title: United States Attorney's Office Launches Reentry Simulation Initiative to Commemorate National Second Chance Month

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: Philadelphia, PA - On Monday, April 17, 2023, in partnership with the National Constitution Center, United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero hosted a Reentry Simulation to raise awareness about the challenges that formerly incarcerated individuals face when they reenter society. The event marked the launch of the United State Attorney's Office’s "Reentry Simulation Kits," distributed to community organizations and other stakeholders to encourage greater understanding and support efforts to promote successful reintegration. Reentry Simulations are designed to help people understand the significant challenges faced by citizens returning home from prison. Versions of this exercise have been facilitated by U.S. Attorney's Offices and community and criminal justice organizations nationwide. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania redesigned the kits to facilitate conducting Simulations with easy-to-use, high-quality and reusable materials designed to replicate the challenges encountered such as obtaining identification, finding employment, and accessing essential services. What is a Reentry Simulation? The Simulation is a two-hour activity that prompts participants to walk in the shoes of someone who has just returned home from prison by providing them with tasks to complete within a certain amount of time. The exercise is divided into four 15-minute segments, representing four weeks (the first month) of someone returning home. The participants receive a "wallet" with an "Identity Sheet," which lists information about their criminal offense and life circumstances. They also receive a "Life Card," which details the tasks they must complete, including complying with the terms of probation, finding a job, attending treatment, managing family responsibilities, paying bills, and purchasing food and transportation. The participants must move among several corresponding “stations” to complete the tasks at each station within the allotted time. The Simulation is followed by a debrief and discussion about the criminal justice system and the complexities of Reentry. This exercise can create awareness about the barriers to Reentry, change perceptions about returning citizens and the criminal justice system, deepen empathy, and inspire people to think more about the workings of our criminal justice system. “Promoting successful reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals is why we are here today to commemorate National Second Chance Month with the launch of the Reentry Simulation Initiative," said U.S. Attorney Romero. "In my previous role as an Assistant United States Attorney, I participated in the office's Reentry Court for years and I saw the struggles. I hope that our Reentry Simulation Kits and numerous simulations hosted after today will open up many more eyes and inspire understanding." The United States Attorney's Office is committed to raising awareness about the importance of Reentry and to supporting initiatives that promote successful reintegration into society. Over the next several months, the Office will facilitate Simulations across the District with law enforcement, community members, non-profits, and people from all walks of life. By working together, we can ensure that our returning citizens have the tools and resources they need to succeed in their journey home.


title: Connecticut Behavioral Health Clinician Group Pays $234K to Settle False Claims Allegations

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and William Tong, Connecticut Attorney General, today announced that KELLY STUTZMAN (“Stutzman”), and her business, K-ASSIST, LLC (“K-Assist”), entered into a civil settlement agreement with the federal and state governments and paid more than $234,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the federal and state False Claims Acts. K-Assist is a private behavioral health practice that provided in-home behavioral health services in the greater New Haven area. K-Assist is enrolled as a Behavioral Health Clinician Group and Stutzman is enrolled as a Professional Counselor in the Connecticut Medical Assistance Program (“CMAP”), which includes the state’s Medicaid program. The Government alleged in its civil investigation that Stutzman and K-Assist submitted fraudulent claims to Medicaid for psychotherapy services. Stutzman and K-Assist falsely represented that a licensed provider had rendered the services when, in fact, an unlicensed individual rendered the services. To resolve the allegations under the federal and state False Claims Acts, Stutzman and K-Assist agreed to pay $234,064.89 in order to reimburse the Medicaid program for conduct occurring from February 1, 2018 through August 1, 2019. Under the False Claims Act, the government can recover up to three times its actual damages, plus penalties of $13,085 to $27,018 for each false claim. In a separate state criminal proceeding, Stutzman pleaded nolo contendre to health insurance fraud. As part of that plea, Stutzman agreed to pay $63,764.23 in restitution and be subject to a three-year suspended jail sentence and five-year conditional discharge. This case stems from a larger investigation into fraudulent activity in the area of behavioral health services, which has been jointly conducted by the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Chief State’s Attorney’s Office and the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General, with support from the Connecticut Department of Social Services. This case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Thidemann, and Assistant Attorney General Joshua L. Jackson of the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General. People who suspect health care fraud are encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS or the Health Care Fraud Task Force at (203) 777-6311.


title: More than 100 dogs forfeited in three separate federal civil actions involving fighting operations

component: Department of Justice

body_text: SAVANNAH, GA: Recent civil actions in federal court have rescued more than 100 dogs from animal fighting operations in multiple locations in the Southern District of Georgia. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia filed three civil forfeiture complaints between September and December 2022 seeking possession of 110 dogs allegedly involved in illegal dog fighting ventures, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) worked with local law enforcement and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG) to seize the dogs, resulting in a final order of default in each of the complaints. “Dog fighting is unacceptable and has no place in this District,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “In addition, animal fighting ventures often entail other forms of illegal activity; this office will continue to work with its law enforcement partners at all levels to investigate and prosecute those who seek to profit off the abuse of helpless animals.” The complaints include: Civil Action No.: 5:22-CV-056 In March 2021, the USMS seized 23 dogs from the Ware County Animal Shelter after local animal control officers removed them from 3310 North Street in Waycross, Ga. The dogs were suspected of being involved in dog fighting activities. Local animal control officers observed that the dogs’ conditions were inconsistent with those of pets, with housing and equipment indicative of a facility for fight training. After USMS took custody of the dogs, an evaluation by a veterinary contractor showed scarring on their faces and bodies, bite marks, and pressure sores, and some tested positive for hookworm. The 23 dogs were forfeited via court order on March 6, 2023. Civil Action No.: 2:22-CV-00115 In June 2021, USMS seized 13 dogs from the Long County Animal Shelter after local law enforcement officers removed them from 362 Narcy Stafford Road in Glennville, Ga. These dogs were suspected of being involved in dog fighting activities. Local law enforcement officers observed the dogs were kept in housing conditions consistent with an animal-fighting operation, including access to veterinary medicines and training equipment. An evaluation confirmed the condition of the animals was consistent with dog fighting, with fractured teeth, scarring and torn ears. Many of the dogs also were diagnosed with heartworm, hookworm, and/or giardia. These 13 dogs were forfeited via court order on Jan. 23, 2023. Civil Action No.: 3:22-CV-177 In May 2022, USMS seized 74 dogs that were suspected of being involved in dog fighting activities, with 47 of the dogs seized from 138 Tucker School Road in Wrightsville, Ga., and 27 of the dogs seized from 236 James Grove Church Road in Wrightsville, Ga. Federal agents observed that the dogs were housed in a manner consistent with fighting dogs, with training equipment, veterinary medicines, and pedigrees on site. The dogs had missing teeth and extensive scarring. These 74 dogs were forfeited via court order on April 6, 2023. After taking the 110 dogs into custody, the USMS contracted with various veterinary service providers for care and rehabilitation of the dogs in preparation for sending the adoptable dogs to local animal shelters for adoption. Where relevant, the U.S. Attorney’s Office may pursue criminal action related to the seizures. “The United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, Investigations, actively investigates allegations of animal abuse,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Salina Walker for USDA-OIG. “This agency has made animal fighting a high priority in order to demonstrate that these blatant acts of cruelty to animals will not be tolerated. We would like to acknowledge the agents and supporting law enforcement agencies for their relentless efforts in pursing individuals engaged in these activities. We would also like to thank the United States Attorney’s Office for aggressively prosecuting perpetrators of animal fighting.” Under the federal Animal Welfare Act, it is a felony to fight dogs or to possess, train, sell, buy, deliver, receive, or transport them for that purpose, and violation of the law carries a statutory penalty of up to five years in prison. The statute further authorizes the seizure and forfeiture of animals involved in dog fighting and empowers the government to recover the costs for care of the animals from the dogs’ owners. The cases were investigated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General and Special Agent Doug Bridges, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service and local law enforcement agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shannon Heath Statkus, U.S. Department of Justice Environmental and Natural Resources Division Senior Trial Attorney Mary Hollingsworth and Attorney Lucy Chiu pursued the forfeiture of the dogs on behalf of the United States, with assistance from Southern District of Georgia Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica K. Rock, Animal Crimes Prosecutor for the Prosecuting Attorneys Council of Georgia.


title: Drug Enforcement Administration Announces Spring Take Back Day

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has announced the date of its 24th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. On Saturday, April 22, DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs. For more than a decade, DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day has helped Americans easily rid their homes of unneeded medications—those that are old, unwanted, or expired—that too often become a gateway to addiction. Take Back Day offers free and anonymous disposal of unneeded medications at more than 4,000 local drop-off locations nationwide. What: National Prescription Drug Take Back Day When: Saturday, April 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time Who: DEA & Local Law Enforcement Where: Collection Site Search In partnership with local law enforcement, Take Back Day has removed more than 8,300 tons of medication from circulation since its inception. Collection sites will not accept syringes, sharps, and illicit drugs. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container. The cap must be tightly sealed to prevent leakage. For more information and to find a collection site near you, visit www.DEATakeBack.com . # # #


title: OFAC-Designated Hizballah Financier and Eight Associates Charged with Multiple Crimes Arising Out of Scheme to Evade Terrorism-Related Sanctions

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: A nine-count indictment was unsealed today in United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York charging Nazem Ahmad and eight co-defendants with conspiring to defraud the United States and foreign governments, evade U.S. sanctions and customs laws, and conduct money laundering transactions by securing goods and services for the benefit of Ahmad, a Lebanese resident and dual Belgian-Lebanese citizen who was sanctioned by the United States for being a financier for Hizballah, a foreign terrorist organization. Despite being sanctioned and prohibited from engaging in transactions with U.S. persons since December 2019, Ahmad and his coconspirators relied on a complex web of business entities to obtain valuable artwork from U.S. artists and art galleries and to secure U.S.-based diamond-grading services all while hiding Ahmad’s involvement in and benefit from these activities. Approximately $160 million worth of artwork and diamond-grading services were transacted through the U.S. financial system. One defendant was arrested today in the United Kingdom at the request of the United States, and the eight remaining defendants, including Ahmad, are believed to reside outside the United States and remain at large. The government obtained seizure warrants for millions of dollars in assets that include a diamond ring, cash in an account, and artwork. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s National Security Division; Tae D. Johnson, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deputy Director and Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director, Department of Homeland Security; and Matthew S. Axelrod, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement, U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement (BIS), announced the charges. “The United States implemented terrorism sanctions so that terrorist organizations like Hizballah would be cut off from the goods and services needed to fund violent acts of terrorism. As alleged, Nazem Ahmad and his co-defendants benefitted from the multi-million-dollar trade in diamonds and artwork even after Ahmad was sanctioned for his involvement with a terrorist organization,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Our Office will continue to prosecute individuals who evade these sanctions and thereby offer a lifeline to designated foreign terrorist organizations.” “Despite being sanctioned for his dealings with a terrorist organization, Mr. Ahmad remained active in the US-based art and diamond trade while concealing his illicit involvement,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Today we hold Ahmad and his associates accountable and demonstrate that those who would flout our sanctions cannot hide from US justice.” “This HSI investigation speaks to the unwavering commitment of the U.S. and U.K. governments to prevent art and diamond markets from becoming a haven of illicit financial activity,” said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deputy Director and Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director Tae D. Johnson. “I commend HSI and our investigative partners for their dedication in seeing this investigation through – over many years – to substantial actions. We will utilize every tool at our disposal to dismantle these illicit networks.” “The funding of foreign terrorist organizations like Hizballah is illegal, regardless of whether that funding comes in the form of cash or the export of high-priced diamonds and art,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod. “We are proud to have partnered with DOJ and HSI to bring this significant enforcement action.” As alleged, Nazem Ahmad was involved in real estate development, the international trade of diamonds, and the international acquisition and sale of artwork, and operated these enterprises through a complex web of business entities. Ahmad was also an associate of high-level members of Hizballah, a Lebanon-based terrorist group that was designated by the United States as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist. On December 13, 2019, pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations, the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Ahmad and 11 businesses associated with Ahmad as Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) for Ahmad’s material support of, and provision of goods and services to, Hizballah. At the time of the designation, OFAC explained that Ahmad was “considered a major Hizballah financial donor who laundered money through his companies for Hizballah and provided funds personally to Hizballah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah” and was also “involved in ‘blood diamond’ smuggling” who “stores some of his personal funds in high-value art.” Despite being sanctioned and prohibited from engaging in most transactions with U.S. persons, Ahmad continued to secure valuable goods and services from U.S. persons notwithstanding that such transactions constituted violations of U.S. sanctions and other federal laws. Specifically, Ahmad, together with his son Firas Michael Ahmad, daughter Hind Nazem Ahmad and brother-in-law Rami Yaacoub Baker, as well as associates Mohamad Hijazi, Mohamad Hassan Ismail, Sarya Nemat Martin, Ali Said Mossalem Sundar Nagarajan, and others, used numerous corporate entities and individuals to disguise Ahmad’s control and beneficial interest in the companies and in financial transactions, and facilitate the acquisition of multiple pieces of valuable artwork and diamond-grading services for millions of dollars’ worth of diamonds from U.S. persons. Evasion of Terrorism Sanctions in the Diamond Trade The defendants conspired to violate and evade U.S. sanctions by obtaining grading determinations and other services from a U.S.-based diamond grading company (Diamond Grading Company-1). The services of Diamond Grading Company-1, which were secured through multiple entities operating for Ahmad’s benefit, were valuable to the defendants because the services provided can affect the sales price of those diamonds and thus increase the amount that Ahmad can receive for the sale of his property. Collectively, the defendants and other conspirators sent approximately 482 diamond submissions to Diamond Grading Company-1 facilities after Ahmad was designated by OFAC in December 2019. The total weight of the diamonds submitted and graded post-sanctions was approximately 1,546 carats. For example, on or about March 18, 2021, an entity operating for the benefit of Ahmad shipped an approximately 45-carat diamond—valued at $80 million—to a facility belonging to Diamond Grading Company-1 in New York. Following the receipt of services from Diamond Grading Company-1, the 45-carat diamond was exported from the United States on April 26, 2021, back to the same entity. Evasion of Terrorism Sanctions in the Art Market The defendants also conspired to violate and evade U.S. sanctions by acquiring contemporary art from the United States, from U.S. persons outside the United States, or through U.S.-based financial transactions, on behalf of and for the benefit of Ahmad, despite his status as an OFAC-sanctioned SDN. Artwork allegedly obtained from the United States after Ahmad was sanctioned in December 2019 was valued at more than $450,000, while an additional $780,000 in artwork from U.S. persons located outside the United States was also acquired in violation of terrorism sanctions. For example, in or about and between April 2021 and July 2021, Ahmad and several other defendants engaged in multiple transactions with a Chicago-based art gallery (Chicago Art Gallery-1), on behalf of and for the benefit of Ahmad. Ahmad allegedly commissioned multiple pieces of artwork, at least one of which can be seen in a picture with Ahmad, as depicted below: Chicago Art Gallery-1 Painting Hanging (on Right) Before Ahmad Sitting at a Desk Chicago Art Gallery-1 Paintings Commissioned by Ahmad Between approximately February 2021 and November 2021, Ahmad and two other defendants engaged in transactions with a New York-based artist (New York Artist-1), on behalf of and for the benefit of Ahmad. After Ahmad directly negotiated the sale of artwork from New York Artist-1—pointedly directing the artist not to mention Ahmad’s name to anyone—six paintings valued at $199,800 were exported from the United States via John F. Kennedy International Airport to a Lebanese business entity used by Ahmad. At least one piece of artwork acquired from New York Artist-1 was hung in Ahmad’s residence in Lebanon as shown in the images below, which show Ahmad and co-defendant Firas Ahmad (two other uncharged individuals are obscured in the image below) in front of the artwork: Between in or about May 2021 and June 2021, Nazem Ahmad and co-defendant Ali Said Mossalem allegedly paid for artwork acquired from a Nigerian-based artist through a wire transfer that was facilitated by a U.S. financial institution located in New York, New York. An image of one of the pieces of artwork acquired by Ahmad through the services of U.S. financial institutions is depicted below: As part of this criminal scheme, the defendants also caused the undervaluation of goods in U.S. customs records in violation of federal law, and took other steps to obscure the value of the goods they received in order to avoid the payment of foreign taxes when the goods were imported into the relevant country. The defendants and other conspirators engaged in this scheme to benefit Ahmad and themselves while at the same time evading terrorism-related sanctions, to avoid the payment of taxes to foreign governments on the import of valuable goods into foreign countries, and to make it more difficult for the United States government to carry out its lawful functions. Entities controlled by or operating for the benefit of Ahmad engaged in more than $400 million worth of financial transactions between approximately January 2020 and August 2022; the conspirators were responsible for importing more than $207 million of goods to the United States and exporting more than $234 million of goods from the United States between approximately December 2019 and December 2022, consisting primarily of diamonds and artwork; and approximately $160 million worth of transactions involved the U.S. financial system. At least $6 million of the proceeds of the criminal scheme was transferred to Lebanon for use by Ahmad and his associates. The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Craig R. Heeren and Nicholas J. Moscow, and Trial Attorney Scott A. Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, are in charge of the prosecution with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Benjamin Richmond and Magdalena St. Surin. Assistant United States Attorney Claire Kedeshian of the Office’s Asset Recovery Section is in charge of asset forfeiture. The Department of Justice Office of International Affairs is assisting with extradition and international legal assistance in this case. This investigation was a collaboration between HSI Cedar Rapids, New York, Cultural Property Art and Antiquities Program and Trade Transparency Unit which was made possible through support from HSI Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Raleigh, St. Paul, and Santa Rosa. HSI Attaché Offices in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East played critical roles in the investigation. U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement, New York Field Office were also key investigative partners. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs provided critical assistance in this case. The Department also appreciates the significant cooperation and assistance provided by the United Kingdom authorities. The Defendants : NAZEM AHMAD (also known as “N.A.,” “Naz,” “Naz Ahmad,” “Nazem Ali Ahmad,” “Nazem Saeed Ahmad,” “Nazim Sa’id Ahmad,” “Nizam Saed Ahmad,” “Nazem Said Ahmed,” “Nazem Saied Ahmed,” “Nazeem Said Ahmad” and “Kariumu Muhamadi”) Lebanon and Belgium FIRAS MICHAEL AHMAD (also known as “Firas Ahmed” and “Firas Nazem Ahmad”) Lebanon and Belgium HIND NAZEM AHMAD (also known as “Dida Ahmad,” “Hind El Ris,” “Hind El-Riz” and “Julie” Belgium RAMI YAACOUB BAKER (also known as “Ramy Kamel Yaqoub Baker”) Lebanon and Belgium MOHAMAD HASSAN ISMAIL Lebanon MOHAMAD HIJAZI Lebanon SARYA NEMAT MARTIN (also known as “Sarya N. Marie”) United States ALI SAID MOSSALEM Lebanon SUNDAR NAGARAJAN (also known as “Nagarajan Sundar Poongulam Kasiviswanathan Naga” and “Sundar Poongulam K. Nagarajan Nagarajan”) India E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-139 (DG)


title: Consultant Sentenced to More Than Four and a Half Years in Prison for Bribing City Officials

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: CHICAGO — A consultant has been sentenced to more than four and a half years in federal prison for offering and providing bribes to City of Chicago officials in an effort to benefit his clients. ROBERTO CALDERO, 70, of Chicago pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in September, 2022. Caldero admitted in a plea agreement that in 2016, he offered and arranged for bribes to be provided to a City of Chicago alderman and a Chicago Public Schools employee in exchange for them taking official actions to benefit Caldero’s clients, who were seeking a custodial services contract at CPS, an honorary street name designation in Chicago, and the renaming of a parcel of property believed to be a Chicago Park District park. The benefits Caldero offered the CPS employee included the prospect of future employment, champagne, discounted event space for a family event, and admission to an annual benefit for a museum. To influence the alderman, Caldero arranged for campaign contributions to be made to political organizations affiliated with the alderman or his ward. Unbeknownst to Caldero, the alderman was cooperating with the FBI. U.S. District Judge Steven Seeger sentenced Caldero to 57-months on April 14, 2023. The sentence is announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois and Robert W. Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Chicago Public Schools Office of Inspector General participated in the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney’s Michelle Kramer and Amarjeet Bhachu.


title: Orange County Woman Sentenced to Nearly 22 Years in Prison for  Her Role in Murder of Man Shot on Her Boat and Tossed Overboard

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: SANTA ANA, California – A San Juan Capistrano woman has been sentenced to 262 months in federal prison for her role in the October 2019 murder of a man whose body was found floating in the Pacific Ocean with bullet and blunt force trauma wounds, the Justice Department announced today. Sheila Marie Ritze, 42, was sentenced late Monday afternoon by United States District Judge David O. Carter, who at the hearing described Ritze’s conduct as “horrific and horrendous” and noted its “callousness.” At the conclusion of a 12-day trial in April 2022, a federal jury found Ritze guilty of one count of second-degree murder within in the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, and one count of making false statements to federal investigators. On October 15, 2019, Ritze went out on her boat – in what was described to the victim as a late-night lobster-fishing trip – with Hoang Xuan Le, 41, a.k.a. “Wayne,” and “Wangsta,” of Fountain Valley, and the victim, who owed Le a debt. Ritze’s boat was docked at Dana Point Harbor. Around midnight, Ritze drove her boat out into the Pacific Ocean with Le and the victim on board. Le shot the victim on the boat, the victim went overboard, and Ritze and Le left the victim to die in the ocean, where he drowned. Le and Ritze then returned to Dana Point Harbor. The victim’s body was recovered from the Pacific Ocean several miles northwest of Oceanside on October 16, 2019. The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that he was a homicide victim who drowned after being shot and suffering blunt force trauma. During a December 2019 interview with federal investigators, Ritze told a series of lies, including when she falsely said she had never met the victim prior to the fatal boat trip. Ritze and the victim had been in Las Vegas together 11 days prior to the murder. “Ritze’s crime has left a grieving mother, grieving widow, grieving brothers, a grieving sister, and two fatherless small children,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “Ritze continued on with her life after murdering Dao as though nothing had happened, continuing to party with Le…and assisting Le with tracking [the victim’s] grieving widow with GPS trackers.” At the conclusion of a 17-day trial in December 2021, a federal jury found Le guilty of first-degree murder within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, conspiracy to commit murder, and using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. In February 2022, Le pleaded guilty to eight narcotics-related felonies, including distribution of cocaine and methamphetamine. Le faces a mandatory sentence of life in federal prison at his July 17 sentencing hearing. The Coast Guard Investigative Service and the FBI investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Scally and Gregory W. Staples of the Santa Ana Branch Office are prosecuting this case.


title: 22-Year-Old Man Pleads Guilty to Assault on a Federal Officer and Improper Entry

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Hugo Alexander Garcia-Sales, 22, of Guatemala, pleaded guilty last week to one count of Assault on a Federal Officer With a Deadly Weapon or Dangerous Instrument and one count of Improper Entry by an Alien. On October 13, 2022, Garcia-Sales assaulted a United States Customs and Border Protection helicopter pilot by throwing five softball-sized rocks at the helicopter. Although Garcia-Sales failed to hit the helicopter, one rock came within several feet of striking the aircraft. As part of his plea agreement, Garcia-Sales admitted that striking the helicopter with any of the rocks could have caused the aircraft to crash. Additionally, Garcia-Sales admitted that he is not an American citizen, and that he entered the country without legal permission to enter or remain in the United States. Sentencing is scheduled for June 21, 2023, before United States District Judge Rosemary Márquez. Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Nathaniel J. Walters, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-22-02445-RM-BGM RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-054_Garcia-Sales # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Columbia County Convicted Felon Indicted On Narcotics And Firearms Charges

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Kristofferson Farmer, Jr. (22, Lake City) with possessing with the intent to distribute alpha-PVP (a.k.a. flakka) and fentanyl, both controlled substances. Additionally, he was charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of those drug trafficking offenses. Farmer, a previously convicted felon, is also charged with possessing two Glock pistols and an AR-15 rifle after being convicted of offenses in Columbia County in 2018. If convicted, Farmer faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 5 years, up to life, in federal prison. 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 investigation began with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office’s Task Force, and the case was then further investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lake City Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran. 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. Download Indictment


title: Former Physician Associated with 1-800-GET-THIN Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Massive Fraud Against Health Insurers

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A former doctor has been sentenced to 84 months in federal prison for scheming to defraud private insurance companies and the Tricare health care program for U.S. military service members by fraudulently submitting nearly $120 million in claims related to the 1-800-GET-THIN Lap-Band surgery business, the Justice Department announced today. Julian Omidi, 54, of West Hollywood, was sentenced Monday evening by United States District Judge Dolly M. Gee. Judge Gee also sentenced Surgery Center Management LLC (SCM), an Omidi-controlled Beverly Hills-based company, to five years’ probation. A separate hearing on restitution and forfeiture in this case, along with SCM’s fine, is expected in the coming weeks. At the conclusion of a three-month trial, a federal jury in December 2021 found Omidi and SCM guilty of 28 counts of wire fraud and three counts of mail fraud. Omidi also was found guilty of two counts of making false statements relating to health care matters, one count of aggravated identity theft and two counts of money laundering. Omidi and SCM also were found guilty of conspiracy to commit money laundering. “As found by the jury, the defendant Julian Omidi deliberately and repeatedly acted with an eye towards business and profits, rather than in the interest of GET THIN’s medical patients, by inducing patients to undergo medical treatment premised on fraud rather than medical necessity, including surgeries that carry significant risks and life-long health impacts,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Those who engage in fraud – to the detriment of vulnerable patients and the insurance companies – must always be held accountable.” “Patients rely on medical providers to give them information that is truthful and accurate, so that the patients do not make inappropriate decisions about medical devices, which FDA oversees,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert M. Iwanicki, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Los Angeles Field Office. “When providers give inaccurate information, we will investigate and bring to justice those who place profits over public health.” “Mr. Omidi made millions at the expense of the multiple victim companies he defrauded, and he violated his oath to ‘do no harm’ by callously misleading patients about the need for a sleep study and subsequent weight loss surgery,” said Donald Alway, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “This successful prosecution should send a clear warning to anyone in the medical profession who intends to falsify insurance claims for unnecessary procedures or provide faulty medical advice to patients seeking reliable care.” “Medical providers are in a position of great trust, and this former doctor broke that trust victimizing patients including military service members with medically unnecessary treatment to boost his own profits by hundreds of millions of dollars,” said Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. “Medical provider fraud is a multi-billion-dollar problem that drives up health insurance premiums and creates a drain on our economy. My Department of Insurance and our law enforcement partners are committed to investigating fraud and protecting consumers and the health care system.” Omidi is a former dermatologist whose medical license was revoked in 2009 after state authorities found he had engaged in dishonesty and unprofessional conduct related to his application for his California medical license. He controlled, in part, the GET THIN network of entities, including SCM, that focused on the promotion and performance of Lap-Band weight-loss surgeries. Omidi established procedures requiring prospective Lap-Band patients – even those with insurance plans he knew would never cover Lap-Band surgery – to have at least one sleep study, and employees were incentivized with commissions to make sure the studies occurred. Omidi used the sleep studies to find a reason – the “co-morbidity” of obstructive sleep apnea – that GET THIN would use to convince the patient’s insurance company to pre-approve the Lap-Band procedure. After patients underwent sleep studies – irrespective of whether any doctor had ever determined the study was medically necessary – GET THIN employees, acting at Omidi’s direction, often falsified the results. Omidi then used the falsified sleep study results in support of GET THIN’s pre-authorization requests for Lap-Band surgery. Relying on the false sleep studies – as well as other false information, including patients’ weights – insurance companies authorized payment for some of the proposed Lap-Band surgeries. Moreover, even if the insurance company did not authorize the surgery, GET THIN still was able to submit bills for approximately $15,000 for each sleep study. Prosecutors estimate that Omidi’s conduct caused insurers and Tricare to pay at least approximately $41 million for Lap-Band procedures, sleep studies, and CPAP devices and accessories tainted by this fraud. The victim health care benefit programs include Tricare, Anthem Blue Cross, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Health Net, Operating Engineers Health and Welfare Trust Fund, and others. “Today, marks the end of the appalling chapter of Julian Omidi and 1-800-GET-THIN. Omidi was well educated; he had every opportunity to be successful and make ethical decisions. However, driven by greed, he committed some of the most unconscionable and atrocious acts,” said Tyler Hatcher, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation's Los Angeles Field Office. “There are no words strong enough to describe the actions taken by Omidi. We hope this sentencing brings some closure to all the victims affected by Omidi and 1-800-GET-THIN. IRS Criminal Investigations is committed to using our financial expertise to bring down people and organizations that take advantage of our community and cause irreparable harm.” In 2014, the government seized more than $110 million in funds and securities from accounts held by individuals and entities involved in the criminal scheme, including Omidi. The government is seeking a money judgment order of forfeiture against defendants Omidi and SCM in the amount of $98,280,221 and is pursuing civil forfeiture of the seized property totaling $107,539,422. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations; the FBI; the Defense Criminal Investigative Service; IRS Criminal Investigation; and the California Department of Insurance investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Kristen A. Williams, Ali Moghaddas, and David H. Chao of the Major Frauds Section, and Assistant United States Attorney David C. Lachman of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section prosecuted this case. Assistant United States Attorney James E. Dochterman of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section is handling the asset forfeiture portion of this case.


title: Controller Pleads Guilty To Embezzling $1.67 Million Dollars from Company and Filing False Tax Returns

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Renfrew, PA pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of wire fraud and making false statements on her tax returns, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Constance Stobert, 57, pleaded guilty to eleven counts before United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Stobert worked as a controller for a company called Mechanical Operations Company (MOC) from 1994 until July 2021. Between January 2014 and July 2018, Stobert embezzled at least $1,678,893 in MOC’s assets to fund her gambling habit and to pay for her personal expenses. Among other things, Stobert wrote checks from MOC’s business banking accounts to make personal credit card payments and used MOC’s credit cards to withdraw cash at ATMs in casinos located in Pittsburgh and Las Vegas. Stobert also admitted that, during the tax years 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, she willfully and knowingly filed false tax returns, in which she failed to report the money she embezzled from MOC, resulting in a tax loss to the government of $545,990. Judge Schwab scheduled sentencing for Sept. 12, 2023. The law provides for a total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both, for each of the seven wire fraud counts, and a sentence of three years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both, for each of the four counts of filing false tax returns. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Karen Gal-Or is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Stobert.


title: Sex Offender from Advance Sentenced to Serve 11 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child Pornography

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: CAPE GIRARDEAU - The U.S. Attorney's Office announced that Darrell D. Meador, Jr., 38, was sentenced Tuesday to serve 11 years in federal prison for the offense of possession of child pornography. Meador appeared for his sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. at the federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Meador, of Advance, in Stoddard County, Missouri, began serving a term of supervised release in 2018 following his release from federal prison for a prior child pornography conviction, according to court documents. Last May, Meador’s probation officer discovered images of child pornography on a cell phone Meador was using. At his guilty plea hearing earlier this year, Meador admitted that he used the cell phone to search for child pornography over the internet. After serving his 11-year sentence, Meador will be placed on supervised release for the rest of his life. He will also be required to continue registering as a sex offender. This case was investigated by the U.S. Probation Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Koester handled the prosecution for the Government.


title: Raleigh Eight Trey Gangster Crip Convicted in Aborted Murder Plot Targeting Rival Gang Member Receives 11 years in Prison

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – A Raleigh member of the Eight Trey Gangster Crips (ETGC) was sentenced yesterday to 132 months in prison for trafficking methamphetamine and his role in a murder conspiracy to kill a rival gang member that was aborted by law enforcement. Clinton Basco pled guilty to the charges on June 23, 2021. “This case is part of an operation that led to over twenty indictments, taking down dangerous gang leaders and those who, like Basco, peddled dangerous drugs and conspired to kill rivals,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “We’ve forged a close partnership with Raleigh Police and the ATF to tackle violent crime, allowing for swift action by police to prevent yet another senseless murder.” According to court documents and other information presented in court, an investigation identified a large drug-trafficking organization (DTO) which was distributing significant amounts of cocaine, methamphetamine, phencyclidine (PCP), 3,4-Methlyenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and marijuana in the Raleigh area. The conduct of the DTO was perpetrated by leaders, members, and associates of the ETGC. Basco was responsible for conspiring to distribute more than 1,124.54 kilograms of converted drug weight in the Raleigh area. Basco was in a leadership role within the ETGC and was known as an enforcer who committed acts of violence of behalf of the EGTC in Raleigh. Wiretap surveillance intercepted a conversation among members of the ETGC to kill a member of a rival gang that had tased high-level ETGC member Deandre Earp. At the direction of ETGC leader Dexter Maxwell, another gang member, Rayquan Wiggins, provided information on when the target of the murder plot would be in a certain area in Raleigh so that other ETGC’s, Basco and Earp, could commit the murder. Agents took enforcement action to prevent the murder from occurring by having Basco and Earp stopped as they were traveling by car to go murder the rival gang member. They were arrested before the murder could be committed. Maxwell and Earp previously pled guilty to charges related to the planned murder, as well as drug trafficking charges. Earp was sentenced to 40 years. https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/pr/raleigh-eight-trey-crip-gangster-sentenced-40-years-prison-vicar-and-methamphetamine Maxwell’s sentencing is pending. This investigation is part of an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force Operation (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Raleigh Police Department led the investigation with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Raleigh/Wake City-County Bureau of Identification and United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly L. Sandling prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:19-cr-00395-D-5.


title: Kanawha County Man Sentenced to Prison for Child Pornography Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Christopher Stephen Taylor, 52, of St. Albans, was sentenced today to six years and six months in prison, to be followed by 15 years of supervised release, for possession of prepubescent child pornography. Taylor must also register as a sex offender. According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 19, 2022, Taylor attempted to print images depicting prepubescent child pornography from two compact disks he brought to the self-service photo kiosk of a St. Albans pharmacy. Taylor was unable to obtain the prints and left the store. A pharmacy employee found the child pornography uploaded to the kiosk and contacted law enforcement. Taylor admitted to possessing 1,769 images and videos of prepubescent child pornography. Many of the children in the images were under the age of 12. Several of the images depict children subjected to sadistic or masochistic conduct. Taylor admitted that one of the images depicts an adult male sexually assaulting a prepubescent girl. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the St. Albans Police Department, and the West Virginia State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Julie M. White prosecuted the case. This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and 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 Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-181. ##


title: Former physician's assistant sentenced for health care fraud after posing as a licensed practitioner

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA - Theresa Pickering has been sentenced to federal prison for committing health care fraud by posing as a licensed physician’s assistant, which resulted in approximately $147,000 in attempted losses to insurers. “Pickering previously served prison time for similar conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Then in blatant disregard for the law and safety, she knowingly placed patients at significant risk by again posing as a licensed medical provider.” “Pickering did not learn from her previous fraud conviction. Instead, she chose to continue to endanger patient lives through theft and lies,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This sentence will serve as a reminder to others that the FBI will not tolerate healthcare providers who engage in schemes that defraud the industry and put innocent patients at risk.” "This individual egregiously lied about her qualifications to obtain access to patient information, which she then used to steal from federal health care programs," said Tamala Miles, Special Agent in Charge with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). "HHS-OIG is proud to work alongside our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who put patients at risk and undermine the integrity of federal health care programs." “At OPM OIG, our number one priority is protecting patients from harm,” said Conrad J. Quarles, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations, OPM OIG. “This sentencing demonstrates our commitment to working with our Federal partners to hold accountable those that would seek to put the safety of Federal health care enrollees at risk.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court: On or about September 24, 2019, Pickering was hired as a licensed physician’s assistant at a family practice in Norcross, Georgia. But Pickering was not a licensed physician’s assistant in Georgia at that time, nor had she been a licensed physician’s assistant in any state since March 2014. After Pickering served a prison sentence for a 2015 fraud and narcotics case related to her illegal practice as a physician’s assistant in the State of Mississippi, Pickering relocated to Georgia and again obtained employment as a licensed physician’s assistant at the Norcross-based family practice. While employed at the practice, Pickering treated patients, diagnosed illnesses, ordered diagnostic tests and lab work, and handled sick visits and prescribed drugs to patients – none of which was authorized by law based on her lack of licensure and exclusion from federal health care programs. Pickering also issued prescriptions, including prescriptions for controlled substances, in the name of Doctor 1, a physician contracted by the practice, and without Doctor 1’s permission. Pickering caused the practice to submit at least approximately $147,000 in fraudulent claims for reimbursement to Medicare and numerous private insurance companies. Theresa Pickering, 55, of Norcross, Georgia, was sentenced on April 18, 2023, to two years, nine months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $48,742.30. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and Office of Personnel Management, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. O'Neal prosecuted the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Ponte Vedra Man Sentenced To Prison And Ordered To Pay  More Than $1.9 Million In Taxes He Willfully Evaded

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan today sentenced Patrick Brian Hines to a year and a day in federal prison for the willful evasion of taxes due and owing. The court also ordered Hines to pay $1,927,077.90 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service. Hines had pleaded on November 2, 2022. According to court documents, from 2004 through 2011, Hines owned and operated a network of telecommunication entities that purchased the rights to specific 1-800 phone numbers and charged consumers’ telephone bills for directory assistance services. Hines owned and operated these entities in his own name. After several lawsuits against the entities and Hines, in April 2011, Hines dismantled most of his entities and the entities filed for bankruptcy. In October 2012, a new telecommunication company was established in Hines’s wife’s name. Hines operated the company established in his wife’s name for his personal benefit from 2012 through 2018, during which time the company generated more than $4 million in revenue. Rather than owning and operating the company in his own name, Hines operated it through nominees. This was done during the time the Federal Communications Commission issued a forfeiture order for the entities and Hines to pay $1.6 million. In addition, in 2016, the California Public Utilities Commission filed a complaint against Hines and his companies, which resulted in a finding that Hines was responsible for $9.8 million plus interest, which remains outstanding. Hines used multiple nominee owners for the company in an attempt to distance himself from it and to evade and defeat the payment of income taxes and other obligations. From 2012 through 2018, Hines used a system of nominee entities and individuals to conceal his assets and income. Hines paid personal expenses from the company’s business accounts, and he diverted profits of the company into the bank accounts of other nominee entities he controlled and to individual bank accounts he controlled. From 2012 through 2018, Hines arranged for $2.5 million to be spent on personal expenses from these nominee accounts, to include $38,000 in personal training sessions, dues for two private clubs, $275,000 in mortgage payments for a multi-million-dollar residence, and tuition for his children’s private schooling. Beginning as early as November 28, 2011, the IRS sent Hines collection notices of his unpaid taxes, yet Hines failed to pay. Despite advice from his accountant to pay his taxes, Hines claimed to be “broke” and living off of the proceeds from the sale of the house. On June 29, 2016, Hines filed an IRS Form 433-A in which he falsely claimed to have no income, but was supported by his spouse who gave him $3,479 per month, even though he knew that he had received the personal benefit of at least $2 million from 2012 through 2018. Hines has accrued penalties and interest as a result of his delinquent taxes, resulting in total outstanding balance of $1,927,077.90. “For over a decade, Mr. Hines lied to the Internal Revenue Service, cheated the tax system, and stole from honest American taxpayers,” said Brian Payne IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge. “Mr. Hines’s attempts to conceal assets and income to evade taxes were unsuccessful and a tough lesson that came with significant consequences.” This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kelly S. Karase.


title: Jackson Man Sentenced to Over 11 Years in Federal Prison for Armed Carjacking

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

body_text: Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man was sentenced to serve 57 months for carjacking and 84 months for brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, for a total of 141 months in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Kurt Thielhorn of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. According to court documents, David Demazzio Tyler, 32, carjacked an 81-year-old victim at gunpoint in Clinton, Mississippi, on December 2, 2021. Tyler pled guilty to the armed carjacking on January 5, 2023. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Clinton Police Department, and the Jackson Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Jessica S. Terrill prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Brooklyn Federal Correctional Officer Charged with Bribery

body_text: A criminal complaint was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging Quandelle Joseph, a correctional officer currently employed by the United States Bureau of Prisons (BOP), with receiving bribes in exchange for providing contraband to prison inmates at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn. Joseph was arrested this morning in Brooklyn, and his initial appearance was this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge James R. Cho and he was released on $50,000 bond pending trial. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Ryan T. Geach, Special Agent-in-Charge, United States Department of Justice, Office of Inspector General, New York Field Office (DOJ-OIG), and Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the arrest and charges. “As alleged, the defendant violated his duty as a correction officer and accepted tens of thousands of dollars in bribes to smuggle contraband into the Metropolitan Detention Center,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “By accepting bribes, the defendant violated the public’s trust and promoted conditions that risked the safety of the officers and inmates in the MDC. This Office will continue rooting out corruption at our federal and local jails, and holding corrupt public officials accountable.” “As alleged, Joseph’s corrupt actions of accepting bribes to smuggle contraband into MDC Brooklyn endangered his fellow correctional officers, inmates, and the public. The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General is committed to rooting out these kinds of dangerous schemes,” stated DOJ-OIG Special Agent-in-Charge Geach. “We allege the defendant participated in a scheme to smuggle contraband into a federal prison in exchange for money, breaking not only his oath of duty but also the law. The defendant’s actions put both the inmates of MDC and his fellow correctional officers at risk. The FBI will continue to ensure corrupt individuals abusing the authority given to them by the public are held responsible in the criminal justice system,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll. As alleged in the complaint, Joseph became a correctional officer at the MDC in May 2020. During his employment, Joseph accepted tens of thousands of dollars from at least two different inmates to smuggle narcotics, cigarettes, and cell phones into the MDC. In one instance, Joseph entered a unit he was not guarding during a lockdown, opened an inmate’s cell and provided him with contraband. A few hours later, MDC staff smelled marijuana in that inmate’s cell and recovered a contraband cell phone from the cell during a search; the inmate had flushed the marijuana down the toilet prior to the search. In June 2020, Joseph texted the inmate’s contact outside the facility that the inmate owed him $12,000. Joseph also used a “burner” telephone to communicate with another inmate about the bribery scheme and warn him about upcoming contraband searches. For example, on January 26, 2021, Joseph texted an inmate from whom he was receiving bribes, “[t]ighten up search comin clean phones out call logs n text n try to stash it.” The next day, Joseph texted the inmate, “keep your phones cleannnnnnnnnn erase texts and call logs every night.” The charges in the complaint are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Joseph faces a maximum sentence of fifteen years’ imprisonment. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Philip Pilmar and Marietou Diouf are in charge of the prosecution. The Defendant : QUANDELLE JOSEPH Age: 32 Brooklyn, NY E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-MJ-359


title: New Castle Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Drugs and a Firearm

body_text: PITTSBURGH– Ricardo Reeves pled guilty to violating federal narcotics trafficking and firearm laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Reeves, age 44 of New Castle, Pennsylvania, pled guilty before United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab. Judge Schwab scheduled sentencing to occur on Aug. 16, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. Reeves will be sentenced for (1) possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture containing fentanyl and heroin, as well as quantities of cocaine and cocaine base, and for (2) possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, all on Dec. 14, 2020. Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. The Lawrence County Drug Task Force, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducted the investigation leading to the convictions in this case. This case was prosecuted as 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 of Justice 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: Everett A. Simpson Convicted of Kidnapping and Interstate Transportation of Stolen Vehicles

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – Following a jury trial, Everett A. Simpson, 45, formerly of St. Johnsbury, Vermont, was convicted on all counts – two counts of federal kidnapping and two counts of interstate transportation of stolen vehicles. According to court documents and testimony, on January 4, 2019, Simpson absconded from the Valley Vista treatment facility in Bradford, Vermont, and stole a commercial van in Newbury, Vermont, eventually deserting that vehicle in a parking garage in Manchester, New Hampshire on the morning of January 5. Later that same day, in the parking lot of the Mall of New Hampshire, Simpson kidnapped a young woman and her four-year-old child after forcing his way into the young woman’s car. Simpson held the woman and her child against their will, driving from New Hampshire into Vermont, where Simpson attempted to locate his estranged wife. After abandoning the effort to find his wife, Simpson continued the kidnapping, now seeking to sexually assault the young woman. Simpson assaulted the woman in her car and at a hotel in White River Junction, before freeing her and her child. Simpson fled the area in the woman’s stolen car. Simpson was eventually arrested after two high-speed pursuits in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, during the second of which he was driving a third vehicle he had stolen. United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest stated, “The crimes committed by Everett Simpson are of the worst variety; Simpson preyed on random victims, including a child. And, although the harms suffered by Everett Simpson’s victims are indelible, today’s across-the-board guilty verdict represents a significant step in holding Everett Simpson responsible for the heinous crimes he committed on January 5, 2019.” United States Attorney Kerest also commended the investigative agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Vermont, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire, the Vermont State Police, the Hartford Police Department, the Manchester, New Hampshire Police Department, and the Upper Darby, Pennsylvania Police Department, all of whom worked diligently alongside the trial team and were necessary to achieve today’s guilty verdict. Simpson faces a statutory mandatory minimum of twenty years’ imprisonment, and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Simpson’s actual sentence will be determined by District Judge Sessions and will be advised by the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Lasher and Paul Van de Graaf represented the United States in the prosecution of Simpson. Simpson represented himself at trial with Steven Barth of the Office of the Federal Public Defender serving as stand-by counsel.


title: Orono Resident Agrees to Pay Over $228,000 to Settle Allegations of Fraudulently Obtaining Pandemic Relief Funds

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee today announced that Jacob Hennie of Orono has agreed to pay $228,338.30 to settle a civil fraud case alleging that he fraudulently applied for, received and obtained forgiveness for two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, and fraudulently applied for and received a COVID-19 Economic Injury and Disaster Loan (EIDL) Emergency Advance. The United States filed a complaint against Hennie in the United States District Court for the District of Maine on April 14, 2023. The complaint alleged that in July 2020, Hennie misrepresented that he operated a business with nine employees to receive a $9,000 EIDL Emergency Advance when he did not operate any business. In February 2021, Hennie obtained a first-draw PPP loan in the amount of $18,625 based on alleged misrepresentations in the loan applications. He then obtained a second-draw PPP loan in the amount of $20,833 based on alleged misrepresentations related to fictitious business expenses. Hennie received forgiveness for both PPP loans through allegedly misrepresenting how the loan funds were used. The complaint against Hennie was brought by the United States pursuant to the False Claims Act (FCA) and the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA). The FCA provides that any person who “knowingly presents, or causes to be presented, a false or fraudulent claim for payment or approval” or “knowingly makes, uses, or causes to be made or used, a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim” is liable to the United States for three times the amount of damages which the United States sustains, plus a civil penalty for each FCA violation. For FCA violations assessed after January 30, 2023, the minimum penalty per violation is $13,508. FIRREA provides that the Attorney General may recover civil penalties against persons who knowingly make a false statement for the purpose of influencing a decision by the Administrator of the SBA or to obtain a loan, money, or anything of value under certain SBA programs, including the PPP. For FIRREA violations assessed after January 30, 2023, the maximum penalty per violation is $2,372,677. The complaint filed by the United States is a result of the District of Maine’s ongoing efforts to identify and investigate fraudulently obtained pandemic relief funds. Recent amendments to federal law have extended the statute of limitations for civil and criminal fraud enforcement actions concerning PPP and EIDL loans from six to ten years. The civil action is docketed United States v. Jacob Hennie, 23-cv-00171-JAW (D. Me.). # # #


title: Johnstown Man Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison and 3 Years of Supervised Release for Distributing Crack-Cocaine

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A former resident of Johnstown, PA, has been sentenced in federal court to a total of 15 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release on his conviction of distributing crack-cocaine, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Senior United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson imposed the sentence on Damian Jeffers, age 52, of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. According to information presented to the court, on or about October 4, 2021, October 20, 2021, and October 28, 2021, Jeffers was found to distribute less than 28 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base, in the form commonly known as crack. Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. Mr. Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cambria County Drug Task Force, and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Jeffers.


title: Durham Man Sentenced for 2021 Black Friday Shooting at The Streets at Southpoint

component: USAO - North Carolina, Middle

body_text: GREENSBORO – A Durham man was sentenced yesterday to 110 months in prison, after pleading guilty to a firearms charge related to a mall shooting in the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC), announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston. ROMEO KEVANTE PRIDE, age 27, pled guilty to one count of felon in possession of a firearm in December of 2022. According to court documents and facts found by the court at sentencing, Pride, a convicted felon, went to the Streets at Southpoint Mall in Durham on November 26, 2021, a date colloquially known as “Black Friday,” armed with a loaded .40 caliber Glock handgun. In the course of a botched attempted robbery of another mall patron, both Pride and the patron discharged handguns. Durham Police Department officers recovered a spent .40 caliber shell casing fired from Pride’s handgun and surveillance video from the mall confirmed the events. Pride and two innocent bystanders were shot during the exchange of gunfire. PRIDE was sentenced yesterday to a 110-month term of imprisonment by the Honorable Catherine C. Eagles, United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the MDNC. In addition to prison time, PRIDE was ordered to serve a three-year term of supervised release and to pay a special assessment of $100.00. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Raleigh-Durham Safe Streets Task Force with assistance from the Durham Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney JoAnna G. McFadden. ###


title: Illinois Man Sentenced to over Seven Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who illegally possessed a firearm was sentenced to over seven years in prison on April 17, 2023, in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Kayne Russell Donath, age 23, from East Dubuque, Illinois, was convicted of possession of a firearm by a felon. At sentencing, the Court found that Donath received a ride from an individual in the community who was providing him a personal ride-sharing service. During this service, Donath revealed his possession of a firearm. After the individual was pulled over by law enforcement, officers discovered Donath had a warrant for his arrest. The Court found that Donath pulled down the gear shifter and forced the individual to elude law enforcement. Donath assaulted the individual with the firearm during the high-speed chase. Officers recovered the firearm after it was discarded in a nearby alley. The Court also found that Donath had previously committed assaults against law enforcement and another individual. Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Donath was sentenced to serve 90 months’ imprisonment and must serve a three‑year term of supervised release following his term of incarceration. There is no parole in the federal system. Donath remains in the custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason Dorval Norwood and was investigated by the City of Dubuque Police Department’s Drug Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. 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. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 22-CR-1028. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Clay County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Todd Jeffery Ullum, 33, of Maysel, was sentenced today to three years and one month in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 15, 2021, a law enforcement officer encountered Ullum at the Clay-Maysel GoMart with a handgun in the back of his pants. When Ullum saw the officer, he attempted to flee in a vehicle. The officer ordered Ullum to stop and recovered the handgun, a loaded 9mm Short Hungarian pistol, as well as a loaded Remington 597 .22-caliber Magnum rifle from the vehicle. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Ullum was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his felony conviction for grand larceny in Kanawha County Circuit Court on May 7, 2015. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Clay County Sheriff’s Department. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Troy D. Adams and R. Gregory McVey prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-36. ###


title: Somerville Tax Preparer Arrested for False Tax Returns Scheme

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Somerville tax preparer has been arrested for allegedly preparing false tax returns in the names of taxpayers. Yves Isidor, 67, was indicted by a federal grand jury on five counts of aiding and assisting in the filing of false federal tax returns. Isidor was arrested on April 14, 2023 and, following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, was released on conditions and an unsecured bond. According to the indictment, from at least 2012 through 2016, Isidor operated under the name Tax and Realty Pro – a Malden tax preparation business – to file more than 1,200 tax returns in the names of clients, charging from $100 to $500 per return. He allegedly added false information to returns to claim deductions for fictitious medical and dental expenses, personal property taxes, gifts to charities, general sales taxes and unreimbursed employee business expenses. As a result, the indictment alleges that some taxpayers paid lower taxes than they owed and, in most cases, received tax refunds to which the taxpayers were not entitled, leading to hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses to the IRS. The charges of aiding and assisting in the filing of false federal tax returns each provide for a sentence of up to three years in prison, one year of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 and restitution. 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. United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Victor A. Wild of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Los Angeles man, arrested with guns and drugs in stolen RV at Washington State park, sentenced to 10+ years in prison

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Tacoma – A 45-year-old Los Angeles man was sentenced late yesterday in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 126 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Anthony Morales was arrested in May 2021 and pleaded guilty in November 2022. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle imposed five years of supervised release to follow prison. According to records filed in the case, Morales conspired with others to use a stolen RV to transport and sell methamphetamine and other drugs. Morales was arrested in the stolen RV in Grayland Beach State Park. Inside the RV was more than a kilo of methamphetamine, counterfeit M30 pills containing fentanyl, five firearms, assorted ammunition, and high-capacity firearm magazines. Law enforcement also recovered $24,000 in cash. Morales also had a number of identity theft related documents – drivers licenses, Social Security cards in other names, a passport, checkbooks and credit cards in other names, as well as a credit card magnetic stripe reader/writer. Morales has eleven previous convictions as an adult for crimes such as possession of controlled substances, firearms possession, theft, and identity fraud offenses. He has been sentenced to prison for terms ranging from two years to 32 months. Prosecutors recommended an 11-year prison term for this federal offense. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Joint Narcotics Enforcement Task Force (JNET), comprised of officers with the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Centralia Police Department and the Washington State Department of Corrections, and the Grays Harbor Drug Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Max Shiner.


title: Orlando Felon Sentenced To More Than 7 Years On Firearm Charges In Connection With Shooting

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Wendy W. Berger today sentenced Darrius Jaques Garrett (33, Orlando) to seven years and six months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Garrett to forfeit a Glock pistol and ammunition, which were used in this case. Garrett had pleaded guilty on November 30, 2022. According to court documents, Garrett was charged with knowingly possessing a Glock pistol and .22 caliber rounds of ammunition on May 27, 2022, in connection with a shooting. At approximately 4:00 p.m. that day, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to Americana Boulevard in Orlando where they found a man who had sustained gunshot wounds to the torso. That man was later treated and released from the hospital. Surveillance images from a nearby business captured the shooting. Five days later, on June 1, 2022, Garrett was observed in the same area by deputies with the same Dodge Charger depicted on the video. Inside, deputies found a loaded Glock firearm that authorities allege was used in the shooting. Garrett is a 5-time convicted felon and is therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney D. Richardson-Jones. This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety – one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and re-entry efforts. In the Middle District of Florida, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.


title: Two charged in scheme to illegally purchase firearms and transfer them to others

body_text: Seattle – Two South King County men were charged today with multiple firearms offenses for their involvement in the purchase of more than 100 firearms in an apparent “straw purchaser” scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Dion Jamar Cooper, 31, of Kent, Washington and De’ondre Lamontia Phillips, aka Deondre Lamontia McDougle, 32, of Federal Way, Washington were charged by criminal complaint. Phillips and Cooper will appear in U.S. District Court in Seattle at 2:00 today. “The alleged straw purchaser in this case bought more than 100 firearms in less than two years – and two dozen of the firearms have been linked to crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “Schemes like this put our community at significant risk. We will use all tools – including new criminal statutes passed by congress – to stop such conduct.” According to the criminal complaint, the investigation began in late January with the assault and attempted robbery of a woman in Rainier Valley. The victim was able to flee in her car. Police found a firearm in her vehicle that had been dropped by one of the assailants. A check of the firearm revealed it had been purchased by Dion Jamar Cooper on December 10, 2022. That recovery led the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) to check Cooper’s purchase history. Cooper had purchased 107 firearms since June 2021. On 24 different instances he purchased multiple firearms – sometime four or more. Of the 107 firearms identified as being purchased in this scheme, 24 of the guns have been recovered and linked to crimes. During March and April 2023, agents surveilled Cooper as he made arrangements to purchase additional firearms. Agents identified De’ondre Lamontia Phillips as the person who drove Cooper to the gun shops where he purchased the firearms. Phillips is prohibited from purchasing and possessing firearms due to convictions for distribution of heroin (2014) and convictions for illegal firearms possession and two counts of assault (2009). Surveillance of the two revealed Cooper turning the firearms over to Phillips who stored them in his residence. Cooper and Phillips are charged with Straw Purchasing of Firearms, involving ten different guns. Both men are also charged with two counts of trafficking in firearms. Phillips is charged with possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Phillips is also charged with unlawful possession of firearms. Straw Purchasing of Firearms and Trafficking in Firearms are both punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Possession of controlled substances in this case is punishable by a mandatory minimum five years and up to 40 years in prison. Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime is punishable by a mandatory minimum five years in prison to run consecutive to any sentence imposed on the other charges. Unlawful possession of firearms is punishable by up to fifteen years in prison. The charges contained in the complaint are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) and the Seattle Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg.


title: Nicholas County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Shawn K. Bever, 45, of Craigsville, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 17, 2021, law enforcement officers investigating the illegal shooting of a bear encountered Bever outside his Craigsville residence. Officers saw an ATI .22-caliber pistol in Bever’s side-by-side all-terrain vehicle, parked on the property. Winchester .22-caliber ammunition was recovered from Bever’s pants pocket. Bever admitted to possessing the firearm and ammunition. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Bever was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition because of his prior felony conviction for delivery of a controlled substance in Nicholas County Circuit Court on November 14, 2011. Bever is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, 2023, and faces a faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Police and the assistance provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Nowles Heinrich and Lesley C. Shamblin are 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. 2:22-cr-164. ###


title: Three Individuals Indicted  on Federal Drug Charges

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that FERMIN DANIEL PUENTE-MONTOYA , age 31, ALEJANDRO AGUILAR-RAMOS , age 30, and ELIAS SALAS , age 19, were all indicted on April 14 th , 2023 on two (2) counts of Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substance in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841 and 846. PUENTE-MONTOYA was also indicted on one count of Illegal Reentry of a Removed Alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a). According to the indictment, PUENTE-MONTOYA , AGUILAR-RAMOS , and SALAS conspired to traffic large quantities of illegal narcotics from Houston, Texas to Kenner, Louisiana. If convicted on the drug counts, all three defendants face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment , up to a $10,000,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. Regarding the illegal reentry count, PUENTE-MONTOYA faces up to two years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to one year of supervised release. Each count also carries a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. U. S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. U. S. Attorney Evans also praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Kenner Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit.


title: New Orleans Man Sentenced to Being  a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – JARON MCCREE , a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on April 5, 2023, by U.S. District Court Ivan L.R. Lemelle to seventy (70) months incarceration, three (3) years of supervised release and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee after previously pleading guilty to possessing a firearm while being a convicted felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). According to the court records, on February 15, 2022, New Orleans Police Department detectives had an outstanding arrest warrant for MCCREE and saw him near a store in the French Quarter. One of the detectives approached MCCREE who then fled on foot. The detective chased MCCREE and observed as he discarded a firearm in a bush. MCCREE was then arrested. Police later recovered a Glock model 17, nine-millimeter firearm, with an extended magazine, capable of holding thirty-one (31) rounds of ammunition, from the bush. Police also recovered twenty-eight (28) live rounds of ammunition. 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. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department in this matter. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mike Trummel of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Former Hinds County Detention Officer Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

body_text: Jackson, Mississippi – A Madison man was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Darren LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. According to court documents, on August 18, 2018, Marcell Anderson, 26, a Hinds County detention officer, attempted to introduce contraband into the Hinds County Detention Center in Raymond, Mississippi. Anderson had an electrical taped bundle in his pants containing methamphetamine, marijuana, spice (synthetic marijuana), Xanax pills, rolling papers, and lighters. Anderson was indicted by a federal grand jury and he pled guilty on January 25, 2023 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Keesha Middleton.


title: Indian National Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Conspiracy Based in Wray, Colorado

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: Denver – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Dhruv Jani, age 40, formerly of Wray, Colorado, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to commit money laundering. According to the plea agreement, starting in January 2020, Jani was part of a conspiracy to launder funds obtained from a government official imposter scheme. Victims in the United States were contacted by telephone and coerced into believing they were under investigation by “Agents” of federal law enforcement agencies (the FBI, SSA, DHS, Treasury, or U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration). Victims were told that their identities had been connected to a criminal incident, that their imminent arrest and/or deportation from the United States had been ordered by law enforcement, and that the only way to avoid arrest and or deportation was to pay the “Government” large sums of money. In a typical scenario, the “Agent” instructed the victim to remain on the phone for the duration of the call while the victim traveled to their bank to withdraw cash. The “Agent” then convinced the victim to package and ship the cash to alleged government officials via Federal Express or United Parcel Service. The government contends that fifty-seven victims mailed, or attempted to mail, approximately $1.6 million to Jani and his conspirators in Colorado. Many of these same victims were also directed to mail packages of cash and gift cards to individuals in other states. All told, the government contends that the victims who sent money and gift cards to Colorado and to other states are out approximately $7.2 million from the government imposter scheme. United States District Court Judge Raymond P. Moore is scheduled to sentence Jani on October 6, 2023. This investigation is being conducted jointly with investigators from the Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of Inspector General (OIG), United States Postal Inspection Service, Department of Homeland Security-OIG, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Sterling, Colorado Police Department. The District Attorney for the 13th Judicial District has also provided assistance. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Martha A. Paluch and Laura B. Hurd. Case number: 22-cr-202


title: Two fraudsters sent to prison for COVID-19 fraud scheme

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A Florida man and Texas woman have been ordered to prison following their conviction of wire fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Dylan Kinlock, 30, Orlando, Florida, and Felicia Garza, 37, Houston, pleaded guilty in January to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud the United States of COVID-related disaster loan proceeds. Today, U.S. District Judge David Hittner ordered Kinlock to serve 56 months in federal prison, while Garza received 24-month-term of imprisonment. Both must also serve three years of supervised release following completion of prison terms. Additionally, the Court ordered Dylan Kinlock to forfeit to the United States $312,573.05 in funds found in a bank account as well as his home in Orlando. Kinlock was also ordered to pay restitution to the United States in the amount of $939,379, offset by the amount recovered by the forfeiture. Kinlock and Garza admitted they devised a scheme to solicit others to fraudulently apply for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided. The two utilized victims’ personal information to create falsified documents and applied for a PPP loan on their behalf. The fraud scheme resulted in at least 241 fraudulent PPP loans which led to the distribution of more than $1 million. Kinlock received at least $939,379 in fee income from individuals he assisted in securing the fraudulent PPP Loans. Garza was paid by Kinlock to refer PPP clients to him. She also helped Kinlock file a fraudulent PPP loan application on her own behalf. Numerous individuals residing in the Southern District of Texas applied for PPP loans through Kinlock. They were referred to Kinlock by Garza and they all reported that Kinlock attached fraudulent documents to their application without their knowledge, and the applications contained false statements about the number of employees their business had. The false documents included fictitious Schedule C tax forms reporting profit or loss from a business, 1099-MISC forms and invoices reporting incorrect income to qualify for the loans. Kinlock and Garza solicited each victim to execute a contract in which they agreed to share a portion of their PPP loans. After clients received their PPP loan funds, Kinlock directed the client to send fees through various means including direct deposit into a bank account or electronic payment methods such as Zelle, CashApp or Venmo. Fees ranged from $3000 to $4,000 per loan or 20% of the amount the client received. Both used the monies for their personal benefit. Notably, Kinlock used some of the funds to pay off his home in Florida. As part of his plea, he also agreed to forfeit that residence. The CARES Act is a federal law enacted March 27, 2020, to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who suffered the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Kinlock will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Garza was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. IRS - Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Hileman prosecuted the case.