title: Long Beach Man Found Guilty of Federal Charges for Bombing of Aliso Viejo Spa That Killed Ex-Girlfriend and Severely Injured 2 Others

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A federal jury today found a Long Beach man guilty of building and planting a package bomb that detonated inside an Aliso Viejo day spa in May 2018, killing his ex-girlfriend, causing serious injuries to two spa clients, and damaging a commercial office building. Stephen William Beal, 64, was found guilty of four felony counts: use of a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death, malicious destruction of a building resulting in death, use of a destructive device during and in relation to a crime of violence, and possession of an unregistered destructive device. United States District Judge Josephine L. Staton scheduled a November 17 sentencing hearing, at which time Beal will face a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment, and a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in federal prison. “Using his expertise in explosives, Mr. Beal cowardly murdered his former girlfriend, permanently injured two other victims who were her customers, and risked the safety of many others in the area, including a day-care center across the street” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Thanks to the thorough investigation by the FBI, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Orange County Fire Department, and other law enforcement partners, I am pleased the jury saw through Mr. Beal’s efforts to avoid responsibility for his deplorable actions.” “Hard work and a commitment to finding the truth about this despicable act paid off today,” said Donald Alway, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “We are gratified that the jury’s verdict led to justice for Ildiko Krajnyak and Beal’s two surviving victims, who will endure the horror and pain of that awful day for the rest of their lives. This day is for them, their families and for the Aliso Viejo community.” “I am thankful for the painstaking work of our investigators, hazardous devices team, and our federal partners working together to provide justice for Ms. Krajnyak’s family,” said Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes. “While a verdict will not lessen the pain of their loss, nor take away the suffering of the two additional victims inside the spa when the bomb exploded, we hope they know that we never stopped investigating this shocking act of violence. Rest assured, the community is safer with today’s decision.” According to the evidence presented at a three-week trial, a bomb exploded at a commercial office building in Aliso Viejo at approximately 1:05 p.m. on May 15, 2018. The explosion instantly killed 48-year-old Ildiko Krajnyak – who owned Magyar Kozmetika, a day spa located in the office building – and permanently injured two of her clients, a mother and her daughter. One of the surviving victims testified at trial that she saw Krajnyak standing behind her desk opening a cardboard box immediately before the massive explosion. The surviving victim pulled her mother from the rubble and together they escaped the burning building through a blown-out wall. The evidence at trial showed that Beal became obsessed with Krajnyak after she attempted to distance herself from him following an 18-month romantic relationship. Krajnyak’s family and associates testified that Beal was controlling and possessive, and some said they feared for her safety. During a search of Beal’s residence the day after the explosion, law enforcement found more than 130 pounds of explosive precursor chemicals and completed explosive mixtures, as well as electric matches and wires. Beal had years of experience building high-powered model rockets and homemade pyrotechnics, and laboratory testing determined that the explosive mixture Beal used in the bomb came from the same chemicals he had at his home, The FBI’s Evidence Response Team spent more than two weeks collecting and processing evidence from the scene of the bombing. The FBI recovered parts of a 9-volt battery and wire fragments that were embedded in the ceiling above the blast site. The wires used in the bomb’s fusing system were of the same unique type as electric matches and wires found at Beal’s home. Beal purchased the remaining items he needed to complete the bomb just days before the bombing. Store security camera footage showed Beal using cash to buy a single 9-volt battery six days before the bombing. Beal also purchased three cardboard boxes that matched the particular size and shape of the box the surviving victim testified Krajnyak opened at the moment the bomb exploded. Beal kept tabs on Krajnyak before the bombing, checking her online schedule and social media accounts, according to evidence presented to the jury. Security camera footage and cellular locational data showed that Beal, who had a key to the business, visited the spa on multiple occasions before the bombing while Krajnyak was out of the country. Beal left the package bomb for Krajnyak to open upon her return. In a separate case, Beal is scheduled to go on trial on November 14 on federal fraud charges alleging he failed to report in a bankruptcy proceeding $350,000 he received from his late wife’s estate. Beal also allegedly schemed to fraudulently obtain insurance benefits and Social Security payments. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes special agents with the FBI and deputies with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, investigated this matter. Task Force members who participated in the investigation included IRS Criminal Investigation; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Homeland Security Investigations; the Los Angeles Police Department; the Irvine Police Department; the Anaheim Police Department; and the Orange County Fire Authority. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the California Highway Patrol, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Santa Ana Police Department, the Newport Beach Police Department and the Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center provided assistance. The Justice Department’s National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section, the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the FBI Legal Attaché in Thailand, the United States Department of State, and the U.S. Consulate in Vietnam provided valuable assistance. United States Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations provided substantial assistance. Assistant United States Attorney Annamartine Salick, Chief of the National Security Division, along with Assistant United States Attorneys Mark Takla, Solomon Kim and Sarah Gerdes, all of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section, are prosecuting this case.


title: Lawrence Man Sentenced For Conspiracy to Steal  Firearms From New Hampshire Gun Stores

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A Lawrence man was sentenced in federal court in Concord for conspiring to steal firearms from three different New Hampshire gun stores, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. William Mejia, 20, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliot to 30 months in prison and 2 years of supervised release. Mejia was also ordered to pay $23,915.02 in restitution. Mejia and his two co-defendants, Johariel Quezada and Ethan Ayala, were indicted on June 13, 2022. On March 29, 2023, Mejia pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal firearms from a federal firearms licensee. “The defendant and his confederates traveled to New Hampshire multiple times for one purpose – to steal 43 firearms. Such brazen behavior poses risks to our communities and will simply not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “As is apparent from this investigation, law enforcement will continue to work together to ensure that those who target federal firearm licensees will be caught, prosecuted, and incarcerated for lengthy periods upon conviction.” “ATF works closely with our law enforcement partners as well as Federal Firearms Licensees to ensure firearms that are stolen and diverted into the community to further criminal activity, are held accountable for their actions. This sentence illustrates ATF’s abiding commitment to justice,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge James Ferguson. Between August 29, 2021 and October 4, 2021, Mejia conspired with others to steal firearms from three New Hampshire Federal Firearms Licensees. Throughout the conspiracy, 43 firearms were stolen from Milford Firearms in Milford, Second Amendment Arms in Windham, and MacPherson Firearms in Brentwood. Multiple stolen firearms were recovered from a co-defendant’s residence, including one with Mejia’s fingerprints on it. Videos recovered from a co-defendant’s phone as well as from social media showed numerous stolen firearms and admissions of Mejia’s involvement in the conspiracy. Mejia’s codefendant, Johariel Quezada, was sentenced to 24 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release on May 12, 2023. Ethan Ayala is scheduled to be sentenced on April 15, 2024. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Andover Police Department, the Brentwood Police Department, the Haverhill Police Department, the Lawrence Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office, the Salem Police Department, the Somersworth Police Department, the Saugus Police Department, the Wellesley Police Department, and the Windham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Kennedy prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities; supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place; setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities; and measuring the results. ###


title: Onondaga County Man Sentenced to a Total of 57 Months for Failing to Update His Sex Offender Registration and Absconding from Supervision on His Underlying Sex Offense

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Douglas Gustafson, age 36, of Syracuse, was sentenced in federal court today for failing to register and update his registration as a sex offender after absconding from a halfway house where he had been living as a part of his conditions of federal supervision. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and David L. McNulty, United States Marshal for the Northern District of New York, made the announcement. Gustafson was required to register as a sex offender because of a federal conviction in 2008 for recruiting and enticing a fourteen-year-old minor to engage in a commercial sex act. He was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for that offense. Following his release from prison in 2016 Gustafson was placed on 10 years supervised release. As a convicted sex offender he is required to register with the New York State Sex Offender Registry and to update any changes, including any change in residence. Gustafson’s last registered address was a halfway house where he was living as a part of his court-ordered supervised release. He admitted in his earlier guilty plea that in May of 2022 he absconded from that facility within weeks of being placed there and did not update his change of residence with the Sex Offender Registry as required by law. Gustafson was located by the United States Marshal NY/NJ Regional Task Force a month later in Cazenovia, NY, and arrested. For the crime of failing to update his sex offender registration, District Judge David N. Hurd sentenced Gustafson to 33 months in prison. For violating the terms and conditions of his supervised release, he sentenced Gustafson to an additional (consecutive) term of 24 months in prison, for a total of 57 months. When released, Gustafson will serve another 10 years on supervised release. Under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, Gustafson is obligated to register as a sex offender for 25 years, exclusive of time spent incarcerated. This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lisa M. Fletcher as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on April 10, 2023. Steven Flood, age 38, was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Flood was indicted by a federal grand jury in November of 2022. He pleaded guilty on January 17, 2023. The conviction stems from Flood failing to register as a sex offender as required by federal law between June 15, 2022, and August 4, 2022. Flood had previously been convicted of a sex offense in federal court which requires him to register for the rest of his life. This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . Flood was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Sturgis Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken sentenced a Sturgis, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. Todd Deutsch, 55, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Deutsch was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance by a federal grand jury in October of 2020. He was found guilty following a jury trial on January 13, 2023. During the conspiracy, Deutsch conspired with multiple other persons in western South Dakota, to obtain large volumes of methamphetamine from places like California, Nevada, and Colorado, and then worked with his co-conspirators to distribute the methamphetamine within the District of South Dakota, primarily in the Black Hills area. This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET) and the Drug Enforcement Agency. UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gina S. Nelson and Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case. Deutsch was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Belle Fourche Man Sentenced to Probation

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Belle Fourche, South Dakota, man convicted of Concealment of an Event Affecting Title II Disability Entitlement. The sentencing took place on July 17, 2023. Kevin Dodd Eisele, 60, was sentenced to one year of probation, ordered to pay $1,652.90 in restitution, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Eisele was indicted for Theft of Government Funds and Concealment of an Event Affecting Title II Disability Entitlement by a federal grand jury in March of 2022. He pleaded guilty on March 3, 2023. The conviction stemmed from between July of 2020 and June of 2021, when Eisele knowingly failed to disclose a change in his household resources in order to continue receiving and spending his SSI benefits. This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case.


title: Platte Woman Sentenced for Drug Trafficking

body_text: RAPID CITY- United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Platte, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on July 17, 2023. Vonda Hand, 67, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Hand was indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) by a federal grand jury in February of 2023. She pleaded guilty on April 14, 2023. Between October of 2022 and February of 2023, Hand made arrangements to obtain methamphetamine in Arizona. She traveled there to pick it up, recruiting others to assist her, and then dispersed the methamphetamine to others in South Dakota. She knew that people in South Dakota were going to further distribute the substance. Overall, Hand was responsible for distributing between 5 and 15 kilograms of methamphetamine during the conspiracy. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the Platte Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case. Hand was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Waubay Man Charged with Escape from Custody

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Waubay, South Dakota, man for Escape from Custody. Levi Ambrose Locke, age 32, was indicted in May of 2023. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on July 17, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to five years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered. The Indictment alleges that on or about April 13, 2023, Locke escaped while in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons at Dismas Charities, Inc. Locke was serving part of a federal sentence when he allegedly left the premises and did not return. The charge is merely an accusation and Locke is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman is prosecuting the case. Locke was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial, which has been set for September 19, 2023.


title: Eagle Butte Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on March 29, 2023. Daniel Red Horse, Jr. age 52, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Red Horse was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in August of 2022. He pleaded guilty on December 28, 2022. Red Horse has two prior federal sex offense convictions. As a result, Red Horse is required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. Between May 2, 2022, and June 3, 2022, Red Horse did knowingly fail to register and update his registration. This is his eighth conviction for failing to register. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller prosecuted the case. Red Horse was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: South Georgia Resident Convicted in Lanier County Meth Distribution Case

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: VALDOSTA, Ga. –A Clinch County, Georgia, resident was convicted by a federal jury late yesterday of possessing with intent to distribute nearly one kilogram of methamphetamine, resulting from an investigation initiated by the Lanier County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office. Dennis Thompson, 40, of Homerville, Georgia, was convicted on July 18 of one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine following a two-day trial that began on July 17 before U.S. District Judge Hugh Lawson. Thompson faces a minimum mandatory sentence of ten years up to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment to be followed by five years of supervised release and a $10,000,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 15. “Law enforcement successfully prevented a large quantity of methamphetamine from entering Lanier County,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Thompson, and others who choose to push large amounts of the most deadly and addictive illegal drugs, will be held accountable for these crimes that degrade communities and so often feed other criminal activities.” “Thompson endangered himself, law enforcement and other motorists during his irresponsible attempt to evade justice for methamphetamine distribution,” said Rich Bilson, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Valdosta office. “Hopefully this conviction sends a clear message that drug dealing in our communities will not be tolerated by the FBI and our partners.” “We are appreciative of the cooperative efforts from all our partners to help bring this case to a close,” said Lanier County Sheriff Charles “Nick” Norton. “It is this kind of cooperation that makes our streets a safer place.” According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Thompson was under surveillance for distributing methamphetamine by Lanier County Sheriff’s Office investigators in Aug. 2020. A confidential informant told investigators that Thompson would be carrying a large amount of illegal drugs into Lanier County on Aug. 30, 2020, and he would be driving on Highway 221. Deputies attempted to pull Thompson over on Highway 221, but Thompson fled, leading deputies on a high-speed chase in excess of 100 miles per hour for several miles. The pursuit continued into Atkinson County, Georgia, where the vehicle finally came to a stop. A drug dog alerted to the odor of drugs inside Thompson’s car. Officers found 976 grams of methamphetamine inside a bag in the car. Thompson acquired the methamphetamine in Atlanta to distribute in the Lanier County community. The case was investigated by FBI and the Lanier County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sonja Profit and Criminal Chief Leah McEwen are prosecuting the case for the Government.


title: Pain Management Physician's Assistant Charged in Amniotic Fluid Scam

component: USAO - Texas, Northern

body_text: A physician’s assistant who allegedly injected amniotic fluid into patients’ joints in a dubious attempt at pain management has been charged with healthcare fraud, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. Ray Anthony Shoulders, a 36-year-old physician’s assistant at a Fort Worth pain management clinic, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and eleven counts of healthcare fraud. He made his initial appearance Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cureton. “This defendant allegedly claimed that amniotic fluid – a product that has never been approved to treat pain – would alleviate his patients’ suffering. He allegedly told patients that the treatment was covered by Medicare, kindling false hopes. To add insult to injury, he allegedly scammed Medicare out of more than half a million dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “The Northern District of Texas has always been tenacious in its fight against healthcare fraud, and this case is no exception. Medical professionals cannot be allowed to bill insurers for unreliable, unapproved, unreimbursable treatments.” “The conduct alleged in this indictment put patients at risk,” said Jason E. Meadows, Special Agent in Charge at the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). "Protecting the safety of Medicare patients is crucial, and HHS-OIG is committed to ensuring that taxpayer dollars are not used for unapproved, potentially dangerous medical treatments." According to the indictment, Mr. Shoulders and others allegedly submitted $788,000 in fraudulent claims and received more than $614,000 in reimbursements from Medicare for injecting amniotic fluid – the liquid that surrounds a growing fetus during gestation – into patients’ connective tissue in an off-label attempt to relieve joint pain. Certain amniotic products have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for wound care, but not for pain management. (In fact, the FDA has issued repeated consumer alerts warning that biologics like amniotic fluid “have not been approved for the treatment of any orthopedic condition, such as osteoarthritis, tendonitis, disc disease, tennis elbow, back pain, hip pain, knee pain, neck pain, or shoulder pain,” nor for “chronic pain or fatigue.”) Because amniotic products have not been approved to treat pain, Medicare considers amniotic injections administered to treat pain medically unnecessary and does not reimburse for them. They do reimburse for some – but not all – amniotic injections administered to reduce inflammation of damaged tissue, as in a wound. Mr. Shoulders primarily used “Cell Genuity,” an amniotic product for which Medicare would not reimburse, neither for wound care nor for pain. Initially, because the product was not covered by insurance, Mr. Shoulders allegedly asked patients to pay out of pocket more than $800 per injection. Due to the high cost and questionable efficacy, however, many patients refused. In August 2020, Mr. Shoulders allegedly found an amniotic product, “Fluid Flow,” for which Medicare would reimburse for wound care. He spoke with a sales rep about Fluid Flow reimbursement rates and billing requirements but did not purchase any Fluid Flow, which was significantly more expensive than Cell Genuity Instead, he allegedly continued to inject Cell Genuity into patients but billed the shots to Medicare under Fluid Flow’s unique code, Q4206. Because they were told insurance would cover the cost of the injections, more patients consented to the procedure. Under the scheme, the pain clinic allegedly profited around $1,200 per cc of Cell Genuity they injected. (Had the clinic used Fluid Flow, they would have made only around $400 per cc.) From August to October 2020, the clinic submitted more than 100 bills for Fluid Flow to Medicare and received around $400,000 in reimbursements. Mr. Shoulders then received a cut of those reimbursements totaling over $200,00. The indictment further charges that, in November 2020, in an attempt to avoid detection, Mr. Shoulders suddenly halted the alleged scheme after he became concerned that a sudden increase in the volume of billings might attract the attention of investigators. With no repercussions over the ensuing 10 months, Mr. Shoulders allegedly re-engaged in the scheme in October 2021 and continued through December 2021. In mid-October, he allegedly purchased 10ccs of Fluid Flow for $20,000 – the only recorded purchase of Fluid Flow by the clinic. He continued to purchase significant quantities of Cell Genuity. Despite purchasing only 10 ccs of Fluid Flow, Mr. Shoulders billed Medicare for approximately 394 ccs of Fluid Flow in the subsequent months. An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Like all defendants, Mr. Shoulders is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If convicted on all counts, he faces up to 120 years in federal prison – 10 years per count. The Department of Health & Human Services’ Office of Inspector General (HHS - OIG) conducted the investigation with the help of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney P.J. Meitl prosecuted the case.


title: Accountant Indicted for Embezzling More than $715,000 From Spokane Medical Practice

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington – Today, Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that a grand jury returned an Indictment charging Carol Casilla, age 25, of Spokane, Washington, with forty-six counts of fraud in connection with Casilla’s theft of more than $715,000 from a Spokane medical practice at which she was employed between 2020 and 2023. Between May 2020 and March 2023, Casilla was employed as an accountant by Spokane Dermatology Clinic (SDC), a dermatological practice located in Spokane. The Indictment alleges that, while employed at SDC, Casilla used her position to fraudulently issue company checks to herself and deposit them into her own personal accounts, and to make electronic funds transfers using company funds toward her personal credit cards. The Indictment alleges that some of the transfers were made to a fictitious company that Casilla created in order to make it appear as though the transfers were for legitimate company expenditures. According to the Indictment, Casilla made hundreds of fraudulent transfers in this manner, stealing more than $715,000 in total. “Accountants, bookkeepers, and financial professionals have access to funds and sensitive financial information,” said United States Attorney Waldref. “When they abuse that access in order to line their own pockets, they devastate our communities. We will continue to work hand-in-glove with our law enforcement partners and with the community to hold accountable those individuals who abuse their positions of trust.” The fraud charges carry maximum sentences of up to 30 years in federal prison. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Spokane Resident Agency. Assistant United States Attorneys Dan Fruchter and Tyler H.L. Tornabene are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. United States v. Casilla, Case No: 2-23-CR-00085-TOR


title: Federal Jury Convicts Adair County Resident Of Four Counts Of Aggravated Sexual Abuse

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Daniel Wayne Bayless, age 26, of Adair County, Oklahoma, was found guilty by a federal jury of four counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country. The jury trial began with testimony on July17, 2023, and concluded on July 18, 2023, with the guilty verdicts. During the trial, the United States presented evidence that in 2020 Bayless sexually assaulted a minor victim under the age of 12 on multiple occasions. The Government also presented evidence Bayless victimized another child ten years prior. The crimes occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation of Oklahoma, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The guilty verdicts were the result of investigations by the Adair County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the trial in Muskogee and ordered the completion of a presentence report. The sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report. Bayless will remain in custody of the United States Marshal until sentencing. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Paladino and Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.


title: Pittsburg County Resident Pleads Guilty To Possession With Intent To Distribute Methamphetamine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Brittany Nicole Mekler, age 31, of McAlester, Oklahoma entered a guilty plea to an Indictment of one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The Indictment alleged that on or about August 27, 2022, Mekler possessed at least 50 grams of pure methamphetamine with the intent to distribute to others. The charge arose from an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, and the McAlester Police Department. According to investigators’ reports, while conducting an investigation into an unrelated crime, law enforcement officers located Mekler inside a shed with approximately 163 grams of methamphetamine. Mekler also had over $3,700 in cash in her purse. The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, 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. Mekler will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Erin Cornell represented the United States.


title: Five Members Of Drug Trafficking Organization Plead Guilty To Federal Drug Crimes

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Ricky Edward Hall, 29, of Covington, Oklahoma, Christopher Adam Banschbach, 37, an inmate at the Davis Correctional Facility in Holdenville, Oklahoma, Brittany Marie Cagle, 34, of Wagoner, Oklahoma, Christina Gail Pool, 42, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, and Joshua Levi Kendrick, 41, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, all entered guilty pleas in relation to drug trafficking methamphetamine in Eastern Oklahoma. Banschbach entered a guilty plea to one count of Drug Conspiracy on July 13, 2023. Kendrick entered a guilty plea to one count of Drug Conspiracy and one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine on July 10, 2023. Hall entered a guilty plea to one count of Drug Conspiracy and one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine on June 28, 2023. Pool entered a guilty plea to one count of Drug Conspiracy and one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine on May 16, 2023. Cagle entered a guilty plea to one count of Drug Conspiracy and one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine on May 4, 2023. The indictment alleged that from March of 2022 until November of 2022, Hall, Banschbach, Cagle, Pool, and Kendrick actively participated in a drug trafficking organization partially comprised of members and affiliates of the Universal Aryan Brotherhood, a prison gang. The defendants conspired to distribute methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Oklahoma and elsewhere. During the conspiracy, Banschbach was an inmate at the Davis Correctional Facility in Holdenville, Oklahoma. The charges arose from an investigation by the Muskogee Police Department, the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Department, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics. The Honorable Gerald L. Jackson, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma in Muskogee, accepted the pleas and ordered the completion of presentence investigation reports. Hall, Banschbach, Cagle, Pool, and Kendrick will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary W. Parsons and Assistant United States Attorney Ryan E. Bondura represented the United States.


title: New Hampshire Woman Charged in Tyngsborough Daycare Investigation

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A New Hampshire woman and the former intimate partner of Tyngsborough, Mass. daycare worker, Lindsay Groves, has been charged with child exploitation. Stacie Marie Laughton, 39, of Nashua, N.H., was charged with one count of sexual exploitation of children – and aiding and abetting. Laughton will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. According to the charging documents, a preliminary forensic review of Groves’ cellphone allegedly revealed over 10,000 text messages between Laughton and Groves that included discussion about, and transfer of, explicit photographs that Groves had taken of children while employed at Creative Minds daycare – including at least four sexually explicit images of children who appear to be approximately three to five years old, as well as explicit descriptions of sex with each other and others, including children. The investigation remains ongoing. Groves was arrested and charged on June 22, 2023 with one count of sexual exploitation of children and one count of distribution of child pornography. Following a detention hearing on July 13, 2023, the Court took the federal government’s motion for detention under advisement. Groves remains in state custody in New Hampshire. Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274. Case information, including links to charging documents and victim resources, can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/victim-and-witness-assistance-program/united-states-v-lindsay-groves The charge of sexual exploitation of children provides for a sentence of at least 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Nashua (N.H.) Police Chief Kevin Rourke made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire; Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office; and the Hudson, N.H. Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anne Paruti and Jessica L. Soto of the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Judge Finds Fort Myers Felon Guilty Of Unlawfully Possessing A Loaded Firearm With An Obliterated Serial Number

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Steven Dewayne Barnes, Jr. (26, Fort Myers) has been found guilty, following a bench trial before United States District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell, of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Barnes faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set. According to court records, on November 15, 2022, officers from the Fort Myers Police Department were on patrol when they encountered Barnes walking on Washington Avenue in Fort Myers. During a conversation with Barnes, officers became concerned that Barnes, a multi-convicted felon, may be concealing a weapon, and he was subsequently searched. Officers located and removed a loaded Smith and Wesson handgun equipped with a laser sight that had been concealed in Barnes’s waistband. The serial number on the gun had been scratched out. Barnes, who had previously served a sentence in state prison for a violent felony, is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. Additionally, federal law prohibits possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Fort Myers Police Department, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon R. Eth. 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: New York Man Sentenced To 10 Years’ Imprisonment For Cocaine Trafficking

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Esteban Latorre-Cacho, age 38, of Lockport, New York, was sentenced on July 13, 2023, by U.S. District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner, to 10 years’ imprisonment on the charge of possession with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Latorre-Cacho previously pleaded guilty and admitted to possessing 67 kilograms of cocaine for further distribution. The charge stems from an incident on April 30, 2021, in which members of the Pennsylvania State Police made a traffic stop of a vehicle in Lehigh County. Latorre-Cacho was the sole occupant of the vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of 67 kilograms of cocaine, with a street-value of approximately two million dollars, found hidden inside boxes within the vehicle. Further investigation showed that Latorre-Cacho had picked up the boxes containing the cocaine at a location within the Middle District of Pennsylvania. The investigation was conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. ###


title: Distributor of Cocaine in Lafayette Area Receives Federal Prison Sentence

body_text: LAFAYETTE, La. – Joshua Lewis , 50, of Basile, Louisiana, has been sentenced for possessing cocaine and cocaine base with the intent to distribute, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays sentenced Lewis to 60 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Evidence introduced in court revealed that beginning in August 2019 and continuing through January 2021, Lewis conspired with Shawn White, Courtney Smith, Shane Malveaux, Kevin Hardy, and others to distribute narcotics, including cocaine and cocaine base in south Louisiana. During their investigation into this drug trafficking organization, agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) obtained evidence through the use of controlled purchases of narcotics with confidential sources, as well as the interception of wire communications between the defendants in this organization. On or about January 7, 2021, agents obtained intercepted communications between Lewis and White which revealed that they worked out a deal for Lewis to purchase powder cocaine from White. Lewis and his co-defendants were charged in an indictment on February 10, 2021. On March 17, 2023, Lewis pleaded guilty and admitted that he was in an agreement with his co-conspirators to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base. Three other defendants were charged in this case and have been sentenced as follows: Shane Christopher Malveaux , 51, of Eunice, Louisiana, was sentenced to 100 months (8 years, 4 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for conspiring with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base. Courtney Nacol Smith , 48, of Katy, Texas, to 60 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base. Shawn Dwayne White , 46, of Eunice, was sentenced to 60 months in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release, for conspiring with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base. The case was investigated by the DEA and Department of Homeland Security-Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Vermaelen. This effort is part of an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (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: Pennsylvania Man Gets Two Years in Federal Prison for Participation in Nationwide Fraud Scheme

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – A Philadelphia, Pennsylvania man was sentenced yesterday to two years in federal prison for his participation in a nationwide scheme to fraudulently obtain over $700,000 in gift cards and merchandise from a nationwide home improvement store. The Honorable Richard G. Andrews pronounced the sentence. According to court documents, Mamadou Bah, 39, conducted over a thousand fraudulent transactions at home improvement stores throughout the country between May 2018 and June 2020, using the fake name “Richard Traynham.” Bah would pay for gift cards and merchandise at home improvement stores using a barcode on his phone that was linked to fraudulently obtained credit cards. All told, Bah caused losses in excess of $733,000 across stores in 21 states. For this conduct, Bah pled guilty to aggravated identity theft, which carries a two-year mandatory sentence. U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss made the announcement and commented on the sentence. “Mr. Bah perpetrated a lucrative fraud for years through identity theft. By working with our law enforcement partners, my office was able to stop Mr. Bah from further fraud and secure a federal prison sentence. Those who think they can get away with stealing another person’s identity information to defraud a retailer should learn from Mr. Bah. If convicted, a mandatory prison sentence awaits you.” “The FBI remains committed to investigating these types of sophisticated fraud schemes and to seeking justice for those affected by them,” said Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. “If you have fallen victim to a scam, please report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov or 1-800-CALL FBI. This information will help investigate these criminals.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander P. Ibrahim prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Millsboro Police Department. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:21-cr-065.


title: Ex-Spouses Indicted for Laundering Money Stolen from Retirement and Investment Accounts

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal indictment was unsealed today charging a Prince George’s County, Maryland, man and woman with their involvement in laundering the proceeds of various fraud schemes targeting victims’ retirement and investment accounts. According to allegations the indictment, from approximately September 2017 to April 2020, Dasola Abdulraheem, 41, and Ismaila Abdulraheem, 44, both Nigerian nationals and formerly spouses, received the proceeds of various financial frauds into accounts that they controlled, and thereafter, conducted financial transactions with the proceeds to disguise the nature and source of the funds. The indictment further alleges that unknown co-conspirators targeted the victims of this scheme by gaining access to their financial accounts, typically retirement or investment accounts. In one case, co-conspirators are alleged to have gained access to a victim’s severance payout from his former employer. The indictment states that once the conspirators compromised a victim’s account, they posed as the victim and instructed the victim’s financial institution to add a new outside bank account to the victim’s account. The outside account was controlled by either the Abdulraheems or one of the couriers that they used. Once the victim’s financial institution added a conspirator’s account to the victim’s account, the conspirators allegedly directed that money from the victim’s account be siphoned from the victim’s account and deposited into the Abdulraheems’ accounts or into a co-conspirator’s account. The proceeds are alleged to have been used in some cases to purchase salvage cars at auction or to wire money to business entities in Nigeria. The indictment further alleges that the Abdulraheems attempted to conceal their involvement in laundering proceeds by using shell companies, such as “ISMRAN LLC,” “DAISIM GLOBAL LINK LLC,” “RUKLAT INTERNATIONAL VENTURES,” and “DAISIM INTERNATIONAL” to receive and launder the proceeds of the fraud scheme. The defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, money laundering, and unlawful monetary transactions. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the money laundering charges, and a maximum of 10 years in prison for the unlawful monetary transactions charges. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine E. Rumbaugh and Kathleen E. Robeson are prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-CR-107. An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.


title: Automotive Shop Owner Convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and Marijuana in Hampton Roads

body_text: NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Hampton man late Friday afternoon of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute fentanyl and marijuana. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, from approximately September 2019, until his arrest in April 2022, Orlando Roosevelt Adkins, 45, operated and managed Elite Customs, an automotive repair and custom autobody shop in Hampton, Virginia. During this time, this property was used as a drug-involved premises for a drug trafficking conspiracy. Within this conspiracy, the co-conspirators, including Adkins, distributed and possessed quantities of fentanyl and marijuana. The conspirators would purchase and receive drugs from suppliers in Mexico, Texas, California, and North Carolina, and arrange for the drugs to be transported to Virginia using rental vehicles, couriers, postal services, semi-trailers, trucks, and recreational vehicles. According to witnesses, Adkins facilitated the trafficking scheme by maintaining Elite Customs as a central point of operations for the conspiracy and cultivated illicit business relationships among conspirators. On June 26, 2023, Adkins pleaded guilty to charges of distribution of marijuana, maintaining a drug-involved premises, and two counts of using a communication facility in furtherance of drug trafficking, but denied involvement in any drug trafficking conspiracy. Adkins was tried last week on the remaining conspiracy charge, during which the federal jury found that Adkins was, in fact, part of a drug conspiracy that involved fentanyl and marijuana. Adkins was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and marijuana and faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years in prison when sentenced on November 28. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division; Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Homeland Security Investigations; Mark G. Solesky, Chief of Chesapeake Police; Orrin Gallop, Interim Chief of Hampton Police; Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police; and Colonel Gary T. Settle, Virginia State Police Superintendent, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Jamar K. Walker accepted the verdict. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Osyf and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Engelking prosecuted the case. This case 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. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:22-cr-20.


title: Harrisburg Man Sentenced To 24 Month’s Imprisonment For Aggravated Identity Theft

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Amisial Elveus, 32, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on July 11, 2023, by U.S. District Court Judge Jennifer P. Wilson, to 24 months in prison to be followed by 12 months of supervised release for aggravated identity theft. According to U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam, from July 6, 2020, until November 6, 2020, in Dauphin County, Elveus unlawfully obtained and used credit card account numbers belonging to unsuspecting individuals, used the numbers to code credit cards, and then used the credit cards to pay for gasoline fill-ups for multiple vehicles on multiple days at a Giant gas station on Union Deposit Road in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Elveus was arrested at the Giant on November 6, 2020, while in the process of filling cars with gas that he paid for with a fraudulently encoded credit card. Judge Wilson also ordered Elveus to pay restitution in the amount of $32,227.71. The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Lower Paxton Township Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian T. Haugsby prosecuted the case. # # #


title: Bushkill Man Sentenced To 12 Months’ Imprisonment For Causing Serious Bodily Injury To Another Motorist As A Result Of His Reckless & Unlicensed Operation Of A Vehicle On Federal Land

body_text: SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Fitzgerald C. Providence, age 50, of Bushkill, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on July 13, 2023, by United States District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion to 12 months’ and 1 day of imprisonment and a 1-year term of supervised release, for recklessly causing serious bodily injury to another motorist as a result of a serious motor vehicle collision that occurred on federal land. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, on September 24, 2021, on Bushkill Falls Road, within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, while unlicensed, Providence operated a motor vehicle in a criminally reckless manner by crossing into the opposing lane of travel of a two-lane road in a no-passing zone and attempting to pass three vehicles at once. In so doing, Providence caused a head-on collision with a vehicle traveling in the opposing lane that resulted in serious bodily injury to the victim, the driver of the other vehicle. At his sentencing, Providence was also ordered to pay restitution to the victim for lost wages and other unreimbursed medical expenses, with the specific amount to be determined by the Court within 90 days. This case was investigated by the National Park Service Park Police. Assistant United States Attorney Jeffery St John prosecuted the case. # # #


title: Kansas Chiropractor Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering

component: USAO - Kansas

body_text: WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas man pleaded guilty to money laundering in connection with a federal relief program designed to help United States business owners during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to court documents, Timothy Dale Warren, 59, of Haysville served as owner of Titan Medical Center which offered chiropractic care, school sports physicals, and other services in Wichita. In May 2020 and April 2021, Warren submitted false documents to banks in order to fraudulently obtain two loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) of the CARES Act. In August 2020, the defendant converted $35,500.00 in criminally obtained funds into a cashier’s check then deposited money into a business bank account at another financial institution. Warren acknowledges his actions caused the SBA a total loss of $145,877.70. “The federal government created programs to provide economic relief to businesses struggling to stay afloat during the COVID-19 related shutdowns,” said U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher. “Unfortunately, Timothy Warren manipulated a well-intentioned program into a mechanism of personal financial gain and must now be held accountable.” Warren is scheduled to be sentenced on October 3, 2023. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The U.S. Department of Defense- Defense Criminal Investigative Service and Defense Contract Audit Agency, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, and the IRS-Criminal Investigations are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Three Appointed to Serve as Assistant United States Attorneys to Address Violent Crime, Complex White Collar Enforcement, and Other Critical Cases

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha today announced the appointment and swearing-in of three new Assistant United States Attorneys for the District of Rhode Island: Kevin M. Bolan, Julianne L. Klein, and Peter I. Roklan. Mr. Bolan will serve in the Office’s Civil Division, focusing on affirmative civil enforcement, while Ms. Klein and Mr. Roklan have been assigned to the Criminal Division. Prior to his appointment, Kevin M. Bolan was a partner with the law firm of White & Case, LLP, where he both handled and managed civil and criminal trials and investigations as part of the firm’s white collar practice group. Earlier in his career, Mr. Bolan was an associate, and later partner, with the firm of McDermott Will & Emery in both Boston, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C. He is a graduate of Harvard College and the Georgetown University Law Center. Julianne Landsvik Klein joins the office from the Boston office of Cooley, LLP, where she has served as an Associate for the past eight years. In that role, she has handled numerous DOJ and SEC investigations, worked on complex commercial matters, and handled significant pro bono litigation. Prior to joining Cooley, Ms. Klein worked in the Chicago offices of Steptoe & Johnson, LLP, Dinsmore & Schol, LLP, and for the Staff Attorneys Office of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. She is a graduate of Boston College and the University of Michigan Law School. Rhode Island native Peter I. Roklan joins the Office following a distinguished sixteen-year tenure with the Rhode Island Department of Attorney General, where he prosecuted a wide variety of criminal cases on behalf of the State of Rhode Island, including matters involving public corruption, firearms, narcotics, and organized crime. Mr. Roklan previously served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney, working on federal cases with prosecutors in this Office. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and the Roger Williams University School of Law. “I am tremendously excited that these three exceptional advocates have joined the ranks of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island,” said U.S. Attorney Cunha. “Their backgrounds, education, and experience make them ideally suited to carry on and enhance our Office’s critical work to pursue justice and enhance public safety on behalf of all of our Ocean State communities.” ###


title: Ex-ATM Technician Sentenced To Federal Prison For Armed Bank Robbery In Tallahassee

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Johnson Saint-Louis, 38, of Deerfield Beach, Florida was sentenced to 147 months in federal prison following his conviction for armed bank robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. “This serial armed robber endangered the lives of multiple victims,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “Through the coordinated efforts of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, his multi-state crime spree has ended, and he has been held accountable for his criminal conduct. This sentence illustrates our shared resolve to keep our communities safe and the significant consequences associated with such federal crimes of violence.” Saint-Louis was convicted by a federal jury after a 3-day trial on November 9, 2022. Evidence introduced during the trial revealed that Saint-Louis was a former ATM technician who traveled around the southeast tampering with ATMs serviced by his former employer. Over a two-year period, Saint-Louis robbed four ATM technicians sent out to fix problems Saint-Louis had caused, including the ATM technician dispatched to the Bank of America at 5676 Thomasville Road in Tallahassee, Florida on September 29, 2021. The Government introduced evidence of similar robberies in Boca Raton, Florida in November 2019, Longwood, Florida in February 2021, and Raleigh, North Carolina in August 2021. “This conviction is a testament to collaborative efforts between local, state and federal authorities to bring to justice those who perpetrate crimes in our community,” said police Chief Lawrence Revell. “Members of the Tallahassee Police Department work tirelessly to investigate cases and collect the evidence needed for an arrest and subsequent conviction. Additionally, this conviction highlights the efforts of the grants and programs established at TPD that are aimed at eradicating crime. We want the community to know we have made a commitment to more than just making the arrests but also doing our part to prevent the crime from happening.” As part of the FBI’s investigation into the bank robberies, Saint-Louis was surveilled by Seminole County Sheriff’s Office deputies on November 4, 2021, who observed Saint-Louis traveling to various Bank of America locations. Deputies eventually stopped Saint-Louis, and, during that traffic stop, they observed a firearm and notes listing the locations of Bank of America branches in Jacksonville, Florida. The Bank of America branches were annotated with whether the ATM at that location was manufactured by Saint-Louis’ former employer or by another company, and included notes like “too open,” “not enough exit route,” two-man job,” and “posible” ( sic ). “The FBI takes very seriously our responsibility to investigate those who target and endanger innocent people in their quest for personal gain,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Sherri E. Onks. “We will continue to work with our partners to pursue those who commit violent crimes and take advantage of others.” The FBI’s financial investigation revealed that Saint-Louis, who had been unemployed since mid-2019, was making large cash deposits into his bank accounts (e.g., $89,939 in 2021) and gambling large amounts of money (e.g., losing $189,814 in 2021). Saint-Louis lost $39,480 gambling in the week following the Tallahassee bank robbery. Saint-Louis’ imprisonment will be followed by 3-years of supervised release, and he was ordered to pay $104,840.00 in restitution. This conviction was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Tallahassee Police Department and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys James A. McCain and Christopher M. Elsey prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Dothan Drug Trafficker Sentenced To 15 Years In Federal Prison

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Curtis Tyron Vickers, 35, of Dothan, Alabama was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after previously pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute approximately 1.8 pounds of methamphetamine. Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced the sentence. “Our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners work tirelessly to keep us safe and serve a critical role in our efforts to remove addictive and deadly controlled substances from our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “We will continue to support their efforts to investigate and vigorously prosecute criminals bringing drugs into North Florida.” As part of a longer-term investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the North Star Multijurisdictional Drug Task Force (NSMDTF) learned that Vickers was transporting approximately 1.8 pounds of methamphetamine through Calhoun County for distribution. Working in conjunction with DEA, and the NSMDTF, the Florida Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop on Vickers. A Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office Deputy deployed a canine who alerted to the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle. In addition to the methamphetamine, officers also located small baggies containing heroin and fentanyl, and a small amount of crack cocaine. Vickers qualified for enhanced sentencing as a Career Offender due to prior convictions for unlawful possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and sale or delivery of controlled substance. Vickers was on probation at the time of the offense. “One of DEA’s top priorities is getting these highly addictive and incredibly dangerous drugs, like methamphetamine, off our streets and out of our communities,” said DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter. “The success of this investigation highlights the Miami Field Division’s continued commitment to working with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe and healthy.” Vickers’ prison sentenced will be followed by 5 years of supervised release. This conviction was the result of the collaborative efforts of numerous local, state, and federal agencies, including the North Star Multijurisdictional Drug Task Force, the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney James A. McCain. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Muskegon Man Sentenced To 300 Months For Armed Trafficking In Fentanyl, Heroin, Cocaine, And Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten announced that Saul Douglas Briggs, 33, of Muskegon, will serve 240 months in prison for possessing fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine with the intent to distribute them. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Paul L. Maloney sentenced Briggs to serve an additional 60-month prison term for possessing firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities. Briggs was also ordered to forfeit more than $225,000 in cash, multiple vehicles, and jewelry that he purchased with drug proceeds. Upon release from prison, Briggs will be on supervised release for a period of 10 years. “The egregiousness of Mr. Briggs’ crimes cannot be overstated. He possessed enormous quantities of fentanyl to sell in our community and beyond,” said U.S. Attorney Totten . “Fentanyl is deadly, and it is made even more fatal when combined with other drugs and loaded firearms. My office is committed to disrupting drug trafficking rings and bringing the people who peddle this poison to justice. Mr. Briggs’ sentence is a vital step in ensuring the continued safety of the communities we serve.” The facts presented to the court during the case were that, beginning in at least March 2002, Briggs and his associates began using a house on Letart Avenue in Muskegon to store drugs, drug trafficking materials, and guns to protect their drug dealing business. In March 2022, Briggs and one of his associates sold a total of 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl to a Missouri-based drug trafficker. At least some of that fentanyl appeared to investigators to have come from the Letart residence. Later, during a search warrant executed at the Letart residence in June 2022, investigators found approximately 5 kilograms of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues, nearly a kilogram of heroin, and smaller amounts of cocaine, methamphetamine, and morphine. Investigators also found all of the hallmarks of drug trafficking, including digital scales, baggies, presses used to package drugs for sale, cutting agents, and a money counter. At the time, Briggs also possessed seven firearms, four of which were stolen. The guns included a loaded pistol he stored under the driver’s seat of his truck and several assault-style guns and a handgun with an extended magazine that had been staged throughout the Letart residence. The amount of fentanyl in the case could have killed millions of people across the State of Michigan and in the other locations where Briggs distributed. In sentencing Briggs, Judge Maloney noted that this was “a major fentanyl distribution crime” and that Briggs possessed seven firearms of which four were stolen. Judge Maloney also noted that Briggs committed these crimes after having previously served a sentence in federal prison for cocaine trafficking. “Briggs convictions come after a lengthy investigation involving both state and federal law enforcement,” said Detective Lieutenant Andrew Ambrose, Commander of the West Michigan Enforcement Team (WEMET), a division of the Michigan State Police . “Cooperation between federal, state, and local agencies allow for entities to work larger cases. The seizure of fentanyl by WEMET detectives and DEA agents undoubtedly saved lives.” The following photographs shows some of the evidence seized as part of the investigation: This case was part of Operation Interstate Zeus , an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation that began in 2019 and was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and members of Michigan State Police’s West Michigan Enforcement Teams (WEMET). 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. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie M. Carowan. ###


title: U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown Announces the Indictment of 24 Individuals Associated with Shreveport Street Gang on Charges Related to CARES Act Fraud Scheme

body_text: SHREVEPORT, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown, along with Supervisory Senior Resident Agent in Charge Lynn Higgins of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Special Agent in Charge Gary Smith of the Department of Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, and Acting United States Marshal Chris Felix held a press conference today to announce the indictment of 24 defendants on fraud charges related to the CARES Act. The defendants in this indictment are all members or associates of a Shreveport street gang that refer to themselves as Step or Die or SOD. In March 2020 Congress enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act which was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who were suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of the CARES Act, the Small Business Administration (SBA) provided Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), which were low-interest financing to small businesses, renters and homeowners in regions affected by declared disasters. The CARES Act also provided authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through a program referred to as the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). Defendant Name Charges Loan Amount and Type Sirdell McCullough Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Wire Fraud $20,832 / PPP Roderguiz Henry Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Wire Fraud $20,260 / PPP Johntrell Crutchfield Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Wire Fraud $20,832 / PPP Deanthony Johnson Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Wire Fraud $20,575 / PPP $8,000 / EIDL Deaaundrakous Hagger Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Wire Fraud $20,833 / PPP $20,833 / PPP Nico Stewart Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Wire Fraud $4,000 / EIDL $1,000 / EIDL Timothy Vasher Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Wire Fraud $20,832 / PPP Destane Glass Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Wire Fraud $20,832 / PPP Xavien Beasley Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Wire Fraud $10,000 / EIDL Quinterrius Brown Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud $30,800 / EIDL Not funded Toronco Loston Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud $20,832 / PPP Not funded $201,100 / EIDL Not funded Dewonnie Brown Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Wire Fraud $20,832 / PPP $20,800 / PPP $20,833 / PPP $20,833 / PPP Joshua Dominique Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Wire Fraud $20,832 / PPP Kadarius Jenkins Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud $20,832 / PPP Jasmine Glass Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Wire Fraud $8,332 / PPP Tramaine Taylor Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Wire Fraud $20,832 / PPP Antoria Johnson Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Wire Fraud $20,458 / PPP $20,458 / PPP Joketa Baulkman Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Wire Fraud $19,005 / PPP $19,005 / PPP Tyneal Johnson Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Wire Fraud $20,833 / PPP $20,800 / PPP Cierra Fleming Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud $20,207 / PPP Tramarciea Ruffins Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Wire Fraud $20,415 / PPP Olivia Thomas Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Wire Fraud $20,832 / PPP Samarrian Kingston Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Wire Fraud $20,272 / PPP Lakeah Gipson Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Wire Fraud $20,058 / PPP “This is why the United States Attorney’s Office is here,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “This is what we do and is why we become federal prosecutors and investigators with the Department of Justice. Prosecuting violent street gangs with white collar statutes is rare, but we use all the tools we have and try to hold those accountable that break the law and terrorize our communities with acts of violence. We hope to continue to collaborate with our state partners to do our part to eradicate violence while simultaneously focusing on one of the priorities of the department, which is CARES Act fraud.” “The FBI works with its partners to disrupt and dismantle criminal enterprises like this one,” said Douglas A. Williams, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of FBI New Orleans. “Individuals or groups who seek to steal from programs meant to aid Americans in their time of need, will be investigated and prosecuted accordingly.” “This indictment demonstrates the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration’s commitment to investigate and bring to justice those that victimize the American taxpayer,” stated Inspector General J. Russell George. “Abusing a Federal program designed to assist Americans in need, by fraudulently applying for loans, has and will continue to be aggressively investigated. I want to thank our law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s office for their commitment to this goal.” Defendant Roderguiz Henry is a fugitive. If you have information concerning his whereabouts, please contact the U.S. Marshal’s Service at 318-934-4300. An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendants face a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, 1 to 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Treasury-Inspector General for Tax Administration, and United States Marshal’s Service and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Aaron Crawford. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department of Justice’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . # # #


title: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission, Federal Communications Commission and Other Federal and State Law Enforcement Agencies Announce Results of Nationwide Initiative to Curtail Illegal Telemarketing Operations

component: Civil Division

body_text: The Justice Department, Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced today a crackdown on telemarketing operations responsible for billions of illegal calls to U.S. consumers. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General and other law enforcement partners, including attorneys general from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, joined the announcement. Today’s announcement caps approximately a year of enforcement actions taken by federal and state agencies to combat the scourge of illegal telemarketing, including robocalls and scam calls. In the last year, the department has pursued approximately 90 cases against illegal telemarketing operations and those who facilitate those illegal calls. This initiative, “Operation Stop Scam Calls,” targets telemarketers, including those who use telephone calls to commit fraud, as well as those who facilitate illegal telephone calls. Enforcement actions targeted lead generators who deceptively collect consumers’ telephone numbers and then provide those telephone numbers to robocallers and others (falsely representing that these consumers have consented to receive calls), as well as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service providers who facilitate tens of billions of illegal robocalls every year. Significant actions also were taken against individuals and entities who unjustly profited by facilitating the movement of money from scam call victims to fraudsters. “Illegal telephone calls interrupt cherished time with family and friends and, when they are used to commit fraud, can be financially and emotionally devastating,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Arun G. Rao of the Justice Department's Civil Division, Consumer Protection Branch, who appeared at a press conference in Chicago announcing the initiative. “The department and its partners are committed to pursuing those who make and facilitate these calls.” “Today, government agencies at all levels are united in fighting the scourge of illegal telemarketing. We are taking action against those who trick people into phony consent to receive these calls and those who make it easy and cheap to place these calls,” said Director Samuel Levine of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The FTC and its law enforcement partners will not rest in the fight against illegal telemarketing.” “The FCC is committed to using every tool at its disposal to crack down on illegal robocalls and protect the US communications network,” said Chief Loyaan Egal of the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau. “We, alongside our partners, will not let up in tracking, prosecuting, and penalizing the bad actors in this space and protecting consumers.” Cases brought by the department targeted both foreign and domestic telemarketing operations. These cases ranged from actions targeting fraudsters who directly contacted victims to actions targeting those who provided scam call operators with the means to perpetrate their schemes. The department’s actions contributed to the collective actions, over 180, taken by the federal and state partners participating in Operation Stop Scam Calls. The department’s Consumer Protection Branch brought nine civil actions in partnership with the FTC, which collectively alleged conduct involving billions of robocalls. Four of these cases involved lawsuits against VoIP providers that transmitted illegal phone calls. Some of these calls were scams arising from foreign call centers, such as calls by fraudsters pretending to be government agencies or impersonating e-commerce companies. Defendants, as alleged in the government’s complaints, continued to transmit illegal calls even after being warned that those calls were scam pitches. These cases also included a resolution with multinational payment processing company Nexway, arising from a lawsuit that alleged that the company processed credit card payments for India-based Tech Live Connect and other foreign clients that committed telemarketing fraud via tech support scams. Cases brought by the department also involved criminal charges against those alleged to have made illegal phone calls or facilitated such calls. Many of these cases involved foreign fraud operations that victimized older adults. The department prosecuted perpetrators of various lottery fraud schemes, in which consumers were falsely told they had won a large prize but must first pay money to receive that prize. In three separate matters brought by the Consumer Protection Branch, three individuals were extradited from Jamaica. Two have since pleaded guilty . The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section secured a nearly 133-month sentence in a Costa Rica-based lottery scheme. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona secured a 160-month sentence for a leader of an international fraud ring who distributed lead lists containing the personal information of thousands of victims. Additional lottery fraud-related criminal matters include those brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the District of Connecticut , the Eastern District of California , the Eastern District of New York , the District of South Carolina , the District of Nebraska, the Northern District of Florida , and the Northern District of Ohio . The Justice Department and its partners urge consumers to be on the lookout for illegal calls, to take steps to minimize the number of illegal calls received, and to report any scam calls to law enforcement. Callers may pressure you to send money by trying to scare you. They may pretend to be someone you know who is in trouble, a government agency, or a major company. These are fraudsters. Hang up. Don’t trust your caller ID. It can be faked. If you answer the telephone and hear a recorded message instead of a live person, it’s potentially a robocall trying to sell you something. It is probably illegal and likely a scam. Only call a telephone number you know is real. Make sure your number is on the Do Not Call Registry and consider using your telephone’s call blocking options or getting a call blocking app or service. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch . To review a list of common transnational elder fraud scams, many facilitated by telephone calls, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch/transnational-elder-fraud-strike-force . To learn more about the department’s elder fraud efforts, visit www.justice.gov/elderjustice . If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available. For more information on unwanted calls, including steps people can take to avoid robocall scams and to hear examples of illegal calls, visit www.ftc.gov/calls , which is also available in Spanish at www.ftc.gov/llamadas . Some of the cases referenced in today’s announcement are charges, which are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Court Finds State of Florida Violates the Americans with Disabilities Act By Institutionalizing Children with Disabilities

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida ruled on Friday that the State of Florida violates the rights of children with complex medical needs by keeping some children unnecessarily institutionalized in nursing facilities, while placing other children at serious risk of unnecessary institutionalization. Following a two-week bench trial in May, the court found that the children in nursing facilities are capable of living in the community. Based on the testimony of experts and family members during the trial, the court also found that parents and guardians of institutionalized children overwhelmingly want their children to live at home, but that they have not been given meaningful options other than institutional placement. The court’s decision, coming after nearly a decade of litigation, marks a major turning point in the treatment of children with disabilities in Florida and vindicates their right to community integration. The court heard from many families who struggled desperately to keep their children at home despite a lack of services, and others who had no choice but to place their children in nursing homes because they could not get the help they needed. For example, parent Heather Patten testified about having to place her son in a nursing home when he was a toddler, telling the court, “I was scared, and I didn’t feel like I had a choice. I felt like there was no choice.” Another parent, Martin Carrizales, testified that for his disabled teenage stepson, “The help that they would give is that they would put him in a home but I would not be able to take care of him, and that is not what I wanted for him.” “This is a momentous decision impacting hundreds of vulnerable children and their families,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The court’s ruling sends a clear message that children with complex medical needs deserve to grow up with the love and support of their families and should not be confined to nursing facilities where they are stripped apart from their communities. The Civil Rights Division is strongly committed to ensuring that people with disabilities are not isolated from society but are fully integrated into their communities.” “This important ruling will help Florida families of disabled children keep and care for their children at home by requiring increased access to medical support and services,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “We look forward to seeing the systematic changes in Florida needed to prevent the unnecessary institutionalization of children with complex medical needs.” The department’s lawsuit challenged the State of Florida’s policies that violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and resulted in children with disabilities living and growing up in nursing facilities, separated from their families, friends and community. To remedy its violation, Florida must take steps to ensure that children with complex medical needs can access the services they need to live in their own homes and communities. Florida must also develop transition plans for institutionalized children and engage families to ensure that they can make informed choices about where their children live. Approximately 140 children with disabilities are currently housed in three pediatric nursing facilities across Florida, and many more are at risk of entering these institutions due to a shortfall of services, including home nursing care. These children live with a range of medical conditions and disabilities, and many are dependent on medical technology such as ventilators. Under the ADA and the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Olmstead v. L.C. – which was decided over 24 years ago – Florida is required to serve children with disabilities in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs, as long as the children or their guardians do not oppose community integration. For more information on the Civil Rights Division, please visit www.justice.gov/crt . For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 (TDD 800-514-0383) or visit www.ada.gov . ADA complaints may be filed online at www.ada.gov/complaint .