title: Dentist Sentenced To Three Years In Prison For Defrauding The NBA Players’ Health And Welfare Benefit Plan Of More Than $1.1 Million

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that AAMIR WAHAB was sentenced to three years in prison for his role in a scheme to defraud the National Basketball Association (“NBA”) Players’ Health and Welfare Benefit Plan (the “Plan”). U.S. District Judge Valerie E. Caproni imposed the sentence. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Aamir Wahab exploited his dental practice to facilitate a million-dollar health care fraud scheme. Wahab’s goals were ambitious, telling a codefendant to ‘get [him] the whole NBA,’ but the career prosecutors of this Office and our law enforcement partners were relentless in bringing Wahab and his codefendants to justice.” According to the Information, public court filings, and statements made in court: The NBA Players’ Health and Welfare Benefit Plan is a health care plan providing benefits to eligible active and former players of the NBA. WAHAB is a dentist licensed in California who owns and operates a dental practice (“Dental Office-1”) located in Beverly Hills, California. From at least in or about 2018, up to and including at least in or about 2019, WAHAB participated in a scheme with several other former NBA players, including Terrence Williams and Keyon Dooling, to defraud the Plan. [1] WAHAB’s role in the scheme was to document that former NBA players or their spouses received certain dental services, when, in reality, the services were not provided. WAHAB accomplished his role in the scheme in two ways. First, WAHAB created, and caused others to create, fraudulent invoices for former NBA players or their spouses. The former NBA players would then submit the fraudulent invoices to the Plan to request reimbursements that they were not entitled to. Second, WAHAB charged, and caused others to charge, the Plan-issued debit cards of former NBA players. The Plan-issued debit cards were intended to be used by Plan participants to pay for eligible medical services at the point of service. However, WAHAB charged the Plan-issued debit cards of former NBA players for medical services that were never actually provided. In return for his participation in the scheme, WAHAB received a portion of the fraud proceeds. As evidenced by text messages recovered in the search of WAHAB’s cellular phone, WAHAB was eager to take part in the fraud scheme, in the hopes of making illicit profits. When Dooling wrote to WAHAB, “Let’s make this thing grow sir,” WAHAB responded “Lol I’m down bro Get me the whole NBA.” Similarly, WAHAB and Williams had explicit conversations about the creation of fraudulent invoices. In March 2019, Williams wanted WAHAB to charge co-conspirators’ Plan-issued debit cards more frequently, but WAHAB was initially reluctant. While disagreeing about whether to charge the debit cards, Williams and WAHAB also argued about whether Williams owed WAHAB approximately $12,000 in fraud proceeds. Annoyed and angry, Williams messaged WAHAB: “YOUVE MADE THOUSANDS OF F[----]ING DOLLARS TO PRINT A[N] INVOICE WITH A NAME AT THE TOP like you f[----]ing kidding me[?!] We not gonna act like you doing dental work.” * * * In addition to his prison term, WAHAB, 44, of Los Angeles, California, was ordered to forfeit $458,576.50 and pay restitution of $1,192,522. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan B. Finkel and Daniel G. Nessim are in charge of the prosecution. [1] Williams and Dooling pled guilty. Williams was sentenced to 10 years in prison, and Dooling was sentenced to 30 months in prison.


title: Federal Grand Jury B Indictments Announced - December 2023

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the December 2023 Federal Grand Jury B. 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. Gerardo Arenas-Torres. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Arenas-Torres, 53, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Nov. 2013, at or near Brownville, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot Anderson is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-399 Pablo Vasquez Compusano. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Compusano, 36, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Apr. 2019, at or near Laredo, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas E. Buscemi is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-400 Juan Arturo Diaz-Rodriguez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Diaz-Rodriguez, 25, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Jun. 2022, at or near Del Rio, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheryl L. Baber is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-401 Orlin Enriquez-Enriquez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Enriquez-Enriquez, 26, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Nov. 2017, at or near San Antonio, Texas. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot Anderson is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-402 Emilio Miguel Gallardo; Dakota Samuel Johns. Malicious Damage to Federal Property; Possession of an Unregistered Destructive Device; Manufacturing an Unregistered Destructive Device. Gallardo, 20, and Johns, 22, both from Miami were charged with attempting to damage and destroy the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office with Molotov cocktails in Nov. 2023. They are further charged with possessing and manufacturing destructive devices not registered. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and FBI are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan E. Michel and Michael Flesher are prosecuting the case. 23-CR-403 Dave Luther Kendrick. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Kendrick, 35, of Pawnee is charged with knowingly failing to register as a sex offender from Aug. 2023 through the date of the Indictment. The United States Marshal Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheryl L. Baber is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-404 Thomas Lee Knox. Second Degree Murder in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Knox, 38, of Tulsa and a citizen of Choctaw Nation is charged with discharging a firearm and killing Paul Schultz in Nov. 2023. The FBI is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Hockenbury is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-405 Audrell L. Lunsford. Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. Lunsford, 66, of Tulsa is charged with knowingly failing to register as a sex offender from Jan. 2021 through the date of the Indictment. The United States Marshal Service is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheryl L. Baber is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-406 Hong Thoa Thi Nguyen; Tait Hunter Jaco; Tam Duc Nguyen; Trinh Nguyen. Drug Conspiracy; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises; Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute. Hong Nguyen, 44, Jaco, 32, Tam Nguyen, 56, and Trinh Nguyen, 36, of Tulsa are charged with conspiring to distribute fentanyl in Nov. 2023. Hong Nguyen and Jaco were also charged for maintaining a residence for drug distribution. Jaco was further charged for possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Bailey is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-407 Serina Kaitlyn Vacin; Justin Michael Waymire. Drug Conspiracy; Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises. Vacin, 25 and Waymire, 27, of Tulsa are charged conspiring to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine while in possession of a firearm in Nov. 2023. They are further charged with maintaining a residence for drug distribution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Bailey is prosecuting the case. 23-CR-408


title: Armed Robeson County Drug Trafficker and Prior Federal Felon Who Escaped Custody Sentenced to 25 Years

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – Bruce Carroll Callahan, Jr. , aka “Hoss,” an armed Robeson County drug trafficker and prior federal felon who bragged to investigators about being the “biggest” drug dealer in Robeson County, was sentenced today to 300 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, cocaine and crack sourced from Honduras and Mexico in Eastern North Carolina. Callahan claimed to have access to over twenty kilograms of narcotics at any time. While awaiting trial and prior to his September 26, 2023, guilty plea, Callahan, age 45, escaped from the Piedmont Regional Jail in Farmville, Virginia where he was being held. He was discovered missing on May 1, 2023, and apprehended on May 9, 2023, just a few miles from the jail. Callahan was convicted for his prison escape and sentenced to 20 months in custody followed by three years of supervised release. “This is the fourth sentence of 25 years or more stemming from drug trafficking in Robeson County in just over a month,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “We and the ATF are partnering with local law enforcement to put dangerous drug traffickers like Callahan behind bars. Drug traffickers can run, but not for long.” “This arrest underscores our efforts and commitment to combat the drug trafficking trade,” says Sheriff Burnis Wilkins. “Violent crime and overdose deaths are at an all-time high, and it is collaborative efforts such as this that will improve the quality of life in Robeson County.” “The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and our local, state and federal partners remain committed to addressing the most serious threats to our communities, including the gun violence often linked to drug trafficking networks,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “Dismantling drug trafficking networks and bringing those responsible to justice has an immediate impact on the level of gun violence and violent crime in our area.” “The United States Marshals Service, through its long-standing federal, state, and local partnerships ensures that violent fugitives are continuously pursued, discretely located, and safely arrested,” said U.S. Marshal Glenn McNeill for the Eastern District of North Carolina. “The investigation and capture of Callahan is yet another example of those efforts.” According to court documents and other information presented in court, the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) and ATF launched an investigation into Callahan and his drug trafficking operation in 2021 after receiving numerous community reports that he was selling drugs in the Fairmont area of Robeson County. During the summer of 2021, investigators conducted two controlled purchases of cocaine and crack from Callahan’s residence. In September 2021, law enforcement arranged for a controlled purchase of two kilograms of fentanyl from Callahan. Callahan’s Honduran suppliers arranged for co-defendants Rony Lardi-Ortiz and Jefferson Marin Funez to deliver the fentanyl to Callahan’s Fairmont residence on September 16, 2021. Lardi-Ortiz and Funez have previously pled guilty and have been sentenced to 120 months and 126 months respectively for their role in the conspiracy. After Callahan received the two kilograms of fentanyl from Lardi-Ortiz and Funez, they left Callahan’s residence, travelling north on Interstate 95 to deliver the fentanyl. RCSO deputies conducted a traffic stop on their vehicle. Though Callahan and his co-defendants attempted to jump out of the vehicle and flee, they were quickly apprehended. Investigators located the two kilograms of fentanyl sitting on the back seat in Callahan’s vehicle. A search warrant was then executed at Callahan’s residence where a quantity of cocaine and cocaine base were seized along with items used to package drugs for sale and a .45 caliber handgun. Callahan pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and crack; possession with intent to distribute four hundred (400) grams or more of a mixture containing fentanyl; and two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Callahan’s prior felony convictions include a 2003 federal conviction for possession of firearm by a felon in addition to several convictions in Robeson County Superior Court for felonious assaults, trafficking cocaine, and robbery with a dangerous weapon. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lumberton Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Webb prosecuted the case. The other recent Robeson County cases yielding sentences of 25 years or more include: Antonio Lavonne Locklear , who received a 25-year sentence drug trafficking; Aaron Albert Goode , a convicted murderer who received a 30-year sentence for drug trafficking; and Clarence Jamar Graham , who received a 25-year sentence for trafficking fentanyl. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:21-CR-0138-D-1.


title: Cocaine trafficker sentenced to two decades in federal prison

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

body_text: STATESBORO, GA: An Evans County, Ga., man has been sentenced to two decades in federal prison for distributing cocaine as part of a major drug trafficking network. Tony Deshawn Slater, 52, of Claxton, Ga., was sentenced to 240 months in prison after pleading guilty to Distribution of Cocaine, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal hall also fined Slater $2,500 and ordered him to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. “We’re gratified at the number of law enforcement agencies from such a large geographic area coordinating their efforts to identify and disrupt this major drug distribution network,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “Together we will continue to hold accountable those who endanger our communities by distributing illegal drugs.” Slater was one of 32 defendants named in the November 2022 indictment in USA v. Morales-Jimenez et al ., the culmination of an investigation dubbed Operation Carpet Ride. The investigation identified drug trafficking operations spanning Bulloch, Burke, Candler, Effingham, Evans, Liberty, Richmond, and Tattnall counties, and elsewhere, from as early as January 2016. The conspiracy is alleged to have imported large quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine and other drugs from Mexico and the Caribbean for distribution in the Southern District. Slater, with multiple prior convictions for distributing and possessing cocaine and other drugs, pled guilty in May to Distribution of Cocaine. The investigation also revealed that Slater possessed firearms and maintained a premises for purposes of distributing a controlled substance. About half of the defendants in Operation Carpet Ride have been sentenced after pleading guilty to charges related to the conspiracy, while the remaining defendants await further legal action. The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; United States Customs and Border Protection; Homeland Security Investigations; the Georgia Bureau of Investigation; The Savannah Chatham Narcotics Team; the Puerto Rico State Police; the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles; the Georgia Department of Community Supervision; the Tattnall County Sheriff’s Office; the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office; the Evans County Sheriff’s Office; Liberty County Sheriff’s Office; the Barceloneta Police Department; the Claxton Police Department; Statesboro Police; and the Glennville Police Department; and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank M. Pennington II and OCDETF Coordinator Marcela C. Mateo.


title: Chesapeake Man Sentenced for Sex Trafficking Minors

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A Chesapeake man was sentenced yesterday to 25 years in prison for sex trafficking two minors. According to court documents, in September 2022, Denzel Akeem Loftin, 32, began chatting with an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a 17-year-old girl living in Pennsylvania. Loftin said he was a pimp and proposed that the girl come to Virginia to work for him. The next month, he posted advertisements for her on online sex trafficking sites. Then, in October 2022, the FBI learned of a 14-year-old missing child from Colorado who had been located in sex trafficking advertisements in the Hampton Roads area. Law enforcement set up a “date” for commercial sex with the 14-year-old and another juvenile. Loftin was observed with the girl and two other female individuals immediately before the “date.” One of the other individuals was identified as a missing 17-year-old from Missouri. A review of seized electronic devices revealed that Loftin not only sex-trafficked the minor, but himself engaged in a sex act with the 17-year-old. The 14-year-old also reported witnessing Loftin inflict physical violence on the 17-year-old, including hitting her in the mouth for “talking back.” Emerita Moore, 24, of Norfolk, assisted Loftin by acting as his “bottom”, or the female who supervises the girls being trafficked. When Loftin recruited the children online, Moore spoke to them in advance to make them comfortable in coming to work for Loftin and assisted in arranging their travel to EDVA. Moore was arrested after arriving for the commercial sex appointment set up by law enforcement, in the company of the 14-year-old and 17-year-old minors. Moore was sentenced to 5 years in prison on November 7. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; and Mark G. Solesky, Chief of Chesapeake Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes. The Chesapeake Police Department provided significant assistance in this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney E. Rebecca Gantt prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case Nos. 2:23-cr-44 and 2:23-cr-47.


title: Member of Baltimore “Triple C” Gang Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for a Racketeering Conspiracy, Including Murders and Attempted Murders

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced Raekwon McMann, age 26, of Baltimore, yesterday to 25 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for a racketeering conspiracy, including two murders and two attempted murders, related to his participation in the violent street gang known as Cruddy Conniving Crutballs or Triple C. Triple C operated throughout Baltimore City. The sentence was announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and Commissioner Richard Worley of the Baltimore Police Department. According to McMann’s plea agreement and other court documents, Triple C members engaged in a pattern of criminal racketeering activity between 2015 and 2020, including more than a dozen murders and numerous non-fatal shootings, robberies, and carjackings, in order to promote the reputation of Triple C and to command respect from the neighborhood. Other spin-offs of the gang are “SCL” and recently, “TRD.” As detailed in the plea agreement, the gang benefitted financially from selling narcotics, murdering drug dealers, taking contract killings, and engaging in street robberies. Triple C members also robbed dice games for cash and occasionally carjacked vehicles. Members divided the proceeds of illegal activities among those who participated in the crimes, and often contacted each other to commit a robbery if a member needed money. Triple C members routinely used social media to identify and locate victims and to communicate with each other and share information concerning possible retaliation for violent crimes committed by gang members. Triple C members and associates used at least 14 firearms to commit crimes, often trading with each other or other groups to avoid detection through ballistic evidence. Details of the crimes committed by Triple C members were publicized on social media and thus were well-known to CCC members. Members of Triple C often critiqued each other after committing crimes regarding ways to improve their performance. McMann admitted that he was present at two murders during which at least one member of the Triple C conspiracy discharged a firearm, including the murder of Darius Mason on July 29, 2018, and the murder of Larry Matthews on April 22, 2019. In addition, McMann was present at two attempted murders on February 24, 2019 and April 14, 2019. McMann liked to boast about his association with Triple C on social media and what members would do for each other. McMann frequently appeared in social media posts with other Triple C members, many times with firearms. McMann also admitted that as part of his activities with Triple C, he distributed controlled substances, including crack cocaine. McMann also knew that a victim could be murdered or show during the course of the conspiracy. This investigation has led to the guilty pleas of 34 members and associates of Triple C, including Correy Cawthorn, one of the gang’s leaders. Cawthorn, age 25, of Baltimore, is scheduled to be sentenced on January 4, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin. 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in this investigation and thanked the United States Marshals Service and the Office of the Baltimore City State’s Attorney for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia C. McLane and Michael C. Hanlon, who prosecuted the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn . # # #


title: Former Chief Operating Officer of Suburban Chicago Covid-19 Testing Kit Company Charged With Embezzling at Least $1.8 Million in Company Funds

body_text: CHICAGO — The former Chief Operating Officer of a suburban Chicago company that sold Covid-19 testing kits has been indicted on federal fraud charges for allegedly embezzling at least $1.8 million in company funds. DENNIS W. HAGGERTY, JR. issued fraudulent payments from the Willowbrook, Ill.-based company’s bank account for services and goods purportedly provided by himself or the company’s main vendor, a manufacturer from whom the company purchased Covid-19 testing kits, according to an indictment returned Dec. 14, 2023, in U.S. District Court in Chicago. In reality, the services and goods had not been provided, the indictment states. The money purportedly sent to the testing-kit supplier was wired to a bank account that Haggerty controlled, and he spent the funds for his personal benefit, the indictment states. In addition to the wire transfers, Haggerty allegedly issued checks drawn from the company’s bank account to himself, knowing that he would spend the money for his personal benefit and not the company’s benefit. Haggerty concealed his fraud by making false and misleading statements on the checks and to the company’s president, the indictment states. In 2021 and 2022, Haggerty embezzled and fraudulently misappropriated at least approximately $1.8 million from the company, the indictment alleges. The indictment charges Haggerty, 47, of Burr Ridge, Ill., with five counts of wire fraud. Arraignment in U.S. District Court in Chicago has not yet been scheduled. The indictment states that Haggerty committed the embezzlement while free on court-ordered release while another federal fraud case against him was pending. He was eventually convicted in that case and sentenced in December 2022 to a term of 57 months’ imprisonment. The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, and Mario Pinto, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney L. Heidi Manschreck. The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Each count of wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison, to be followed by a consecutive term of up to ten years for each offense committed while under court-ordered release. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. Haggerty indictment


title: Columbia County Man Sentenced to 85 Months for Receiving and Possessing Child Pornography

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Christopher Stickles, age 35, of Copake, New York, was sentenced today to 85 months in prison for receiving and possessing child pornography. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. As part of his previously entered guilty plea, Stickles admitted that between January 2021 and August, 2022, he accessed the Internet in order to visit file-sharing sites and websites that contained child pornography. Stickles further admitted that while on these sites, he downloaded numerous still image and video files that contained child pornography. United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci also sentenced Stickles to a 15-year term of supervised release to begin after he serves his term of imprisonment, and to pay a total of $6,000 in restitution to two victims of the offenses of conviction. Stickles will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. This case was investigated by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force, which includes Special Agents of the FBI, and state and local police investigators, including from the New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Belliss prosecuted the case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: West Virginia Man Sentenced for Obstructing Tree of Life Trial

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A West Virginia man was sentenced to prison today for his attempt to intimidate and influence jurors and witnesses in the Pittsburgh Tree of Life trial. Hardy Carroll Lloyd, 45, of Follansbee, was sentenced to 78 months in prison. According to court documents and statements made in court, Lloyd threatened jurors and witnesses involved in the recent trial for the Tree of Life shooter, Robert Bowers. Throughout the proceedings, Lloyd made threatening social media posts and website comments, and sent intimidating emails. Lloyd, a self-proclaimed white supremacist, admitted that he engaged in this conduct because of the actual or perceived ties to the Jewish community of the witnesses and the victims of Bowers. On September 19, 2023, Lloyd entered a guilty plea to obstruction of the due administration of justice. United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Randolph Bernard and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Unlawfully Possessing Three Firearms

component: U.S. Attorneys (USAO)

body_text: POCATELLO – Robert Michael Davis, 32, formerly of Sandpoint, was sentenced to over three years in federal prison for unlawful possession of three firearms by a convicted felon, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. According to court records, Davis was initially arrested on a parole warrant. Officers with the Idaho Falls Police Department attempted to contact Davis to request that he move his car that was blocking snow removal equipment. Davis ran from officers and was apprehended after a short chase. He was identified and officers learned that he was on parole with the Idaho Department of Correction. Davis told the officers that firearms would be found in his car. He admitted that he was a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing guns. Law enforcement searched the vehicle and located drug paraphernalia, three rifles, ammunition, and a silencer. On December 19, 2023, Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye sentenced Davis to 39 months in federal prison. Davis was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release after his prison sentence is complete. “Part of our public safety mission is enforcing the law that prohibits dangerous felons from possessing firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “I am proud of the work that our prosecutors and law enforcement partners do every day to keep our streets safe as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods program.” “This sentence holds Davis accountable for his illegal weapons activity,” said Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. “We’re grateful for the collaboration with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners in Idaho to sentence convicted felons with weapons in the interest of community safety.” U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the cooperative efforts of the Idaho Falls Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Idaho Falls, who investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Blythe McLane prosecuted this case. This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. ###


title: Detroit Man Sentenced to 200 Months for Armed Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Detroit man residing in Lexington, Kenneth Hinton, 43, was sentenced on Tuesday, to 200 months in federal prison, by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell, for possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and money laundering. According to his plea agreement, beginning in March 2022, law enforcement began investigating Hinton. Ultimately, law enforcement executed search warrants on Hinton’s vehicle, Lexington residence, and storage unit. In these searches, law enforcement seized over five kilograms of cocaine and numerous firearms and ammunition, including an AR-15 rifle and several loaded handguns. A joint financial investigation between the IRS and DEA also established that Hinton was using proceeds from the sale of cocaine, which had been deposited into bank accounts, to then purchase several pieces of real estate in Detroit. As part of Hinton’s plea agreement, he was required to forfeit $23,100 in drug proceeds, five firearms with assorted magazines and ammunition, as well as a Mercedes. Hinton has a prior drug-related felony conviction from 2021, in Fayette Circuit Court. Under federal law, Hinton must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years. Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; J. Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by DEA, IRS, and Lexington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger West is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. — END —


title: Members Of Bronx Crew Charged With Conducting Round-The-Clock Drug Operation Across The Street From A School

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Edward A. Caban, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing of an Indictment today charging three members of a Bronx-based narcotics trafficking organization with conspiring to distribute narcotics and with possessing firearms in furtherance of the narcotics trafficking conspiracy. BRYANT ESTEVEZ, a/k/a “Smack,” and TEREL BYERS, a/k/a “Rell,” a/k/a “Raff,” were arrested yesterday and will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron. A third defendant, JOHNNY MONTEDEOCA, a/k/a “Chi,” remains at large. This case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, the defendants took over an apartment building in the Bronx and used it to sell fentanyl, heroin, and other drugs, and carried guns to protect their operation. Worse still, they allegedly peddled these incredibly dangerous substances mere feet from a grade school. Today’s arrests make abundantly clear that this level of disregard for the safety and well-being of the communities in this district will not be tolerated. Thanks to the work of law enforcement and the prosecutors of this Office, these defendants now face serious federal penalties.” NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban said: “Today’s charges exemplify the NYPD’s efforts to eliminate illegal drugs and guns from New York City neighborhoods – especially in the vicinity of our schools. I commend our dedicated NYPD investigators and everyone involved in this case from the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District because safeguarding our children will always be at the forefront of our shared public safety mission.” As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court and in other court filings: [1] From at least in or about February 2023 through at least in or about December 2023, ESTEVEZ, BYERS, and MONTEDEOCA were part of a narcotics trafficking organization that sold drugs and firearms in the Bronx. This organization (the “Concord Avenue Crew”) operated principally out of a residential building (the “Building”) located on Concord Avenue in the Bronx across the street from an elementary and middle school. The Concord Avenue Crew sold drugs — including fentanyl-laced heroin, crack cocaine, and powder cocaine — from the Building at all hours of the day and night, seven days a week. These sales were conducted, among other places, on the sidewalk in front of the Building; through the window of a street-level apartment in the Building; and inside a side entrance to the Building. The Concord Avenue Crew’s narcotics trafficking operation caused drug customers to line up on the street outside the Building, interfered with residents’ access to the Building, and prompted repeated complaints to the NYPD by residents and by parents whose children attended school across the street. Members of the Concord Avenue Crew routinely carried firearms in connection with their narcotics trafficking operation, including by carrying firearms on their persons and storing them in areas where they were stashing and selling narcotics. On multiple occasions, members of the Concord Avenue Crew also sold firearms to undercover officers. * * * ESTEVEZ, 25, of the Bronx, New York; BYERS, 21, of the Bronx, New York; and MONTEDEOCA, 34, of the Bronx, New York, are each charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams and more of mixtures and substances containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and mixtures and substances containing detectable amounts of heroin, cocaine base, and cocaine. This charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. Each of the defendants is also charged with possessing firearms in furtherance of the narcotics trafficking offense charged in the Indictment, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, which must be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed, and a maximum sentence of life in prison. The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants would be determined by the judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD and thanked the Office of the New York State Attorney General for its assistance. The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Violent & Organized Crime Unit and Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick R. Moroney and Alexandra S. Messiter are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Stockton Man Indicted on Firearm Charge

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On Dec. 14, 2023, a grand jury returned an indictment Ricardo Sanchez, 31, of Stockton, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. The indictment was unsealed today. According to court documents, on Aug. 20, 2023, Sanchez was found to be in possession of a Springfield Armory Hellcat 9 mm semi-automatic pistol. Sanchez is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to multiple prior felony convictions, including conspiracy to commit a crime and inflicting injury on a spouse/cohabitant or fellow parent. This case is the product of an investigation by the Sacramento Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Whitnee Goins is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Sanchez faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. 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 U.S. 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: United Memorial Medical Center to Pay $2 Million Plus Additional Contingent Payments for Allegedly Causing False Claims Related to Excessive Cost Outlier Payments and Double Billing for Covid-19 Tests

component: Civil Division

body_text: Doctor’s Hospital 1997 L.P., doing business as United Memorial Medical Center LLC (UMMC), an entity that formerly operated hospitals in the Houston, Texas area, has agreed to pay $2 million, and to make additional contingent payments, to resolve alleged False Claims Act violations for claiming excessive cost outlier payments from government health care programs and for double billing the government for COVID-19 tests that were also billed either to the State of Texas or the City of Houston. According to the settlement agreement between UMMC and the United States, the settlement funds will be paid by one of UMMC’s principals, Ravishanker Mallapuram, and UMMC has guaranteed the payment of those funds. “Hospitals and other providers who participate in federal health care programs have an obligation to the taxpayers to ensure that they are billing appropriately,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton, head of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “We will hold accountable those who knowingly overbill or double bill for the medical services they provide to federal beneficiaries.” In addition to its standard payment system, Medicare and Tricare provide supplemental reimbursement to hospitals called “cost outlier” payments in cases where the cost of care is unusually high. Congress enacted the supplemental outlier payment system to ensure that hospitals possess the incentive to treat inpatients whose care requires unusually high costs. This settlement resolves allegations that UMMC submitted claims for cost outlier payments by rapidly increasing its charges for inpatient care and underreporting its charges on Medicare cost reports, thereby preventing the government health care programs from adjusting those charges so that they would reasonably reflect UMMC’s actual costs. The settlement also resolves allegations that UMMC concealed and improperly avoided its obligation to reimburse the federal health care programs for any excessive outlier payments its hospitals received. In addition, UMMC has agreed to settle allegations that it submitted claims to the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Uninsured Program for COVID-19 testing services, despite being reimbursed for those same services by either the State of Texas or the City of Houston. “This over $2 million settlement is significant,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas (SDTX). “We depend upon medical providers to be good stewards of a community’s healthcare services and of the federally funded programs that pay for those services. The case alleges UMMC made millions by overbilling those health care programs and intentionally double billing for COVID-19 testing. Instead of returning those monies to America’s taxpayers, they allegedly pocketed the money for themselves. Finding the wrongdoing and lost monies in these types of cases involves complexities akin to playing three-dimensional chess, but know this, the SDTX will not stop in its quest for justice until it can claim checkmate.” “Hospitals and executives who run them should prioritize accurate, lawful billing of Medicare and other taxpayer-funded health care programs at all times,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “This practice is especially imperative, however, when the world is responding to a public health crisis. At HHS-OIG, it is our fundamental responsibility to, along with our law enforcement partners, safeguard federally funded health care programs and American taxpayer monies.” “The Department of Defense (DOD) Office of Inspector General's Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) is committed to rooting out fraud schemes that waste valuable taxpayer resources intended for the healthcare of our service members, military retirees and their families,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Gregory P. Shilling of the DCIS Southwest Field Office. “DCIS, along with our law enforcement partners, will aggressively pursue and hold those accountable who took advantage of the pandemic for profit at the expense of DOD's taxpayer funded healthcare program, known as TRICARE.” “The FBI and its partners will relentlessly pursue bad actors that participate in nefarious double billing at the cost of the American taxpayer and our health care system,” said Executive Assistant Director Timothy Langan of the FBI’s Criminal, Cyber, Response and Services Branch. “Violations of the False Claims Act will not be tolerated. If you do not follow the law, you will face the consequences of your noncompliance.” The settlement resolves a lawsuit originally brought by Ryan Griffin, a former employee of UMMC, under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. The Act permits private citizens with knowledge of fraud against the government to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the United States and to share in any recovery. Under the settlement announced today, Griffin will receive $300,000. This settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the Justice Department's Civil Division; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas; HHS, Office of Counsel to the Inspector General and Office of Investigations; DCIS and the FBI. The lawsuit resolved by this settlement is captioned United States, et al., ex rel. Ryan Griffin v. Mediscope Global Services Pvt Ltd., et al. , 3:21-cv-183 (S.D. TX.). The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. Settlement Complaint


title: District Court Enjoins California Food Company from Manufacturing and Distributing Adulterated Food Products

body_text: A federal court today enjoined a California company from manufacturing and distributing adulterated food products in violation of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA). In a civil complaint filed Oct. 11, 2022, the United States alleged that Cali Rice Valley Inc., along with its general manager and co-owner, Cuong T. Do, violated the FDCA at the company’s current facility in Antioch, California, and its previous facility in San Francisco by manufacturing and distributing adulterated food products. Cali Rice Valley makes and distributes food products, including ready-to-eat rice noodles, packaged in retail and bulk sizes, as well as bakery products. The complaint alleged that the defendants violated the FDCA by failing to adequately conduct a hazard analysis or establish and implement preventive controls leaving their food products at risk of contamination with disease-causing bacteria. The complaint also alleged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspected the company’s facilities four times, including in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, and that many of the most recent violations were repeat violations FDA had identified in earlier inspections. According to the complaint, FDA issued Cali Rice Valley several warnings, including a warning letter to the company in 2020, regarding alleged deficiencies at its facilities. “Food manufacturers have an important duty to ensure the quality and safety of their products,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department will continue to work closely with the FDA and take action against manufacturers who fail to abide by laws designed to protect public health.” “The FDA takes its responsibility seriously to ensure the foods we eat are safe and meet our rigorous standards for food safety,” said Associate Commissioner Michael Rogers for Regulatory Affairs. “It is always a firm’s responsibility to ensure the consistent safety of the products they produce, and we will seek to hold them accountable when they fail to meet those standards.” The company and Do agreed to settle the suit filed by the government and be bound by a consent decree of permanent injunction. The negotiated consent decree entered by the court permanently enjoins the defendants from violating the FDCA, and requires, among other things, that they stop manufacturing, processing, packing, holding or distributing adulterated articles of food. Trial Attorney David G. Crockett Jr. and Senior Trial Attorney Roger Gural of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch prosecuted this case, with assistance from Senior Counsel Claudia J. Zuckerman of the FDA’s Office of Chief Counsel. Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch . The claims resolved by the consent decree announced today are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Convicted Armed Bank Robber Pleads Guilty To Fort Myers Armed Bank Robbery

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Grant Elmore Davis, Jr. (71, Mansfield, Ohio) today pleaded guilty to armed bank robbery, discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Davis faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 25 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to the court documents, on October 31, 2023, Davis entered a Truist Bank in Fort Myers and discharged a handgun while making verbal commands to the teller to give him money from the cash register. After obtaining money from the teller, Davis fled the bank. He was apprehended by authorities the following day. In November 2001, Davis was convicted of armed bank robbery and using and carrying a short-barreled shotgun in relation to a crime of violence. As a convicted felon he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan. 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 out 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 first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Westford Man Sentenced for Illegal Reentry

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Mexican man residing in Westford was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for unlawfully reentering the United States after deportation. Pedro Romo-Gonzalez, 42, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to time served (approximately six months in prison). On Oct. 19, 2023, Romo-Gonzalez pleaded guilty to unlawful reentry of a deported alien. On at least eight separate occasions between April 1998 and July 2010, Romo-Gonzalez was removed from the United States or voluntarily returned to Mexico. After each removal, he illegally re-entered the United States without obtaining the appropriate permission to reenter. He was first encountered by federal authorities in April 1998 after he entered the United States via California without being admitted by an immigration officer. In December 2009, Romo-Gonzalez was convicted in Arizona state court of solicitation to commit smuggling. Most recently, on June 13, 2023, federal immigration authorities were notified of Romo-Gonzalez’s presence in Massachusetts after he was arrested on unrelated state charges. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Todd M. Lyons, Field Office Director, Boston, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations; and Westford Police Chief Mark Chambers made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Monroe County Man Pleads Guilty To Conspiracy To Make Straw Purchases Of Firearms

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Windall Mitchell, age 34, of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on December 18, 2023, before United States District Court Judge Julia K. Munley, to the charge of conspiracy to make false statements in connection with the purchases of multiple firearms from federally licensed firearms dealers. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Mitchell admitted to conspiring with his girlfriend, Yesenia Ramos, age 43, of Stroudsburg, to provide false information to federally licensed firearms dealers regarding the purchases of ten firearms between May 15, 2021 and June 14, 2022 in Monroe County. The firearms were purchased from various federally licensed firearms dealers in Monroe County, including Dunkelberger’s Sports Outfitters in Stroudsburg and Brodheadsville, Pocono Mountain Firearms in Scotrun, The Gun Place in East Stroudsburg, and Lopez Firearms in Pocono Summit. The investigation began after one of the purchased firearms was recovered from another individual by police in New York City. The charge against the defendants resulted from an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results. The maximum penalty under federal law for conspiring to make false statements to firearms dealers is five years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. # # #


title: Man Accused of Phelps County Carjacking and Gun Store Burglary

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A Missouri man appeared in U.S. District Court in St. Louis Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to charges related to a carjacking and a gun store burglary in Phelps County, Missouri. Martavious Jones, 19, of Phelps County, was indicted September 27 on one carjacking charge and a charge of stealing a firearm from a federally licensed dealer. Jones pleaded not guilty Tuesday. The indictment accuses Jones of stealing a 2013 Nissan Altima on March 1, 2023, in Phelps County, Missouri. It also accuses him of stealing firearms from a Rolla gun store on Sept. 11, 2022. A motion seeking to have Jones held in jail until trial says two men took four guns, including an AR-style pistol, as well as a large quantity of ammunition and firearm accessories from the store. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. The carjacking charge carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or both prison and a fine. The stealing charge carries a penalty of up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. The Rolla Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski is prosecuting the case.


title: U.S. Attorney Easley Issues Warning on Machine Gun Switches - Two Men Recently Sentenced for Machine Gun Conversion Devices

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – In a new public service announcement link being promoted by the office on social media, U.S. Attorney Michael Easley issued a warning reminding people that they face up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine for possessing a Glock or auto-sear switch. A Glock or auto-sear switch is a small, conversion device that can be attached to a handgun, converting it into a fully automatic machine gun. This warning comes after two defendants were sentenced for possession of these devices in Eastern North Carolina. “In the last week we’ve sentenced two defendants caught with ghost guns modified into fully automatic machineguns. According to ATF, from 2017 to 2021, over 5,000 machinegun conversion devices, or “switches,” were recovered in the U.S. – a 570% increase from the 814 recovered between 2012 and 2016. The number of switches continue to increase, with thousands recovered nationwide over the last two years,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “A gun with a switch can automatically fire an entire 30-round magazine in about two seconds. Owning the switches is equivalent to owning a machine gun, and if you have them, our office will prosecute you.” In the past two weeks, two individuals have been sentenced to 80 months and 162 months respectively for possession of a machine gun or machine gun conversion device. A Farmville man, Lamikah Baptist, age 19 and a member of a local gang, pled guilty and was sentenced to 80 months for possession of a machine gun. According to court documents and other information presented in court, on January 15, 2023, the Greenville Police Department responded to a shots-fired call outside a residence where shots were fired at individuals in the yard. A SpotShotter report indicated that 21 rounds of automatic gunfire were discharged, and officers found 20 spent shell casings on the road in front of the home. Surveillance video showed Baptist as a passenger in a car leaving the scene after the shooting, and within five minutes, Baptist went live on Instagram with a video that appeared to reference the shooting and indicate that it was directed at members of a rival gang that had killed Baptist’s friend. On and around the date of the shooting, Baptist posted other videos titled, “Just me and my switch,” where he is heard talking about owning a switch and “Come get this off me,” where he is shown with a privately manufactured Polymer80 handgun and a bag of marijuana. A search of the residence where Baptist was apprehended revealed a ghost gun with a switch loaded with 20 rounds of ammunition, additional ammunition, a 50-round drum magazine, marijuana and a ballistic vest. A Wilmington man, Tyrese Jerry Dawson, age 24, pled guilty and was sentenced to 162 months for two counts of possession of a machine gun conversion device, two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and two counts of possession of a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents and other information presented in court, Dawson was involved in multiple traffic stops in the Wilmington area, including one where he led officers on a high-speed chase traveling in excess of 70 miles per hour and drove on the wrong side of the road. Searches of the vehicles involved in the traffic stops revealed, cocaine, fentanyl, marijuana and three personally made firearms without serial numbers, also known as “ghost guns,” two of which had high-capacity magazines. Dawson’s fingerprints were located on at least one of the guns with an extended magazine. A fourth ghost gun with a switch and a 31-round magazine was found in a bag Dawson was observed to have left near a car wash. “Machine gun conversion kits are turning up more and more in our streets and at crime scenes,” said Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “These conversion devices are illegal, incredibly dangerous, and pose a serious threat to the community. ATF is working closely with our law enforcement partners to keep these devices off our streets.” Easley encouraged individuals with information on machine gun conversion devices to call the tip line at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) at 1-888-ATF-TIPS or ATF.gov/ATF-Tips. U.S. District Court Judge C. Dever III handed down both sentences. The Baptist case was investigated by the Greenville Police Department and the ATF and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Phil Aubart. The Dawson case was investigated by the Wilmington Police Department, the New Hanover and Brunswick County Sheriff’s Offices and the ATF and prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Van Trigt. Van Trigt is a prosecutor with the New Hanover County District Attorney’s Office assigned to the U.S. Attorney’s Office to handle federal cases. This has been made possible by a grant from the county. A copy of this press release is located on our website . Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:23-cr-00009-D and 7:23-cr-00042-D.


title: Monrovia Man Charged in Federal Grand Jury Indictment with Producing and Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A federal grand jury has charged a San Gabriel Valley man with producing and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) depicting himself sexually abusing a toddler, the Justice Department announced today. David Lisandro Perez Figueroa, 22, of Monrovia, is charged in a two-count federal grand jury indictment with production of child pornography and distribution of child pornography. A federal grand jury returned the indictment on Tuesday. Figueroa’s arraignment is scheduled for December 28 in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. Figueroa was arrested earlier this month, and a federal magistrate judge on December 6 ordered him jailed without bond. According to the indictment, Figueroa coerced a 2-year-old child into engaging in sexually explicit conduct with him for the purposed of making a visual depiction of the conduct. On July 22, Figueroa allegedly distributed the CSAM by sending it on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, in an account linked to Figueroa. British law enforcement investigating a target in the United Kingdom discovered the X chat logs with CSAM and, soon after, notified federal law enforcement in the United States, according to court documents. Based on this information, federal agents executed a search warrant at Figueroa’s residence on December 5 and arrested him. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted of all charges, Figueroa would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 50 years in federal prison. Homeland Security Investigations is investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Amy E. Pomerantz of the Violent and Organized Crime Section is prosecuting this case.


title: Georgian Sentenced for Armed Drug Trafficking with Machine “Ghost” Gun

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ga. – A Columbus resident with a criminal history was sentenced to serve more than 15 years in prison for federal gun and drug offenses, including possessing a privately-made, untraceable machine gun. Quintavius Harrow aka “Cootie,” 31, of Columbus, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 189 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Clay Land on Dec. 19. Harrow pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and one count of illegal possession of a machine gun on Aug. 15. Harrow is not eligible for parole. “Quintavius Harrow carried a self-made and untraceable machine gun—a so-called ‘ghost gun’—while distributing methamphetamine, a dangerous combination for the Columbus community,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Combating gun violence and preventing ghost guns from hitting our streets remains a top priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners.” “The FBI, in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, are committed to the safety and security of our community,” said Rich Bilson, Senior Supervisory Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Columbus office. “This plea removes a dangerous career criminal from our streets and lands him in federal prison, without the opportunity for parole.” “This violent drug trafficker can no longer distribute dangerous drugs, such as methamphetamine, as he now faces the consequences for his poor choices,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. "Quintavius Harrow's possession of a privately-made, untraceable machine gun underscores the urgent need to address the rapid reproduction of such dangerous weapons,” said Columbus Police Chief Stoney Mathis. “This case exemplifies our commitment to public safety and collaborative efforts to combat violent crime. We remain dedicated to our partnership with federal and local agencies and community programs in reducing these threats." “We will continue to work in collaboration with all law enforcement partners to remove these types of threats from our community for a safer Columbus,” said Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman. According to court documents, FBI and DEA conducted a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Harrow using a confidential source (CS) on March 18, 2022. During the transaction, Harrow was filmed in possession of an AR-15 styled pistol and sold the CS two bags containing a total of 498 grams of methamphetamine. On April 26, 2022, Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Drug and Gang Task force agents executed a search warrant at a trap house located at 813 Coolidge Avenue in Columbus, where Harrow was observed selling methamphetamine to the CS the month prior. Harrow was in the home along with other individuals. Law enforcement found a variety of illegal drugs and several firearms throughout the house. Notably, in a back bedroom, officers located the same AR-15 style pistol Harrow carried on March 18. With no known manufacturer or visible serial number, the AR-15 style pistol had a large capacity magazine and 30 rounds of ammunition. FBI examined the AR-15 style pistol and determined it was a “ghost gun” equipped with an auto sear, which converted the firearm to a machine gun. Ghost guns are untraceable firearms assembled by private individuals from firearm components. Prior to these incidents, on March 6, 2020, Columbus Police Department (CPD) Special Operation’s unit officers were surveilling the area of Elizabeth Canty Apartments. Officers observed several people standing near a vehicle, including Harrow. Upon approach by officers, Harrow began walking away and then discarded a yellow container containing methamphetamine and a stolen HK 9mm, semi-automatic pistol with an extended magazine. Harrow was taken into custody with a digital scale with marijuana residue and $436 cash in his pocket. Harrow has a criminal history for robbery by intimidation in Muscogee Co., Georgia, Superior Court and use of a gun with an altered identification mark in Chattahoochee County, Georgia, Superior Court. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm. This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. The case was investigated by FBI, DEA, the Muscogee Co. Sheriff’s Office and the Columbus Police Department, with assistance from GBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Williams prosecuted the case for the Government.


title: Luzerne County Man Sentenced To 66 Months’ Imprisonment For Fentanyl Trafficking

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Casey Read, age 40, of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, was sentenced on December 19, 2023, by U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani, to 66 months’ imprisonment on the charge of conspiracy to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Read previously pleaded guilty and admitted to obtaining between 40 grams and 160 grams of fentanyl from coconspirators Eric Hill, age 34, of Plymouth, and Candacelee Ellis, age 37, also of Plymouth, which Read then distributed in the Luzerne County area between 2019 and 2020. Hill, Ellis and Read were indicted by a grand jury in August 2020 for fentanyl trafficking. Previously, Judge Mariani sentenced Eric Hill to serve ten years’ imprisonment and Candacelee Ellis to serve 30 months’ imprisonment for conspiring to distribute fentanyl in the Luzerne County area. The charge against the defendants resulted from an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), the Kingston Police Department, the Luzerne County Drug Task Force, and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. # # #


title: Watertown Man Pleads Guilty to African Sports Ponzi Scheme

body_text: BOSTON – A Watertown man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to defrauding investors who believed they were financing lucrative short-term sports ventures in Africa. Adrian Kawuba, 33, pleaded guilty to four counts of wire fraud. United States District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for March 14, 2024. Kawuba was arrested and charged in November 2022. Kawuba told his victims that he would invest their money in short-term financing of sports ventures in Africa and elsewhere overseas and that he would personally guarantee their investments. Kawuba did not invest any of the victims’ funds. Instead, Kawuba used the money to pay for luxury goods and to pay purported returns to his investors – in some instances paying back a victim’s earlier investment with money that victims had just sent Kawuba for a new investment. The scheme involved at least 26 fraudulent deals, involving more than $2.3 million in victim funds. The charges of wire fraud each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the monetary loss or gain, whichever is greater, restitution and forfeiture. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. The Watertown Police Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kriss Basil of Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: Convicted Felon from Eufaula Sentenced to 87 Months in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearms

component: USAO - Alabama, Middle

body_text: MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA – On December 19, 2023, a federal judge sentenced 38-year-old Daniel Jermaine Parkman, a resident of Eufaula, Alabama, to 87 months in prison for possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony offense, announced Acting United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross. In addition, the judge ordered that Parkman serve three years of supervised release following his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. In his plea agreement, Parkman admitted to possessing a firearm on at least two separate occasions, despite being prohibited to do so as a convicted felon. First, in August 2018, Parkman brought a handgun to a pawn shop in Eufaula to sell. Later, in December 2021, law enforcement in Eufaula responded to a domestic dispute call that reported shots had been fired. Officers spotted Parkman near the scene in a vehicle. Parkman initially fled but was apprehended after a short foot chase. The officers later found another firearm in Parkman’s car. On September 14, 2023, Parkman pleaded guilty in federal court to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. This case was brought as a 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Eufaula Police Department investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorney Russell T. Duraski prosecuted.


title: Columbia Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug and Firearm Charges

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Jalon Amari Britt, 22, of Columbia, was sentenced to 100 months – more than eight years – in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Evidence presented in Court revealed that on March 30, 2022, deputies with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department were conducting surveillance on Britt at his apartment to serve him with outstanding arrest warrants. During surveillance, officers observed Britt leave his apartment unit and enter a car registered in his name. A traffic stop was initiated, and when the deputy approached the vehicle, he smelled marijuana. A search was conducted of Britt and his vehicle, and law enforcement recovered a bag of marijuana, two cell phones, and a large sum of cash. Investigators also obtained and executed a search warrant of Britt’s apartment which resulted in the recovery of approximately eight pounds of marijuana, two pistols with extended magazines, two loaded rifles, and various rounds of assorted ammunition. The investigation revealed that Britt was the sole occupant of the residence and that one of the pistols had previously been reported stolen. Evidence was also presented that Britt was a validated member of a street gang. Federal law prohibits Britt from possessing firearms and ammunition based on prior state convictions that include two convictions for Failure to Stop for Blue Lights, Breaking into Motor Vehicle or Tanks, Pumps, Where Fuel, Lubricants Stored, Grand Larceny, Value More Than $2,000.00, but Less Than $10,000.00, and Use of Vehicle Without Owner’s Consent for Temporary Purposes. Senior United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten sentenced Britt to 100 months imprisonment, to be followed by a two-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana N. Gore is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Two Suburban Chicago Physicians Sentenced to Federal Prison for Health Care Fraud

body_text: CHICAGO — Two suburban Chicago physicians have been sentenced to federal prison for prescribing opioids to individuals who lacked a legitimate medical need for the drugs. STANLEY DAVID DEMOREST managed Demorest Consultants LLC, a medical practice in Melrose Park, Ill. NICHOLAS RECCHIA was employed there as a physician. From 2015 to 2020, Demorest and Recchia agreed to dispense hydrocodone, oxycodone, fentanyl, and other controlled substances to individuals who visited Demorest Consultants but whom Demorest and Recchia knew had no legitimate medical need for the drugs. In some instances, Demorest, who voluntarily surrendered his DEA Registration Number in 2015 and lost his ability to lawfully prescribe controlled substances, used Recchia’s name and DEA Registration Number to issue prescriptions for controlled substances to patients. Demorest and Recchia caused pharmacies to submit numerous claims to Medicare and Medicaid seeking payment for the improper prescriptions. Demorest, 67, of Bloomingdale, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of health care fraud and one count of unlawfully using another person’s DEA registration number to dispense controlled substances. Recchia, 64, of River Grove, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of health care fraud. Both defendants admitted in plea agreements that they dispensed controlled substances outside the usual course of medical practice and without a legitimate medical purpose. On Dec. 14, 2023, U.S. District Judge John F. Kness sentenced Demorest to two years in federal prison and Recchia to six months in prison. The sentences were announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Sheila G. Lyons, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the DEA, Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, Mario Pinto, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. “During a time of epidemic prescription opioid abuse, a trained physician is the last person that the public should expect to knowingly and intentionally issue unauthorized prescriptions for opioids,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Hayes argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Knowing and intentional violations of controlled substances laws by medical professionals during this time must be met with serious sanctions.”


title: Former Teacher Pleads Guilty to Exploiting Children in Laos

body_text: BOSTON – A Lynn man pleaded guilty today to sexually exploiting minors to whom he taught English in Laos. Michael Sebastian, 56, pleaded guilty to three counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for March 28, 2024. Sebastian was arrested and charged in July 2020 following his return to the United States and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2020. According to the charging documents, Sebastian taught English to impoverished children in Laos. While teaching children there, Sebastian allowed certain students to live with him in his apartment. Students who were unable to pay for their living expenses performed “chores” around the house to earn credit towards their rent payments. One of the “chores” eligible for rent credit was to give Sebastian massages, during which Sebastian would be naked. As part of these massages, Sebastian required some students to touch his genitals and masturbate him in lieu of rent payment. Between May 2018 and March 2020, Sebastian sexually abused three minor children who lived with him. “Mr. Sebastian ingratiated himself into a position of trust and then manipulated his relationships to exploit vulnerable minors who sought refuge and education. His horrific conduct is a parent’s worst nightmare,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Ensuring the safety of our children from an array of threats is an absolute top priority for this office. This case should send a resounding message to Americans in Massachusetts and beyond: predators will be identified, prosecuted and held accountable.” “Teachers like Michael Sebastian who use their access to children for their own sexual gratification are both a danger and a disgrace. Today, Mr. Sebastian finally admitted to exploiting impoverished children in a foreign country and betraying their trust,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “This case illustrates how the FBI will pursue justice beyond American borders to safeguard vulnerable victims from predators.” The charge of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes that govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting U.S. Attorney Levy; Nicole M. Argentieri, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and FBI SAC Cohen made the announcement. This case was primarily investigated by the FBI's Legal Attache office in Bangkok, along with valuable assistance provided by the FBI's Child Exploitation Operational Unit and the Boston FBI’s Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator and Chief of the Office’s Major Crimes Unit, and Trial Attorneys Nadia Prinz and Eduardo Palomo of the Justice Department’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 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 .


title: Final Defendant Pleads Guilty in Armed Robbery of Pharmacy Van

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

body_text: WASHINGTON D.C. – Juwuan Edward Francis Champion, 24, of Bowie, Md., pleaded guilty yesterday to his role in the felony armed robbery of a pharmaceutical van driver and a firearms charge, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division. Champion, aka “Big Money,” pleaded guilty on December 19, 2023, to conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery (known as conspiracy to commit a Hobbs Act robbery) and unlawful possession of a machine gun. U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta scheduled sentencing for March 15, 2024. Champion was part of a four-member crew participating in a drug trafficking operation in the Potomac Gardens neighborhood of Southeast Washington. The three other members included Fitzgerald Hunt, 24, of Washington, D.C., also known as “GMoney;” Joshua Johnson, 18, of Capitol Heights, Md., also known as “Lil Josh,” and Keyshawn Lavender, 20, of Washington, D.C., also known as “Key.” From January to October 2021, the crew members allegedly trafficked in Oxycodone, Alprazolam, and other illegal narcotics. In pleading guilty, Champion, Hunt, and Johnson admitted that on March 30, 2021, they conspired to rob a pharmaceutical delivery van driver outside a pharmacy in Waldorf, Md. The driver was placed in handcuffs, hit on the head with a firearm, and then the defendants drove the van back to Washington, D.C., with its pharmaceutical contents. Law enforcement arrested the four men on October 7, 2021. Hunt, Johnson, and Lavender previously pleaded guilty. Hunt was sentenced on September 29, 2023, to 108 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release. Johnson, who was 17 years old at the time of the robbery, pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and separately pled guilty to related local charges in Charles County, Maryland in a global resolution. Lavender was not charged with the robbery and pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy and received a sentence of 30 months in prison. This case was investigated by the ATF Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Critical support was provided by the Charles County Md. Sheriff’s Office and Charles County State’s Attorney’s Office, and additional assistance was provided by the U.S. Marshals Service, the Prince George’s County, Md. Police Department, and Anne Arundel County, Md. Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Candice Wong and Solomon Eppel of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Assistance was provided by former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison McGuire.


title: United Memorial Medical Center to pay $2M plus additional payments for allegedly causing false claims related to excessive cost outlier payments and double billing for Covid-19 tests

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – Doctor’s Hospital 1997 L.P. dba United Memorial Medical Center LLC (UMMC) has agreed to pay $2 million and to make additional contingent payments to resolve alleged False Claims Act violations. UMMC is an entity that formerly operated hospitals in the Houston area. They allegedly claimed excessive cost outlier payments from government health care programs and double billed the government for COVID-19 tests that were also billed either to the State of Texas or the City of Houston. According to the agreement between UMMC and the United States, the settlement funds will be paid by one of UMMC’s principals, Ravishanker Mallapuram, and UMMC has guaranteed the payment of those funds. “This over $2 million settlement is significant,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas (SDTX). “We depend upon medical providers to be good stewards of a community’s healthcare services and of the federally funded programs that pay for those services. The case alleges UMMC made millions by overbilling those health care programs and intentionally double billing for COVID-19 testing. Instead of returning those monies to America’s taxpayers, they allegedly pocketed the money for themselves. Finding the wrongdoing and lost monies in these types of cases involves complexities akin to playing three-dimensional chess, but know this, the SDTX will not stop in its quest for justice until it can claim checkmate.” “Hospitals and other providers who participate in federal health care programs have an obligation to the taxpayers to ensure that they are billing appropriately,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton, head of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “We will hold accountable those who knowingly overbill or double bill for the medical services they provide to federal beneficiaries.” In addition to its standard payment system, Medicare and Tricare provide supplemental reimbursement to hospitals called “cost outlier” payments in cases where the cost of care is unusually high. Congress enacted the supplemental outlier payment system to ensure that hospitals possess the incentive to treat inpatients whose care requires unusually high costs. This settlement resolves allegations that UMMC submitted claims for cost outlier payments by rapidly increasing its charges for inpatient care and underreporting its charges on Medicare cost reports, thereby preventing the government health care programs from adjusting those charges so that they would reasonably reflect UMMC’s actual costs. The settlement also resolves allegations that UMMC concealed and improperly avoided its obligation to reimburse the federal health care programs for any excessive outlier payments its hospitals received. In addition, UMMC has agreed to settle allegations that it submitted claims to the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Uninsured Program for COVID-19 testing services, despite being reimbursed for those same services by either the State of Texas or the City of Houston. “Hospitals and executives who run them should prioritize accurate, lawful billing of Medicare and other taxpayer-funded health care programs at all times,” said Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “This practice is especially imperative, however, when the world is responding to a public health crisis. At HHS-OIG, it is our fundamental responsibility to, along with our law enforcement partners, safeguard federally funded health care programs and American taxpayer monies.” “The Department of Defense (DOD) Office of Inspector General's Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) is committed to rooting out fraud schemes that waste valuable taxpayer resources intended for the healthcare of our service members, military retirees and their families,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Gregory P. Shilling of the DCIS Southwest Field Office. “DCIS, along with our law enforcement partners, will aggressively pursue and hold those accountable who took advantage of the pandemic for profit at the expense of DOD's taxpayer funded healthcare program, known as TRICARE.” “The FBI and its partners will relentlessly pursue bad actors that participate in nefarious double billing at the cost of the American taxpayer and our health care system,” said Executive Assistant Director Timothy Langan of the FBI’s Criminal, Cyber, Response and Services Branch. “Violations of the False Claims Act will not be tolerated. If you do not follow the law, you will face the consequences of your noncompliance.” The settlement resolves a lawsuit originally brought by Ryan Griffin, a former employee of UMMC, under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. The Act permits private citizens with knowledge of fraud against the government to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the United States and to share in any recovery. Under the settlement announced today, Griffin will receive $300,000. This settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the Justice Department's Civil Division; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas; HHS, Office of Counsel to the Inspector General and Office of Investigations; DCIS and the FBI. The lawsuit resolved by this settlement is captioned United States, et al., ex rel. Ryan Griffin v. Mediscope Global Services Pvt Ltd., et al. , 3:21-cv-183 (S.D. TX.). The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Former Teacher Pleads Guilty to Sexually Exploiting Children in Laos

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A Massachusetts man pleaded guilty today engaging in sexual acts with three minors in Laos. According to court documents, Michael Sebastian, 56, of Lynn, taught English to impoverished children in Laos. While teaching children there, Sebastian allowed certain students to live with him in his apartment, and they had to pay “dues.” Students who were unable to pay their dues performed “chores” around the house to earn credit towards their dues payments. One of the “chores” was giving Sebastian a massage while he was naked. Between May 2018 and September 2019, in the course of these massages, Sebastian engaged and attempted to engage in sexual acts with three minors who lived with him. Sebastian pleaded guilty to three counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 28, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 90 years in prison and lifetime supervised release. Additionally, he will be required to pay restitution to his victims and to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy for the District of Massachusetts, Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, and Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Boston Field Office made the announcement. The FBI investigated the case, with assistance from the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service. Trial Attorneys Nadia Prinz and Eduardo Palomo of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti for the District of Massachusetts 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 Justice Department. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .