title: Warsaw Militia Member Indicted for Phelps County Jail Escape

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Warsaw, Mo., man who claims to be a member of the self-styled 2nd American Militia was indicted by a federal grand jury today for escaping from the Phelps County Jail, where he was being detained on federal charges related to his role in a conspiracy to murder Border Patrol officers following a shootout with FBI agents. Jonathan S. O’Dell, 33, was charged with one count of escaping from custody in a superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Jefferson City, Mo. This third superseding indictment includes the original charges against O’Dell and co-defendant Bryan C. Perry, 38, of Clarksville, Tennessee. O’Dell escaped from the Phelps County Jail in Rolla, Mo., on Sept. 29, 2023. He was recaptured in Ray County, Mo., on Oct. 1, 2023, and remains in federal custody without bond. The 45-count third superseding indictment alleges that Perry and O’Dell participated in a conspiracy to murder officers and employees of the United States government. They allegedly planned to travel to Texas to shoot at illegal immigrants crossing the United States – Mexico border. According to the indictment, they also planned to murder officers and employees of the U.S. Border Patrol who would attempt to stop them. In addition, the indictment also alleges that Perry and O’Dell participated in a conspiracy to assault federal officers and employees and a conspiracy to injure federal officers and employees. The indictment also charges them together in seven counts of the attempted murder of FBI special agents, seven counts of assaulting FBI special agents with a deadly weapon, three counts of assaulting FBI special agents, 14 counts of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and one count of damaging federal property. Perry is also charged with two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, one count of possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number, one count of the possession of body armor by a violent felon, one count of possessing an explosive, and one count of threatening to injure another person. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Perry has a prior felony conviction for robbery. O’Dell is also charged with one count of possessing a firearm while subject to a court order of protection, one count of threatening to injure another person, and one count of making a false statement to the FBI. Throughout the spring, summer, and fall of 2022, the indictment says, Perry and O’Dell recruited and attempted to recruit other individuals to join their militia group. They advertised a recruitment event in Warsaw prior to leaving for the United States – Mexico border. On Sept. 5, 2022, Perry traveled from Tennessee to Warsaw to live with O’Dell. They allegedly used O’Dell’s residence as a staging site as they prepared for their trip to the border and collected firearms, paramilitary gear, ammunition, and other supplies. The federal indictment cites a series of social media posts from Perry. On Sept. 12, 2022, Perry posted a video on TikTok in which he discussed illegal immigrants coming into the United States from Mexico. Perry stated that the U.S. Border Patrol was committing treason by allowing these illegal immigrants to enter the United States, and that the penalty for treason was death. Perry posted another video on TikTok the next day in which he stated that he was “ready to go to war against this government.” On Sept. 22, 2022, Perry posted a video on TikTok in which he stated, “we’re out to shoot to kill” and that “our group is gonna go protect this country.” On Oct. 3, 2022, Perry posted a video on TikTok in which he stated, “we were going out huntin’,” that his group was taking their “full kits,” and that they were leaving for the United States – Mexico border on Oct. 8, 2022. On Oct. 3, 2022, Perry held a phone conversation with an unidentified individual in which Perry stated they were going to go down to the United States – Mexico border to “start a war.” Perry expressed their plan to shoot people coming across the border and to shoot “federal agents” who would oppose them. Perry also stated they would acquire gear and supplies from federal agents after they “take a couple of ’em out.” On Oct. 7, 2022, according to the indictment, Perry and O’Dell had amassed six firearms, 23 magazines filled with ammunition, 1,770 rounds of various other ammunition, two sets of body armor with corresponding plate carrier vests, a handheld radio, two sniper rests, two gas masks, two items that appeared to be ballistic helmets, and multiple containers of a binary explosive mixture commonly sold as an exploding target. On Oct. 7, 2022, the FBI executed a search warrant at O’Dell’s residence and took O’Dell and Perry into custody. Federal agents approached the property in vehicles with red and blue lights activated. As the FBI approached, an agent utilized a loudspeaker on one of the vehicles, stating that they were with the FBI and that they had a search warrant for the residence. The FBI agent began to repeat the announcement, again stating that they were with the FBI, when gunshots were fired from a front window at the lead FBI vehicle. Several rounds hit the lead FBI vehicle. According to the indictment, Perry fired 11 shots from his Voodoo Innovations multi-caliber rifle with an AM-15 lower receiver. FBI special agents did not return fire and, after the gunshots ceased, the FBI established a perimeter and began communicating with the persons inside the residence to come out. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey Clark and Ashley Turner. It was investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Phelps County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Ray County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Caldwell County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.


title: Michigan Man Sentenced to Prison for Fentanyl Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Willie Renard Craft, also known as “Nut,” 47, of Pontiac, Michigan, was sentenced today to seven years and three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 16, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Craft’s Seventh Avenue residence. Craft told the officers there was a controlled substance in the kitchen cabinet. Officers found approximately 74 grams of fentanyl and drug packaging materials in the cabinet. Officers also found a loaded Taurus 856 .38-caliber revolver on a shelf in Craft’s bedroom, and $1,800 in Craft’s possession. Craft admitted to possessing and intending to distribute the fentanyl, and further admitted that the cash was proceeds from selling fentanyl. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force, the Huntington Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Finney prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-43. ###


title: Bronx Man Charged With Shooting On Edward L. Grant Highway

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Edward A. Caban, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing of a Complaint charging MIGUEL DIAZ with firing a weapon outside a Bronx deli, wounding a victim in the arm. DIAZ was arrested this morning and was presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Miguel Diaz — who was previously convicted of reckless endangerment — fired a bullet outside a deli in the middle of the day at the corner of Edward L. Grant Highway and Jesup Avenue in the Bronx. Thanks to the swift action of our law enforcement partners and the prosecutors of this Office, Diaz will now be held accountable for his alleged reckless and violent actions.” NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban said: “The dedicated men and women of the NYPD, who have accomplished a 26 percent reduction in shootings so far this year in New York City, are still battling a scourge of gun violence that threatens everyone who lives, works, and visits here. And just as New Yorkers expect and deserve, we and our law enforcement colleagues vow to keep working tirelessly to investigate and arrest anyone brazen enough to carry and shoot an illegal weapon on our streets.” According to the allegations in the Complaint: [ [1] ] On October 4, 2023, at approximately 6:00 p.m., as captured by surveillance video, DIAZ walked southbound to the corner of Edward L. Grant Highway and Jesup Avenue and stopped for several minutes outside a Bronx deli. As DIAZ’s victim emerged from the deli, DIAZ approached the victim from behind, pulled a firearm from his right pocket, and fired a shot. DIAZ was then seen returning the firearm to his pocket and fleeing the scene. Below are still images of DIAZ, as captured by surveillance video, showing DIAZ as he fired the gun: NYPD officers recovered a 9mm FC Luger shell casing from the scene. Below is a photograph of the recovered shell casing: DIAZ was not permitted to possess ammunition because of a prior felony conviction for reckless endangerment. DIAZ was released from state custody on June 1, 2023, after serving a sentence of nearly five years in prison. The Bronx shooting occurred only four months later. * * * DIAZ, 40, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with possession of ammunition after a felony conviction, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the NYPD. This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan T. Nees is in charge of the prosecution. The charge contained in the Complaint is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Six Defendants Indicted for $240,000 Covid Fraud Conspiracy

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Six defendants have been indicted for their roles in a conspiracy that resulted in more than $240,000 in fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans being issued under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Renetta Golden-Larimore, 54, Tajona Manning, 31, and Tashawn Mayfield, 24, all of Kansas City, Mo., Camonte Henderson, 25, of Raytown, Mo., Quinniece Smith, 33, of Dallas, Texas, and Dannisha Taylor 32, of New Orleans, Louisiana, were charged in a seven-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Wednesday, Oct. 18. That indictment was unsealed and made public today. The federal indictment alleges that each of the six defendants participated in a conspiracy to submit false and fraudulent applications for PPP loans from March 2021 to January 2022. The scheme allegedly caused more than $240,000 in fraudulent PPP loans to be issued to ineligible borrowers, some of which were forgiven even though the funds were not used for the purposes specified in the PPP. According to the indictment, Golden-Larimore prepared and filed fraudulent PPP loan applications on behalf of the other co-conspirators. She allegedly received payments between $2,000 and $7,000 from the loan proceeds for her assistance in filing false and fraudulent PPP loan applications. Golden-Larimore created counterfeit IRS forms for nonexistent businesses, the indictment says, and inflated income for existing businesses in order to qualify the borrower for a PPP loan. Manning, Mayfield, Henderson, Smith, and Taylor each received a PPP loan of $20,832. In addition to the conspiracy, Manning, Mayfield, Henderson, and Taylor each are charged with one count of wire fraud. Smith is also charged with two counts of wire fraud. The indictment also contains forfeiture allegations, which would require Golden-Larimore to forfeit to the government at least $75,833, which represents the proceeds she obtained from the conspiracy, and each of the remaining defendants to forfeit to the government $20,832, which represents the proceeds they obtained from the conspiracy. In a separate case, Golden-Larimore was also charged in an April 26, 2023, federal indictment for her role in a similar conspiracy that resulted in nearly $250,000 in fraudulent PPP loans being issued to a dozen Kansas City metropolitan area residents. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul S. Becker. It was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.


title: Mississippi Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Money Laundering

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – RYAN P. MULLEN , age 42 and a resident of Jayess, Mississippi, pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering before U.S. District Judge Jane Triche-Milazzo, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to court documents, MULLEN conspired with DUANE DUFRENE , DILLON ARCENEAUX , LANCE VALLO , GRANT MENARD, and ZEB SARTIN to use several shell Louisiana corporations, devoid of assets, to defraud a Georgia based merchant cash company. MULLEN and DUFRENE helped establish ARCENEAUX , VALLO , MENARD , and SARTIN as the owners of the existing shell corporations, MULLEN and DUFRENE then created fake vendor accounts for the corporations, and MULLEN , along with another person, created falsified bank records for the companies. MULLEN then used an alias and represented himself to be a broker for the shell corporations he helped create. Through the aid of another broker, MULLEN supplied the victim merchant cash advance company with the fake vendor accounts and false bank records in order to obtain funding. The victim cash advance company approved the advances and began to electronically wire ARCENEAUX, VALLO, MENARD , a nd SARTIN millions of dollars in advances. ARCENEAUX, VALLO, MENARD , and SARTIN laundered a portion of the funds by paying MULLEN and DUFRENE a portion of the funds. ARCENEAUX, VALLO, MENARD , and SARTIN then closed their non-existent businesses before fully repaying the victim merchant cash advance company, resulting in overall losses to the victim of approximately $6.4 million. DUFRENE is to be sentenced on January 17, 2024, and faces a maximum sentence of five years on the wire fraud conspiracy, and a maximum sentence of up to twenty years on the money laundering conspiracy. After imprisonment, the defendant faces up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine on the wire fraud count, and up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $500,000 fine on the money laundering count. Each count also carries a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. U.S. Attorney Evans commended the special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS-Criminal Investigation for their handling of the matter. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Edward J. Rivera of the Financial Crimes Unit and Andre J. Lagarde of the Public Integrity Unit.


title: KC Man Sentenced for Meth Trafficking, Illegal Firearms

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man who was injured when his ATV flipped over while making a turn on an Independence, Mo., street was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing firearms and methamphetamine. Melvin L. Carter, 48, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 13 years and nine months in federal prison without parole. On May 30, 2023, Carter pleaded guilty to one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Independence police officers were called to an address on S. Overton Avenue on Oct. 14, 2022, after Carter was ejected from his ATV as it flipped over while making a turn. Prior to the officers’ arrival, the Independence Fire Department responded to an earlier 911 call and informed officers that Carter had been armed when they arrived at the scene of the accident. They retrieved his firearm, a Keltec 9mm pistol, which they turned over to the police officers. Officers found the ATV flipped on its side when they arrived at the scene. Carter was bleeding from his head and being treated by paramedics. Police officers checked Carter’s jacket and found a plastic baggie that contained approximately 105 grams of methamphetamine. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Carter has prior felony convictions for robbery, possession of a controlled substance, sale of a controlled substance, trafficking, and resisting arrest. After Carter was federally indicted, Independence police officers located him and placed him under arrest on March 22, 2023. Carter was in possession of a loaded Glock .40-caliber handgun with an extended magazine and approximately 215 grams of methamphetamine. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Q. McCarther. It was investigated by the Independence, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Project Safe Neighborhoods This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Alabama Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Possession of Child Pornography

body_text: Gulfport, Miss. -- A Grand Bay, Alabama man was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison, followed by 20 years of supervised release, for possession of child pornography. According to court documents, Walton Stephen Vaughan, 67, was found to be in possession of hundreds of visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct when, on February 27, 2019, FBI agents and local law enforcement personnel executed a search warrant at his residence in Lucedale, Mississippi. Vaughan was indicted by a federal grand jury and pled guilty on February 23, 2023. In addition to his term of imprisonment, Vaughan was ordered to pay restitution to victims totaling $29,500, and a $3,000 assessment under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018. Vaughan was also ordered to register as a sex offender. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi, Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown of the FBI in Mobile, Alabama, and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the FBI in Mississippi made the announcement. The case was investigated by the FBI in Mobile, Alabama, with assistance from the FBI in Mississippi. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones prosecuted the case. 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 Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov


title: Richmond Man Who Led Officers on High-Speed Car Chase Pleads Guilty to Southside Plaza Carjacking

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man pleaded guilty today to a carjacking. According to court documents, on August 6, 2022, Keith Travers, 37, and an accomplice met with the victim at Southside Plaza in Richmond, purportedly to sell the victim a catalytic converter. However, Travers and his accomplice had driven to the meeting with no catalytic converters to sell. When the victim realized this and turned to leave, Travers’s accomplice stated, “you know what this is, give me your wallet, keys and your phone.” In response, the victim reached for the gun he was carrying on his right hip. As the victim was doing so, Travers pointed a gun at the victim’s head and exclaimed, “don’t lose your life over this.” Fearing that Travers was about to shoot him, the victim turned his gun over to Travers’s accomplice, who then pointed it at the victim. The victim also handed over his business wallet, car keys, and work cell phone. There was between $5,000 and $6,000 in the wallet when he handed it to Travers’s accomplice. Travers’s accomplice then drove off in the victim’s car and Travers left in the car he had driven to the carjacking. On August 19, 2022, officers of the Richmond Police Department attempted to arrest Travers for the carjacking. He was in the same car he had driven to the Southside Plaza robbery. When Travers saw the officers, he accelerated suddenly, leading the officers on a pursuit for nearly an hour. Eventually, Travers abandoned his car and fled on foot. As the officers were closing in on him, Travers threw a Taurus 9mm semi-automatic pistol under a nearby vehicle. The gun was the same firearm Travers used during the carjacking on August 6, 2022. Travers is scheduled to be sentenced on March 20, 2024. He faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; and Rick Edwards, Chief of Richmond Police, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge David J. Novak accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Miller is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-38.


title: Wichita man pleads guilty to causing fentanyl related death

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man pleaded guilty today to one count of distribution of a controlled substance which resulted in death. According to court documents, on July 31, 2019, Tyler Ralls, 35, of Wichita gave Michael Marsalla, 35, an M30 pill while the two men were working together at a company in Park City. Ralls admits that he knew the pill contained fentanyl and knew that Marsalla didn’t have a tolerance for fentanyl. When Marsalla didn’t arrive at work the next day and couldn’t be reached, Ralls drove to Marsalla’s house in Valley Center and found him unresponsive. After calling 911, Ralls phoned his source for fentanyl pills to discuss whether anyone had ever died after taking them. Emergency responders pronounced Marsalla deceased at the scene. A subsequent autopsy determined the victim died of fentanyl toxicity. “Because of the enormous influx of counterfeit pills into our communities, anytime a person ingests pills that they didn’t get directly from a medical professional, they are at great risk of dying of fentanyl overdose,” said U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher. “Michael Marsalla accepted a pill from someone he thought he could trust. Unfortunately, that trust was misplaced, and it cost Mr. Marsalla his life.” Ralls is scheduled to be sentenced on January 17, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Valley Center Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Andrusak is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Tucson Woman Sentenced to 10 Years for Fatal Crash While Transporting Illegal Aliens

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Sunshine Michelle Betters, 47, of Tucson, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 120 months in prison for Transportation of Illegal Aliens Resulting in Death. Betters also was sentenced to an additional 11 months imprisonment for violating her federal supervised release for a prior conviction for Transportation of Illegal Aliens. On June 3, 2021, the Tohono O’odham Police Department (TOPD) responded to a two-vehicle collision on State Route 86 on the Tohono O’odham reservation. TOPD officers and detectives determined Betters was driving a vehicle which sideswiped an oncoming truck, which caused the vehicle to leave the roadway and strike a tree. There were two occupants in Betters’ vehicle, both undocumented noncitizens illegally present in the United States. One of those undocumented noncitizens, a citizen of Guatemala, died at the scene. Given the death of a foreign national, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Border Patrol responded. Through further investigation, HSI agents determined Betters was transporting the two undocumented noncitizens for financial gain. They also discovered that prior to the collision Betters, who was severely intoxicated, falsely believed she was being followed by Border Patrol and thus increased her speed. The combination of intoxication and speed were contributing factors to the collision and death. Betters, who was on federal supervision for a previous conviction for Transportation of Illegal Aliens, pleaded guilty on October 17, 2022. She also admitted that her conduct violated the conditions of her supervised release. Homeland Security Investigations, Customs and Border Protections U.S. Border Patrol, and the Tohono O’odham Tribal Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR 21-01526-TUC-JGZ CR 18-02003-TUC-JGZ RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-158_Betters # # # 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 Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Charges

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that ALEJANDRO AGUILAR-RAMOS , a Mexican national, age 30, pleaded guilty as charged on October 17, 2023 to Count 1 of the indictment, charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 846. AGUILAR-RAMOS faces a minimum sentence of ten years up to a maximum of life imprisonment, up to a $10,000,000 fine, at least five years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. According to the indictment, in March of 2023, AGUILAR-RAMOS knowingly conspired and agreed with others to pick up a bag containing over 9 kilograms of methamphetamine in Dallas, Texas, then work with others to transport the bag and the narcotics within, from Texas to Kenner, Louisiana . This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at http://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . United States Attorney Evans praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Kenner Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit.


title: Four Men Charged for Their Roles in $21 Million Catalytic Converter Theft Ring

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – Four Minnesota men have been indicted for their roles in a multi-million dollar scheme to transport stolen catalytic converters across state lines, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, from May 2020 through October 2022, John Charles Kotten, 41, of Hutchinson, Justin Tyme Johnson, 32, of St. Paul, Soe Nye Moo, 31, of St. Paul, and James Dillon Jensen, 34, of Minneapolis, and others knowingly participated in a lucrative scheme in which they acquired stolen catalytic converters and transported them across state lines to buyers who paid large sums of money for the stolen car parts. Catalytic converters are emission control devices that contain valuable, precious metals—including palladium, platinum, and rhodium—in their center or “core” to reduce the toxic gas and pollutants from a vehicle’s engine and filter them into safer emissions. As part of the conspiracy, individuals who operated as street-level cutters stole catalytic converters from vehicles throughout the state of Minnesota and transferred them to Kotten or Johnson. At times, Kotten and Johnson met with cutters directly to buy stolen catalytic converters, other times they instructed cutters to transfer the catalytic converters to intermediary buyers acting on their behalf, such as Jensen and Moo. After receiving stolen catalytic converters, the defendants concealed and stored the inventory in preparation for shipment across state lines. After sorting, categorizing, and pricing out the anticipated loads, the defendants transported the stolen catalytic converters across state lines using rented U-Haul trailers and personal vehicles. Payments for the stolen catalytic converters were typically in the form of wire transfer, cash, check, or a combination thereof. In order to conceal their scheme, Kotten and others purchased scrap or junk cars from individual sellers or at auction to make it appear as though they were involved in a legitimate automotive scrapping and recycling business in the event they were audited or investigated. In total, the conspiracy yielded approximately $21 million in payments to the defendants, most of which came from a small number of high-volume buyers based in New Jersey, Oklahoma, Colorado, and New York. The indictment charges Kotten, Johnson, Moo, and Jensen with conspiracy to transport stolen property interstate. Kotten and Johnson are charged with interstate transportation of stolen property, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and false statements to a financial institution. Johnson was also charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering – concealment, and Moo was charged with possession of a machinegun. All four defendants made their initial appearances earlier today in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Cowan Wright. This case is the result of a joint investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, IRS – Criminal Investigations, Minnesota Commerce Fraud Bureau, Minnesota Department of Public Safety, St. Paul Police Department, Anoka County Sheriff’s Office, Blaine Police Department, Blue Earth County Sheriff’s Office, Brown County Sheriff’s Office, Carver County Sheriff’s Office, Coon Rapids Police Department, Eagan Police Department, Fridley Police Department, McLeod County Sheriff’s Office, Montevideo Police Department, Plymouth Police Department, Roseville Police Department, and Sleepy Eye Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey E. Middlecamp and Emily A. Polachek are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Craig Baune and Quinn Askew are handling the forfeiture of assets. An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Violent Crime Spree

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – Elan David Nash, 36, of Polacca, was sentenced on September 25, 2023, by United States District Judge Steven P. Logan to 25 years in prison. Nash previously pleaded guilty to Second Degree Murder, Kidnapping, and Assault Resulting in Substantial Bodily Injury of an Intimate Partner. During a violent crime spree in November of 2019, Nash shot and killed a woman on the Hopi Indian Reservation. Soon after that incident, Nash picked up another woman from the side of the road and forced her into his vehicle. He drove her to a remote area of the Hopi Indian Reservation, where he robbed her. After a pursuit by tribal law enforcement, Nash abandoned the vehicle he was driving, leaving behind evidence related to the murder. The investigation into these crimes also revealed that on December 3, 2019, on the Navajo Nation, Nash assaulted his then girlfriend, leaving her with substantial injuries. Nash pleaded guilty to all three charges in a single plea agreement combining three separate cases. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case, with assistance from Hopi Law Enforcement Services and the Navajo Nation Department of Public Safety. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBERS: CR-22-8088-PCT-SPL CR-22-8089-PCT-SPL CR-23-8063-PCT-SPL RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-159_Nash # # # 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 Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Former deputy sent to prison for second time on child pornography convictions that began via online game

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: GALVESTON, Texas – A 29-year-old Beeville resident has been sentenced for producing and possessing child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Pasquale Salas was a former deputy with the Matagorda County Sheriff’s Office at the time of his crimes. He pleaded guilty June 6. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown has now ordered him to serve 360 and 24 months for the production and possession convictions, respectively. They will run consecutively for a total 384-month-term of imprisonment. In handing down the prison terms, the court noted that the fact Salas was a law enforcement officer weighed heavily on him. Salas was further ordered to serve 15 years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. He will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. He was previously sentenced to 220 months in prison in a related case in the District of Massachusetts. The term imposed today will run concurrently to that sentence for a total federal prison term of 384 months. “Salas used Minecraft, a child’s game, to lure some of his victims inside his vicious web,” said Hamdani. “Not only did he exploit young girls, but he also violated the public trust. He was a law enforcement officer who was sworn to protect and serve. Instead, he chose to manipulate and exploit young girls for his own deviant sexual gratification. The sentence handed down today will make sure he can’t access the places our children play online or have contact with them in person for decades to come.” “For years, Pasquale Salas controlled, manipulated, sexually assaulted, and remotely monitored his underage victims,” said FBI Houston Acting Special Agent in Charge David Martinez. “Salas disgracefully used his status as a Texas lawman to threaten young girls into sending hundreds of sexually explicit photos and videos. Thanks to the bravery of his victims who came forward, Salas now sits behind bars unable to ever again target, threaten, or molest other children.” The investigation began after authorities learned Salas had been communicating with a minor in Massachusetts for years, beginning when she was just 12 years old. Salas met her and another minor female online while playing Minecraft. Over the years, he developed a controlling, manipulative and sexually exploitive relationship with the victim. He knew her true age, but still had a virtual, but sexually-explicit relationship with the child. During that time, he made her send hundreds of nude photos and videos of herself, required her to follow specific strict rules and to wear only clothing he approved. He also tracked her location. Sales threatened the victim’s well-being and that of her family if she left him. In July 2019, authorities executed a search warrant in Southern District of Texas as part of the Massachusetts investigation. At that time, they found incriminating evidence on his phone, including child pornography of several minor females, including that of minor female relative. Forensic analysis revealed he produced those images of the relative. She identified herself and the hands of Salas in the images/videos. In one video, he appears to be fondling the victim. She is asleep in all of the images and videos he produced. He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined on the near future. FBI Texas City conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Matagorda County Sheriff’s Office and Pearland Police Department as well as FBI in the Boston/Worcestor area and Worcestor Police Department in Massachusetts. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri L. Zack is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page . For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.


title: St. Louis County Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Dealing Fatal Dose of Heroin and Fentanyl

body_text: ST. LOUIS –U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Tuesday sentenced a man to life in prison for selling the heroin and fentanyl that killed a Florissant, Missouri man in 2018. Wyland Kinney, 50, of St. Louis County, was convicted by a jury in May distribution of a controlled substance that resulted in death, two counts of distributing fentanyl and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Evidence and testimony at trial showed that Kinney sold the victim, who had been battling heroin addiction and had just been in the hospital for treatment, heroin and fentanyl at 2:30 p.m. on August 16, 2018. The victim was living with his grandmother, who found him dead at about 8 p.m. An autopsy and toxicology results showed that the quantity of heroin and fentanyl individually was enough to kill him. During the subsequent investigation of the death, officers had a confidential informant purchase a mix of fentanyl and ketamine twice from Kinney, on October 11 and 12. A court-approved search of Kinney’s home found six handguns, five shotguns, two rifles, an AK-style pistol, ammunition and $6,443 in cash. They also found text messages regarding drug sales on his phone. “Everyone is well aware illegal drugs can harm the people who find themselves dependent on these substances,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Colin Dickey, lead of Drug Enforcement Administration investigations in Eastern Missouri. "But families are also victims of the terrible criminal activity of drug dealing, as the grandmother of Kenney’s victim must know. The powerful narcotics available today destroy lives and families. DEA makes it a priority to ensure the destruction is shared by the dealers by putting them in prison.” The case was investigated by the Florissant Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle Bateman and Tiffany Becker are prosecuting the case.


title: University City High School Teacher Charged with Attempted Enticement of a Minor

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – October 24, 2023 SAN DIEGO – Sean Stevenson, a high school science teacher at University City High School, was arrested today by the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force and charged in federal court with Attempted Enticement of a Minor. Stevenson is scheduled to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mitchell Dembin on October 25, 2023, at 2 p.m. Stevenson’s alleged illicit activity was discovered during another sex trafficking investigation. According to a criminal complaint, a review of messages from that investigation identified Stevenson as interested in paying for sex with a minor. An undercover law enforcement officer began text messaging with Stevenson via the Pinger application. The officer claimed to be sex trafficking her 16-year-old cousin. The complaint states that on October 23, 2023, Stevenson messaged the undercover officer and negotiated a price of $140 for oral sex from a 16-year-old girl. Stevenson and the undercover officer agreed to meet early on October 24, 2023, on El Cajon Boulevard for the “date” with the minor. Stevenson arrived at the location around 7 a.m. and was arrested. The complaint states that $140 was found in Stevenson’s car. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Derek Ko and Andrew Sherwood. Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact San Diego County Crime Stoppers (888-580-8477) and the National Human Trafficking Hotline (888-373-7888). DEFENDANTS Case Number 23MJ3854 Sean Stevenson Age: 58 San Diego, CA SUMMARY OF CHARGES Attempted Enticement of a Minor– Title 18, U.S.C., Section 2422(b) Maximum penalty: Life in prison, 10-year mandatory minimum AGENCY Homeland Security Investigations San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Jeannette City Resident Pleads Guilty to Violating a Federal Narcotics Law

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Jeannette City, PA pled guilty in federal court to a charge of violating a federal narcotics law, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Mr. Axton also acknowledged responsibility for violating conditions of supervised release related to a separate previous conviction. Tristin Bradley Axton, 25, of Jeanette City, PA, pled guilty to a one-count Information before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon. In connection with the guilty plea, attorneys for the United States advised the Court that on or about March 27, 2023, Mr. Axton possessed approximately 139 grams of cocaine with the intent to distribute it. In connection with his supervised release, Mr. Axton acknowledged responsibility for violations resulting from criminal charges in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania filed against him in November 2021, January 2022 and twice in July 2023; and for the conduct that led to his federal charges. Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing and a final supervised release revocation hearing for February 20, 2024. In connection with the Information, the law provides for a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both. In connection with the supervised release violations, the law provides for a maximum sentence of 2 years in prison and a term of supervised release of up to life. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the defendant’s prior criminal history. The Court ordered the Mr. Axton’s supervised release to be revoked and ordered him to be remanded to the custody of the United States Marshals for detention until his sentencing. Assistant United States Attorneys Ross Lenhardt and Benjamin C. Dobkin are prosecuting these cases on behalf of the United States. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigations that led to the prosecution of Mr. Axton.


title: Jackson Center, PA Resident Pleads Guilty to Federal Narcotics and Firearm Violations

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA – Michael Love pled guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and crack, and to receiving and transporting a firearm while under a felony indictment, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Love, age 46, of Jackson Center, Pennsylvania, pled guilty before United States District Judge Cathy Bissoon. Judge Bissoon scheduled sentencing to occur on February 21, 2024, at 2:30 p.m. The law provides for up to 25 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,250,000, for the crimes of conviction. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentences imposed are to be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin C. Dobkin and Craig W. Haller are prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Lawrence County Drug Task Force, the Mercer County Drug Task Force, the New Castle Police Department, the Sharon Police Department, the Hermitage Police Department, and the Farrell Police Department led the investigation resulting in the convictions in this case. This prosecution is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Madison County man sentenced to 20 years in prison for exploiting minor victims, distributing child pornography

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – Donald Adams, 52, of Mount Sterling, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 240 months in prison for exploiting children online and sharing child sexual abuse material. Adams pleaded guilty in May 2023 to two counts of sexually exploiting a minor and two counts of distributing child pornography. According to court documents, between May and September 2021, Adams exploited two teenage victims. Specifically, Adams used Snapchat and Google Duo to coerce the victims into sending him images and videos of themselves engaged in sexual conduct. Adams made the minors believe they were in a legitimate romantic relationship with him. Adams also exploited at least one of the minor victims by directing them to send the sexual content to other online predators. The defendant drove to another state to pick up one of the victims in person and took her to a hotel room for three hours. In September 2021, Adams sent an online undercover FBI agent videos of children 3 to 7 years old engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Upon Adams’s arrest, law enforcement recovered more than 1,500 images and 2,000 videos of child sexual abuse material. Adams possessed images and videos of victims as young as infants and toddlers being sexually abused by adults. As part of his sentence, Adams will pay restitution to the minor victims he directly exploited, and eight other victims identified in Adams’s pornography collection through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Sarah D. Morrison. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Pakiz and S. Courter Shimeall are representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Burn Down a Church that Planned to Host Drag Show Events

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: WASHINGTON – An Ohio man pleaded guilty yesterday to violating the Church Arson Prevention Act and to using fire and explosives to commit a felony, all in connection with his attempt to burn down a church because of the church’s support for the LGBTQI+ community. According to court documents, on March 25, Aimenn D. Penny, 20, of Alliance, made Molotov cocktails and drove to the Community Church of Chesterland (CCC), in Chesterland, Ohio. Angered by the church’s plan to host two drag events the following weekend, Penny threw two Molotov cocktails at the church, hoping to burn it to the ground. Through Penny’s guilty plea, he admitted to using force through fire and explosives, intending to obstruct CCC congregants in their enjoyment and expression of their religious beliefs. Penny was arrested and charged earlier this year with violating the Church Arson Prevention Act, one count of using fire to commit a federal felony, one count of malicious use of explosive materials and one count of possessing a destructive device. “Attempting to burn down the Community Church of Chesterland for their support of the LGBTQI+ community is reprehensible,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “There is no room in this country for such biasmotivated violence and terror, and the Justice Department will continue to protect all Americans in their free exercise of religious beliefs by vigorously prosecuting those who target houses of worship. Our churches should be safe havens for all people, not sites subjected to violence motivated by hate and vitriol.” “Mr. Penny admitted to attempting to burn down a church because he did not like the way congregants chose to express their beliefs,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Such acts of extremist violence are antithetical to core American values of freedom of expression and worship and we will not tolerate those who would use force to deny our citizens the free exercise of their rights.” “By pleading guilty, Aimenn Penny has admitted that he attempted to burn down the Community Church of Chesterland because he disagreed with a planned LGBTQI+ event,” said U.S. Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio. “Violence is never appropriate to settle differences in beliefs. All members of our community are entitled to peacefully assemble, worship, and express themselves freely, without fear of violence or intimidation, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio will aggressively prosecute criminals who threaten that right.” “The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force worked in tandem with our local law enforcement and community partners to identify and bring federal charges against a hate-fueled individual, motivated to violence by his extremist ideology,” said Executive Assistant Director Larissa L. Knapp of the FBI’s National Security Branch. “He committed these despicable acts in an effort to terrorize and intimidate a religious institution’s free expression, and he should face accountability for these crimes.” Penny faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the violation of the Church Arson Prevention Act and a 10-year mandatory prison sentence that will run consecutively with any other prison term imposed for using fire to commit a federal felony. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing has been scheduled for Jan. 29, 2024. The FBI Cleveland Field Office is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Deckert and Matthew W. Shepard for the Northern District of Ohio and Trial Attorneys Jacob Warren and Justin Sher of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case with assistance from Trial Attorney Eric Peffley of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.


title: Polk City Man Sentenced to 30 Years’ Imprisonment for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

component: USAO - Iowa, Southern

body_text: DES MOINES, IA – A Polk City man was sentenced on October 6, 2023, to 30 years in prison for sexual exploitation of a minor. According to public court documents, Daniel Todd Little, 44, produced child sexual abuse material when he videorecorded himself sexually abusing a minor child. The Court imposed the 30-year sentence to be served consecutively to Little’s sentence for his 2022 convictions in the Iowa District Court for Polk County for sexual abuse, controlled substance, and firearm charges. After completing his term of imprisonment, Little will be required to serve 10 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Little was also ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Department of Homeland Security and the Ankeny Police Department investigated the case. 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 Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Justice Department Files Civil Forfeiture Complaint Against $300 Million Superyacht

component: Criminal - Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section

body_text: The United States today filed a civil forfeiture complaint in the Southern District of New York against the motor yacht Amadea – a 348-foot luxury vessel reportedly worth more than $300 million and beneficially owned by sanctioned Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov – which was seized in 2022 at the request of the United States. Today’s filing alleges that the superyacht was improved and maintained in violation of applicable sanctions against Kerimov and those acting on his behalf. According to the complaint, the Amadea is forfeitable based on violations of U.S. law, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and money laundering violations. The burden to prove forfeitability in a civil forfeiture proceeding is upon the government, and proceedings involving this property and its claimants remain ongoing. “The United States brings this action today after a careful and painstaking effort to develop the necessary evidence showing Suleiman Kerimov’s clear interest in the Amadea and the repeated misuse of the U.S. financial system to support and maintain the yacht for his benefit,” said Task Force KleptoCapture co-director Michael Khoo. “Getting to this point required extensive cooperation across the U.S. government and with foreign partners. It underscores our resolve to undertake challenging, cross-border investigations and to send a message to Russian oligarchs and their enablers: if you flout the rule of law, you can expect to pay real and meaningful consequences.” “The filing of this complaint exemplifies that the United States takes sanction evasion seriously and will use all tools at its disposal to ensure that sanctioned individuals are held accountable for their crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York. “I thank our partners with Task Force KleptoCapture as well as the dedicated prosecutors of this office for their important work holding Russian oligarchs responsible and aiding our allies in Ukraine.” According to court documents, on April 6, 2018, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Kerimov as a Specially Designated National (SDN) under IEEPA in connection with its finding that the actions of the Government of the Russian Federation in Ukraine constituted an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. In imposing sanctions, OFAC determined that Kerimov was an official of the Government of the Russian Federation. As alleged, Kerimov never sought a license from OFAC authorizing any transactions including any transactions in connection with expenditures related to the yacht. On or about Sept. 30, 2022, OFAC redesignated Kerimov as an SDN. In September 2021, following Kerimov’s designation by OFAC, Kerimov arranged to purchase the superyacht Amadea, contracting with the seller to receive use rights to the vessel even before he completed payment or obtained title to the vessel. Kerimov gained beneficial ownership of the vessel in or about September 2021 through a series of transfers between shell companies designed to conceal his ownership of the yacht. Beginning in October 2021 through its seizure, Kerimov and/or his family members took multiple trips aboard the Amadea, planned extensive renovations to the Amadea, made long-term plans for the Amadea’s travel schedule, and assumed all liability and responsibility for the Amadea’s upkeep. During that time, individuals or entities acting on Kerimov’s behalf accrued U.S. dollar-denominated costs for the Amadea’s upkeep and sent or caused to be sent through the U.S. financial systems, payments in violation of applicable sanctions. The Amadea is currently under the control of the U.S. government in San Diego, pursuant to a seizure warrant issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, which was enforced by a court order issued by the Republic of Fiji following a mutual legal assistance request from the United States. The United States is deeply grateful to the Fijian police and prosecutors whose perseverance and dedication to the rule of law made this action possible. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York, and Task Force KleptoCapture co-directors Michael W. Khoo and David H. Lim made the announcement. The FBI New York Field Office’s Eurasian Organized Crime Task Force is investigating the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, as well as the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Embassy Suva, and the Diplomatic Security Service, provided valuable assistance and cooperation in this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Mortazavi for the Southern District of New York and Trial Attorneys Joshua L. Sohn of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and Andrew D. Beaty of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are litigating the case. This case was coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls, and economic countermeasures that the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2, 2022, and under the leadership of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all of the Department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression. A civil forfeiture complaint is merely an allegation that money or property was involved in or represents the proceeds of a crime. These allegations are not proven until a court awards a judgment in favor of the United States. Amadea civil forfeiture complaint


title: Parma Man Indicted for Child Pornography Crimes

component: USAO - Ohio, Northern

body_text: CLEVELAND – A Parma man was indicted for child pornography crimes. Brandon N. Crites, 32, of Parma, was indicted on one count each of receipt and distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography. Crites, between 2022 and 2023, received and distributed numerous images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and possessed a laptop and hard drives that contained child pornography in September 2023, according to the indictment. At the time of the offenses, Crites was employed as a patrolman with the Cleveland Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer King following an investigation by the FBI. An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: Civil Forfeiture Complaint Filed Against $300 Million Superyacht Amadea Involved In Sanctions Evasion

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael Khoo and David Lim, Co-Directors of Task Force KleptoCapture, announced today the filing of a civil forfeiture complaint against the Motor Yacht Amadea , a 348-foot luxury vessel reportedly worth over $300 million. The Complaint alleges that the superyacht, which is beneficially owned by Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov, was improved and maintained in violation of applicable sanctions against Kerimov and those acting on his behalf. The Complaint alleges that the Amadea is forfeitable based on violations of U.S. law, including International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”), and money laundering violations. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The filing of this complaint exemplifies that the United States takes sanction evasion seriously and will use all tools at its disposal to ensure that sanctioned individuals are held accountable for their crimes. I thank our partners with Task Force KleptoCapture as well as the dedicated prosecutors of this office for their important work holding Russian oligarchs responsible and aiding our allies in Ukraine.” Co-Director of Task Force KleptoCapture Michael Khoo said: “The United States brings this action today after a careful and painstaking effort to develop the necessary evidence showing Suleiman Kerimov’s clear interest in the Amadea and the repeated misuse of the U.S. financial system to support and maintain the yacht for his benefit. Getting to this point required extensive cooperation across the U.S. government and with foreign partners. It underscores our resolve to undertake challenging, cross-border investigations and to send a message to Russian oligarchs and their enablers: if you flout the rule of law, you can expect to pay real and meaningful consequences.” According to the allegations in the Complaint filed in Manhattan federal court today: [1] On April 6, 2018, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) designated Kerimov as a Specially Designated National (“SDN”) under IEEPA in connection with its finding that the actions of the Government of the Russian Federation in Ukraine constituted an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. In imposing sanctions, OFAC determined that Kerimov benefited from the regime of Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, and played a key role in advancing Russia’s malign activities. As alleged, Kerimov never sought a license from OFAC authorizing any transactions including any transactions in connection with expenditures related to the yacht. On or about September 30, 2022, OFAC redesignated Kerimov as an SDN. In September 2021, following Kerimov’s designation by OFAC, Kerimov arranged to purchase the superyacht Amadea , contracting with the seller to receive use rights to the vessel even before Kerimov had completed payment or obtained title to the vessel. Kerimov gained beneficial ownership of the vessel in or about September 2021 through a series of transfers between shell companies conducted in a manner designed to conceal his ownership of the yacht. Between in or about July 2021 and in or about September 2021, beneficial ownership of the Amadea was transferred from the former title holder, Nereo Management Ltd., to Millemarin Investments Ltd., which was incorporated approximately 30 days before the sale. Ownership of the Amadea was then transferred to Errigal Marine Limited, another newly incorporated company, which was used to obscure Kerimov’s beneficial ownership of the Amadea . Beginning in October 2021 through the date the yacht was seized by Fijian authorities in April 2022, Kerimov and/or his family members took multiple trips aboard the Amadea , planned extensive renovations to the Amadea , made long-term plans for the Amadea ’s travel schedule, and assumed all liability and responsibility for the Amadea ’s upkeep and running costs. During that time period, individuals and/or entities acting on Kerimov’s behalf accrued U.S. dollar-denominated costs necessary for the upkeep of the Amadea and sent or caused to be sent through the U.S. financial systems payments in satisfaction of those expenses, in violation of applicable sanctions. The Amadea is currently under the control of the U.S. Government in San Diego, California, pursuant to a seizure warrant issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, which was enforced by a court order issued by the Republic of Fiji following a request from the United States. The United States is deeply grateful to the Fijian police and prosecutors whose perseverance and dedication to the rule of law made this action possible. * * * Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI New York Field Office’s Eurasian Organized Crime Task Force. Mr. Williams further thanked the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, as well as the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Embassy Suva, and the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, for their assistance and cooperation in this investigation. On March 2, 2022, the Attorney General announced the launch of Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export restrictions, and economic countermeasures that the United States has imposed, along with allies and partners, in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. The Task Force will leverage all the Department’s tools and authorities against efforts to evade or undermine the economic actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression. This case is being handled by the Office’s Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit in partnership with the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and the National Security Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Mortazavi and Trial Attorneys Joshua L. Sohn and Andrew D. Beaty are handling the investigation. A civil forfeiture complaint is merely an allegation that money or property was involved in or represents the proceeds of a crime. These allegations are not proven until a court awards a judgment in favor of the United States. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Georgia emissions inspector pleads guilty to fraudulent emissions tests

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA - Mehboobhusain Malik, who performed thousands of fraudulent emissions tests, has pleaded guilty to violating the Clean Air Act. “The Georgia emissions program exists to protect our community’s air quality,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “With his guilty plea, Malik admits that he essentially sold his position as a licensed emissions inspector by issuing fake emissions certificates for cars that should have failed the test.” “This case demonstrates how local, state, and federal agencies work together to uphold and enforce laws designed to protect human health and the air that we breathe,” said Sara Lips, Director of Communications and Community Engagement for the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. “It further underscores EPD’s emphasis on compliance and enforcement in the Enhanced Inspection and Maintenance Program to ensure Georgia and Metro Atlanta continues to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Under the Clean Air Act (the “Act”), states with areas that exceed the National Ambient Air Quality Standards must implement a vehicle inspection and maintenance program. In Georgia, implementation of the Act requires motor vehicle emissions testing in multiple counties, including Fulton, DeKalb, and Gwinnett. To perform the tests, a licensed emissions inspector logs into the Georgia Analyzer System (“GAS”) using biometric technology, inputs the Vehicle Identification Number and license plate number, and conducts the emissions inspection. Once the test is complete, the GAS uploads the test record to allow the vehicle to be registered if the test is passed, or blocked if the test is failed. Since May 1, 2002, Georgia has been testing 1996 and newer vehicles by using their On Board Diagnostic (“OBD”) systems to check for emissions compliance. The OBD II is accessed through a 16-pin data connector, generally located beneath the vehicle’s dashboard. Simulators have been developed to allow auto manufacturers to simulate different conditions when they design new engines and/or vehicles. Because the simulators are designed to work with vehicle diagnostic tools, these simulators have the same 16-pin data connection as a vehicle’s actual OBD II system and can be used fraudulently to perform an emissions test. Mehboobhusain Malik was an emissions inspector for Georgia who used his biometric login to initiate emissions tests. For vehicles that could not pass the emissions test, Malik and his confederates programmed a simulator with the vehicle information of the non-passing vehicle. The emissions test was run while the system was attached to the simulator in order to pass the test. That way, Malik falsely attributed the passing test to the vehicle that was programed into the simulator, allowing the vehicle to be improperly registered. Malik performed thousands of these fraudulent emissions tests at multiple testing locations in the Atlanta metro area. Mehboobhusain Malik, 72, of Lilburn, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Clean Air Act. Sentencing is scheduled for January 18, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Mark H. Cohen. This case is being investigated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-Criminal Investigation Division and the Georgia State Environmental Protection Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Huber is prosecuting the case. 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: Three Individuals Charged in Multi-Million Dollar Scheme to Defraud Automobile Auction

body_text: NASHVILLE – A federal grand jury returned an indictment last week charging Stephanie Louise Baker, 53, of Mount Juliet, Tenn., Brian Baker, 52, of Mount Juliet, Tenn., and Jerry W. Hutchins, 48, of Dowelltown, Tenn., for engaging in a wire fraud and money laundering scheme to defraud a used automobile auction business in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, announced United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis for the Middle District of Tennessee. All three defendants surrendered to federal agents last Friday and made an appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge that day. The federal indictment charges Stephanie Baker and Brian Baker, who are married, and Hutchins with a wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. The indictment also charges all three defendants with substantive offenses for acts of money laundering. According to the indictment, between February 2017 and November 2018, Stephanie Baker was the General Manager of the Dealers Auto Auction Group’s Murfreesboro auction location. Brian Baker and Jerry Hutchins each owned and operated used car dealerships and did business at the auction. The defendants devised a scheme to defraud Dealers Auto Auction Group, LLC by creating fake transactions to make it appear that the defendants’ businesses had sold cars at the auction and were entitled to receive funds from Dealers Auto Auction Group, when in fact the defendants had not sold vehicles at the auction. Based on the fake transactions, Stephanie Baker caused Dealers Auto Auction Group to issue checks to Brian Baker’s and Hutchins’ businesses. Then, monthly, the defendants would create additional fake transactions using the same vehicles in order to conceal the original fraud and avoid detection. Brian Baker and Hutchins then converted proceeds of the fraud scheme for their own personal use and benefit. As a result of this scheme, the defendants defrauded Dealers Auto Auction Group of more than $2 million. If convicted, the defendants face up to 20 years in prison for the wire fraud conspiracy, the money laundering conspiracy, and the concealment money laundering offenses, and up to 10 years in prison for money laundering. The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation in which the government seeks to forfeit any property derived from the proceeds of the crimes, including a money judgment in the amount of at least $2,041.170 from Stephanie Baker, $1,357,310 from Brian Baker, and $683,830 from Jerry Hutchins. This case was investigated by the IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Suedekum is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. # # # # #


title: Chicago Attorney Indicted on Immigration Fraud Charges

component: USAO - Illinois, Northern

body_text: CHICAGO — A Chicago attorney has been indicted on federal fraud charges for allegedly providing false and fraudulent information to U.S. authorities to obtain immigration benefits for his foreign national clients. MOHAMMAD REZA BANIASSADI owned and operated The Law Offices of Reza Baniassadi, which had offices in Chicago. From 2013 to 2020, Baniassadi conspired with two employees of his firm and others to knowingly provide false and fraudulent information to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on behalf of his foreign national clients who were seeking U.S. immigration benefits, according to an indictment unsealed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Baniassadi advised clients to enter into sham marriages with U.S. citizens or lawful permanent U.S. residents in order to obtain benefits, the indictment states. Among other schemes charged in the indictment, Baniassadi allegedly helped clients cheat on oral civics exams, falsified claims of spousal abuse purportedly suffered by clients, and fabricated job offers from U.S. companies that would purportedly sponsor clients for residency. The indictment charges Baniassadi, 65, of Chicago, with one count of conspiracy to commit immigration fraud and five individual counts of falsifying applications for immigration benefits. Baniassadi is considered a fugitive. A warrant for his arrest has been issued. The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Joseph V. Cuffari, Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey B. Rubenstein. The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Each count of visa fraud is punishable by up to ten years in federal prison, while the conspiracy count carries a maximum sentence of five years. Baniassadi indictment


title: Dialysis Providers Settle Civil Fraud Claims for More Than $9.5 Million

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced agreements with several entities that provide dialysis treatment and services to patients suffering from chronic kidney failure, also known as end-stage renal disease or ESRD. The defendants have agreed to pay a total of more than $9.5 million to settle civil fraud allegations that they caused double-billing to the Medicaid Program for certain medications. Under the terms of the agreements, these providers, including DaVita Healthcare Partners, Inc., Bay Ridge Sunset Park Dialysis Center, Inc., Midwood Chayim Aruchim Dialysis Associates, Inc., New York Artificial Kidney Center, Inc., The Rogosin Institute, for itself and as successor-in-interest to Nephrology Foundation of Brooklyn, Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center, New York Renal Associates, Inc., and Dialysis Clinic, Inc., have paid $3,967,083.38 to the United States under the federal False Claims Act and $5,629,151.20 to New York State under New York State’s False Claims Act. The agreements were approved by United States District Judge Allyne R. Ross. “No patients, especially those suffering from chronic diseases, should ever be used by health care providers to defraud Medicaid,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This settlement sends a strong message that our office will vigorously prosecute anyone whose practices jeopardize Medicaid for their own enrichment.” Mr. Peace thanked the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Office of the New York Sate Attorney General for partnering in the Government’s investigation and resolution of this important case. The Government’s investigation revealed that, from 2000 through 2010 [1] , the dialysis clinics and management companies improperly caused claims to be made to Medicaid by retail pharmacies for certain injectable drugs that were administered during the course of dialysis treatment for ESRD. The injectable drugs had already been paid for by Medicaid as part of the composite dialysis payments received by the dialysis clinics and management companies for dialysis treatments. The civil settlement resolved allegations brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the federal and state False Claims Acts against these entities. Under the qui tam provisions of these Acts, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the settlement if the government takes over the case and reaches a monetary agreement with the defendant. The qui tam case is captioned United States and the State of New York ex rel. Island Rehabilitative Services, Corp. v. South Brooklyn Nephrology Center, Inc. et al , Civil Action No. 09-CV-1549 (E.D.N.Y). The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. The government’s case was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Anjna Kapoor and John Vagelatos. [1] With regard to defendant Dialysis Clinic, Inc., the alleged conduct occurred between 2006 and 2010.


title: Bloomington Man Sentenced to Over Three Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Steal Over $669,000 from Businesses and COVID-19 Programs

component: USAO - Indiana, Southern

body_text: EVANSVILLE- Robert K. Hall, 73, of Bloomington, Indiana, has been sentenced to 41 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to court documents, from September 2019 to December 2020, Hall conspired with others to defraud multiple businesses through business email compromise schemes, and to defraud multiple states and the Small Business Administration by taking advantage of COVID-19 loan and unemployment programs. Hall also worked with his co-conspirators to launder the stolen money through his bank accounts. In September 2019, an employee of Victim Business 1 received a fraudulent email purporting to be a recognized vendor that the business previously worked with. The purported vendor explained that due to an audit involving its’ primary bank account, future payments should be made to a different account. The account that was named belonged to Hall under the guise of an electric company. This fraudulent email caused Business 1 to unknowingly transfer $113,550 into Hall’s personal account. In July 2020, following the passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), a fraudulent application was submitted to the Small Business Administration for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan without the knowledge or consent of the purported beneficiaries. Instead, the proceeds of the loans were deposited into an account controlled by Hall. Hall conducted a similar scheme when his co-conspirators fraudulently applied for three Economic Injury Disaster Loans using the names of an individual and two businesses, directing benefits to again be deposited into Hall’s personal accounts. Additionally, between May 2020 and December 2020, applications for unemployment benefits were submitted to the states of Washington, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Colorado, and Arizona on behalf of more than a dozen individuals whose identities had been stolen. The unemployment benefits were deposited into accounts controlled by Hall and then disbursed to his co-conspirators. After receiving the fraudulent deposits in his accounts, Hall retained roughly 20% of the funds as compensation for his role in the schemes. He transferred the remaining money to his co-conspirators via checks and Bitcoin purchases. In total, Hall attempted to steal $668,746.14. Some of the fraudulent transactions were blocked or reversed, and Hall only successfully received $399,868.36 in proceeds of the fraud schemes. “This defendant played a critical role in multiple fraud schemes, including stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from vital relief programs created to support individuals and businesses in the midst of a global pandemic,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “We will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who defrauded COIVD-19 relief programs. My thanks to the U.S. Secret Service and our prosecutors for their efforts to hold fraudsters accountable and recover money stolen from the American public during this unprecedented crises.” “Hall and his co-conspirators took advantage of government programs intended to assist small businesses and individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Jeffrey R. Adams, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Indianapolis Field Office. “The Secret Service remains committed to aggressively pursuing fraudsters who target the financial infrastructure of the United States." The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Richard L. Young. Judge Young also ordered that Hall be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Matthew B. Miller, who prosecuted this case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID 19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID 19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. ###


title: Nurse Practitioner Pleads Guilty to $6.1 Million Health Care Fraud Conspiracy in Idaho

component: U.S. Attorneys (USAO)

body_text: BOISE – Kristen Bolling, 40, of Sheridan, Wyoming, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud in Idaho, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. According to court records, from April 2017 through October 2019, Bolling conspired to commit health care fraud. Bolling accepted pre-filled medical orders from companies, signing the orders without seeing the patients or making a medical necessity determination and returning the signed orders to the companies in exchange for compensation. During this time, Bolling was licensed and practiced as a nurse practitioner in Idaho. She was also licensed in Wyoming, Colorado, and Washington. Bolling was recruited to work for multiple companies to generate fraudulent medical orders for durable medical equipment (DME), including braces, and cancer genomic testing (CGx). Bolling received kickbacks of approximately $15-$30 per “consult” performed, with the expectation that a “consult” would result in a signed medical order. During the conspiracy, Bolling received at least $204,007 in kickbacks for fraudulent medical orders. The medical orders that Bolling signed, and which the companies sold, were used to fraudulently bill Medicare resulting in payments of over $6.1 million for DME and CGx tests that were not medically necessary and for which the medical orders were procured through the payment of kickbacks and bribes. “Ensuring the integrity of Medicare and other federal health care programs is a priority for my office,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “It’s about protecting taxpayer funds and, ultimately, patient well-being. We will continue to hold accountable anyone who engages in illegal kickback schemes like the one uncovered through this investigation.” “By engaging in kickback arrangements, this defendant knowingly put personal profit before legitimate patient needs. This illegal behavior undermines the integrity of federal healthcare programs and costs taxpayers millions of dollars,” said Steven Ryan, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). Bolling is scheduled to be sentenced on January 9, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the work of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Darci Crane is prosecuting the case. ###


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office and WHYY Present Philadelphia Premiere of “Repairing the World: Stories from the Tree of Life” as Part of Fight Against Hate

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: Philadelphia, PA – On Thursday, October 19, 2023, community members and leaders gathered at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre to watch the first screening in Philadelphia of Repairing the World: Stories from the Tree of Life , United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced today. The documentary tells the story of Pittsburgh’s powerful community response to hate in the aftermath of the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history. Next week marks the fifth anniversary of the attack. “Through the voices of survivors, family members, diverse Pittsburgh residents, and leaders, Repairing the World shows the powerful display of unity in a moment of crisis, the resilience of a vibrant city, and a community working together to stand united against hate,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “In this painful and challenging time in the world, it is a message that we all can learn from and put into action in our own communities.” Following the screening, host and producer of WHYY’s “Morning Edition” Jennifer Lynn led a panel discussion that included Patrice O’Neill, the film’s producer and director, Alan Mallinger, whose mother was killed and sister was wounded in the shooting, and Maggie Feinstein, director of the 10.27 Healing Partnership. United States Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania Eric G. Olshan and members of the trial team that prosecuted and convicted the shooter were also in attendance and shared remarks. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania hosted the screening and discussion as part of the Department of Justice’s United Against Hate Initiative, in partnership with WHYY and Not In Our Town. The American Jewish Committee, the Anti-Defamation League, the Board of Rabbis of Greater Philadelphia, HIAS Pennsylvania, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, and the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History cosponsored the screening. “Hate-based violence and threats hurt not just the victims; they destroy entire communities,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “In addition to prosecuting these crimes to the fullest extent of the law, my Office, along with our community and law enforcement partners, will continue to shine a light on the impact of these crimes and work with our partners to build the community connections needed to prevent them.” U.S. Attorney Olshan added, “We were proud to join our colleagues from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for a viewing of this film, which showcases what those of us who worked on this case have witnessed firsthand for the last five years—the unbelievable strength and resolve of the entire victim community. We will continue to stand beside them in solidarity and to show that together we are stronger than hate.” “Not In Our Town is honored to present this film to the Philadelphia community with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, WHYY, and our community partners,” said the film’s director and Not In Our Town CEO Patrice O’Neill. “The Pittsburgh community presents powerful lessons about how we can build alliances in our cities and towns that will help us become stronger than hate. We look forward to seeing how Pittsburgh’s story helps spark these discussions here in Philadelphia and across the country.” WHYY will broadcast the film on Thursday, October 26, 2023, at 9:00 p.m., with an encore presentation on Sunday, October 29, 2023, at 12:30 p.m. Learn more about the film by visiting https://repairingtheworldfilm.org/ . Report suspected hate crimes first to your local law enforcement, then to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or 1-800-CALL-FBI. You can also report a hate crime, find resources, and learn more about the Department of Justice’s hate crimes prevention and enforcement work by visiting www.justice.gov/hatecrimes .


title: Former HSI Special Agent Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Prison on Tax, Structuring, and Concealment Charges

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: CHICAGO — A former special agent with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for tax, structuring, and concealment offenses. A jury in May convicted ANTHONY SABAINI, 41, of Naperville, Ill., of illegally structuring financial transactions, concealing material facts from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and filing false federal tax returns. In addition to the 74-month prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Andrea R. Wood on Thursday ordered Sabaini to pay $93,422 in restitution to the IRS. The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, Justin Campbell, Special Agent-in-Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago, Joseph V. Cuffari, Inspector General for DHS, and Michael K. Finerty, Resident Agent-in-Charge of the Office of Professional Responsibility at DHS. Valuable assistance was provided by the DEA. “Corrupt law enforcement strikes at the heart of our system of government,” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared Hasten and Jonathan Shih argued in the prosecution’s sentencing memorandum. “When individuals in law enforcement break the law, it makes the job of legitimate law enforcement that much harder because it erodes public trust.” Sabaini was assigned to the Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. field office of HSI, a criminal investigative unit within DHS. Evidence at trial revealed that Sabaini maintained a corrupt relationship with an HSI confidential informant and tipped off the informant to sensitive investigations conducted by other law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and DEA. In exchange for Sabaini’s protection, the informant paid Sabaini at least $50,000. Sabaini also stole cash from drug dealers and pocketed money from HSI that had been earmarked for investigative activity. Sabaini deposited more than $250,000 into a bank account for which he was the sole signatory. He made the deposits in more than 160 transactions, with the amount of each deposit being less than $10,000. The deposits were structured in an effort to evade federal reporting rules, which require financial institutions to notify the U.S. Department of the Treasury about transactions of more than $10,000. The evidence also showed that Sabaini lied on official HSI memoranda in 2017 and 2018 to protect his corrupt relationship with the informant. In the memoranda, Sabaini knowingly concealed material facts, including that the informant was a target of ongoing criminal investigations conducted by other law enforcement agencies, and that the informant had recently engaged in unauthorized criminal conduct that Sabaini knew would have affected his suitability as a paid HSI informant. Sabaini also underreported income in federal tax returns from 2014 to 2018. A separate federal jury in 2021 convicted Sabaini’s partner, FERNANDO ZAMBRANO, of lying to investigators during the Sabaini probe. Zambrano was a Palos Heights Police Officer assigned to an HSI task force. Zambrano was sentenced to three months in federal prison.