title: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Honors Justice Department Employees and Partners for the 72nd Annual Attorney General’s Awards

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the recipients of the 72nd Annual Attorney General’s Awards, honoring Justice Department employees and others for extraordinary contributions to the enforcement of our nation’s laws. This year, there are 437 award recipients in 23 categories. The 72nd Attorney General’s Awards and recipients are as follows: The Attorney General’s David Margolis Award for Exceptional Service is the highest award given by the Justice Department to recognize employee achievement. The Attorney General commends the investigation and prosecution team of the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting: U.S. Attorney Honorable Eric G. Olshan for the Western District of Pennsylvania; Trial Attorney Barry K. Disney of the Criminal Division’s Capital Case Section; First Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti for the Western District of Pennsylvania; Trial Attorney Aaron J. Stewart of the Criminal Division’s Capital Case Section; Assistant U.S. Attorney Soo C. Song for the Western District of Pennsylvania; Special Agent Samantha Bell of the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office; Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Vasquez Schmitt for the Western District of Pennsylvania; Special Agent Brian R. Collins of the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office; Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher M. Hanrahan for the Western District of Pennsylvania; Staff Operations Specialist Evan P. Browne of the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office; Victim Assistance Specialist Adrienne R. Howe for the Western District of Pennsylvania; Victim Specialist Bridget M. Simunovic for the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office; Trial Attorney Mary J. Hahn of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section; Victim Specialist Kristin N. Czernewski of the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office; and Trial Attorney Julia K. Gegenheimer of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section. The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service is the Department’s second highest award for employee performance. There are 16 Distinguished Service Awards. The first Distinguished Award is presented to the BOP Deaths in Custody Evaluation Team: Chief Inspector Jan E. Davis Hamm of the Office of Inspector General’s Evaluations and Inspections Division; Chief Inspector Michael E. Pannone of the Office of Inspector General’s Evaluations and Inspections Division; Senior Inspector Alexander C. Parker of the Office of Inspector General’s Evaluations and Inspections Division; and Inspector Lincoln T. Berget of the Office of Inspector General’s Evaluations and Inspections Division. The second Distinguished Award is presented to the Uvalde Team: Deputy Director Robert Chapman of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services; Senior Counsel to the Director Shanetta Cutlar of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services; Policing Assistance and Reform Sociologist Nazmia Comrie of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. The third Distinguished Award is presented to the Second Amendment Appellate Litigation Team: Assistant to the Solicitor General Vivek Suri of the Office of the Solicitor General; Appellate Litigation Counsel Mark B. Stern of the Civil Division’s Appellate Staff; Deputy Chief Ann O’Connell Adams of the Criminal Division’s Appellate Section; Appellate Litigation Counsel Michael S. Raab of the Civil Division’s Appellate Staff; Deputy Chief Scott Meisler of the Criminal Division’s Appellate Section; Trial Attorney Courtney L. Dixon of the Civil Division’s Appellate Staff; Trial Attorney William Glaser Criminal Division’s Appellate Section; Trial Attorney Sean R. Janda of the Civil Division’s Appellate Staff; Trial Attorney Joshua Handell of the Criminal Division’s Appellate Section; Trial Attorney Kevin B. Soter of the Civil Division’s Appellate Staff; Trial Attorney Andrew Noll of the Criminal Division’s Appellate Section; Trial Attorney Steven H. Hazel Civil Division’s Appellate Staff; Trial Attorney Mahogane Reed of the Criminal Division’s Appellate Section; Trial Attorney Benjamin R. Lewis Civil Division’s Appellate Staff; and Deputy Director Abby C. Wright of the Civil Division’s Appellate Staff. The fourth Distinguished Award is presented to the Purdue Pharma Team: Deputy Director and General Counsel Ramona D. Elliott of the U.S. Trustee Program’s Executive Office; Deputy General Counsel Lisa A. Tracy of the U.S. Trustee Program’s Executive Office; Associate General Counsel Nan Roberts Eitel of the of the U.S. Trustee Program’s Executive Office; Associate General Counsel P. Matthew Sutko of the of the U.S. Trustee Program’s Executive Office; U.S. Trustee William K. Harrington of the U.S. Trustee Program’s Regions 1 and 2; Assistant U.S. Trustee Linda A. Riffkin of the U.S. Trustee Program’s Regions 1 and 2; Trial Attorney Paul M. Schwartzberg of the U.S. Trustee Program’s Region 2; Trial Attorney Denise J. Penn of the U.S. Trustee Program’s Executive Office; Trial Attorney John P. Sheahan of the U.S. Trustee Program’s Executive Office; Trial Attorney Beth A. Levene of the U.S. Trustee Program’s Executive Office; Trial Attorney Sumi K. Sakata of the U.S. Trustee Program’s Executive Office; Attorney Michael Shih Civil Division’s Appellate Staff; Attorney Sean R. Janda Civil Division’s Appellate Staff; Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence A. Fogelman for the Southern District of New York; Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter M. Aronoff for Southern District of New York; Deputy Solicitor General Curtis E. Gannon of the Office of the Solicitor General; Assistant to the Solicitor General Masha G. Hansford of the Office of the Solicitor General The fifth Distinguished Award is presented to the Medicare Drug Negotiation Team: Assistant Director Michelle Bennett of the Civil Division; Staff Attorney Steve Myers of the Civil Division; Senior Trial Counsel Steve Pezzi of the Civil Division; Staff Attorney Catherine Padhi of the Civil Division; Appellate Litigation Counsel Michael S. Raab of the Civil Division; Staff Attorney David Peters of the Civil Division; Staff Attorney Maxwell Baldi of the Civil Division; Staff Attorney Lindsey Powell of the Civil Division; Trial Attorney Christine Coogle of the Civil Division; Trial Attorney Cassie Snyder of the Civil Division; Trial Attorney Alexander V. Sverdlov Civil Division; Trial Attorney Mike Gaffney of the Civil Division. The sixth Distinguished Award is presented to the Magazine Case Team: Supervisory Special Agent Dustin Berger of the FBI Minneapolis Field Office; Paralegal Specialist Chrissy J. Nguyen for the District of Minnesota; Forensic Accountant Lacramioara Blackwell of the FBI Minneapolis Field Office; Paralegal Specialist Hannah C. Serres for the District of Minnesota; Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew S. Ebert for the District of Minnesota; Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson for the District of Minnesota; Assistant U.S. Attorney Garrett S. Fields for the District of Minnesota; Litigation Support Specialist Rachel L. Thrasher for the District of Minnesota; Assistant U.S. Attorney Harry M. Jacobs for the District of Minnesota; U.S. Postal Inspector John M. Western of the U.S. Postal Inspection (USPIS) Denver Field Office; and Special Agent Jared F. Kary of the FBI Minneapolis Field Office. The seventh Distinguished Award is presented to the Emergency Support Function #13 National Coordinator Center: National Coordinator Robert P. McCloy of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Unit Chief Michael T. McCarthy of the FBI’s Critical Incident Response Group; Correctional Program Specialist Jacob Dyer of the Federal Bureau of Prisons; Special Agent Robert L. Patrizi of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Special Agent Christopher E. Felski of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Special Agent Michael D. Schaefer of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Special Agent Gregory A. Fox of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Special Agent Nathan P. Shaffer of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Program Analyst Jennifer D. Ivy of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Assistant Chief Inspector Jeffrey R. Sharp U.S. Marshals Service (USMS); Budget Analyst Naomi Jacques of the Federal Bureau of Prisons; Emergency Management Specialist Edward G. Sherburne III of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Special Agent Gabriel S. Mamock of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Assistant Chief Inspector Andrew Slazinik of the USMS; and Special Agent Daniel R. Marchant of the DEA. The eighth Distinguished Award is presented to the Google Search Team: Trial Attorney Diana A. Aguilar Aldape of the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office; Trial Attorney Claire M. Maddox of the Antitrust Division’s Technology and Digital Platforms; Assistant Section Chief Meagan K. Bellshaw of the Antitrust Division’s Financial Services, Fintech, and Banking Section; Trial Attorney Michael G. McLellan of the Antitrust Division’s Financial Services, Fintech, and Banking Section; Acting Deputy Director of Civil Litigation David E. Dahlquist of the Antitrust Division’s Litigation Program; Economics Director of Enforcement Office Aditi M. Mehta of the Antitrust Division’s Assistant Attorney General; Deputy Branch Director Kenneth Dintzer of the Antitrust Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch/National Courts; Senior Litigation Counsel Erin K. Murdock-Park of the Antitrust Division’s Litigation Program; Trial Attorney Jeremy M.P. Goldstein of the Antitrust Division’s San Fransico Office; Economist Craig T. Peters of the Antitrust Division’s Economic Policy Section; Trial Attorney Richard C. Gower of the Antitrust Division’s Technology and Digital Platforms; Assistant Section Chief Adam T. Severt of the Antitrust Division’s Technology and Digital Platforms; Trial Attorney Karl E. Herrmann of the Antitrust Division’s Technology and Digital Platforms; Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General Lara E.V. Trager of the Antitrust Division’s Technology and Digital Platforms; Assistant Section Chief Elizabeth S. Jensen of the Antitrust Division’s San Fransico Office; Trial Attorney Sara Trent of the Antitrust Division’s Technology and Digital Platforms; Trial Attorney Matthew R. Jones of the Antitrust Division’s Financial Services, Fintech, and Banking Section; Economist Andrew S. Vollmer of the Antitrust Division’s Economic Litigation Section; Economist Samuel D. Krumholz of the Antitrust Division’s Economic Regulatory Section; and Trial Attorney Catharine S. Wright of the Antitrust Division’s Technology and Digital Platforms. The ninth Distinguished Award is presented to the Counternarcotic Cyber Investigations Task Force: Special Agent Michael A. Buemi of the DEA’s Miami Field Division; Task Force Officer Carlos Muvdi of the DEA’s Miami Field Division; Staff Coordinator Hauns G. Charters of the DEA’s Special Operations Division; Sanctions Investigator Thomas L. Vien of the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control; Postal Inspector Rafael A. Garcia of the USPIS Miami Division; Special Agent James B. Whitworth of the DEA’s Miami Field Division; Special Agent Alexis J. Gregory of Homeland Security Investigation (HSI), Program Manager Lissel Wilson of U.S. Custom and Border Protection’s Officer National Targeting Center; Sanctions Investigator Matthew B. Hebron of the Department of the Treasury’s Office of the Foreign Assets Control; Intelligence Research Specialist Nikeisha P. Winston of DEA’s Miami Field Division; Special Agent Bryce Jones of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations; Diversion Investigator Lana M. Worobec of DEA’s Beijing Country Office; and Supervisory Intelligence Research Specialist Daniel E. Maxwell of DEA’s Office of Special Intelligence. The 10th Distinguished Award is presented to the Title II Web Final Rule Team: Deputy Assistant Attorney General Jennifer E. Mathis of the Civil Rights Division; Attorney Advisor Lara S. Kaufmann of the Civil Rights Division’s Disability Rights Section; Chief Rebecca B. Bond of the Civil Rights Division’s Disability Rights Section; Trial Attorney Rebecca N. Guterman of the Civil Rights Division’s Disability Rights Section; Deputy Chief Kristin M. Stitcher of the Civil Rights Division’s Disability Rights Section; Trial Attorney Abigail A. Olson of the Civil Rights Division’s Disability Rights Section; Deputy Chief Joy Levin Welan of the Civil Rights Division’s Disability Rights Section; Attorney Advisor Badar U. Tareen of the Civil Rights Division’s Disability Rights Section; Attorney Advisor David K. Gardner of the Civil Rights Division’s Disability Rights Section; Paralegal Specialist Cameron C. Lynch of the Civil Rights Division’s Professional Development Office; Attorney Advisor Logan K. Gerrity of the Civil Rights Division’s Disability Rights Section. The 11th Distinguished Award is presented to the Access to Justice Leadership Team: Senior Advisor Jesse Bernstein of the Office for Access to Justice; Executive Officer Shannon Munro of the Office for Access to Justice; Language Access Coordinator Claudia Castillo of the Office for Access to Justice; Senior Counsel Nikhil Ramnaney of the Office for Access to Justice; Pro Bono Program Manager Laura Klein of the Office for Access to Justice; Deputy Director of Policy Christina Smith of the Office for Access to Justice; Public Affairs Officer Lauren Lambert of the Office for Access to Justice; Acting Deputy Director of Programs David Steib of the Office for Access to Justice; Senior Advisor Kim Lopez of the Office for Access to Justice; Senior Counsel Andrew Walchuk of the Office for Access to Justice; General Counsel Catalina Martinez of the Office for Access to Justice; Acting Chief of Staff Jessa Wilcox of the Office for Access to Justice; Human Resource Liaison Nichole Miller of the Office for Access to Justice; and Executive Director of the Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable Allie Yang-Green of the Office for Access to Justice. The 12th Distinguished Award is presented to the Fisher Team: Deputy Chief of Complex Frauds Christopher Huber for the Northern District of Georgia; Trial Attorney Richard Rolwing of the Tax Division’s Northern Criminal Enforcement Section; Trial Attorney Jessica Kraft of the Tax Division’s Southern Criminal Enforcement Section; Trial Attorney Nicholas Schilling of the Tax Division’s Southern Criminal Enforcement Section; Paralegal Robert Resto of the Tax Division’s Southern Criminal Enforcement Section; Trial Attorney Parker Tobin of the Tax Division’s Southern Criminal Enforcement Section. The 13th Distinguished Award is presented to the Data Protection Review Court Team: Acting Director Katherine Harman-Stokes of the Office of Privacy and Civil Liberties; Program Specialist Leatha Johnson of the Office of Privacy and Civil Liberties; Senior Counsel Christina Baptista of the Office of Privacy and Civil Liberties; International Director Dylan Cors of the National Security Division’s Office of Law and Policy; Senior Counsel Hannah Mayer of the Office of Privacy and Civil Liberties; Litigation Support Specialist Maisha Treadwell of the National Security Division’s eLitigation and Data Services; Senior Counsel Andrew McFarland of the Office of Privacy and Civil Liberties; Assistant Director Nancy Anne Baugher of the Justice Management Division’s Budget Staff; Senior Counsel Jay Sinha of the Office of Privacy and Civil Liberties; Budget Analyst Peter Carlino of the Justice Management Division’s Budget Staff; Attorney Advisor Victoria Garcia of the Office of Privacy and Civil Liberties; Assistant Director Julie Homick of Justice Management Division’s Human Resources Coordination Team; Management and Program Advisor Andria Robinson-Smith of the Office of Privacy and Civil Liberties; and Program Specialist Claudia Tweed of the Justice Management Division’s Human Resource Operations. The 14th Distinguished Award is presented to the Section 702 Reauthorization Team: Supervisory Attorney Advisor Peter J. Atlee of the National Security Division’s Office of Intelligence; Chief of Staff and Senior Counsel Susan J. Hennessey of the National Security Division’s Office of the Assistant Attorney General; Senior Counsel Andrew D. Beaty of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General; Supervisory Special Agent W. Mike Herrington of the FBI’s Office of the Director; Counselor Margot G. Benedict of the Office of the Attorney General; Counsel Hilary A. Hurd of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General; Senior Counsel Adrienne L. Benson of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General; Deputy Assistant Attorney General Melissa MacTough of the National Security Division’s Office of the Assistant Attorney General; Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nelson Slade Bond II of the Office of Legislative Affairs; Legislative Affairs Specialist Daniel J. Paviglianiti of the FBI’s Office of Congressional Affairs; Attorney Advisor Kathryn J. L. Donahue of the National Security Division’s Office of Intelligence; Supervisory Attorney Advisor Joshua T. Raines of the National Security Division’s Office of Intelligence; Press Secretary Emma M. Dulaney of the Office of Public Affairs; and Attorney Advisor James Saulino of the FBI’s Office of General Counsel. The 15th Distinguished Award is presented to the Marathon Oil Team: Trial Attorney Jonah P. Brown of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Enforcement Section; Trial Attorney Vanessa M. Moore of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Enforcement Section; Legal Assistant Gabrielle J. James of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Enforcement Section; Assistant Section Chief Laura A. Thoms of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Enforcement Section; Paralegal Specialist Meghan R. Jones of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Enforcement Section. The 16th Distinguished Award is presented to the United States v. Ross Roggio Team: Trial Attorney Scott A. Claffee National Security Division’s Counter Espionage Section; Legal Administrative Specialist Sierra Morano for the Middle District of Pennsylvania; Trial Attorney Colette L. Ford of the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs; Victim Witness Specialist Andrea C. Myers for the Middle District of Pennsylvania; Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd K. Hinkley for the Middle District of Pennsylvania; Legal Administrative Specialist Christina M. Nihen for the Middle District of Pennsylvania; Historian Phil Hoffman of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights & Special Prosecutions Section; Special Agent Thomas J. O’Donnell of the FBI Philadelphia Field Office; Trial Attorney Patrick Jasperse of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights & Special Prosecutions Section; Paralegal Anna Rogers of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights & Special Prosecutions Section; Trial Attorney Christian Levesque of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights & Special Prosecutions Section; and Deputy Chief Courtney Spivey Urschel of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights & Special Prosecutions Section. The Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism recognizes a remarkable act of bravery and risk of life while performing official duties. The Award for Exception Heroism is presented to the Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force: Senior Inspector Austin Acheson of the USMS Investigative Operations Division; Special Agent Arthur Philson of the ATF; Task Force Officer (Fallen) William Elliott of the USMS Investigative Operations Division; Task Force Officer (Fallen) Samuel Poloche of the USMS Investigative Operations Division; Task Force Officer Josh Funderburk of the USMS Investigative Operations Division; Task Force Officer Frankie Runyon of the USMS Investigative Operations Division; Task Force Officer Casey Hoover of the USMS Investigative Operations Division; Task Force Officer Chad Shingler of the USMS Investigative Operations Division; Task Force Officer Frank Irizarry of the USMS Investigative Operations; Deputy U.S. Marshal Joshua Shuffler for the Western District of North Carolina; Task Force Officer Collin Johnson of the USMS Investigative Operations Division; Senior Inspector Eric Tillman of the USMS Investigative Operations; Task Force Officer Samuel Laws of the USMS Investigative Operations Division; Deputy U.S. Marshal (Fallen) Thomas Weeks for the Western District of North Carolina; Senior Inspector Derek Miller of the USMS Investigative Operations Division. The Mary C . Lawton Lifetime Service Award recognizes employees who have served at least 20 years in the Department and who have demonstrated high standards of excellence and dedication throughout their careers. This award is presented only in exceptional circumstances to those individuals of special merit and is not awarded to express general appreciation for tenure alone. The first Mary C . Lawton Lifetime Service Award is presented to Deputy Chief Barbara “Bobbi” Bernstein of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section. The second Mary C . Lawton Lifetime Service Award is presented to General Counsel Jennifer Kaplan of the Office on Violence Against Women. The third Mary C . Lawton Lifetime Service Award is presented to Supervisory Trial Attorney Terry Henry of the Civil Division’s Federal Programs Branch. The fourth Mary C . Lawton Lifetime Service Award is presented to Assistant U.S. Attorney Shane Harrigan for the Southern District of California. The fifth Mary C . Lawton Lifetime Service Award is presented to Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Jane Stewart for the Northern District of Georgia. The sixth Mary C . Lawton Lifetime Service Award is presented to Deputy Chief Gregg A. Maisel for the District of Columbia. The seventh Mary C . Lawton Lifetime Service Award is presented to Senior Counsel for Appellate Matters Eric G. Hostetler of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Defense Section. The eighth Mary C . Lawton Lifetime Service Award is presented to Supervisory Attorney Mary K. Butler of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section. The ninth Mary C . Lawton Lifetime Service Award is presented to Supervisory Special Agent Richard B. Marx of the FBI’s Laboratory Division. The Edward H . Levi Award for Outstanding Professionalism and Exemplary Integrity is established to pay tribute to the memory and achievements of former Attorney General Edward H. Levi, whose career as an attorney, law professor, and dean and public servant exemplified these qualities in the best traditions of the Department. The Edward H. Levi Award for Outstanding Professionalism and Exemplary Integrity is presented to Trial Attorney Lowell V. Sturgill of the Civil Division’s Appellate Staff. The William French Smith Award for Outstanding Contribution to Cooperative Law Enforcement was established to pay tribute to the memory and achievements of former Attorney General William French Smith for his establishment of Law Enforcement Coordinating Committees (LECCs), and his outstanding efforts in promoting law enforcement cooperation and coordination throughout the nation. It is designed to recognize state and local law enforcement officials who, through their participation in cooperative interagency efforts, have made significant contributions to law enforcement endeavors and objectives. This award is presented to the OPERATION DISRUPT SoCal Team: Senior Trial Attorney Stephen Da Ponte of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section; Special Agent Brett A. Crooks of HSI; Deputy Chief Joseph A. Poux of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section; Special Agent Seidy Gaytan of HSI; Assistant Special Agent-In-Charge Benjamin M. Carr of Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division; Special Agent Shawn P. Doyle of HSI; Special Agent Gabrielle M. Buda of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division; Special Agent Ian MacLean of HSI; Special Agent Sawyer A. Rotell of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division; Criminal Analyst Regina Soria of HSI; Special Agent Ezekiel Austin of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Criminal Investigation Division; Chief Phong Hua of U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Supervisory Special Agent Michael Lesley of HSI; Watch Commander Roberto Pagan of U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Supervising Criminal Investigator Gloria Gamino of the California Department of Toxic Substances Control. The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement recognizes outstanding professional achievements by law enforcement officers within the Justice Department. Two Excellence in Law Enforcement Awards. The first Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement is presented to the Charlotte Response Team: Deputy Commander Brian Alfano of the USMS’ Investigative Operations Division; Senior Inspector David Frebel Jr. of the USMS’ Investigative Operations Division; Deputy Commander Brian Montana of the USMS’ Investigative Operations Division; Task Force Officer Jamie Terry of the USMS’ Investigative Operations Division; Law Enforcement Officer Jack Blowers of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department; Law Enforcement Officer Mike Giglio of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department; Law Enforcement Officer Justin Campbell of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department; Law Enforcement Officer Christopher Tolley of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department; Enforcement Officer (Fallen) Joshua Eyer Law of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department; Task Force Officer Samuel Barksdale of the Investigative Operations Division Gastonia Police Department. The second Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement is presented to Special Agent Kimojha “Mo” Brooks of the DEA’s North and Central America Division. The Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service in Indian Country is designed to recognize extraordinary efforts to demonstrate the Department's commitment to fight crime in Indian Country. The Award for Exceptional Service in Indian Country is presented to the Tribal Affairs Division of the Office on Violence Against Women: Grants Management Specialist Lisa M. Arnold of the Office on Violence Against Women; Grants Management Specialist Jennifer W. Marsh of the Office on Violence Against Women; Grants Management Specialist Tammy L. Ashley of the Office on Violence Against Women; Grants Management Specialist Jenny R. Mills of the Office on Violence Against Women; Grants Management Specialist Yulonda I. Candelario of the Office on Violence Against Women; Grants Management Specialist Mary A. Mummaw of the Office on Violence Against Women; Attorney Advisor Frances A. Cook of the Office on Violence Against Women; Deputy Director Sherriann C. Moore of the Office on Violence Against Women; Grants Management Specialist Samantha L. Dziatkiewicz of the Office on Violence Against Women; Grants Management Darla R. Nolan of the Specialist Office on Violence Against Women; Supervisory Grants Management Specialist Tia H. Farmer of the Office on Violence Against Women; Grants Management Specialist Cheryl “Renee” Stapp of the Office on Violence Against Women; Supervisory Grants Management Specialist Rebekah R. Jones of the Office on Violence Against Women; Grants Management Specialist Sydney L. West of the Office on Violence Against Women; Senior Grants Management Specialist Regina D. Madison of the Office on Violence Against Women. The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Management recognizes outstanding administrative or managerial achievements which have significant improved operations, productivity, or reduced costs. The award is presented to Program Manager Angela D. Vandergrift of the FBI’s Criminal Justice Investigative Services. The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Technology or Privacy recognizes outstanding contributions by Justice Department employees in applying information technology to improve the operations or productivity of the Department, reduce or avoid costs, or solve problems, as well as recognizing outstanding achievements in privacy law, policy, and compliance. The first Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Technology or Privacy was presented to the Bankruptcy Videoconference Team: Supervisory Auditor Krista G. Hale of the U.S. Trustee Program; Auditor Nicole M. Zollars of the U.S. Trustee Program. The second Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Technology or Privacy was presented to the DOJ National Law Enforcement Accountability Database (NLEAD) Team: Senior Counsel Jeffrey S. Nestler of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General; Director James L. Dunlap of the Justice Management Division’s Security and Emergency Planning Staff; Chief Privacy & Civil Liberties Officer (Acting) Peter A. Winn of the Office of Privacy and Civil Liberties; Assistant Director Michael W. Haas of the Justice Management Division’s Law Enforcement Services and Information Sharing; Deputy Associate Attorney General Saeed Mody of the Office of the Associate Attorney General; Senior Advisor Marissa A. Marrone of the Justice Management Division’s Human Resources Staff; Deputy Assistant Attorney General Melinda Rogers of the Justice Management Division’s Office of the Chief Information Officer; Deputy Director Brian Merrick of the Justice Management Division’s Service Delivery Staff; Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael Williams of the Justice Management Division’s Human Resources and Administration; General Counsel Morton J. Posner of the Justice Management Division; Director Melody Armstrong of the Justice Management Division; Deputy Director F. Michael Sena Justice Management Division’s Human Resources Staff; Chief of Staff Nikki Collier of the Justice Management Division; Senior Assistant General Counsel Evelyn Tang of the Justice Management Division; Deputy Assistant Director Peter W. Crichlow of the Justice Management Division; Deputy Assistant Director Leah Taylor of the USMS; Assistant Director Eric S. Daniels of the Justice Management Division; Deputy Assistant Director Erin M. Prest of the FBI’s Office of the General Counsel; Assistant Director Swati Deb of the Justice Management Division’s Application Technical Services. The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Furthering the Interests of U . S . National Security is designed to recognize a special act or service by a Department employee who has greatly contributed to protecting U.S. national security. The 2024 award is presented to T-Mobile Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States Penalty and Disclosure Team: Supervisory Attorney Advisor Eric S. Johnson of the National Security Division’s Foreign Investment Review Section; Supervisory Attorney Advisor Diane Kelleher of the Civil Division’s Federal Programs Branch; Research Support Specialist Robert A. Kaminaris of the National Security Division’s Foreign Investment Review Section; Trial Attorney James C. Luh of the Civil Division’s Federal Programs Branch; Attorney Advisor Eileen C. Keenan of the National Security Division’s Foreign Investment Review Section; Information Technology Specialist Matthew Baer of the FBI’s Operation Technology Division; Attorney Advisor Kara L. Podraza of the National Security Division’s Foreign Investment Review Section; Senior Telecommunications Specialist Michael Gray of the FBI’s Operational Technology Division; Supervisory Attorney Advisor Tyler J. Wood of the National Security Division’s Foreign Investment Review Section; Attorney Gregory Welsch of the FBI’s Operational Technology Division; and Trial Attorney Alison Zitron of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section. The Attorney General’s Award for Outstanding Service in Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Administration is designated to recognize exceptional dedication to the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act. This award is presented to the Federal Bureau of Prisons Freedom of Information Act Team: Government Information Specialist Santos Arellano of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ North Central Regional Office; Government Information Specialist Sara Lilly of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Central Office; Supervisory Attorney Advisor Eugene Baime of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Central Office; Government Information Specialist Kristi Scarantino of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Federal Correctional Complex Butner; Government Information Specialist Robin Carl of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Western Regional Office; Government Information Specialist Shauniece White of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Federal Correctional Institution Fort Dix; Supervisory Government Information Specialist Kara Christenson of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Federal Medical Center Rochester. The Attorney General’s Award for Equal Employment Opportunity is the Department’s highest award for performance in support of the Equal Employment Opportunity Program. This award is presented to the Beacon Project Team: Information Technology Specialist Aisha Napari Abass of the FBI Newark Field Office; Special Agent Corey G. Harris of the FBI New Orleans Field Office; Management & Program Analyst Alexis Karen Averette of the FBI’s Office of Diversity & Inclusion; Management and Program Analyst Tamika M. Harrison of the FBI’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion; Bryant Management & Program Analyst Shantuana Nicole of the FBI’s Directorate of Intelligence; Community Outreach Specialist Chiquanda D. Tillie of the FBI Columbia Field Office; Supervisory Foreign Language Program Coordinator Annie Yaitze Correa of the FBI New York Field Office; Community Outreach Specialist Stacie K. Ward of the FBI Charlotte Field Office; Management & Program Analyst Stacy Lamonte Culler of the FBI Office of Diversity and Inclusion; Management and Program Analyst Amy E. Waye of the FBI’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion; Special Agent Stacey Reid Deal of the FBI Charlotte Field Office; Applicant Recruiter/Coordinator Amani Wilson of the FBI Baltimore Field Office; Management & Program Analyst Edrienne C. Elliott-Wade of the FBI’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion; Supervisory Special Agent Kisha T. Winston of the FBI Washington Field Office; Community Outreach Specialist Marvella Gray of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Legal Support recognizes outstanding achievements in the field of legal support to attorneys by paralegal specialists and other legal assistants. The first award for Excellence in Legal Support is presented to Environmental Torts Litigation Paralegal Specialist Doris Renate Epton of the Civil Division’s Torts Branch. The second award for Excellence in Legal Support is presented to Management Analyst/Criminal Paralegal Margaret E. Jahn for the Eastern District of Virginia. The Attorney General’s Award for Excellence in Administrative Support recognizes outstanding administrative or managerial achievements (e.g., human resources, financial management, information technology, and general non-legal administrative support). This award is presented to Paralegal Jenna Rahrle of the Office of Legislative Affairs. The Claudia J . Flynn Award for Professional Responsibility is designed to recognize a Department attorney who has made significant contributions in professional responsibility by successfully handling a sensitive and challenging professional responsibility issue in an exemplary fashion and/or leading efforts to ensure that Department attorneys carry out their duties in accordance with the rules of professional conduct. The Claudia J . Flynn Award for Professional Responsibility is presented to Deputy Counsel Suzanne K. Drouet of the Office of Professional Responsibility. The Attorney General’s Award for Asset Forfeiture recognizes the outstanding legal efforts or other actions by Department employees in support of the Government’s asset forfeiture programs. The Attorney General’s Award for Asset Forfeiture is presented to the Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program Team: Associate Deputy Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General; Chief Policy Unit Sarah Dorsey of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering & Asset Recovery Section; Deputy Assistant Attorney General Kevin O. Driscoll of the Criminal Division’s Office of the Assistant Attorney General; Acting Director of the Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program Patrick B. Gushue of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering & Asset Recovery Section; Deputy Assistant Attorney General Lisa H. Miller of the Criminal Division’s Office of the Assistant Attorney General; Principal Deputy Chief Lorinda Laryea of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section; Chief Counselor Brent Wible of the Criminal Division’s Office of the Assistant Attorney General; Chief Glenn S. Leon of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section; Chief Margaret “Molly” Moeser of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering & Asset Recovery Section; Principal Deputy Assistant Chief of the Health Care Fraud Unit Jacob N. Foster of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section; Chief of the Program Management and Training Unit Jennifer Bickford of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering & Asset Recovery Section; Assistant Chief Market Integrity & Major Fraud Unit Michael “Mike” O’Neill of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section; Deputy Chief Program Management and Training Unit Raymond “Matt” Colon of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering & Asset Recovery Section; and Attorney Advisor Mark H. Goldberg of the National Security Division. The Attorney General’s Award for Fraud Prevention recognizes those who have been involved with the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of fraud and other white-collar crimes. The award is presented to the Endo Bankruptcy and Litigation Team: Assistant United States Attorney Peter Aronoff for the Southern District of New York; Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Schwartz for the Southern District of New York; Special Agent Wende E. Bardfeld of the FBI; Trial Attorney Tara M. Shinnick of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch; Assistant U.S. Attorney Jean-David Barnea for the Southern District of New York; Diversion Investigator Stephanie K. Tait of the DEA; Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra Chase for the Southern District of Florida; Senior Trial Counsel Christopher Terranova of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section Commercial Litigation Branch; Trial Attorney Benjamin A. Cornfeld of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch; Supervisory Trial Attorney Kevin P. VanLandingham of the Civil Division’s Corporate/Financial Litigation; Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Feeley for the Southern District of Florida; Assistant Director of the Fraud Section Natalie A. Waites of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch; Diversion Investigator Donna G. Richards of the DEA; Legal Administrative Specialist Angela Weddle for the Southern District of Florida; and Supervisory Trial Attorney Mary Schmergel of the Civil Division’s Corporate/Financial Litigation. The Attorney General’s Award for Outstanding Contributions by a New Employee recognizes exceptional performance and notable accomplishments towards the Department’s mission by an employee with fewer than five years of federal career service. The first Attorney General’s Award for Outstanding Contributions by a New Employee recognizes Chief Juan Castillo of the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Human Resource Management Division, National Recruitment Office. The second Attorney General’s Award for Outstanding Contributions by a New Employee recognizes Physical Security Specialist Nicholas R. Eubanks of the USMS Southern District of Alabama. The Attorney General’s Award for Outstanding External Contributions recognizes individuals or teams who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and skill in fostering collaboration between government agencies and community stakeholders to enhance public safety or have rendered exceptionally helpful assistance to the Department in high-visibility litigation. The first Attorney General’s Award for Outstanding External Contributions is presented to the Republican National Convention and Democratic National Convention Deployment Team: Conciliation Specialist Sean Barrett Community Relations Service’s South Region; Pearson Conciliation Specialist Kelly Hams of the Community Relations Service’s Midwest Region; Conciliation Specialist Kabrina W. Bass of the Community Relations Service’s Midwest Region; Conciliation Specialist Karl Jegeris of the Community Relations Service’s Midwest Region; Conciliation Specialist Joi Brown Dillard of the Community Relations Service’s South Region; Conciliation Specialist Dion Lyons of the Community Relations Service’s South Region; Conciliation Specialist Mildred Duprey de Robles of the Community Relations Service’s South Region; Conciliation Specialist Reginal M. Malden of the Community Relations Service’s South Region; Conciliation Specialist Clayton B. Fong of the Community Relations Service’s Mountain Central Region; Conciliation Specialist Kimberly L. McDonald of the Community Relations Service’s Atlantic North Region; Conciliation Specialist GusTavo A. Guerra Vasquez of the Community Relations Service’s West Region; Conciliation Specialist Michael Outlaw of the Community Relations Service’s Atlantic North Region; Conciliation Specialist Shanette Hall of the Community Relations Service’s Midwest Region; Conciliation Specialist Daniel Z. Rowe of the Community Relations Service’s South Region. The second Attorney General’s Award for Outstanding External Contributions is the Project Safe Childhood Team: Project Safe Childhood Program Specialist Karen Legace for the District of Massachusetts; Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne Paruti for the District of Massachusetts; Special Agent Jennifer L. Gerega of the FBI Boston Field Office; Special Agent Matthew G. Fontaine of the FBI Boston Field Office; Special Agent Edward Bradstreet of HSI; Special Agent Virginia B. Toulouse of the FBI Boston Field Office; Special Agent Andrew Kelleher of HSI; Trooper DeShawn Brown Trooper of the Massachusetts State Police. The John Marshall Awards are the Department’s highest awards presented to attorneys for contributions and excellence in specialized areas of legal performance. The first John Marshall Award for Excellence in Litigation is presented to the United States v. Aldrich Prosecution Team: Victim Witness Coordinator Debbie Azua-Dillehay for the District of Colorado; Special Agent Ryan Molinari of ATF; Auditor Dana Chamberlin for the District of Colorado; Victim Specialist Alicia Wagner of the FBIE Denver Field Office; Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Connaughty for the District of Colorado; Special Agent Jason R. Walter of the FBI Denver Field Office; Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Fields for the District of Colorado; Trial Attorney Maura D. White of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section; and Special Agent Justin Kempf of the FBI Denver Field Office. The second John Marshall Award is presented to the United States v. Westchester Joint Water Works Team: Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel H. Dolinger for the Southern District of New York and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tomoko Onozawa for the Southern District of New York. The third John Marshall Award is presented to the Aimenn Penny Investigation and Prosecution Team: Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian S. Deckert for the Northern District of Ohio; Special Agent Patrick B. Lentz of the FBI Cleveland Field Office; Special Agent Stacey Griggs of the FBI Cleveland Field Office; Intelligence Analyst Wendi Parker of the FBI Cleveland Field Office; Special Operations Specialist Megan Hixon of the FBI Cleveland Field Office; Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew W. Shepherd for the Northern District of Ohio; Victim Witness Specialist Allison A. Kretz for the Northern District of Ohio; Special Agent Lane R. Thorum for the FBI Cleveland Field Office; Supervisory Special Agent Jacob C. Kunkle of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; Special Agent Cleveland Nicholas H. Visnich of the FBI Field Office. The fourth John Marshall Award is presented to the United States v. Andrew Fahie Prosecution Team: Trial Attorney Shane Butland Criminal Division’s Fraud Section; Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean T. McLaughlin for the Southern District of Florida; Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin D. Gerarde for the Southern District of Florida; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Frederic (Fritz) Shadley for the Southern District of Florida. The fifth John Marshall Award is presented to the Columbia River System Team: Senior Trial Attorney Michael R. Eitel of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Wildlife and Marine Resources Section; Senior Trial Attorney Romney S. Philpott of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Natural Resources Section; Trial Attorney David S. Frankel of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Appellate Section; Senior Trial Attorney Frederick H. Turner of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Wildlife and Marine Resources Section. The sixth John Marshall Award is presented to the Binance Investigation and Prosecution Team: Trial Attorney Elizabeth R. Carr of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering & Asset Recovery Section; Trial Attorney Alexander H. Wharton of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section; Deputy Chief of the Bank Integrity Unit Kevin G. Mosley Criminal Division’s Money Laundering & Asset Recovery Section; Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael W. Dion for the Western District of Washington; Trial Attorney Victor R. Salgado of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering & Asset Recovery Section; Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia E. Jarrett for the District of Oregon; Deputy Chief Matthew A. Anzaldi of the National Security Division’s Nation Security Cyber Section; Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonas B. Lerman for the Western District of Washington; and Trial Attorney Beau Barnes of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. The John Marshall Award for Providing Legal Advice is presented to the Securing the Border Team: Attorney-Advisor Amanda Chuzi of the Office of Legal Counsel; Attorney-Advisor Louis Katz of the Office of Legal Counsel; Attorney-Advisor Jon Cowles of the Executive Office for Immigration Review’s Office of Policy, Immigration Law Division; Attorney-Advisor Mark Krass of the Office of Legal Counsel; Attorney-Advisor Conor Craft of the Office of Legal Counsel; Attorney-Advisor Lucas Lallinger of the Office of Legal Counsel; Attorney-Advisor Lauren Gallenstein of the Executive Office for Immigration Review’s Office of Policy, Immigration Law Division; Attorney-Advisor Grace Leeper of the Office of Legal Counsel; Attorney-Advisor Naomi Gilens of the Office of Legal Counsel; Attorney-Advisor Robert Charles Merritt of the Office of Legal Counsel; Attorney-Advisor Samantha Goldstein of the Office of Legal Counsel; Attorney-Advisor Dina Mishra of the Office of Legal Counsel; Honors Program Attorney Emily Gorrivan of the Executive Office for Immigration Review’s Office of Policy, Immigration Law Division; Counsel Nicholas Nasrallah of the Office of Legal Counsel; Senior Litigation Counsel Christina Greer of the Civil Division’s Office of Immigration Litigation; Attorney-Advisor Mariette Peltier of the Office of Legal Counsel; Special Counsel Rosemary Hart of the Office of Legal Counsel; Attorney-Advisor Caitlin E. Whaley of the Executive Office for Immigration Review’s Office of Policy, Immigration Law Division; and Supervisory Attorney Raechel J. Horowitz of the Executive Office for Immigration Review’s Office of Policy, Immigration Law Division. The John Marshall Award for Appellate Litigation is presented to Trial Attorney David M. Lieberman of the Criminal Division’s Appellate Section.


title: Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office

component: USAO - Wyoming

body_text: Public Lands Violations Yellowstone National Park Alexander Villanueva, 37, of Las Vegas Nevada, pled guilty to reckless driving, failing to comply with a traffic control device, possessing an open container of alcohol in a vehicle, and refusing to submit to a test of his breath on January 14, 2025 in Mammoth, Wyoming. According to court documents, Villanueva was contacted by law enforcement officers after a park visitor reported him for an erratic driving pattern. After standard field sobriety testing indicated Mr. Villanueva was unsafe to operate a motor vehicle, he was arrested. After his arrest, Mr. Villanueva refused to submit to an official breath test. For refusing to submit to a breath test, Villanueva was sentenced to a seven-day term of incarceration with credit for two days previously served. He was also sentenced to pay a total of $1,020 in fines and court costs and placed on a two-year term of unsupervised probation, one of the terms prohibits him from entering Yellowstone National Park during the period of probation. Because he refused the official breath test, he may not operate a motor vehicle for one year on any federal land according to 18 U.S.C. 3118. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel C. Calmes prosecuted the case. Drug Trafficking and Firearm Offenses Phillip Brent Chiles, 61, of Riverton, Wyoming, was sentenced to three years’ probation with two months of home confinement for being a felon and unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on May 3, 2024, the Riverton Police Department found Chiles in possession of a .22 rifle. Chiles said he uses the rifle for hunting. He also admitted to using approximately 1 gram of methamphetamine a week and was trying to cut back. As a previously convicted felon, Chiles is unable to possess a firearm. Chiles was indicted on July 18, 2024, pleaded guilty on Oct. 9, 2024, and Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Jan. 16, in Casper. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation and Riverton Police Department investigated the crime and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-CR-00121 Illegal Re-Entry of a Previously Deported Alien Joel David Vazquez-Sanchez, 33, of Curaren, Francisco Morazan, Honduras, was sentenced to time served and will be deported for illegal reentry into the United States. According to court documents, on July 3, 2024, Vazquez-Sanchez was arrested by the Albany County Sheriff’s Office for driving while under the influence. The Albany County Wyoming Detention Center provided a booking sheet that indicated Vazquez-Sanchez was born in Honduras. Agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were contacted and determined that Vazquez-Sanchez had previously been removed from the U.S. and had not applied for permission to reenter after being formally removed in September 2016. ICE investigated the crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook prosecuted the case. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Jan. 16, Casper. Case No. 24-CR-00176


title: Sioux City Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Federal Prison For Illegal Possession of a Gun and Violation of Federal Supervised Release

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man on supervised release was sentenced January 16, 2025, to 16 years in federal prison. Bob Schonrock, age 54, from Sioux City, received the prison term after pleading guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon and drug user, and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Schonrock has an extensive criminal history including, aggravated battery, grand theft, possession of controlled substance, eluding and possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) in state court, and possession of a firearm by a felon and drug user and possession of a stolen firearm in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa. Evidence in the case revealed that in November of 2023, Sioux City Police officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle Schonrock was operating for an equipment violation. Drug paraphernalia was observed in plain view on the front passenger seat. During a search, a scale with methamphetamine residue was located on Schonrock, and a handgun was found in a tool bag in the back seat of the vehicle. A magnetic container was also located underneath the vehicle adjacent the driver’s door which contained approximately 10.74 grams of methamphetamine. Officers also located a garage Schonrock was known to use. and upon a search found methamphetamine residue on a countertop adjacent to packaging materials and a plastic bag containing methamphetamine with an approximate gross weight of 483 grams. Schonrock was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand to 180 months’ imprisonment, consecutive to 12 months imprisonment for the supervised release violation. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. Rockwood is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was investigated by Sioux City, Iowa Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-04081 and 19-04058. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: South Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges in Connection with the Murder of New Mexico State Police Officer

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Jaremy Smith pleaded guilty today to multiple federal charges in a plea agreement that will result in a federal sentence of life without the possibility of parole. According to court documents, it is alleged that on March 13, 2024, Smith forcibly abducted a woman from her home in South Carolina, transported her in a stolen vehicle, and fatally shot her with a handgun that he had stolen from her roommate prior to the crime. After committing the murder, Smith fled across state lines to evade prosecution, traveling through Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas before entering New Mexico. On March 15, 2024, in Quay County, New Mexico, Smith fatally shot New Mexico State Police Officer Justin Hare after Officer Hare stopped to assist him with a flat tire. Smith then stole Officer Hare’s police cruiser with the wounded officer inside, driving for several minutes before abandoning the vehicle and the critically injured Officer Hare on a remote road. Officer Hare succumbed to his injuries at a hospital later that morning. Law enforcement immediately launched a coordinated effort across multiple jurisdictions to locate Smith , and his name and photograph were widely disseminated by media news outlets. Smith was apprehended in Albuquerque on March 17, 2024, by deputies from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office after a gas station employee recognized Smith and contacted law enforcement. “A life sentence for a life taken does not make our community whole. But the best way to honor Justin Hare’s life is to take care of each other,” said U.S. Attorney Alexander Uballez. “Today, I commit myself to the people of New Mexico. In the memory of a brave State Police officer whose final act was to help another. In honor of the hundreds of law enforcement officers who worked around the clock to protect this community and do justice for their fallen brother. And in the footsteps of the gas station clerks, everyday citizens, who bravely did the right thing in the face of clear and present danger. It is time for us all to join these strangers who did the right thing for people they never met.” “All too often, first responders are called upon to sacrifice their lives to protect their communities. Smith’s actions have had a devastating, life-long impact on the victim’s families,” said Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office. “The FBI will continue to work with our partner agencies to use all available resources to make sure that violent and dangerous criminals are pursued to the fullest extent of the law.” "Officer Hare’s sacrifice exemplifies the unwavering courage of law enforcement.,” said NM DPS Secretary Jason R. Bowie. “This plea underscores our commitment to justice through relentless collaboration across state lines." "Officer Justin Hare and Ms. Machado-Fore were tragically killed by Jaremy Smith. While nothing can undo this heartbreaking loss, today offers a measure of justice for their friends and family," said Troy Weisler, Chief of the New Mexico State Police. "Thanks to the efforts of our law enforcement partners and the support of the community, Jaremy Smith will never again take a breath as a free man, and that is as it should be." Smith pled guilty to five counts, including carjacking resulting in death, using and carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, kidnapping resulting in death, being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, and possession of a stolen firearm. Smith will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. At sentencing, Smith faces a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole. As part of the plea agreement, Smith agreed that the appropriate sentence was lifetime incarceration without the possibility of parole. The Department of Justice has previously determined that it will not seek the death penalty for Smith for the incidents that occurred in New Mexico. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez for the District of New Mexico and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The FBI Albuquerque Field Office and New Mexico State Police investigated this case with assistance from the Tenth Judicial District Attorney’s Office and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Mysliwiec and Jack Burkhead are prosecuting the case. Smith Plea (1).pdf # # #


title: California La eMe Members and Associates Indicted for Racketeering and Controlled Substance Trafficking through a Partnership with the Sinaloa Cartel

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a six-count superseding indictment against Ronaldo Mudrano Ayala, 74, of San Diego; Angel Anthony Esparza, 41, of Indio; Ronald Paul Sepulveda, 40, of Riverside; Samuel O. Morales, 42, of Seattle; Allen David Fong, 33, of San Mateo; and Alexis Rodriguez, 23, of Seattle, Washington; charging them with racketeering and controlled substance offenses, Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced. The superseding indictment was returned on Dec. 19, 2024, and was unsealed yesterday following the arrest and arraignment of Rodriguez. According to court documents, the defendants were members of an organization known as the Mexican Mafia or La eMe, whose members engaged in, among other things, interference with commerce through extortion, arson, controlled substance trafficking, and firearms trafficking. La eMe was founded in Folsom State Prison. Thereafter, La eMe grew within the California and Federal prison systems, and today, La eMe exerts influence and control over various illegal activities both inside and outside of the prison systems. La eMe controls and organizes Sureño street gangs into a larger, La eMe-controlled, criminal organization, and it enforces its rules and promotes discipline among its members and associates by assaulting and threatening those individuals, including associates, who violate the rules, fail to carry out an order, or pose a threat to La eMe. Members and associates of La eMe routinely used contraband cellphones smuggled into prisons to communicate with each other. The superseding indictment alleges that La eMe generated revenue through the collection of “La eMe taxes.” For instance, La eMe required the payment of taxes on any illegal activities that generate revenue within their area of influence. To ensure the payment of taxes, La eMe offered protection should an individual paying the taxes serve a sentence of incarceration. Also, La eMe sought to burn property belonging to persons who failed to pay taxes. La eMe also collected taxes from entertainers or persons perceived to be profiting by using La eMe’s reputation, insignias, or claiming La eMe or “mafia” affiliation. La eMe collected La eMe taxes in areas throughout the Western United States including throughout California and in Washington state. The superseding indictment alleges that La eMe formed a partnership with the Sinaloa Cartel offering protection for the cartel’s incarcerated members, including Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, in exchange for the Sinaloa Cartel supplying controlled substances from Mexico. The superseding indictment alleges that the defendants served the following functions, among others, within the enterprise: Ronaldo Mudrano Ayala, aka “OG,” aka “El Professor,” aka “Profe,” was an inmate at San Quentin State Prison. Ayala oversaw La eMe’s interests and tax collection efforts in the areas throughout the United States including San Diego, Riverside County, Sacramento, San Francisco, and Seattle. Ayala also oversaw the agreement between La eMe and the Sinaloa Cartel, ordered the extortion of persons who failed to pay La eMe taxes, ordered the arson of property belonging to persons who failed to pay La eMe taxes, communicated La eMe directives to La eMe associates inside and outside the prison systems, and enforced discipline among La eMe associates. Angel Anthony Esparza, aka “Snappy,” aka “Snaps,” was an inmate at San Quentin State Prison. Esparza handled La eMe business for Ayala. Esparza instructed others concerning the amount of La eMe taxes which Ayala ordered to be collected on controlled substances received through the agreement between La eMe and the Sinaloa Cartel. Esparza also provided instructions concerning the payment of La eMe taxes including, coordinating the receipt of La eMe tax payments. Ronald Paul Sepulveda, aka “Temper,” acted as a La eMe associate outside the prison system in Riverside County. Ayala or his associates communicated La eMe directives to Sepulveda who, in turn, oversaw their commission. Those directives involved the collection of taxes, extortionate threats, arson, and taxes collected from persons in the entertainment industry, particularly musicians, who purported to have Sureño or La eMe affiliation. Samuel O. Morales, aka “Payaso,” aka “Paya” was a member of the United Lokotes, a Sureño gang located in the Seattle area. Through his membership in a Sureño gang, Morales acted as a La eMe associate. Morales carried out a La eMe a directive to improve La eMe tax collection by organizing Sureño gangs in the area surrounding Seattle. Morales also assisted La eMe in a plot to extort a musician, and Morales oversaw the arson of property belonging to the musician. Allen David Fong, aka “Frank,” aka “Frankie Chino” was an incarcerated La eMe associate. From inside California State Prison – Solano, Fong acted as a La eMe associate who helped to arrange controlled substance transactions and to collect La eMe taxes. Alexis Rodriguez, aka “Menace,” was a member of the United Lokotes, a Sureño gang located in the Seattle area. Through his membership in a Sureño gang, Rodriguez acted as a La eMe associate. Along with Morales, Rodriguez assisted La eMe in a plot to extort a musician, and Rodriguez helped in the arson of property belonging to the musician. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Abendroth is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Ayala, Esparza, and Fong face a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. If convicted, Sepulveda, Morales, and Rodriguez face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. The specific mission of the OCDETF Sacramento Strike Force is to identify, investigate, and prosecute the most significant criminal organizations operating in the Eastern District of California. OCDETF Sacramento Strike Force is composed of agents and officers from DEA, FBI, HSI, IRS-CI, USMS, ATF, USPIS, BLM, USFS, the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office, the California National Guard, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the California Department of Justice, and the Central Valley California HIDTA. The prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of California with the assistance of the Yolo County and Placer County District Attorneys.


title: New Jersey Company Admits Clean Water Act Violations, Causing Fish Kill in Cheshire

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Tyler Amon, Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division for New England, announced that NATIONAL WATER MAIN CLEANING COMPANY (“NWMCC”) waived its right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to a felony violation of the Clean Water Act (“CWA”) for knowingly discharging a pollutant into Cuff Brook while refurbishing a large culvert pipe in Cheshire, Connecticut, in July 2019. The unauthorized discharge of uncured geopolymer mortar killed more than 150 fish and contaminated Cuff Brook. NWMCC is based in New Jersey and owned by Carylon Corporation based in Chicago, Illinois. Under the terms of its plea agreement, if accepted by the court, NWMCC will be under federal probation for three years, and must pay a $500,000 federal penalty and $500,000 to fund aquatic ecosystem enhancement projects in the South Central Coastal Watershed, as administered by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (“CT DEEP”). According to court documents and statements made in court, NWMCC had submitted the lowest bid and entered into a contract with the Town of Cheshire (“Cheshire”) to repair a decaying 11-foot culvert pipe underneath Marion Road. Cheshire’s project specifications required that the work be done under dry conditions along with environmental controls to prevent uncured geopolymer mortar from leaking into Cuff Brook. With a Cheshire Department of Public Works (“DPW”) representative present each day, NWMCC began work on July 15, 2019. However, from July 16 to July 18, 2019, NWMCC sprayed geopolymer mortar onto the culvert pipe without the mandated environmental controls. On July 17, 2019, NWMCC crews continued to work despite heavy rain, which led to uncured geopolymer mortar seeping into Cuff Brook. On July 18, 2019, a Cheshire resident with property abutting Cuff Brook observed dead fish and discolored water with an oily sheen in the brook, and smelled a chemical odor similar to lighter fluid. CT DEEP responded and determined that NWMCC was responsible for the pollutant release, thereby killing more than 150 fish and contaminating the waterway. CT DEEP estimated that Cuff Brook would not return to its prior state for three to five years. The government’s investigation revealed that NWMCC was aware that its environmental controls were deficient, but did not remediate these deficiencies during the project. Although the company attempted to blame the pollutant release and fish kill on a single employee, the investigation showed that he had been inadequately trained, directed to complete the job in an unrealistic timeframe, and was never informed that the uncured geopolymer mortar was hazardous to the environment. The investigation also revealed that NWMCC lacked a meaningful and comprehensive environmental training program for its employees, particularly with respect to the CWA, even though NWMCC’s core business is repairing and rehabilitating infrastructure that interfaces with public waterways. In addition, NWMCC’s bonus policy incentivized site supervisors and executives to push their work crews to perform projects quickly and maximize the number of jobs completed. At the time of Cheshire project, NWMCC was operating under a Code of Conduct as part of a 2014 settlement with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office to resolve civil allegations involving environmental pollution. “Any business operating in Connecticut that ignores environmental laws does so at its own peril,” said U.S. Attorney Avery. “By prioritizing its bottom line over environmental compliance, NWMCC allowed a hazardous substance to escape into Cuff Brook, causing a fish kill and contaminating a public body of water. This prosecution under the Clean Water Act is a reminder that a profit-driven approach to environmental protection will not go unpunished in Connecticut. We thank the EPA for its invaluable work in protecting the environmental integrity of Connecticut’s waterways.” “In pleading guilty today, NWMCC accepted responsibility for its illegal discharge of a hazardous chemical into Cuff Brook, and for its failure to adequately manage this public works project,” said Special Agent in Charge Amon. “Environmental compliance and corporate accountability for illegal pollution are key components in our continuing work with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General to enforce vigorously the laws that protect our air, water, and land.” Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for February 27. This matter was investigated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Criminal Investigation Division with the assistance of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Chen.


title: International Crypto Vendor Sentenced for Money Laundering Conspiracy

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: FRANKFORT, Ky. – An Indian national, Anurag Pramod Murarka, 30, an international virtual currency vendor operating under two monikers (“elonmuskwhm” and “la2nyc”), was sentenced late Wednesday, by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, to 121 months in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to court documents recently unsealed, since at least April 2021 and continuing until September 29, 2023, Murarka operated an international money laundering business. Murarka advertised his services online, often on dark net marketplaces, as a money laundering service. Customers would then contact him through encrypted messages, in response to those advertisements, and negotiate an exchange rate. Once the exchange rate had been set, Murarka, located in India, directed his customers to send cryptocurrency to certain cryptocurrency addresses. Murarka then worked through a complex, pre-arranged hawala operation emanating out of India to arrange for cash to be delivered to his employees in the United States. Murarka’s network of employees throughout the United States and overseas would collect cash from Murarka’s hawala connections and then package the cash in a variety of ways, including between the pages of books and sealed in multiple envelopes, before mailing the cash to the customer. Murarka collected a fee for his services and used part of the fee to pay off his employees and co-conspirators. Murarka was aware that many of his customers engaged in criminal activity – specifically computer hacking and drug trafficking – and therefore knew that his business facilitated that criminal activity, by assisting in disguising the source of the unlawful activity. In total, Murarka and his co-conspirators laundered more than $20 million in criminal proceeds. A joint operation between the FBI and USPIS resulted in Murarka’s arrest. Thereafter, the FBI assumed his online identity, taking control of the money laundering operation and conducting undercover activity. This operation resulted in law enforcement actions against several of Murarka’s customers, including the prevention of multiple financial account takeovers (in excess of $1.4 million), the seizure of counterfeit and illegal drugs and drug manufacturing equipment, and related prosecutions. Additionally, the FBI seized millions of dollars’ worth of criminal proceeds. Under federal law, Murarka must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon Murarka’s release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years. “Using the internet, the defendant provided his assistance to countless other criminals as they tried to conceal their stolen money and illegal drug proceeds,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “This case highlights the global scope of cybercrime, as well as the demand for diligence and collaboration in fighting money laundering – a devastating second layer of criminal conduct. The dedicated work of our law enforcement partners has now held him accountable; and we remain committed in our collaborative efforts to combat this destructive criminal activity.” “Gone are the days when cyber criminals, who enable and profit from the horrendous criminal conduct of others, can sit safely in their dens, across oceans, convinced of the limited reach of justice. The success of this operation proves that the FBI can unmask even the most careful anonymous online actors,” said Michael E. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office. “Moreover, the FBI will leverage every advantage against criminal networks that cause damage to our communities, to apprehend these malicious actors, seize the proceeds of their crimes, and expose their network of co-conspirators.” “The successful conclusion of this case involving the sentencing of Anurag Murarka, a cryptocurrency exchanger, shines a light on the United States Postal Inspection Service’s relentless pursuit of criminals who think they can use the anonymity of the dark web to perpetrate crimes and make the US Postal Service an unwitting partner in transferring ill-begotten funds,” said Lesley Allison, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge – Pittsburgh Division. United States Attorney Shier; FBI Special Agent in Charge Stansbury; and USPIS Postal Inspector in Charge Allison, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by FBI and USPIS. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Dieruf prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. — END —


title: Manitowoc Sex Offender Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Receipt of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: United States Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad announced that on January 17, 2025, Robert D. Nytes (age: 49) of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 300 months in federal prison by Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach for receipt of child pornography. According to court records, Nytes is a lifetime registrant on the Wisconsin Sexual Offender Registry based on a 1995 Second Degree Sexual Assault of a Child conviction in Sheboygan County. In August of 2023, law enforcement was informed that Nytes repeatedly sexually assaulted a minor and used the child to create pornography which he then uploaded to the cloud for receipt on his various electronic devices. Nytes was then charged with and pled guilty to a federal charge of receipt of child pornography. At the sentencing hearing, Judge Griesbach said his crime was horrendous. The judge also noted the profound effects that Nytes had imposed upon his victim. The judge also pointed to Nytes’ history of abusing children. Ultimately, the judge determined that a sentence of 300 months in federal prison was a fair and just sentence reflective of the severity of the crime. Upon the completion of his federal prison sentence, the defendant will spend the remainder of his life on supervised release. He will also continue to be required to register as a sex offender under state and federal law. 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 U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . This case was investigated by the Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble. # # # For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov 414-297-1700 Follow us on Twitter


title: Two Dane County Men in Federal Custody After Being Charged with Armed Robbery of Fitchburg Bank

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced the unsealing of an indictment charging Parish Barbary-Wheatherby, 29, Madison, Wisconsin, and Daryle Shelton, 22, Windsor, Wisconsin, with armed bank robbery. The two men are also charged with brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The indictment alleges that they robbed a Fitchburg bank using a firearm on December 2, 2024. Barbary-Wheatherby is separately charged with possessing three firearms as a felon on December 19, 2024. Shelton was arrested today in Windsor following a chase with police and made his initial appearance in federal court in Madison. When he was arrested, Shelton was found to be in possession of a loaded firearm. Barbary-Wheatherby was arrested in Fitchburg on December 19, 2024. Both men remain detained pending further proceedings. If convicted of the armed bank robbery charge, Barbary-Wheatherby and Shelton each face maximum penalties of 25 years in prison. If convicted of the brandishing charge, the two men each face a mandatory minimum penalty of 7 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison. The felon in possession charge against Barbary-Wheatherby carries a maximum penalty of 15 years. The charges against Barbary-Wheatherby and Shelton are the result of an investigation by the Fitchburg Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force consists of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers (TFOs) from local agencies including the Dane County and Clark County Sheriff’s Offices and the Fitchburg, Madison, Sun Prairie, and La Crosse Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Pfluger is handling the prosecution. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.


title: Perris Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Possessing Kilograms of Methamphetamine and Illegally Possessing Firearms and Ammo

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A Riverside County man was sentenced today to 144 months in federal prison for possessing while intending to distribute kilogram quantities of methamphetamine and for illegally possessing firearms and ammunition. Alvaro Hector Martinez, 33, of Perris, was sentenced by United States District Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha. Martinez pleaded guilty in June 2023 to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. In February 2021, Martinez – acting at the direction of a Sinaloan drug trafficker – sold approximately 872 grams of methamphetamine to a buyer. The following month, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on Martinez. In his car, Martinez possessed 35 packages containing approximately 15.4 kilograms (34 pounds) of pure methamphetamine, which he intended to distribute. Following the traffic stop, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a residence where DEA agents had observed Martinez departing with the drugs. There, they found five containers of methamphetamine weighing approximately 8.5 kilograms (18.7 pounds), three firearms, and 38 rounds of ammunition. Martinez admitted in his plea agreement to knowingly possessing the firearms and ammunition. Martinez is not legally permitted to possess firearms or ammunition because of his criminal history, which includes felony convictions in Los Angeles Superior Court in 2014 for grand theft and possession of a firearm by a felon. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Amanda B. Elbogen of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section prosecuted this case.


title: Boston Man Sentenced to Prison for Firearm Offenses and Straw Purchasing Conspiracy

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today for conspiring to illegally traffic and straw purchase firearms. Gustavo Rodriguez, 22, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to one year and one day in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In November 2023 , Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to make false statements in records required to be kept by an FFL and one count of aiding and abetting making false statements in records required to be kept by an FFL. Rodriguez was charged by complaint on Jan. 17, 2023 along with Cory Daigle and Shakim Grant. He was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury on March 16, 2023. From in or about August 2022 through November 2022, Rodriguez and Daigle conspired to create false entries in records required to be maintained by Daigle, an FFL, in order to conceal the illegal sale of multiple firearms through Grant to Rodriguez, who could not lawfully purchase or possess firearms. Specifically, Grant and Daigle made and signed false representations on required forms to disguise Rodriguez’s identity as the true firearm purchaser. Rodriguez is prohibited from possessing a firearm. The defendants also attempted to coverup the illegal straw purchase by providing false information to law enforcement. Daigle and Grant each pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy. On Jan. 10, 2025 , Daigle was sentenced to two years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. On Oct. 18, 2024 , Grant was sentenced to three years of probation. United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Revere Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Justice Department Recovers an Additional $20M in Misappropriated 1MDB Funds

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Note: View the complaint here . View the stipulation and request to enter consent judgment of forfeiture here . The Justice Department announced today that it has reached an agreement to recover an additional $20 million in misappropriated 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) funds. In June 2024, the department announced it has already recovered and returned and assisted in returning to Malaysia approximately $1.4 billion. Beginning in 2016, a landmark effort encompassing now 43 civil forfeiture actions filed in the Central District of California and one in the District of Columbia by the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) led to the seizure of over $1.7 billion in stolen assets. This is the largest recovery to date under the Justice Department’s Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative. The funds include both funds finally forfeited to the government and funds the department assisted in recovering and returning. The department continues to litigate actions against additional assets allegedly linked to this scheme. According to court documents, the funds from 1MDB, formerly Malaysia’s investment development fund, were laundered through major financial institutions worldwide, including in the United States, Switzerland, Singapore, and Luxembourg. As alleged in the civil forfeiture complaints, from 2009 through 2015, more than $4.5 billion in funds belonging to 1MDB were misappropriated by high-level officials of 1MDB and their associates, and Low Taek Jho, also known as aka Jho Low, through a criminal scheme involving international money laundering and embezzlement. Some of the embezzlement proceeds were also allegedly used to pay bribes. As alleged in the complaint filed in this case, tens of millions of dollars in funds misappropriated from 1MDB were paid to companies owned and controlled by Frank White Jr. and others. The unlawful source of these funds was unknown to White Jr. at the time of the payment. White Jr. has consented to $20 million in forfeiture in this case, all of which derives from these embezzled funds. In conjunction with the agreement announced today, White Jr.’s company, DuSable Capital Management LLC (DuSable), submitted amended filings pursuant to the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The amended filings disclose additional political activities performed by DuSable for the government of Malaysia, including lobbying the U.S. government to provide non-financial support for a solar project in Malaysia. 1MDB was created by the government of Malaysia to promote economic development in Malaysia through global partnerships and foreign direct investment. Its funds were intended to be used for improving the well-being of the Malaysian people. Instead, funds held by 1MDB and proceeds of bonds issued for and on behalf of 1MDB were misappropriated and spent on a wide variety of extravagant items, including luxury homes and properties in Beverly Hills, California, New York, and London; a 300-foot superyacht; and fine art by Monet and Van Gogh. The funds also were sent into numerous business investments, including a boutique hotel in Beverly Hills, a movie production company that made “The Wolf of Wall Street,” the redevelopment of the Park Lane Hotel in Manhattan, and shares in EMI, the largest private music-rights holder. As alleged, other funds were provided to various public officials and co-conspirators. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Carolyn Pokorny for the Eastern District of New York; and Assistant Director in Charge James E. Dennehy of the FBI New York Field Office made the announcement. The FBI’s International Corruption Squad in New York is leading this investigation. MLARS Trial Attorney Joshua Sohn is prosecuting the civil forfeiture case. MLARS Trial Attorney Joshua Sohn and former MLARS Trial Attorney Sean Fern, Deputy Chief Erik Paulsen of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section, and Trial Attorney Christine Bonomo of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section investigated the case. Asset Forfeiture Section Chief Jonathon Galatzan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California provided critical assistance with the investigation and prosecution. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs is providing substantial assistance. MLARS’ Program Operations Unit, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the U.S Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California have also provided significant support. Significant assistance has also been provided to the Justice Department over the course of its work in the investigations and civil and criminal litigation by the Attorney General’s Chambers of Malaysia, Royal Malaysian Police, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, U.K. Financial Conduct Authority, U.K. Prudential Regulation Authority, U.K. National Crime Agency, Attorney General’s Chambers of the Territory of the British Virgin Islands, Attorney General’s Office of the Bailiwick of Guernsey and Guernsey Economic Crime Division, International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre, Attorney General’s Chambers of Singapore, Singapore Police Force — Commercial Affairs Division, Office of the Attorney General and Federal Office of Justice of Switzerland, judicial investigating authority of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Criminal Investigation Department of the Grand-Ducal Police of Luxembourg, Republic of Indonesia, Latvian authorities, and French authorities, including the Parquet National Financier and Agency for Management and Recovery of Seized and Confiscated Assets (AGRASC). The Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative is led by a team of dedicated MLARS prosecutors in partnership with federal law enforcement agencies, and often with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, to forfeit the proceeds of foreign official corruption and, where appropriate, to repatriate those recovered assets to governments for the benefit of the people harmed by these acts of corruption and abuse of office. Individuals with information about possible proceeds of foreign corruption located in or laundered through the United States should email kleptocracy@usdoj.gov or submit information at tips.fbi.gov/ .


title: United States Attorney’s Office Issues 2024 Annual Report

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT - The United States Attorney’s Office made significant strides in 2024 in rebuilding community trust, reinvigorating our protection of civil rights, and restructuring our approach to violent crime, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today. The details of the office’s work in 2024 are set forth in a 62-page annual report highlighting prosecutions, community outreach, trials, convictions, systemic change, and community impact. United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison stated, “Our office is immensely proud of the work we did in 2024, reducing crime, protecting civil rights, defending our borders, and protecting the federal treasury. This work could not have been accomplished without partnerships across the Eastern District of Michigan. Our dedicated team of lawyers and support staff worked with local, state, and federal law enforcement and community partners to improve the lives of the residents of the Eastern Michigan. This annual report represents the highlights of this work because it would be impossible to detail everything that this incredible team accomplished in 2024.” The document is available here for review by the public. The report sets forth the work done in service of the richly diverse Eastern District of Michigan. The lawyers and support professionals in our Detroit, Flint, and Bay City offices, along with our partner agencies, had significant accomplishments this year. Among them: • In fiscal year 2024, our office collected $45,395,510.25 in criminal and civil actions. Of this amount, $32,629,919.83 was collected in criminal actions and $12,765,590.42 was collected in civil actions. These funds are being returned to victims and taxpayers. • Our efforts to target the most violent offenders who are harming public safety resulted in numerous federal convictions. We obtained a life sentence for the leader of the Seven Mile Bloods Gang who terrorized Detroit’s east side for many years. We also obtained Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (“RICO”) convictions for three senior members of the Almighty Vice Lords Nation, a criminal enterprise that operates across the country, including in Detroit. One of the three defendants was sentenced to 70 years in prison while the other two each received 60-year sentences. • We reached a landmark settlement agreement with the Wayne County Jail resolving allegations that the Wayne County Jail routinely failed to provide crucial services to inmates with disabilities, including access to appropriate prescription medications, mental health services and medical equipment, and failed to conduct medical and mental health assessments. • We obtained a guilty plea from the former Chief Financial Officer of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy who had embezzled more than 40 million dollars from the nonprofit. We also obtained a restitution agreement requiring him to pay no less than $44.3 million in restitution as a result of his conduct. • We remained committed to rooting out public corruption in our community as 2024 saw the Mayor of Inkster plead guilty to bribery charges and the Mayor of Taylor sentenced to nearly 6 years in prison on charges of conspiracy to receive bribes and wire fraud. • We charged five Chinese nationals, who were students at the University of Michigan, with conspiracy, false statements, and destruction of records in a federal investigation after they were caught photographing military equipment during a joint training exercise involving the Michigan National Guard and the Taiwanese military at Camp Grayling, a U.S. military installation. • We obtained a 33-year sentence for an incident that took place on the Isabella Reservation in Indian Country where the defendant shot and killed his domestic partner and caused life-threatening injuries to a six-month-old child. • We convicted seven individuals for violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act by using physical obstruction to intimidate and interfere with employees and patients of a reproductive health clinic. Although we are encouraged by the results of our efforts in 2024, we recognize that we still have more work to do. The work detailed in the 2024 Annual Report details our ongoing efforts to keep our community safe, protect civil rights, and ensure fairness and opportunity for everyone in our community. Each day, the 210 men and women of the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work diligently to further these goals and to advance the interests of our nation.


title: Columbia County Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Role in Wire Fraud Conspiracy and Illegally Dispensing Animal Drugs

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A Columbia County, Oregon woman was sentenced to federal prison Thursday for her role in a conspiracy to defraud customers seeking to adopt pets and illegally dispensing prescription animal drugs without a lawful order of a veterinarian. Samantha Miller, 55, was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. The sum of restitution Miller must pay to her victims will be determined at a later date. “Today’s sentence should make it clear to others engaged in unconscionable conduct that it will not be tolerated and they will be held responsible for their crimes,” said Hannah Horsley, Chief of the Economic Crimes Unit for the District of Oregon. “The FDA regulates animal drugs as part of its mission to protect the public health, which includes ensuring that prescription animal drugs are lawfully obtained, distributed, and dispensed,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Iwanicki, FDA Ofﬁce of Criminal Investigations, Los Angeles Field Ofﬁce. “We will continue to pursue and bring to justice those who criminally attempt to evade the law.” According to court documents, between November 2019 and January 2021, Miller and her co-conspirators, through their animal rescue business Woofin Palooza, LLC, conspired to obtain animals with health and behavioral problems from out-of-state shelters at no cost to offer for adoption to paying customers in Oregon. Once animals were transported to Portland, Miller did not provide the care needed by these animals through a licensed veterinarian. Instead, their medical issues were either ignored or Miller attempted to treat the animals herself by administering prescription animal drugs without supervision of a veterinarian. As part of the scheme, Miller used the alias “Mandy Myers” to hide her true identity. Miller advertised animals for adoption on Woofin Palooza and Petfinder websites with misleading or false statements of the known medical and behavioral issues. When victims adopted a pet, Miller misrepresented the extent of health and behavioral issues in communications and contracts with the victims. In some instances, Miller dispensed prescription animal drugs to victims that she had repackaged with false or misleading labels and without the order of a licensed veterinarian. As a result, victims unknowingly adopted unhealthy and aggressive animals and were forced to seek veterinary care and training, including euthanasia, often incurring significant expenses. On February 7, 2024, a federal grand jury in Portland returned a 4-count superseding indictment charging Miller with conspiring to commit wire fraud, conspiring to misbrand drugs, and misbranding animal drugs by dispensing them without a lawful order of a veterinarian and by repackaging and relabeling them. On October 24, 2024, Miller pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and misbranding drugs by dispensing prescription animal drugs without a lawful order of a veterinarian. This case was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Robert S. Trisotto and Meredith D.M. Bateman, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon.