title: Court Sentenced Dominican Drug Smuggler Caught  with Approximately 443 Kilograms of Cocaine

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: On March 14, 2024, United States District Court Judge, Terry F. Moorer, sentenced Joel Vargas Mendez-Bienvivenido, a Dominican national, to 87 months imprisonment for smuggling 443 kilograms of cocaine in the Caribbean Sea. Mendez-Bienvivenido had previously plead guilty to the drug smuggling offense, which is charged under Title 46, United States Code, Section 70506 (b). Documents filed with the Court established that on September 13, 2023, during a routine patrol in the Caribbean, a Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) located a Go-Fast Vessel (GFV) on a northerly path with a speed of 18 knots and two persons on board. The vessel was outfitted with one engine and visible suspected drug packages on the deck of the vessel. United States Coast Guard Cutter Valiant (USCGC VALIANT) launched it’s Over the Horizon (OTH) boat with a boarding team (BT). The OTH and BT arrived on scene and gained positive control of the vessel approximately 161 nautical miles South of Isla Beta, Dominican Republic. This location is in international waters. The BT recovered 13 bales of cocaine weighing approximately 443 kilograms. The government of the Dominican Republic denied any claim to nationality of the GFV, and the vessel was thus subsequently treated as one without nationality, giving the United States jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute the case under Title 46. The vessel was deemed a danger to navigation due to no suitable tow points and its distance from land. Consequently, the vessel was sunk upon completion of law enforcement activities. Title 46 United States Code, § 70501 states: Congress finds and declares that (1) trafficking in controlled substances aboard vessels is a serious international problem, is universally condemned, and presents a specific threat to the security and societal well-being of the United States and (2) operating or embarking in a submersible vessel or semi-submersible vessel without nationality and on an international voyage is a serious international problem, facilitates transnational crime, including drug trafficking, and terrorism, and presents a specific threat to the safety of maritime navigation and the security of the United States. Title 46 further provides that such offenses may be prosecuted in any United States federal district court. United States Attorney Sean P. Costello praised the outstanding work of the United States Coast Guard and federal investigators in interdicting and bringing these international drug smugglers to justice. Costello stated that the wholesale value of the cocaine seized in this case is conservatively valued at approximately 13.3 million dollars. The case was investigated by the United States Coast Guard, and the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney George F. May


title: Spencer Man Sentenced to More Than Thirteen Years’ Imprisonment for  Second Federal Drug Conviction

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who had previously been convicted of Conspiracy to Manufacture and Distribute Methamphetamine in 2004 was sentenced April 17, 2024, to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and will spend more than 13 years in federal prison. Todd Williams, age 57 from Spencer, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 1, 2023, guilty plea to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Evidence showed on March 4, 2023, after receiving information that Williams was possessing and selling methamphetamine, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Williams’ residence in Spencer, Iowa. During the execution of the search warrant, law enforcement seized approximately 2.7 pounds of methamphetamine and approximately $50,000 in cash. Williams was not present during the execution of the search warrant but was observed by law enforcement driving by. Law enforcement attempted to traffic stop Williams who then led law enforcement on a short pursuit driving at speeds up to 100mph before being stopped and arrested. Williams was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Williams was sentenced to 158 months’ imprisonment and must also serve an 8-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Williams is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jack Lammers and Patrick Greenwood and investigated by Spencer Police Department, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Estherville Police Department, the Iowa Great Lakes Drug Task Force, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Iowa DCI Laboratory. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-4061. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Ida Grove Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison  for Possession of Child Pornography

body_text: Scott Allen Tomlinson, 49, from Ida Grove, Iowa, was sentenced April 18, 2024, to 10 years in federal prison for Possession of Child Pornography. Evidence in the case established that between September 1, 2021, and February 23, 2022, Tomlinson possessed child pornography and used a cellular phone to access the images on the cloud. Law Enforcement recovered dozens of images from Tomlinson’s cloud-based storage system. These images included material that portrayed sadistic and masochistic conduct. Evidence at the sentencing hearing established that Tomlinson engaged in a pattern of activity involving the sexual abuse or exploitation of a minor. Tomlinson was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Tomlinson was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay $2,600 in fines and assessments. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Tomlinson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.” The case was investigated by State of Iowa Department of Public Safety and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 22-CR-04904. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Sheldon Man Sentenced to 12 years in Federal Prison  for Distribution of Child Pornography

body_text: A man who distributed child pornography to a minor was sentenced today, April 18, 2024, to 12 years in federal prison. Henry Araica-Gonzalez, age 22, from Sheldon, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 5, 2023, guilty plea to Distribution of Child Pornography. Evidence showed that in February 2023, a minor victim disclosed a sexual relationship with Araica-Gonzalez and an investigation began. Law enforcement executed a search warrant and during an interview with law enforcement, Araica-Gonzalez admitted he knew the victim was a minor, admitted to the sexual relationship, and admitted he filmed some of the sexual encounters on both his and her phones. Araica-Gonzalez further admitted that on at least one occasion he sent the videos to the victim. Araica-Gonzalez was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Araica-Gonzalez was sentenced to 144 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay $1,100 in fines and assessments. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Araica-Gonzalez is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.” The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Sergeant Bluff Police Department, and Sheldon Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is CR23-4031. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Humboldt, Iowa, Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for  Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person

body_text: A convicted felon who was found in possession of a stolen gun was sentenced on April 16, 2024, to 21 months in federal prison. Joseph Isiah Hardy, Sr., age 38, from Humboldt, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 28, 2023, guilty plea to Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. Evidence at the hearing showed that on October 27, 2022, the Humboldt Police Department responded to a call of a possible stolen gun. During a search of the property Hardy was detained and found with the stolen firearm. Hardy admitted he had previously been convicted of the felony assault of an at-risk person in Colorado in 2012. Hardy further admitted he knowingly possessed a stolen firearm. Hardy was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Hardy was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Hardy 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 Humbolt Police Department, Humbolt County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa State Patrol and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is CR23-3010. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Georgian National And Son Charged With Laundering More Than $500,000 They Believed To Be Drug Cartel Proceeds

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Spencer L. Evans, the Special Agent in Charge of the Las Vegas Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the arrest of YOHANAN ELIGOOLA and DAVID ELIGOOLA in connection with a conspiracy to launder money that the defendants believed to be narcotics proceeds. The individuals who purported to be operatives of a narcotics cartel were in fact undercover law enforcement officers (the “Undercover Agents”), and YOHANAN ELIGOOLA also attempted to sell those individuals various weapons, including surface-to-air missiles. YOHANAN ELIGOOLA was arrested on April 15, 2024, in New York, New York, and presented yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker in the Southern District of New York. DAVID ELIGOOLA was arrested yesterday in Miami, Florida, and presented before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Southern District of Florida. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Yohanan Eligoola worked with individuals he believed to be representing a drug cartel to launder hundreds of thousands of dollars and to sell them deadly weapons, including surface-to-air missiles. Unbeknownst to him, those cartel members were in fact undercover FBI agents. Our law enforcement partners and the career prosecutors of this Office work relentlessly to disrupt dangerous criminal activity.” FBI Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans said: “FBI Las Vegas would like to thank our partners at the SDNY U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI New York, and FBI Miami for their diligent work leading to these arrests. We are committed to working collaboratively and utilizing our partnerships to combat organized crime groups to stem the illegal flow of weapons that endangers U.S. national security.” As alleged in the Complaints: [1] The Undercover Agents represented to YOHANAN ELIGOOLA that they worked for a drug cartel, and YOHANAN ELIGOOLA arranged to launder their narcotics proceeds. Over the course of 2023, YOHANAN ELIGOOLA, DAVID ELIGOOLA — YOHANAN ELIGOOLA’s son — or their co-conspirators received large quantities of cash from the Undercover Agents on five separate occasions. In total, they received more than $500,000 in cash, and returned all of it — minus their fee — back to the Undercover Agents in the form of laundered cryptocurrency and bank wires. YOHANAN ELIGOOLA informed the Undercover Agents that he could launder up to $1 million in cash per day on behalf of the cartel and that “the bank will never ask you a question” when YOHANAN ELIGOOLA transferred the laundered funds back to them. Before he had received any money from the Undercover Agents, YOHANAN ELIGOOLA asked one of them if the money was “from drugs.” The Undercover Agents told him that it was and that they were “dealing with Colombians.” YOHANAN ELIGOOLA also offered to sell the Undercover Agents various munitions and bragged that he controlled a large fraction of the defense industry in a particular country. YOHANAN ELIGOOLA further claimed that he marked up munitions he sold by approximately 500% because they were “black market.” The Undercover Agents informed YOHANAN ELIGOOLA that they “have issues with aircraft,” referred to “the fucking helicopters,” and asked for “stingers.” Because the Undercover Agents represented that they worked for a drug cartel, the Undercover Agents meant that government helicopters had been interdicting the operations of the cartel, and the Undercover Agents wanted Stinger missiles — which are man-portable surface-to-air missile systems that are effective in shooting down helicopters — in order to shoot down those helicopters. YOHANAN ELIGOOLA asked the Undercover Agents to send him a list of the type of munitions they wanted to purchase and offered to let the Undercover Agents visit him in other countries to see the munitions firsthand. The Undercover Agents subsequently requested a number of weapons, including rifles, grenades, rocket-propelled grenades, anti-tank weapons, suicide drones, and Stinger missiles. YOHANAN ELIGOOLA responded that he could provide most of those weapons and listed the prices he would charge. As to the Stinger missiles, YOHANAN ELIGOOLA offered FN-6 and FN-16 man-portable surface-to-air missile systems as alternatives. On April 15, 2024, the Undercover Agents met with YOHANAN ELIGOOLA at a restaurant in New York, New York, in order to make a down payment on the surface-to-air missiles. The Undercover Agents provided YOHANAN ELIGOOLA with $690,000 in cash as a down payment for approximately eight such missiles. YOHANAN ELIGOOLA was then arrested by the FBI. * * * YOHANAN ELIGOOLA, 58, of the nation of Georgia, and DAVID ELIGOOLA, 34, of Hallandale Beach, Florida, are each charged with conspiracy to launder money, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Micah Fergenson and Kevin Mead are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Complaints are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaints and the description of the Complaints set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described therein should be treated as an allegation.


title: Guam Man Sentenced to 120 Months in Federal Prison for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Hagatña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that defendant Jason Solatario Brown, age 48, from Yigo, Guam was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment for Possession of Child Pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252. The Court also ordered five years of supervised release following imprisonment and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee. The Court also ordered Brown to register with the Sex Offender Registry anywhere he lives, works, or goes to school. On November 24, 2020, a Federal Bureau of Investigation special agent searched Brown’s cellular telephone. During the examination the agent discovered 28 videos and images of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The images depicted adult males engaging in sexually explicit conduct with young boys. Evidence revealed that Brown shared the videos and images with another person using the Facebook messenger app. Brown shared the images after receiving a request for images of children below the age of fifteen. “Our children are facing unprecedented threats to their safety,” stated United States Attorney Anderson. “Digital technology facilitates nearly every crime. We must make every effort to combat the exploitation of children. Those who violate their innocence will be held accountable.” “This sentence demonstrates that the FBI will vigorously pursue those who target young innocent children and bring justice to those who have been victimized,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Steven Merrill. “We ask the public to be vigilant and report these heinous acts to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or at tips.fbi.gov so we can put these perpetrators away for a long time This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This prosecution is part of the Project Safe Childhood initiative, whose mission is to combat internet or technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. PSC works in coordination with U.S. Attorney’s Offices, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The case was prosecuted by Rosetta L. San Nicolas, Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Guam.


title: U. S. Attorney Handberg Announces $418,000 In Justice Department Grants To Support Youth Success

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, FL ― U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg today announced a grant award of $418,000 to help support youth success in the Middle District of Florida. The grant was awarded to the City of Orlando Continuum of Care Project to Support Youth Success by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s (OJJDP) “Building Local Continuums of Care to Support Youth Success” initiative and is part of more than $17 million going to communities nationwide. “Effective prevention and intervention strategies are critical in reducing violence and improving the quality of life in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg. “Providing youth with opportunities to succeed and realize their potential is essential in developing our future leaders. This initiative is an investment in both.” The Continuum of Care framework supports a network of services and opportunities to foster positive youth development and prioritizes community safety and effective program outcomes. This new OJJDP investment leverages decades of evidence-based learning to prevent youth from entering or deepening their involvement in the juvenile justice system and steer them on a path to success. At its core, the continuum of care approach is community-driven, leverages local insights, and addresses youth needs through mentoring, after-school programs, and other prosocial activities. More information about these and other OJP awards can be found on the OJP Grant Awards Page . The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime; advance equity and fairness in the administration of justice; assist victims; and uphold the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov . The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) provides national leadership, coordination, and resources to prevent and respond to youth delinquency and victimization. The Office helps states, localities, and Tribes develop effective and equitable juvenile justice systems that create safer communities and empower youth to lead productive lives.


title: Grand Jury Indicts Former School Janitor Accused Of Possession Of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that a Grand Jury indicted Bradley Arkesteyn, 28, of Rockford, for possessing child pornography. Arkesteyn was previously charged by criminal complaint, and he has been detained by the Court since March 20, 2024. Arkesteyn is set for arraignment on April 24, 2024. “My office will always fight to protect the most vulnerable,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten . “Every image of child exploitation is a crime, whether possessed, viewed, or distributed. My team will continue working with our law enforcement partners to hold offenders accountable.” As described in more detail in the criminal complaint, Arkesteyn allegedly posted images and videos of child pornography in a social media group called “kiddo only.” Arkseteyn also allegedly communicated privately with an undercover FBI task force officer about a sexual interest in children and his work as a custodian in an elementary school. The relevant school district has been notified. “I am grateful to our dedicated agents and task force officers from the Western Michigan Based Crimes Against Children Task Force (WEBCHEX) for their investigative work on this case,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan . “Today's indictment is a testament to the FBI and task force officers’ daily work to combat sexual exploitation, particularly against minors. Those who engage in such crimes will face justice.” This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . The case is being investigated by the FBI. The charges in an indictment are merely accusations, and a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law. ###


title: Marine at Fort Leonard Wood Sentenced for Child Pornography

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A U.S. Marine Corps private who was stationed for training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., has been sentenced in federal court for transporting child pornography across state lines. Gevoni Rayon Brown, 23, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool on Tuesday, April 16, to 12 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Brown to 10 years of supervised release following incarceration and ordered Brown to pay $24,000 in restitution to eight victims of child pornography discovered on his cell phone. Brown will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life. On Sept. 21, 2023, Brown pleaded guilty to one count of transporting child pornography. Brown admitted that he exchanged sexually explicit videos with a 15-year-old female in California with whom he communicated via Instagram, Snapchat, and Discord. Brown was stationed in Florida at the time of these conversations, from March 4 to June 26, 2022, before being stationed in North Carolina. Brown arrived at Fort Leonard Wood for training on Nov. 9, 2022. On Dec. 14, 2022, federal agents executed a search warrant on Brown’s barracks room and seized two cell phones, which contained child pornography. Brown admitted that he carried the cell phones with him on the plane when he traveled to Missouri. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Division, Homeland Security Investigations, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, the Richmond, Calif., Police Department, and the Contra Costa County, Calif., District Attorney’s Office. Project Safe Childhood This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."


title: Paducah Felon Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Paducah, KY – A Paducah man was sentenced yesterday to 7 years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of a felony offense. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Brian Laird of the Paducah Police Department made the announcement. According to court documents, Myree Marshall, 51, was sentenced to 7 years in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for unlawfully possessing a SCCY, model CPX-2, 9-millimeter semiautomatic pistol on August 8 and 9, 2020. Marshall was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On February 10, 1995, in McCracken Circuit Court, Marshall was convicted of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance. On March 25, 2004, in McCracken Circuit Court, Marshall was convicted of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance. On January 24, 2019, in McCracken Circuit Court, Marshall was convicted of assault under extreme emotional disturbance. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the Paducah Police Department and the ATF Paducah Satellite Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Hancock, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted 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: Local man indicted for filing false tax returns

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A suburban Houston man is set to appear on charges of filing fraudulent and false statements on his federal tax returns, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Joseph Patrick Butler is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray at 2 p.m. A federal grand jury returned the four-count indictment April 4 which was unsealed upon his arrest. It alleges for tax years 2017 through 2020, Butler signed false joint Form 1040 U.S. individual income tax returns and received inflated tax refunds to which he was not entitled. According to the indictment, Butler’s joint tax returns include false entries showing he allegedly received hundreds of thousands in wages. His employers allegedly withheld over $100,000 per year. The indictment also alleges Butler falsely received over $260,000 in refunds for tax years 2013 through 2020. If convicted, Butler faces up to three years in federal prison and a $250,000 maximum possible fine for each of the four counts as charged. IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brad Gray and Shirin Hakimzadeh are prosecuting the case. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Del Rio Gang Member Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Firearm Theft that Led to 2019 Murder

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

body_text: DEL RIO, Texas – A Del Rio man was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 120 months in prison for possession of a stolen firearm. According to court documents, Jaime Rivera, 49, burglarized a U.S Border Patrol agent’s home in April 2019, and stole nine firearms. Rivera and a codefendant, Manuel Angel Lomas aka Emanuel Lomas, sold several of the firearms, one of which was used by codefendant Robert Evans Jr. to murder Amanda Riojas. The weapon was disposed of and recovered in the San Felipe Creek. “Jaime Rivera sold several firearms that he had stolen from a federal agent, which ultimately played a part in the murder of a 26-year-old Del Rio woman,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “I thank our partners at Homeland Security Investigations for their investigative work in this case, and the Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office for their vital collaboration that led to these arrests and successful prosecutions.” “This sentence represents another important stride in the tireless work by HSI and its law enforcement partners to target and ultimately dismantle the transnational street gangs that are spreading crime and violence throughout our communities," said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee for HSI San Antonio. “Our efforts to combat this threat are still very much ongoing. To gang members who are still out there committing crimes, HSI sends a clear message: ‘The long arm of the law will reach you, and you too will face the consequences of your egregious behavior.” Evans Jr. and Lomas were indicted alongside Rivera in 2019. On Sept. 14, 2022, Evans Jr. was sentenced to 120 months in prison with credit for time served. Lomas remains in federal custody and is scheduled to be sentenced July 26. In 2022, Evans Jr. was also sentenced in state court to serve 45 years in state prison, which he’ll serve after his federal imprisonment. HSI led investigation with valuable assistance from the Val Verde County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Josh Garland and Rex Beasley prosecuted the case. ###


title: Michigan Resident Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Lowell, Michigan, was sentenced in federal court on April 16, 2024, to 20 years of incarceration, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release, on his conviction on three counts related to the sexual exploitation of a minor from the Western District of Pennsylvania, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. United States Senior District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentence on Frank Davis, 31. According to information presented to the Court, during online chats in August 2022, Davis sent obscene videos depicting himself engaged in sexually explicit conduct to a minor. During the conversation, Davis also induced the minor to create and send images and videos of themself engaged in sexually explicit conduct to Davis. Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Olshan commended Homeland Security Investigations-Pittsburgh, the Pennsylvania State Police, Homeland Security Investigations-Grand Rapids (Michigan), and the Lowell Police Department (Michigan) for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Davis. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Mexican National Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Smuggling Meth into the United States

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: DEL RIO, Texas – A Mexican national was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 144 months in prison with credit for time served for one count of conspiracy to import more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. According to court documents, Sixto Margarito Riojas-Menchaca, 42, and codefendant Marcelo Fabian Rodriguez-Suarez were referred to a secondary inspection as they entered the Eagle Pass Port of Entry. The Customs and Border Protection officer (CPBO) noticed two fire extinguishers under the back seat of the vehicle. The CBPO had seen the same Mexican brand fire extinguisher in prior seizures. A K-9 gave a positive alert to the back seat of the vehicle on the driver’s side. Inside the fire extinguishers office several vacuum-sealed bags and packages containing a white crystal like substance. The substances tested positive for 4.54 kilograms of heroin and 7.88 kilograms of methamphetamine. The two men were taken into federal custody and charged with four counts related to the importation of heroin and methamphetamine. Riojas-Menchaca pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to import more than 500 grams of methamphetamine in April 2022. Rodriguez-Suarez pleaded guilty in January 2023 and currently awaits sentencing, scheduled for Oct. 28. U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas made the announcement. Homeland Security Investigations and CBP investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Markovits prosecuted the case. ###


title: KC Man Sentenced for Meth Conspiracy, Illegal Firearm

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man has been sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin and for illegally possessing a firearm. John A. Caylor, 55, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips on Tuesday, April 16, to 13 years and six months in federal prison without parole. On Sept. 20, 2023, Caylor pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Caylor admitted that he participated in the drug-trafficking conspiracy from Feb. 28, 2020, to Sept. 20, 2022. Co-defendant Jose Jesus Sanchez-Mendez, 42, a citizen of Mexico who illegally entered the United States, pleaded guilty on Sept. 20, 2023, to his role as the chief local operative of the drug-trafficking organization that distributed methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl sourced from Mexico. Sanchez-Mendez managed the importation, processing, and distribution of hundreds of kilograms of illegal drugs in the Kansas City metropolitan area. During the conspiracy, Caylor sold methamphetamine and other illegal drugs to a confidential informant on eight separate occasions. Caylor was arrested when he met the confidential informant for a ninth transaction, at which time Caylor was in possession of approximately 29.8 grams of methamphetamine. Law enforcement officers searched Caylor’s hotel room and found a loaded Bersa .380-caliber handgun under a pillow on the bed, approximately 525.3 grams of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. Caylor is among 44 defendants charged in this case, and among seven defendants who have been sentenced. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled for Sanchez-Mendez. On June 8, 2022, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) led an operation that involved 140 officers and agents from 14 state, local and federal law enforcement agencies. Officers made 34 arrests, executed 16 search warrants and seized 84.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, 4.5 kilograms of heroin, 10.4 kilograms of fentanyl, 7.6 kilograms of cocaine, 10.5 kilograms of marijuana, 687 Xanax pills, 3.1 kilograms of unknown pills, a quantity of bulk cash, five firearms, a 3D printer with manufactured ghost gun parts, and a liquid methamphetamine conversion lab. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick C. Edwards and Megan A. Baker. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Jackson County Drug Task Force, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Independence, Mo., Police Department, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Minnesota State Patrol, the Olmsted County, Minn., Sheriff’s Office, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the FBI, the Clay County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the U.S. Marshals Service. Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. KC Metro Strike Force This prosecution was brought as a part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Co-located Strike Forces Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations against a continuum of priority targets and their affiliate illicit financial networks. These prosecutor-led co-located Strike Forces capitalize on the synergy created through the long-term relationships that can be forged by agents, analysts, and prosecutors who remain together over time, and they epitomize the model that has proven most effective in combating organized crime. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.


title: Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco Announces New Crime Gun Intelligence Center in Chicago

body_text: Alongside state and local law enforcement partners in Chicago, Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco and Director Steven Dettelbach of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced today the opening of a new Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) in Chicago. “Chicago's expanded crime gun intelligence center uses cutting-edge technology to trace crime guns, link ballistics evidence to connect shootings, and identify gun traffickers and straw purchasers who arm violent criminals,” said Deputy Attorney General Monaco. “By combining talent, technology, and data from 13 agencies in a single hub, law enforcement in Chicago will generate more leads to take repeat shooters off the streets, so we can push case-closure rates up and drive violent crime rates down. To continue our historic progress against violent crime, we need to bring more crime gun intelligence to more law enforcement agencies, in more jurisdictions, more quickly than ever before.” “We are putting agents, cops, detectives, deputies, and prosecutors, all from different agencies across law enforcement, in one room working together. Each morning, they are reviewing key evidence from the previous night’s shootings, using real-time, state of the art intelligence. It is a true game changer. CGICs make homicide cases. CGICs stop the next shooting. And CGICs help identify illegal sources and stop the guns that are getting to the shooters,” said ATF Director Steve Dettelbach. “I want to commend the ATF Chicago leadership and the dozen law enforcement agencies that have committed to working together under one roof with a focus on real-time ballistics testing and firearms tracing. Without all of them, this CGIC does not happen. This level of partnership is truly exceptional. Chalk one up for the good guys.” CGICs are centralized law enforcement hubs that focus exclusively on investigating and preventing gun violence in local communities. They use cutting-edge technologies, including ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) and eTrace systems, to rapidly develop and pursue investigative leads in order to drive case clearance rates up — which in turn can help drive violent crime rates down. They bring together, under one roof, the expertise of firearm evidence examiners, intelligence analysts, and investigators to rapidly collect, analyze, and share information about guns used in violent crimes. In total, ATF operates more than 60 CGICs nationwide. “The CGIC in Chicago will allow us to identify specific incidents and trends in firearm offenses, enabling us to move quickly in investigating and prosecuting violent crimes in the most appropriate venue,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual for the Northern District of Illinois. “The CGIC is a significant investment from the Justice Department to accelerate our efforts to reduce violent crime in the Northern District of Illinois.” “This unprecedented partnership in Chicago among local, state, and federal law enforcement will ensure the prompt and comprehensive delivery of intelligence related to firearms used in crimes,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon of the ATF Chicago Field Division. “The timely tracing of recovered firearms and NIBIN analysis of cartridge cases will produce comprehensive intelligence vital to solving gun crime in our communities.” “This CGIC brings together different areas of the government that are all committed to saving lives and preventing the gun violence plaguing our communities,” said Superintendent Larry Snelling of the Chicago Police Department. “Partnership and collaboration are vital to strengthening public safety across Chicago. The CGIC is that partnership in action.” Thirteen agencies across federal, state, and local law enforcement are co-located within the new CGIC, focusing on real-time comprehensive ballistics testing and firearms tracing, two of ATF’s fundamental pillars of Crime Gun Intelligence. Also co-located at the CGIC are federal and state prosecutors to ensure the charging process is timely and effective. The Chicago CGIC partners include ATF, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, Chicago Police Department, Cook County Sheriffs Police, Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, U.S. Secret Service, Illinois State Police, Chicago High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Illinois Attorney General’s Office, Illinois Department of Corrections, and Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance.


title: IRS Revenue Agent Indicted for Filing False Tax Returns

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Revenue Agent for the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury in Boston for allegedly filing false personal tax returns for three years. Ndeye Amy Thioub, 67, of Swampscott, was indicted on three counts of filing false tax returns and three counts of filing false tax returns as an employee of the United States. Thioub was previously arrested and charged by criminal complaint in March 2024. According to the charging documents, Thioub was hired in 2006 as an Internal Revenue Agent in the IRS Large Business and International Division. As a Revenue Agent, Thioub planned and conducted examinations of tax returns using extensive and specialized knowledge of accounting techniques, practices and investigative audit techniques to examine and resolve various tax issues of individuals and business organizations. As a result of her education, training and experience, Thioub was highly knowledgeable about tax law. In addition, Thioub received yearly training in IRS Employee Tax Compliance, which instructs that IRS employees must comply with their tax obligations, including timely filing accurate tax returns and payment of taxes due. It is alleged that Thioub filed false personal tax returns for tax years 2017, 2018 and 2019. It is further alleged that, for each year, Thioub filed a false Schedule C claiming a business loss from a purported “import and export” business she claimed to have. As a result, the claimed net loss was carried over to her personal IRS Form 1040s and used to reduce Thioub’s adjusted gross income and ultimate tax liability. The charge of filing a false tax return provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison, followed by one year of supervised release and a $100,000 fine. The charge of filing a false tax return by an employee of the United States provides for discharge from employment and a sentence of up to five years in prison, followed by one year of supervised release and a $10,000 fine. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; and Christopher J. Gust, Acting Special Agent in charge of the U.S. Department of Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Northeast Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Kristina E. Barclay of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Violent drug dealer off the streets for possessing 250 grams of meth and pistol

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 26-year-old Edinburg man has been sentenced for drug charges and possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Lauro Gonzalez Jr. pleaded guilty April 24, 2023. Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Gonzalez to serve a total of 12 years in federal prison to be immediately followed by four years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard how Gonzalez had been dealing various narcotics within the community for years and was proud that he had historically been able to avoid apprehension. Judge Crane heard additional evidence of the dangers of meth due to the low cost and its addictiveness. In handing down the sentence, the court noted Gonzalez’s lengthy criminal history which includes extensive drug use and distribution. On Oct. 13, 2021, law enforcement arrived on the scene of a vehicle accident where witnesses reported the driver of a blue BMW had rear ended another vehicle and attempted to flee on foot. Authorities identified the driver as Gonzalez and arrested him for fleeing the accident. In a subsequent search of Gonzalez’s vehicle, law enforcement located 250 grams of meth, psilocybin mushrooms, marijuana, cash, a digital scale and a 9mm pistol with an extended magazine. Gonzalez admitted to selling the drugs found in the vehicle and bragged about usually being able to evade law enforcement. Gonzalez also stated he would have shot at authorities if he was not able to get away and had his gun. Gonzalez will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Edinburg Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lee Fry and Devin V. Walker prosecuted the case.


title: Santo Domingo Woman Sentenced for Assault on Federal Officer

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Santo Domingo woman was sentenced to 17 months and 2 days in prison for assaulting a Bureau of Indian Affairs officer during a traffic stop. According to court documents, on October 21, 2021, an officer from the Bureau of Indian Affairs executed a traffic stop on a car driven by Henryetta John , 31, for driving 15mph in a 45mph zone on the Pueblo of Santo Domingo. Initially, John sped up before eventually stopping. When the officer approached John , she observed her bloodshot eyes and that she had difficulty producing a driver’s license. John failed a subsequent field sobriety test and admitted to consuming alcohol. The officer arrested John for driving under the influence. Initially, John complied, however when the officer attempted to place John in handcuffs, she slipped the handcuffs and physically assaulted the officer, causing them to roll down a hillside. The officer sustained multiple injuries as a result of the altercation. When the officer separated from John , she climbed up the hill to her police vehicle and called for assistance while John fled. A K9 unit and other officers responded and pursued John . They found her hiding under a tree. John refused to respond to commands to come out from under the tree, so they attempted to use the police dog to retrieve her. John struck the police dog in the face. The K9 officer then put a cuff on John , and she tried to pull away and resist, but the officer and the police dog removed John from the tree and arrested her. After completing her term of imprisonment, John will be required to serve three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case. # # #


title: Philadelphia Man Convicted at Trial for Committing and Conspiring to Commit Violent Home Invasions Targeting Business Owners and Their Families

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Shaquan Brown, 29, of Philadelphia, PA, was convicted Monday by a federal jury in connection with conspiracy to commit armed home invasion robberies targeting the businesses and attached residences of their owners, as well as robbery affecting interstate commerce and attempted robbery affecting interstate commerce, using and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of robbery, and possession of a firearm by a felon. From November 2019 through January 3, 2020, Brown and three co-conspirators conspired to carry out a series of robberies that targeted business owners and another individual that they believed would keep cash in their home. The offenders used zip ties, duct tape, and firearms to commit these crimes. Brown researched his victims and their businesses, using a GPS tracking device to learn where the victims lived. The defendant and his co-conspirators targeted victims they believed kept cash in their homes, including business owners who were Asian and other business owners who dealt in cash. On the night of December 31, 2019, Brown and two co-conspirators accosted the owner of a nail salon in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, as the owner returned to the business. The offenders forced the victim inside, and repeatedly demanded money, placing zip ties on the owner’s wrists, covering his mouth with duct tape, and striking his face with their fists and a gun. The men took cash from the business, then forced the owner to his residence, where they encountered his wife, their children, and their nanny. The men zip-tied the wife and all of their children, then continued to beat and injure the owner, and demand money. They ransacked the residence while making statements such as “we have been watching you for weeks.” On the morning of January 3, 2020, Brown and another individual attempted to break into a residence in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The defendant had planned to commit an armed home invasion robbery of the homeowner, who was a business owner, and his family, to steal the owner’s business proceeds. While attempting to enter the victim’s home, the home security alarm system went off, and the police responded within minutes. The defendant led the police on a foot chase through the woods and into a creek, where he was arrested. The police recovered duct tape, zip ties, and a firearm from the defendant’s backpack. “Home invasion robberies are terrifying for victims, shattering their sense of security where they once felt most safe” U.S. Attorney Romero said. “It’s unconscionable that running a successful business is enough to make you a target for criminals like Shaquan Brown, who prefer taking other people’s money at gunpoint to earning it for themselves. This verdict not only holds Brown accountable for the harm he’s done, it will keep him behind bars for years, so he can’t hurt anyone else.” “Everyone should feel safe in their home,” said Charles Doerrer, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Philadelphia Field Division. “The violence that these families suffered is a serious crime, and this conviction will leave Philadelphia’s neighborhoods and homes safer. ATF is committed to working with our partners to prevent such violent crimes and seek justice for its victims.” Brown is scheduled to be sentenced on July 30, 2024. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 84 months in prison and a statutory maximum of life in prison, and up to five years of supervised release. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the ATF and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Carissimi and Assistant United States Attorney J. Jeanette Kang.


title: Second Man Pleads Guilty to Multi-Million Dollar Commercial Leasing Fraud Scheme

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – Armando Binelo, 46, of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, pled guilty for his role in a 20-million-dollar leasing fraud scheme. Daniel Raymond, 54, of Mebane, previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud and was sentenced to 84 months in prison. Binelo faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced. “Our Assistant U.S. Attorneys are hard at work in unraveling complex financial frauds like this one, where a computer equipment supplier billed financiers for millions in a scheme that lasted years,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “The Research Triangle is a hub for tech and innovation. We are ramping up white collar fraud enforcement to ensure fraudsters who take advantage of our booming tech sector are held accountable.” According to court documents and information presented in court, from March 2016 to January 2022, Binelo and Raymond executed a scheme to defraud financing companies in connection with computer equipment lease deals. The scheme’s targets were financing companies that offered small to medium-sized businesses (“customers”) financing and secured leases for computer servers and equipment. Under these leasing programs, financers paid for and took title to the equipment and then leased it to the customers for a fixed term. Financers entered into agreements with brokers who, for a fee, could bring potential equipment leasing opportunities to the financers for evaluation and approval. As a third-party independent financing source, financers did not manufacture or supply the computer equipment. Instead, the brokers, like Raymond, arranged for the purchase and delivery of the equipment to the customers, who then leased that equipment from the financers. Raymond targeted financially distressed small business customers throughout the country and offered them leases for computer equipment. Typically, the customers Raymond targeted were seeking a cash infusion for operating expenses and had no immediate need for computer equipment. Nonetheless, Raymond enticed customers by offering lease deals with large cash rebates and long-term payback options. Raymond falsely assured customers that this was a common and legitimate practice and that they could always sell the computer equipment if they chose to. The cash rebates and payback options offered by Raymond were not known to or approved by the financers. Raymond executed the lease agreements with the customers and then submitted the leases and invoices to a financer. If approved, the financer paid Raymond a lump sum payment, which was intended to represent the cost of the computer equipment to be supplied by Raymond, plus a small fee to be retained by Raymond as profit. Once the leases were signed and approved by the financer, Raymond instructed the customers to create false documents that claimed the computer equipment had been delivered, installed, and was operational at their business sites, despite no equipment being delivered or installed. These false declarations enabled the financier to pay Raymond. After Raymond obtained payment from the financers, he wired the cash rebates to the customers from his business checking account. Raymond sometimes did ship computer equipment to the customers. However, whereas the leases called for name-brand computer servers and hardware valued between $30,000 - $100,000, Raymond sent cheap computer equipment and parts. Raymond was affiliated with the following businesses: Integrity IT Solutions, Inc. (“IITS”), Logos Consulting, LLC (“Logos”), Lendberry Corp. (“Lendberry”), US Server Supply (“USSS”), Online Concepts Inc. (“OC”), Referral Marketing Services (“RMS”), Sandriver Group, Inc. (“Sandriver”), Business Repair Consultants (“BRC”), and Buyback Funders, LLC (“Buyback”). Binelo joined the scheme as a small business customer who entered fraudulent computer equipment leases with Raymond in exchange for cash rebates. Eventually, Binelo was recruited as a vendor/partner with various lending institutions. Under their arrangement, Raymond secured the fraudulent leases with customers, which Binelo passed off to the victim lenders. Victim lenders wired the proceeds to a bank account controlled by Binelo. Binelo took his portion of the proceeds and wired the remaining funds to Raymond. Raymond participated in fraudulent lease deals valued at more than 20 million dollars. Binelo participated in fraudulent lease deals valued at more than 6 million dollars. Binelo pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle accepted the plea. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Toby Lathan is prosecuting the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:20-cr-00045-BO-1.


title: Kansas woman indicted for threats to Presidents Biden & Clinton

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas woman with making threats against current and former nationally elected officials. According to court documents, Lori Davis, 40, of Park City is charged with one count of threats against a former president of the United States and one count of threats against the president of the United States. Davis is accused of calling the Clinton Foundation in New York in September 2021 and leaving a message threatening to kill former U.S. President William (Bill) Clinton. In 2024, Davis is accused of making multiple posts on social media threatening to murder U.S. President Joseph (Joe) Biden. The U.S. Secret Service is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch is prosecuting the case. OTHER INDICTMENTS Ismael Deleon-Ortega Jr, 59, Liberal of was indicted on one count of possession of child pornography. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart is prosecuting the case. Devin Dewater, 27, of Wichita was indicted on two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Tax preparer admits to fraud resulting in over half a million in losses

body_text: HOUSTON – A local tax business owner has pleaded guilty to aiding and assisting in the preparation and filing of false income tax returns, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Krystal Wright was the sole owner and only tax preparer at WW2F in Freeport for six years. Most of Wright’s clients did not have a business nor did they discuss any business income or expenses with her. After Wright completed a tax return, she did not review the completed documents with clients and only provided them with the refund amount and first two pages of the return. This prevented her clients from identifying overstated or false items on their tax returns. From 2017 through 2020, Wright prepared and filed approximately 83 federal income tax returns that contained false and fraudulent items. Some included qualified solar electric property costs, gifts by cash or check, business expenses, wages, salaries, tips and supplies. The false and fraudulent filings resulted in a total sustained tax harm of $525,404. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey V. Brown accepted the plea and set sentencing for June 26. At that time, Wright faces up to three years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. She has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing. IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rodolfo Ramirez and James Hu are prosecuting the case.


title: Long Island Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for Prescription Drug Diversion Scheme

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, Trevor Lawry was sentenced by United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack to 96 months in prison for orchestrating a yearslong conspiracy to divert Oxycodone and other prescription medications from a Hempstead pharmacy into the illicit market. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Frank A. Tarentino, III, Special Agent-in-Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Naomi Gruchacz, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Regional Office, Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, announced the sentence. “While communities across the country reeled from an opioid epidemic, this defendant operated an elaborate scheme that illegally diverted huge quantities of prescription medications into the hands of drug users, including people struggling with addiction,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This Office will continue doing its part to find and hold responsible individuals at all levels of the illegal supply chain who contribute to the scourge of opioids in this District.” United States Attorney Peace thanked the New York State Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, the New York City Human Resources Administration, the New York Police Department, and the Nassau County Police Department for their significant contributions to the investigation. DEA New York Division Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino stated “For two years, Lawry spearheaded a diverted prescription drug trafficking conspiracy using forged prescriptions, putting profits above public health. This sentencing stands as a testament to our commitment in combatting the scourge of opioids being sold on the street, and those responsible for selling them.” “HHS-OIG is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to combat the illegal distribution of controlled substances to patients enrolled in HHS programs,” stated Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “The defendants in this drug trafficking organization are being held responsible for wantonly disregarding responsible prescribing practices, seemingly exploiting the opioid epidemic affecting our communities.” As set forth in court filings, between February 2018 and March 2020, Lawry headed a drug trafficking organization that used forged paper prescription forms—sourced from stolen prescription pads—to obtain large quantities of several controlled substances that are commonly diverted for recreational use: Oxycodone, Adderall, Alprazolam (also known as “Xanax”), and Promethazine with Codeine syrup. During the relevant time period, more than 500 fraudulent prescriptions for these medications were filled at D.R.A. Pharmakon, Inc. d/b/a D’s Pharmacy (D’s Pharmacy) in Hempstead, where one of Lawry’s co-conspirators worked as a pharmacist. In total, the conspiracy involved nearly a kilogram’s worth of stolen prescription medication, which Lawry and his co-conspirators then advertised for sale on social media and eventually sold at street level. The government’s case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Bagnuola is in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from the Office’s Special Agent Michael J. Cassidy. The Defendant : TREVOR LAWRY Age: 38 Hempstead, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-506 (JMA)


title: Justice Department Secures Agreement with Texas Education Agency to Ensure Testing Accommodations for People with Dyslexia

body_text: AUSTIN, Texas – The United States has reached a settlement with the Texas Education Agency (TEA), a state agency responsible for certifying teachers to teach in classrooms across the state of Texas, to resolve alleged violations of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the administration of the Science of Teaching Reading (STR) examination, a standardized examination required for the issuance of certain teacher certification fields in Texas. The Department of Justice received an ADA complaint alleging that an individual with dyslexia and dysgraphia was denied oral administration as an alternative testing arrangement for the STR examination. The complaint prompted an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas. The ADA prohibits public entities from administering a licensing program in a manner that subjects individuals with disabilities to discrimination because of those disabilities. Under the settlement agreement, the TEA agrees that it will allow a qualified reader or text-to-speech technology as an alternative testing arrangement for the STR examination for testing candidates who otherwise establish through appropriate documentation that such modifications are appropriate, including for individuals who are diagnosed with dyslexia. Additionally, to resolve the complaint, the TEA will provide the requested modifications to the complainant when they take the STR examination. “Preparing for professional certification examinations is a stressful time for anyone, let alone people with disabilities who may also worry that their requests for alternative testing arrangements may be rejected,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “People with dyslexia should not be denied the testing accommodations they deserve. The ADA requires such modifications to ensure that people with disabilities are not being graded on their disabilities, and unfairly denied access to their chosen professions.” Assistant U.S. Attorney David Goode represented the government during the resolution process. For more information about the ADA, visit www.ada.gov, or call the Department of Justice’s tollfree information line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TDD). Information about filing a complaint, including instructions for filing a complaint online, can be found at https://www.justice.gov/crt/how-file-complaint . The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. ###


title: Edinburg man sentenced for distributing child pornography

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 27-year-old local man has been sentenced for distribution of child pornography depicting prepubescent minors via a social media messaging application, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Ryant Rodriguez pleaded guilty March 9, 2022. Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now sentenced Rodriguez to 132 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. Rodriguez distributed multiple images and videos depicting child pornography as a member of a social media group chat dedicated to the trade and exchange of child pornography. The investigation revealed he was also in possession of approximately 963 pornographic images depicting children between the ages of five to 10 on his phone at the time of his arrest. Rodriguez will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The FBI and the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cahal P. McColgan prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page . For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.


title: Clewiston Felon Pleads Guilty To Firearms And Drug Trafficking Offenses

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Javier Velasquez, Jr. (38, Clewiston) has pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of cocaine, three counts of felon in possession of firearms, one count of illegal possession of a machinegun, and one count of carrying firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Velasquez faces a minimum mandatory penalty of five years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set. According to court documents, between July 13 and September 19, 2023, Velasquez sold an undercover federal agent cocaine, multiple firearms, and a Glock switch. A Glock switch enables a semi-automatic firearm to operate as a fully functioning machine gun. Velasquez is a convicted felon and therefore is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan. 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 out 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 first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Leader Of Black-Market HIV Medication Fraud Scheme Sentenced to Nine Years In Prison

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that BORIS AMINOV was sentenced today to nine years in prison for engaging in a years-long scheme that exploited vulnerable HIV patients and defrauded Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance companies out of at least $20 million. AMINOV previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud before U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil, who imposed today’s sentence. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Boris Aminov orchestrated a scheme to get rich by lying to Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance companies and by depriving vulnerable HIV patients of legitimate and safe medications. He also made millions of dollars through buying and distributing black-market HIV medications to pharmacies all over New York City. Today’s sentencing brings a measure of closure with Aminov now facing the obligation to pay over 13 million in restitution.” According to the allegations contained in the Superseding Indictments and statements made in court proceedings: From at least in or about 2017 through at least in or about 2023, AMINOV and others engaged in a scheme that defrauded Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance companies out of at least approximately $20 million through trafficking in black-market HIV medication. In doing so, they exploited at least hundreds of low-income individuals who had been prescribed HIV medication, jeopardizing the health and safety of those patients. AMINOV distributed black-market HIV medications to pharmacies that were owned and operated by other co-conspirators. That medication was then dispensed to unknowing patients who believed they were receiving legitimate medication. To further their scheme and conceal their proceeds, co-conspirators used bank accounts associated with their respective pharmacies to funnel money to shell companies controlled by AMINOV. * * * In addition to the prison term, AMINOV, 47, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release, ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $13,270,379.50, and ordered to pay forfeiture in the amount of $4,401,495.00. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey W. Coyle and Jackie Delligatti are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Calloway County Felon Sentenced to Over 3 Years for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

body_text: Paducah, KY – A Calloway County man was sentenced yesterday to 3 years and 10 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of a felony offense. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Sheriff Nicky Knight of the Calloway County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement. According to court documents, Ronnie Harold Sharp, 49, was sentenced to 3 years and 10 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for unlawfully possessing a Smith & Wesson, model SW40VE, .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol and a Smith & Wesson, model 32-1, .38 caliber revolver on March 14, 2022. Sharp was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On June 10, 2013, in Calloway Circuit Court, Sharp was convicted of theft by unlawful taking over $500, theft of an automobile, two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, receiving stolen property over $500, first-degree fleeing or evading police, and manufacturing methamphetamine, first offense. On May 5, 2005, in Calloway Circuit Court, Sharp was convicted of two counts of complicity to second-degree assault, criminal attempt to manufacture methamphetamine, and possession of anhydrous ammonia. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the Calloway County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF Paducah Satellite Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Hancock, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted 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: Hopkinsville Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking

body_text: Paducah, KY – A Hopkinsville, Kentucky man was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Acting Special Agent in Charge Erek G. Davodowich of the DEA Louisville Field Division, and Chief Jason Newby of the Hopkinsville Police Department made the announcement. According to court documents, Daniel Champion, 42, of Hopkinsville, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On June 29, 2021, in Christian County, Kentucky, Champion possessed with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. There is no parole in the federal system. The case was investigated by the DEA Paducah Post of Duty and the Hopkinsville Police Department, with assistance from the Christian County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Hancock, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted the case. ###


title: Florida attorney sentenced to federal prison for role in COVID-19 fraud scheme

body_text: SAVANNAH, GA: A Florida attorney has been sentenced to federal prison and ordered to pay restitution for participating in a scheme to illegally obtain funding from a federal COVID-19 small business relief program. Shaquandra Woods , 41, of Jacksonville, Fla., was sentenced to 75 months in prison for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker, who presided over the four-day trial in which a federal jury convicted Woods, also ordered her to pay $42,848 in restitution and to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of her prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. “Shaquandra Woods prolifically filed fraudulent applications for COVID-19 pandemic relief funds for herself and for others,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to prosecute those who engage in such self-enriching behavior at taxpayers’ expense.” As authorized by the CARES Act, the Small Business Administration (SBA) provided Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) to eligible small businesses experiencing substantial financial interruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Woods, an attorney licensed to practice law in Florida and Georgia, completed at least nine applications for EIDL funding for herself and others, fabricating and submitting false documents to support the applications. As a result of the fraudulent applications, Woods was successful in obtaining more than $300,000 for herself. “Woods will now pay the price for stealing pandemic relief funds that others needed to keep a business open or to keep a roof over their heads,” said Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Will Clarke of FBI Atlanta’s Savannah Resident Agency. “Federal programs such as these are set up to help those in need, not to benefit criminals. Prosecution of those who illegally obtain government benefits will continue to be a priority for our office.” “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that those who defraud SBA’s programs will be held accountable,” said Amaleka McCall-Braithwaite, Special Agent in Charge of the Eastern Region of the SBA Office of Inspector General. “Our office will remain steadfast in pursuing those who exploit such vital resources for personal gain, ensuring accountability and justice for the American taxpayer. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s office and our law enforcement partners for their unwavering commitment to pursuing justice in this case.” The case was investigated by the FBI and the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan C. Grover and Former Senior Litigation Counsel Jenna G. Solari. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Two Western Kentucky Men Sentenced for Methamphetamine Trafficking

body_text: Paducah, KY – Two western Kentucky men were sentenced to federal prison for methamphetamine trafficking yesterday. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Acting Special Agent in Charge Erek G. Davodowich of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Sheriff Ryan Norman of the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office, and Sheriff Matt Hillbrecht of the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement. Yesterday, Fabian Thomas , 34, of Mayfield, Kentucky and Puryear, Tennessee, was sentenced to 14 years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and two counts of distribution of methamphetamine. On April 4 and April 22, 2022, in McCracken County, Kentucky, Thomas distributed more than 5 grams of grams of methamphetamine. On April 21, 2022, on 2 separate occasions, in McCracken County, Kentucky, Thomas, possessed with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of grams of methamphetamine. Previously, on March 26, 2024, Ronald McClure , 37, of Paducah, Kentucky and Peachtree City, Georgia, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for one count of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. On April 21, 2022, in McCracken County, Kentucky, McClure possessed with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. There is no parole in the federal system. The case was investigated by the McCracken County Sheriff’s Office, Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, and the DEA Paducah Post of Duty. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Hancock, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted the case. ###


title: Tennessee Felon Sentenced to Over 3 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearms

body_text: Bowling Green, KY – A Lafayette, Tennessee man was sentenced yesterday to 3 years and 10 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm after previously been convicted of a felony. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division made the announcement. According to court documents, Christopher R. Blankenship, 42, of Lafayette, Tennessee, was sentenced to 3 years and 10 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a Ruger, model P94, .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol, a Smith and Wesson, model SD40 VE, .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol, and ammunition on June 12, 2022, in Allen County, Kentucky. Blankenship was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On July 31, 2013, in Macon Circuit Court, Macon County, Tennessee, Blankenship was convicted of vehicular homicide-intoxication . On March 28, 2011, in Macon Circuit Court, Macon County, Tennessee, Blankenship was convicted of aggravated assault. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the ATF Bowling Green Field Office with assistance from the Allen County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark J. Yurchisin II and R. Nicholas Rabold, of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, prosecuted 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: Murray Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking

body_text: Paducah, KY – A Murray, Kentucky man was sentenced yesterday to 5 years in federal prison for distribution of methamphetamine and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Acting Special Agent in Charge Erek G. Davodowich of the DEA Louisville Field Division, Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. of the Kentucky State Police, and Sheriff Nicky Knight of the Calloway County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement. According to court documents, Gary Sims, 49, of Murray, was sentenced to 5 years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for three counts of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. On June 23, August 11, and August 18, 2021, in Calloway County, Kentucky, Sims distributed more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. On August 18, 2022, in Calloway County, Kentucky, Sims possessed with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of grams of methamphetamine. There is no parole in the federal system. The case was investigated by the Calloway County Sheriff’s Office, Kentucky State Police, and DEA Paducah Post of Duty. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Hancock, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted the case. ###


title: St. Paul Felon Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Possession of Ammunition

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – A St. Paul felon has been sentenced to 74 months in prison for illegally possessing ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on August 28, 2022, Bloomington police officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Damien Kent Hallmon, 40, for multiple traffic violations and noticed several indicators of marijuana use. The occupants of the vehicle were asked to step out of the vehicle so it could be searched, and officers found a 9mm firearm with a loaded magazine and no serial number in Hallmon’s fiancé’s purse. Because Hallmon has prior felony convictions, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time. The firearm seized in this case, a Polymer 80, is commonly referred to as a “ghost gun” or a “privately made firearm” (PMF). Hallmon was convicted by a federal jury on November 3, 2023, on one count of possessing ammunition as a felon. He was sentenced yesterday by Judge Kate M. Menendez in U.S. District Court. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bloomington Police Department, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Science Lab, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary S. Riverso, Ruth S. Shnider, and Laura M. Provinzino prosecuted the case.


title: St. Louis Man Admits Committing Month-Long Robbery Spree

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis man on Wednesday admitted committing 12 robberies or attempted robberies that occurred in less than a month in 2021. James Mayes, 61, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to 10 counts of robbery, two counts of possession, brandishing and discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and one count of robbery within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. Mayes admitted committing eight armed robberies and one attempted robbery in St. Louis and three in St. Louis County between Oct. 13, 2021, and Nov. 10, 2021. Among his targets were four cell phone stores and three small markets or convenience stores. Mayes also robbed someone on the grounds of Gateway National Arch Park on Oct. 13, 2021, striking his victim on the shoulder with his gun. The next day, he tried to rob someone in the Laclede’s Landing area. While Mayes and his victim were struggling over his gun, he stabbed the victim and seriously injured him. In other robberies, he threatened to kill employees of the targeted businesses. He fired his .380-caliber handgun at two different robberies. St. Louis Robberies Oct. 13, 2021: Gateway National Arch Park armed street robbery. Oct. 14, 2021: Attempted robbery of a person on Laclede’s Landing. Oct. 17, 2021: Armed robbery of the T-Mobile at 4142 S. Grand. Oct. 20, 2021: Armed robbery of the Smoothie King at 1211 Pine. Oct. 23, 2021: Armed robbery of Kaiser Mart at 5008 S. Grand. Oct. 26, 2021: Armed robbery of Crown Food Mart at 300 S. Jefferson. Nov. 3, 2021: Armed robbery of Gallery Furniture/Home Accents at 310 N. Sixth Street, the Boost Mobile at 1644 S. Jefferson and Domino’s Pizza at 1428 N. 13th Street. St. Louis County Robberies Oct. 25, 2021: Armed robbery of the Metro PCS at 6731 Page. Nov. 5, 2021: Armed robbery of Vapes and Snacks at 8820 Gravois Road. Nov. 10, 2021: Armed robbery of the Cricket Wireless store at 1084 Lemay Ferry Road. A police officer responding to Mayes’ final robbery, at the cell phone store on Lemay Ferry Road, spotted Mayes, who matched the description of the robber. Mayes resisted arrest and bit the officer several times. Mayes is scheduled to be sentenced on July 23. As part of the plea agreement, both sides have agreed to recommend a 20-year prison term for Mayes. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the St. Louis County Police Department, the Pagedale Police Department, the FBI and the National Park Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassandra Wiemken is prosecuting the case.


title: Middletown Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Robbing 3 Supermarket Banks in 2022

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that GINO RIZZO, 29, of Middletown, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for robbing three banks in 2022. According to court documents and statements made in court, using notes demanding cash, Rizzo robbed People’s United Bank branches located in Stop & Shop supermarkets in Glastonbury on July 16, 2022, in Newington on July 18, 2022, and in West Hartford July 20, 2022. Rizzo’s girlfriend, Jalania Pantano, also participated in the West Hartford robbery (photo attached). Rizzo was arrested on July 21, 2022. On April 11, 2023, while on pre-trial release, he disconnected his GPS electronic monitoring bracelet and absconded from his court-mandated rehabilitation center. He has been detained since his re-arrest on May 22, 2023. On January 25, 2023, Rizzo pleaded guilty to bank robbery. Pantano was arrested on August 30, 2022, and she pleaded guilty to bank robbery on August 23, 2023. On December 5, 2023, she was sentenced to 30 months of imprisonment. This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Middletown, Glastonbury, Newington, and West Hartford Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie T. Levick and Robert S. Dearington.


title: Lincolnton, N.C. Woman Charged With Selling Fentanyl That Led To An Overdose Death

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal grand jury in Charlotte indicted Madison Dare Winslow, 24, of Lincolnton, N.C., for allegedly selling fentanyl that led to an overdose death, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Kyle Burns, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, and Chief Tracy Ledford of the Maiden Police Department join U.S. Attorney King in making the announcement. According to allegations in the indictment, on February 14, 2022, in Catawba County, Winslow did knowingly and intentionally distribute a controlled substance, that being fentanyl, that caused a victim’s overdose death. The indictment also alleges that Winslow distributed fentanyl on April 4, 2022, which is after the date of the victim’s fatal overdose. Winslow is expected to make her initial appearance in court on Thursday, April 18, 2024. She is charged with one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The charges in the indictments are allegations. The defendant is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked HSI and the Maiden Police Department for their investigation of the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick J. Miller of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and remains the deadliest drug threat in the United States. Laboratory testing indicates 7 out of 10 pills seized by Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) contain a lethal dose of fentanyl. According to the DEA, in 2023, the agency seized more than 79.5 million fentanyl-laced fake pills and nearly 12,000 pounds of fentanyl powder. That’s equivalent to more than 376.7 million lethal doses of fentanyl - enough to kill every American across the country. So far this year, the 2024 fentanyl seizures represent over 82.6 million deadly doses. For information and resources related to substance use disorder, please call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or visit the online treatment locator .