title: Marijuana Trafficker Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Conspiracy

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that DELROY ANDERSON, also known as “Max,” 57, formerly of Stamford, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to leading a money laundering conspiracy related to his large-scale trafficking of marijuana. According to court documents and statements made in court, for approximately five years, Anderson conspired with others to launder proceeds from a marijuana trafficking operation by paying for marijuana cultivation, package shipping, electricity, and air travel expenses with the proceeds. He also deposited the drug trafficking proceeds into multiple bank accounts opened in the name of Maximillion Enterprises Inc., and structured deposits to evade reporting requirements under federal law. Between 2015 and 2019, Anderson operated marijuana cultivation farms in Santa Rosa, California, and Willits, California, and he employed others to grow, harvest, package, and ship the marijuana for distribution in Connecticut, Virginia, New York, and elsewhere. In February 2020, Anderson and his co-conspirators, Kelvin Jackson, and Stephanie Atkinson, were charged by indictment with various money laundering offenses. On February 18, 2022, Anderson, who had been released on bond pending trial, was scheduled to appear before Judge Dooley for a guilty plea proceeding. He failed to appear for that court proceeding and ceased contact with his attorney and the U.S. Probation Office. On November 8, 2023, the U.S. Marshals Service located and arrested Anderson in Dallas, Texas. He has been detained since his arrest. Anderson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Anderson also agreed to forfeit his interest in multiple bank accounts associated with the charged conspiracy. Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for September 16. Jackson, of Bristol, Virginia, and Atkinson, of Stamford, previously pleaded guilty to the same charge and await sentencing. This matter has been investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Service, the Stamford Police Department, and the Sonoma County (Calif.) Sheriff’s Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David T. Huang and Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Hosts Summer Law Camp

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS – Earlier this week, 36 area high school students participated in an immersive Summer Law Camp hosted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota. Over the course of three days, students learned about the federal justice system from the perspective of criminal, civil, and appellate attorneys and paralegals, victim witness advocates, human resource specialists, law enforcement officials, judicial law clerks, the federal judiciary, and law students. “The USAO’s Summer Law Camp was developed to introduce high school students to various career paths associated with the criminal justice system and the practice of law,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “It is our hope that by offering a window into the work we do each and every day to uphold the rule of law and keep our communities safe, we can inspire the next generation to consider careers as lawyers, law enforcement officers, or vital legal support professionals.” In addition to meeting with members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, students heard from the Federal Public Defender’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshal’s Service (USMS), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), South Dakota’s FUSION Center, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the Sioux Falls Police Department (SFPD). On the third day of Camp, students conducted a mock trial before U.S. District Court Judge Karen E. Schreier. This was the first Summer Law Camp organized by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota. Information about future programming will be distributed to area school districts in Spring 2025. For more information, please reach out to USASD.SummerLawCamp@usdoj.gov .


title: Pelham Woman Pleads Guilty to Straw Purchasing a Firearm

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A Pelham woman pleaded guilty today in federal court to making a false statement to acquire a firearm, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Rebecca Aubuchont, 28, pleaded guilty to making a false statement in connection with acquiring a firearm for her then-partner, James Aubuchont. U.S. District Court Judge Landya B. McCafferty scheduled sentencing for October 17, 2024. James pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of two firearms and ammunition on June 13, 2024, and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 20, 2024. In July 2023, a state warrant was issued for James’s arrest in connection with an aggravated felonious sexual assault. Law enforcement arrested him on July 12, 2023, near the Flat Mountain Pond Shelter in the White Mountains. During a recorded jailhouse call, James asked Rebecca to retrieve his two “fishing rods” from the campsite, including one that “we got from VJ, remember the one you bought?” Three days later, law enforcement recovered a rifle and pistol from James’s campsite, along with over 2,000 rounds of ammunition. Rebecca had purchased the rifle from a firearms dealer operated by an individual with the first and middle initials V.J. with the intention of giving the gun to James. The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms led the investigation. The Carroll County Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Forest Service provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander S. Chen and Tiffany A. Scanlon are prosecuting the case. ###


title: Firearms Offender, Prosecuted Under Safe Summer Program, Sentenced To 64 Months

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Kalamazoo resident Juwara Jawan Compton, Jr., 32, was sentenced to 64 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Compton was charged last October under Safe Summer 2023, a gun-violence enforcement program under which the U.S. Attorney’s Office committed to prosecute all firearms offenders who possess crime guns (that is, guns previously fired in the commission of a crime). The firearm Compton possessed was loaded, outfitted with an extended magazine, and modified with a “switch” that made it operate as a machinegun. “Our Safe Summer 2024 Program is underway right now and we mean what we say: We will federally prosecute all firearms offenders caught with crime guns,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten . “Mr. Compton carried an illegal machinegun equipped with an extended magazine, capable of inflicting mass destruction and senseless trauma. He will likely now serve years more in prison because he was prosecuted under the Safe Summer program. My team and our partners will not rest until every person, in every neighborhood, in every community is safe from violence.” According to court documents, in September 2023, officers responded to the area of the Thunderbird Bar in Kalamazoo after receiving a report of a possible felonious assault. On scene, they found a vehicle registered to Compton’s sister. On the backseat, Compton had left a handgun with an extended magazine. The gun was loaded with a round in the chamber. It was also equipped with a “switch” that converted the pistol to a fully automatic machinegun. Below is a photo of the firearm. Compton possessed the gun in this case after sustaining multiple prior felony convictions, including domestic violence. His history includes an incident in which he threw a woman across a room multiple times and destroyed her cell phone and another incident in which he threw a paint can at his girlfriend and hit her in the head. He then threw her to the ground, placed his knee on her chest, pulled her hair, and bit her left arm. Finally, in 2020, he threatened yet another female victim with a metal pipe. “Individuals who choose a life of fear and violence to invoke criminal intimidation will be removed from our communities,” said ATF Detroit Special Agent in Charge James Deir . “Mr. Compton is a convicted felon possessing illegal firearms and a serial domestic violence abuser who is going to have a lot of free time to reflect on his consistent track record of illegal activity.” In sentencing Compton, Chief Judge Jarbou noted the serious nature of Compton’s crime noting that having a gun is made even more dangerous when that possession is coupled with someone with Compton’s criminal record. She noted that Compton’s criminal history, particularly his previous failures to complete periods of probation successfully, indicated that Compton “has no respect for the law” and had not ben deterred by criminal sentences he had received in the past. U.S. Attorney Mark Totten announced the Safe Summer 2024 program on May 23, 2024 in a press release and press conferences in Benton Harbor, Kalamazoo, Lansing, and Grand Rapids. Under this program, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will prosecute all cases that satisfy two criteria. First, the case must involve a federal firearms offense. The two most common offenses are felon in possession, which prohibits previously convicted felons from possessing a gun, and possession of a machine gun, which generally prohibits persons from possessing fully automatic guns. Second, the case must involve a crime gun, which is any gun previously fired in the commission of a crime. These criteria focus federal efforts on the few individuals driving gun violence in their communities. Gun violence is an acute problem across the United States. In 2021, for the first time ever, firearm-related injuries became the leading cause of death for American children, ages birth to 19, according to the New England Journal of Medicine ( see also here ). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the U.S. firearm homicide rate in 2021 was the highest documented since 1993. While the numbers have declined since 2021, they remain high. Moreover, while gun violence has the potential to impact everyone, recent studies show that gun violence has a disparate impact on people of color. A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that the disparity in shooting injuries among children before and after the pandemic in four major cities approximately tripled as between white children and children of color (Black, Hispanic, Asian). This case was investigated by the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie M. Carowan prosecuted the case for the government. ###


title: Williamsburg man sentenced for soliciting sex with a minor

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A Williamsburg man was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for attempted online coercion and enticement of a minor. According to court documents, during an undercover operation targeting child exploitation and human trafficking, a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Task Force Officer from Naval Criminal Investigative Service agent posed as a female interested in sexual activity and “cash” on a website commonly used for escorts and adult services. On May 25, 2023, the agent was contacted via text message by Nico Mariano Villegas, 32. Believing he was communicating with a 14-year-old girl, Villegas arranged to meet her in Norfolk and pay her $150 for oral sex. After exchanging photographs, including several pictures of himself, Villegas drove to the location where they had agreed to meet. When law enforcement attempted to conduct a traffic stop by activating their emergency lights and blocking Villegas’ vehicle, Villegas accelerated forward, striking the police vehicles, and later abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot. An HSI Task Force Officer from the Virginia State Police eventually located Villegas hiding behind a nearby retail store and arrested him. HSI investigators discovered copies of the conversations and identified child sexual abuse material on Villegas’ phone. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C.; Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent; and Mack Hickman, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Mozzi prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . 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. 2:23-cr-120.


title: Recidivist Drug Dealer Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison for Distributing Fentanyl Resulting in Death and for Participating in Drug Conspiracy While Incarcerated

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Duquesne, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court on July 1, 2024, to 13 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, on his conviction of distributing fentanyl resulting in death, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy imposed the sentence on Rahde Williamson, 28. According to information presented to the Court, from December 2018 through August 2019, Williamson supplied over 400 grams of fentanyl to Monessen-based narcotics dealer Delmar Pritchett. In June 2019, Pritchett distributed some of that fentanyl to a 21-year-old woman, T.H., who died from an overdose of the drugs. Both Williamson and Pritchett accepted responsibility for T.H.’s death during the course of their prosecutions. In imposing Williamson’s sentence, the Court also considered Williamson’s participation in a separate conspiracy to distribute suboxone, a Schedule III narcotic, while awaiting trial at the Butler County Prison. Williamson previously was convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin in 2014 and was on federal supervised release at the time of his conduct in this case. On May 17, 2024, Senior United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer sentenced Pritchett to eight years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for his role in the death of T.H. and the drug conspiracy with Williamson. “Today’s sentencing is yet another reminder that the distribution of fentanyl can lead to tragedy,” said U.S. Attorney Olshan. “Rahde Williamson was responsible for the fentanyl that found its way into the hands of a 21-year-old victim, and even after T.H.’s death, the defendant continued to deal drugs—this time, suboxone—while detained and awaiting trial. This office and our partners in law enforcement are dedicated to holding accountable those who distribute deadly substances on the street or inside the walls of a jail.” Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Vasquez Schmitt prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Olshan commended the Drug Enforcement Administration for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Williamson.


title: Former City of Miami Police Officer Sentenced to Over 11 Years in Prison for Attempted Cocaine Trafficking and Attempted Hobbs Act Extortion

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – Frenel Cenat, a former police officer with the City of Miami Police Department (MPD) was sentenced today to 135 months in prison, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release, by Senior U.S. District Judge James I. Cohn in Fort Lauderdale. Cenat previously pled guilty to attempted Hobbs Act extortion under color of official right and attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The charges arose from the use of his police position and authority, and his unmarked MPD-issued vehicle and equipment to conduct two illegal traffic stops to steal what he believed were drug proceeds and seven kilograms of cocaine from the drivers. “The vast majority of the law enforcement officers in this district and throughout this country perform their very difficult jobs with respect for their communities and in compliance with the law,” stated U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “Former police officer Frenel Cenat tarnished his badge when he abused his position and authority. His actions do not speak for the larger law enforcement community. Rather, today’s sentencing is a reminder that no one is above the law. I would like to thank our partners at the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and MPD, in particular the FBI’s West Palm Beach Resident Agency and the Miami Area Corruption Task Force, for their unwavering commitment to the communities we serve and the pursuit of justice.” “Former police officer Frenel Cenat disgraced himself by his inexcusable actions that damaged the public’s trust in law enforcement,” said Jeffrey B. Veltri, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Miami. “I want to thank the Drug Enforcement Administration, the City of Miami Police Department and our U.S. Attorney’s Office for their ironclad commitment throughout this complex investigation. Every day, thousands of dedicated, able, and honorable law enforcement officers take to the streets to protect communities throughout South Florida. It is on the behalf of these professionals that we seek to root out wrongdoing to ensure the high standards expected of our police are met and maintained. Our citizens deserve no less. We encourage anyone who may have information about corruption to come forward and report it. This information is vital to protecting our community.” “Cenat used his badge to cover his illegal activities, thereby tarnishing the reputations of all the good men and women who protect our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter, DEA Miami Field Division. “Law enforcement partnerships were key to bringing this disgraced officer to justice.” “The reputation of the Miami Police Department is paramount. The community we are sworn to protect must trust our ability to police ourselves. The arrest of Mr. Cenat sent a strong message that I will not tolerate any member to tarnish the brand of our Miami Police Department,” said MPD Chief Manny Morales. “I am grateful for the assistance and partnership of the FBI, DEA, and the U.S. Attorney's Office; their professionalism and dedication made this investigation tremendously successful and resulted in the arrest of a person unfit to wear the badge.” Cenat, 41, who at the time of the crimes had been a police officer with the MPD since 2008, was using an MPD unmarked SUV as a “take home” vehicle. As an MPD police officer, Cenat was prohibited from engaging in any act of extortion or unlawful means of obtaining anything of value using his official position. In addition, Cenat was required to uphold the laws of the State of Florida and the United States, and he was not permitted to allow, facilitate, or assist individuals in breaking those laws, nor was he authorized to accept payments or things of value in exchange for allowing, facilitating, or assisting them in breaking state or federal laws. A confidential human source (CHS) stated to law enforcement that they had been told by a mutual friend that Cenat had previously conducted traffic stops of individuals known to have engaged in drug transactions for the purpose of stealing the drugs and/or money those individuals were transporting. On Oct. 16, 2023, the friend introduced Cenat to the CHS at a meeting in Broward County, during which the three of them discussed an opportunity for Cenat to use his police officer position to stop an individual immediately following a drug transaction and steal approximately $50,000 in drug proceeds that the individual would have in their vehicle. Cenat indicated that he conducts the traffic stops outside of his jurisdiction and while off duty. On Nov. 1, 2023, the friend, the CHS and Cenat planned for a traffic stop rip-off for Nov. 3, 2023. They discussed that the driver to be stopped would have approximately $50,000 in cash from the purported drug transaction, and Cenat requested the time and location of the deal, as well as detailed information about the driver. Cenat stated he would use this information when he conducted the traffic stop to scare the individual into believing they had been under investigation and surveillance for some time so that the driver would be more likely to comply with his request for the money. On Nov. 2 and 3, 2023, Cenat and the CHS engaged in numerous communications leading up to the traffic stop. On November 3, at a hotel parking lot in Miami Gardens, Florida, Cenat initiated these communications directly with the CHS. Cenat, in his MPD-issued unmarked vehicle, observed two drivers engage in a staged drug transaction in a parking lot. These drivers were actually FBI undercover employees. One of the drivers was given a backpack containing $52,000 in cash. Cenat followed that driver out of the parking lot and turned on his lights and sirens to conduct a traffic stop. During this stop, Cenat was dressed in black tactical gear, and had his MPD-issued firearm and taser visible in their holsters. Cenat introduced himself as “Officer Martez” and told one of the drivers that he had witnessed the drug transaction. Cenat gave the driver the choice of giving up the backpack containing the cash or going to jail. The driver gave Cenat the backpack containing the cash and then the driver was allowed to leave the scene in his vehicle without being arrested. Cenat met with the CHS immediately thereafter and gave him $13,000 of the money stolen from the driver, keeping the remaining $39,000. On Nov. 7, 2023, Cenat called the CHS and asked if he knew of a deal where Cenat could do another stop and get something like seven or ten kilograms of cocaine. Following up on the Cenat’s request, on Nov. 12, 2023, the CHS called Cenat about an upcoming deal in Deerfield Beach, Florida, on Nov. 16, 2023. The CHS told Cenat that the driver he would be stopping would have approximately six or seven kilograms of cocaine and at least $30,000 USD from a purported drug transaction. During their discussions, Cenat speculated that the cocaine he would be stealing could be sold for well over $100,000 that they could split. On Nov. 16, 2023, Cenat called the CHS to tell him that he was at the parking lot in his MPD-issued vehicle where the deal was to take place. Then, the CHS messaged Cenat a description of the individual’s vehicle for the traffic stop. Like the first deal, two undercover FBI employees engaged in a staged drug transaction in the parking lot. Cenat followed one of them out of the parking lot and turned on the lights of his MPD-issued vehicle to conduct a traffic stop. Cenat was dressed in black tactical gear, including his MPD-issued tactical vest with body armor in place, and once again had his MPD-issued firearm and taser visible in their holsters. Cenat introduced himself as “Officer Martez” with “Broward County Sheriff’s Office – Narcotics Unit” and told the driver that he had witnessed the drug transaction. Cenat went to the bed of the driver’s truck and took a duffle bag containing seven kilograms of fake cocaine and $80,000 and brought it back to his own MPD vehicle. Cenat then returned to the driver-side window of the vehicle and used the information received from the CHS to create the impression that he was under investigation. Cenat asked the driver “you want to go home tonight or spend 30 years in… federal prison?” The driver told Cenat that he wanted to go home. Cenat then told the driver that he now worked for him and had to answer when he was called. Having obtained the fake cocaine and cash from the driver, Cenat let him drive away. Cenat left with the duffle bag containing the fake cocaine and cash and shortly thereafter was arrested by law enforcement officers. The duffle bag, the seven kilograms of fake cocaine and the $80,000 in cash from the traffic stop were found in Cenat’s unmarked MPD-issued vehicle. In addition, $2,000 in $100 bills from the Nov. 3, 2023, traffic stop rip-off was also found in his vehicle. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of FBI, Miami Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter, DEA Miami Field Division, and Chief of Police Manuel A. Morales of MPD announced the sentence imposed. FBI’s West Palm Beach Resident Agency and FBI’s Miami Area Corruption Task Force, which includes task force officers from MPD’s Internal Affairs Section, and the DEA investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward N. Stamm prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marx Calderon is handling asset forfeiture. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-60016. ###


title: Newtown Man Sentenced for Fentanyl Trafficking in Northwest Missouri

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Newtown, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in conspiracies to distribute fentanyl in northwest Missouri and to wire the proceeds of drug trafficking to Mexico. Lucas Ryan Coltrain, 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to nine years in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Coltrain to forfeit to the government $10,000, which represents the proceeds he received from drug trafficking. On Feb. 6, 2024, Coltrain pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl from Oct. 27, 2020, to Jan. 24, 2023, and to participating in a conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to court documents, Coltrain distributed at least 5,662 fentanyl pills, pressed into pills that appear to be prescription pharmaceuticals by members of a Mexican cartel. Coltain’s Facebook message records show that he was receiving M30 pills “by the 1000s” and selling them for $40 a pill. Coltrain admitted knowing that people were dying after taking the M30 pills, which he sold to friends. His sales continued even after the death of an acquaintance on July 17, 2021. Coltrain was hospitalized for a fentanyl overdose in August 2023, after he was released on bond in this case. Coltrain admitted that he wired approximately $10,000 to $15,000 to Mexico. Those wire transfers represented the proceeds from the distribution of fentanyl. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen A. Brackett. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Grundy County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Trenton, Mo., Police Department, the Northwest Missouri Drug Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Mercer County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Grundy County, Mo., Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and IRS-Criminal Investigation.


title: Two Individuals Charged with Scheme to Export and Smuggle Aviation Device to United Arab Emirates

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – Two people were arrested Tuesday morning for shipping an Air Data Inertial Reference Unit (ADIRU) from New Jersey to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) without having obtained the required license and authorization, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Fadi Nammas, 43, of Fairfax, Virginia, and Tara Jamhour, 24, of Rockaway, New Jersey, are charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to export and smuggle goods from the United States, one count of unlawfully exporting goods from the United States without having first obtained the required license or authorization, and one count of smuggling goods from the United States. Nammas made his initial appearance on July 2, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge William E. Fitzpatrick in federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia, and is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing, detention hearing, and identity hearing on July 3, 2024, before Judge Fitzpatrick. Jamhour made her initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jessica S. Allen in Newark federal court and was released on $100,000 unsecured bond. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From November 2023 through March 2024, Nammas and Jamhour were working under the auspices of Star Aero, an aircraft service and part provider with a purported address in Garfield, New Jersey. The defendants obtained an ADIRU, a component that supplies air data and inertial reference information to pilots’ electronic flight instrument system displays, from a Vermont-based aviation company. Nammas and Jamhour arranged to have the ADIRU shipped to Star Aero’s purported Garfield address. In procuring the ADIRU, Nammas and Jamhour represented that the ADIRU was being purchased for Star Aero’s stock purposes and that Star Aero understood and would comply with United States export laws. The defendants did not disclose that they intended to ship the ADIRU to another company in the UAE. Once the defendants received the ADIRU, they repackaged it with false documentation that undervalued and falsely described the item and attempted to ship it to the UAE. Neither Nammas nor Jamhour obtained the required license or authorization to ship the ADIRU, which was controlled for missile technology and anti-terrorism reasons, to the UAE. The charge of conspiracy is punishable by a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 fine. The charge of unlawfully exporting controlled goods is punishable by a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The charge of smuggling is punishable by a maximum penalty of 10 years and a $250,000 fine. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, under the direction of U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber, and agents of the HSI Field Office in Fairfax, Virginia. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vera Varshavsky of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s National Security Unit and Trial Attorney Monica Svetoslavov of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section of the National Security Division. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. nammasjamhour.complaint.pdf


title: Alabama Man Sentenced To More Than 15 Years In Federal Prison For Distributing Child Sex Abuse Material

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Ocala, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge John Antoon II has sentenced Craig Anthony (25, Alabama) to 15 years and 6 months in federal prison for distribution of child sex abuse material. Anthony entered a guilty plea on January 29, 2024. According to court documents, beginning on May 31, 2023, Anthony distributed multiple videos containing child sex abuse material to a social media account operated by an undercover Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent in Lake County. Anthony believed he was distributing the child sex abuse material to a minor. On August 3, 2023, HSI executed a federal search warrant at Anthony’s residence in Alabama. At least one image of child sex abuse material was confirmed on Anthony’s cellphone. Anthony later admitted to sending child sex abuse material over the internet to the undercover agent. “The distribution of child sexual abuse material creates a permanent record of a child’s darkest moments, and revictimizes them in perpetuity,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “When predators distribute images of children being sexually exploited online, it forces these victims to confront the enduring, widespread circulation of their abuse for a lifetime. This is an unacceptable scenario for HSI, as we dedicate ourselves daily to stopping this vile behavior.” This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Defendant Sentenced to 16 Months in Prison for Mass Shooting Threat at University of Arizona

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Michael Pengchung Lee, 27, of Tucson, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Rosemary Márquez to 16 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. The conditions of supervised release include substance abuse testing, a mental health assessment, location monitoring, and a no-contact provision that precludes defendant from being on the University of Arizona campus. Lee pleaded guilty on April 10, 2024, to Interstate Threats for transmitting threats through interstate communications to commit a mass shooting at the University of Arizona. The complaint previously filed in this case alleged that on October 22, 2023, Lee transmitted threats to commit a mass shooting at the university in a group chat on Snapchat. Lee is not a student at the university but expressed a desire to get revenge on “all the chads and stacies!!” “Chads” and “stacies” are commonly used terms by self-described involuntary celibates (incels). Lee made further reference to incel ideology and finished the conversation by stating “im gonna do it guys, my mind is made up and there’s nothing u can do or say to stop me.” On April 10, 2024, Lee admitted to sending multiple Snapchat messages on October 22, 2023, to a group chat threatening to commit a mass shooting at the University of Arizona. Lee further admitted that those messages referenced incel ideology, language, and motivations, including referring to a well-known, self-identified incel and mass shooter. Lee also admitted to threatening to commit a mass shooting at the university in at least two other Snapchat conversations, citing the same incel ideology and motivations. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the University of Arizona Police Department, as part of the FBI’s Southern Arizona Violent Crime and Gang Task Force, conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Rossi, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-23-01694-TUC-RM RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-086_Lee # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Darnell Bishop Pleads Guilty To Role In Benton Harbor Dunham’s Store Handgun Theft

body_text: Faces potential life sentence for kidnapping of Dunham’s manager GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Darnell Bishop, 33, of Benton Harbor, pled guilty to kidnapping and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Bishop faces a maximum possible penalty of life in prison. “My office is laser focused on those few individuals driving gun violence in our communities, including active shooters and gun traffickers,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten . “Darnell Bishop’s brazen crimes, if successful, would have flooded the streets of Benton Harbor and beyond with illegal firearms. I’m grateful to our law enforcement partners for their swift investigative work that put a stop to this criminal scheme.” Bishop was charged along with his codefendant, Dontrell Nance , for the theft of 123 handguns from the Benton Harbor Dunham’s Sports. As part of his plea agreement, Bishop admitted that he and Nance kidnapped the Dunham’s manager from outside the manager’s home using a pistol, took him to a second location, and convinced the manager to provide the alarm code for Dunham’s. Bishop said he then went to the store and stole 123 pistols, which he carried away in two large coolers. Law enforcement has since recovered all the firearms. Nance previously pled guilty to kidnapping and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 22, 2024. “Today’s plea is the best-case scenario for our industry partners and their innocent employees. Armed robberies of FFLs are one of ATF’s top priorities,” said Detroit Field Division Special Agent in Charge James Deir . “The message continues to be clear: There is no place in our community for illegal firearms traffickers and those who choose to target and victimize business owners and employees who are just trying to provide for their families.” “Today's guilty plea confirms that justice has been served, and Mr. Bishop will be held accountable for the heinous crimes committed against the victim and the victim's place of work,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan . “I commend the investigative efforts and achievements of the FBI's Benton Harbor Safe Streets Task Force and our local, state, and federal partners for their dedication to this case. Nevertheless, our daily work continues to contribute to the safety of our communities.” This case was investigated by the Benton Charter Township Police Department, Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety, Berrien County Sheriff’s Department, Michigan State Police, ATF, and FBI. ### Media note: The previous press releases, complaint, and press conference can be viewed here , here , and here .


title: Pascagoula Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Mississippi, Southern

body_text: Gulfport, MS – A Pascagoula, Mississippi man pleaded guilty to distribution of images of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. According to court documents, Tyrone Lewis, 20, had sexual contact with a 14-year-old in Jackson County, Mississippi, and recorded some of the sexual acts on a cell phone. Further investigation, including an analysis of the victim’s cell phone, revealed that Lewis sent the victim videos of himself and the victim engaging in sexual activity. The cell phone also contained a text message which confirmed Lewis knew the victim was a minor. Lewis pleaded guilty to distribution of images of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 10, 2024, and faces up to twenty years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Smith is prosecuting 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: Final defendant pleads guilty in racketeering scheme that resulted in the nationwide lockdown of the federal prison system

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: BEAUMONT, Texas – The final defendant in a racketeering conspiracy that resulted in the nationwide lockdown of the federal prison system has pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. Juan Carlos Rivas-Moreiera, a/k/a “Juan Carlos Moriera,” a/k/a “Stocky” pleaded guilty on July 2, 2024, for his role in a racketeering conspiracy in furtherance of the violent transnational criminal organization La Mara Salvatrucha , also known as the MS-13. In April 2022, seven defendants, including Rivas-Moreiera, were indicted and charged with the planning and execution of a violent attack orchestrated by members of MS-13 against Mexican Mafia and Sureños associates that resulted in two deaths, two attempted murders, and a nationwide lockdown of all inmates in the Federal Bureau of Prisons for almost a week. Rivas-Moreiera admitted to his role in the deadly prison attack and faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Rivas-Moreiera was the last remaining defendant to plead guilty. According to information presented in court, MS-13 is a transnational criminal organization composed primarily of immigrants or descendants of immigrants from El Salvador, but also includes members from other countries such as Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico. The Mexican Mafia controls large portions of the Hispanic prison population in California and Texas and the federal prison system. Although MS-13 has had a symbiotic relationship with both the Mexican Mafia and the Sureños, which is a close association of Hispanic gangs that pay tribute to the Mexican Mafia, that relationship has begun to deteriorate resulting in violent clashes between the groups. On January 31, 2022, seven MS-13 members imprisoned at the U.S. Penitentiary in Beaumont attacked multiple Sureños members and one Mexican Mafia associate. Defendant Rivas-Moreiera began the prison attack when he approached Guillermo Riojas and stabbed Riojas twice in the chest. Riojas fell immediately, and other MS-13 defendants stabbed and kicked Riojas while he lay motionless on the prison floor. The MS-13 defendants then chased, cornered, beat, and repeatedly stabbed Andrew Pineda, and other Sureños members. The prison attack lasted approximately three minutes. Riojas and Pineda died as a result of the attack. Defendants Rivas-Moreiera, Alfaro-Granado, and Landaverde-Giron are all serving sentences of life imprisonment for their participation in MS-13 and committing murder in aid of racketeering in furtherance of MS-13. Defendant Ramires is also serving a sentence of 27 years in federal prison following his conviction for participating in MS-13 and committing a murder on behalf of the gang. This case is a result of coordination between the Eastern District of Texas and Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV), which was created in August 2019 as a whole-of-government approach to dismantle transnational criminal organizations, such as MS-13. Since its creation, JTFV has successfully increased coordination and collaboration with foreign law enforcement partners, including El Salvador, Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala; designating priority MS-13 programs, cliques and leaders, who have the most impact on the United States, for targeted prosecutions; and coordinating significant MS-13 indictments in U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including the first use of national security charges against MS-13 leaders, such as the Ranfla Nacional, in El Salvador. JTFV has been comprised of members from U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including EDTX; the Eastern District of New York; the Southern District of New York; the District of New Jersey; the Northern District of Ohio; the District of Utah; the Eastern District of Virginia; the District of Massachusetts; the District of Alaska; the Southern District of Florida; the Southern District of California; the District of Nevada; and the District of Columbia, as well as the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and the Criminal Division. In addition, all Department of Justice law enforcement agencies are involved in the effort, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Marshals Service; and the Bureau of Prisons. In addition, the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations also plays a critical role in JTFV. This case is being prosecuted by Eastern District of Texas Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph R. Batte; Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher A. Eason from the Eastern District of Texas and JTFV; Assistant U.S. Attorney Stewart M. Young from JTFV and the District of Utah; and Trial Attorney Jacob Warren from the National Security Division. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Bureau of Prisons. ###


title: Winnsboro Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of a Firearm

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Juawn Robertson, 39, of Winnsboro, was sentenced to more than three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon. Evidence presented to the court showed that on May 30, 2021, an officer with the Cayce Department of Public Safety tried to conduct a traffic stop on Robertson’s vehicle. Robertson did not stop and continued to drive eventually stalling in the parking lot of a local restaurant. Robertson then ran from his vehicle. Officers caught Robertson and took him into custody. After officers detained Robertson, they reviewed the dash camera footage of the traffic stop which recorded Robertson tossing a bag during his flight from law enforcement. Officers recovered the bag which contained a loaded firearm. Robertson has prior convictions for possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, distribution of crack cocaine, distribution of cocaine, and assault and battery 2 nd degree. All of which prohibit him from possessing firearms. United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Robertson to 40 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Cayce Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar J. Fyall is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Ecuadorian National Pleads Guilty To Conspiring To Smuggle Over 1,700 Kilograms Of Cocaine In International Waters

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Juan Nicolas Pachay Lopez (40, Manta, Ecuador) has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of a substance or mixture containing a detectable amount of cocaine, and possession with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of a substance or mixture containing a detectable amount of cocaine. Pachay Lopez faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison on each count. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court documents, on or about February 24, 2024, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter MUNRO was on routine patrol in international waters approximately 580 nautical miles southwest of Acapulco, Mexico. A Coast Guard drone encountered an unnamed four-engine go-fast vessel (“GFV”) and began to investigate suspected illicit maritime activity. The drone observed three individuals on board the GFV, which was approximately 40 feet in length with a blue and green hull, with packages and fuel drums on the GFV’s deck. MUNRO’s helicopter arrived on scene and fired several warning shots after the GFV ignored Spanish language commands to stop broadcasted via the helicopter’s loudspeaker and on maritime radio channels. A small vessel dispatched from MUNRO with a boarding team comprised of Coast Guard law enforcement personnel arrived and gained control of the GFV. Pachay Lopez, a national of Ecuador, was one of the crewmen and was identified as the vessel master. During the boarding, the Coast Guard recovered 33 bales containing an at-sea weight of 1,725 kilograms of cocaine. This case was investigated by the United States Coast Guard and the Panama Express Strike Force, a standing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Strike Force comprised of agents and analysts from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the U.S. Southern Command's Joint Interagency Task Force South. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF . It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David W.A. Chee.


title: Two Additional Defendants Arrested In Iowa And Wisconsin In Relation To Nationwide, Multimillion Dollar Return-Fraud Scheme

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrests of Brock David Fischer (27, Robins, Iowa), a/k/a “iFruit,” and Miguel Angel Fortier, Jr. (24, Milwaukee, Wisconsin), a/k/a “Destined,” on an indictment charging them with conspiracy to commit mail fraud. If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies the defendants that the United States is seeking an order of forfeiture in the amount of the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct. Fortier made his initial appearance on June 28, 2024, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and was released on conditions pending his trial in Tampa. Fischer will make his initial appearance today in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. According to court documents, beginning around December 2021, the co-conspirators gained unauthorized access to the tracking platform of a multinational shipping, receiving, and supply chain management company (the Victim Company). This access allowed the co-conspirators to enter false and fraudulent tracking information for merchandise shipped by the Victim Company on behalf of victim-retailers located all over the country. Fischer, Fortier, and Matthew Frederic Bergwall (22, Darien, Connecticut)—who has been charged federally with conspiracy, mail fraud, and computer fraud in a separate case —served as administrators for “the Service,” a chat room/marketplace on an encrypted messaging platform. The Service sold access to the Victim Company’s tracking platform. Specifically, customers used the Service to obtain full refunds from victim-retailers while maintaining physical possession of merchandise ordered, such as high-end electronics, jewelry, and designer clothing and accessories. During a five-month period, the return-fraud scheme caused nearly 10,000 fraudulent returns and resulted in victim-retailers losing more than $8 million in merchandise. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa, with valuable assistance from HSI Cedar Rapids, HSI Milwaukee, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Newark office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carlton C. Gammons.


title: Member of Violent Bridgeport Gang Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: MICHAEL LOCKHART, also known as “Mikey RTN,” 25, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 108 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for his involvement in a violent Bridgeport street gang. Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; Joseph T. Corradino, State’s Attorney for the Fairfield Judicial District; Bridgeport Police Chief Roderick Porter; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Acting U.S. Marshal Lawrence Bobnick. According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Connecticut State Police and Bridgeport Police have been investigating multiple Bridgeport-based gangs whose members are involved in narcotics trafficking, murder, and other acts of violence. Lockhart was a member of the Original North End (“O.N.E.”), a gang based in the Trumbull Gardens area of Bridgeport that committed acts of violence against rival gangs, including the East End gang, the East Side gang, and the PT Barnum gang. O.N.E. members also robbed drug dealers, customers, and others, sold narcotics, and stole cars from inside and outside Connecticut, often using the cars to commit crimes. They frequently used social media to promote and coordinate their criminal activities. On June 1, 2021, Lockhart was arrested after a search of his Roberts Street residence revealed large bags of marijuana; numerous items used to process and package narcotics for street sale, including thousands of glassine bags typically used to package fentanyl and heroin; five Glock handguns; three empty boxes for other Glock handguns; and extended magazines, ammunition, body armor, and other gun accessories. Lockhart shared the residence with Jamar Traylor, also a member of O.N.E. Laboratory analysis of the seized items revealed that presence of Lockhart’s DNA on one of the handguns and a magazine. Both Lockhart and Traylor were on state probation at the time of the search. Lockhart has been detained since his arrest. On September 13, 2023, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Approximately 47 members and associates of the East End, O.N.E. and the GHB/Hotz gangs have been convicted of federal offenses stemming from this investigation, which has solved eight murders and approximately 20 attempted murders. Traylor, also known as “J-Hop,” pleaded guilty to conspiring to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity and, on February 6, 2023, was sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment . This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Safe Streets and Violent Crimes Task Forces, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Bridgeport Police Department, Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory, Waterbury Police Department, and Naugatuck Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck, Tara E. Levens, Patrick J. Doherty, Rahul Kale, and Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis. This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs. PSN is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Justice Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn . Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it. If a group member elects to engage in gun violence, the focused attention of federal, state, and local law enforcement will be directed at that entire group. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Colombian National Sentenced To More Than 15 Years In Prison For Trafficking Over $55 Million Of Cocaine On The High Seas

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday sentenced Jhon Zambrano Caicedo (37, Colombia) to 15 years and 8 months in federal prison for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine on a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. He entered a guilty plea in March 2024. According to the plea agreement, a maritime patrol aircraft spotted a panga-style “go-fast vessel” (GFV) in the Pacific Ocean, about 60 miles north of the nearest point of land in Ecuador. The vessel was suspected of drug smuggling because it had several fuel barrels, no registration numbers on the hull, was flying no flag, was operating at a high rate of speed, and was sailing in a location where maritime drug smuggling by similar vessels is common. A U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) helicopter and a USCG law enforcement team were deployed from USCG Cutter James to intercept the suspicious vessel. The helicopter signaled the GFV to stop, but the vessel and its crew were non-compliant until the firing of warning shots. The boarding team found Zambrano Caicedo and two others onboard. A search of the vessel revealed over 3,100 kilograms of cocaine, worth more than $55 million. Zambrano Caicedo had previously been convicted in the Southern District of Florida for trafficking approximately 750 kilograms of cocaine via a go-fast vessel on the high seas in February 2016. This case was investigated by the United States Coast Guard and the Panama Express Strike Force, a standing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Strike Force comprised of agents and analysts from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the U.S. Southern Command's Joint Interagency Task Force South. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF . The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Haynes.


title: Mathis woman imprisoned for trafficking meth packages through mail

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 46-year-old woman has been sentenced for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute liquid meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Elena Barrera pleaded guilty Nov. 7, 2023. U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has now ordered Barrera to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that described how Barrera had acted as a leader in the conspiracy by recruiting and paying another individual to receive meth for her. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the severity of the conduct and that Barrera had received at least six packages of narcotics. The investigation into Barrera began in November 2020 when authorities learned of a parcel containing liquid meth that was being shipped from Mexico to Mathis. Law enforcement intercepted the package and found it contained approximately seven kilograms of liquid meth concealed within shampoo bottles. Authorities conducted a controlled delivery at the post office and Barrera picked up the package. As part of her plea, Barrera admitted to using the mail to receive multiple other packages of narcotics and to recruiting others to retrieve packages of narcotics for her. Barrera previously was ordered detained. Barrera will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Texas Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tyler Foster prosecuted the case.


title: Jury Convicts Wilmington Career Offender Who Ditched Loaded Glock in the Bushes After Evading Law Enforcement

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

body_text: WILMINGTON, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. announced today that a federal jury convicted Wilmington career offender Desmond Antonio Hines, aka “Head,” of illegally possessing a gun as a felon after law enforcement recovered a loaded Glock handgun with an extended magazine that Hines tossed in azalea bushes before he could be arrested on a pending federal drug indictment. Hines has previous convictions for drug trafficking and assault, including a prior federal drug conviction. Hines, age 35, is considered a career offender and is facing up to 15 years in prison for this charge when sentenced later this year. At that time, he will also be sentenced for a drug charge he pled guilty to last year, a crime punishable with up to 30 years in prison. “Azaleas have long held special significance to the City of Wilmington. Today they held the key to solving a crime – the critical trial evidence that took an armed felon off the streets,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “I personally tried this case because this defendant, who went by the alias ‘Head,’ made crime his life’s work. When detectives with the Wilmington Police Department went to arrest him on federal drug charges, he evaded law enforcement, ditched a loaded Glock in a patch of bright pink azaleas, and drove away. Thanks to concerned citizens, advanced forensics, and the dedication of the Wilmington Police Department and ATF, there is one less gun on our streets.” According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Wilmington Police stopped Hines for traffic violations November 7, 2020. Upon approaching the car, the officer noticed an odor of marijuana and asked Hines to step out of the car to conduct a search. A blunt and some marijuana were found in the car, and during the search of Hines, the officer felt what he believed to be a metal object between the defendant’s legs. While the officer attempted to secure handcuffs, Hines tried to flee but was tackled by the officer. A subsequent search of Hines conducted at the police station uncovered a bag containing 10 oxycodone pills and about 17 grams of crack cocaine. On March 31, 2022, Detectives attempted to arrest Hines on federal charges related to the November 7 incident. Officers surveilled him driving a new Chrysler minivan. At one point during surveillance, officers lost sight of Hines after he made a series of evasive maneuvers. After officers located Hines and placed him into custody, 911 dispatch reported a call from area residents who saw a man meeting Hines’ description and driving a minivan stop the vehicle, walk to a patch of azalea bushes, and toss something into the bushes before driving off. Upon pulling back the bushes, witnesses saw a firearm. Police responded to the scene, which was approximately ½ mile from where Hines was arrested and recovered a semi-automatic Glock 27 Gen 4 .40 caliber handgun with an extended magazine containing 20 live rounds of ammunition. Ten of those rounds were a distinctive, red-tipped round known as Hornady Critical Defense. When executing a search warrant at the Defendant’s residence, detectives found a box of the same ammunition, with ten rounds missing. Later, testing of the firearm confirmed that Hines’ DNA was present. “As is evident with this case, this man was a dangerous threat to public safety. Our agency will continue to relentlessly pursue criminals who decide to possess and distribute illegal narcotics within our city limits. Additionally, we will ensure that felons are held accountable for their actions when they decide to possess weapons illegally. The work our officers and detectives have put into this case is yet another example of our continued commitment to combatting drugs and gun violence in the City of Wilmington,” said Wilmington Police Chief Donny Williams. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II accepted the verdict. The Wilmington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating the case and U.S. Attorney Michael Easley and Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Blondel are prosecuting the case. The conviction is a result of the ongoing Violent Crime Action Plan (VCAP) initiative which is a collaborative effort with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, working with the community, to identify and address the most significant drivers of violent crime. VCAP involves focused and strategic enforcement, and interagency coordination and intelligence-led policing. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No.7:22-cr-36-M.


title: Louisiana Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy  to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Gulfport, Miss. – A New Orleans man pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. Yancy Johnson, 45, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Gulfport. According to court documents, in 2023, an investigation was initiated into a possible drug trafficking organization operating in Louisiana and the Southern District of Mississippi. Agents received information that narcotics were to be delivered at the Silver Slipper Casino in Hancock County. Yancy Johnson was arrested by law enforcement when he arrived at the Silver Slipper Casino to carry out the drug transaction. Agents recovered one ounce of fentanyl from Johnson which he had intended to sell to an individual at the casino. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. The DEA reports that two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, and one kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people. More facts on fentanyl can be found at https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl and https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl . Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 9, 2024, and faces up to twenty years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Hancock County Sherriff’s Office are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case.


title: Providence Businesswoman Arraigned in Federal Court in Alleged Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Scheme Targeting Seniors and Other Vulnerable Victims

component: Civil Division

body_text: A Rhode Island woman was arraigned today following indictment on June 17, by a federal grand jury on charges of mail fraud and conspiracy for operating a direct-mail sweepstakes scheme that defrauded seniors and other vulnerable individuals across the country out of more than $10 million dollars. According to court documents, Megan E. Shine, 47, of Warwick, utilized the U.S. Mail to engage in a predatory mail fraud scheme that duped the elderly and other vulnerable individuals into sending payments, usually between $20 and $30 dollars, using mailings that falsely led recipients to believe they were entitled to cash prizes or other valuable items or benefits. Many victims reported being contacted multiple times and sending multiple payments. The scheme was allegedly perpetrated through businesses Shine created and operated in Rhode Island, including Lucky Dog LLC, doing business as Premium Ops & Incentives, and Destiny Merchandise LLC, doing business as Independent Catalog Services. “Mass mail fraud schemes defraud elderly and vulnerable consumers out of millions of dollars every year,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and its law enforcement partners are committed to vigorously pursuing all individuals who prey on vulnerable and elderly victims through these types of fraudulent schemes.” “Preying on the hopes of elderly and vulnerable victims for profit, and using fraudulent mailings to persuade them to part with their hard-earned money takes a terrible toll- financially and mentally,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha for the District of Rhode Island. “Working with our partners at the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch, the Postal Inspection Service and federal, state and local law enforcement, we are determined to ensure that those who seek to profit from fraud are held accountable.” According to the indictment, Shine mailed deceptive solicitations that led recipients to believe they had been individually pre-selected or verified and entitled to claim a large amount of money in a lottery or entitled to receive a valuable item. In the mailings (often personalized with the name of the recipient to bolster their apparent authenticity), recipients were instructed to send money, frequently by a deadline, to a post office box in Providence for the “processing” or “handling” of their purported winnings. The mailings were printed on official-looking or certificate paper, frequently carried what appeared to be the seals of governments or government agencies, and frequently contained other language and details designed to make them appear official or legitimate, including bar codes, document control numbers, printing that appears to be rubber stamped, such as the phrase “authorized document,” highlighted text, bank-check style typeface and formatting, as well as identification and other codes. In reality, all of the mailings were identical (apart from the name and address of the recipient). The solicitations contained text and graphics that created a false overall impression that the recipients were already winners of substantial awards, often totaling millions of dollars. In reality, recipients had not won a prize. Instead, according to the indictment, Shine sent victims a booklet containing publicly available sweepstakes rules or a small and inexpensive piece of jewelry. Shine is charged with four counts of mail fraud and one count of conspiracy. If convicted, Shine faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The United States Postal Inspection Service is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Charles Dunn, Ann Entwistle and Colin Trundle of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Denise M. Barton and Peter I. Roklan for the District of Rhode Island are prosecuting the case. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available. More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch . Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov / or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Mannie Lamar Terry, also known as “Primo” and “J,” 37, of Ypsilanti, Michigan, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 27, 2023, Terry sold approximately 4.5 grams of fentanyl for $300 to a confidential informant in Beckley. Terry admitted to that transaction and to selling approximately 4.5 grams of fentanyl for $300 to the confidential informant in Beckley on March 13, 2023. Terry is scheduled to be sentenced on October 25, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, and the Beckley Police Department. United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Brian D. Parsons is prosecuting 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. 5:24-cr-59. ###


title: Venezuelan National Sentenced For Unlawfully Possessing A Firearm And Ammunition

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Victor Alexander Morales-Acosta (27, Venezuela) to 24 months in federal prison for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by an alien illegally or unlawfully in the United States. Morales-Acosta entered a guilty plea on March 20, 2024. According to court documents, Morales-Acosta is a Venezuelan citizen and national who entered the United States illegally on September 1, 2022, by crossing the border from Mexico into Texas, at a place other than a port of entry, without inspection. On November 1, 2023, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) task force officers (TFOs) preparing to execute a search warrant on an Orlando residence suspected of being used in drug trafficking observed Morales-Acosta run inside the home. Morales-Acosta subsequently exited the back of the house carrying a loaded Glock 27 semiautomatic 40 caliber handgun and two baggies containing approximately 56 grams of cocaine. Morales-Acosta was immediately confronted by a TFO and threw the firearm and baggies into a planter bed behind the residence. The firearm had been reported stolen by its owner in Virginia in September 2023. During a search incident to arrest, officers recovered from Morales-Acosta’s person a fake lawful permanent resident (LPR) card. Morales-Acosta admitted buying the fake LPR card for a $100 when he arrived in the Orlando area in 2022 and needed documentation to be able to work. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the DEA, the Orlando Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro. 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: Canadian Man Sentenced to 3½ Years in Prison for Role in Penny Stock Scheme that Caused More Than $215 Million in Losses

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A former trader for a group of hedge funds was sentenced today to 42 months in federal prison for participating in a scheme that manipulated penny stock prices to inflate the hedge fund’s reported profits – fraudulent gains that generated millions of dollars in management and performance fees – and caused investors to lose more than $215 million when the funds collapsed. Colin Heatherington, 49, of Vancouver, Canada, was sentenced by United States District Judge John A. Kronstadt, who also ordered him to pay $215,815,031 in restitution – jointly and severally with co-defendant Todd Michael Ficeto, 57, a former Beverly Hills stockbroker who also was convicted in this case following a jury trial. Heatherington pleaded guilty on February 1 to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud. He has admitted his role in the scheme run out of Absolute Capital Management Holdings (Absolute Funds), a Cayman Island-based company that managed eight hedge funds from offices in Mallorca, Spain. Heatherington was a securities trader who worked closely with the founder and chief investment officer of Absolute Funds, Florian Wilhelm Jürgen Homm, 64, a German financier who was indicted in March 2013 and is currently a fugitive from justice. As part of the scheme, which lasted from 2004 to June 2008, Heatherington oversaw the purchase of billions of shares of United States-based penny stocks, which were then traded using various manipulative practices, such as cross trading, which fraudulently inflated the value of the stocks and, in turn, the value of the Absolute Funds. Heatherington and others in the scheme also reaped millions in profits through self-dealing trades in which they sold their own shares of artificially inflated penny stocks to the Absolute Funds. After this case was indicted, Heatherington was in Canada, and the United States sought his extradition. After fighting extradition, Heatherington agreed in 2021 to come to the United States. Ficeto was sentenced to six years in federal prison after being found guilty by a jury in July 2019 of 18 felonies relating to his managerial role in the scheme to manipulate penny stock prices, which garnered him many millions of dollars from fees and commissions and self-dealing trades. Ficeto also allowed Heatherington and other members of the conspiracy to trade the manipulated penny stocks through his company, among other fraudulent acts. The FBI investigated this matter. The Department of Justice’s Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs, IRS Criminal Investigation, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) provided assistance. Assistant United States Attorneys Cassie D. Palmer of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section, Scott Paetty of the Major Frauds Section, and Ian V. Yanniello of the General Crimes Section prosecuted this case.


title: Fifth Manager Sentenced in Scheme to Defraud Midwest Livestock Producers

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A Lyon County man who defrauded pork producers while working as the regional manager of an Iowa livestock dealer, “Lynch Livestock,” was sentenced on June 24, 2024, to six months in federal prison. Robert Harry Bickerstaff, age 52, from Rock Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 1, 2023, guilty plea to one count of wire fraud. At plea and sentencing hearings, and in his plea agreement, Bickerstaff admitted that he had worked as a regional manager for Lynch Livestock between 2018 and 2021 As a regional manager, Bickerstaff oversaw livestock buying stations in Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota. From time to time, Bickerstaff also personally counted, classified, and weighed swine at these stations. Bickerstaff admitted he participated in a scheme to defraud livestock producers personally and by directing others to (1) falsely and fraudulently lower the weights and reduce the numbers and classifications of swine that producers and sellers had delivered to the dealer at its buying stations; (2) manipulate the weights of swine either manually or using a crowbar, paddle, or other similar object, and thus defeat the electronic scales on which livestock producers’ swine was weighed at his buying stations; and (3) create fraudulent “sort sheets” and scale tickets containing false numbers, classifications, and weights of producers’ swine for transmission to Lynch Livestock’s headquarters in Waucoma, Iowa. Finally, concerned about a potential investigation into his conduct in early 2021, Bickerstaff instructed others to destroy anything with his name on it. Bickerstaff held a degree in Agribusiness and was experienced in the pork industry. Bickerstaff was a pork producer himself. In February 2022, Bickerstaff won a “Hog Wild” award from a statewide pork producers’ association for his role in promoting pork in Lyon County. Bickerstaff was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the United States Marshal on a date yet to be set. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and was investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Bickerstaff is the fifth manager of Lynch Livestock sentenced in this livestock fraud scheme. Billie Joe Wickham , of Waucoma, Iowa, pled guilty on July 15, 2022, to one count of Conspiracy to Defraud the United States. On January 13, 2023, Wickham was sentenced to six months of imprisonment and fined $3,000. Wickham must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Charlie Lynch , of Fort Atkinson, Iowa, pled guilty on July 25, 2022, to one count of Conspiracy to Defraud the United States. On January 13, 2023, Lynch was sentenced to five years of probation and fined $3,000. Leland “Pete” Blue , of Fredericksburg, Iowa, pled guilty on July 28, 2022, to one count of Conspiracy to Defraud the United States. On January 13, 2023, Blue was sentenced to five years of probation and fined $1,000. Tyler Thoms , of Fayette, Iowa, pled guilty on August 9, 2022, to one count of Causing a Livestock Dealer to Keep Inaccurate Accounts and Records. On January 13, 2023, Thoms was sentenced to one year of probation. Bickerstaff’s employer, Lynch Family Companies, Inc. , of Waucoma, Iowa, also known as “Lynch Livestock,” pled guilty on July 29, 2022, to one count of Failing to Comply with an Order of the Secretary of Agriculture. On February 10, 2023, Lynch Livestock was sentenced to five years of probation, fined $196,000, and ordered to pay over $3 million in restitution to livestock producers and farmers. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-CR-2026. The prior case file numbers are 21-CR-2074 (Wickham and Lynch), 21-CR-2042 (Blue), 22-CR-2043 (Lynch Family Companies, Inc.), and 22-CR-2044 (Thoms). Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Denison Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Gun and Silencer Possession

body_text: Ian Ward, 37, from Denison, Iowa, pled guilty on July 2, 2024, to one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm, one count of possession of a short-barreled rifle, and one count of possession of silencers. At the plea hearing, evidence showed that on August 21, 2023, a traffic stop in Pocahontas County found Ward, high on fentanyl (he admitted as much to the deputy who stopped him), with six traditional firearms, including an illegal, short-barreled rifle, plus several full silencer/suppresser type devices. Law enforcement also located and seized from Ward’s vehicle methamphetamine, THC wax, and drug user paraphernalia. Ward admitted to being a user of fentanyl, meth, and marijuana and to a previous conviction for a felony drug offense in Minnesota. Being a felon as well as illegal user of drugs prohibited Ward from possessing any firearm. 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. Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Ward remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. On the prohibited possession of firearm conviction, Ward faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and not more than three years of supervised release following any imprisonment. On the two convictions of possession of illegal firearm/silencers, Ward faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $10,000 fine, and not more than three years of supervised release following imprisonment. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Pocahontas County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-3024. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Georgia Man Sentenced to 3.5 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

body_text: Gulfport, Miss. – A Lawrenceville, Georgia man was sentenced to 42 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, on May 15, 2023, Martin Louis Williams, 35, was pulled over in a traffic stop on Interstate 10 in Hancock County, Mississippi. Williams’s vehicle smelled like marijuana and he admitted that he had smoked marijuana earlier in the day. A subsequent search of the vehicle yielded 1000 pills stamped with a “Facebook” logo. The pills were confirmed to be 251.5 grams of methamphetamine at 5% purity mixed with caffeine. Williams was interviewed and admitted that he was taking the pills to Georgia to be sold. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose prosecuted the case.


title: President of Freight Forwarding Company Indicted for Allegedly Smuggling Goods from the United States to Russia

component: National Security Division (NSD)

body_text: A citizen of Belarus and lawful permanent resident of the United States has been indicted for allegedly smuggling goods from the United States into Russia without a license. Kirill Gordei, 34, of Hallandale, Florida, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States; one count of smuggling goods from the United States; and one count of export of a spectrometer, which is a commerce control item. Gordei was arrested on June 30 in Florida and made an initial appearance in the Southern District of Florida today. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. “As alleged, Gordei defrauded U.S. government export regulators and smuggled advanced scientific technology to Russian customers, placing personal profit over national security,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Justice Department will use every available tool to disrupt illicit supply chains used to illegally funnel sophisticated technologies to Russia and other hostile powers.” “Freight forwarders play an outsized role in the export of items overseas and, accordingly, are expected to help uphold the law rather than subvert it,” said Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod. “Here, Kirill Gordei — the president of a freight forwarding company — is alleged to have willfully evaded restrictions designed to degrade the Russian war machine by obfuscating the value and ultimate destination of a mass spectrometer.” “By allegedly smuggling sensitive technology to Russia, Mr. Gordei undermined the critical framework established to protect national security,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy for the District of Massachusetts. “This case highlights the importance of enforcing export controls, especially regarding sensitive items on the Controlled Commerce List, which include technologies vital to scientific and industrial advancement. Our office will prosecute those who attempt to circumvent U.S. laws for personal or commercial gain, particularly when such actions have potential implications for global security.” According to court documents, Gordei is the President of Apelsin Logistics (Apelsin), a freight forwarding company, located in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Apelsin also has an address in Russia and two websites, both of which are registered and hosted in Russia. According to the indictment, on or about Aug. 11, 2023, Gordei allegedly falsely claimed that he was shipping an Orbitrap Exploris GC 240 Mass Spectrometer – an item that delivers high data quality and versatility to accelerate scientific discovery for academic and industry research and government and omics laboratories – to Uzbekistan when it was, in fact, destined for Russia. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, a series of stringent export controls were implemented that restrict Russia’s access to the technologies and other items that it needs to sustain its attack on Ukraine. As of April 8, 2022, license requirements for exports, reexports and transfers to or within Russia were expanded to cover the most sensitive items subject to controls on a Controlled Commerce List. The spectrometer, valued at over $600,000, was on the Controlled Commerce List and required a license from the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) to export to Russia. If convicted, Gordei faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy charge; up to 20 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine for the unlawful exports charge; and up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine for smuggling goods from the United States. A U.S. district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Commerce Department’s BIS is investigating the case. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Marshals Service and Transportation Security Administration provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura J. Kaplan for the District of Massachusetts is prosecuting the case with assistance from Trial Attorney Christopher Magnani of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. This action was coordinated through the Disruptive Technology Strike Force, an interagency law enforcement strike force co-led by the Departments of Justice and Commerce designed to target illicit actors, protect supply chains and prevent critical technology from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nation-states. Under the leadership of the Assistant Attorney General of the National Security Division and Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement, the Strike Force leverages tools and authorities across the U.S. government to enhance the criminal and administrative enforcement of export control laws. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.