title: U.S. Transfers $50M in Forfeited Assets to the Republic of Estonia in Recognition of Assistance in the Danske Bank Prosecution and Forfeiture

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that it entered into an agreement to share $50 million in forfeited assets with the Republic of Estonia (Estonia) in recognition of Estonia’s assistance in the successful prosecution of Danske Bank and related forfeiture. “Coordinating with our foreign law enforcement counterparts is critical in the fight against complex financial crime — which now, more than ever before, is transnational in nature,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s agreement to share $50 million in forfeited funds with Estonia recognizes Estonia’s valuable contribution to the successful U.S. prosecution of Danske Bank, which pleaded guilty for lying to U.S. banks about its inadequate anti-money laundering controls and high-risk, offshore customer base to gain access to the U.S. financial system. Estonia’s pledge to use the funds to combat financial crime, enhance asset recovery, and facilitate international cooperation reflects both countries’ commitment to invest in our vital law enforcement relationship to tackle complex cross-border crime.” In December 2022, Danske Bank pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud in a scheme to defraud U.S. banks regarding Danske Bank Estonia’s customers and anti-money laundering controls to facilitate access to the U.S. financial system. According to admissions and court documents, Danske Bank Estonia had a lucrative business line serving non-resident customers, whom it attracted by ensuring that those customers could transfer large amounts of money through Danske Bank Estonia with little, if any, oversight. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Danske Bank agreed to forfeit $2.059 billion. The Justice Department agreed to credit approximately $850 million in payments Danske Bank made in a coordinated criminal resolution with Danish authorities and a coordinated civil resolution with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and forfeited approximately $1.2 billion. Estonia provided valuable law enforcement assistance in the Danske Bank investigation and ultimate resolution and forfeiture by providing evidence obtained in its investigation of individuals and in response to requests from U.S. authorities. Under the agreement announced today, Estonia will use the funds to strengthen its capacity to fight financial crime. The shared funds must be used to 1) prevent, detect, investigate, and prosecute financial crime in all its forms, including money laundering, fraud, cybercrime, corruption, and terrorist financing; 2) provide cyber forensics, forensic accounting, counterintelligence, and other specialized education and training across the Baltic States and Nordic region, including as may be appropriate through a training center and collaboration with the United States; 3) enhance compliance with requirements and effective practices for combatting money laundering and the financing of terrorism, strengthen regulatory and administrative controls against money laundering and terrorist financing, and increase public awareness regarding financial crimes, white-collar crime, and financial fraud; and 4) enhance Estonian confiscation procedures and strengthen international cooperation in confiscation matters. The agreement contains key measures to ensure transparency and accountability. Under the agreement, Estonia will establish an Implementing Commission composed of the heads of the Estonian Ministries of Justice and Digital Affairs, Internal Affairs, and Finance that will oversee the administration of funds and projects. In addition, expenditures will be subject to review by an independent external auditor. In recognition of the important bilaterial relationship of Estonia and the United States and their critical cooperation in law enforcement matters, the United States will serve as an advisor to the Implementing Commission. Danske Bank was prosecuted by the Bank Integrity Unit of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. The FBI investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided critical assistance. The Criminal Division, through MLARS’ International Unit, administers the Justice Department’s international asset forfeiture sharing program. Pursuant to federal law, and in coordination with the Departments of the Treasury and State, the Attorney General may share proceeds of successful forfeiture of property with foreign countries that participate in the seizure or forfeiture of the property.


title: New Orleans Man Indicted for Being Felon in Possession of Firearm

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

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – ERIC ROGERS (“ROGERS”) , age 33, of New Orleans, was indicted on January 3, 2025, for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1), 924(a)(8), and 942(e), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to the indictment, ROGERS possessed a firearm on October 10, 2024. ROGERS was prohibited from possessing a firearm, due to his previous felony conviction(s). If convicted, ROGERS faces up to 15 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release. ROGERS also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. United States Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven 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 Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Troy L. Bell of the Violent Crimes Unit.


title: Owner of Brooklyn-Based Credit Counseling Business Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Prison for Defrauding Clients

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Marat Lerner, the former president of a debt relief services business, was sentenced by United States District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis to 135 months in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. Lerner was also convicted of continuing his criminal scheme while on pre-trial release. Lerner was ordered to forfeit approximately $2,340,154 to the government. Restitution to the victims will be determined at a later date. Lerner pleaded guilty to the charges in February 2024. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) and Harry T. Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, New York (IRS-CI), announced the sentence. “Today the defendant learned there are serious consequences for stealing his clients’ money, even after he was arrested, and ruthlessly spending it on a luxury car for himself, on-line dating and expensive meals,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “His victims were hard-working people, many from the Eastern European community, who went to him for help saving their homes and livelihoods. Instead of helping them, Lerner took advantage of their trust and vulnerability to steal their money. Lerner continued his crimes even when he knew that his actions had directly caused his victims to lose their homes and-or to declare bankruptcy. My Office is committed to protecting the public from unscrupulous advisors like Lerner.” “Marat Lerner stole $2.5 million from fiscally vulnerable clients and forced several into bankruptcy after funneling their money to fund his personal luxury purchases rather than providing the promised reduced mortgage payments," stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy. "Lerner betrayed his victims’ trust, remorselessly continuing to perpetuate this fraudulent scheme even after his initial arrest. With the continued support from NYPD and CBP, the FBI remains dedicated to investigating those who employ empty promises to prey upon disadvantaged communities to satisfy their own greed. “Lerner lived a glamourous life by taking money out of the pockets of people in his own community. His underground brokerage was not just a simple money scam; it led to victims defaulting on their mortgage payments and some falling into foreclosure,” stated IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Chavis. “Today’s sentencing should stand as a reminder to those preying on others to fulfill their own greedy desires—you will get caught; you will be prosecuted; and you will go to prison for your criminal acts.” According to court documents and facts presented at Lerner’s sentencing, the defendant was the owner of the Lerner Group, a business that claimed to provide debt relief services, including mortgage modifications, principally to the Eastern European immigrant community in Brooklyn. Many of the victims Lerner defrauded were already experiencing financial hardship and had specifically sought Lerner’s assistance to help reduce their monthly mortgage payments. Lerner, in turn, promised that he could help them lower their monthly mortgage payments by working with their mortgage lenders to secure a mortgage loan modification or federal homeowner assistance. To carry out his fraud, Lerner obtained access to the victims’ bank accounts, which he claimed he would use to pay the mortgage banks on their behalf. Lerner used his access to his victims’ bank accounts to steal approximately $2.5 million – money that the 19 victims believed was being used to pay their mortgages. Once Lerner gained access to the victims’ bank accounts, he transmitted funds from their accounts to companies and/or bank accounts that he controlled. Lerner covered up his fraud by claiming the money was being held in escrow or by affiliates of the mortgage banks. In truth, Lerner kept most of the victims’ money and spent it on personal and business expenses, including a BMW, luxury goods and expensive meals. Lerner caused several of his clients to file bankruptcy petitions to stave off foreclosure to continue his fraud, and as a result of his scheme, several of his victims are facing foreclosure proceedings. In January 2023, Lerner was arrested in connection with the fraud and released on bail. He was instructed not to commit additional crimes. However, Lerner promptly opened new bank accounts and continued his criminal scheme. After his arrest in this case, Lerner stole at least an additional $50,000 from his clients. In September 2023, Lerner’s bail was revoked after a grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Lerner with additional crimes. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick M. Axelrod and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Genny Ngai prosecuted the case. The Defendant : MARAT LERNER Age: 42 Brooklyn, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-15 (S-1) (NGG)


title: ВЛАДЕЛЕЦ РАСПОЛОЖЕННОЙ В БРУКЛИНЕ КРЕДИТНОЙ KОНСУЛЬТАЦИОННОЙ КОМПАНИИ ПРИГОВОРЕН К БОЛЕЕ ЧЕМ 11 ГОДАМ ТЮРЕМНОГО ЗАКЛЮЧЕНИЯ ЗА МОШЕННИЧЕСТВО В ОТНОШЕНИИ КЛИЕНТОВ

body_text: Сегодня в федеральном суде Бруклина Марат Лернер, бывший президент компании по оказанию услуг по облегчению бремени задолженности, был приговорен Окружным судьей США Николасом Г. Гарауфисом [Nicholas G. Garaufis] к 135 месяцам тюремного заключения за сговор с целью совершения мошенничества с использованием электронных средств сообщения и за мошенничество с использованием электронных средств сообщения. Лернер также был осужден за продолжение деятельности по реализации своей преступной схемы в период досудебного освобождения. Лернер был приговорен к конфискации около 2 340 154 долларов в пользу государства. Размер возмещения убытков для жертв его преступлений будет определен позднее. Лернер признал себя виновным по этим обвинениям в феврале 2024 года. Бреон Пис, Прокурор США Восточного округа Нью-Йорка, ДжеймсE. Деннехи [James E. Dennehy], помощник Директора Федерального бюро расследований (FBI) в Региональном управлении Нью-Йорка, и Гарри Т. Чавис младший [Harry T. Chavis, Jr.], Специальный агент в Региональном управлении Нью-Йорка Отдела расследований по уголовным делам Налогового управления США (IRS-CI), объявили приговор. «Сегодня ответчик узнал, что существуют серьезные последствия за кражу денег своих клиентов, даже после его ареста, и безжалостную трату похищенных средств на роскошный автомобиль для себя, онлайн знакомства и дорогие обеды и ужины», – заявил Прокурор США Пис. «Его жертвами стали трудолюбивые люди, многие из которых выходцы из стран Восточной Европы, обратившиеся к нему за помощью, чтобы спасти свои дома и средства к существованию. Вместо оказания им помощи Лернер воспользовался их доверием и уязвимостью для кражи их денег. Лернер продолжал совершать свои преступления, даже когда он знал, что его действия привели к утрате жертвами его преступлений своих домов или к вынужденным объявлениям о банкротстве. Прокуратура намерена защищать население от недобросовестных консультантов, подобных Лернеру». «Марат Лернер украл 2,5 миллионов долларов у уязвимых в финансовом отношении клиентов и довел нескольких из них до банкротства после того, как он направил их деньги на финансирование своих личных роскошных покупок вместо обеспечения обещанного снижения платежей по ипотеке», – заявил специальный агент FBI Деннехи. «Лернер предал доверие жертв своих преступлений, безжалостно продолжая использовать эту мошенническую схему даже после его первоначального ареста. Благодаря постоянной поддержке со стороны Полицейского управления Нью-Йорка (NYPD) и Таможенно-пограничной службы США (CBP), FBI продолжает расследовать дела преступников, использующих пустые обещания, чтобы нажиться на представителях социально незащищенных групп населения ради удовлетворения собственной жадности». «Лернер жил роскошной жизнью, присваивая деньги людей в своем собственном сообществе», – заявил специальный агент IRS-CI Чавис. «Его подпольная брокерская деятельность не была простой денежной аферой; она приводила к тому, что жертвы не выплачивали ипотечные кредиты, а некоторые оказывались в ситуации изъятия банком заложенного под ипотечный кредит имущества. Сегодняшний приговор должен стать напоминанием всем, кто наживается на других ради удовлетворения собственных алчных желаний: вас поймают, вас будут преследовать по закону, и вы отправитесь в тюрьму за свои преступные деяния». Согласно судебным документам и фактам, представленным во время слушания по вынесению приговора Лернеру, ответчик был владельцем компании Lerner Group, которая заявляла, что она предоставляет услуги по облегчению бремени задолженности, включая изменение условий ипотечного кредита, в основном для лиц в восточноевропейской иммигрантской общине в Бруклине. Многие из жертв, обманутых Лернером, уже испытывали финансовые затруднения и специально обращались к Лернеру за помощью, чтобы снизить свои ежемесячные выплаты по ипотеке. Лернер, в свою очередь, обещал, что он поможет им снизить ежемесячные ипотечные платежи, работая с их ипотечными кредиторами, чтобы добиться изменения условий ипотечного кредита или получения федеральной помощи домовладельцам. Для осуществления мошенничества Лернер получал доступ к банковским счетам своих жертв, которые, как он утверждал, будут использоваться для выплат ипотечным банкам от имени клиентов. Лернер использовал доступ к банковским счетам своих жертв для хищения около 2,5 миллиона долларов – деньги, которые, как полагали его 19 жертв, использовались для оплаты их ипотечных кредитов. Получив доступ к банковским счетам своих жертв, Лернер переводил средства с их счетов в подконтрольные ему компании и/или банковские счета. Лернер прикрывал свое мошенничество, заявляя, что денежные средства находятся на условном депонировании или в филиалах ипотечных банков. На деле же Лернер оставлял себе большую часть денег и тратил их на личные и деловые расходы, включая автомобиль BMW, предметы роскоши и дорогие обеды и ужины. Лернер довел нескольких своих клиентов до вынужденной необходимости заявить о банкротстве во избежание изъятия банком заложенного под ипотечный кредит имущества, и в результате его преступной схемы несколько его жертв находятся в процессе изъятия банком заложенного под ипотечный кредит имущества. В январе 2023 года Лернер был арестован в связи с мошенничеством и освобожден под залог. Ему были даны указания не совершать дополнительных преступлений. Однако Лернер незамедлительно открыл новые банковские счета и продолжил осуществление своей преступной схемы. После ареста по этому делу Лернер похитил у своих клиентов еще как минимум 50 000 долларов. В сентябре 2023 года постановление об освобождении Лернера под залог было отменено после того, как большое жюри предъявило Лернеру дополнительное обвинение в совершении дополнительных преступлений. Государственное обвинение находится в ведении Отдела по борьбе с мошенничеством в сфере бизнеса и ценных бумаг Прокуратуры США. Помощник прокурора США Ник М. Аксельрод [Nick M. Axelrod] и бывший помощник прокурора США Дженни Нгаи [Genny Ngai] отвечали за ведение этого дела. Ответчик : МАРАТ ЛЕРНЕР Возраст: 42 Бруклин, Нью-Йорк Номер дела E.D.N.Y. 23-CR-15 (S-1) (NGG)


title: Jacksonville Man Pleads Guilty To Federal Drug Trafficking Charge

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Zevion La’Quawn Collins (30, Jacksonville) today pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of pure or actual methamphetamine. Collins faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. According to court documents, between April 2023 and the time of his arrest on June 17, 2024, Collins distributed methamphetamine, cocaine base (crack), and marijuana in Jacksonville, Florida. During this time, federal agents observed Collins conduct multiple drug transactions, including on 6 separate occasions, during which Collins sold one to two ounces of pure methamphetamine at a time. On June 17, 2024, agents executed a search warrant at Collins’ stash house on Ken Knight Drive in Jacksonville, and arrested Collins on federal drug charges. From this residence, agents seized approximately $4,970 in U.S. currency, and a loaded Glock .40 caliber pistol. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Aakash Singh. This case is part of Operation Ice Drop, an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Windham Man Sentenced to 15 Years, Ordered to Pay $108,000 in Restitution for Possessing, Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: A Windham man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material. U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Cote Noonan , 33, to 180 months in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $108,000 in restitution to victims. Noonan pleaded guilty on June 5, 2024. According to court records, in October 2023, Noonan, using the username “Femboy Cassidy,” sent an undercover FBI agent three child sexual abuse material videos using the instant messaging application TeleGuard. The videos showed the sexual abuse of young victims, including an infant. The agent also observed “Femboy Cassidy” share similar photos and videos on two other occasions in a trading room for child sexual abuse material. During the investigation, Noonan admitted to operating the “Femboy Cassidy” account and informed investigators that they would find child sexual abuse material on his electronic devices. He also admitted to sexually abusing a child on multiple occasions and recording that abuse. The FBI seized several devices from Noonan’s residence, four of which contained thousands of known child sexual abuse material images and videos. Many of these images and videos showed the sexual abuse of toddlers and infants. The FBI did not locate any photos or videos documenting the hands-on sexual abuse described by Noonan. The FBI investigated the case. “Mr. Noonan admitted to a long and disturbing history which includes viewing and downloading child sexual abuse materials for more than two decades, in addition to engaging in illicit sexual contact with children,” said U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee . “This sentence will protect children from being victimized and hopefully offer some measure of justice to those he exploited.” “Simply put, Cote Noonan is a predator,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division . “He amassed tens of thousands of images of young children being sexually abused and shared them online. During our investigation, he also admitted to sexually abusing a child. It’s vital that he’s locked away where he can’t hurt any more kids. The FBI and our partners won’t ever stop fighting to protect children from being so horrifically exploited.” To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – referred to in legal terms as "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. In 2023, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports of the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. To file a report with NCMEC, go to https://report.cybertip.org or call 1-800-843-5678 . If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741 . Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s 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, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc . ###


title: Jacksonville Man Sentenced To Three Years For Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida –Senior United States District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Austin Adams (32, Jacksonville) to 36 months in federal prison for possessing child sexual abuse material. Adams pled guilty to that offense on September 24, 2024. Following his incarceration, he will serve 10 years of supervised release and will be required to register as a sexual offender. According to the court documents, on March 20, 2024, Adams possessed child sexual abuse material by purchasing it with cryptocurrency. He spent close to $1,000 on a website that was eventually shut down due to the child sexual abuse material the website was distributing. The discovery of Adams’ purchases on the website led law enforcement to search Adams’ residence where a forensic review of his cellular phone revealed multiple images and videos of child sexual abuse material, some of which were over 45 minutes in length. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro. This is another case 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 the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Pawtucket Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Child Pornography

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A Pawtucket man found to be in possession of more than 17,000 images and dozens of videos of child pornography has been sentenced to three years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. Court documents reflect that in August 2023, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children notified law enforcement that a telephone number, later determined by law enforcement to belong to Eugenio Lopes Gomes, 47, was being utilized to upload child pornography. A court-authorized search and forensic audit of the defendant’s electronic devices determined that the devices contained approximately 17,000 images and 144 videos of explicit material depicting children ranging in ages from one to twelve years old. Lopes Gomes was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to 36 months of incarceration to be followed by three years of federal supervised release. Lopes Gomes pleaded guilty on September 24, 2024, to a charge of possession of child pornography. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. 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 The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julienne Kline, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter I. Roklan. The matter was investigated by the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations. ###


title: Jury convicts South Texan for transporting people in the tractor’s cab

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 26-year-old Edinburg man has been convicted of unlawfully transporting an undocumented alien, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. The jury deliberated for an hour and a half following a less than two-day trial before finding Lisandro Vasquez-Gomez guilty. On Aug. 29, 2024, Vasquez-Gomez drove to the Falfurrias Border Patrol checkpoint where he told authorities he was hauling an empty trailer and was heading to Houston. He denied having any passengers in his vehicle. However, a K-9 alerted to the cab of the tractor where law enforcement located five people illegally present in the United States hidden behind the driver. At trial, the jury heard from some of those being transported who explained that smugglers had driven them to a remote area where a tractor-trailer was waiting. They did not see the driver, but the vehicle began moving shortly after they were concealed in the sleeper berth. The defense attempted to convince the jury that authorities failed to fully investigate the smuggling attempt and that Vasquez-Gomez was simply hauling a decoy smuggling load. They did not believe those claims and found him guilty as charged on all three counts. U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos presided over the trial and set sentencing for April 8, at which time Vasquez-Gomez faces up to five years in federal prison. He was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing. Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Overman, Ashley A. Pruitt and Liesel Roscher prosecuted the case.


title: Justice Department Sues Six Large Landlords for Algorithmic Pricing Scheme that Harms Millions of American Renters

component: USAO - North Carolina, Middle

body_text: Attorneys General of Illinois and Massachusetts Join Suit Against RealPage and Apartment Landlords, Bringing Total State and Commonwealth Co-Plaintiffs to 10 WASHINGTON — The Justice Department, together with its state co-plaintiffs, filed an amended complaint today in its antitrust lawsuit against RealPage, to sue six of the nation’s largest landlords for participating in algorithmic pricing schemes that harmed renters. The amended complaint alleges the landlords — Greystar Real Estate Partners LLC (Greystar); Blackstone’s LivCor LLC (LivCor); Camden Property Trust (Camden); Cushman & Wakefield Inc and Pinnacle Property Management Services LLC (Cushman); Willow Bridge Property Company LLC (Willow Bridge) and Cortland Management LLC (Cortland) — participated in an unlawful scheme to decrease competition among landlords in apartment pricing, harming millions of American renters. Together, these landlords operate more than 1.3 million units in 43 states and the District of Columbia. The Attorneys General of Illinois and Massachusetts joined the amended complaint as co-plaintiffs, increasing the total number of State and Commonwealth co-plaintiffs to 10. At the same time, the Justice Department filed a proposed consent decree with landlord Cortland that requires it to cooperate with the government, stop using its competitors’ sensitive data to set rents and stop using the same algorithm as its competitors without a corporate monitor. “While Americans across the country struggled to afford housing, the landlords named in today’s lawsuit shared sensitive information about rental prices and used algorithms to coordinate to keep the price of rent high,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Doha Mekki of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Today’s action against RealPage and six major landlords seeks to end their practice of putting profits over people and make housing more affordable for millions of people across the country.” The amended complaint alleges that the six landlords actively participated in a scheme to set their rents using each other’s competitively sensitive information through common pricing algorithms. Along with using RealPage’s anticompetitive pricing algorithms, these landlords coordinated through a variety of means, including: Directly communicating with competitors’ senior managers about rents, occupancy, and other competitively sensitive topics. In one example, Greystar supplied Camden with information not only about very recent renewal rates, but also its approach to pricing for the upcoming quarter, its acceptance of RealPage’s pricing recommendations, use of concessions and competitively sensitive information about occupancy. Likewise, executives at Camden and LivCor communicated over the course Regularly conducting “call arounds.” During these discussions, euphemistically referred to as “market surveys,” property managers called or emailed competitors to share, and sometimes discuss, competitively sensitive information about rents, occupancy, pricing strategies and discounts. Participating in “user groups” hosted by RealPage. For instance, landlords discussed via user groups how to modify the software’s pricing methodology, as well as their own pricing strategies. In one example, LivCor and Willow Bridge executives participated in a user group discussion of plans for renewal increases, concessions and acceptance rates of RealPage rent recommendations. Sharing information with competitors about parameters in RealPage’s software. As an example, at the request of Willow Bridge’s director of revenue management, Greystar’s director of revenue management supplied its standard auto-accept parameters for RealPage’s software, including the daily and weekly limits and the days of the week for which Greystar used “auto-accept.” The Justice Department also announced a proposed consent decree that, if approved by the court, would resolve its claims against Cortland, a landlord that manages over 80,000 rental units in 13 states. Under the proposed consent decree, Cortland would cooperate in the Justice Department’s investigation and litigation and be barred from, among other things: Using competitors’ competitively sensitive data to train or run any pricing model; Using third-party software or algorithms to price apartments without the supervision of a court-appointed monitor; and Soliciting, disclosing or using any competitively sensitive information with any other property manager as part of setting rental prices or generating rental pricing recommendations. As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed consent decree, along with the competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register. Any person may submit written comments concerning the proposed consent decree during a 60-day comment period to Chief, Technology and Digital Platforms Section, Antitrust Division, Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street NW, Suite 8600, Washington, D.C. 20530. At the conclusion of the 60-day comment period, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina may enter the final judgment upon finding it is in the public interest. Co-plaintiffs in the case are the Attorneys General of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington. Greystar is headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina; LivCor and Cushman & Wakefield (whose residential property management business formerly operated independently as Pinnacle) are headquartered in Chicago; Willow Bridge (formerly known as Lincoln Residential) is headquartered in Dallas; Camden is headquartered in Houston; and Cortland is headquartered in Atlanta. All manage multifamily apartment buildings; several own some or all of the properties under their management. ###


title: Justice Department Secures Third Settlement with a Non-Depository Mortgage Company to Resolve Redlining Claims in Miami

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that The Mortgage Firm, Inc. (The Mortgage Firm) agreed to pay $1.75 million to resolve allegations that it engaged in a pattern or practice of lending discrimination by redlining predominantly Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, Florida, Metropolitan Statistical Area (Miami MSA). Redlining is an illegal practice by which lenders avoid providing credit services to individuals living in communities of color because of the race, color or national origin of residents in those communities. “Non-depository institutions, including mortgage companies, are now originating a higher share of loans to homebuyers than banks and credit unions,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “With this trend comes the obligation to ensure full compliance with our federal laws that prohibit redlining. By denying predominantly Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in the greater Miami area access to credit, The Mortgage Firm violated the law, denied communities equal access to credit and exacerbated the racial wealth gap. This settlement will provide impacted communities in Miami with expanded access to homeownership, and makes clear that no matter the type of financial institution — bank, credit union or mortgage company — the department is committed to rooting out redlining across the country.” “Our efforts to protect everyone’s civil rights is never ending,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “The unlawful practice of lending discrimination is not merely a thing of the past, but persists in this country, to include within the Southern District of Florida. Our office is fully committed in ensuring that every person living in the Southern District of Florida, to include residents in predominantly Black and Hispanic neighborhoods, can achieve the American dream of building wealth through home ownership. We will continue to work with the Civil Rights Division to hold those lenders accountable who engage in unlawful discriminatory practices in our diverse district.” The Mortgage Firm is a non-depository mortgage company headquartered in Altamonte Springs, Florida. The complaint , filed today in the Southern District of Florida, alleges that The Mortgage Firm violated the Fair Housing Act and Equal Credit Opportunity Act by failing to provide equal access to mortgage lending services to majority- and high-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in the Miami MSA and discouraging people seeking credit in those communities from obtaining home loans. The Mortgage Firm located its offices in predominantly white neighborhoods and took inadequate steps to market to and develop referral networks within Black and Hispanic neighborhoods. As a result, The Mortgage Firm generated mortgage loan applications in predominantly Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in the Miami MSA at rates far below peer institutions. The proposed consent order , which awaits court approval, would require The Mortgage Firm to: Conduct a Community Credit Needs Assessment to identify the credit needs of residents of predominantly Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in the Miami MSA and to consider the results of that assessment to develop future loan programs, marketing campaigns and outreach efforts. Provide $1.75 million for a loan subsidy program to offer affordable home purchase, refinance and home improvement loans in predominantly Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in the Miami MSA. The program may provide lower interest rates, down payment assistance, closing cost assistance or payment of initial mortgage insurance premiums. Conduct a detailed assessment of its fair lending program in the Miami MSA, specifically as it relates to fair lending obligations and lending in predominantly Black and Hispanic neighborhoods. Enhance its fair lending training and staffing to ensure equal access to credit is provided across The Mortgage Firm’s market area, including by maintaining a Director of Community Lending. Expand its outreach and advertising efforts by maintaining an office location in a majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhood in Miami-Dade County, translating its website into Spanish and requiring all of its loan officers in the Miami MSA to engage in marketing to majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods. Bolster connections with the community and build referral sources in predominately Black and Hispanic neighborhoods by providing four outreach events per year, six financial education seminars per year and partnering with one or more community partner to increase access to credit in predominately Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in the Miami MSA. The Justice Department opened this investigation into The Mortgage Firm’s lending practices after receiving a referral from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. This settlement marks the Justice Department’s 16th redlining settlement under the Combating Redlining Initiative, and the third non-depository institution to reach a redlining settlement with the department. Non-depository lenders, which are not traditional banks and do not provide typical banking services, engage in mortgage lending and now make the majority of mortgages in this country. Under the Combating Redlining Initiative, the department has secured over $153 million in relief for communities of color that have been the victims of lending discrimination. This historic amount of relief is expected to generate over $1 billion in investment to address unequal access to credit in communities of color across the country. A copy of the complaint and proposed consent order, as well as information about the Justice Department’s fair lending enforcement work, can be found at www.justice.gov/fairhousing . Individuals may report lending discrimination by calling the Justice Department’s housing discrimination tip line at 1-833-591-0291 or submitting a report online .


title: El Departamento de Justicia llega a un tercer acuerdo con una empresa hipotecaria no depositaria para resolver las reclamaciones de exclusión financiera en Miami

body_text: El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que The Mortgage Firm, Inc. (The Mortgage Firm) acordó pagar $1.75 millones para resolver las alegaciones de que mantuvo un patrón o una práctica de discriminación en la concesión de préstamos mediante la exclusión financiera de vecindarios predominantemente negros e hispanos en el Área Estadística Metropolitana de Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, Florida (Miami MSA, por sus siglas en inglés). La exclusión financiera es una práctica ilegal mediante la cual los prestamistas evitan prestar servicios de crédito a personas que viven en comunidades de color debido a la raza, el color o el origen nacional de los residentes en esas comunidades. “Las instituciones no depositarias, incluidas las compañías hipotecarias, ahora están originando una mayor proporción de préstamos a compradores de viviendas que los bancos y las cooperativas de crédito. Con esta tendencia surge la obligación de garantizar el pleno cumplimiento de nuestras leyes federales que prohíben la segregación residencial. Al negar a los vecindarios predominantemente negros e hispanos en el área metropolitana de Miami el acceso al crédito, The Mortgage Firm violó la ley, negó a las comunidades el acceso igualitario al crédito y exacerbó la brecha racial de riqueza”, dijo la Fiscal General Adjunta Kristen Clarke de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. “Este acuerdo brindará a las comunidades afectadas en Miami mejor acceso a la propiedad de viviendas y deja en claro que, sin importar el tipo de institución financiera (banco, cooperativa de crédito o compañía hipotecaria), el Departamento está comprometido a erradicar la segregación residencial en todo el país”. “Nuestros esfuerzos por proteger los derechos civiles de todos son incesantes. La práctica ilegal de discriminación en los préstamos no es solo una cosa del pasado, sino que persiste en este país, incluso en el Distrito Sur de la Florida”, dijo el fiscal federal Markenzy Lapointe. “Nuestra oficina está totalmente comprometida a garantizar que todas las personas que viven en el Distrito Sur de la Florida, incluidos los residentes de vecindarios predominantemente negros e hispanos, puedan lograr el sueño americano de generar riqueza a través ser dueños de una vivienda. Seguiremos trabajando con la División de Derechos Civiles para exigir responsabilidades a los prestamistas que participan en prácticas discriminatorias ilegales en nuestro diverso distrito”. The Mortgage Firm es una empresa hipotecaria no depositaria con sede en Altamonte Springs, Florida. La demanda , presentada hoy en el Distrito Sur de la Florida, alega que The Mortgage Firm violó la ley de Vivienda Justa y la ley de Igualdad de Oportunidades de Crédito al no proporcionar igualdad de acceso a los servicios de préstamos hipotecarios en los vecindarios de mayoría y principalmente negros e hispanos en el área metropolitana de Miami y al disuadir a las personas que buscaban crédito en esas comunidades de obtener préstamos hipotecarios. The Mortgage Firm ubicó sus oficinas en vecindarios predominantemente blancos y tomó medidas inadecuadas para comercializar y desarrollar redes de referencia dentro de los vecindarios negros e hispanos. Como resultado, The Mortgage Firm generó solicitudes de préstamos hipotecarios en vecindarios predominantemente negros e hispanos en el área metropolitana de Miami en proporciones muy por debajo de las instituciones pares. La orden de consentimiento propuesta , que espera la aprobación del tribunal, obligaría a The Mortgage Firm a: Llevar a cabo una evaluación de las necesidades de crédito de la comunidad para identificar las necesidades de crédito de los residentes de los vecindarios predominantemente negros e hispanos del área metropolitana de Miami y tener en cuenta los resultados de dicha evaluación para desarrollar futuros programas de préstamos, campañas de marketing y esfuerzos de divulgación. Proporcionar $1.75 millones para un programa de subsidio de préstamos para ofrecer préstamos asequibles para la compra, refinanciación y mejora de viviendas en vecindarios predominantemente negros e hispanos en el área metropolitana de Miami. El programa puede ofrecer tasas de interés más bajas, ayuda para el pago inicial, ayuda para los costos de cierre o pago de las primas iniciales del seguro hipotecario. Llevar a cabo una evaluación detallada de su programa de préstamos justos en el área metropolitana de Miami, específicamente en lo que se refiere a las obligaciones de préstamos justos y préstamos en vecindarios predominantemente negros e hispanos. Mejorar su capacitación y dotación de personal en materia de préstamos justos para garantizar la igualdad de acceso al crédito en toda el área de mercado de The Mortgage Firm, incluyendo el mantenimiento de un director de préstamos comunitarios. Ampliar sus esfuerzos de divulgación y publicidad manteniendo una oficina en un vecindario de mayoría negra e hispana en el condado de Miami-Dade, traduciendo su sitio web al español y exigiendo a todos sus agentes de crédito en el área metropolitana de Miami que realicen actividades de marketing en los vecindarios de mayoría negra e hispana. Reforzar las conexiones con la comunidad y crear fuentes de referencia en los vecindarios predominantemente negros e hispanos ofreciendo cuatro eventos de divulgación al año, seis seminarios de educación financiera al año y asociándose con uno o más socios comunitarios para aumentar el acceso al crédito en los vecindarios predominantemente negros e hispanos del área metropolitana de Miami. El Departamento de Justicia inició esta investigación sobre las prácticas crediticias de The Mortgage Firm después de recibir una remisión de la Oficina para la Protección Financiera del Consumidor. Este acuerdo es el decimosexto acuerdo de exclusión financiera del Departamento de Justicia en el marco de la Iniciativa contra la Exclusión Financiera, y la tercera institución no depositaria que llega a un acuerdo con el Departamento al respecto. Los prestamistas no depositarios, que no son bancos tradicionales y no prestan servicios bancarios típicos, se dedican a los préstamos hipotecarios y actualmente conceden la mayoría de las hipotecas en este país. En el marco de la Iniciativa contra la Exclusión Financiera, el Departamento ha conseguido más de $153 millones en compensación para las comunidades de color que han sido víctimas de discriminación en la concesión de préstamos. Se espera que este monto histórico de compensación genere más de $1 billón en inversiones para hacer frente a la desigualdad de acceso al crédito en las comunidades de color de todo el país. Puede encontrar una copia de la demanda y de la orden de consentimiento propuesta, así como información sobre la aplicación de las leyes de préstamos justos del Departamento de Justicia en www.justice.gov/fairhousing . Las personas pueden denunciar la discriminación en materia de préstamos llamando a la línea informativa del Departamento de Justicia para discriminación en la vivienda al 1-833-591-0291, o entregando un informe en línea .


title: Georgia Man Guilty of Money Laundering Via Internet Scams

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that EMMANUEL UGBAJA (“UGBAJA”) , age 55, of Duluth, Georgia, pled guilty on January 7, 2025 before United States District Judge Darrel James Papillion to Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. Court records show that in 2018, two persons were victimized by two separate internet scams – one such Kansas-based scam involved a victim sending money to an unknown co-conspirator posing as a love interest, during a “romance scam” and the other California-based scam involved a victim sending money to a person posing as an attorney during an “inheritance scam.” At the direction of the co-conspirators, the victims sent the funds to a bank account controlled by UGBAJA . UGBAJA retained a portion of the funds for himself and then sent the remaining victim funds totaling $60,000, to a local maritime broker as partial down payment for an unrelated vessel. Sentencing is set for April 8, 2025. At that time, the defendant faces up to five (5) years of imprisonment. Upon release from prison, the defendant up to three (3) years of supervised release and up to a $250,000.00 fine, or twice the gross gain to the defendant of twice the gross loss to any victim. The defendant also faces payment of a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. This indictment is part of an ongoing national effort by the Department of Justice to address online fraud schemes often based overseas that target U.S. citizens. The public is encouraged to report potential online fraud activity or scams to the Federal Bureau of Investigation at https://www.ic3.gov/ . The United States Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera of the Financial Crimes Unit. * * *


title: Jefferson County man sentenced for drug trafficking in Eastern District of Texas

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: BEAUMONT, Texas – A Beaumont man has been sentenced for drug trafficking in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. Francisco Manuel Magdaleno, 41, was convicted at trial of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Magdaleno was sentenced to 265 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on January 7, 2025. According to information presented in court, from February 2019 through May 2022, Magdaleno was involved in a conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine from Michoacán, Mexico, through Beaumont, Texas, and into areas throughout the United States. More than 20 known co-conspirators were a part of the conspiracy that included the Magdaleno drug trafficking organization. The investigation revealed that Magdaleno played a central role in obtaining more than ten thousand grams of methamphetamine and distributing that methamphetamine to areas throughout Texas, Louisiana and Florida. Evidence obtained at trial revealed that Magdaleno was also a multi-kilogram distributor of cocaine. This is an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) case. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Beaumont HIDTA Task Force, Beaumont Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety-CID, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and Chambers County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Lee and Rachel Grove. ###


title: Ohio Woman Sentenced to Prison for Selling Nearly $300,000 in U.S. Treasury Bonds Stolen from Elderly Victim

component: USAO - Ohio, Northern

body_text: CLEVELAND – A Cleveland woman has been sentenced to 32 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to transport and sell stolen U.S. Treasury bonds across state lines, forging treasury bonds, and using a false social security number. According to court documents, Toni Laverne Smith, 71, had in her possession, U.S. Treasury bonds that were believed to have been stolen from the residence of an elderly female in 2011. The investigation discovered that from about September 2011 to April 2012, Smith and a co-conspirator transported U.S. Treasury bonds, which they knew were stolen, across state lines. They used fake identification cards with the name of the victim to negotiate the sale of more than 350 forged Series E and EE, U.S. Treasury bonds with a face value of $268,500. The sale netted approximately $299,364 in proceeds which included interest on mature bonds. Additionally, they used the social security number of the victim to open bank accounts at several financial institutions as far away as Michigan and Illinois. Smith had eluded capture for more than a decade. Federal authorities apprehended Smith June 3, 2024, on unrelated charges. This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vanessa Healy for the Northern District of Ohio. To report stolen treasury bonds, visit https://www.treasurydirect.gov/savings-bonds/manage-bonds/lost-stolen-destroyed-ee-or-i-bonds/ or call 844-284-2676.


title: Pharmacy Owner Sentenced to Imprisonment for Health Care Fraud

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: ABINGDON, Va. – The owner of Randy’s Gateway Drug in Cedar Bluff, Virginia, was sentenced recently to 18 months in prison on federal healthcare fraud charges after pleading guilty in May for conduct that caused $1.3 million in losses to the federal government. Randy Yost, 72, of Cedar Bluff, Virginia, pled guilty in May 2024 to one count of healthcare fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, and one count of distributing oxycodone. According to court documents, Yost owned Randy’s Gateway Drug, a participating provider of Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare. Between April 2016 and June 2023, Yost, and others, dispensed cheaper generic medications for Schedule II drugs such as Oxycontin to customers, yet billed the government healthcare benefits programs for the more expensive brand name medications. In addition, Yost billed the government healthcare benefits programs and other insurance companies for prescription medications that were not dispensed to patients. Yost also billed for prescription medications that were dispensed to patients and then returned to the pharmacy by those same patients, but the charge to the government healthcare benefits programs was not reversed. Instead, the returned medications were dispensed again and billed a second time. In February 2023 and February 2024, a government analysis comparing medications ordered by Randy’s Gateway Drug’s billed to government healthcare benefits programs was completed. That analysis showed an adjusted loss to the government of $1,309,515. As a result, Yost was ordered to pay restitution in the amounts of $1,035,279.44, to Medicare, $271,274.03 to Virginia Medicaid, and $2,961.75 to TriCare. Acting United States Attorney Zachary T. Lee, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Washington Division Jarod Forget, and Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares made the announcement.. The Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services- Office of Inspector General, Virginia Office of the Attorney General- Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Service- Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Special Assistant United States Attorney and Virginia Assistant Attorney General Janine Myatt and Assistant U.S. Attorney Danielle Stone prosecuted the case.


title: Burlington, Vermont Man Sentenced to 2 Years in Attempted Drug Trafficking Case

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on January 7, 2025, Raul Velez, 55, of Burlington, Vermont, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mae D’Agostino to a term of 24 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Velez previously pleaded guilty to attempted possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. According to court records, in March 2024, Velez arranged to obtain more than 1,000 grams of cocaine via the U.S. Mail. The package containing that cocaine, which was addressed to Velez at a hotel in Shelburne, Vermont, was intercepted by law enforcement. Investigators then coordinated a controlled delivery of the parcel, which did not contain any cocaine, to Velez on March 7, 2024. Following that delivery, Velez obtained the parcel from his hotel room in Shelburne. Velez intended to distribute the cocaine that he thought was inside of the package, which was roughly one kilogram in total weight. United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Shelburne Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Barbara Masterson and Zachary Stendig. Velez was represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Emily Kenyon.


title: Hartford Man Sentenced to 69 Months in Prison for Possessing Gun and Drugs While on Supervised Release

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that STANDFORD SMITH, also known as “Pops,” 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 69 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for narcotics distribution and firearm possession offenses, and for violating his conditions of supervised release that followed a prior federal conviction. According to court documents and statements made in court, in March 2021, Smith was sentenced in Hartford federal court to 55 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for his role in a gun trafficking ring and for distributing crack cocaine. He was released from prison in February 2022. On June 2, 2023, Hartford Police arrested Smith in the parking lot of a motel on West Service Road in Hartford. Smith possessed a loaded Ruger LCP Max .380 caliber firearm in his pants pocket, and a search of his vehicle revealed more than 30 fentanyl pills, approximately 23 grams of crack cocaine, and a digital scale. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce. Smith has been detained since his arrest. On July 9, 2024, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Judge Thompson sentenced Smith to 57 months of imprisonment for the narcotics and firearm offenses, and a consecutive 12 months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release. This investigation was conducted by the Hartford Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Stolfi Collins. 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 gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Justice Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn .


title: Richland County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Unlawful Firearm Possession

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Joseph Nayquan Kelly, 30, of Eastover, was sentenced to more than six years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Evidence presented to the court showed that on Dec. 28, 2021, Richland County Sheriff’s Department deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a license plate that came back to another type of vehicle. Kelly was a passenger in the vehicle. During that traffic stop, deputies smelled the odor of marijuana and the driver of the vehicle admitted there was a small amount of marijuana in the car. Deputies searched the vehicle and found approximately 1 pound of marijuana in a shoebox alongside a 9mm pistol with an extended magazine that had been reported stolen. Kelly claimed ownership of that pistol and the marijuana. The court ultimately held him responsible for possession of several other pistols as well as for a reckless vehicle pursuit in other incidents. Kelly is convicted felon and is unable to lawfully possess firearms or ammunition. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Smith to 78 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. Notably, Kelly was a prior participant in the City of Columbia’s Project Ceasefire initiative, which works to put at-risk probationers in connection with a variety of social service providers in and around Columbia with the goal of preventing recidivism but also stresses that consequences will be more significant if they choose to re-offend. Kelly’s sentence in this case is more than double the length of his longest previous sentence. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and the Columbia Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew R. Sanford is prosecuting the case. ###


title: U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young Announces the Appointment of the Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, Internal Transfers, and the Creation of an External Engagement Division

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – United States Attorney Jane E. Young announces the appointment of Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) John Kennedy as the Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division, the internal transfers of AUSA Kasey Weiland to the Civil Division and AUSA Matthew Vicinanzo to the Criminal Division, and the creation of an External Engagement Division at the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire. AUSA John Kennedy has been appointed as the Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division. He has more than a decade of experience as a prosecutor in New Hampshire, as an Assistant United States Attorney and as an Assistant Attorney General. In these roles, AUSA Kennedy has led investigations in connection to a variety of federal and state crimes, including homicides, voter fraud and public integrity crimes, drug and firearm crimes, and complex financial fraud. He is a graduate of Notre Dame Law School. “John is a veteran prosecutor whose broad legal knowledge and trial skills will assist in leading the Criminal Division,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “He is an exceptional attorney that has tackled a variety of challenging cases. His hard work and unwavering pursuit of justice for crime victims have earned him the respect of his colleagues and law enforcement partners.” AUSA Kasey Weiland has transferred to the Civil Division and AUSA Matthew Vicinanzo has transferred to the Criminal Division. AUSA Kasey Weiland has had a notable career at the U.S. Department of Justice, prosecuting some of the most egregious crimes targeting children in the District of New Hampshire and the Western District of Tennessee. AUSA Matthew Vicinanzo joined the United States Attorney’s Office in 2023 from private practice as an AUSA dedicated to civil and criminal Civil Rights matters. “Kasey will bring her legal acumen to her civil litigation portfolio, while Matt will bring his broad investigatory skills to his criminal portfolio,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “I am confident that both Kasey and Matt will continue to thrive in their new positions.” Additionally, U.S. Attorney Young announces the creation of an External Engagement Division and has appointed Jessica Kuron to lead the division. During U.S. Attorney Young’s tenure, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has been focused on strengthening and expanding law enforcement partnerships, community outreach efforts, and accessibility to public information. Since May 2022, among other actions, the U.S. Attorney’s Office utilized federal programs and national expertise to offer 18 law enforcement trainings at no-cost to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and police departments across the district. These trainings focused on honing New Hampshire law enforcement’s understanding of legal, investigative, and effective community policing topics, including trainings on Miranda warnings, dark web investigations, pre-indicators of violent assault, suicide prevention for all layers of law enforcement, and best practices for engaging with faith-based communities. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has also become a leader in addressing emerging public safety concerns, such as elder fraud and scams, bank fraud, and hate crimes, by participating in more than 30 community awareness events. The External Engagement Division will allow the U.S. Attorney’s Office to expand its external engagement footprint to include supporting victims in federal cases. The division aims to bridge the gap between the office’s prosecution function and impact of the underlying crimes on communities by offering additional services. With additional resources, the division will expand the office’s training program as well as partnerships for grant funding. The External Engagement Division will also oversee a new student program focused on providing federal government work experience to undergraduate students studying criminal justice, political science, and communications. The student program will allow the office to expand engagement to colleges and universities in the Granite State and allow staff to provide mentorship to the next generation of public servants. “Since May 2022, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has prioritized strengthening partnerships with law enforcement, the media, and communities throughout New Hampshire. We have focused our efforts on enhancing access to this office and amplifying visibility into the great work performed here every day. The creation of an External Engagement Division will enable the U.S. Attorney’s Office to continue expanding its services to the public and our partners throughout the Granite State in the years ahead,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “The positive impact that this office has had on engagement with our law enforcement and community partners is in large part due to the tireless efforts of Jess Kuron. I know that the External Engagement Division will continue to flourish under Jess’s tutelage.” As Chief of the External Engagement Division, Ms. Kuron will continue to serve as an advisor to the U.S. Attorney, as the office’s spokesperson, and as the liaison for law enforcement in the District of New Hampshire. She will also lead a team of professional and support staff focused on advocating for victims of federal crimes, coordinating witnesses for trials, supporting members of the public in contact with the office, and with trainings and community outreach. Positions in the External Engagement Division are vacant. Job solicitations will be posted on USAJobs.gov and on the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire’s LinkedIn page as they become available at www.linkedin.com/company/usao-nh . ###


title: Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison for  Role in Massachusetts-Based Drug Trafficking Organization

body_text: CONCORD – A Massachusetts man was sentenced today in federal court for his role in an organization trafficking drugs into New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Osvaldo Soto Jimenez, age 30, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliott to 46 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release. In August 2024, Soto Jimenez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. He is the eighth of 21 charged defendants in the drug trafficking organization to be sentenced. “As the manager of the dispatch operation that arranged the purchases and deliveries of fentanyl and cocaine, the defendant enabled this organization to traffic dangerous narcotics from Massachusetts and into our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “The defendant will now face the consequences of his criminal conduct by serving 46 months in federal prison. Other drug traffickers should be on notice that they will face the same consequences if they dare to traffic poison into our communities.” “Osvaldo Soto Jimenez took part in a conspiracy led by his father that saw vast amounts of deadly fentanyl and cocaine brought here to Manchester, with no regard for the harm he caused in this community,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “Today’s sentence is a win for the FBI and all our partners as we work together to get dangerous drugs and criminals off the street.” “Fentanyl and cocaine are causing tremendous damage to our communities in New Hampshire,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Stephen Belleau, New England Field Division. “Those who distribute these drugs are endangering the safety of the citizens of the Granite State. The DEA will continue to work each day alongside our law enforcement partners to identify and investigate those who are responsible for distributing deadly drugs.” The defendant was part of a Massachusetts-based drug trafficking organization that was distributing significant quantities of fentanyl and cocaine in New Hampshire, primarily in Manchester. The organization used a dispatch operation to sell drugs. Customers called a phone line to purchase narcotics, where they would speak to the defendant. The defendant would then send a runner to conduct the drug sale at an arranged meeting location. The defendant arranged runners to conduct these drug sales on three occasions and personally delivered drugs himself on two other occasions. A search of the defendant’s shared Massachusetts-based residence yielded approximately $15,000 and drug ledgers in his bedroom, and firearms in a common area. A search of a vehicle used by the defendant yielded roughly 94 grams of fentanyl and 196 grams of crack cocaine packaged in small baggies for distribution. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Gingrande and Jarad Hodes are prosecuting the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . ###


title: Bridgeport Felon Sentenced to 70 Months in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearms

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SHACQUILLE JACKSON, 31, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 70 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing firearms. According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 18, 2023, law enforcement spotted Jackson, who had an outstanding arrest warrant for a domestic violence incident, driving a car with license plates from another vehicle. After stopping, Jackson ran from the car with a gun in his hand. Officers apprehended Jackson and seized the handgun, which he had dropped. A search of Jackson’s person revealed approximately 87 grams of cocaine, 19 grams of crack cocaine, and $1,167 in cash, and a search of Jackson’s car revealed a semi-automatic handgun, an extended magazine loaded with 18 rounds of ammunition, and a digital scale. Jackson’s criminal history includes felony convictions in Connecticut for firearm, narcotics, robbery, burglary, and larceny offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce. Jackson has been detained since his arrest. On September 18, 2024, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of firearms by a felon. This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Bridgeport Police Department, and the Fairfield County Auto Theft Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Gresham through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Justice Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn .


title: Galt Big Game Hunter Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Smuggle an Endangered Ladakh Urial Trophy into the United States

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO , Calif. — Jason Keith Bruce, 51, of Galt pleaded guilty today to conspiring to smuggle an endangered Ladakh urial trophy into the United States, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. The Ladakh urial is an endangered species of wild sheep that lives in the mountains of Ladakh, a region of India and Pakistan. According to court documents, Bruce was a recreational big game hunter and co-defendant Pir Danish Ali 45, of Pakistan, was the CEO of a hunting outfitter and guide company based in Pakistan. Bruce hunted as a client of Pir’s company, and they conspired to hunt an endangered Ladakh urial in Pakistan. Bruce and Pir then conspired to smuggle the resulting trophy into the United States in 2018 by declaring it as a different species to Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and by presenting forged documents purporting to be issued by Pakistani authorities. After the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service detained the trophy, Bruce and Pir agreed with each other to lie and did in fact lie to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Further investigation revealed that numerous other documents presented by hunters who had hunted with Pir’s company to import trophies into the United States were also forged. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has identified at least 97 trophies brought into the United States pursuant to fraudulent documents by at least 25 hunters who all hunted with Pir’s company between 2013 and 2018. This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Katherine T. Lydon and Whitnee Goins are prosecuting the case. Bruce is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez on May 20, 2025. Bruce faces a maximum statutory penalty of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will 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 against Pir are only allegations, and he is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: Repeat Sex Offender Sentenced to 16 Years for Receiving Child Pornography

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Joshua Sherwood, 34, of Arpin, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 195 months in federal prison for receiving child pornography. This term of imprisonment will be followed by 25 years of supervised release. Sherwood pleaded guilty to this charge on November 4, 2024. Shortly after being released from state prison for possessing child pornography, Sherwood began reaching out to minor girls across the country, manipulating them into producing sexually explicit images for him by sending them money and items from their Amazon wish lists. When the girls refused to send him additional explicit images, he threatened to either send the images he had to the victims’ parents or to kill himself. In choosing a 16-year sentence, Judge Conley observed that Sherwood was willing to directly exploit his young victims, seemingly enjoying the manipulation. Judge Conley saw no awareness from the defendant of the damage that he regularly caused and noted that Sherwood’s descent was so far, it will be difficult to change. The charge against Sherwood was the result of an investigation conducted by the Smyrna, Tennessee Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Marshfield Police Department, the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, and the New Lisbon Correctional Institution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman prosecuted this case. This investigation was a part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: New London Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking Offense, Violating Supervised Release

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CRUZ J. BONILLA, 41, of New London, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to approximately 52 months of imprisonment, time already served, and six years of supervised release, the first six months of which Bonilla must serve in home detention, for trafficking narcotics and for violating his conditions of supervised release that followed a prior federal conviction. According to court documents and statements made in court, in February 2014, Bonilla was sentenced in New Haven federal court to 68 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release for distributing heroin. He was released from federal prison in October 2019. On four occasions between March and May 2020, an undercover law enforcement officer purchased heroin/fentanyl from Bonilla. During the investigation, law enforcement identified William Caraballo III, also known as “Wilo,” as Bonilla’s drug supplier and learned that Caraballo regularly transported kilogram quantities of heroin/fentanyl from New York to southeastern Connecticut for distribution. Bonilla has been detained since his federal arrest on August 26, 2020. On July 30, 2024, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, a controlled substance. Caraballo pleaded guilty to a related charge and, on December 12, 2024, was sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment. This investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Connecticut State Police, and the Connecticut Statewide Narcotics Taskforce East. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Konstantin Lantsman and Natasha M. Freismuth.


title: Charlotte Jury Convicts Armed Bank Robber

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte jury returned a guilty verdict today against Kendall Charles Alexander, Sr., 60, of Baltimore, Maryland, for the armed robbery of a Bank of America branch, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in North Carolina, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department, join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. According to filed court documents and evidence presented at trial, on October 15, 2021, at approximately 10 a.m., Alexander and his co-defendant, Derrius Fleming, robbed at gunpoint the Bank of America branch located at 212 Iverson Way in the Southend area of Charlotte. Trial evidence established that Alexander entered the bank holding a loaded semi-automatic rifle. Fleming went directly to an unarmed security guard at the corner of the building and forced her inside at gunpoint with his loaded semi-automatic rifle. Once inside, Alexander and Fleming threatened to kill the employees and customers if they did not comply with their demands. The victims were ordered to the ground and Alexander ordered the manager to open the vault room and the vault. Alexander loaded a bag with the money from the vault while Fleming kept watch over the victims. According to trial evidence, using GPS tracking, law enforcement tracked Alexander and Fleming who had met up with a third individual. Alexander and Fleming attempted to burn their getaway car and got into the car with the third man. Ultimately, the robbers crashed that vehicle, at which point Alexander and Fleming fled on foot across I-77. All of the stolen money was recovered from a bag dropped by Alexander. The jury convicted Alexander of armed bank robbery with forced accompaniment, brandishing a rifle, including a short-barreled rifle, in furtherance of a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Alexander has prior convictions for attempted murder of a federal officer, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, possession and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, and armed bank robbery. He was also on federal supervised release for committing a bank robbery in Maryland. Because of his violent criminal history, Alexander faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison. Alexander will remain in federal custody pending sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set. Fleming has pleaded guilty to brandishing a short-barreled rifle in furtherance of a crime of violence and been sentenced to ten years in prison. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI and CMPD for their investigation of the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erik Lindahl and David Kelly are 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.


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

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


title: El Departamento de Justicia entabla un pleito de derechos electorales contra la ciudad de Hazleton, Pennsylvania

body_text: El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que ha radicado una demanda contra la ciudad de Hazleton, Pennsylvania, para impugnar el sistema electoral por acumulación en el cual los votantes de toda la ciudad eligen a los miembros del Consejo Municipal. La demanda alega que actualmente el sistema electoral por acumulación para la elección de los miembros del Consejo Municipal tiene como resultado el que los ciudadanos hispanos tengan una menor oportunidad de participar en el proceso electoral y de elegir a los candidatos de su elección, en violación a la sección 2 de la Ley de Derechos Electorales. Los ciudadanos hispanos con edad para votar constituyen más del 40% del electorado de la ciudad. Candidatos preferidos por los votantes hispanos se han postulado para escaños en el Consejo Municipal pero habitualmente pierden, a pesar de la considerable población de hispanos en la ciudad. “La Ley de Derechos Electorales es una importante herramienta para asegurar que los ciudadanos insuficientemente representados tengan igualdad de oportunidades de escoger a sus funcionarios públicos,” afirmó Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. “El Departamento de Justicia está comprometido con asegurar que todos los ciudadanos tengan igualdad de oportunidades para participar en el proceso democrático y elegir a los candidatos de su elección. Esperamos con interés trabajar junto a los funcionarios para alcanzar una unión más perfecta y lograr que Hazleton cumpla con sus obligaciones bajo la Ley de Derechos Electorales.” “La comunidad hispana es una creciente e importante población de la ciudad de Hazleton, y sus ciudadanos deben tener la habilidad de escoger candidatos que representen sus intereses,” declaró Gerard M. Karam, el Fiscal Federal para el Distrito Central de Pennsylvania. “Esta demanda demuestra el compromiso de mi oficina de colaborar con el Departamento de Justicia para hacer cumplir las leyes de derechos civiles, tal como la Ley de Derechos Electorales.” La demanda, radicada en el Tribunal Federal de Distrito para el Distrito Central de Pennsylvania, alega que cambiar el sistema electoral puede crear oportunidades para que los votantes hispanos elijan candidatos de su elección al Consejo Municipal de Hazleton. Por ejemplo, al elegir miembros del Consejo Municipal “por distrito” de un solo miembro cada uno, los votantes hispanos tendrían la oportunidad de elegir al menos dos de los cinco miembros del Consejo Municipal. La demanda solicita una orden judicial federal para implementar un nuevo sistema electoral para el Consejo Municipal de Hazleton. La Sección de Votación de la División de Derechos Civiles, junto con las Oficinas de los Fiscales Federales, vela por el cumplimiento de las leyes federales civiles que protegen el derecho al voto, incluyendo la Ley de Derechos Electorales, la Ley Nacional de Inscripción de Votantes, la Ley Ayudemos a Estados Unidos a Votar, las Leyes de Derechos Civiles, y la Ley de Votación para los Uniformados y los Ciudadanos en el Extranjero. Información adicional sobre la votación y las elecciones está disponible en www.justice.gov/crt/voting/ y Vote.gov en Español . Aprenda más sobre la Ley de Derechos Electorales y otras leyes federales electorales en www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section . Denuncias relacionadas a posibles vulneraciones de las leyes federales de derechos electorales pueden presentarse mediate el formulario en línea de la División de Derechos Civiles en https://civilrights.justice.gov/ o por teléfono al (800) 253-3931.


title: Hogansburg Man Sentenced to More than Five Years in Prison for Federal Drug and Firearm Crimes

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Joseph Thompson, age 38, of Hogansburg, New York, was sentenced on December 19, 2024, to 66 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), New York Field Division, made the announcement. As part of his guilty plea, Thompson admitted that in June 2023, he arranged to meet another individual at a parking lot in Massena, NY, for the purpose of selling marijuana in exchange for firearms. Thompson admitted that he gave the individual approximately 18 pounds of marijuana in exchange for 7 semiautomatic pistols and ammunition magazines. Thompson was arrested immediately after the transaction. Thompson was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release following his release from prison. ATF investigated the case, with assistance from Quebec Provincial Police, St. Regis Tribal Police, New York State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, Massena Police Department, and U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. McCrobie prosecuted the case


title: Jefferson County Business Owner Indicted for Felony Tax Fraud

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Barbara DeYear, age 67, of Lorraine, New York, has been charged by indictment with 13 counts of tax fraud. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Harry Chavis, Jr., Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), made the announcement. The indictment alleges that DeYear is the co-owner and president of Independent Commercial Contractors, Inc., a Jefferson County-based corporation that does construction, demolition, and asbestos removal work, and that she withheld more than $135,000 in employment taxes from her employees’ paychecks between 2019 and 2022 and failed to pay those withholdings to the IRS as required by law. The indictment further alleges that DeYear failed to file quarterly tax returns on behalf of Independent Commercial Contractors from 2015 through 2022 but that during the COVID-19 pandemic she applied for a federally backed Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan and submitted a fraudulent “file copy” of two tax returns purporting to show tax payments on behalf of the corporation, when neither the tax returns nor the payments were sent to the IRS. The felony charges filed against DeYear carry a maximum sentence of 5 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 per count, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. DeYear was arraigned today in Binghamton, New York, before United States Magistrate Judge Miroslav Lovric, and she was released pending a trial that will be scheduled later this year before Senior United States District Court Judge David N. Hurd in Utica, New York. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. IRS-CI is investigating the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Perry is prosecuting the case.


title: Ada Resident Sentenced For Assaulting Tribal Officer

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Curtis Ray McClendon, III, age 41, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to Do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. The charge arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department, and the Ardmore Police Department. On June 7, 2024, McClendon pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on November 6, 2023, McClendon struck a Chickasaw Lighthorse officer multiple times on the head with a flashlight, causing lacerations. The crime occurred in Pontotoc County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. McClendon will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.


title: Durant Resident Pleads Guilty To Federal Firearm Charge

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

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Henry Tyler Allen, age 34, of Durant, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. The Indictment alleged that on September 24, 2024, Allen possessed a 9mm semi-automatic pistol which had been shipped and transported in interstate commerce, after having been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year. The charge arose from investigations by the Durant Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Allen was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.