title: Okmulgee Resident Sentenced For First Degree Murder

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Elijha Dewayne Taylor, age 34, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to life in prison for first degree murder. Taylor was also sentenced to ten years imprisonment consecutive to his life term for a federal firearms violation. The charges arose from an investigation by the Muskogee Police Department, the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On April 23, 2024, Taylor was found guilty by a federal jury of first degree murder and a federal firearms violation. According to investigators, on March 4, 2023, Taylor approached a Muskogee apartment building, entered an apartment, then intentionally shot the victim in the back of the head with a .22 firearm before fleeing. The victim later died at an area hospital. The crimes occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in 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 hearing in Muskogee. Taylor will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard J. Lorenz and Gregory Dean Burris represented the United States.


title: Springfield Woman Sentenced for Possessing Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Springfield woman was sentenced on Aug. 27, 2024 for possessing fentanyl intended for distribution. Karyela Santiago, 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to time served (one day) and three years of supervised release. In May 2024, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. On March 30, 2022, Santiago possessed fentanyl intended for distribution. Specifically, Santiago possessed a total of 8,090 bags of fentanyl intended for distribution – containing a total of 129 grams of fentanyl. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England; and Springfield Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd E. Newhouse of the Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.


title: Magoffin County Man Convicted of Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Trafficking

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: PIKEVILLE, Ky. – A Salyersville, Ky., man, Daniel Jackson, was convicted on Wednesday, by a federal jury sitting in Pikeville, following a two-day trial, of possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl. According to evidence at trial, on February 7, 2024, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle being driven by Jackson. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement located and seized over 70 grams of methamphetamine. Jackson then attempted to discard a bag of fentanyl, in the police car, after his arrest. Jackson was indicted on May 23, 2024. Jackson will appear for sentencing on December 9, 2024. He faces a maximum of 40 years in prison. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing a sentence. Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Erik Davodowich, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Louisville Field Division; and Sheriff William “Bill” Meade of the Magoffin County Sheriff’s Department made the announcement. The investigation was conducted by the DEA, the Magoffin County Sheriff’s Office, and Operation UNITE. Assistant U.S. Attorney Drew Trimble is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. — END —


title: Virginia Man Indicted for Making Threats Against Public Officials

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A federal grand jury in Charlottesville returned an indictment yesterday charging a Winchester, Virginia man with making online threats to kill, kidnap, or injure Vice President Kamala Harris and Former President Barrack Obama. According to court documents, Frank Lucio Carillo, 66, is charged with 14 counts—five counts of making threats against Vice President Kamala Harris, five counts of interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure Vice President Harris, two counts of making threats against former President Obama and two counts of interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure former President Obama. According to court documents, Carillo used the social media platform GETTR to post thousands of messages using the name “joemadarats1.” GTTR is publicly accessible, and users can post articles, statements, and links to other websites, as well as comment on and reply to other users’ posts. On July 27, 2024, FBI Phoenix received information concerning a threat made against an employee of the Maricopa County, Arizona, Recorder’s Office that was made on GETTR by a user with the name “joemadarats1.” FBI searched the “joemadarats1” user account and discovered approximately 4,359 posts, comments, and replies made by the user targeting various public officials including, but not limited to Vice President Kamala Harris, and former President Barrack Obama In a February 2024 post, “joemadarats1” said he had his “AR-15 LOCKED AND LOADED.” Authorities used GETTR subscriber information and other investigative methods to determine that the “joemadarats1” username was used by Carillo at his residence in Winchester, Virginia. On August 2, 2024, authorities at the FBI Richmond executed a search warrant at Carillo’s home and seized a 9 mm pistol, an AR-15 rifle and thousands of rounds of ammunition. United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh and Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office made the announcement today. The FBI in both Richmond, Virginia and Phoenix, Arizona, and the United States Secret Service are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Welsh is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office on the Line of Duty Death of MPD Investigator Wayne David

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: Our sincere condolences go out to the family, friends, and colleagues of MPD Investigator Wayne David. Our office had the extreme good fortune to work with Investigator David, who, throughout his over 25-year career with MPD, recovered hundreds of illegal firearms and directly contributed to the safety of our community. We were honored to have worked with Investigator David, and his tragic loss is a sobering reminder of the dangerous but important work that our law enforcement partners engage in every day. ##


title: Luzerne County Attorney Pleads Guilty To Multiple Charges Of Failing To Pay Income Taxes

component: Tax Division

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and the Department of Justice, Tax Division announced that Jill Moran, age 55, of Conyngham, Pennsylvania, appeared in federal district court today and pleaded guilty to a three-count criminal information charging her with failing to pay individual income taxes for calendar years 2016, 2017, and 2018, in connection with substantial legal fees she earned as the owner and operator of The Powell Law Group, P.C., a Luzerne County-based law firm, and as a member of the Trust Advisory Committee for the mass tort litigation described below. Moran was released on an unsecured bond while awaiting her sentencing. According to court documents and statements made in court, Moran did not pay individual income taxes for tax year 2016 on approximately $1,215,000 she received, and also did not pay individual income taxes for substantial income that she received in tax years 2017 and 2018. In total, Moran caused a tax loss to the IRS of between $250,000 and $550,000. Below is a detailed statement of facts that accompanied the guilty plea. In 2009, Moran became the Managing Director and President of the Powell Law Group, when the founder and owner of the firm, Robert J. Powell, was suspended from the practice of law and ultimately disbarred. Moran and Powell agreed, however, that she would collect 10% and he would collect 90% of any future fees the firm earned after the payment of expenses. Specifically, The Powell Law Group represented thousands of plaintiffs in a mass tort litigation that settled for approximately $5.15 billion in 2015, from which the firm was expected to receive approximately $120 million in attorneys’ fees. Prior to the attorneys’ fees disbursement, The Powell Law Group and its co-counsel used those future legal fees as collateral to obtain a series of loans totaling over $125 million. In 2014 and 2015, Moran received two disbursements of $500,000 each from those loan proceeds. Moreover, Moran received approximately $215,000 for her work on the Trust Advisory Committee. In June 2016, most of the attorneys’ fees were finally disbursed and the loans were repaid. Nevertheless, Moran did not pay taxes on both the $1,000,000 she received in attorney’s fees that year, and the $215,000 she received for her work on the Trust Advisory Committee. Likewise, in both 2017 and 2018, Moran received substantial income, but nonetheless did not pay taxes on it. On August 14, 2024, Robert Powell pleaded guilty to evading taxes on the millions of dollars in income he received in legal fees from the mass tort litigation. Powell awaits sentencing. "Running a business is not a license to avoid paying taxes,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Denise Leuenberger. “Moran’s misconduct by not reporting her income cheated all Americans, since we all pay our fair share for the government services and protections that we enjoy." The cases were investigated by the Scranton office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. Senior Litigation Counsel Phillip J. Caraballo, Tax Division Trial Attorney Alexandra Fleszar, and Criminal Division Chief Bruce D. Brandler are prosecuting the cases. The maximum penalty under federal law is one year in prison for each failure to pay count, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, a fine and restitution. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Statement of Facts Defendant Jill Moran is an attorney and a resident of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Jill Moran is the owner and operator of The Powell Law Group, P.C. (“Powell Law Group”), and has been since on or about August 31, 2009. The Powell Law Group is a law firm located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, and incorporated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in or about December 2002. Prior to August 31, 2009, Robert J. Powell was the founder and owner of the Powell Law Group. In or about August 2009, Robert J. Powell’s license to practice law was suspended by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Robert J. Powell subsequently was disbarred from the Bar of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in or about January 2015. Prior to Robert J. Powell’s suspension from the practice of law, he owned 90% of the shares, and Jill Moran owned 10% of the shares of the Powell Law Group. On or about August 31, 2009, Robert J. Powell relinquished his directorship of the Powell Law Group, and Jill Moran became the Managing Director and President of the Powell Law Group. Robert J. Powell also surrendered his shares in the Powell Law Group, leaving Jill Moran the sole shareholder. Beginning prior to Robert J. Powell’s suspension from the practice of law, the Powell Law Group served as counsel for approximately 4,300 plaintiffs in a mass tort litigation (the “Mass Tort Litigation”). On or about September 15, 2009, Robert J. Powell and Jill Moran entered a Memorandum of Understanding whereby they agreed that any future attorneys’ fees from the Mass Tort Litigation would first be applied to pay the Powell Law Group’s expenses, with 90% of the remaining fees disbursed to Robert J. Powell, and 10% of the remaining fees disbursed to Jill Moran. In or about April 2014, the Mass Tort Litigation settled for approximately $5.15 billion. Of that settlement, the Powell Law Group expected to receive attorneys’ fees in excess of approximately $120 million. In or about May 2014, the Powell Law Group and two co-counsel law firms entered a loan agreement with Financing Company #1. Pursuant to that loan agreement, Financing Company #1 agreed to loan approximately $100 million to the Powell Law Group and the two co-counsel law firms. The loan was collateralized by the anticipated attorneys’ fees from the Mass Tort Litigation. In or about June 2014, Jill Moran received $500,000 of those loan proceeds. In or about May 2015, the Powell Law Group and the two co-counsel law firms refinanced the loan agreement with Financing Company #1, by entering an agreement with Financing Company #2. Pursuant to that agreement, Financing Company #2 agreed to repay Financing Company #1, and to distribute an additional approximate $7.6 million to the Powell Law Group and the two co-counsel law firms. The funds distributed by Financing Company #2 were collateralized by the anticipated attorneys’ fees from the Mass Tort Litigation. In or about December 2015, Jill Moran received another $500,000 of the refinancing proceeds. Between in or about February and June 2016, the trustee overseeing the Mass Tort Litigation (the “Tort Trustee”) repaid Financing Company #2 in full, by distributing approximately $125,849,595.59 in attorneys’ fees due to the Powell Law Group. In 2016, as a member of the Trust Advisory Committee for the Mass Tort Litigation’s trust, Jill Moran received approximately $215,000 for services rendered to the Trust Advisory Committee. On or about April 18, 2017, Jill Moran willfully failed to pay taxes for tax year 2016, on the $1,000,000 she received from the Mass Tort Litigation, and on the $215,000 she received for services rendered to the Trust Advisory Committee. In tax year 2017, Jill Moran received a substantial income and was required to pay federal income taxes. However, on or about April 17, 2018, Jill Moran willfully failed to pay taxes on personal income earned in tax year 2017. In tax year 2018, Jill Moran received a substantial income and was required to pay federal income taxes. However, on or about April 15, 2019, Jill Moran willfully failed to pay taxes on personal income earned in tax year 2018. # # #


title: Former Navy Petty Officer Admits to Role in Stealing and Selling Military Gear

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE, RI – A California man who served for more than twenty years in the United States Navy before his discharge as a Petty Officer First Class has admitted to a federal judge in Rhode Island that, while actively serving in the Navy, he participated in a scheme to steal and sell hundreds of thousands of dollars of government property from a Navy base responsible for supplying ships in the Navy’s Atlantic Fleet, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. Richard Allen, 52, of Citrus Heights, CA, pleaded guilty on Thursday to conspiracy and six counts of money laundering as previously charged in a federal grand jury indictment. According to information presented to the court, while stationed at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown-Cheatham Annex, in Williamsburg, VA, Allen and others repeatedly broke into a warehouse on the Navy base that held U.S. Navy gear, including working uniforms, winter gear, flame retardant shirts and pants, soft body armor, goggles, infrared flag patches, Navy SEAL Trident insignia, and Small Arms Protective Insert plates. Allen and his co-conspirators stole $856,433 worth of Navy gear and supplies, storing the items in various locations, including in Rhode Island. Allen and others then identified bulk-sale domestic and international customers for the stolen goods and arranged for delivery either in person or via commercial shipping. Payment for the stolen goods was frequently made and received via PayPal, including dozens of payments made from an account in China. The proceeds were transferred to co-conspirators bank accounts, including Allen’s, in increments of less than $10,000, in an effort to avoid bank reporting requirements. Allen is scheduled to be sentenced on November 26, 2024. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christine D. Lowell and Paul F. Daly, Jr. The matter was investigated by Naval Criminal Investigative Service-Northeast Field Office; Defense Criminal Investigative Service-Northeast Field Office; Homeland Security Investigations-New England; Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement-Boston Field Office; and FBI- Providence Resident Agency. ###


title: U.K. Man Arrested for Lying on Immigration Application

body_text: BOSTON – A U.K. man has been arrested for allegedly making false statements in an immigration matter. Duncan Hollands, a/k/a Duncan Herd, 58, a citizen of the United Kingdom residing in Cambridge was charged with one count of falsely swearing in an immigration matter. Hollands was arrested yesterday and released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston. According to the charging documents, in February 2022, Hollands applied for lawful permanent residence status (more commonly known as a green card) and attended an interview for that application. The application form requires applicants to answer various background questions, such as prior names or aliases and any criminal history, so that immigration authorities can determine whether the applicant is eligible for the sought status. It is alleged that, on his application and during his interview, Hollands falsely reported that he had never used another name and denied having any history with the criminal justice system. However, it is alleged that Hollands did in fact have a prior name, Duncan Herd, under which he was previously convicted and sentenced to over three years in prison for obtaining property by deception along with other charges. It is further alleged that Hollands also had other interactions with the criminal justice systems in the United Kingdom and France. The charge provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Matthew O’Brien, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Boston Field Office made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Cambridge and Woburn, Mass. Police Department and U.K. law enforcement authorities. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Reynolds III of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Miami Tax Return Preparer Agrees to Permanent Injunction and Disgorgement

body_text: The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida issued a permanent injunction today against Miami tax return preparer Richard Louis, which bars him from preparing federal income tax returns, working for or having any ownership stake in any tax preparation business, assisting others (including family members) prepare tax returns or set up business as a preparer and transferring or assigning customer lists to any other person or entity. The court also ordered Louis to disgorge $390,000 in ill-gotten gains he received from his return preparation business. Louis agreed to both the injunction and ordered disgorgement. In June, the Court enjoined seven independent contractors who worked with Louis — Harold Bornelous, Romeo Davis, Teddy Davis, Joseph Garrett, Demetrius Knowles, Daniel Oku and Marlyne Wah — from preparing returns for others, but allowed the seven defendants to apply for reinstatement as return preparers after two years if they successfully complete the IRS' Annual Filing Season Program. The independent contractors agreed to the injunctions entered against them. The complaint alleged that Louis and the independent contractors prepared returns for customers that claimed various false or fabricated deductions and credits, including fabricated residential energy credits, false and exaggerated itemized deductions and fictitious and inflated business expenses. According to the complaint, Louis marketed himself as Taxman and he, acting in concert with the seven independent contractors, prepared thousands of tax returns for customers over the past ten years. Deputy Assistant Attorney General David A. Hubbert of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. Taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant against unscrupulous tax preparers. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers. The IRS also offers guidance on the credentials and qualifications that taxpayers should seek from their return preparer. In the past decade, the Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website . An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found this page . If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details. Louis Injunction and Disgorgement Order_0.pdf June 2024 Injunction Order_0.pdf


title: Three Men Sentenced To Federal Prison For Conspiring To Distribute Cocaine Using The United States Mail

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the sentences of three defendants who were convicted for their participation in conspiring to distribute cocaine: • Omar Josue Morales-Rodriguez, 45, of Freeport, Florida was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. • Marcos Aguilar Gonzalez, 50, of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, and Edmar Agustin Gonzalez, 34, of Crestview, Florida, were each sentenced to serve 18 months in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Aguilar Gonzalez also pled guilty to an additional count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Each will also be required to serve a term of supervised release following their prison sentence. “This investigation demonstrates the effectiveness and collaborative efforts of our local and federal law enforcement partners, to identify and intercept shipments of illegal substances via the United States Mail,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “We remain committed to support their efforts through the investigation and prosecution of criminals bringing drugs into North Florida. The imposed sentences illustrate the significant consequences of harming our citizens through their illicit drug trafficking activities.” A multi-agency investigation led by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office revealed that between October 2019, and June 13, 2023, the three defendants conspired together and with others to ship cocaine via the United States Mail from Puerto Rico to addresses in Okaloosa and Walton County. The United States Postal Inspection Service intercepted five packages, three of which contained one kilogram of cocaine each, and one of which contained 125 grams of cocaine. The fifth package, which was shipped from Walton County to Puerto Rico, contained $10,000. In addition to the drugs and cash, law enforcement seized four firearms and several rounds of ammunition that belonged to Morales-Rodriguez who was previously convicted in federal court in Puerto Rico and served three years in federal prison for possessing firearms as a convicted felon. At sentencing, Morales-Rodriguez was found to be the leader and organizer of the conspiracy and held accountable for causing 20 United States Mail packages containing a total of at least 14 kilograms of cocaine to be shipped via the United States Mail from Puerto Rico to Okaloosa and Walton County. “When people choose to distribute illicit drugs in the U.S. Mail, they should know the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, along with our law enforcement partners, will actively pursue those responsible, and bring them to justice,” said Juan A. Vargas, Inspector In Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Miami Division. “The outcome of this case should serve as a significant deterrent for anyone else considering the distribution of illicit drugs through the U.S. Mail. I want to thank our partners in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida, Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Drug Enforcement Administration." "The duration of this investigation highlights our commitment to fighting illegal drug activity in Walton County," said Captain Dustin Cosson of the Walton County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigations Bureau. "This case represents countless hours of work dedicated to holding traffickers accountable. The diligence of our narcotics investigators coupled with our strong partnerships with the DEA and the U.S. States Postal Service should send a clear message to anyone involved in similar activities." The case resulted from a joint investigation by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Florida Highway Patrol. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Ryan Love. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Lafayette Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to a Decade in Federal Prison

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS—Kyle Lee Stacy, 44, of Lafayette, Indiana, has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. According to court documents, on August 17, 2023, Kokomo Police Department officers pulled over Kyle Lee Stacy for committing multiple traffic violations. During the traffic stop, a specially trained narcotics detecting canine alerted to the presence of a controlled substance coming from the driver’s side of the vehicle. A search of the interior of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of 459.8 grams of pure methamphetamine, hidden inside a black Adidas lunch bag. A subsequent search of Stacy’s cell phone revealed a text message he sent to an individual shortly before the traffic stop, which read: “All right cuz, I’m almost there ....and I got a pound of dope on me.” Stacy has amassed a lengthy criminal history dating back to 1998. His prior felony convictions include, burglary, theft, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and five separate charges for possession of methamphetamine. “The federal prison sentence imposed against this drug dealer demonstrates that there will be serious consequences for those who traffic in deadly drugs with utter disregard for human life,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Our federal prosecutors are committed to working closely with our partners including the DEA and Kokomo Police Department to get dealers off the streets of every community.” The Drug Enforcement Administration and Kokomo Police Department investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Senior Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Barry D. Glickman, who prosecuted this case. ###


title: Baltimore Man Found Guilty For Sexual Exploitation Of A Minor To Produce Child Pornography, Cyberstalking, And For Possession Of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – After a three-day trial, a federal jury returned a verdict of guilty against Christopher Kenji Bendann, age 40 of Baltimore, on five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor to produce child pornography, one count of cyberstalking, and three counts possession of child pornography, all relating to his sexual exploitation of a minor male victim. The guilty verdict was announced by Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland; Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Chief Robert McCullough of the Baltimore County Police Department; and Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger. According to the evidence presented at trial, from approximately September 16, 2017 to February 9, 2019, the Defendant produced multiple videos of a minor male engaged in sexually-explicit conduct. The victim was 16 and 17 years old during this time. These same videos were stored on the Defendant’s iCloud and comprised a possession of child pornography charge. Additionally, as detailed at trial, between May and December 2022, the Defendant cyberstalked the same victim by sending electronic cellphone messages to the victim, demanding contact and explicit images of him, and threatening to make public sexually-explicit images of the victim if he did not comply. The evidence at trial likewise established that on February 3, 2023, the date of the Defendant’s arrest, the Defendant possessed multiple depictions of child pornography on the Defendant’s multiple electronic devices. The Defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for each count of sexual exploitation of a child to produce child pornography; a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison for each count of possession of child pornography; and, a maximum sentence of 5 years in federal prison for cyberstalking. U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar has scheduled sentencing for January 21, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page. U.S. Attorney Barron commended the FBI, the Baltimore County Police Department and the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn and Kim Y. Hagan, who are prosecuting the federal case. He also recognized the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Julie Jarman. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Former East Chicago Police Commander Sentenced to 36 Months in Prison

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

body_text: HAMMOND – Louis Arcuri, 55 years old, of Portage, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gretchen S. Lund after pleading guilty to distribution of cocaine announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Arcuri was sentenced to 36 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. He has been in federal custody since February 29, 2024. According to documents in the case, Arcuri was on duty and armed as an East Chicago Police Commander on June 11, 2021, when he provided cocaine to an associate. "The public rightly expects that those charged with enforcing the law will themselves abide by the law. Most law enforcement officers live up to this expectation,” said United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. “However, this defendant, while a sworn officer, violated federal law by distributing illegal drugs. Today, the court sentenced him for his criminal activity. This case demonstrates my office’s commitment to promoting public safety through prosecution even when the offender wears a police badge.” "Law enforcement officers take an oath to protect and serve and are held to the highest standards of conduct so when an officer is found to be involved in criminal activity, it undermines the public’s trust,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners are firmly committed to holding officers accountable when they violate their oaths.” “This case illustrates the level of partnerships among law enforcement to hold accountable those who violate the law, regardless of their profession,” said ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge Aaron R. Wheeler of the Chicago Field Division. “No one is above the law, and I commend the United States Attorney’s Office for their dedication in prosecuting this case.” This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the East Chicago and the Whiting Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys David J. Nozick and Thomas M. McGrath.


title: Mission Man Sentenced for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on August 28, 2024. Tevin Thin Elk, Sr., age 27, was sentenced to time served through September 25, 2024, or approximately 16 months in custody, three years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. He was also ordered for forfeit the firearm. Thin Elk Sr. was indicted by a federal grand jury in January of 2023. He pleaded guilty on May 30, 2024. The conviction stemmed from a traffic stop on August 19, 2022, in Mission, within the Rosebud Indian Reservation. During the course of the traffic stop a drug K9 alerted to the vehicle, resulting in a search. Officers located marijuana, a methamphetamine pipe, and an extended magazine on Thin Elk’s person, and a Glock pistol in the backseat of the vehicle. Thin Elk admitted to officers the firearm was his and he was a regular user of marijuana and methamphetamine. Thin Elk’s UA that day was positive for both substances. 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. This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case. Thin Elk Sr. was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Automated trading bots scheme results in millions of dollars, Teslas, Rolexes, and federal wire fraud convictions

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Great Falls man pled guilty on July 23 to wire fraud and a Florida man was sentenced yesterday for his role in the wire fraud conspiracy. According to court documents, Rick Tariq Rahim, 56, defrauded customers who wanted to invest using Rahim’s automated trading bots, some of which traded forex, and by “copying” Rahim’s supposed trading activities that he posted to Discord. He marketed his products under BotsforWealth, TradeAutomation.com, ProChartSignals.com, OptionCopier.com, CopyAndWin.com, SnipeAlgo.com, and QQQtrade.com. Rahim charged customers a subscription fee for access to Rahim’s bots, software, and copying his supposed trades. Rahim also offered a “lifetime membership” to which customers received access to Rahim’s private Discord channel, some of his products, as well as his “in-office” trading days. Additionally, Rahim personally traded stocks for at least two individuals, claiming that "We'll hit home runs and make $500k+ per day very very often." Instead, Rahim lost over $300,000 of his clients’ funds in eight months. Rahim induced customers to subscribe to his products by using video-centric, internet-based social media tools, including TikTok, YouTube, and Discord. He posted false information to his websites and to his social media accounts claiming to “beat the stock market every day” and promising extreme profit margins. Rahim also sought to induce customers by claiming he was extremely wealthy, boasting about trading millions of dollars and posting about his large home, pool, and luxury cars, including his Lamborghini. Despite claiming to regularly beat the market, however, he exaggerated his personal trading success, in part by not posting trades in which he lost money. In fact, Rahim realized over $500,000 in losses from February 2021 through December 2022. He did not invest millions in the market during this time period as he had claimed. As part of his fraud scheme, Rahim also created at least 20 Discord user profiles to post emojis, likes, and symbols showing agreement and excitement regarding Rahim’s posts. Rahim earned at least $1,397,000 in subscription fees during the course of his schemes. After accepting the guilty plea, the court ordered that Rahim not give any financial investment advice to anyone for a fee. Ian Taylor Higgins, 33, conspired with Rahim on one of Rahim’s bot offerings, TradeAutomation. Higgins owned and ran FXPrimary, an online trading platform that purportedly acted as a brokerage house and would manage investors’ cryptocurrency deposits for TradeAutomation. Higgins admitted that investors had little chance of making any profit despite being told they could. He also admitted that the investments were much higher risk than advertised by Rahim. Higgins profited by over $4 million, with which he purchased a Florida home for over $2 million, two Teslas for $70,000, Rolexes for $44,500, as well as other luxury goods. Higgins was sentenced to three years in prison and will be ordered to pay restitution. On March 15, Rahim pled guilty to failing to pay over to the IRS the taxes withheld from his employees’ paychecks. Rahim has not filed a personal income tax return since 2012 despite earning more than $34 million in gross income, resulting in a loss to the IRS of at least $1,844,489. Rahim is scheduled to be sentenced for both the wire fraud scheme and his tax fraud on Dec. 20. He faces up to 20 years in prison for the wire fraud scheme and five years in prison for his tax fraud conviction. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and David E. Geist, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton accepted the plea for Rahim and after the sentencing of Higgins by U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly M. Shartar and Kenneth R. Simon Jr. are prosecuting Rahim for his wire fraud conduct and, with assistance from the Tax Division, his tax fraud. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shartar is prosecuting Higgins for his role in the investment fraud scheme. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 1:24-cr-179 (Rahim’s Investment Fraud Case), 1:23-cr-173 (Rahim’s Tax Fraud Case), and 1:24-cr-26 (Higgins’s Investment Fraud Case).


title: New Hampshire Man Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Harass and Intimidate Two Journalists

body_text: BOSTON – A New Hampshire man was sentenced on Aug. 27, 2024 for his role in a conspiracy to stalk journalists employed by New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR). The harassment and intimidation of the victims included the vandalism – on five separate occasions – of the victims’ homes and the home of one of the victims’ parents with bricks, large rocks and red spray paint. Tucker Cockerline, 33, of Salem, N.H., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to 27 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Cockerline pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston in December 2023 to one count of conspiracy to commit stalking through interstate travel and using a facility of interstate commerce. Cockerline was initially arrested and charged by criminal complaint in June 2023. He was later indicted along with co-defendants Eric Labarge, Michael Waselchuck, and Saniatan. Labarge and Waselchuck have both pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Saniatan is expected to plead guilty in federal court in Boston on Sept. 5, 2024. In March of 2022, after a year-long investigation, an NHPR journalist (Victim 1) published an article detailing allegations of sexual and other misconduct by a former New Hampshire businessperson (Subject 1). Another NHPR journalist (Victim 2) also contributed to the article, which appeared on NHPR’s website during and after March 2022. In response to this reporting, Labarge – who is a close personal associate of Subject 1 – Cockerline, Waselchuck, and allegedly Saniatan, agreed to harass and intimidate Victims 1 and 2 and their immediate family members by vandalizing their homes in the middle of the night with bricks, rocks and red spray paint. Specifically, Labarge solicited Cockerline to vandalize Victim 1’s former residence in Hanover, N.H., using a brick and red spray paint. On the evening of April 24, 2022, Cockerline spraypainted the word “C*NT” in large red letters on the front door of the home and threw a brick through an exterior window. Saniatan allegedly agreed with Labarge to vandalize Victim 2’s home in Concord, N.H., and Victim 1’s parents’ home in Hampstead, N.H., using large rocks and red spray paint. On the evening of April 24, 2022, Saniatan allegedly spraypainted the word “C*NT” in large red letters on the front door and threw a large rock at the exterior of Victim 2’s home; and he allegedly threw a softball-sized rock through a front exterior window and spraypainted the word “C*NT” in large red letters on the front of Victim 1’s parents’ home. Labarge also solicited Cockerline to vandalize Victim 1’s parents’ home in Hampstead, N.H., and Victim 1’s home in Melrose, Mass., using bricks and red spray paint. Cockerline, in turn, recruited Waselchuck to vandalize Victim 1’s residence, providing him with a brick and a can of red spray paint. On the evening of May 20, 2022, Cockerline spraypainted the word “C*NT” in large red letters on the front of Victim 1’s parents’ home, and left a brick on the ground near the front door. Several hours later, Waselchuck threw a brick through an exterior window of Victim 1’s home and painted the phrase “JUST THE BEGINNING” in large red letters on the front of the house. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Concord, Hampstead and Hanover, N.H. Police Departments, the Melrose, Mass. Police Department and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason A. Casey and Torey B. Cummings of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Pediatric Dentist Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA - Paul Kim, a pediatric dentist, has pleaded guilty to possessing thousands of images and videos of minors, including some 12 years old and younger, engaging in sexually-explicit activity. “Kim possessed materials depicting the sexual exploitation of minors at the same time that parents were entrusting their children to his pediatric care,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Possessing child pornography exploits and abuses children, essentially creating lasting effects for the victims each time the images are distributed online.” “Every time child exploitation imagery is shared, it re-victimizes innocent and vulnerable children. Our office is focused on using all the resources needed for the very important work of protecting children in Georgia and beyond,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This plea demonstrates that no person is above the law. Regardless of employment, wealth, or social status, the FBI will continue to seek out all individuals who seek to abuse children and victimize them through the downloading and possession of child pornography.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: An FBI investigation of Paul Kim resulted from a broader investigation into a commercial sexual exploitation ring which advertised and sold child pornography on several online platforms. FBI Special agents identified Kim as one of the suspected purchasers of the material. In December 2023, the agents executed a search warrant for Kim and his residence in Sandy Springs, Georgia, seizing approximately 30 electronic devices. The agents located about 1,948 images and 798 videos of child pornography on these devices. Several videos in Kim’s possession depicted prepubescent females engaged in sexual acts with adult males or objects. Paul Bogeun Kim, 31, of Sandy Springs, pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography on August 23, 2024. Kim’s sentencing is scheduled for November 21, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwayne A. Brown Jr. is prosecuting the case. This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Attorney General launched Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices around the country, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Man Admits Embezzling $2 Million from Newington Business, Tax Evasion

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, announced that EVAN BOBZIN, 39, of Chester, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to offenses stemming from a $2 million embezzlement scheme. According to court documents and statements made in court, from July 2013 until December 2023, Bobzin was an employee of Hoffman’s Gun Center (“Hoffman’s”) in Newington and, in 2016, he became the head of information technology at Hoffman’s. In January 2016, Bobzin began to steal cash receipts from a safe in Hoffman’s front office. Bobzin would arrive at work before other employees, disconnect ethernet cables from the company’s computers servers to cameras that captured views of the safe, enter the front office, open the safe, steal thousands of dollars in cash from receipt pouches, return the pouches to the safe, and then reconnect the ethernet cables. He would then deposit some of all of the cash proceeds into his personal bank accounts. Between 2016 and 2023, Bobzin and his former spouse made 287 cash deposits of stolen money from Hoffman’s totaling $1,901,250 into his bank accounts, and seven cash purchases of cashier’s checks totaling $161,330. Bobzin used the funds to pay for personal expenses, including to pay monthly American Express bill and to make mortgage payments. In October 2022, the U.S. Attorney’s Office notified Bobzin that he was conducting cash transactions in amounts below $10,000 in a manner indicative of structuring to avoid having his bank file Currency Transaction Reports. Bobzin ceased making cash deposits at his bank, opened new accounts at a different bank, and resumed making structured cash deposits into those accounts. Bobzin failed to report the stolen income on his federal personal income tax returns for the 2016 through 2022 tax years, resulting in a loss to the IRS of $436,178. As an example, on his income tax return for the 2020 tax year, Bobzin reported taxable income of $9,914 and tax owed of $0. The return omitted income of approximately $432,615 and understated tax due and owing by approximately $110,530. Bobzin pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transmission of stolen money, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and one count of tax evasion, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years. Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for November 26. Bobzin has agreed to pay restitution of $2,062,580, and to cooperate with the IRS to pay $436,178 in taxes, as well as penalties and interest. Bobzin is released on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing. This investigation is being conducted by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher W. Schmeisser.


title: South Carolina Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Securities Fraud, Bank Fraud, and Wire Fraud Schemes

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: TRENTON, N.J. – A South Carolina man was sentenced today to72 months in prison for engaging in several bank and wire fraud schemes and a securities offering fraud scheme that spanned six years and caused losses of millions of dollars, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced. Sandy John Masselli, 63, of Columbia, South Carolina, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp to nine counts of a superseding indictment charging him with bank fraud, wire fraud, and securities fraud. Masselli was initially charged by complaint in October 2017. Judge Shipp imposed the sentence today in Trenton federal court. “Sandy Masselli used a web of lies to dupe victims into investing millions of dollars in his company, promising them substantial returns from an initial public offering that was never going to happen. Instead of investing the money as promised, Masselli fraudulently spent it on himself and his family. The significant sentence handed down today holds him accountable for greedily profiting at the expense of innocent investors.” U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger According to the documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From September 2011 through October 2017, Masselli solicited millions of dollars in investments from retail investors by fraudulently touting the prospect of his online gaming company, Carlyle Entertainment Ltd., formerly Carlyle Gaming & Entertainment Ltd. (Carlyle), to conduct a lucrative initial public offering (IPO) of its stock on either the NASDAQ or the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Masselli induced investors to purchase shares of Carlyle stock by promising them steeply discounted prices in advance of the purported IPO, assuring them that the stock price would increase significantly after the IPO. Masselli further represented that the IPO would occur within weeks or months of the investors’ stock purchases. However, as Masselli knew, Carlyle was neither poised nor prepared to conduct an IPO on either the NASDAQ or the NYSE, given that, among other deficiencies, neither Masselli nor anyone else on behalf of Carlyle ever filed an application with the NASDAQ or the NYSE to list Carlyle stock on either exchange, or filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) a registration statement to list Carlyle shares on a national exchange. Masselli further misrepresented to the investors how he would use their investments, for example telling them that he would allocate investment funds toward improving Carlyle’s online platform and paying legal fees in connection with preparing Carlyle for a looming IPO. Masselli did not invest these funds in Carlyle, as he had promised investors he would, but instead misappropriated these funds to pay for his and his family’s own personal expenses. Within weeks and often days of receiving investor funds, Masselli quickly deposited them into and throughout a web of bank accounts he controlled, many of which were opened under names of fictitious corporate entities in an effort to conceal the source of the funds. After disguising the provenance of the investor funds, Masselli typically went to work quickly misappropriating the funds. Masselli also opened multiple credit card accounts, made purchases on those accounts until he had almost reached or exceeded the credit limit, and then purported to send payments from accounts that he knew did not have sufficient funds to cover those payments. Before the fraudulent payments were rejected for insufficient funds, the credit card companies temporarily credited the accounts based on those payments, providing Masselli access to additional credit and allowing him to continue to make purchases. Masselli ultimately failed to pay the balances and the credit card companies sustained a loss. On two occasions, Masselli contacted the victim credit card companies falsely claiming that the accounts had been opened fraudulently by others who had stolen his personal identifiable information. In addition to the prison term, Judge Shipp sentenced Masselli to three years of supervised release and ordered restitution of $3.2 million and $1 million in forfeiture. The SEC previously filed a civil complaint against Masselli based on the securities fraud conduct. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. He also expressed appreciation for the SEC Division of Enforcement, under the direction of Gurbir S. Grewal. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric A. Boden, Attorney-in-Charge of the Trenton Office, and Alexander E. Ramey of the U.S. Attorney’s Trenton Office.


title: St. David Man Pleads Guilty to COVID Loan Fraud and Tax Fraud

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Roy L. Layne, 44, of St. David, pleaded guilty yesterday to two counts of Wire Fraud and one count of Filing a False Claim. Sentencing is scheduled for February 3, 2025, before United States District Judge John C. Hinderaker. Layne admitted that during the COVID-19 global pandemic he fraudulently applied for U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loans, SBA Paycheck Protection Program Loans, and pandemic-related tax relief in the names of fictitious business entities, himself, and others. Layne filed numerous fraudulent SBA loan applications, ultimately receiving $306,700 that he was not entitled to. Layne also filed numerous false claims for tax refunds with the Internal Revenue Service totaling over $7.4 million, receiving and keeping $549,992 that he was not entitled to. In his plea agreement, Layne has agreed to pay restitution to the SBA and the U.S. Treasury totaling $856,692.91. A conviction for Wire Fraud carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both, and a term of five years of supervised release. A conviction for Filing a False Claim carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both, and a term of three years of supervised release. Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Sue Feldmeier, District of Arizona, Tucson, and Department of Justice Trial Attorney Matthew R. Hoffman, Tax Division, Washington, D.C., are handling the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-24-04907-TUC-JCH RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-118_Layne # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Boston Man Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Firearm, Ammunition and Drug Offenses

body_text: BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition and for distributing cocaine. Herbert Small, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick to two years in prison, to be followed by six years of supervised release. In April 2024, Small pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. On Aug. 17, 2023, Small sold 20 grams of cocaine and two firearms – a .22 caliber revolver and a .40 caliber pistol with a magazine containing 11 rounds of ammunition – to a cooperating witness in Dorchester. On Oct. 16, 2023, Small sold approximately 65 grams of cocaine base (commonly known as crack cocaine) to the same cooperating witness. Small is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to a previous federal drug conviction in 2017. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Office made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip C. Cheng and Lucy Sun of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit 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 gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN . This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced For Firearm and Drug Offenses

body_text: BOSTON – A Haverhill man with multiple prior felony convictions, including manslaughter, was sentenced to 10 years in prison yesterday in federal court in Boston for possessing a loaded firearm and drugs intended for distribution. Ramon Silvelo-Miles, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 10 years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release. In February 2024, Silvelo-Miles pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. In the early morning hours of Sept. 20, 2021, Silvelo-Miles was stopped by law enforcement for driving erratically on Route 24 in West Bridgewater. Field sobriety tests administered on-site indicated that Silvelo-Miles was too impaired to drive. During a subsequent search of his car over 200 grams of cocaine and 9 grams of fentanyl packaged in 51 small, clear plastic bags in a small backpack inside the glove compartment were found. Hidden inside a black sock with the drugs was a Raven Arms MP-25 .25 caliber pistol. The gun was loaded with one bullet in the chamber and five bullets in the magazine. Silvelo-Miles is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to multiple prior felony convictions including a 2014 conviction for manslaughter. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred Wyshak, III of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit 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 gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Washington State Man Pleads Guilty to Advertising Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: A Kent, Washington man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Portland to advertising child pornography. According to court records, earlier this year, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Portland, Maine were investigating a site on the dark web dedicated to the sexual abuse of children. During the investigation, HSI agents observed a profile, later identified as belonging to Michael Posey , 49, that held a moderator position and was responsible for approving posts submitted by others. The profile included a password that individuals could use for any files/links provided by the user. A review of the profile’s history revealed a history of postings that dated back to December 2021. Agents logged into the site, reviewed a post made by Posey regarding a collection of 70 videos of child sexual abuse, and accessed a zipped file containing numerous videos including young children. In April 2024, HSI agents executed a search warrant at Posey’s residence in Kent, Washington. During the interview, Posey confirmed he used the profile on the dark web site and provided agents with his login information. Posey faces 15–30 years in prison followed by five years to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. HSI investigated the case. To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – in legal terms, "child pornography” – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are shared or viewed. File a report with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at https://report.cybertip.org or 1-800-843-5678 . If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741 . Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s 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, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc . ###


title: Mexican Citizen Indicted For Illegally Reentering The United States

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Ulises Perez-Herrera, age 35, a Citizen of Mexico, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury for illegal reentry into the United States by a previously deported alien. According to U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that Perez-Herrera was previously removed from the United States on June 15, 2019, through Hidalgo, Texas. It is alleged that he was subsequently found in the United States on July 27, 2024, in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, without having first obtained legal permission to reenter the country. This matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Assistant United States Attorney K. Wesley Mishoe is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty upon conviction for the charged offense is 10 years imprisonment, three years of supervised release following imprisonment, a fine, and a special assessment. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by a court after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: San Diego State University Women’s Soccer Team Joins U.S. Attorney’s Office and City Attorney’s Office to Launch Fentanyl Awareness Campaign

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY —August 29, 2024 SAN DIEGO— The U.S. Attorney’s Office, San Diego City Attorney’s Office and the name, image, likeness (NIL) collective Aztec Link today launched a social media campaign featuring members of San Diego State University’s women’s soccer team to promote fentanyl awareness and overdose prevention. The campaign coincides with International Overdose Awareness Day being commemorated in San Diego County on August 29th. The goal of this joint effort is to raise awareness of the dangers of fentanyl, to reduce accidental use or overdose, and in the event of an overdose, to educate students on how to save lives in an emergency. U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath will be available for interviews regarding the campaign following the International Overdose Awareness Day press conference on August 29 at 9 a.m. at the County Administration building on Harbor Drive. The student athletes are showcased in a video filmed at various locations on SDSU’s campus, each reciting a line about the dangers of fentanyl, recognizing the signs of an overdose, and the importance of naloxone (also known by the brand name Narcan). Naloxone is an opioid overdose reversal medication, available either as a nasal spray or an injector. Many pharmacies carry naloxone. In California, you can get naloxone from a pharmacist without a prescription. It is also possible to get naloxone from community-based distribution programs, local public health groups, or local health departments, free of charge. For more information about naloxone and how to get training on using it, visit: Naloxone Information . This campaign uses the hashtags #TeamUp #SaveLives #InternationalOverdoseAwarenessDay. The social media public service announcement can be found here: SDSU Women’s Soccer Team - Fentanyl Awareness Video This is the second time that the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the City Attorney’s Office have teamed up to feature SDSU student athletes in partnership with a SDSU NIL collective. For this social media campaign, the offices partnered with Aztec Link, an NIL collective dedicated to partnering SDSU student athletes with businesses and organizations for promotions and endorsements while offering fans meaningful ways to support and connect with their favorite teams and players. Aztec Link was established after the NCAA began allowing student-athletes to receive compensation for the use of their NIL in 2021. In the public service announcements, the student athletes state the following: “Our goal is to team up and save lives. We love spending time on the field, but we are also students. Students who know that fentanyl kills. And as a community, we need to defend ourselves from the dangers of fentanyl. Fentanyl doesn’t care about your age, or if you are just trying it for the first time. If you are offered Adderall, Xanax, Percocet, Cocaine or any other drug not directly from a pharmacy, It likely contains a deadly amount of fentanyl. It’s time for us to pass on our knowledge, assist our friends, and confront this epidemic. We need to spread the word about the dangers of fentanyl. It’s everywhere and in everything. Know where Narcan is on campus such as Narcan vending machines. Learn how to use Narcan and how to recognize the signs of an overdose Such as losing consciousness, difficulty breathing, choking noises or discolored skin. We believe in you. If you are worried about your friend overdosing and are unsure, deploy Narcan and call 911. Let’s make it our goal to team up and save lives. And save lives. And let’s save lives!” The campaign is being deployed over social media platforms, including Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Snapchat, LinkedIn, and YouTube, by the individual student-athletes, Aztec Link, the Department of Justice, the San Diego State Athletic Department, and other coalition members. “If you are worried about a friend who may have taken fentanyl or is unresponsive, call 911 and if necessary, administer naloxone,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “Know the dangers and how to help others. When athletes, educators, and law enforcement team up to amplify this critical message, we can save lives.” McGrath thanked the SDSU women’s soccer team for using their influence to spread the critical message about fentanyl and naloxone. “We lose around 800 San Diegans every year to fentanyl,” said City Attorney Mara Elliott. “While each of these deaths is tragic, I’m particularly struck by how many of those victims are college-aged students. My Office is proud to support the heroic efforts of these young women to educate their peers about the dangers of fentanyl and the lifesaving power of Narcan. This is exactly the type of communitywide effort that will be required to eradicate overdose deaths in San Diego.” The Good Samaritan law in California provides that, “…it shall not be a crime for a person under the influence of, or to possess for personal use, a controlled substance…if that person, in good faith, seeks medical assistance for another person experiencing a drug-related overdose…” Cal. Health & Safety Code § 11376.5. One year ago, to commemorate National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the City Attorney’s Office partnered with the SDSU men’s basketball team and another NIL collective, the MESA Foundation, to create a public service announcement and media campaign that was believed to be the first such collaboration of its kind. The campaign has since received over a million impressions. For more information, visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/san-diego-state-university-basketball-stars-join-us-attorneys-office-and-city . Additional fentanyl prevention resources can be found at San Diego County’s Community & Parent Toolkits , which are available in both English and Spanish. The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s participation in the social media campaign with Aztec Link is not an endorsement of any product, service, or enterprise associated with Aztec Link.


title: Indiana Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison

body_text: FORT WAYNE – Elliott Gruss, 34 years old, of Ossian, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady, after pleading guilty to attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Gruss was sentenced to 180 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, between September and October 2019, Gruss did attempt to employ, use, entice, and coerce a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of that conduct and for the purpose of producing a live visual depiction of that conduct. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Allen County Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lesley J. Miller Lowery. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov .


title: Farmington Accountant Admits Filing False Tax Returns

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in New England, announced that MARK LEGOWSKI, 60, of Farmington, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to filing false tax returns. According to court documents and statements made in court, from January 2015 through December 2017, Legowski was a self-employed accountant and tax return preparer doing business as Legowski & Company, Inc. (“LCI”) in Farmington. Legowski prepared income tax returns for approximately 400 to 500 individual clients and approximately 50 to 60 businesses. For the 2015 through 2017 tax years, in order to reduce his personal income tax liability, Legowski willfully underreported LCI’s gross receipts in LCI’s computer bookkeeping system by excluding some customer payment checks. He then filed false personal income tax returns that failed to report a total of more than $1.4 million in business income, which resulted in a loss to the IRS of $499,289. For example, on his 2017 income tax return, Legowski reported taxable income of $56,060 and a tax liability of $6,070, and failed to report an additional $496,808 in business income, which resulted in an income tax deficiency of $178,581. Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for November 25, at which time Legowski faces a maximum term of imprisonment of three years. Legowski also has agreed to cooperate with the IRS to pay $499,289 in back taxes, as well as penalties and interest. Legowski is released on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing. This investigation is being conducted by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Chen.


title: Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Relief Fraud and Filing a False Claim with the IRS

body_text: An Arizona man pleaded guilty yesterday to wire fraud and filing a false refund claim with the IRS. According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2020 and 2021, Roy L. Layne submitted false applications on behalf of several bogus businesses to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, two federal programs created to provide financial assistance to Americans suffering economic harm as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In those applications, Layne claimed that the businesses had dozens of employees and earned hundreds of thousands in gross receipts. To support his false claims and to create the appearance of genuine business activity, Layne created false business and employment tax forms that he filed with the IRS and submitted to the SBA. In total, Layne requested and received over $300,000 in loans to which he was not entitled. In addition, in 2022, Layne filed false returns with the IRS that sought nearly $7.5 million in refunds, of which the IRS paid approximately $550,000. Layne is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 3, 2025. He faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for each wire fraud charge and five years for the false claim charge. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Gary M. Restaino for the District of Arizona made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigations and the FBI are investigating the case. Trial Attorney Matthew R. Hoffman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Sue Feldmeier for the District of Arizona are prosecuting the case.


title: Palmdale Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Importing Ancient Roman Mosaic from Syria Depicting Hercules

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – An Antelope Valley man was sentenced today to three months in federal prison for illegally importing an ancient floor mosaic from Syria depicting the Roman demigod Hercules that is believed to have been made nearly two millennia ago. Mohamad Yassin Alcharihi, 57, of Palmdale, was sentenced by United States District Judge George W. Hu, who also granted the government’s application for a preliminary order of forfeiture for the mosaic. At the conclusion of a five-day trial, a jury in June 2023 found Alcharihi guilty of one count of entry of falsely classified goods. In August 2015, Alcharihi illegally imported the mosaic – which dates from the era of the Roman Empire – by means of a false classification as to its value and quality. The mosaic arrived at Alcharihi’s direction at the Port of Long Beach as part of a shipment from Turkey. The mosaic depicts a story from ancient Greek and Roman mythology depicting Hercules rescuing Prometheus, who had been chained to a rock by his fellow gods for stealing fire for humanity. Alcharihi purchased the mosaic in 2015. Instead of disclosing to United States customs officials that he was importing a Syrian antiquity for which he had paid approximately $12,000 and that he knew was worth much more, Alcharihi lied to his customs broker and caused it to falsely declare that he was importing ceramic tiles from Turkey valued at less than $600. Alcharihi paid $40,000 to restore the mosaic and the government’s appraisal expert valued the mosaic at $450,000. The false classifications occurred months after the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution condemning the destruction of cultural heritage in Syria, particularly by the terrorist organizations Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Al-Nusrah Front. The mosaic was placed inside a large metal shipping container holding many vases and two other mosaics. An x-ray image of the container taken by CBP showed that the mosaic was hidden in the front of the container – away from the rear access doors – behind a pile of vases. After passing through customs, the mosaic was shipped via truck to Alcharihi’s home. The mosaic is 15 feet long, 8 feet tall, and weighs approximately 2,000 pounds. It has been stored at a secure facility in Los Angeles since federal agents seized it from Alcharihi’s garage in March 2016. The FBI’s Art Crime Team and Homeland Security Investigations investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark A. Williams and Matthew W. O’Brien of the Environmental Crimes and Consumer Protection Section, Assistant United States Attorney Maxwell K. Coll of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section and Justice Department Trial Attorney Christian A. Levesque of the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section prosecuted this case.


title: Georgia Man Admits to Defrauding Multiple Banks in Utah

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: Salt Lake City, Utah – A Georgia man pleaded guilty today to multiple federal crimes after he admitted to engaging in a check fraud scheme to defraud several federally insured financial institutions in the District of Utah. Toddorius Goodwin, 34, of Lithonia, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity fraud. According to court documents and admissions made during Goodwin’s change of plea hearing, Goodwin and his associates traveled from Georgia to engage in a check fraud scheme in Utah and elsewhere. They recruited impoverished individuals locally to assist with their scheme. Goodwin and his associates stole payroll checks from private mailboxes, altered the “payable to” names on the checks to the recruited individual’s name, and sent that individual into various banks to cash the forged checks in exchange for a cut of the profit. Goodwin and his associates successfully cashed at least $214,179.51 worth of counterfeit checks in Utah within just a few months, from April to October 2022. Goodwin is scheduled to be sentenced November 7, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 3.4. before a U.S. District Court Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Special Assistant United States Attorney Sachi Jepson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.


title: As Kids Return to School, U.S. Attorney Releases New Public Service Announcement Warning About Child Predators on Internet

component: USAO - Mississippi, Southern

body_text: Jackson, Miss. – As kids return to school, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi launched an on-line video public service announcement (PSA) designed to raise awareness about the increasing number of child predators seeking to exploit children on the internet. The PSA video, which is available on-line, features United States Attorney Todd Gee and provides information about the importance of being aware of your child’s use of digital technologies, ways child predators are using technology to exploit children, and how to report child exploitation. The PSA highlights the risk of child predators using digital technology to engage in “sextortion,” a type of blackmail used by predators over the internet to acquire sexual content from a child. That person may use deceit, coercion, or another method to obtain a nude or sexual image of the child before blackmailing them for money or more content. As discussed in the PSA, in the Southern District of Mississippi, the U.S. Attorney’s office is fortunate to work with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task force, a coalition of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies who specialize in hunting down these child predators. “Back to school season is a great time to remind parents to be aware of the ways your children are connected to the internet—from cell phones to gaming systems and social media—and how child predators can use these digital technologies to exploit children,” said U.S. Attorney Gee. “I encourage parents to watch this PSA, be aware of the risks of digital technology, and report any potential sextortion or other forms of child exploitation.” If you believe your child has been a victim of sextortion or other forms of child exploitation, preserve the evidence, take screenshots, write down names, usernames, and phone numbers, and report the information to your local FBI field office or online at https://tips.fbi.gov/home . For additional information, please visit the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children website at https://www.missingkids.org . The U.S. Attorney’s PSA can be found here: Internet Safety PSA and on the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s X and Facebook pages.


title: Portland Man Sentenced to 2 ½ Years, Ordered to Pay $32,564 in Restitution for Bank Fraud, Identity Theft

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: A Portland man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Paul Logugune , 22, to 30 months in prison to be followed by three years supervised release and ordered him to pay $32,564 in restitution. Logugune pleaded guilty on May 1, 2024. According to court records, from May to June 2022, Logugune and a coconspirator broke into unattended vehicles and stole purses and wallets to obtain driver’s licenses and checkbooks. Forged checks were then drawn on the stolen checkbooks and made payable to the names on the stolen licenses. They then recruited others to cash the forged checks at multiple credit union branches in Cumberland County using the stolen IDs to impersonate the ID theft victims. The FBI investigated the case. ###


title: New Jersey Man Convicted of Firearms Trafficking

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Hackensack, New Jersey man was convicted by a jury on federal firearms charges, United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced. Kadir Reeves, 40, was convicted of two counts of aiding and abetting the false statement in connection with the acquisition of firearms. The jury heard testimony about how Reeves and another defendant conspired to have others purchase and transport guns to New Jersey where Reeves had street gang affiliations. One of the firearms transported was recovered following an incident where shots were fired at a high school football game in Jersey City, New Jersey. “West Virginia is a source state for firearms that are used to commit crimes in other parts of the country,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. “We’ll continue to crack down on all those who unlawfully obtain guns here, especially when they’re used to engage in violence.” Three other defendants, Curtis Neal, 46; Kareem Neal, 43; and Bukiye Hatten, 41; all of Morgantown, West Virginia are awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to firearms charges. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zelda Wesley and Christie Utt prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.


title: Poplar man admits stealing truck after stabbing driver on Fort Peck Indian Reservation

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Poplar man accused of carjacking a truck and stabbing the driver on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation admitted to a robbery crime on Aug. 26, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today. The defendant, Brandon Lee Romero, 29, pleaded guilty to robbery. Romero faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. A plea agreement filed in the case calls for other counts of carjacking, transportation of a stolen vehicle and assault with a dangerous weapon to be dismissed at sentencing if the court accepts the agreement. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Jan. 5, 2025. Romero was detained pending further proceedings. In court documents, the government alleged that on April 14, 2023, the victim, identified as John Doe, was contacted by his sister who asked him to pick up Romero and give him a ride because she didn’t want him at her residence. John Doe agreed and, using his father’s truck, picked up Romero and began driving him to Poplar, on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. When Romero got out of the truck, John Doe noticed that Romero had pulled out two knives. John Doe attempted to drive away, but Romero jumped into the truck bed, kicked out the back window, climbed into the truck and stabbed John Doe. The victim exited the truck, and Romero got into the driver’s seat. Scared that Romero was going to run him over, John Doe hid behind a power pole. Romero was eventually arrested later that day by North Dakota law enforcement after Romero got into a high-speed chase in the truck he took from John Doe. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. Fort Peck Law Enforcement Services, the Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office and the Williston (N.D.) Police Department conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Dominican National Charged With Illegal Reentry

body_text: HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Onassis Alexander Tejeda-Arias, age 31, of the Dominican Republic, was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 28, 2024, for illegal reentry into the United States by a previously deported alien. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that Lopez-Zamora was previously removed from the United States on October 16, 2016, through Alexandria, Louisiana. It is alleged that he was subsequently found in the United States on October 6, 2022, in Dauphin County, without having first obtained legal permission to reenter the country. This matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: California Man Pleads Guilty to Selling Illegal Depressant Etizolam Over the Internet

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A California man pleaded guilty today for conspiracy to sell the illegal depressant Etizolam over the internet. Paul Z. Lamberty, 52, of Folsom, Calif., pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of the introduction of misbranded drugs with the intent to defraud and mislead. U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for Dec. 13, 2024. Lamberty operated websites Encern.com and Ohmod.com and used those sites to sell the drug etizolam to customers throughout the United States, including Massachusetts. Payments for etizolam through those websites could only be made through cryptocurrency and it would be shipped to customers through U.S. Priority Mail. Encern.com has no corporate records in the State of California and the Encern.com website did not provide a physical address for the business. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved etizolam for use as a drug, and thus it cannot be sold or prescribed in the United States. Despite this, Lamberty purchased drugs from suppliers in China and imported those drugs into the United States and sold the drugs with false labelling stating that the products were sold “For Research Purposes Only” and “Not for Human Consumption.” Based on an analysis of bank and cryptocurrency records, Lamberty and his co-conspirator conducted gross sales of over $550,000 of etizolam through the internet during the course of the conspiracy. According to the charging document, etizolam is a drug known as a thienodiazepine, a class of drugs chemically related to benzodiazepines, which produce central nervous system depression. Physicians may prescribe FDA-approved benzodiazepines to treat insomnia and anxiety, but benzodiazepines and thienodiazepines also carry risks of dependency, toxicity, and even fatal overdose, particularly when combined with other central nervous system depressants. The charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of introduction of misbranded drugs with the intent to defraud and mislead provides for a sentence up to three years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes that govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Fernando P. McMillan, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared C. Dolan and Lauren A. Graber of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.


title: Court Shuts Down Ohio Return Preparer and His Businesses

component: Tax Division

body_text: The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio issued a permanent injunction today against an Ohio tax return preparer. Emmanuel Antwi and his Cincinnati businesses — Manny Travel Agency & Business Services Inc. and Manny Financial, Insurance & Accounting Firm LLC — consented to the injunction, which permanently bars them from preparing federal tax returns for others. The United States’ claim for an order demanding Antwi turnover ill-gotten gains he received in the form of tax preparation fees remains pending. According to the civil complaint , since at least 2020, Antwi filed hundreds of tax returns each filing season with at least 95% of the returns he prepared annually claiming a refund. Allegedly, Antwi knowingly took unreasonable or incorrect positions on returns he prepared that resulted in understatements of the tax his customers owed and overstatements of the refunds to which they were entitled to receive. In particular, the complaint alleges that Antwi prepared returns that claimed deductions for purported business losses or employee business expenses that he knew were false. The complaint also alleges that Antwi prepared returns where he knowingly reported the wrong filing status. As a result of the court’s order, Antwi must send notice of the injunction to each person for whom he or his businesses prepared federal tax returns, amended tax returns or claims for refund between Jan. 1, 2019, to the present. Additionally, the order provides that Antwi must post a copy of the permanent injunction both on websites that he and his businesses maintain and at physical locations where any type of business is conducted. Deputy Assistant Attorney General David A. Hubbert of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. Taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant against unscrupulous tax preparers. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers. The IRS also offers 10 tips to avoid tax season fraud and ways to safeguard their personal information. In the past decade, the Justice Department’s Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website . An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page . If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details. Antwi Injunction Order.pdf