title: Convicted Felons Illegally Possessing Firearms Sentenced to Prison

body_text: MACON, Ga. – A Bahamian fugitive and a Georgia jail escapee were sentenced to prison this week on federal gun charges resulting from separate Project Safe Neighborhoods investigations in the Middle District of Georgia. Byron Bradley Demeritte, 31, a Bahamian citizen residing in Lithonia, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on Jan. 8. Demeritte previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a machinegun on Aug. 26, 2024. Chavis Stokes, 31, of Macon, was sentenced to serve 96 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release on Jan. 8. Stokes previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on Oct. 9, 2024. Stokes, who is serving significant state sentences, was ordered to serve his time consecutively to already-imposed sentences. U.S. District Judge Marc T. Treadwell presided over the cases. There is no parole in the federal system. “Our office and our law enforcement partners will continue to prioritize federal prosecutions against illegally armed, dangerous criminals,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “I salute the excellent investigative and prosecutorial work in these Project Safe Neighborhoods cases, which endeavor to make our communities safer.” According to the plea agreement and other statements referenced in court in the Demeritte case, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies initiated a traffic stop of the vehicle Demeritte was driving on I-75 for improper license plate and erratic driving on May 3, 2023. The officers smelled a strong odor of marijuana in the vehicle, and Demeritte showed the officers his marijuana cigarette and a small bag of marijuana. Demeritte told officers he was traveling to Miami, Florida, to retrieve his passport. Demeritte and his passenger, Darriyo Saunders, of the Bahamas, were asked to exit the vehicle so a search could be conducted for drug possession, and Saunders attempted to remove a backpack. Saunders then took off running while being pursued by another deputy and was later taken into custody at a nearby Wal-Mart. Inside the backpack, deputies found six firearms and extra magazines (one extended and one drum), one of which was a stolen Glock Model 21 .45 caliber modified to fire as a machinegun. In addition, officers found MDMA tablets and multiple small bags of marijuana inside the backpack. Demeritte is a fugitive from the Bahamas wanted on a pending and active murder warrant issued on March 27, 2023. According to the plea agreement and other statements referenced in court in the Stokes case, the U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force (SERFTF) located Stokes—who had escaped from the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center—in Montezuma, Georgia, on Oct. 26, 2023. He was alone at a single wide trailer on Shiloh Church Road. Stokes surrendered without incident; inside, SERFTF agents saw a bag on a table with an AK style magazine sticking out of it and found two firearms in a back bedroom: a semiautomatic pistol and a rifle. Agents found loaded magazines for both firearms as well as 29 rounds of 9mm ammunition and 68 rounds of assorted 7.62 caliber ammunition. Additionally, agents located multiple phones and a half a kilogram of suspected marijuana. These cases are 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. The Demeritte case was investigated by ATF and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Criminal Chief Leah McEwen and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert McCullers. The Stokes case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force (SERFTF) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) with assistance from the FBI, the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia State Patrol and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joy Odom.


title: Spencer Man to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: Casey Tuttle, 26, from Spencer, Iowa, was sentenced on January 7, 2025, to 41 months’ imprisonment. On August 29, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City, Tuttle pled guilty to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Tuttle was previously convicted in 2021 in the Iowa District Court of burglary, third degree; possession of methamphetamine, third or subsequent offense; and in 2018 of burglary, second degree. Each of these are felony convictions which prohibit Tuttle from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that in the early morning of April 4, 2024, Spencer Police Department officers stopped Tuttle riding his bike in the dark without taillights or reflectors. It was determined Tuttle had outstanding arrest warrants, so he was placed under arrest. During a search of Tuttle and a backpack he was wearing, law enforcement located a .22 caliber revolver, ammunition, marijuana, knives, 1 gram of methamphetamine, and other drug-use paraphernalia. Tuttle admitted to law enforcement he was a drug user. As a drug user, Tuttle is also prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Tuttle was sentenced to 41 months’ imprisonment and must serve a three-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Tuttle remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison. 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. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by the Spencer, Iowa Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-4032. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Former Police Commissioner and Former Director of the Virgin Islands Office of Management and Budget Charged in Bribery Scheme

component: USAO - Virgin Islands

body_text: An indictment was unsealed today charging Ray Martinez, the former police commissioner of the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD), and Jenifer O’Neal, the former director of the Virgin Islands Office of Management and Budget, with participating in a bribery and money laundering conspiracy. Both defendants made their initial court appearances today in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. According to court documents, Martinez, 56, and O’Neal, 53, both of St. Thomas, accepted bribes from a then-government contractor, David Whitaker. The indictment alleges that the scheme began in at least November 2022 and continued until June 2024, with O’Neal joining the scheme no later than January 2024. The defendants also allegedly conspired to launder proceeds from the bribery scheme through a monetary transaction to pay rent on O’Neal’s coffee shop. In exchange for the bribes paid by the government contractor, Martinez and O’Neal, among other official acts, allegedly agreed to approve fraudulently inflated invoices and assist with obtaining payment for those invoices by the Virgin Islands to Whitaker. Martinez also agreed to assist Whitaker in obtaining a $1.48 million contract to provide services to the VIPD in October 2023. Additionally, after the investigation was originally made public, Martinez allegedly obstructed the investigation by encouraging Whitaker to destroy evidence associated with Martinez’s criminal activity and produced falsified documents in response to a subpoena. Martinez and O’Neal are each charged with five counts of honest services wire fraud, which each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison; one count of federal program bribery, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison; and one count of money laundering conspiracy, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Martinez is also charged with two counts of obstruction of justice, which each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Delia Smith for the District of the Virgin Islands; and Special Agent in Charge Joseph Gonzalez of the FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement. The FBI San Juan Field Office, St. Thomas Resident Agency is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Alexandre Dempsey and Steve Loew of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Conley for the District of the Virgin Islands are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Commissioner of Virgin Islands Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation and Co-Conspirator Charged in Bribery Scheme

body_text: An indictment was unsealed today charging Calvert White, the commissioner of the Virgin Islands Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation (SP&R), and Benjamin Hendricks, a local businessman, with participating in a bribery scheme. Both defendants made their initial court appearances today in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. According to court documents, White, 49, of St. Thomas, solicited and accepted a bribe from a then-government contractor, David Whitaker, through Hendricks, 62, also of St. Thomas, who acted as an intermediary. The indictment alleges that the scheme began in at least December 2023 and continued until June 2024. In exchange for the bribe paid by Whitaker, White allegedly agreed to assist Whitaker in obtaining a $1.43 million contract with SP&R. White, amongst other acts, allegedly provided confidential bid information to Whitaker and took official action to encourage the awarding of the contract to Whitaker. Hendricks allegedly served as a middleman for the payments and facilitated the bribery scheme. White and Hendricks are each charged with one count of honest services wire fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison; and one count of federal program bribery, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Delia Smith for the District of the Virgin Islands; and Special Agent in Charge Joseph Gonzalez of the FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement. The FBI San Juan Field Office, St. Thomas Resident Agency is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Alexandre Dempsey and Steve Loew of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Conley for the District of the Virgin Islands are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: United States Attorney’s Office Hosts Second Annual Human Trafficking Simulation for Human Trafficking Awareness Month

component: USAO - North Carolina, Middle

body_text: GREENSBORO – United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston announced that the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina (USAO-MDNC), in partnership with The Human Trafficking Resource Center and the Lexington Police Department, hosted a simulation for community members, law enforcement, and service organizations to learn about the warning signs of human trafficking and provide resources for victims. Each year, the Department of Justice recognizes National Human Trafficking Awareness month in January in an effort to better educate the public about the signs of human trafficking and bring awareness to the victims. This year, the USAO-MDNC hosted its second annual human trafficking simulation to allow law enforcement and service providers a chance to learn more about what it is like to be a victim of human trafficking in order to better serve victims and their families. Despite the forecast winter storm, approximately 35 participants from all around the state took part in this event, including service providers, NGOs, churches, medical providers, law enforcement, analysts, and victims’ services. Participants were also given a chance to speak with prosecutors and law enforcement about the government response to human trafficking and what resources are available. “The exploitation of human beings for profit and has no place in any society. Whether it’s forced labor, domestic servitude, or sex trafficking of children or adults, human trafficking is happening every day in every state, stripping victims of their dignity and forcing them into a life of fear and servitude,” said United States Attorney Hairston. “The public is law enforcement’s most valuable partner in identifying cases and preventing this heinous crime, and we are proud to host this event to educate members of both the community and law enforcement on the ways to recognize and prevent human trafficking.” If you or someone you know has experienced human trafficking, help is available. The National Human Trafficking Hotline provides free, confidential help, 24/7. Call: 1-888-373-7888; Text: HELP to 233733 (BEFREE); or Chat: humantraffickinghotline.org/chat . If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911. ###


title: Guthrie Man Sentenced to Serve 16 Months in Federal Prison for Communicating Threats

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, JEFFREY ADAM WINDBIGLER , 32, of Guthrie, Oklahoma, was sentenced to serve 16 months in federal prison for communicating a threat, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. On February 20, 2024, a federal grand jury returned a four-count Indictment against Windbigler, charging him with four counts of communicating a threat. According to the Indictment, in January 2024, Windbigler posted several threatening messages on social media, where he threatened to kill children and threatened to “shoot up” the Edmond public library, an Oklahoma school, and a Texas school. On October 31, 2024, Windbigler pleaded guilty to Count 1 of the Indictment, and admitted he communicated a threat to kill children, shoot up the Edmond library, and shoot up a school, and that he knew the communication would be viewed as a threat. At the sentencing hearing today, U.S. District Judge Stephen P. Friot sentenced Windbigler to serve 16 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Friot noted Windbigler’s history and characteristics, including his apparent obsession with violence. Judge Friot further noted that his sentence was based, in part, on the need for adequate incapacitation and to deter similar conduct. This case is the result of an investigation by the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Dillon is prosecuting the case. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Pulaski Woman Convicted of Bank Fraud and Social Security Fraud

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: UTICA, NEW YORK – Wanda Gilpin, age 71, of Pulaski, New York, pled guilty to six counts of bank fraud and two counts of misuse of a social security number, United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Amy Connelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General (SSA-OIG), New York Field Office announced. At the change of plea, Gilpin admitted to applying for multiple credit cards and loans using the personally identifiable information of other individuals, including a deceased relative. After Gilpin received the credit cards, she used the cards for personal expenses and incurred balances on each credit card that reached the credit limit assigned to that card. Gilpin also obtained an automobile loan and personal loan. In total, Gilpin was able to obtain lines of credit and loans totaling $24,909.68 from six different financial institutions. Gilpin is scheduled to be sentenced by Senior United States Judge David N. Hurd on May 7, 2025. She faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for the bank fraud charges and a maximum sentence of 5 years and a fine of up to $250,000 for the social security fraud charges. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by the judge based on the statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. The SSA-OIG is investigating the case, and the case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Tuck and Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian LaRochelle.


title: Lincoln Woman Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Angela Marie Bryant, age 46, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on January 10, 2025, in federal court in Lincoln for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Bryant to 37 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Bryant’s release from prison, she will serve a 2-year term of supervised release. In March of 2024, confidential informants working with the Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force purchased meth from Bryant’s husband, Maurice Bryant, on two occasions for an estimated total of one ounce. On April 2, 2024, a search warrant was executed at the Bryants’ Lincoln residence, and investigators found a total of approximately 59 grams of meth. Angela Bryant agreed to talk to investigators and admitted selling meth in the Lincoln area to multiple customers. She said she obtained the meth she was selling from her husband. This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force.


title: Last Member of Wire Fraud Conspiracy Sentenced

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Bead Chan, age 23, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced January 8, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for conspiring to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Chan to 4 months’ imprisonment on the wire fraud charge and 24 months’ imprisonment on the aggravated identity theft charge for a total of 28 months. There is no parole in the federal system. After Chan’s release from prison, he will begin a 4-year term of supervised release on both charges. A task force of Sarpy County, Douglas County, and Pottawattamie County agencies was assembled to investigate a significant spike in the Omaha and Council Bluffs metro areas in burglarized vehicles. The modus operandi of the thefts was that one member of the conspiracy would drive a vehicle slowly through a residential neighborhood while other members of the conspiracy, called “runners,” would enter vehicles parked in driveways or parked on the street outside of the residence and steal property like credit cards, identification, computers, money, and other valuables. Bead Chan was identified as a member of this conspiracy through his Paypal account, which was linked to several unauthorized transactions using stolen victim cards. The members of the conspiracy would take the stolen cards from the vehicles to area stores like Wal-Mart and other retailers and buy drinks, food, and prepaid cards that they would load up with money from the stolen cards. They would also purchase money orders to further conceal the source of the proceeds and the money orders would be deposited back to bank accounts or bitcoin accounts belonging to the members of the conspiracy. Law enforcement was able to identify and arrest all five members of the conspiracy. Co-conspirator Hassan Mohamed was sentenced on June 12, 2024, to 20 months imprisonment on the wire fraud charge and 24 months on the aggravated identity theft charge for a total of 44 months. Co-conspirator Hazem Sarmin was sentenced on June 14, 2024, to 18 months imprisonment on the wire fraud charge and 24 months on the aggravated identity theft charge for a total of 42 months. Co-conspirator Ian Betkie was sentenced on December 5, 2024, to 4 months imprisonment on the wire fraud charge and 24 months on the aggravated identity theft charge for a total of 28 months. Co-conspirator and ringleader Abas Ali was sentenced on November 8, 2024, to 27 months imprisonment on the wire fraud charge and 24 months on the aggravated identity theft charge for a total of 51 months. This case was investigated by the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.


title: Hastings Man Sentenced to Over 2 Years for Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Jesse S. Flanagan, age 36, of Hastings, Nebraska, was sentenced on January 10, 2025, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Flanagan to a total of 28 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Flanagan’s release from prison, he will begin a 2-year term of supervised release. On September 23, 2023, Flanagan was travelling on Interstate 80 with another individual. Shortly before 4:00 a.m., two Nebraska State Troopers initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle. Flanagan was identified as the driver and there was another individual in the front passenger seat. Flanagan and the other individual were separated while the troopers asked questions. The front seat passenger admitted that Flanagan had handed her a bag of fentanyl pills to hide from the troopers as they were getting pulled over. The bag was seized, and it was determined that the bag contained 656 pills. The State Patrol Crime Lab confirmed the pills contained fentanyl and that the combined weight of the pills was 69.67 grams. This case was investigated by the Tri-City Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT). TRIDENT is a task force with law enforcement personnel from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Grand Island Police Department, Hall County Sheriff’s Office, Hastings Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Kearney Police Department, and the Nebraska State Patrol.


title: Omaha Woman Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine Charge

body_text: United States Attorney Susan T. Lehr announced that Aleah Meyer, age 27, of Omaha, Nebraska was sentenced on January 10, 2025, in federal court in Omaha after having pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Meyer to 84 months’ imprisonment and to forfeit $7,613. There is no parole in the federal system. After Meyer’s release from prison, she will begin a 4-year term of supervised release. On March 30, 2023, and April 11, 2023, law enforcement utilized a confidential source to purchase 1-pound of meth from a Mexico-based source of supply. The drug transactions were arranged through text messages with the source and codefendant, Leonires Perez-Gonzales, both coordinating with the Mexico-based source of supply. During the April 11, 2023, transaction, the source met with codefendant Perez-Gonzales at an Omaha location where the drug transaction took place inside of the codefendant’s vehicle. The codefendant was driving while Aleah Meyer was in the front passenger seat when the codefendant sold 1 pound of meth to the source for $2,500. On April 18, 2023, officers executed a search warrant at Meyer’s Omaha apartment. Officers found the codefendant packing a vehicle in front of the apartment. During the search warrant, officers located: a semi-automatic black Sccy Industries 9 mm handgun, semi-automatic Glock 48 9mm handgun, another Glock 48 9mm handgun, a semi-automatic F1 firearms 5.56 rifle, a F.N. Model Scar 17 .762 Caliber rifle, a safe containing 900.4 grams of meth, $7,613 U.S. currency in drug proceeds, a drug ledger, another bag with 234.7 grams of meth, a digital scale, and various amounts of ammunition. Testing established that the codefendant’s and Meyer’s DNA were on multiple firearms seized in this case. By pleading guilty, Meyer gave up any right or claim to the money and firearms seized in this case. Codefendant Perez-Gonzales had previously pled to drug and gun charges and was sentenced to 248 months’ imprisonment on May 10, 2024. This case was the result of an investigation by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.


title: Omaha Man Sentenced for Distributing Fentanyl

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Corbin Rhine, age 33, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced January 10, 2025, in federal court in Omaha for distribution of fentanyl. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Rhine to 188 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Rhine is released from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. On June 14, 2023, Rhine distributed fentanyl to an individual at the Candlewood Suites hotel. The individual overdosed and passed away after ingesting the fentanyl distributed by Rhine. Video from the hotel and the download of the victim’s phone and Facebook account confirmed Rhine went to the hotel to distribute two M30 fentanyl pills. This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration.


title: Lincoln Man Sentenced for Distribution of Fentanyl

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Arnaldo L. Rodriguez Santini, age 37, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced on January 10, 2025, in federal court in Lincoln for distribution of fentanyl. U.S. District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Rodriguez Santini to 216 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Rodriguez Santini’s release from prison, he will begin a 4-year term of supervised release. On the morning of June 21, 2022, a Lincoln man was found dead at a Lincoln halfway house. A spoon containing a blue/white substance, a broken pill, and a syringe were found in the man’s room. Two additional blue pills were found in his wallet. Testing at the Nebraska State Patrol laboratory showed the pills found in the victim’s wallet and the substance on the spoon all contained fentanyl. After an autopsy was conducted, it was determined the cause of death was fentanyl toxicity. Text messages in the victim’s phone led investigators to suspect Rodriguez Santini and his wife, Regina Rodriguez, were the sources for this fentanyl. Rodriguez Santini was interviewed by Lincoln Police officers in August of 2022 about the text messages. He admitted to providing five fentanyl pills to the victim on the day prior to the victim’s death. Regina Rodriguez was sentenced to 240 months in prison on a related charge in September of 2023. This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force.


title: Kearney Woman Sentenced to Over 5 Years for Distribution of Methamphetamine

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Jade Summers, age 42, of Kearney, Nebraska was sentenced on January 10, 2025, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for one count of distribution of 5 grams or more of meth. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Summers to a total of 60 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Summers’ release from prison, she will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. On April 4, 2023, a Confidential Informant (“CI”) set up a controlled purchase of meth from Jade Summers. Summers agreed to sell ¼ pound of meth. Law enforcement provided the CI with $1,600 to purchase the meth and video/audio recording devices for the controlled buy. The purchase occurred in Grand Island, Nebraska. The CI purchased the meth from Summers and the meth was packaged in three baggies. The State Crime Lab confirmed that the substance was meth and that it weighed over 100 grams. The largest baggie was confirmed to have a purity of 100% and to contain at least 55 grams of meth actual. This case was investigated by the Tri-City Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT). TRIDENT is a task force with law enforcement personnel from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Grand Island Police Department, Hall County Sheriff’s Office, Hastings Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Kearney Police Department, and the Nebraska State Patrol.


title: Charlottesville Bodybuilding Coach Sentenced to More Than 20 Years in Prison on Child Exploitation Charges

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – A Charlottsville-based, virtual bodybuilding coach, who sexually exploited at least six minors over the course of six years, was sentenced yesterday to 254 months in federal prison. Elliott Atwell, 35, pled guilty in June 2024 to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of possession of child pornography. “This defendant targeted young people who put their trust in him as a coach and mentor and violated that trust to satisfy his own desires,” Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee said today. “I am grateful to the men and women of the FBI who tirelessly investigated this case and brought some semblance of justice to the victims. Cases like these remind us how vulnerable our young people are and how vigilant we must be to protect them from manipulative online predators.” “FBI Richmond is unwavering in its commitment to seeking justice for victims of child exploitation. Today's guilty verdict is the culmination of years of relentless work and dedication by our agents and analysts,” Special Agent in Charge Stanley M. Meador of the FBI Richmond Division said today. “Together with our partners, the FBI will continue protecting our children by removing harmful predators from our communities.” According to court documents, between December 2013 and April 2020, Atwell portrayed himself as a virtual bodybuilding coach for high-school bodybuilders. He approached minors online to purportedly mentor them and quickly transitioned their conversations and alleged bodybuilding training to the topics of sex and sexuality. Under the guise of coaching, Atwell would encourage the minors to send nude photographs and videos of themselves. Atwell further manipulated at least six minors to record themselves engaging in sexually explicit conduct and then send those recordings to him. In efforts to gain the victims’ trust and willingness to participate, Atwell sent them gifts, including a digital camera, and other sexual-related items. Atwell then gave detailed instructions on what sexual activities he wanted the minors to perform and capture on video. In addition, the FBI searched Atwell’s iCloud account, which contained over 300 images and video files depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including images of prepubescent boys engaged in sex acts. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melanie Smith and Trial Attorney Jessica Urban of the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section are prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Montgomery County Man Sentenced for Election Fraud Offenses

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Philip C. Pulley, 62, of Huntington Valley, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by Chief United States District Court Judge Mitchell S. Goldberg to three years’ probation, 100 hours of community service, with 50 of those hours dedicated to an entity that works toward the promotion of free and fair elections, a fine of $9,500, and a $400 special assessment, for committing multiple election fraud offenses. Chief Judge Goldberg also ordered Pulley to write a letter explaining why he committed the offenses. Pulley was charged by information in August of last year with falsely registering to vote, double voting, and election fraud, and pleaded guilty to those charges in September. In 2018, while registered to vote in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, the defendant also registered to vote in Broward County, Florida. In 2020, while already registered to vote in Montgomery County and Broward County, he registered to vote in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, using a false home address in Philadelphia and social security number. In the 2022 general election, which included the election for United States Senator, Pulley voted in both Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. “Free and fair elections are critical to the health of our democracy, and people who seek to corrupt the process can dangerously erode the public’s trust,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Protecting the integrity of the vote is a priority for my office and the FBI. We will continue to investigate and prosecute election fraud cases and bring offenders like Philip Pulley to justice.” “Safeguarding the right to participate in free and fair elections is a cornerstone of our democracy and a top priority for the FBI and our partners,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “Working closely with our partners, we are committed to investigating and holding accountable anyone who undermines the integrity of our electoral process.” The case was investigated by the FBI and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nancy E. Potts and Mark B. Dubnoff, with support from James Price, Senior Deputy Attorney General and Special Assistant United States Attorney.


title: Former Tri-Cities Pastor Indicted for Multi-Million Dollar  Cryptocurrency Scam

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Richland, Washington – U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref announced that on November 7, 2024, a federal grand jury for the Eastern District of Washington returned an indictment charging Francier Obando Pinillo, age 51, of Miami, Florida, with 26 counts of fraud in connection with running a cryptocurrency scam that defrauded investors of millions of dollars between November 2021 and October 2023. Pinillo was arraigned today at the U.S. District Court in Richland, Washington. Pinillo was pastor at Ministerio Apostolico Profetico Tiempos de Poder, a Spanish-language church in Pasco, Washington. The Indictment alleges Pinillo used his position as pastor to induce members of his congregation and others to invest their money in a cryptocurrency investment business known as “Solano Fi.” Pinillo claimed the idea for Solano Fi had come to him in a dream and that it was a safe and guaranteed investment. The Indictment further alleges that Pinillo also recruited investors using social media, including a Solano Fi Facebook page as well as a Telegram group known as “Multimillionarios SolanoFi”, which had more than 1,500 members. The Indictment further alleges Pinillo told prospective investors that Solano Fi used cryptocurrency “staking” to guarantee a compounding monthly return of 34.9% with no risk. Pinillo explained that investors could access, view, and withdraw their money from Solano Fi through an online interface. However, as alleged in the indictment, the online application was actually designed to allow investors to see fraudulent purported balances and supposed investment gains but did not permit the investors to withdraw funds. The indictment further alleges that, rather than investing funds on victims’ behalf as he had promised, Pinillo defrauded victims into making cryptocurrency transfers into accounts he designated, then converted the victims’ funds to himself and his co-schemers. Additionally, the indictment alleges that Pinillo convinced investors to recruit other investors, promising that the person who made the referral could earn additional returns for each additional investor they recruited. The indictment alleges when victims tried to remove their assets from Solano Fi, Pinillo claimed he could not return the assets until cryptocurrency markets improved, or because the website or application was down, or that he would not return their investment unless the victim brought in a new investor to “buy out” their account. The indictment further alleges Pinillo told investors they were required to send more money to “repair” and upgrade the Solano Fi system so that investors could get their funds back. “Fraudulent investment schemes are not new, but cryptocurrency scams are a new way fraudsters take money from hardworking, honest people,” said U.S. Attorney Waldref. “Cryptocurrency fraudsters often quickly route funds to international accounts, which presents new challenges for law enforcement attempting to recover lost funds. My office and our partners at the FBI are committed to doing all we can to recover the proceeds of these frauds for victims and to hold the people running these scams accountable.” The fraud charges against Pinillo carry a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison. This case was investigated by the FBI. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Dan Fruchter and Jeremy J. Kelley. 4:24-cr-06032-SAB An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Dominican Man Charged for Allegedly Possessing Assault Rifle and Five Kilograms of Suspected Fentanyl

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A citizen of the Dominican Republic, who was residing at the Quality Inn Hotel in Revere, Mass., has been charged in federal court in Boston for allegedly possessing five kilograms of suspected fentanyl and an assault rifle. Leonardo Andujar Sanchez, 28, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl and one count of being an alien in possession of a firearm who has entered the United States unlawfully. The defendant is currently in state custody on related charges and will appear in federal court in Boston at 12:15 p.m. for an initial appearance. According to the charging documents, Andujar Sanchez was residing in the Quality Inn in Revere. On Dec. 27, 2024, during a search of the room that Andujar Sanchez was residing in, five kilograms of suspected fentanyl, an AR-style assault rifle, ammunition, two rifle magazines, digital scales and an abundance of latex gloves were allegedly located. Andujar Sanchez was immediately taken into state custody. The charge of possession with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to life years in prison, at least five years of supervised release, a mandatory minimum of 10 years, and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of unlawful possession of a firearm provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Office; and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and the Revere Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Panich of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Justice Department Files Voting Rights Suit Against City of Hazleton, Pennsylvania

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that it has filed a lawsuit against the City of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, to challenge the city council’s at-large method of election. The lawsuit alleges that the city’s current at-large method of electing city council members results in Hispanic citizens having less opportunity than other members of the electorate to participate in the political process and to elect candidates of choice, in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Hispanic voting-age citizens make up more than 40% of the city’s electorate. Hispanic-preferred candidates have run for the city council and routinely lose, despite the county’s sizeable Hispanic citizen population. “The Voting Rights Act is an important tool to ensure that underrepresented citizens have an equal opportunity to choose their elected officials,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that all citizens have an equal opportunity to participate in the democratic process and elect candidates of choice. We look forward to working with officials to achieve a more perfect union by bringing Hazleton, Pennsylvania into compliance with the Voting Rights Act.” “The Hispanic population is a growing and important population in the City of Hazelton, and those citizens should have the ability to choose candidates that represent their interests,” said U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. “This complaint demonstrates my office’s commitment to partner with the Justice Department to enforce civil rights statutes like the Voting Rights Act.” The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, alleges that changing the method of election can create opportunities for Hispanic voters to elect candidates of their choice to the Hazleton City Council. For example, by electing councilmembers from single-member districts, Hispanic voters would have an opportunity to elect at least two members of the five-member city council. The lawsuit seeks a federal court order implementing a new method of electing the Hazleton City Council. The Justice Department looks forward to continued discussions with the City of Hazleton toward resolution of this matter. The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section, working with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, enforces the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Civil Rights Acts and the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. More information about voting and elections is available at www.justice.gov/voting . Learn more about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section . Complaints about possible violations of federal voting rights laws can be submitted through the Civil Rights Division’s website at civilrights.justice.gov or by telephone at 1-800-253-3931. # # #


title: Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney Jill Steinberg announces resignation

component: USAO - Georgia, Southern

body_text: SAVANNAH, GA: U.S. Attorney Jill E. Steinberg has announced her resignation from her presidentially appointed position in the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office, effective Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. U.S. Attorney Steinberg served as the Chief Federal Law Enforcement Officer for the 43-county Southern District of Georgia since being sworn into office Feb. 22, 2023. Her departure coincides with the pending transition to a new presidential administration and the traditional appointment of new leaders for federal agencies. “Serving as U.S. Attorney has been a distinct honor and privilege, and I am grateful for the hard work, camaraderie, and friendship of the dedicated professionals who continue to serve on behalf of the American people,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “Representing the United States in court is an incredible responsibility, and those who seek justice on behalf of our nation deserve our lasting gratitude. I am proud to have served alongside them.” During Steinberg’s tenure, the U.S. Attorney’s Office concluded a statewide investigation that identified unconstitutional conditions at Georgia’s state prisons; worked to hold accountable individuals responsible for more than $12 million in pandemic relief fraud; and successfully prosecuted significant criminal cases including drug trafficking conspiracies, large-scale fraud operations, child sexual exploitation crimes, and nearly 200 cases involving illegal firearms possession. Highlights of U.S. Attorney Steinberg’s tenure include: Criminal prosecutions for drugs, violent crime Operation Ghost Busted, the largest single drug trafficking indictment returned in the Southern District of Georgia, was designed to address, and did in fact address, the significant uptick of overdose deaths in the Brunswick, Georgia, area. The defendants, many of them affiliated with a white supremacist gang, collectively have been sentenced to more than 4,000 months in prison, including one defendant who received a life sentence. In Operation Night Drop, the U.S. Attorney’s Office indicted 15 defendants – many of them inmates in Georgia state prisons – for operating a widespread methamphetamine trafficking operation that used drones to deliver contraband to incarcerated conspirators. The U.S. Attorney’s Office successfully prosecuted a violent extremist who used a weapon of mass destruction on a Savannah street, and another who stalked a woman before using an explosive on her home. U.S. Attorney Steinberg took great care to ensure federal resources were used to vigorously defend against those who threatened our national security; the office prosecuted a hostile foreign state actor for exporting restricted equipment and information, and an individual for leaking classified information. Protecting the vulnerable The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized the protection of our most vulnerable citizens from sexual predators, including the prosecution of a defendant sentenced to 100 years in federal prison for sexually abusing multiple children, a defendant indicted for surreptitiously recording unclothed images of minors in a gym, and multiple defendants indicted as part of a multi-agency operation aimed at identifying online predators. The office also reached a settlement with a Savannah-area landlord who engaged in a pattern and practice of sexually harassing female tenants for more than 15 years, and then coordinated a multi-agency community roundtable to provide public education on the rights of tenants in rental housing. Fighting financial fraud The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the supervisor of the Glynn County public works department for embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money for his own personal benefit. An individual who used the complex and emerging world of cryptocurrency to defraud multiple individual victims of over a million dollars was sent to prison. An office manager who abused her position of trust to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from a prominent real estate management company received a prison sentence and was ordered to pay restitution. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted multiple individuals who committed millions of dollars in tax fraud and fraudulently accessed pandemic relief programs. The office successfully tried a years-long prosecution with the Antitrust Division involving a concrete company and its associates for engaging in anti-competitive practices such as price fixing, bid rigging, and market allocation. The office reached a $3.9 million settlement with two companies whose employee was murdered when he exposed a scheme by other employees to illegally profit from undocumented laborers. In addition to these initiatives, U.S. Attorney Steinberg oversaw the revival of the district’s Human Trafficking Task Force and supported the office’s efforts to provide law enforcement training and public education on human trafficking. She also facilitated the district’s entry into the Department of Justice and Department of Commerce-led Disruptive Technology Strike Force, boosted participation in Chatham County’s HOPE Court, and strengthened efforts to pursue prosecution of domestic abusers who illegally possess firearms. Early in her tenure, Steinberg brought together leaders from federal law enforcement agencies to collaborate on major government-led initiatives. Steinberg was a member of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC) and the AGAC White Collar, Cyber, and Violent Crime Subcommittees. The AGAC is composed of select U.S. Attorneys who advise the Attorney General on matters of policy, procedure, and management that impact the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices. U.S. Attorney Steinberg emphasized the importance of community education, visiting school and civic groups and sending staff attorneys to build awareness in such vital areas as hate crimes enforcement, constitutional rights, and elder financial fraud, while supporting the office’s efforts to provide continuing education to law enforcement professionals in areas including white collar crime and human trafficking. The office conducted a public outreach program in conjunction with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives regarding illegal firearms purchases, and coordinated multiple sessions across the district to train law enforcement officers on the growing threat of “ghost” guns and illegal machine gun conversion devices. “It is my hope that the citizens of the Southern District of Georgia will feel safer and better informed and empowered through our outreach efforts,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “Knowledge is a powerful tool, and informed citizens are a vital part of protecting our civil rights and the security of our neighborhoods.” Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Attorney Steinberg was a partner at Ballard Spahr LLP. From 2008 to 2014, and from 2016 to 2021, she served the citizens of Georgia as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and Deputy Criminal Chief in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. From 2014 to 2016, Steinberg worked at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. where she served as an Attorney Advisor in the National Security Division and then as Associate Deputy Attorney General in the Office of the Deputy Attorney General. From 2001 to 2008, she was an associate at Rogers & Hardin LLP in Atlanta, Georgia. Steinberg began her legal career as an Assistant District Attorney for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office from 1998 to 2001. She received her Juris Doctor from Duke University Law School in 1998 and her bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, from the University of Georgia in 1995. As U.S. Attorney, Steinberg served as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Southern District of Georgia, which covers 43 of Georgia’s 159 counties with a population of more than 1.6 million people and includes the cities of Savannah, Augusta, and Brunswick. She led a team of more than 70 attorneys and staff in prosecuting federal crimes in the district and defending the United States in civil cases brought in U.S. District Court. Learn more about the district at www.justice.gov/usao-sdga/about-district .


title: Former Quincy Official Indicted for Embezzling City Funds

body_text: BOSTON – A Fitchburg man was arrested today in connection with an alleged scheme to embezzle funds from the City of Quincy, Mass. Thomas F. Clasby, Jr., 60, was charged in an indictment with embezzlement, mail and wire fraud and interstate transportation of stolen property. Clasby will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston at 12:45 p.m. today. According to the indictment, Clasby was the Director of the Quincy Department of Elder Services (Elder Services) between approximately 1999 and April 2024. Beginning in 2019, Clasby allegedly used the City’s purchasing process to pay personal expenses and generate cash for himself. For example, Clasby allegedly arranged for the City to pay $8,950 to a music studio to produce recordings of Clasby singing songs; $2,236 to food service vendors for 153 pounds of bourbon steak tips; $4,800 for a Toyota Prius; and $1,658 for a signature, lacquered, mounted, and framed self-portrait, all of which were personal expenses. The indictment further alleges that Clasby arranged for the City pay over $38,000 to a New York consulting company owned by Clasby’s friend. The consulting company never provided goods or services to any City department. Instead, Clasby’s friend allegedly cashed the City checks and delivered the cash to Clasby at a rest stop in Framingham, Mass., a ferry terminal in Bridgeport, Conn. and at the friend’s New York apartment. The indictment further alleges that, starting in June 2021, Clasby stole the vast majority of cash receipts generated by Elder Services at the Kennedy Center in Quincy. “Thomas Clasby’s alleged betrayal of trust is not just a theft from the City of Quincy but an affront to the seniors he was sworn to serve and the taxpayers who funded these programs,” said United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “As Director of Elder Services, Mr. Clasby was entrusted with protecting vulnerable members of his community. Instead, he allegedly used his position to fund personal indulgences, from bourbon steak tips to a custom-framed self-portrait, and even went so far as to collect cash handoffs at ferry terminals and rest stops. Let this indictment serve as a reminder: public officials who exploit their positions for personal gain will be found out and held accountable for their crimes.” “Stealing money from programs that are set up to help our seniors is utterly disgraceful,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Today, the FBI arrested Thomas Clasby for allegedly padding his paycheck in a big way, using tens of thousands of dollars belonging to the city’s coffers as his own personal slush fund. In doing so, we believe he cheated the city of Quincy’s Department of Elder Services, the taxpayers who help fund it, and all the honest municipal workers who do the right thing, in the right way, every day. We’d like to thank the Quincy Police Department for its assistance in bringing Mr. Clasby to justice.” The charge of embezzlement provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of mail and wire fraud provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of interstate transportation of stolen property provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. U.S. Attorney Levy and FBI SAC Cohen made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Quincy Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristina E. Barclay of the Public Corruption and Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Honors Ten Individuals For Outstanding Contributions To Public Safety

body_text: SCRANTON –United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam honors ten individuals for their outstanding contributions to public safety. These awards are made each year to a select group of individuals who perform in an exceptional manner and who make significant contributions to the United States Attorney’s Office’s efforts to enforce federal laws and to protect society. Exemplary Lifetime Service as a Law Enforcement Officer FBI Special Agent Timothy K. O’Malley This award recognizes FBI Special Agent Timothy K. O’Malley’s tenacious work in a nearly 25-year career of federal service that included time as a Secret Service agent before joining the Federal Bureau of Investigation. During his many years in the Williamsport Office, he was responsible for the investigation of homicides and other violent crimes at a time when violence was at a peak at U.S.P. Lewisburg, and he achieved significant results in the investigation of bank fraud and other white-collar crimes. His career also included significant and tireless efforts in an investigation and successful prosecution of a years-long operation that manufactured and distributed hundreds of kilograms and millions of doses of fentanyl analogues. Outstanding Contributions to Cooperative Law Enforcement PA Office of Attorney General, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, Robert Smulktis This award recognizes the outstanding legal support Attorney Smulktis provided the U.S. Attorney’s Office in drug trafficking trials this past year. Attorney Smulktis played a critical role in preparing witnesses, participating in trial strategy sessions, and provided an excellent rebuttal to the defendant’s closing argument. This award also recognizes Attorney Smulktis’ exemplary work in United States v. David Darby, et al. , a case that involved drug traffickers trafficking oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl, where many of Darby’s customers overdosed and one died. Attorney Smulktis’ outstanding contributions during trial resulted in Darby’s conviction and ultimately a life sentence and Malik Bonds being sentenced to 156 months in prison. FBI Resident Agent in Charge Special Agent Joseph Noone This award recognizes Special Agent Noone’s successful efforts to create a strong working relationship between the FBI, other law enforcement agencies, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to investigate and prosecute individuals who pose a danger to our community. Special Agent Noone’s work as both an agent and supervisor helped obtain numerous convictions in cases involving public corruption, drug trafficking, fraud, child exploitation, and violence in Pennsylvania for more than a decade. Distinguished Service as a Law Enforcement Officer Six individuals received the United States Attorney’s Award for Distinguished Service as a Law Enforcement Officer for their exceptional work in multiple, significant criminal prosecutions: FBI Task Force Officer Shane Yelland FBI Task Force Officer Daniel Spath DEA Task Force Officer Francis A. Carito This award recognizes the recipients’ unending commitment to holding criminals responsible for their crimes. They have worked countless large-scale investigations involving the worse types of drug dealers including repeat and career offenders; those who traffic in deadly fentanyl; and those who possess firearms in furtherance of their crimes. Their relentless desire to serve and protect our communities is representative of the best in law enforcement. FBI Special Agent Eric Bailey This award recognizes Special Agent Bailey’s exceptional work in the investigation and prosecution of child exploitation cases. His commitment to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse has resulted in the identification and successful prosecution of dozens of individuals who committed such violations. IRS Special Agent Eric Conahan This award recognizes Special Agent Conahan’s tenacious work on numerous high profile sophisticated white-collar investigations over the last several years. These cases involved complex tax frauds, commercial bribery offenses, and some of the most significant pandemic fraud prosecutions brought by our district. His efforts have resulted in significant sentences for white collar defendants, and the recovery of fraudulent proceeds. IRS Resident Agent in Charge Carmine Pellegrino IRS Special Agent Jeff Decker This award recognizes the recipients’ exceptional work in United States v. Abrams . Abrams was the CEO of EthosGen LLC, a company operating in the clean energy industry, who defrauded investors out of $1.1 million. Abrams was convicted at trial of all 48 counts in an indictment. This relatively complex and sprawling investigation spanned several years, and the agents brought it to a successful conclusion, despite much of the investigation taking place during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Abrams ultimately was sentenced to six years of imprisonment. “We are pleased to recognize the achievements of our colleagues who have made outstanding contributions to promoting public safety, said United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam. “All too often their tremendous sacrifices go unrecognized and unnoticed. On behalf of the entire U.S. Attorney’s Office, I congratulate them and thank them for their service. # # #


title: Union City Man Sentenced to Over Eight Years of Imprisonment for Possession of a Firearm as a Convicted Felon

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: Jackson, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Michael Eaton , 41 , of Union City, Tennessee to 105 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Reagan Fondren, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today. According to evidence presented in court, on February 11, 2023, an officer with the Union City Police Department saw a silver Ford SUV driving near the area of Todd Street. The Ford SUV was pulled over for a window tint violation. During the stop, the passenger, Eaton, became involved in a confrontation with law enforcement officers, who eventually detained him and found him in possession of a loaded Charter Arms .38 special caliber revolver. Eaton is a felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms. Previously, in 2000, Eaton was sentenced to 10 years of incarceration for possession of a controlled substance with the intent to resell it. In 2010, he was sentenced to 8 years of imprisonment for attempting to rob a Union City grocery store at gunpoint. In January 2024, Eaton was indicted in the Western District of Tennessee for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He pled guilty to the offense in August 2024. On December 30, 2024, United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Eaton to 105 months in federal prison with three years of supervised release to follow. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is part of the Project Safe Neighborhood Initiative, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our communities safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Union City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorney Immanuel Chioco who prosecuted this case on behalf of the government and the law enforcement partners who investigated this case. ### For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov . Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.


title: Holt Man Pleads Guilty To Tax Evasion

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: LANSING – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Kerry Christian Heuhs, 57, of Holt pleaded guilty to tax evasion. Heuhs is scheduled to be sentenced on a future date and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. “Those who fail to pay their fair share of taxes not only cheat the government out of much needed revenue that finances our military, health programs, and public works projects, but also cheat their fellow citizens who are forced to carry more than their fair share of the burden,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten . “My office will hold accountable individuals and businesses that willfully violates our tax laws.” Heuhs owns management companies that operate two family dental practices in the greater Lansing area. According to court documents, the IRS informed Heuhs, during an audit before 2016, that he mischaracterized personal expenses as business expenses and failed to report certain income in his personal tax returns. As part of his guilty plea, Heuhs admitted that for years after the IRS audit—specifically, between 2016 and 2021—he continued to underreport joint taxable income that he and his wife received from Heuhs’s dental management practices, and continued to mischaracterize personal expenses as business expenses, on his personal tax returns. Heuhs further admitted that, between 2016 and 2019, he did not report certain business income, understated gross business receipts, and overstated deductions in connection with the business tax returns that he filed on behalf of his dental management companies. “Over the course of three years, Kerry Heuhs defrauded the American taxpayer by not paying his fair share. Motivated by greed, Heuhs consistently lied on his tax returns, using his businesses as a way to hide his personal spending and decrease his tax responsibility,” said Special Agent in Charge Charles Miller, Detroit Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “Today's plea should serve as a stark reminder that criminals, such as Heuhs, will be held accountable for their brazen fraud.” IRS Criminal Investigation and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services are investigating this case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Townshend is prosecuting it. # # #


title: Resident from Central Georgia Sentenced to Prison for Distributing Fentanyl

body_text: MACON, Ga. – A Macon resident who distributed fentanyl and other narcotics into Central Georgia was sentenced to prison yesterday. Gary Hollingshed, 31, was sentenced to serve 110 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on Jan. 7. Hollingshed previously pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of fentanyl. There is no parole in the federal system. “Fentanyl kills, and traffickers of this lethal narcotic will face federal prosecution in the Middle District of Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “This case demonstrates the commitment of our law enforcement partners and our office to investigate and prosecute those who illegally sell fentanyl and other deadly drugs.” “This career criminal is a tragic example of individuals who have no regard for the safety of our community,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “DEA will continue to bring to justice drug traffickers who drive addiction and destroy communities.” “It is good that justice has been served concerning the illegal deeds of Gary Hollingshed,” said Bibb County Sheriff David Davis. “His prosecution was a result of diligence and dedication by the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and our federal partners. This conviction will assure that citizens are safer from the deadly distribution of fentanyl.” According to documents and statements made public in court, federal and local agencies began investigating Hollingshed for distributing fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine in Macon. Using a confidential source and surveillance, agents conducted their first controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Hollingshed in the parking lot of a hotel in Macon on Feb. 10, 2022, purchasing approximately 83.9 grams of 98% pure methamphetamine from Hollingshed. A second similar controlled purchase occurred on Feb. 16, 2022, at a local store in Macon. While under surveillance, Hollingshed asked an undercover agent acting as the buyer if he wanted heroin or fentanyl; the undercover agent requested heroin. The substance thought to be heroin was actually a fentanyl mixture weighing 28.56 grams. Hollingshed also sold the undercover agent 140.1 grams of methamphetamine. Hollingshed was taken into custody in Monroe County on March 9, 2022, after a trip to the Atlanta area to resupply. When deputies stopped the car for a malfunctioning taillight off I-75, law enforcement smelled marijuana. Three preschool-aged children were in the car. Agents found nearly a kilogram of methamphetamine in the car and 56.3 grams of fentanyl. On March 15, 2022, agents executed a search warrant at Hollingsworth’s supplier’s residence in Woodstock, Georgia, and seized more than a half-kilogram of methamphetamine, an AR-15 rifle, a shotgun, two Glock pistols, a Ruger pistol, cocaine, crack cocaine, scales and marijuana. Hollingshed has prior felony state convictions for burglary and illegal drug possession and distribution. The case was investigated by DEA, the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Criminal Chief Will Keyes prosecuted the case for the Government.


title: January Federal Grand Jury 2024-A Indictments Announced

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the January Federal Grand Jury 2024-A Indictments. The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence. Vincent Delmarco Berry; Mateaka Mignon Mansker; Jessica Janay Baldwin; Michael Ray Crawley. Drug Conspiracy; Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. Berry, 35, of McAlester; Mansker, 31, of Broken Arrow; Baldwin, 41, of Hartshorne; and Crawley, 46, of McAlester, are charged with conspiring to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. Additionally, Mansker, Baldwin, and Crawley are charged with possessing fentanyl and methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The FBI, McIntosh County Sheriff’s Office, and the Office of the Inspector General – Department of Corrections are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Jiang is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-005 Henry Jose Flores Mayorga. Alien Unlawfully in the United States in Possession of a Firearm; Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute. Mayorga, 44, a Nicaragua national, is charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was illegally in the United States. Further, Mayorga possessed cocaine with the intent to distribute. The U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy M. Mackenzie is prosecuting the case. 25-CR-004 Kolton Austyn Gene McAnally. Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country; Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Indian Country (superseding). McAnally, 22, of Vinita and a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, is charged with operating a vehicle after consuming alcohol and killing Madison Barnes in Feb. 2024. He is also charged with assault for causing serious bodily injury to another victim. The FBI, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen J. Flynn and Matthew Cyran are prosecuting the case. 24-CR-324


title: U.S. Attorney Hamdani announces resignation

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani has announced he will resign as chief law enforcement officer for the Southern District of Texas (SDTX) effective midnight Jan. 19. “Serving as the 24th Presidentially Appointed U.S. Attorney for this incredible district has been the honor of a lifetime,” said Hamdani. “Over the past two years, we have made significant strides across multiple fronts, strengthening our community, upholding justice and ensuring safety for all citizens." Hamdani was responsible for prosecuting and defending the interests of the United States in one of the largest districts in the country - covering 44,000 square miles and representing over nine million people. He oversaw over 400 employees, including approximately 200 Assistant U.S. Attorneys who cover the seven offices across the district. In just over two years as U.S. Attorney, Hamdani led the office in approximately more than 10 thousand criminal cases against over 12 thousand defendants while maintaining an average 95% conviction rate. From fentanyl to the cartels, crimes involving children to human smuggling and white collar crime to cybercrime, Hamdani worked to ensure justice was served every day and the SDTX was a safe place to live. The Civil Division filed more than 2,500 cases in fiscal years 2023-2024, which included a historic $85 million settlement against a cardiac imaging company. “Patients deserve care based on their medical need and not on a doctor or company’s financial interest or gain,” Hamdani said. The Texas Medical Center also agreed to pay a record $15 million for allegations of concurrent billing claims for critical surgeries. The office was at the forefront of numerous new and ongoing issues to include violent crime, which was at record levels when he took office. He made several announcements on numerous cases against felons illegally in possession of firearms to those involving known gang members . As part of those efforts, the office partnered with the Department of Justice’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section as part of the Department’s Violent Crime Initiative which contributed to a reduction in violent crime over the past two years. He also worked with the three other Texas U.S. Attorneys in a coordinated announcement on a statewide effort targeting machine gun conversion devices. Hamdani placed particular emphasis on cases linked to Mexican cartels, often noting how their violence spreads into the district. This included a matter out of the Galveston Division which saw the arrest of 23 in a poly-drug indictment. Noting that “Fentanyl-laced pills disguised as something else are killing our kids,” Hamdani and his office targeted those dealing the drug that destroys lives and families and anyone who provided it to others. As part of the effort, Hamdani also announced charges against a Chinese national for his alleged part in a conspiracy involving the importation of what is believed to be the largest amount of fentanyl precursors - chemicals used to make fentanyl - in the SDTX. He also targeted cybercrime, often speaking and participating in numerous conferences on the topic. In one matter of note, the office helped disrupt a botnet that used hundreds of U.S.-based small office/home office routers so that People’s Republic of China state-sponsored hackers could monitor key parts of American infrastructure. USA Alamdar Hamdani speaking at a cybersecurity summit in 2023 Spending much of his career prosecuting cases involving national security matters, Hamdani continued that focus as U.S. Attorney, from those attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization to another who allegedly exported U.S. technology to Iran . Hamdani’s office also targeted deadly human smuggling organizations, including a Brownsville matter that saw the conviction of six men who were charged in an alien smuggling ring which resulted in the death of eight people. To further combat the issue, the office also participated in Joint Task Force Alpha, which the Attorney General created to marshal and combat the rise in prolific and dangerous smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. And just a few weeks ago, as part of that mission, the office unsealed charges against several defendants for the death of over 50 migrants in an overturned trailer in Chiapas, Mexico. A similar issue due to the proximity to the border is human trafficking, and the office continued its efforts to combat this troubling crime throughout the district and provide for victims, such as a woman who received 30 years for forcing young girls to engage in commercial sex. A father himself, Hamdani also sought to make sure those committing crimes against children were held accountable. One such criminal was recently sentenced to 100 years in prison for raping two children. On the other end of the spectrum, he emphasized protecting the elderly from those who take advantage of them, such as those who tricked a WWII veteran out of $300,000 to many that are involved in Indian call centers who often target the elderly. The office increased efforts to hold those committing white collar crime and health care fraud accountable, such as a Houston man who was convicted in a $160M Medicare fraud scheme. Another significant matter and a focus of the office was a company charged with violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act who agreed to pay $160 million. “Prosecuting and investigating this type of crime is an important role our office takes seriously in order to ensure fair and equal playing fields for U.S. companies and consumers,” Hamdani noted. In October 2023, Attorney General Merrick Garland picked Hamdani to serve on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee. Hamdani, along with 13 other U.S. Attorneys, advised the Attorney General on behalf of the U.S. Attorney community. While in this role, he also led the Border and Immigration Law Enforcement Subcommittee which included U.S. Attorneys along the Northern and Southern borders working together to secure both those borders from transnational criminal organizations, cartels, gun, drugs and human smuggling. During his tenure, Hamdani made it a priority to get the news of the office’s important work to the people, so as to inform some and deter others from committing crime. He used multiple platforms, including the use of social media clips, to ensure these messages were heard. He is proud to have run his office under the “mama rule.” Citing his own mother’s history as a poor migrant and her age, his mantra was that you treat and protect others as you would your own “mama.” Hamdani was the first Asian in Texas that was presidentially appointed and senate confirmed as U.S. Attorney. He was born in England to Indian parents who had moved there from India. The family immigrated to Texas when he was 10. He received his J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center in 1999 and his B.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin in 1993. Hamdani joined the SDTX in 2014, but has been with the Department of Justice since 2008. As an AUSA with the SDTX, he was primarily responsible for the investigation and prosecution of national security and official corruption crimes. From 2010 to 2014, Hamdani served in the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, holding the position of deputy chief from 2012 to 2014. Before that, he was an AUSA in the Eastern District of Kentucky. Prior to his government service, Hamdani was in private practice. He is married and is a proud father of two teenagers, a University of Texas Longhorn and Bellaire High School Cardinal. As he departs the office, he is reminded of the privilege he enjoyed to lead a group of dedicated public servants who work every day to make Texas safer, noting that “we love mercy, walk humbly and always, always, seek justice.”


title: Honduran National Guilty Of Firearm Possession

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that DANIEL IGNACIO MEJIA-CASTILLO (“MEJIA”) , age 32, a native of Honduras, pleaded guilty on January 7, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown to being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(5)(A) and 924(a)(8). According to court documents, an armed robbery occurred on the evening of February 8, 2022, in the 4400 block of N. Dorgenois Street. New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) officers responded to the scene and began canvassing the area for potential suspects. During their search, officers discovered MEJIA crouching in a patch of overgrown grass near the 2500 block of St. Louis Street. MEJIA , an illegal alien from Honduras, was found in possession of a firearm and arrested. The firearm was a Kel-Tec Model PF-9, nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol, manufactured by Kel-Tec CNC Industries, Inc. in Florida. At sentencing, MEJIA faces a maximum penalty of 10 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. Sentencing has been scheduled for April 10, 2025. 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 the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Office of the Inspector General Social Security Administration, and the New Orleans Police Department, in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.


title: Former Banking Executive Pled Guilty to Embezzling Over $4.2M From Clients and Filing a False Tax Return

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – Today, William Shane Garrow, 49, of Tulsa, pleaded guilty to Bank Fraud and Willfully Making and Subscribing a False Federal Income Tax Return. Garrow was hired by the Bank of Oklahoma in August 2007 and promoted to Senior Vice President. He served as a financial advisor and provided investment and banking services to wealthy banking clients until he was terminated in March 2024. From September 2012 through April 2024, Garrow admitted to stealing from at least 16 client accounts. Garrow fraudulently transferred funds or issued cashier checks without authorization and consent from his clients and then deposited those funds into accounts that he controlled at other financial institutions. Garrow did not report this extra income to the IRS and falsified his true taxable income. Garrow further admitted that his actions were wrong and that the funds were used to pay for his lifestyle. While Garrow is permitted to remain on bond, a federal district court judge will determine his sentence later after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FDIC-OIG, IRS Criminal Investigations, and U.S. Secret Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney David D. Whipple is prosecuting the case.


title: Oglala Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Killing an Infant in Automobile Accident

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced an Oglala, South Dakota, man convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter. The sentencing took place on January 6, 2025. Sheldon Flute, 29, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Flute was indicted for Involuntary Manslaughter and Felony Child Abuse and Neglect by a federal grand jury in November 2023. He pleaded guilty on October 7, 2024. In August 2023, Flute drove while intoxicated with his 25-day-old infant son in the car. Flute rolled the car near Loneman, South Dakota, fatally injuring the infant, who was not properly strapped in a car seat. Flute then fled the scene with the injured infant and was eventually found by law enforcement at a residence in Red Shirt, South Dakota. The infant passed away from the injuries sustained in the crash. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court. This case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case. Flute was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Lawrence L. Piersol has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet. The sentencing took place on January 6, 2025. Kalvin Michael Frankus, age 37, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Once released from federal prison, Frankus must register as a sex offender. Frankus was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2024. He pleaded guilty on October 16, 2024. The conviction stemmed from an incident on March 10, 2024, when Frankus attempted to have a sexual encounter with a 15-year-old female, who turned out to be an undercover law enforcement officer posing as the teenager. Frankus drove to the agreed location and was arrested. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case. Frankus was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Aurora Man Indicted for Defrauding Surveying Company and $2.3 Million from COVID-19 Relief Programs

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Mathew Barr, age 50, of Aurora, Colorado, was indicted by a federal grand jury on six counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering in connection with schemes to defraud a Colorado surveying company and programs intended to provide emergency relief funds during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the indictment, from June 2019 until around November 2022, Barr allegedly defrauded SurvWest, LLC, the surveying company in which he was majority shareholder of, to obtain over $843,452 for his own benefit, including to purchase an Aston Martin convertible, a Land Rover Range Rover Sport, and a Mercedes Benz G63. The indictment further alleges that Barr participated in a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration and others to obtain emergency COVID-19 relief funds totaling over $2.3 million during the pandemic. On January 7, 2025, the defendant made his initial appearance in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathryn A. Starnella. The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation’s Denver Field Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Taylor Glogiewicz and Craig Fansler. On July 11, 2023, the Attorney General selected the District of Colorado’s U.S. Attorney’s Office to head one of five national COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams. The Department of Justice established the Strike Force to enhance existing efforts to combat and prevent COVID-19 related financial fraud. The Strike Force combines law enforcement and prosecutorial resources and focuses on large-scale, multistate pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors, as well as those who committed multiple instances of pandemic relief fraud. The Strike Force uses prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. Additional information regarding the Strike Force may be found at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-results-nationwide-covid-19-fraud-enforcement-action . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form Case Number: 1:24-cr-00372-DDD


title: Rapid City Woman Sentenced to Over 22 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Traffic Large Quantities of Methamphetamine in Western South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, woman, convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. Alisa See, age 39, was sentenced to 22 ½ years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. See was indicted by a federal grand jury in July of 2023 and pleaded guilty on October 25, 2024. Between 2022 and 2023, See was part of a drug conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in South Dakota. See worked with another co-conspirator to transport methamphetamine from California to western South Dakota. The two then distributed the methamphetamine to others for further redistribution. “See was personally involved in the distribution of at least 30 pounds of methamphetamine in western South Dakota,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. “We are grateful to our law enforcement partners at UNET for investigating and exposing this drug conspiracy, which permitted the U.S. Attorney’s Office to seek a federal conviction and impactful sentence.” This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET.) UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Hodges prosecuted the case. See was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following sentencing.


title: United States Attorney Todd Gee Announces Anticipated Resignation  from the Southern District of Mississippi

component: USAO - Mississippi, Southern

body_text: Jackson, Miss. – Todd Gee, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi, announced today his intention to resign his position as United States Attorney, effective 11:59 p.m. on January 17, 2025. U.S. Attorney Todd Gee said: “The opportunity to serve as a United States Attorney in my home state of Mississippi has been the highest honor of my over 17 years of public service in the United States Department of Justice. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi is full of talented professionals dedicated to public safety, fairness, and the rule of law. It has been a great privilege to work with them and my other colleagues in the Department. I thank President Biden for nominating me as United States Attorney, and Attorney General Garland for leading the Department and supporting the Southern District of Mississippi during my tenure.” Todd Gee was sworn in as United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi on October 3, 2023. He has worked for the U.S. Department of Justice since 2007, including previously serving as a Deputy Chief of the Public Integrity Section in the Department’s Criminal Division and as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Columbia.