title: Sparks Man Convicted Of Multiple Child Exploitation Offenses

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: RENO - A federal jury convicted a Nevada man yesterday for sexually exploiting multiple minors, and advertising and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) that he coerced these minors into producing. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between 2018 and 2021, James Patrick Burns, 55, of Sparks, sexually exploited multiple minors online via Omegle, Snapchat, Tiktok, and Mega.NZ. Burns, a registered sex offender, threatened these minors into producing CSAM and then posted the CSAM on dark web forums. At the time, Burns was the most prolific creator of illegal content on these forums. He victimized over 100 children, many of whom have yet to be identified. Burns’ offenses came to the attention of law enforcement when a mother of one of his victims saw threats on the victim’s phone and reported what she saw to the police. The jury convicted Burns of eight counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, eight counts of coercion and enticement of a minor, and one count each of advertising, receiving, distributing, and possessing child pornography. In a separate trial, the jury also convicted Burns of committing specified felony offenses (from the first trial) while required to register as a sex offender. Burns is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10. He faces a mandatory minimum of at least 25 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada, and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans of the FBI Las Vegas Field Office made the announcement. The FBI-led Northern Nevada Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which is comprised of detectives and investigators from the Sparks Police Department, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Nevada Attorney General’s Office, and HSI, investigated the case. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office, HSI Chicago Field Office, and local law enforcement around the country provided substantial assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andolyn R. Johnson for the District of Nevada and Trial Attorney Rachel L. Rothberg of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section are prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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 FBI Las Vegas Field Office is seeking the help of anyone who may have been victimized by or have knowledge of sexual abuse of children involving James Patrick Burns. If you or a minor dependent has had contact with James Patrick Burns while using Omegle, Snapchat, Tiktok, and Mega.NZ between 2018 and 2021, you’re asked to contact the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or at TIPS.FBI.GOV. ###


title: Departments of Justice, Commerce and Treasury Issue Joint Advisory on Compliance of Foreign-Based Persons with Sanctions and Export Laws

component: National Security Division (NSD)

body_text: The Department of Justice, Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), and the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today issued a joint compliance note focusing on the obligations foreign-based individuals and entities have to comply with U.S. sanctions and export control laws and the risks of exposure that they face for non-compliance. Today’s note marks the third collective effort by the three agencies to inform the private sector about enforcement trends and provide guidance to the business community on compliance with U.S. sanctions and export laws. All three agencies also joined three other multi-seal advisories in the past year. “Any person or company participating in the global marketplace has an obligation to comply with our sanctions and export control laws, regardless of where they are located,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew G. Olsen. “Today’s advisory makes clear that the global business community must ensure that they are educated about how these laws apply and take steps to mitigate any risks they may face as a result of their business operations.” “As today’s compliance note makes clear, it doesn’t matter where in the world you’re located – if you’re dealing in items subject to the EAR, you must comply with U.S. export controls,” said Matthew S. Axelrod, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement. “Failure to do so may risk you being the subject of an administrative or criminal enforcement action.” The compliance note highlights the applicability of U.S. sanctions and export control laws to persons and entities located abroad and describes the enforcement mechanisms available to hold violators accountable, including civil enforcement actions and criminal prosecutions. In addition, the note provides an overview of compliance considerations for non-U.S. companies and compliance measures that could potentially help mitigate their risk. “OFAC will continue to actively enforce our sanctions against those who violate them, whether in the United States or abroad.” said Director Bradley T. Smith of the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. “As underscored by today’s advisory, foreign persons should be vigilant in understanding their OFAC-administered sanctions obligations and take steps necessary to comply.” As with prior multi-agency advisories, the compliance note underscores the importance of an effective and robust compliance program to mitigate any risks of non-compliance that they may face in today’s global business environment. This is especially true for foreign companies who do business with both the United States and jurisdictions, people, or entities who are subject to restrictions under U.S. sanctions or export control laws. The full compliance note is available here


title: Essex County Woman Convicted of Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Methamphetamine

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – An Essex County woman was convicted for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Mahogany Hawkins, 32, of Newark, was convicted on one count possession with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine. According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial: In March 2021, two FedEx parcels addressed to “John Brown” in Newark were lawfully intercepted by law enforcement and found to contain cocaine. On March 15, 2021, an undercover officer delivered the packages to the addressee, and a woman – later identified as Hawkins – answered the door and accepted the packages. Officers again knocked on Hawkins’s door, this time identifying themselves as law enforcement. Hawkins said she was “getting dressed” but didn’t open the door. The officers forced entry and found Hawkins standing in the bedroom. After obtaining a search warrant, the officers searched Hawkins’s apartment and entered a backroom – locked by a keypad – that was a workstation for packaging narcotics. The two FedEx packages from the controlled delivery were found inside a garbage can in the backroom, and the room also contained methamphetamine pills, two plastic bags containing additional cocaine, numerous empty vials used for packaging narcotics, and a heat sealer. Laboratory analysis confirmed substances were cocaine and methamphetamine. Officers also found a loaded handgun and an extended magazine. The possession with intent to distribute count of which Hawkins was convicted carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years imprisonment, and a $250,000 fine. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso; U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, under the direction of Port Director TenaVel Thomas, Port of New York/Newark; and members of the Newark Department of Public Safety, under the direction of Director Fritz Fragé, with the investigation leading to the conviction. He also thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz Ortiz, and the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebecca A. Sussman and Jake A. Nasar of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Newark.


title: Essex County Man Charged with Producing and Possessing Child Pornography

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, man was charged for allegedly inducing two minors to send him sexually explicit videos via text message and possessing child pornography, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Abdur-Razzaaq Henderson, 26, of East Orange, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with two counts of producing child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography. Henderson appeared this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa and was released on $100,000 unsecured bond. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: In April 2023, Henderson communicated via text message with a minor victim located outside of New Jersey. At Henderson’s request, the minor victim created and sent Henderson via text messages videos of the victim engaging in sexually explicit conduct. In July 2023, Henderson communicated via text message with another minor victim located outside of New Jersey. At Henderson’s request, the second minor victim created and sent Henderson via text messages videos of the victim engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Henderson then engaged the second minor victim in a conversation about sexually assaulting a younger sibling. On March 5, 2024, Henderson was found with a cell phone that contained multiple videos depicting child sexual abuse material. The production of child pornography charges are each punishable by a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum potential penalty of 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The child pornography possession charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited the Newark Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task force, under the direction of FBI Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy, with the investigation leading to the arrest. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebecca Sussman and Eli Jacobs of the Criminal Division in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. henderson.complaint.pdf


title: Passaic County Man Admits Transportation and Possession of Child Pornography

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Passaic County, New Jersey, man today admitted transporting and possessing videos and images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Edward M. O’Hagan, 50, of Hawthorne, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark federal court one count of transportation of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Law enforcement officials learned that on Jan. 19, 2023, O’Hagan transmitted video files containing images of child sexual abuse through the internet. O’Hagan’s email addresses utilized an encrypted file storage platform to upload and create files containing images of child sexual abuse, which was accessed from an IP address at O’Hagan’s address. Subsequent to a lawful search of O’Hagan’s residence on May 22, 2023, law enforcement officers recovered hundreds of images and videos depicting child sexual abuse on O’Hagan’s electronic devices. The count of transportation of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000. The count of possession of child pornography carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for July 18, 2024. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited the Newark Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task force, under the direction of FBI Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. He also thanked the Hawthorne Police Department and the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Farhana C. Melo of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Newark. ohagan.information.pdf


title: Dual U.S. and Greek National Arrested for Multimillion-Dollar Bank Fraud Conspiracy

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A dual U.S. and Greek national was charged for a multimillion-dollar bank fraud conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Dino Koutsogiannis, 57, of Fairview, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Koutsogiannis made his initial appearance on March 4, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge André M. Espinosa in Newark federal court and was detained. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From July 2022 to July 2023, Koutsogiannis and others conspired to defraud multiple financial institutions by conducting a “bust-out” debit card conspiracy. As part of the scheme, Koustogiannis and his conspirators would create shell companies and open bank accounts in those companies’ names. Koustogiannis and the conspirators would then fund those accounts with nominal funds. Then, after a few months with no activity, Koutsogiannis and the conspirators would fund the accounts via transfers from external sources, including accounts controlled by Koustogiannis and the conspirators. Several weeks later, Koutsogiannis and the conspirators would make very large debit purchases over the course of several days from those accounts, causing those accounts to accrue significantly negative balances, frequently in the amount of hundreds of thousands of dollars. After the bust-out was complete and the accounts were left in significant negative balances, the victim financial institutions would then close the accounts. But Koutsogiannis and his conspirators would nevertheless continue executing the scheme with bank accounts at other financial institutions. Koustigannis and the conspirators executed this scheme numerous times at six victim financial institutions between July 2022 and July 2023, causing those institutions approximately $2.8 million in losses. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years and a fine of up to $1 million. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the Springfield Police Department, the Teaneck Police Department, and the New Jersey State Police. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chana Y. Zuckier of the General Crimes Unit in Newark. The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. koutsogiannis.complaint.pdf


title: Corinth man sentenced to 30 years for producing  and distributing child pornography

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: GREENVILLE, Miss. – A Corinth, Mississippi man was sentenced in federal court today to 30 years in prison for producing sexually explicit images with minors and posting them on the dark web. According to court documents, Paul Burk, III, 36, recorded child sexual abuse videos using minors under the age of 10 years old and posted them on forums on the dark web. The victims were identified through Operation Rescue Me, a strategic partnership between the FBI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which focuses on determining the identity of child victims depicted in child exploitation material. Following a sentencing hearing on Wednesday in Greenville, Chief U.S. District Judge Debra M. Brown ordered Burk to serve 360 months in prison, followed by a term of supervised release for the remainder of his life. “The depraved conduct of this defendant inflicted horrific damage upon innocent lives, for which he was appropriately sentenced to the maximum possible penalty in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “Our office will always remain committed to protecting children from such abhorrent conduct, and we are proud of the partnership between the FBI, the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, and our prosecutor who worked together to see justice done for the victims in this case.” "Safeguarding our society's future begins with protecting the youth in our community from criminals like, Paul Burk III,” remarked FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Maher Dimachkie “Those who commit these heinous crimes against our youth will not be tolerated. The FBI maintains a commitment to support our DOJ partners in aggressively investigating and protecting the innocence of our minors, assuring offenders are brought to justice. " “The suffering these children have endured is unimaginable,” stated Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “I am grateful for our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI. Working together across agencies we were able to ensure justice is served here. We cannot give these children back what their abuser has taken from them, but we have at least started them on the road to healing.” The FBI and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Parker S. King prosecuted the case.


title: Dayton man sentenced to prison for possessing stolen mail

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: DAYTON, Ohio – Jayon Everett Perrin, 22, of Dayton, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 32 months in prison for unlawfully possessing stolen mail. According to court documents, in October 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Perrin’s Dayton apartment and discovered a postal service key, a United States Postal Service logo jacket, $6,000 in cash, more than 500 checks, and approximately 15 debit or credit cards. The checks had payable amounts ranging from approximately 50 cents to $282,000. The stolen mail also included sensitive forms and documents, such as a federal tax return, payment slips for medical and dental bills, and a loan-forgiveness application. Perrin also possessed equipment and supplies for cloning debit and credit cards and altering stolen checks. Perrin was charged federally in October 2022 and pleaded guilty in September 2023. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Pittsburgh Division, announced the sentence imposed on March 5 by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Walter H. Rice. Assistant United States Attorneys Rob Painter and Elizabeth L. McCormick are representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Father & son sentenced to federal prison for dealing drugs

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A father and son were sentenced in U.S. District Court to serve 24 years and eight years in prison, respectively, for trafficking multiple kilograms of methamphetamine. Eric Dewayne Turner, Jr., 33, was sentenced in federal court today to 97 months in prison. His father, Eric Dewayne Turner, Sr., 50, was sentenced in federal court on Jan. 16 to 290 months in prison. Turner, Sr. led a drug trafficking organization and sold large quantities of methamphetamine to undercover agents on four occasions. These controlled purchases, plus a fifth transaction that was not completed, involved nearly eight kilograms of pure methamphetamine. Turner, Sr. pleaded guilty in May 2023 to the six counts with which he was charged in a bill of information. He admitted his guilt to four counts of distributing methamphetamine, one count of possessing with intent to distribute the drug and one count of illegally possessing a firearm after a prior felony conviction. Turner, Jr. conspired with his father and others from September 2022 through January 2023 to distribute and possess with intent to distribute the narcotics. Turner, Jr. personally participated in two of the drug transactions, transporting packages of methamphetamine for his father to sell to the undercover agents. When the son was arrested, he possessed more than $16,000 in suspected drug trafficking proceeds. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Detroit Division; announced the sentences imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Watson. Deputy Criminal Chief Brian J. Martinez is representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Broken Arrow Resident Sentenced For Child Sexual Exploitation Materials

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Jason Cory Bycroft, age 41, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was sentenced for the production and possession of child sexual exploitation materials. Jason Bycroft was sentenced to 292 months in prison for two counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Child/Use of a Child to Produce a Visual Depiction and 240 months for two counts of Possession of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. The sentences on each count were ordered to run concurrently. The charges arose from investigations by the Broken Arrow Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On April 19, 2022, Jason Bycroft pleaded guilty to the offenses. According to investigators, in July 2015 and in September 2017, Bycroft created videos of the exposed genitalia of children under the age of ten at a public swimming area. One of the depictions was created with the assistance of Heather Bycroft, the defendant’s wife and co-defendant. Heather Bycroft was found guilty by a federal jury on April 26, 2022, of Sexual Exploitation of a Child/Use of a Child to Produce a Visual Depiction and Possession of Certain Material Involving the Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, and is awaiting a formal sentencing hearing. “The sentencing handed down today effectively ends Mr. Bycroft’s ability to exploit and endanger children for many years to come,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray. “The FBI’s commitment to combatting this threat will never waver, and we will continue working with our partners in law enforcement to send the message that crimes against children will not be tolerated.” “The heinousness of this crime cannot be overstated. The defendant engaged in brazen predatory behavior,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “This office stands committed to prosecuting those who engage in child sexual exploitation and betray the public trust.” The Honorable Timothy D. DeGiusti, U.S. Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearings in Oklahoma City. Bycroft was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States. 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 epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s 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 .


title: Antlers Resident Sentenced For Child Neglect

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Shawn Erin Hudson, age 44, of Antlers, Oklahoma, was sentenced to time served and three years of supervised release for child neglect. The charges arose from investigations by the Pushmataha County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On October 14, 2022, Hudson pleaded guilty to one count of an Information of Child Neglect. According to investigators, between December of 2017 and February of 2019, Hudson willfully and maliciously failed and omitted to provide adequate medical care, supervision, appropriate caretakers, and special care made necessary by the physical and mental condition of a child under the age of eighteen. The crime occurred in Pushmataha County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, within the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Keith Starrett, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearings in Muskogee. Assistant United States Attorney Edith Singer represented the United States.


title: Two Defendants Arrested for Conspiring to Illegally Export Weapons to South Sudan

body_text: A federal criminal complaint was unsealed yesterday in the District of Arizona charging Abraham Chol Keech, 44, of Utah, and Peter Biar Ajak, 40, of Maryland, with conspiring to purchase and illegally export millions of dollars’ worth of fully automatic rifles, grenade launchers, Stinger missile systems, hand grenades, sniper rifles, ammunition, and other export-controlled items from the United States to South Sudan, in violation of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA). “As alleged, the defendants sought to unlawfully smuggle heavy weapons and ammunition from the United States into South Sudan – a country that is subject to a U.N. arms embargo due to the violence between armed groups, which has killed and displaced thousands,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Department of Justice will not tolerate the illicit export of weapons overseas, and we will hold accountable those who would violate our laws.” “Sanctions and export controls help ensure that American weapons are not used internationally to destabilize other sovereign nations,” said U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino for the District of Arizona. “We thank our law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations, for continuing to use their legacy customs enforcement authority to protect the public.” According to court documents, in July 2018, in response to the conflict between South Sudan’s Transitional Government of National Unity and opposition forces, the United Nations Security Council imposed an arms embargo on South Sudan. The Security Council has renewed the arms embargo every year since 2018, most recently in May 2023. Under U.S. law, specifically the AECA and ECRA, it is unlawful to export weapons and ammunition to South Sudan absent authorization in the form of a license from the U.S. Department of State or the Department of Commerce. It is the policy of the United States to deny licenses and approvals to export to South Sudan defense articles, such as automatic rifles, grenade launchers, and missile Stinger systems. As alleged in court documents, between at least February 2023 and February 2024, Keech and Ajak sought to illegally purchase weapons and related export-controlled items from undercover law enforcement agents and smuggle those weapons and items from the United States to South Sudan through a third country. The defendants knew that South Sudan was subject to an arms embargo and that exporting weapons and ammunition from the United States to South Sudan without a license from the U.S. government was illegal and would violate U.S. law. For example, the defendants openly discussed the illegality of the transaction, expressed the need to be discreet, and agreed to pay a risk fee for the weapons because of the illegal nature of the arms sale. In addition, to facilitate the smuggling scheme, the defendants discussed disguising the weapons as humanitarian aid and paying bribes. As part of the scheme, the defendants further sought to conceal from financial institutions and others the source and purpose of the funds used to purchase and smuggle the illicit arms. For example, the defendants agreed to an arms contract for nearly $4 million worth of weapons and related items and requested a “fake contract” in the same amount in “consulting services” and items, such as “communications equipment,” related to “human rights, humanitarian, and civil engagement inside South Sudan refugee camps.” The defendants then caused funds to be transferred through an intermediary company identified in the fake contract to complete the purchase. If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years in prison for conspiring to violate the AECA, up to 20 years in prison for conspiring to violate the ECRA, and up to 10 years in prison for smuggling goods from the United States. The Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Defense’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement are investigating the case, with valuable assistance provided by the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona and the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Keech and Ajak complaint


title: St. Charles County Man Sentenced for the Unlicensed Sales of Firearms

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Charles County, Missouri who illegally sold hundreds of guns was sentenced Monday to five years of probation and 200 hours of community service. Harry Trueblood, 69, is also now a convicted felon and is barred from possessing, let alone selling, firearms. Trueblood pleaded guilty in November to one count of being an unlicensed firearms dealer. He admitted selling firearms at not less than 15 gun shows from January of 2021 through May of 2023 despite never having been licensed to deal in firearms. He continued selling even after agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) warned him that he was committing a crime. Trueblood purposely avoided obtaining a Federal Firearms License (FFL), Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski said in court Monday. “ATF is a leader in the nation’s fight to disrupt violent crime for safer communities,” said Bernard Hansen, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Kansas City Field Division. “Trueblood was linked to selling over 250 firearms without a Federal Firearms License and over 40 crime guns were traced back him. It is firearm traffickers like this defendant that fuel violence in our communities by putting deadly weapons in the hands of people who commit violent crimes in our communities. Our Crime Gun Intelligence Center was at the center of this investigation, utilizing intelligence to identify this defendant and disrupting the supply of illegally transferred firearms and making our neighborhoods safer.” Guns sold illegally by Trueblood were recovered at the scene of a homicide, a suicide and other shootings and from felons and a juvenile, Szczucinski said. One person with mental health issues severe enough that he was turned away from two gun stores found Trueblood and bought a firearm from him, Szczucinski said in court. The ATF began investigating Trueblood after multiple guns recovered in unrelated crimes were traced back to him as the original purchaser. Trueblood sold AR-15-type pistols and handguns to undercover ATF agents before the ATF on Feb. 1, 2023 sent him a cease and desist letter ordering him to stop dealing in firearms without a license. Trueblood continued to sell guns, his plea agreement says. The ATF investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski is prosecuting the case.


title: Hardeeville Woman Pleads Guilty to Assault of Minor on Airplane

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: CHARLESTON, S.C. —Susan Holliday, 61, of Hardeeville, has pleaded guilty to assaulting a minor on an airplane. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on May 14, 2023, Ms. Holliday was flying on Breeze Airways from Louisville, Kentucky to Charleston, South Carolina. She was inebriated from drinking alcohol. She was seated next to a 14-year-old girl. Ms. Holliday rubbed the leg and head of the minor child. Holliday also placed the child’s hand on Ms. Holliday’s chest. These actions caused a disruption on the plane and several passengers, including the child’s mother, intervened. Ms. Holliday was moved to a different seat and a flight attendant stayed with her for the remainder of the flight. Holliday faces a maximum penalty of one year in federal prison. She also faces a fine of up to $100,000, restitution, and one year of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Richard Gergel accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Holliday after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Holmes is prosecuting the case. ###


title: District Man Receives Youth Rehabilitation Act Sentence for Carjacking at Gas Station

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Adam West, 19, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced on March 1, 2024, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to 4 ½ years in prison for carjacking, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Over the government’s objection, West was sentenced under the Youth Rehabilitation Act, which permitted the Court to issue a sentence below the mandatory minimum of seven years. On December 14, 2023, West pleaded guilty to carjacking, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years’ incarceration. During the plea hearing, West admitted that he carjacked the victim while he was at a Northeast Washington D.C. gas station. West further acknowledged that he approached the victim, who was seated in his car, and demanded that he get out of his car while patting his waistband, to suggest that he was armed. When the victim got out with his hands up, West took the key fob out of the victim’s pocket and drove off. MPD responded immediately, and used the MPD helicopter to track the stolen vehicle. Shortly thereafter, Seat Pleasant, Maryland, Police Department officers spotted the carjacked vehicle and initiated pursuit. West drove back into Northeast D.C., where he drove over a median, and then onto a sidewalk in the 300 block of 20th Street Northeast, where the car was disabled. Thereafter, Seat Pleasant officers apprehended West and the District’s MPD officers placed him under arrest. The government asked for eight years’ incarceration, a sentence within the applicable guidelines range and one year above the mandatory minimum. The government opposed imposition of the Youth Rehabilitation Act. The Honorable Errol Arthur sentenced West under the Youth Rehabilitation Act to serve a term of 4 ½ years’ incarceration, with an additional 1 ½ years suspended and a two-year period of probation. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney David “Will” Lawrence, who investigated and prosecuted the case.


title: Jefferson County Man Sentenced for Interstate Domestic Violence and Firearms Charges

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Paul Richard Tomlinson, age 24, of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for interstate violation of a protective order and possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, the Martinsburg Police Department was called to a domestic incident at a home in the city. Tomlinson had gotten into a physical altercation with his girlfriend’s father. Investigators found a firearm in Tomlinson’s car. Tomlinson is prohibited from having firearms because of a prior felony conviction and was arrested. Tomlinson’s former girlfriend told officers that Tomlinson sexually and physically abused her during a cross-country trip. She was then granted a Domestic Violence Emergency Protective Order. While being held on the firearms charge, Tomlinson asked his mother to contact the victim on his behalf on multiple occasions to encourage the victim to drop the charges. Tomlinson will also serve three years of supervised release upon his release from prison. This case was prosecuted as a part of the Northern District of West Virginia’s Domestic Violence Reduction Initiative, formed in early 2023 to protect domestic violence victims, take dangerous criminals off the streets, and enhance community safety. The program focuses on keeping firearms out of the hands of violent offenders. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Kane prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the Martinsburg Police Department investigated. U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.


title: Texas Man Admits to Federal Drug Charge

body_text: WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Nolan Eugene McCray, age 39, of Cedar Lane, Texas, has admitted to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, McCray was identified during an investigation into drug activity. A Wetzel County property where McCray had stayed was searched and officers found methamphetamine and $14,580 in cash. McCray was then taken into custody on outstanding warrants in Texas. While in jail, he made several phone calls to drug associates in the Northern Panhandle. Those conversations led officers to search another property, yielding more than 400 grams of methamphetamine and nearly one kilogram of heroin. McCray faces up to 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Marshall County Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Wetzel County Sheriff’s Office investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton Reid is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. U.S. Magistrate Judge James P. Mazzone presided.


title: Berkeley County Man Sentenced to 2.5 Years in Federal Prison for Bank Fraud

body_text: CHARLESTON, S.C. —Cordero Prioleau, 35, of Ladson, was sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to bank fraud. Evidence presented to the court showed that Prioleau deposited a fraudulent check into his Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU) bank account in the amount of $24,679.55. Prior to the check being returned to NFCU as fraudulent, over a period of five days, Prioleau withdrew $22,700.00 from his bank account. United States District Judge Richard Gergel sentenced Prioleau to 30 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the United States Secret Service with assistance from the Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy F. Bower is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Justice Department, Federal Trade Commission and Department of Health and Human Services Issue Request for Public Input as Part of Inquiry into Impacts of Corporate Ownership Trend in Health Care

component: Antitrust Division

body_text: The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) jointly launched a cross-government public inquiry into private-equity and other corporations’ increasing control over health care. Private equity firms and other corporate owners are increasingly involved in health care system transactions, and, at times, those transactions may lead to a maximizing of profits at the expense of quality care. The cross-government inquiry seeks to understand how certain health care market transactions may increase consolidation and generate profits for firms while threatening patients’ health, workers’ safety, quality of care and affordable health care for patients and taxpayers. The agencies issued a Request for Information (RFI) requesting public comment on deals conducted by health systems, private payers, private equity funds and other alternative asset managers that involve health care providers, facilities or ancillary products or services. The RFI also requests information on transactions that would not be reported to the Justice Department or FTC for antitrust review under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act. “Preserving competition in health care markets is a priority for the Justice Department because of its important impact on the health and well-being of Americans,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “This RFI will enable the agencies to accurately understand the modern market realities of the health care industry and forcefully enforce the law against unlawful deals. Hearing from patients, workers and market participants will be critical in developing future enforcement and policy efforts relating to consolidation in the health care sector.” “When private equity firms buy out healthcare facilities only to slash staffing and cut quality, patients lose out,” said Chair Lina M. Khan of the FTC. “Through this inquiry, the FTC will continue scrutinizing private equity roll-ups, strip-and-flip tactics and other financial plays that can enrich executives but leave the American public worse off.” “Increasing competition in health care markets gives people more choices. Competition helps ensure patients have access to high-quality, lower cost care, and that health care workers receive higher pay and work under better conditions. And it saves taxpayers money,” said Secretary Xavier Becerra of HHS. “We need to do more to understand the impact of private equity and corporate dealmaking on our policymaking, regulatory decisions and enforcement actions. The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to improving transparency and competition in health care.” Research has shown that competition in health care provider and payer markets promotes higher quality, lower cost health care, greater access to care, increased innovation, higher wages and better benefits for health care workers. Comments submitted in response to the joint RFI will inform the agencies’ enforcement priorities and future action, including potential regulations aimed at promoting and protecting competition in health care markets and ensuring appropriate access to quality, affordable health care items and services. The agencies’ RFI builds upon the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ recent RFI on Medicare Advantage and a RFI issued by the FTC and HHS on how pharmaceutical middleman groups may be contributing to drug shortages. The RFI issued today stems from a December 2023 announcement outlining efforts by the Justice Department, FTC and HHS to lower health care and drug costs, while promoting competition to benefit patients and health care workers. In addition to the launch of the RFI, all three agencies will also be participating today in a virtual public workshop that will explore the impact of private equity in health care and will discuss what the federal government is doing to address any harmful effects. All market participants — including patients, consumer advocates, doctors, nurses, health care providers and administrators, employers, insurers and more — are invited to share their comments in response to the RFI. The agencies seek comments on a variety of transactions, including those involving dialysis clinics, nursing homes, hospice providers, primary care providers, hospitals, home health agencies, home- and community-based services providers, behavioral health providers, as well as billing and collections services. The public will have 60 days to submit comments at Regulations.gov , no later than May 6. Once submitted, comments will be posted to Regulations.gov.


title: Bronx Man Sentenced To 80 Months’ Imprisonment For His Role As Lead Courier In “Grandparents” Mail Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Josiah DeJesus, age 22, of Bronx, NY, was sentenced on February 29, 2024 by United States District Judge Robert D. Mariani to 80 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release, for his role as the lead or coordinating courier in a Dominican Republic-based “grandparents” fraud scheme that preyed upon elderly American victims from states across the country. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, from approximately June 2020 to October 2020, along with a group of other men from Bronx, NY, that he recruited, DeJesus regularly traveled from New York City to locations in Pennsylvania to retrieve UPS and Fed Ex packages containing thousands of dollars in cash. These packages were sent by elderly victims, who were induced to send the money based upon false claims that their grandchildren had been arrested and charged with serious crimes and, consequently, were in immediate need of money. These false claims were made to the elderly victims in phone calls that they received from oversees co-conspirators in the Dominican Republic, who posed either as the victims’ grandchildren or as attorneys representing the victims’ grandchildren. At his sentencing, DeJesus was ordered to pay $366,303.28 in restitution to the victims of the scheme. This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation –Philadelphia Division, and its state and local law enforcement partners in Berks County, PA. Assistant United States Attorney Jeffery St John prosecuted the case. # # #


title: Berkeley County Man Sentenced for Federal Firearms and Drug Charges

body_text: MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Austin M. Ferguson, age 28, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 72 months in federal prison for the distribution of fentanyl and possession of a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents and statements made in court, Ferguson was selling heroin capsules when he flashed a 9mm pistol, removed the firearm magazine, and called the ammunition within the firearm “cop killers.” Officers searched Ferguson’s hotel room and found fentanyl capsules and 47 rounds of 9mm ammunition. Ferguson will be on three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.


title: Berkeley County Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Federal Drug Charge

body_text: MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Javier Lewis Howard, age 41, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for the distribution of cocaine. According to court documents and statements made in court, during a traffic stop, officers found heroin, prescription pills, and $3,774 inside Howard’s vehicle. During Howard’s arrest, officers found fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine base on him. A subsequent search warrant at his home found suboxone strips, drug paraphernalia, eutylone, cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.


title: Man Convicted of $5.6M International Advance-Fee Scheme

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A federal jury in the Southern District of Texas convicted an Indiana man yesterday for his role in an international advance-fee scheme orchestrated from Nigeria that defrauded victims of over $5.6 million. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from at least February 2015 to January 2018, Tochukwu Nwosisi, 52, of Indianapolis, participated in an advance-fee scheme involving fraudulent offers of investment funding and inheritances to victims around the world. His co-conspirators, who were based in Nigeria, induced victims to make large wire payments to bank accounts in the United States on the false belief that payment of the purported advance fees was necessary before the bank would release their funding or inheritance. Nwosisi served as a money launderer who accepted victim funds into his U.S. bank accounts and directed the proceeds to the ringleaders in Nigeria. The jury convicted Nwosisi of conspiracy to commit money laundering and concealment money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 13 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas, Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams Jr. of the FBI Houston Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Hileman of the Department of State Office of Inspector General (DOS-OIG) made the announcement. The FBI and DOS-OIG investigated the case. Trial Attorney Philip Trout of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Latham for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.


title: Clay County Man Sentenced To More Than 5 Years For Federal Drug And Gun Charges

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Lemuel Henry Crowder (53, Orange Park) to five years and six months in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Crowder entered his guilty plea on October 20, 2023. According to court documents, on February 26, 2023, deputies with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office stopped a vehicle being driven by Crowder for a traffic violation. During the traffic stop, a law enforcement canine positively alerted for the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. Deputies searched Crowder’s vehicle and found over 20 grams of fentanyl, over 30 grams of cocaine, and a loaded firearm. This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Aakash Singh.


title: Former Loudon County Corrections Officer Sentenced To Prison For Using Excessive Force

component: USAO - Tennessee, Eastern

body_text: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On March 4, 2024, Brian J. Phillips, 32, currently residing in Georgia, was sentenced to five months in prison by the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Phillips waived an indictment by a Federal Grand Jury and pleaded guilty to an Information charging him with one count of the use of excessive force under color of law, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 242. Following his incarceration, Phillips will be on supervised release for a period of two years. As set forth in filed court documents, at the time of the offense, Phillips was employed as a correctional officer by the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office. On January 25, 2021, Phillips was assigned to the Loudon County Jail to monitor a pod of detainees and inmates eating dinner, including detainee E.H. The defendant watched as E.H., who had already received one dinner tray, entered the line to get a second dinner tray, which was not permitted. The defendant started to approach E.H. When E.H. received a second dinner tray, defendant knocked the tray from E.H.’s hands, sending food into the air and onto the ground. The defendant grabbed E.H. by the wrist to take control of him. The defendant then wrapped his arms around E.H.’s waist and hip-slammed E.H. headfirst into the concrete floor, fracturing E.H.’s skull and rendering E.H. momentarily unconscious. U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton, III of the Eastern District of Tennessee and Special Agent in Charge, Joseph E. Carrico, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI. Assistant United States Attorneys William A. Roach, Jr., and Jeremy S. Dykes prosecuted the case. For more information about the Civil Rights Division and the Special Litigation Section, please visit www.justice.gov/crt/special-litigation-section . You can also report civil rights violations to the section by completing the complaint form available at www.civilrights.justice.gov . ###


title: New York Man Sentenced To 144 Months’ Imprisonment For Methamphetamine Trafficking In Susquehanna County

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Roy Niles, age 59, of Nineveh, New York, was sentenced on February 29, 2024, by U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani, to 144 months’ imprisonment on the charge of conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Niles previously pleaded guilty and admitted to conspiring with another individual to distribute between 1.5 kilograms and 5 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine in the Susquehanna County area in March 2020. The charge stems from an incident in March 2020, in which Niles arranged to purchase several pounds of crystal methamphetamine from another individual in Susquehanna County. After the methamphetamine was received by Niles, the Pennsylvania State Police moved in and attempted to arrest him. Niles fled from the police and led police on a high-speed chase from Pennsylvania into New York. Niles was later apprehended. The charge against the defendant resulted from an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Pennsylvania State Police. The New York State Police also provided assistance during the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara 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: Luzerne County Man Sentenced To 78 Months’ Imprisonment For Fentanyl Trafficking

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Dario George, age 32, of Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Malachy Mannion, to 78 months’ imprisonment of the charge of possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, George previously pleaded guilty and admitted to distributing between 280 grams and 400 grams of fentanyl in the Luzerne County area in 2021 and 2022. The charge stems from an investigation in which investigators made four purchases of fentanyl from George and then, on May 19, 2022, obtained a search warrant for George’s residence in Nanticoke. A search of that residence resulted in the seizure of approximately 30,000 individual bags of fentanyl and additional amounts of heroin and cocaine, $8098 in U.S. currency, and drug packaging materials. The charges against the defendant resulted from an investigation conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police, the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara prosecuted the case. This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. # # #


title: Man Indicted and Arrested for Child Exploitation

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – A federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging Ángel Alexis Vázquez Sánchez, 25, of Jayuya, PR, for child exploitation. According to court documents, from December 2021 throughout May 2023, Ángel Alexis Vázquez Sánchez sexually exploited four different minor females, between the ages of 12 and 16, with the intent that the minors engage in sexual activity, and to obtain sexually explicit images of the minors. Ángel Alexis Vázquez Sánchez is facing four counts of coercion and enticement of a minor for using a cellular phone, instant messaging services, and social media to engage in sexual activity and to engage in sexually explicit conduct with four different female minors; four counts of sexual exploitation of children for engaging in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of such conduct; and two counts of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. “Once again we call on all citizens: If you see something, say something,” said United States Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow. “Those who engage in child exploitation and create child sexual abuse material will be tracked down and held accountable for their heinous conduct.” “This case is an example that if we all work together by sharing information and using our common sense to report something that just doesn’t seem right, we can save children from sex predators. We want to thank our HUD-OIG colleagues who understood the importance of collaboration and worked hand in hand with our team to make this investigation possible,” said Joseph González, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Juan. “The investigation is ongoing, and we need the public to come forward and be a part of the solution. If you have been a victim of this subject or know someone who may have been, call 787-987-6500. The FBI San Juan Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking Squad works around the clock to detect, locate, and arrest sexual predators.” “Today’s arrest reflects the unwavering commitment of our agents to seek justice for victims and hold bad actors accountable for this conduct,” said Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Daniel López with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG), Southeast Region. “HUD OIG will continue to work with our prosecutorial and law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of HUD’s programs and ensure our communities are safe.” The defendant is scheduled for his initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marshal D. Morgan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. If convicted for the charges of coercion and enticement and transportation of minor to engage in illicit sexual conduct, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of ten years up to life, and for production of child pornography he faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of fifteen years up to 30 years; all charges followed by a term of supervised release of no less than 5 years up to life. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI is investigating the case. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG) provided significant assistance during the ongoing investigation. Assistant US Attorney (AUSA) Jenifer Y. Hernández-Vega, Child Exploitation and Immigration Unit Chief, is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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. 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: Houma Doctor Pleads Guilty to Distributing Misbranded Versions of Injectable Contraceptives to Patients

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that MICHELLE ANDRE , a resident and doctor in Houma pled guilty to a one-count bill of information on February 29, 2024 before United States District Judge Barry Ashe, to distributing misbranded drugs in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 331. According to court documents, from April 2018 through March 2023, ANDRE introduced misbranded drugs, including Depo-Provera, into interstate commerce. The Depo-Provera lacked adequate directions for use in its labeling. ANDRE faces a maximum term of up to one year imprisonment and one year of supervised release. Sentencing before Judge Ashe is scheduled for June 6, 2024. “Selling illegal prescription drugs, particularly sterile injectable products, in the U.S. marketplace puts all consumers’ health at risk,” said Justin Fielder, Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Miami Field Office. “We will continue to pursue and bring to justice those who jeopardize the public’s health.” U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Food and Drug Administration. Assistant United States Attorneys Rachal Cassagne of the Narcotics Unit and Paul Hubbell of the General Crimes Unit are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Florida Man Indicted for Making Hate Crime Threats against  The Council on American-Islamic Relations (“CAIR”) Michigan Chapter

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – A West Palm Beach man was indicted by a grand jury for repeatedly threatening the Council on American-Islamic Relations (“CAIR”) Michigan Chapter, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today. Ison was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Chad Baugh, Chief of the Canton Police Department. As alleged in the indictment, Michael Shapiro, 72, of West Palm Beach, Florida, placed three separate phone calls to CAIR’s office located in Canton, Michigan, and left voicemails containing the following threats: December 8, 2023: “I’m going to kill you bastards. I’m going to kill you bastards.” December 14, 2023: ““I’m going to kill you m****r f*****g bastards. Muslims! I’m going to kill you m****r f*****s. I’m going to kill you! I’m going to kill you! I’m going to kill you!” December 15, 2023: “You’re a violent people. Why do you come to America? Why do you come to Europe? M***** f******. You’re violent. You’re killers. You’re rapists. I’m going to kill you m****r f*****s!” Michael Shapiro, 72, was charged with three counts of transmitting threats in interstate commerce. The indictment also alleges that Shapiro intentionally selected the victim of his threats because of the actual and perceived religion and national origin of the people who work at and are assisted by CAIR. “Today’s charges should serve as a warning that those who threaten violence, especially when they intend to instill fear on an entire community, will be identified, investigated, and aggressively prosecuted,” U.S. Attorney Ison said. “Threats motivated by religious bias can have a devastating impact on an entire faith community. For this reason, hate crimes are one of the FBI’s highest investigative priorities,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. “We remain committed to working with our partners at the Canton Police Department and across the state to detect and prevent violent incidents motivated by bias or hate. We also urge the public to report any suspected hate crimes to your local police or the FBI at 1-800-225-5324. You may also submit an online tip at tips.fbi.gov.” "The Canton Police Department extends sincere thanks to the FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office for their partnership in addressing threats by Michael Shapiro against the CAIR Michigan Chapter,” said Chief Baugh. “Such collaborative efforts reinforce our commitment to combating hate crimes and ensuring community safety. We are resolute in our mission to uphold the safety and rights of every individual." An indictment is only a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Shapiro faces up to 5 years in prison for each of the 3 counts. If convicted, a federal court judge would determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Canton Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Frances Lee Carlson.


title: California man pleads guilty to transporting Highland County minor interstate to engage in criminal sexual activity

body_text: CINCINNATI – A California man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to transporting a minor interstate to commit third degree rape of the Ohio teenager. Alex Roman Nguyen, 29, of San Diego, pleaded guilty to transportation with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. The plea agreement includes a sentencing recommendation of up to 151 months in prison. According to court documents, Nguyen met a 15-year-old girl from Hillsboro, Ohio, online and traveled from San Diego to Ohio to meet her in July 2022. Nguyen drove the minor to Kentucky to attempt to purchase airplane tickets and engaged in sex acts with the minor while in Kentucky. Unable to obtain flight tickets, Nguyen and the minor boarded a Greyhound bus bound for San Diego and traveled on it until they were apprehended by law enforcement in El Paso, Texas. Nguyen was charged by criminal complaint in the Southern District of Ohio the next day. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court at a future hearing based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Cheryl Mimura, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; and Hillsboro Police Chief Eric Daniels announced the guilty plea entered on March 4 before Senior U.S. District Judge Susan J. Dlott. Assistant United States Attorneys Kyle J. Healey and Julie D. Garcia are representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Waterbury Gang Member Admits Role in 2018 Drive-By Shooting that Killed Innocent Bystander, Paralyzed Second

body_text: D’ANDRE BURRUS, also known as “Dopeman,” 30, of Waterbury, pleaded guilty yesterday in Bridgeport federal court to a racketeering offense stemming from his participation in the 960 gang, a violent Waterbury street gang. Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Maureen T. Platt, State’s Attorney for the Waterbury Judicial District; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; and Waterbury Police Chief Fernando C. Spagnolo. According to court documents and statements made in court, in an effort to address drug trafficking and related violence in Waterbury, the FBI, ATF, and Waterbury Police have been investigating multiple Waterbury-based groups, including the 960 gang. On September 14, 2021, a federal grand jury in Hartford returned a 36-count indictment charging Burrus and 15 other alleged 960 gang members with racketeering, narcotics trafficking, firearm possession, murder, attempted murder and assault, and obstruction of justice offenses. In pleading guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, Burrus admitted that he trafficked heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine in furtherance of the 960 enterprise. He also admitted that he conspired to murder members of a rival gang on October 11, 2018, which resulted in the death of an innocent bystander, 30-year-old Fransua Guzman, and the paralysis of a second victim. Burrus was in one of two cars 960 members used when the victims were shot. Burrus is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley on June 7, at which time he faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Burrus has been detained since his arrest on February 19, 2019. This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, ATF, and Waterbury Police Department, with the assistance of the Watertown Police Department, New Milford Police Department and Connecticut Department of Correction. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Geoffrey M. Stone, John T. Pierpont, Jr. and Natasha M. Freismuth, and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Don E. Therkildesen, Jr. and Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney Alexandra Arroyo of the Waterbury State’s Attorney’s Office, who have been cross-designated as Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys in this matter. This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs. PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Santa Cruz County Drug Dealer Sentenced To Nineteen Years’ Imprisonment For A Federal Drug Crime

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN JOSE – Paul Garcia was sentenced today to 235 months’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to methamphetamine trafficking, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Jennifer L. Cicolani. The sentence was handed down by the Hon. Edward J. Davila, United States District Judge. Garcia, 34, formerly of Santa Cruz County, was arrested in July 2019 after Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Deputies seized a stash of drugs in a Santa Cruz motel room Garcia was using. The stash included more than two pounds of heroin, 440 grams of methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, and pills. Deputies also found a loaded, semi-automatic pistol in the motel room. Garcia was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 6, 2020, on one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A). In February 2020, Garcia made his initial appearance in federal court and was released on a $100,000 bond. Garcia eventually violated the terms of his release, his bail was revoked, and Garcia was ordered to report to the Santa Rita Jail facility in June 2020. Garcia failed to report as ordered, and became a fugitive. Garcia’s bond was subsequently forfeited, and the Court entered forfeiture judgments against his sureties. Garcia remained a fugitive until he was arrested on April 18, 2021. At that time, Sunnyvale police officers approached Garcia in the parking lot of a motel, and Garcia fled through the motel with officers in pursuit. During the chase, Garcia retrieved a pistol from his waistband and fired two shots at the officers before being taken into custody. On December 18, 2023, Garcia pleaded guilty to the federal charge against him. In the plea agreement, Garcia admitted, among other things, that he possessed the methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin found in his Santa Cruz motel room in July 2019, with the intent to distribute them, and also that he possessed the semi-automatic pistol found in the motel room in connection with his drug dealing. Garcia also admitted he failed to report to the Santa Rita Jail facility as ordered, and that he willfully remained a fugitive until he was arrested in Sunnyvale. “Disrupting drug trafficking in Santa Cruz County is a priority for our office,” said United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey. “Anyone who traffics drugs in Santa Cruz County, or anywhere else in the Northern District, particularly while armed, should know that federal criminal convictions come with serious prison time.” “Removing violent offenders from our communities is a priority for ATF,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Cicolani. “Anyone who participates in trafficking will be held accountable. Throughout this case, ATF has worked side by side with our prosecutorial partners to fulfill one of our core duties to the public. That duty being to ensure the safety of our communities. Today’s sentencing ensured that our commitment to the public is being upheld.” Judge Davila ordered that Garcia’s federal prison term be served concurrently with a 29-year prison term Garcia is currently serving. In addition to the prison term, Judge Davila also ordered Garcia to serve a five-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison. Assistant United States Attorneys Michael G. Pitman and Daniel N. Kassabian are prosecuting the case, with the assistance of Sahib Kaur. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by ATF and the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office.


title: FOND DU LAC PSYCHIATRIST SENTENCED TO 48 MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT FOR UNLAWFUL DISTRIBUTION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on March 4, 2024, John D. Whelan (age: 77), a psychiatrist, was sentenced to a term of 48 months’ imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and lying to federal agents, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C) &846, and 18 U.S.C. § 1001. At the sentencing hearing, United States District Judge Brett H. Ludwig described Whelan as committing an “extremely serious drug offense,” in which Whelan engaged in a scheme to distribute controlled substance prescriptions in exchange for cash. Judge Ludwig recounted how Whelan made more than a quarter of a million dollars by selling improper and illicit prescriptions, abusing his position as a physician. While imposing sentence, Judge Ludwig explained that a significant punishment was necessary because of the serious nature of the offense and to send a message that the “rules apply to everyone, even if you go to medical school.” “If someone had cash, Mr. Whelan was willing to sell them controlled substances regardless of their actual medical need and regardless of whether the individuals were simply abusing these drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Haanstad. “Rather than seeking to truly care for his patients, Mr. Whelan sought simply to fund a lavish lifestyle. I commend everyone who worked together to pursue justice in this case.” “Our communities deserve honest and trustworthy medical doctors. Individuals betraying this trust through the illegal prescribing of controlled substances will be investigated to the fullest extent of the law by the DEA. Today’s sentence reinforces the value of local and federal law enforcement working alongside prosecutors to hold rogue practitioners accountable for their actions,” remarked Drug Enforcement Administration Assistant Special Agent in Charge John G.D. McGarry. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lake Winnebago Area Metropolitan Enforcement Group (LWAM)-Drug Unit investigated the case, which Assistant United States Attorneys Julie F. Stewart and Kevin Knight prosecuted. ### For further information contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov (414) 297-1700 Follow us on Twitter


title: Justice Department Secures Agreement with Florida School District to Protect Civil Rights of Students with Disabilities

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today a settlement agreement with the Pasco County School District in Florida to resolve the department’s investigation into alleged discrimination against students with disabilities in school discipline, threat assessment practices and referrals of students to law enforcement. The department conducted its investigation under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The department’s investigation found that the district routinely suspended students or called police for disability-related behavior that could have been addressed through proper support and de-escalation. The investigation also found problems with how the district conducted threat assessments (a process to identify, evaluate and respond to potential school security concerns). When these assessments involved students with disabilities, the district systematically failed to consider the relationship between a student’s disability and their behavior, and whether appropriate support for the student would address the behavior that prompted the assessment. Instead, the district often unnecessarily referred students to law enforcement to be arrested or to start the process for an involuntary admission into a mental health facility under Florida’s Baker Act. The agreement requires the district to end discriminatory practices under which students lost hours of classroom time, were treated unfairly in the threat assessment process, and even faced the prospect of being arrested or sent to a mental health facility against their will. The department will monitor the district’s implementation of the agreement and will also continue to monitor and enforce an ongoing desegregation order that covers the district. “As we mark the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education , we remain committed to disrupting the school to prison pipeline and ensuring that the doors of academic opportunity are open to all,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Too often schools rely on suspensions and law enforcement to address disability-related behaviors of students, without considering what they can do to help those students stay in and succeed at school. Equal participation in schools for students with disabilities means providing those students with the services and interventions they need to succeed. This agreement is part of our ongoing efforts across the country to combat practices that push students out of the classroom.” “Each and every child deserves an equal opportunity to learn and thrive,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “Our office, in partnership with the department’s Civil Rights Division, will vigorously investigate and enforce the protections of the ADA to end discrimination on the basis of disability in all settings, including in our public schools. I am heartened by the district’s commitment to this significant agreement, which will undoubtedly improve the education and everyday lives of students with disabilities in our community.” The district cooperated with the department throughout the investigation and has committed to improving its services for students with disabilities. Among other actions, under the agreement, the district will: Ensure that district personnel accurately assess disability-related behaviors, identify appropriate interventions for those behaviors and monitor the implementation of those interventions; Hire a consultant with expertise in behavior interventions who will assist in updating its policies and practices; Update its student code of conduct, threat assessment process and process for calling law enforcement to ensure that the district is adequately considering disability-related behaviors and modifying its policies and procedures to avoid discrimination based on disability; Develop appropriate trainings to help schools implement the agreement and respond appropriately to student behavior and Improve data collection and analysis systems and regularly evaluate data to ensure students with disabilities are not excluded from school for disability-related behaviors through the district’s discipline, threat assessment and law enforcement referral practices. The enforcement of Title II of the ADA is a top priority of the Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt , and additional information about the work of the Educational Opportunities Section is available at www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section . Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at www.civilrights.justice.gov/report/ . The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida worked in collaboration with the Civil Rights Division’s Educational Opportunities Section to investigate this case. Information about the Civil Rights Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and a complaint form for the unit can be found at www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/civil-rights . View the department’s letter to the district here. View the settlement agreement here. View settlement agreement summary here.


title: El Departamento de Justicia llega a un acuerdo con un Distrito Escolar de Florida para proteger los derechos civiles de los estudiantes con discapacidades

body_text: El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy un acuerdo de conciliación con el Distrito Escolar del Condado de Pasco en Florida para resolver la investigación del departamento sobre la presunta discriminación contra estudiantes con discapacidades en la disciplina escolar, las prácticas de evaluación de amenazas y las remisiones de estudiantes a las fuerzas del orden público. El Departamento llevó a cabo su investigación en virtud del Título II de la ley de Estadounidenses con Discapacidades (ADA, por sus siglas en inglés). La investigación del Departamento encontró que el distrito suspendía, de forma rutinaria, a los estudiantes o llamaba a la policía por un comportamiento relacionado con la discapacidad que podría haberse abordado mediante el apoyo y la disminución adecuados. La investigación también encontró problemas con la forma en que el distrito llevó a cabo evaluaciones de amenazas (un proceso para identificar, evaluar y responder a posibles cuestiones de seguridad escolar). Cuando estas evaluaciones involucraban a estudiantes con discapacidades, el distrito, de forma sistemática, no consideró la relación entre la discapacidad de un estudiante y su comportamiento, y si el apoyo adecuado para el estudiante abordaría el comportamiento que impulsó la evaluación. En su lugar, el distrito a menudo remitió a estudiantes innecesariamente a las fuerzas del orden público para su detención o para iniciar el proceso de admisión involuntaria a un centro de salud mental de acuerdo con la ley Baker de Florida. El acuerdo requiere que el distrito ponga fin a las prácticas discriminatorias según las cuales los estudiantes perdieron horas lectivas en el aula, fueron tratados de una manera injusta en el proceso de evaluación de amenazas e incluso se enfrentaron a la posibilidad de ser detenidos o enviados a un centro de salud mental contra su voluntad. El departamento supervisará la implementación del acuerdo por parte del distrito y también continuará supervisando y haciendo cumplir una orden de desegregación continua que cubre al distrito. «Mientras celebramos el 70º aniversario de Brown v. la Junta de Educación , seguimos comprometidos a interrumpir la vía de la escuela a la prisión y a garantizar que las puertas de las oportunidades académicas estén abiertas a todos», afirmó Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «Con demasiada frecuencia, las escuelas confían en las suspensiones y en las fuerzas del orden para abordar comportamientos relacionados con una discapacidad de los estudiantes, sin considerar qué pueden hacer para ayudar a esos estudiantes a permanecer y triunfar en la escuela. La igualdad de participación en las escuelas para estudiantes con discapacidades implica la provisión a esos estudiantes de los servicios e intervenciones que necesitan para tener éxito. Este acuerdo es parte de nuestros esfuerzos continuos por todo el país para combatir las prácticas que alejan a los estudiantes del aula». «Cada niño merece la igualdad de oportunidades para aprender y prosperar», comentó Roger Handberg, el Fiscal Federal del Distrito Centro de Florida. «Nuestra oficina, en asociación con la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento, investigará a fondo y hará cumplir las protecciones de la ADA para poner fin a la discriminación por motivos de discapacidad en todos los entornos, incluyendo en nuestras escuelas públicas. Me anima el compromiso del distrito con este acuerdo tan importante, que, sin lugar a dudas, mejorará la educación y la vida cotidiana de los estudiantes con discapacidades en nuestra comunidad». El distrito cooperó con el Departamento a lo largo de la investigación y se ha comprometido a mejorar sus servicios para estudiantes con discapacidades. Entre otras acciones, en virtud del acuerdo, el distrito: Garantizará que el personal del distrito evalúe con precisión los comportamientos relacionados con una discapacidad, identificará las intervenciones adecuadas para esos comportamientos y supervisará la implementación de dichas intervenciones; Contratará a un consultor con experiencia en intervenciones conductuales que le ayudará a actualizar sus políticas y prácticas; Actualizará su código de conducta estudiantil, el proceso de evaluación de amenazas y el proceso para llamar a las fuerzas del orden público, con el fin de asegurar que el distrito considere adecuadamente los comportamientos relacionados con la discapacidad y modifique sus políticas y procedimientos para evitar la discriminación por motivos de una discapacidad; Desarrollará capacitaciones adecuadas para ayudar a las escuelas a implementar el acuerdo y responderá adecuadamente al comportamiento de los estudiantes; y Mejorará los sistemas de recopilación y análisis de datos y evaluará periódicamente los datos para garantizar que los estudiantes con discapacidades no sean excluidos de la escuela por comportamientos relacionados con su discapacidad a través de la disciplina del distrito, la evaluación de amenazas y las prácticas de remisión a las fuerzas del orden público. La aplicación de la ley de Igualdad de Oportunidades Educativas de 1974 es una de las principales prioridades de la División de Derechos Civiles. Puede encontrar información adicional sobre la División de Derechos Civiles en su sitio web en www.justice.gov/crt , e información adicional sobre el trabajo de la Sección de Oportunidades Educativas está disponible en www.justice.gov/ crt/educational-opportunities-section . Los miembros del público pueden denunciar posibles infracciones de los derechos civiles en civilrights.justice.gov/report/ . La Fiscalía Federal para el Distrito Centro de Florida trabajó en colaboración con la Sección de Oportunidades Educativas de la División de Derechos Civiles para investigar este caso. Para información sobre la Unidad de Derechos Civiles en la Fiscalía Federal para el Distrito Centro de Florida y un formulario de quejas para la unidad, vaya a www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/civil-rights . Visualizar la carta del Departamento al distrito aquí. Visualizar el acuerdo de conciliación aquí. Visualizar el resumen del acuerdo de conciliación aquí.


title: Former New York Cheese Producer Pleads Guilty in Connection with Raw Milk Products Linked to Listeria Outbreak

component: Civil Division

body_text: A former raw milk cheese manufacturer and the company he owned and managed pleaded guilty today to charges related to cheese that was linked to a 2016-2017 outbreak of listeriosis, the disease caused by the pathogen Listeria monocytogenes . Johannes Vulto and his company, Vulto Creamery LLC, each pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of causing the introduction of adulterated food into interstate commerce. Vulto oversaw operations at Vulto Creamery manufacturing facility in Walton, New York, including those relating to sanitation and environmental monitoring. In pleading guilty, Vulto and Vulto Creamery admitted that between December 2014 and March 2017, they caused the shipment in interstate commerce of adulterated cheese. According to the plea agreement, environmental swabs taken at the Vulto Creamery facility between approximately July 2014 and February 2017 repeatedly tested positive for Listeria species. The Listeria family includes both harmless species and L. monocytogenes , which can cause listeriosis in humans. In March 2017, after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) linked Vulto Creamery’s cheese to an outbreak of listeriosis, Vulto shut down the Vulto Creamery facility and issued a partial recall that was expanded to a full recall within weeks. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the listeriosis outbreak resulted in eight hospitalizations and two deaths. “It is crucial that American consumers be able to trust that the foods they buy are safe to eat,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to hold responsible food manufacturers that sell dangerously contaminated products.” “This investigation and prosecution holds accountable the defendant and his business who through unsafe practices caused illness and death to consumers in an entirely preventable tragedy,” said U.S. Attorney Carla B. Freedman for the Northern District of New York. “The law enforcement and regulatory partners involved in this case will continue to work together to bring to justice those who endanger the public through unsafe and unsanitary products and facilities.” “U.S. consumers rely on the FDA to ensure that their food is safe and wholesome,” said Special Agent in Charge Fernando McMillan of FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations New York Field Office. “When companies and individuals put themselves above the law by producing food that endangers and harms the public, as occurred in this case, we will see that they are brought to justice.” Listeriosis is a severe, invasive illness that can be life-threatening in some cases. Persons who have the greatest risk of experiencing listeriosis due to consumption of foods contaminated with L. monocytogenes are pregnant women and their newborns, the elderly and persons with weakened immune systems. Vulto and Vulto Creamery pleaded guilty before Magistrate Judge Thérèse Wiley Dancks in Syracuse, New York. A sentencing date will be set by the court. Further information about the case will be posted under “Information for Victims in Large Cases” at the Consumer Protection Branch’s website: www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch . The FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations investigated the case. Senior Trial Attorney James T. Nelson of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Perry for the Northern District of New York prosecuted the case. For more information about the enforcement efforts of the Consumer Protection Branch, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch .