todd Lyons, Field Office Director for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Massachusetts Department of Corrections. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Sullivan of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.


title: U.S. Attorney Handberg Cautions Against Disaster Fraud Following Hurricane Helene

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, FL – In the wake of the extreme devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg reminds residents that as with any major disaster, there are unscrupulous thieves who seek to take advantage of the environment to line their own pockets. “As Florida continues to recover in the aftermath of the devastating Category 4 Hurricane Helene, it’s especially important to be vigilant against fraudsters who seek to profit from natural disasters,” stated U.S. Attorney Handberg. “Our office stands ready to assist in holding accountable individuals who would take advantage of disaster victims. We are committed to aggressively prosecuting those who commit this type of fraud.” The National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) is the result of a partnership between the U.S. Department of Justice and various law enforcement and regulatory agencies to form a national coordinating agency within the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice to improve and further the detection, prevention, investigation, and prosecution of fraud related to natural and man-made disasters, and to advocate for the victims of such fraud. The NCDF was established in 2005 in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, when billions of dollars in federal disaster relief poured into the Gulf Coast region. It is the national coordinating agency for all man-made and natural disasters. NCDF’s Gulf Coast headquarters is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In the wake of Hurricane Helene, there is no indication that criminals will slow down their efforts to commit fraud on individuals already victimized by the storm. The following examples of disaster-related fraud are based on over 220,000 historical complaints submitted to the NCDF: Fake charities immediately soliciting donations using the names of well-known charities or appearing reasonable as related to a disaster Individuals impersonating government officials and insurance company representatives advising that disaster assistance will be made available should the potential victim provide a sum of money or personal identifiers such as date of birth, social security number, and bank account information (name of financial institution, routing number, and account number) Individuals soliciting victims to invest in non-existent businesses and ventures offering recovery efforts such as cleanup, rebuilding, and making structures, such as homes, more resistant to future disasters by elevating structures to minimize future flood risks Individuals overcharging for goods and services needed by victims of disaster, also known as price-gouging In addition, based on the type of disaster, individuals are frequently victimized by theft of property from businesses and residences abandoned because of a disaster (either pre-disaster evacuation or to obtain living accommodations because of damaged apartments and homes). Recommended measures to avoid becoming a victim of disaster fraud: Fake charities soliciting donations either using the names of well-known charities or appearing to be related to the disaster. Scammers impersonating government officials, offering disaster relief in exchange for personal information or money. Individuals posing as insurance provider representatives to collect payments or personal information. Fraudsters promising expedient home repairs requiring upfront or partial payment. Price-gouging for goods and services needed by victims of disaster. Take these measures to protect yourself from disaster fraud: Donate only to well-known charities after verifying them through trusted sources. Do not respond to unsolicited requests for donations via email, phone, or text, and do not click on links in unsolicited messages. Do not assume that online or social media charity solicitations are legitimate. Use credit cards or checks for donations. Don’t send cash or use wire transfers or mobile payment apps. Remember that government agencies and legitimate organizations will never ask for money or personal information via phone or email. Beware of contractors who knock on your door or make unsolicited contact, and/or make promises that sound too good to be true. Cautiously rely on recommendations from family and friends. Do not be forced into making repair decisions by a high-pressure contractor. Individuals who have been targeted by fraudsters or been the victim of disaster-related fraud are encouraged to contact the NCDF at (866) 720-5721 or online at www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm .


title: Arizona Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Child Exploitation Crimes

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Alan J. Disomma Jr., 61, of Payson, Arizona, was sentenced today to life in prison for two counts of attempted enticement of a minor and one count of traveling in interstate commerce for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual activity. A federal jury found Disomma guilty on February 23, 2024, following a two-day trial. Evidence at trial proved that on December 10, 2021, Disomma began messaging a woman located in West Virginia whom he believed to be the mother of two minor girls. Disomma stated in his messages to the individual that he wished to engage in sexual relations with both girls. Disomma also brought up possibly traveling to West Virginia to meet the girls during this online conversation. From December 21, 2021 to December 18, 2022, Disomma exchanged text messages with the woman and continued to express his interest in engaging in sexual relations with both girls. During this text messaging, Disomma asked about flying to West Virginia to visit them and also stated that he had previously engaged in sexual relations with a prepubescent girl and subjected her to bestiality. Disomma also expressed interest in having the woman and the girls move to Arizona to live with him. On December 18, 2022, Disomma flew from Arizona to Charleston, West Virginia, where he planned to meet the individual and travel with her to her residence where he intended to engage in sexual activity with both girls. Disomma flew to West Virginia with a nearly full bottle of Viagra. Upon his arrival in Charleston, Disomma was arrested by law enforcement officers. “This case involved horrific facts that painted a vivid picture of defendant’s intense desire to have sex with two children,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “The offense conduct in this case was reprehensible, and today’s sentence reflects their gravity. I commend the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) West Virginia Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force and the West Virginia State Police for their investigation of this case. I also commend Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Rada Herrald and Lesley C. Shamblin and our trial team for their work in this case, which resulted in guilty verdicts on all three counts in the indictment.” Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Disomma was sentenced to life in prison for each of the two counts of attempted enticement of a minor, and to a concurrent 30-year term for traveling in interstate commerce for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual activity. The Court also imposed a lifetime of supervised release. 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. 5:22-cr-227. ###


title: Lakeland Drug Trafficker Sentenced To 20 Years

body_text: Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Donnell Leeman Moore, Jr. (37, Lakeland) to 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine and distributing methamphetamine and cocaine. The court also ordered Moore to forfeit a firearm, which was used in the conspiracy. Moore entered a guilty plea on July 17, 2024. According to court documents, between June 2021 and September 2023, Moore conspired with several co-conspirators to distribute narcotics from Moore’s industrial garage in Lakeland. Moore distributed cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and other narcotics. As part of the investigation, agents identified the co-conspirators and seized hundreds of grams of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Agents also recovered a firearm and packaging materials in Moore’s garage. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Lakeland Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha E. Beckman. This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.


title: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Statement Marking One Year Since Hamas’s October 7 Terrorist Attacks in Israel

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: The Justice Department issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland marking one year since Hamas’s October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel: “Monday, October 7 will mark one year since Hamas terrorists murdered nearly 1,200 people, including more than 40 Americans, kidnapped hundreds of civilians, and perpetrated the deadliest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. As made clear by the charges we recently unsealed against Yahya Sinwar and other senior leaders of Hamas, the Justice Department is committed to pursuing the terrorists responsible for murdering Americans — and those who illegally provide them with material support — for the rest of their lives. We are targeting every aspect of Hamas’s operations, and our work is far from over. We are also committed to continuing to combat the disturbing rise in the volume and frequency of threats against Jewish, Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian communities here in the United States that we saw in the wake of last year’s attacks. The Justice Department has responded forcefully to these threats, and we have no tolerance for unlawful acts fueled by hatred of any kind. We also recognize that as we mark one year since the attacks, we do so at a time when millions of Jewish Americans are observing the High Holidays. Today, and every day, the Justice Department reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that Jews in this country feel safe and are protected. No person and no community should have to live in fear of hate-fueled violence, and the Justice Department will aggressively investigate and prosecute criminal acts and threats of hate whenever and wherever they occur.”


title: Casper man sentenced for being a felon in possession of a firearm

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

body_text: Jashawn Michael Lee Crowley, 27, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 115 months’ imprisonment for illegal possession of a firearm. He was ordered to serve his sentence consecutive to the 7-to-10-year sentence imposed in State of Wyoming v. Crowley, docket number 23167-C and 23168-C for theft, conspiracy to commit theft, conspiracy to commit forgery, eluding, property destruction, and interference and concurrent to his 8-to-10-year sentence in State of Wyoming v. Crowley, docket number 2315, for auto burglary, theft, and aggravated eluding. According to court documents, on March 17, 2023, the defendant was pulled over in Casper during a traffic stop and had in his possession a 9mm Sig Sauer handgun. Crowley had an extensive criminal history, including at least two prior convictions for drug felonies and knew he was not allowed to possess a firearm. The defendant also acknowledged the firearm he possessed was stolen, not manufactured in Wyoming, and traveled across state lines to enter his possession. Crowley was indicted on May 10, 2023, and pleaded guilty on July 12, 2024. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Oct. 3. This crime was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Casper Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christyne M. Martens. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, Please visit Justice.gov/PSN. Case No. 23-CR-00105


title: Federal Court Issues Preliminary Injunction Against Town of Thornapple, Wisconsin, Requiring Use of Accessible Voting System during November Election

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that a federal court in the Western District of Wisconsin has entered a preliminary injunction requiring the Town of Thornapple, Wisconsin, to comply with federal law by offering an accessible voting system at each of its polling places during the Nov. 5 federal general election. “This preliminary injunction affirms the right of voters with disabilities to participate on the same terms as every other voter,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Help America Vote Act protects that right in every town in Wisconsin, and every jurisdiction across the country, by requiring that every voter has the opportunity to use an accessible voting system.” The United States filed a complaint on Sept. 20 alleging that the Town of Thornapple, among other defendants, had violated Section 301 of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) by failing to provide voting systems that allowed voters with disabilities to participate in the same private and independent manner as other voters during Wisconsin’s April and August federal primary elections. The preliminary injunction requires Thornapple to comply with Section 301 of HAVA by making available an accessible system during the Nov. 5 federal general election. The injunction also requires Thornapple to prominently post signage alerting voters that an accessible system is available for use, to train election officials on the use of that system, to certify to the court by Oct. 31 that its accessible system is ready for use in the November general election and to allow Justice Department personnel to monitor compliance with the terms of the injunction. Congress passed HAVA in 2002 in part to make in-person voting more accessible for voters with disabilities. Among other things, Section 301 of HAVA requires that each polling place used for federal elections provide at least one voting system that provides voters with disabilities the same opportunity for access and participation as other voters are provided, including the same opportunity to cast ballots privately and independently. More information about voting and elections, including guidance documents and other resources, is available at www.justice.gov/voting . Learn more about HAVA and other federal voting laws at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section . Complaints about possible violations of federal voting rights laws can be submitted at civilrights.justice.gov or by telephone at 1-800-253-3931.


title: Vicksburg Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Jackson, Miss. – A Vicksburg man pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to court documents, Marquette Cornell McCroy, 42, was found in possession of a firearm in Vicksburg following a traffic stop. McCroy, who was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, had previously been convicted of a felony and was therefore prohibited from possessing firearms. McCroy threw the firearm on the ground as he attempted to flee the vehicle on foot. McCroy is scheduled to be sentenced on February 6, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement. The Vicksburg Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway 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: Nine Charged in Brownfield Drug Bust

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Nine drug traffickers allegedly operating out of Brownfield, Texas and surrounding areas have been federally charged, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. The defendants were arrested Thursday in a takedown that involved officers and agents from the Brownfield Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Office – Lubbock Resident Agency, the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, the Lubbock Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and Homeland Security Investigations. They made their initial appearances Friday morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Amanda ‘Amy’ R. Burch. “The success of this investigation highlights DEA’s outstanding partnerships with federal, state, and local agencies in the Caprock area,” said Special Agent in Charge, Eduardo A. Chavez. “DEA Lubbock and its counterparts will continue to bring violent drug traffickers to justice in small rural communities and large metropolitan areas alike.” “The Brownfield Police Department takes the health and safety of our community seriously. We will continue to do what is necessary to investigate, arrest, and prosecute those who distribute illegal narcotics on our streets and in our neighborhoods,” said Brownfield Police Chief Chris Kotzur. Those charged in six separate indictments include: Kirkland Ryan Longoria, charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine Sandra Kay Cavazos, charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine Arthur Lee Willingham, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and felon in possession of a firearm Steven Blake Johnston, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine Steven Rene Rodriguez, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine Lorraine Riojas Davila, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine Dewayne Deshae Willis, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine Larry Joe Franco, Jr., charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine Demetrick Ward, charged with distribution of cocaine An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If convicted, some face potential life sentences in federal prison. Brownfield Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Office – Lubbock Resident Agency, the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, the Lubbock Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Rancourt and Sean Long are prosecuting the cases.


title: Founder Of Cryptocurrency Ponzi Scheme IcomTech Sentenced To 121 Months In Prison

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that on October 4, 2024, U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Rochon imposed a sentence of 121 months in prison on DAVID CARMONA, the founder of the cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme IcomTech. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “David Carmona masterminded the IcomTech cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme, which preyed upon working-class people by promising them complete financial freedom in exchange for parting with their hard-earned money. Carmona claimed that his victims’ money would be invested in cryptocurrency trading and mining, and that profits from those activities would result in victims doubling their money within six months. In reality, IcomTech was doing no such thing. It was all a lie. And when the scheme came crashing down, Carmona’s victims were left with nothing. Carmona’s days of scamming honest people are at an end, and he now faces substantial time in prison.” According to the allegations in the Indictment, public court filings, and statements made in public court proceedings: CARMONA started IcomTech in approximately 2018 with other co-conspirators. IcomTech was a purported cryptocurrency mining and trading company that promised to earn its victim-investors (“Victims”) profits in exchange for their purchase of purported cryptocurrency-related investment products. CARMONA and the other promoters of IcomTech falsely promised their respective Victims, among other things, that profits from the companies’ cryptocurrency trading and mining would result in guaranteed daily returns on Victims’ investments and doubling their money within six months. In reality, IcomTech did not engage in cryptocurrency trading or mining for its Investors, and CARMONA and Icomtech’s other promoters used Victim funds to pay other Victims, to further promote the schemes, and to enrich themselves. Icomtech promoters, including CARMONA, traveled throughout the United States and internationally where they hosted lavish expos and small community presentations aimed at luring Victims to invest in the schemes, including in the Southern District of New York. During larger-scale events, IcomTech promoters presented on purported investment products and the compensation plan, encouraged Victims to invest as a means of achieving financial freedom, and boasted about the amount of money they were earning. IcomTech promoters often showed up at larger-scale events in expensive cars and wearing luxury clothing as a way of exhibiting their purportedly legitimate success from IcomTech. The atmosphere of these events was festive and designed to generate excitement about the schemes. Victims invested in IcomTech by purchasing investment products from promoters using cash, checks, wire transfers, and actual cryptocurrency. Following a Victim’s investment, a Victim would be provided with access to an online portal where the Victim could monitor the purported returns. While Victims saw “profits” accumulate on IcomTech’s legitimate-looking online portal, most Victims were unable to withdraw any of these so-called profits and ultimately lost their entire investments. By contrast, IcomTech’s promoters, including CARMONA, siphoned off, in some cases, hundreds of thousands of dollars in Victim funds, which they withdrew as cash, spent on IcomTech promotional expenses, and used for personal expenditures such as luxury goods and real estate. At least as early as August 2018, Victims who attempted to withdraw money from their online portal accounts had difficulty doing so, and when they complained to promoters, they were met with excuses, delays, and hidden fees, if they were able to make any withdrawals at all. Despite these complaints, IcomTech promoters, including CARMONA, continued to promote IcomTech and accept Victims’ investments. As complaints mounted, IcomTech began offering a proprietary crypto-token for sale as a means of injecting liquidity into IcomTech. Promoters of the schemes claimed that these tokens, known as “Icoms,” would eventually be worth a significant amount of money when they were accepted by companies for payment for goods and services. This was false. In reality, “Icoms” were essentially worthless and resulted in further financial loss to Victims. By in or about the end of 2019, IcomTech stopped making payments to Victims and IcomTech collapsed. * * * In addition to the prison term, CARMONA, 41, of Queens, New York, was sentenced to 3 years of supervised release. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of Special Agents from Homeland Security Investigations’ El Dorado Task Force. Mr. Williams also thanked the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for their assistance. This case is being handled by the Office’s Illicit Finance and Money Laundering Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin A. Gianforti, Michael D. Maimin, T. Josiah Pertz, and Cecilia Vogel are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Four Men Charged with Violating Export and Firearms Laws

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – Haitham Al-Dulaimi, 30, Haider Lazem, 41, Hasan Wasak, 27, and Abdullah Alsajee, 30, all of Louisville, Kentucky, were arrested today pursuant to a now-unsealed indictment. They were charged with conspiracy to: violate the Export Control Reform Act, smuggle goods from the United States, engage in the business of dealing firearms without a license, make false statements in the purchase of firearms, and defraud the United States government. The indictment also charges Alsajee, Lazem, and Wasak with making false statements in the purchase of firearms. According to the indictment, from February 2023 through September 2024, Al-Dulaimi, Lazem, Wasak, and Alsajee conspired to export firearms, including Glocks, Rugers, Sig Sauers, and Smith & Wessons, from the United States to Iraq, without obtaining the required export licenses. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Wasak, Alsajee, and Lazem, procured firearms from federal firearm licensees and at gun shows in the Louisville area. Wasak, Alsajee, and Lazem then delivered the firearms to Al-Dulaimi, who arranged them for the export to Iraq. Thirty-eight firearms were detained by law enforcement from a shipment sent by Al-Dulaimi intended for Iraq. If convicted, Al-Dulaimi, Lazem, Alsajee, and Wasak face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for violations of export control laws, and five years in prison for the conspiracy charge. Lazem, Alsajee, and Wasak also face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for false statements during the purchase of a firearm. Al-Dulaimi faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for smuggling and five years in prison for dealing in firearms without a license. The indictment also notifies defendants that the United States intends to forfeit firearms alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Louisville Field Division, and Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Nashville Field Office, Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI’s National Security Branch, and Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office announced the case. The ATF, HSI, and FBI are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia P. Gomez for the Western District of Kentucky and Trial Attorney Leslie C. Esbrook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ####


title: Minneapolis Felon Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Fentanyl Trafficking

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – A Minneapolis felon has been sentenced to 144 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl pills, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, on November 28, 2022, Kristopher Raphael Owens, 31, was driving a gold Chevy Tahoe in Minneapolis and was pulled over by law enforcement. As officers approached the vehicle, Owens fled on foot. Officers pursued and apprehended Owens in a nearby yard, where he was arrested. Officers discovered $1,286 on his person and also found two Ziploc baggies containing 1,874 blue pills along the path on which Owens had fled. The pills were tested later and determined to contain fentanyl. Owens admitted that they were his and that he intended to distribute them. On March 13, 2024, Owens pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. He was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge Joan N. Ericksen. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Minneapolis Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Steinkamp prosecuted the case.


title: Texas Couple Sentenced to Federal Prison for COVID-Era PPP Loan Fraud

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: AUSTIN, Texas – A Georgetown couple was sentenced in federal court to a combined 32 years in federal prison for their roles in a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) fraud scheme. According to court documents, Michael Fullerton, 51, and Tiffany Fullerton, 48, along with two other co-conspirators, used one existing and three dormant and expired business names to submit six fraudulent PPP loan applications for a total exceeding $3.5 million. Five of those applications were funded, allowing the defendants to receive approximately $3 million in PPP funds. The funds were used in an attempt to start a business in Oklahoma consisting of a marijuana grow and dispensary, a bar and grill, and an auto/boat repair shop. Additionally, the funds were used to purchase a motor home, luxury watches, a boat, and other personal expenditures. In March, Michael Fullerton pleaded guilty to 11 counts in a superseding indictment charging him with multiple counts related to bank and wire fraud, along with aggravated identity theft. The following month, on April 29, Tiffany Fullerton was found guilty in a federal jury trial for one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Michael Fullerton was sentenced to 286 months in federal prison for all 11 counts. Tiffany Fullerton was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison. The couple was also ordered to pay $3,027,526.11 in restitution. “Michael and Tiffany Fullerton were convicted of defrauding our federal government and banks during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “They took advantage of a national emergency to enrich themselves. This U.S. Attorney’s Office will not hesitate to hold fraudsters who abuse public programs accountable.” “The Fullertons and their co-conspirators created a complex scheme to fraudulently obtain Paycheck Protection Program loans intended to help small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. They falsified payroll records, banking details, and other financial documents to obtain the funds. The stolen money became their playground, purchasing luxury watches, cars and other goods,” said Lucy Tan, acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Houston Field Office. “Financial investigations follow the money, and it always leaves a trail. If you’re committing the crime, it’s only a matter of time before you’re caught and sent to prison.” “The defendants undermined the integrity of the tax administration system, defrauding taxpayers of millions of dollars,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Kyle Kuykendall for the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. “Public confidence in our country’s tax administration system is essential, and TIGTA will continue wo work closely with our law enforcement partners and prosecutors to vigorously investigate and pursue anyone who attempts to challenge it.” IRS-CI and TIGTA investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Keith Henneke and G. Karthik Srinivasan prosecuted the case. ###


title: Amherst woman pleads guilty to threatening a witness

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Jessica Leyland, 37, of Amherst, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer to witness retaliation, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Louis A. Testani, who is handling the case, stated that in July 2019, Leyland approached an individual (Victim) at a bar in Buffalo, NY, and asked if she could speak with the Victim. The Victim agreed and then Leyland accused the Victim of “talking to the feds” and threatened to “(expletive) kill” the Victim. Leyland then placed the Victim in a headlock, causing bodily injury. Leyland ultimately had to be physically separated from the Victim by employees at the bar. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff John Garcia. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. # # # #


title: Greece man going to prison for illegally selling hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of stolen goods

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Tony Orlando Camacho a/k/a Anthony Camacho, 48, of Greece, NY, who was convicted of transportation of goods in stolen commerce, was sentenced to serve 15 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas M. Testani and Meghan K. McGuire, who handled the case, stated that between January 2021, and July 25, 2022, Camacho purchased stolen goods and merchandise from persons that he knew were engaged in unlawful shoplifting (commonly referred to as “boosters”) from Rochester area retail stores. Once the goods were stolen, boosters would sell the stolen, new in box goods to Camacho for a fraction of the true retail value. After purchasing the stolen goods, Camacho would then list the stolen goods for sale on eBay using the account, Ton.Camac. The goods were advertised as “New” or “New-In-Box” and priced below retail value, although the price was well in excess of the money paid to the boosters. Camacho sold and shipped, or caused to be shipped, between $249,246.33 and $469,246.42 worth of stolen goods. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino, and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter. # # # #


title: Jamestown man going to prison for his role in drug conspiracy

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Tyler Tedesco, 28, of Jamestown, NY, who was convicted of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute, and distributing, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, was sentenced to serve 78 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who handled the case, stated that Tedesco was a drug trafficking associate of co-defendant Rocco Beardsley, who led a drug trafficking organization in the Jamestown area. Tedesco sold large amounts of methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl for profit, collected drug money, stored drugs and profits, and coordinated with co-conspirators to sell methamphetamine and heroin. During the conspiracy, Tedesco and Beardsley used Facebook to communicate about their narcotics activities including debts, cash and drug transactions, supplies, and paraphernalia. Rocco Beardsley was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino, and the Jamestown Police Department, under the direction of Chief Timothy Jackson. # # # #


title: Middleburg Woman Sentenced To More Than 21 Years In Federal Prison For Producing Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger has sentenced Meggin Anne Evans (35, Middleburg) to 21 years and 10 months years in federal prison for production of child sexual abuse material. Evans has been in custody since her arrest on November 7, 2022. She entered a guilty plea on March 1, 2024. According to court documents, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) initiated an investigation after receiving information about five files of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) that had been sent over a social media application. PCSO’s investigation revealed that the files were sent from within the Putnam County Jail. PCSO connected the social media account to Brandon Paul Smolinski, Evans’s husband, who was working for a transportation company that does work inside the jail. The company provided Smolinski’s work schedule and confirmed that he was working in the jail on the dates and times the files had been shared from within the jail. PCSO contacted the Clay County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) to request assistance, as Smolinski’s residence was located in Middleburg. CCSO investigators discovered that the internet service at Smolinski’s residence was also used to upload files of CSAM using the same social media application. Detectives from PCSO and CCSO approached Smolinski in the parking lot at the Putnam County Jail. Smolinski admitted to distributing files of CSAM. He also told detectives that he had watched CSAM with Evans, and that he had sent Evans CSAM from the jail. During a forensic review of Smolinski’s cellphone, law enforcement discovered multiple files of CSAM, including a video sent to Evans on June 27, 2022. In addition, they located several chat messages between Smolinski and Evans, during which they talked about exploiting children and their sexual attraction to children. On October 28, 2021, Smolinski and Evans discussed performing specific sex acts on children and made future plans to groom children for sex. Evans then sent Smolinski a photograph she had taken of a child to whom Evans had access, depicting child sexual abuse. Brandon Paul Smolinksi was sentenced in June 2023 to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison for distribution of child sexual abuse. “The sentencing of Meggin Evans for production of child sexual abuse material, and her husband’s sentencing earlier this year for distribution, is a testament to the commitment of the detectives and special agents who work relentlessly to combat the sexual abuse of children,” said Tim Hemker, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in Jacksonville. “Working alongside our partners at the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force, we remain committed in our resolve to identify and rescue child victims and bringing child sexual predators to justice.” This case was investigated by the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Washington. This case was investigated by the Northeast Florida INTERCEPT Task Force, to include Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. It is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Six Men Indicted in Connection with “ATM Jackpotting” Conspiracy

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Joelvis Jose Rivas-Solorzano, Silvio Fabian-Ordonez, Jose Medina, Jose Navarro, Deivy Santiago Pena-Rojas, Jefferson Jose Marquez-Marquez, all citizens of Venezuela, were indicted for conspiracy to commit bank larceny, and bank larceny related to their involvement in a nationwide automatic teller machine (ATM) Jackpotting Scheme. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig. L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) made the announcement. “ATM jackpotting” is the exploitation of physical and software vulnerabilities in ATMs that result in the machines dispensing cash to unauthorized fraudsters. Typically, during ATM jackpotting events one or two people use a key to access the inside of an ATM to install a foreign device that allows a hacker to assume control of the ATM. After the ATM is compromised, groups of individuals arrive at the ATM to conduct transactions and the ATM dispenses its cash reserves, which are untethered to any bank account. In December 2023, several financial institutions in the Northern District of New York became victims of an ATM Jackpotting scheme. In total, over $400,000.00 was stolen during four separate ATM jackpotting events in Onondaga, Broome, and Chenango counties. Joelvis Jose Rivas-Solorzano, Silvio Fabian-Ordonez, Jose Medina, Jose Navarro, and Deivy Santiago Pena-Rojas have all been arrested and are in custody in the Northern District of New York. Jefferson Jose Marquez-Marquez is in custody in South Dakota and is awaiting transport to the Northern District of New York. The charges to which Joelvis Jose Rivas-Solorzano, Silvio Fabian-Ordonez, Jose Medina, Jose Navarro, Deivy Santiago Pena-Rojas, Jefferson Jose Marquez-Marquez face carry a maximum sentence of 5 or 10 years, a fine of up to $250,000 million, and a supervised release term of up to 3 years. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. This case is being investigated by the FBI Albany Field Office, with assistance from United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), United States Secret Service, the New York State Police, the Onondaga County Sherriff’s Office, the Chenango County Sherriff’s Office, the Broome County Sherriff’s Office, the Town of Cicero Police Department, the Syracuse Police Department, the Binghamton Police Department, the Norwich Police Department, the Dearborn, Michigan Police Department, and the Belle Fourche, South Dakota Police Department. Special Assistant United States Attorney Paul Tuck is prosecuting the case.


title: Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Charge Stemming from Smuggling and Labor Trafficking Scheme

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that PORFIRIA MARIBEL RAMOS SANCHEZ, 47, a citizen of Mexico last residing in Vernon, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to a charge stemming from her involvement in a scheme to smuggle aliens into the U.S., harbor them at Hartford area residences, force them to work, and threaten to harm them in various ways if they failed to pay exorbitant fees, interest, and other living expenses. According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in September 2022, the FBI and Hartford Police interviewed several Mexican nationals who disclosed that they were smuggled from Mexico into the U.S. and transported to Hartford. The investigation revealed that victims typically arranged with Ramos, her co-conspirators in Connecticut, and associates in Mexico to cross the border into the U.S. in exchange for a fee of between $15,000 and $20,000 that each would need to pay once they were in the U.S. In most cases, the victims were required to turn over a property deed as collateral before leaving Mexico. They were then smuggled across the border and transported to Hartford area residences, often at a substantial risk of bodily injury or death. After the victims arrived in Connecticut, they were told that they would have to pay $30,000, with interest, and that they would have to pay Ramos and her co-coconspirators for rent, food, gas and utilities. The co-conspirators created false documents for the victims, including Permanent Residence cards and Social Security cards, and helped the victims find employment in the Hartford area. In addition to their own jobs, some victims were required to perform housework and yardwork without compensation and without having their debt reduced. Victims were rarely provided with an accounting of their debt. If victims failed to make regular payments, or in amounts that the co-conspirators expected, they were sometimes threatened, including with threats to harm family members in Mexico, to take property in Mexico that had been secured as collateral, to reveal victims’ immigration status to U.S. authorities, and to raise their interest payments. To date, investigators have identified 18 victims of this scheme. Ramos pleaded guilty to conspiracy to encourage and induce, bring in, transport, and harbor aliens, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for January 6, 2025. As part of her plea agreement, Ramos has agreed to a restitution order of $494,608. In partial satisfaction or her restitution obligation, Ramos and her husband have agreed to sell a property they own at 74 Burnside Avenue in East Hartford, which was used to facilitate this criminal offense. Ramos has been detained since her arrest on October 5, 2023. This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Hartford Police Department, U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angel Krull and Shan Patel.


title: Ocala Man Indicted For Armed Robbery

body_text: Ocala, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of a two-count indictment charging Johnisaac Felix (22, Ocala) with interference with commerce by robbery and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. If convicted of the robbery offense, Felix faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. The firearm offense carries a minimum mandatory sentence of 7 years, up to life, in federal prison which must be served consecutively to any prison term imposed for the robbery. According to the indictment, on June 16, 2024, Felix robbed an employee of gas station in Ocala using actual and threatened force, violence, and fear of injury to the employee. During that robbery, Felix also brandished a firearm. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ocala Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Belkis H. Callaos. 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: Colorado Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for His Role in $300 Million Nationwide Telemarketing Fraud Scheme Targeting the Elderly

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – A Colorado man has been sentenced to 96 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for his role in a $300 million nationwide telemarketing fraud scheme that targeted elderly and vulnerable victims, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Amondo Antoine Miller, 48, of Littleton, Colorado, knowingly conspired with numerous other defendants to carry out a telemarketing scheme that began in at least 2000 and victimized numerous individuals across the United States, many of whom are elderly and vulnerable. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Miller and his co-conspirators accomplished their scheme by calling victim-consumers who had one or more existing magazine subscriptions and offering to "renew" the existing magazine subscriptions, often at a reduced cost. In reality, the conspirators tricked the victim-consumers into signing up for entirely new magazine subscriptions, which they did not want and often could not afford. Some victim-consumers were fraudulently billed by as many as ten companies at a time and received more than $1,000 in monthly magazine subscription charges. Over the course of the scheme, the co-conspirators defrauded more than $300 million from over 150,000 victims nationwide. On November 6, 2023, Miller was convicted by a federal jury of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, mail fraud, and wire fraud. He was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge John R. Tunheim, who remarked that this case is “the largest elder fraud case in the nation.” The case was the first in Minnesota charged under the Senior Citizens Against Marketing Scams Act of 1994, which ensures enhanced penalties for persons convicted of mail or wire fraud in connection with the conduct of telemarketing. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Jacobs, Matthew S. Ebert, Joseph H. Thompson, Garrett S. Fields, and Melinda A. Williams prosecuted the case.


title: California Real Estate Agent Charged with Tax Crimes

component: Tax Division

body_text: A federal grand jury in Los Angeles returned an indictment yesterday charging a California man with evading the payment of his individual income taxes and obstructing the IRS in its efforts to collect those taxes. According to the indictment, Gabriel Guerrero, a Los Angeles-based commercial real estate agent, did not timely file tax returns for many years. In 2014, he allegedly filed more than 10 years’ worth of returns but did not pay the amounts he self-reported he owed. When the IRS began trying to collect those outstanding taxes, Guerrero allegedly sought to prevent the IRS from being able to do so in at least two ways: by not depositing substantial commission checks he earned from commercial real estate sales into his bank accounts and using cashier’s checks to circumvent IRS levies of those accounts. The indictment also alleges that Guerrero further obstructed collection efforts by submitting false financial disclosure forms to the IRS, which significantly underreported his income and by not disclosing a bank account he used to deposit his income. In total, Guerrero is alleged to have caused a tax loss to the IRS of more than $350,000. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for tax evasion and three years in prison for obstructing the IRS. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Robert Kemins and Christopher Gerace of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Arkow for the Central District of California are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Michigan Attorney Indicted on Tax Charges

body_text: A federal grand jury in Detroit charged a Michigan attorney yesterday with filing false tax returns and willfully failing to file tax returns. According to the indictment, Shawn Smith, who calls himself “Shawn the Law,” is a lawyer residing in Birmingham. For 2017 through 2020, Smith allegedly filed false individual income tax returns that did not report hundreds of thousands of dollars of gross receipts that he earned from his law business. In addition, Smith allegedly did not file an individual income tax return for 2021 and 2022. If convicted, Smith faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each false return count and a maximum penalty of one year in prison for each count of failing to file a tax return. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan and IRS Special Agent in Charge Charles Miller made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Jeffrey A. McLellan and Kenneth C. Vert of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Unprovoked Shooting Lands Man in Prison for 20 Years

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Tyrone Johnson, 43, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today in D.C. Superior Court to 20 years in prison for shooting a stranger on August 30, 2022, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. Johnson was found guilty at trial in June 2024 of aggravated assault while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, three counts of possession of a firearm during each of those crimes of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a license, possession of an unregistered firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition. Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo also ordered Johnson to serve five years of supervised release. According to the government’s evidence, at around 5:40 a.m. on August 30, 2022, Johnson entered Starburst Plaza, located at the intersection of Benning Road NE and Bladensburg Road NE, and asked the victim if he could buy a cigarette from him. The victim did not have any cigarettes and told Johnson “no.” Johnson then told the victim to, “Give it up,” before taking out a handgun. Johnson then fired multiple times at the victim at close range, hitting him in his midsection. Johnson then ran into a nearby apartment complex. Police later identified Johnson through review of video surveillance, GPS records, and ballistics evidence that linked Johnson to this shooting and one committed one week before this offense. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also commended the work of those who helped on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Program Specialist Jennifer Allen, Supervisory Paralegal Specialist Renee Prather and Paralegal Specialists Crystal Waddy and Antoinette Sakamsa, IT Specialist Charlie Bruce, Supervisory Victim/Witness Service Coordinator Katina Adams and Victim/Witness Coordinators Maenylie Watson and Shanika McCollough, Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Lenerz from the Appellate Division, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Folse and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward “Teddy” Dunn, who both investigated the case. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Travis Wolf and Matthew Goldstein, who prosecuted the case.


title: San Diego Restaurant Owner Convicted of Tax and COVID-Relief Fraud Schemes

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – September 18, 2024 SAN DIEGO – A federal jury convicted San Diego restaurant owner Leronce Suel of wire fraud, conspiracy, and tax crimes for providing bogus information in applications for COVID relief programs and failing to report more than $1.7 million in revenue to the IRS. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Suel was the majority owner of Rockstar Dough LLC and Chicken Feed LLC, both of which operated restaurants in the San Diego area, including Streetcar Merchants in the North Park neighborhood. The jury found that Suel conspired with his business partner to underreport over $1.7 million in gross receipts on Rockstar Dough LLC’s 2020 corporate tax return and COVID relief applications. Suel’s businesses also fraudulently received approximately $1,773,245 million in COVID-related Paycheck Protection Program loans and Restaurant Revitalization Fund grants by falsely certifying his businesses were eligible and that his businesses would use the money appropriately. Instead of using the COVID-19 relief program funds on eligible expenses, Suel and his co-conspirator made substantial cash withdrawals from their business bank accounts and purchased a home in Arkansas. As part of their conspiracy, Suel concealed more than $2.4 million in cash in his bedroom. Suel failed to report income he received from his business, including millions of dollars in cash and personal expenses paid for by the businesses. In 2023, Suel also filed original and amended tax returns for prior years that included false depreciable assets and business losses. “Shirking taxes, lying to the IRS, and stealing COVID relief funds - these are not victimless crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “This jury saw through greed and deceit to ensure protection of federal programs designed to support our infrastructure and serve those in need.” “For more than a decade, Mr. Suel evaded his tax responsibilities both as an individual and as a business owner,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office. “Even worse than evading his tax obligations, during the COVID pandemic, Mr. Suel fraudulently obtained grants and loans intended to help businesses struggling in the wake of the pandemic and used those funds for personal gain. Paying your fair share is central to our democracy, and IRS Criminal Investigation will continue to pursue those who evade their financial responsibilities to their fellow Americans.” After conviction, Suel stipulated to forfeit $1,466,918 from the $2.4 million seized as proceeds traceable to his pandemic relief fraud. Suel is scheduled to be sentenced on December 13, 2024. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Beeler and Trial Attorney Julia Rugg of the U.S. Department of Justice Tax Division. DEFENDANT Case Number 23-cr-00965 Leronce Suel Age: 46 San Diego, CA SUMMARY OF CHARGES Wire Fraud Conspiracy – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1349 Maximum penalty: Thirty years in prison and $1 million fine Wire Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1343 Maximum Penalty: Thirty years in prison and $1 million fine Conspiracy to Defraud the U.S. – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371 Maximum Penalty: Five years in prison and $250,000 fine Tax Evasion – Title 26, U.S.C., Section 7201 Maximum Penalty: Five years in prison and $100,000 fine Filing False Tax Returns – Title 26, U.S.C., Section 7206(1) Maximum Penalty: Three years in prison and $100,000 fine Failure to File –Title 26, U.S.C., Section 7203 Maximum Penalty: One year in prison and $25,000 INVESTIGATING AGENCY IRS Criminal Investigations


title: U.S. Attorney Simonton Alerts Public to Charity Scams in Wake of Hurricane Helene

component: USAO - Texas, Northern

body_text: United States Attorney Leigha Simonton issued a public safety alert today advising the public to be vigilant to hurricane relief fraud in the wake of Hurricane Helene. “North Texans are some of the most generous people I know,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton, the Northern District of Texas’ chief federal law enforcement officer. “We’ve all been impacted by the devastating images of Helene’s aftermath and are looking for ways to help. The best way to ensure your donations make a difference is to route them through a legitimate charity. Please, be vigilant for scams. Unfortunately, some fraudsters will stop at nothing to make a quick buck – even if it means exploiting a natural disaster and preventing funds from reaching the actual victims who are in need.” On Sept. 26, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend Region and quickly caused major devastation there and across states including Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and others. As we have seen in the wake of previous national disasters, fraudsters will target victims of the storm along with citizens across the country who want to do what they can to assist individuals affected by the storm. Unfortunately, criminals exploit disasters for their own gain by sending fraudulent communications through email or social media and by creating deceiving websites designed to solicit contributions. The public should exercise diligence before giving contributions to anyone soliciting donations or individuals offering to assist those affected by Hurricane Helene. Solicitations can originate from phone calls, texts, social media, e-mail, door-to-door collections, flyers, mailings, and other similar methods. Before making a donation to benefit victims of Hurricane Helene, individuals should adhere to certain guidelines, including: Make contributions directly to known organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf. Do not be pressured into making contributions as reputable charities do not use such tactics. Do not respond to any unsolicited communications (e.g., e-mails and texts), and never click links contained within those messages because they may be targeting your personal information, to include bank and credit card account information, and other identifiers such as dates of birth and social security numbers. Rather than clicking on a purported link to a charity, verify its legitimacy by utilizing various Internet-based resources that may assist in confirming whether the organization is a valid charity. Beware of organizations with copy-cat names similar to but not exactly the same as those of reputable charities. Avoid cash donations if possible. Pay by credit card or write a check directly to the charity. Do not make checks payable to individuals. Know that legitimate charities do not normally solicit donations via money transfer services, and their website will normally end in .org rather than .com. Be cautious of e-mails that claim to show pictures of the disaster areas in attached files because the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders. The U.S. Department of Justice established the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to deter, investigate, and prosecute fraud in the wake of disasters. More than 50 federal, state, and local agencies participate in the NCDF, which reminds the public to be aware of and report any instances of alleged fraudulent activity related to relief operations and funding for victims. Complaints of fraud may be reported online at www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm . Complaints may also be reported to the NCDF at (866) 720-5721, a hotline that is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.


title: Longtime Department of Veterans Affairs Supervising Engineer Convicted at Trial of Defrauding the Agency of Nearly $1 Million

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Ahmed Hassan, 70, of Collegeville, Pennsylvania, was convicted today by a federal jury on 22 counts of wire fraud arising from Hassan’s misuse of his position as a federal employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs (“the VA”) to defraud the agency of nearly $1 million over a seven-year period. As proven at trial, Hassan was a trusted supervisory engineer at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center (“VAMC”) in Philadelphia. In that position, Hassan was responsible for all mechanical and large HVAC systems at VAMC and was further charged with overseeing and implementing contracts in his area of responsibility. From approximately 2013 through October 2017, Hassan schemed to defraud the VA by drafting and submitting for payment, false invoices of a company called HT Mechanical. Unbeknownst to VAMC management, and in violation of Hassan’s duties to the VA, HT Mechanical was nothing but a shell that Hassan had secretly set up with his paramour, Lynn Hanrahan [1] — a social worker with no knowledge of, or expertise in, HVAC or mechanical systems — in order to carry out the scheme. For years, the defendant made up fake work, drafted false invoices on HT Mechanical letterhead, submitted them for payment to the VA under the VA purchase card program and lied to the VA, claiming that the work had been done, when the so-called jobs did not exist. and no work was done. After the VA made payment to HT Mechanical on the defendant’s say so, Hanrahan returned money to the defendant, either by check or by giving the defendant envelopes of cash. Hassan is scheduled to be sentenced on January 15, 2025. He faces a maximum possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison for each count on which he was convicted. “For the better part of a decade, for his own benefit, Ahmed Hassan siphoned almost a million dollars from Philadelphia’s VA Medical Center,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “In misusing his position to do so, he betrayed his colleagues, U.S. taxpayers, and, most egregiously, the veterans the VA serves. My office and our partners will bring to justice anyone padding their pockets like this at the federal government’s expense.” The case was investigated by Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General and the FBI and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Megan Curran and Assistant United States Attorney Mary Crawley. [1] Hanrahan was charged in a related scheme, pleaded guilty, and is awaiting sentencing.


title: Mason City, Iowa Man Sentenced for Drug and Gun Charges

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A Mason City man who sold pounds of methamphetamine and illegally possessed firearms in furtherance of his drug distribution, was sentenced today to more than 15 years in federal prison. Andrew Lofton, age 48, of Mason City, received the prison term after a May 17, 2024, guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings revealed that between January 2023, and continuing through April 2023, Lofton distributed approximately six pounds of methamphetamine. On several occasions during this time, Lofton sold methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with the government. On April 20, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Lofton’s residence in Mason City and found drug distribution-related items, and multiple firearms. Lofton was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 190 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Lofton is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was investigated by the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Department and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ron Timmons. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-3013. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Prison Sentence Handed Down to Man Who Shot Teen in a Domestic Dispute

body_text: WASHINGTON – Deangelo Wooten, 27, was sentenced today to eight years in prison, for shooting a minor in January 2024, with whom he was in a romantic relationship, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Wooten pleaded guilty on July 19, 2024, to one count of aggravated assault while armed and one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Today, Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo sentenced Wooten to eight years in prison for the aggravated assault while armed charge, to be followed by five years of supervised release. Judge Demeo also sentenced Wooten to six years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, to run concurrently. According to the governments evidence, in January 2024, the victim, who was 16-years-old at the time, was in a dating relationship with Wooten, who was 26-years-old at the time. On January 20, 2024, the defendant sent several text messages to the victim, stating “Imma shoot you dead in your face” and “On dior when I see you imma kill you.” Initially, the victim thought the defendant was making these statements to get a reaction from her. The defendant then texted her and asked if they could meet for her to give him his shoes. The victim agreed and went with two others to meet Wooten at 13 th Street and Congress Street SE, to give the defendant his shoes. At around 1:00 p.m., the victim and her friend arrived and waited in a car at the location. Shortly thereafter the defendant drove up in a blue car. Wooten jumped out of the blue car and approached the victim, who was sitting in the back seat of her friend’s car. Wooten took the shoes from the victim with one hand, produced a gun in the other hand pointing it at the victim’s head, and fired while standing within arm’s length of the victim. The victim, anticipating the shot, raised her arm to protect her head, and the bullet entered and exited her arm and grazed her back. The defendant walked away, got back in his vehicle and drove off. The victim began to bleed and the other two people in the vehicle drove her to the hospital, where she received treatment. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Roessler, who prosecuted the case.


title: Pair who targeted seriously ill veterans for fraud indicted for conspiracy, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A former Washington State Department of Corrections inmate and his accomplice were indicted by the grand jury for their scheme to target seriously ill veterans for fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. 46-year-old Darryl Lamont Young is in the King County Jail on unrelated charges. Co-defendant, 27-year-old Aqeelah Ngiesha Williams, was arrested this morning and pleaded “not guilty” today in federal court. “The conduct in this case is truly shocking – calling medical facilities and seriously ill veterans under the pretense of being a VA employee trying to provide the ill veteran with financial benefits. In reality, these two were seeking personal and financial information to defraud the veteran,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “While they did not get a huge amount of money with this scheme, the harm they caused to those already suffering a health crisis, is deserving of federal prosecution.” According to the indictment, Young has served in the military and so understood some of the services provided to veterans. Between December 2021, and April 2023, while incarcerated, Young would use the jail phone system to place calls to veteran’s facilities. He would ask to be transferred to a particular medical facility so that the medical facility would not know that the call was from an inmate. Once connected to the medical facility, Young allegedly posed as a VA employee who needed information about the various patients currently in the Intensive Care Unit, including their phone numbers and names for their emergency contact person. Once Young had information about a seriously ill veteran, he would call Williams who allegedly placed a three-way call to the veteran or the relative listed as the veteran’s representative. Young would pretend to be a VA employee calling with information about benefits to be deposited to the veteran’s bank account. Once Young and Williams had that account information from the veteran, they used it to steal funds from the victims’ accounts and transfer them to accounts they controlled. Young and Williams targeted more than 30 VA and non-VA medical facilities and targeted more than 60 victims. They attempted 130 fraudulent transactions on victim accounts and obtained about $8,000 from the scheme. The pair are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, six counts of wire fraud for phone calls made via wire to various VA medical centers across the country, and six counts of aggravated identity theft for their possession or use of personal information from the victims for fraud. Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud are each punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Aggravated identity theft is punishable by two years in prison to run consecutive to any other sentence imposed in the case. The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The case is being investigated by the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General. (VA-OIG) and the United States Secret Service (USSS). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mike Dion and Yunah Chung.


title: Child Sexual Abuser Sentenced to 52.5 Years in Prison

body_text: WASHINGTON – Matthew Stitt Johnson, 34, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 52.5 years in prison for two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count second-degree child sexual abuse with aggravating circumstances for abusing three minor children. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge David Geist of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Johnson pleaded guilty on August 29, 2022, before U.S. District Court Judge Jia M. Cobb. In addition to the 52.5-year prison term, Judge Cobb ordered Johnson to register as a sex offender. According to the government’s evidence, Johnson sexually abused three children, an eight-year-old, a five-year-old, and an eight-month-old infant, between 2015 and 2020. Johnson took videos of his sexual abuse of the five-year-old child and the eight-month-old infant. While the five-year-old and her sister reported the abuse to their mother, the abuse was not reported to law enforcement. In May 2021, law enforcement received a tip that Johnson downloaded child pornography from a cloud-based service and subsequently executed a search warrant on his home. Videos depicting the sexual abuse of the five-year-old and eight-month-old victims were discovered in Johnson’s cell phones along with 13,000 images of child pornography. Johnson distributed the images of his sexual abuse of children in internet forums dedicated to trading child pornography, particularly trading images of the rape and torture of infants and toddlers, and actively sought out and distributed other child pornography images over a two-year period. This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking. The investigation received valuable assistance from the MPD’s Narcotics and Special Investigation Division, Human Trafficking Unit. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Platt and Janani Iyengar with the valuable assistance of Victim/Witness Advocate Yvonne Bryant. This case was brought as part of the Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood initiative. In February 2006, the Attorney General created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . 22cr129


title: Informational: Federal Court arraignments

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt: Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on Oct. 1 was: Kevin Andrew Bacon, 50, of Manhattan, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime, Bacon faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Bacon was detained pending further proceedings The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-33. Heather Brook Jenkins, 45, of Bozeman, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Jenkins faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Jenkins was detained pending further proceedings. The Missouri River Drug Task Force conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-34. Appearing on Sept. 30 was: Taylor Gale Penny, 35, of Missoula, on charges of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime, Penny faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Penny was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI’s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-51. Anthony Robert Catalusci, 64, of Three Forks, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Catalusci faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Catalusci was detained pending further proceedings. The Missouri River Drug Task Force conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-34. Travis Kurt Myers, 56, of Columbia Falls, on charges of pointing laser at aircraft. If convicted of the most serious crime, Myers faces a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Myers was detained pending further proceedings. The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-54. The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html . To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl . XXX


title: Former Salem County Man Admits Role in Stolen Check Scheme

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – A former Salem County, New Jersey, man admitted his role in a scheme involving checks stolen from the mail and other sources, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Dezhon McCrae, 25, formerly of Penns Grove, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Karen M. Williams in Camden federal court to a six-count information charging him with two counts of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, possession of a stolen postal key, possession of stolen mail, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Count One From May 2018 through February 2020, McCrae was part of a “card cracking” conspiracy in which the conspirators obtained stolen checks from the mail and other sources. They then used the stolen checks to create counterfeit checks with the same routing and account numbers for deposit into area banks. Next, the conspirators posted advertisements on social media, seeking individuals who had bank accounts and were willing to give the conspirators access to their accounts. The conspirators then deposited the counterfeit checks into the compromised banks accounts. The conspirators transferred as much money as possible out of the accounts before the banks discovered that the deposits were fraudulent. The conspirators were able to defraud the victim banks of over $274,000. McCrae’s role in this scheme resulted in over $10,000 loss to the victim banks. Three other codefendants have already been sentenced in connection with this scheme and three additional codefendants have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Count Two After being charged via federal complaint for the conduct alleged in Count One of the information, McCrae engaged in a second scheme to commit bank fraud. From May 11, 2022, to July 27, 2022, McCrae participated in a nearly identical scheme to defraud another bank. This time, the victim bank suffered over $14,000 of loss due to McCrae’s offense. Counts Three and Four On Aug. 18, 2023, while the complaint for the allegations in Count One were still pending, McCrae was residing in Paulk County, Georgia. Local police were dispatched to McCrae’s residence in response to eye-witness reports of a shooting. The investigation of the shooting led to the discovery of a stolen postal mailbox key and stolen mail in McCrae’s residence. Count Five During the investigation of the Aug. 18, 2023 shooting at McCrae’s residence, local police obtained a warrant to search McCrae’s cellphone. The cellphone was found to contain evidence that McCrae had manufactured a fraudulent New Jersey driver’s license in the name of a real person, but using the photograph of a conspirator. The cellphone evidence also showed that McCrae mailed the false ID to his conspirators in Camden in late June 2023. On July 3, 2023, the false ID was used in an attempt to cash a stolen check at a bank in New Jersey. The bank’s employees were suspicious of the fraudulent ID and the conspirator fled the bank before the stolen check was cashed. Count Six The search of McCrae’s cellphone also uncovered evidence of his role in a conspiracy to commit two robberies of letter carriers in Cumberland County, New Jersey. The target of the robberies was the letter carriers’ postal mailbox keys. The first robbery occurred in Fairfield Township on June 13, 2023, when a masked assailant assaulted the letter carrier and successfully stole the postal mailbox key. The second robbery occurred on July 3, 2023, in Vineland. On this occasion, a masked assailant attacked the letter carrier from behind, striking him and spraying him with a cannister of bear repellant. The second robbery was unsuccessful in stealing the letter carrier’s postal mailbox key. Conspiracy to commit bank fraud carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. Unlawful possession of a postal key carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine. Possession of stolen mail carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine. Aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory consecutive term of two years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine. Conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 6, 2025. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the U.S. Postal Inspector’s Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen, Philadelphia Division; andspecial agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas, with the investigation. U.S. Attorney Sellinger also thanked the Paulk County (Georgia) Sheriff’s Department, the New Jersey State Police, the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office, the Glassboro Police Department, and the Cherry Hill Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew B. Johns of the Criminal Division in Camden. mccrae.information.pdf


title: Canadian National Pleads Guilty to Possession of Sex Abuse Videos of Toddler and Prepubescent Boys

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: WASHINGTON – Matthew Norman Ballek, 32, of Saskatchewan, Canada, pleaded guilty today to a federal child pornography charge stemming from his distribution of child pornography to an undercover law enforcement agent in January 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves; FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge David Geist, of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division; and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Ballek pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of possession of child pornography. The Honorable Reggie B. Walton scheduled a sentencing hearing for March 21, 2025. According to plea documents, in January 2024, a member of the FBI–MPD Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force was monitoring an online dating application in an undercover capacity. Law enforcement has learned that the application is sometimes used by individuals who have a sexual interest in children. Ballek contacted the undercover agent and, believing he was communicating with a pedophile, expressed an interest in child pornography. Ballek later sent the undercover agent three video files via an encrypted messaging application. Those video files depicted adult men raping toddler and prepubescent boys. Ballek was arrested in the District of Columbia on February 7, 2024. The FBI seized and forensically examined Ballek’s phone, which contained 10 unique videos and at least 21 unique still images that constitute child pornography. Ballek has remained in custody since his February 7, 2024, arrest. Ballek faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. In addition, Ballek must pay mandatory restitution of at least $3,000 to any identified victim. The statutory sentences for federal offenses are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only. Any sentence will be determined by the Court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. In addition, Ballek will be required to register as a sex offender and be subject to deportation proceedings and other adverse immigration consequences following any prison term. This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and MPD’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The task force is composed of FBI agents, along with other federal agents and detectives from northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. The task force is charged with investigating and bringing federal charges against individuals engaged in the exploitation of children and those engaged in human trafficking. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul V. Courtney and Karen L. Shinskie. 24cr61


title: Long Beach Man Pleads Guilty to Traveling With 14-Year-Old Girl Across State Lines While Intending to Engage in Sexual Activity

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A Long Beach man pleaded guilty today to federal criminal charges for traveling with a 14-year-old runaway from Arizona – whom he met in a Reddit internet forum – across state lines to his apartment, where he engaged in criminal sexual activity with her. Trevon Nathaniel Langstaff, 33, pleaded guilty to one count of traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. “Every day, sexual predators use the internet’s relative anonymity to prey on vulnerable youth,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Would-be predators should be aware that my office will use all of its tools to bring them to justice, and, as today’s sentence shows, the consequences will be severe.” According to his plea agreement, in late March 2024, Langstaff drove from his Long Beach home to Peoria, Arizona, to pick up the victim, a 14-year-old girl. Langstaff knew the victim was 14 and instructed her to pretend to be 18 years old. Intending to have sexual intercourse with the victim, Langstaff transported her from Arizona to his home in Long Beach, where he engaged in sexual intercourse with her. On Langstaff’s cellphone, which was seized on March 26, law enforcement found an image that appeared to portray two children engaged in sexually explicit activity. United States District Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha scheduled a March 7, 2025, sentencing hearing, at which time Langstaff will face a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison. Langstaff has been in federal custody since March 27. The FBI and the Long Beach Police Department investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Kathrynne N. Seiden of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.