title: Project Safe Neighborhoods News for September 2024

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence. At the core of PSN is setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place. U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announces the following actions in federal PSN cases. Indictments Anthony Carter , 22, of Elk Grove, and Isaiah Rowland , 28, of Antelope, were indicted on Aug. 15, 2024, each charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment was unsealed following their arrests on Sept. 5. According to court documents, Carter is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior felony convictions for reckless evasion of a peace officer, felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm by a person on probation. Rowland, too, is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior felony convictions for robbery, failure to appear on a felony charge, and carrying a loaded firearm. This case is the result of the ongoing collaboration between the Sacramento Police Department and its local, state, and federal partners as part of a Public Safety Partnership (PSP) to address violent crime in the community. Started in 2022, the Sacramento PSP is a multi-faceted violence-reduction strategy that relies on innovative data-driven strategies to promote public and community safety. Participating PSP partners include: the Sacramento District Attorney’s Office, Sacramento FBI, Sacramento DEA, Sacramento ATF, the Sacramento U.S. Marshals, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zulkar Khan is prosecuting the case. Richard Lee Dazo , 38, of West Sacramento, was indicted on Sept. 12, 2024, charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. According to court documents, on Aug. 13, 2024, Dazo was found to be in possession of a loaded Remington 870 shotgun and a pellet gun loaded with live ammunition. Dazo is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to prior felony convictions for assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury and criminal street gang activity, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of metal knuckles, and possession of a concealed dirk or dagger. This case is the product of an investigation by the West Sacramento Police Department, FBI Safe Streets Task Force, and Yolo County District Attorney’s Office. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew De Moura is prosecuting the case. If convicted, defendants Carter, Rowland and Dazo face a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Guilty Plea Sean Arthur Robinson , 37, of Stockton, pleaded guilty on Sept. 10, 2024, to illegal possession of a firearm. According to court documents, law enforcement officers recovered a loaded Glock 27 semi-automatic firearm and a loaded magazine inside a vehicle while serving a search warrant at Robinson’s residence in Stockton in September 2022. The firearm had previously been reported stolen from Sacramento. Robinson is prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior convictions for elder abuse and for carrying a loaded firearm in public. Law enforcement’s investigation into Robinson began at least as early as May 2021, when surveillance footage captured him engaging in a violent shootout at the Grand Hyatt Hotel near San Francisco International Airport. During this incident, Robinson and a compatriot attempted to carjack at least two other vehicles. Following the shootout, law enforcement officers seized a black duffel bag that surveillance footage captured Robinson carrying just before the firefight began and contained three illegal firearms. This case is the product of an investigation by the FBI with assistance from the San Francisco Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Lee and Sam Stefanki are prosecuting the case. Robinson is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 7, 2025. He faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. Sentencings Jacob Harding-Abeyta , 31, of Vallejo, was sentenced on Sept. 10, 2024, to four years and nine months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of cocaine for sale. According to court documents, on Oct. 7, 2020, a parole search of Harding-Abeyta’s residence resulted in the discovery of a loaded .45-caliber Springfield XDS firearm in his bedroom. Harding-Abeyta is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he was previously convicted in Solano County for attempted murder in 2014. Officers also discovered 39 grams of powder cocaine, a digital scale, plastic baggies, and other drug paraphernalia. A search of the defendant’s phone revealed that he was selling this and other cocaine. Additionally, Harding-Abeyta also admitted in his plea agreement that he committed obstruction of justice by attempting to suborn perjury of a witness during a prior evidentiary hearing in this case. This case was the product of an investigation by the Solano County Sheriff’s Office, the Solano County District Attorney’s Office, the ATF, and the FBI’s Solano County Violent Crimes Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Haddy Abouzeid, Jason Hitt, Adrian T. Kinsella prosecuted the case. Sovan Leng, 34, of Stockton was sentenced on Sept. 10, 2024, to two years and six months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on Oct. 16, 2023, Leng was found to be in possession of a Glock-17 9 mm pistol. Leng is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to several prior felony convictions for assault with a deadly weapon, carrying a loaded firearm, possession of a stolen vehicle, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a controlled substance. This case was the product of an investigation by the Stockton Police Department and ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alstyn Bennett and Zulkar Khan prosecuted the case. These cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office, ATF, and HSI Charge Mexican Nationals with Federal Firearms Offenses

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

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Two Mexican nationals are facing federal charges for allegedly attempting to traffic a machinegun, rifles, and a grenade into Mexico. Fernando Espino-Ortiz and Perla Janeth Ruiz-Lozano appeared before a federal judge today. Espino will remain in custody and Ruiz will be released on conditions pending trial, which has not been scheduled. According to the criminal complaint, on September 25, 2024, Espino and Ruiz allegedly traveled from Mexico to Albuquerque to illegally purchase firearms, including a machinegun, three rifles, and a grenade from an undercover ATF agent. The defendants brought $100,000 in cash to exchange for the weapons. During the transaction, Espino took possession of the weapons and loaded them into a vehicle, stating they were to be transported back to Mexico. Both defendants were arrested at the scene. If convicted of the current charges, Espino and Ruiz each face up to 15 years in prison. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Jason T. Stevens, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso made the announcement today. The ATF and HSI jointly investigated this case with assistance from the New Mexico State Police. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. View the Criminal Complaint (Fernando Espino Ortiz et al.).pdf A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. # # #


title: Bowling Green Man Sentenced to Over 3 Years in Federal Prison for Domestic Violence Offense at Mammoth Cave National Park

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Bowling Green, KY – A Bowling Green man was sentenced today to over 3 years in federal prison for committing a domestic assault in Mammoth Cave National Park. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky and Scott L. Larson, Regional Chief Ranger of the National Park Service Law Enforcement Rangers made the announcement. “I commend the effort of the National Park Service Law Enforcement Rangers for their outstanding work in this case,” stated U.S. Attorney Bennett. “Working in partnership with the rangers, we will continue to aggressively enforce violations of the law on federal lands located throughout the Western District.” According to court documents, Rakan F. Elsalem, 40, was sentenced to 37 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for committing a domestic assault as a habitual offender on May 1, 2023, within the Mammoth Cave National Park, a place within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. At the time Elsalem committed the domestic assault, he had two prior convictions for offenses that would have been, if subject to federal jurisdiction, an assault against a spouse or intimate partner. These included convictions of assault in the fourth degree on September 22, 2020, and on January 24, 2022, in Warren District Court. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the National Park Service Law Enforcement Rangers. Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Nicholas Rabold, of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, prosecuted the case. ###


title: 21-Year-Old Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Alien Smuggling Conspiracy

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Obiel Anthony Ochoa-Renteria, 21, of Tempe, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Rosemary Márquez to 24 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in an alien smuggling conspiracy. Ochoa-Renteria pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit on March 27, 2024. In September 2022, agents from Homeland Security Investigations initiated an investigation into alien smuggling events being arranged through the social media app Instagram. During the course of the investigation, agents identified an Instagram account belonging to Ochoa-Renteria and discovered multiple occasions in which Ochoa-Renteria recruited participants and coordinated smuggling events between June and September 2022. Then on May 14, 2023, Ochoa-Renteria was stopped by a Department of Public Safety (DPS) trooper for speeding near Sierra Vista. During the traffic stop, DPS officers were assisted by Border Patrol agents who discovered two men dressed in camouflage in the trunk of Ochoa-Renteria’s vehicle. Border Patrol agents determined that the men were Guatemalan and Mexican nationals who were illegally present in the United States. Ochoa-Renteria admitted that he was aware the men were in the United States illegally, and that he had agreed to transport them for $200 to $300 each. Homeland Security Investigations and Custom’s and Border Protections United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case, with assistance from the Arizona Department of Public Safety. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-23-00802-TUC-RM RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-131_Ochoa-Renteria # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Bridgeport Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JERMEL BATES, also known as “Mel Kitty” and “Kitty,” 28, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 84 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for trafficking narcotics. According to court documents and statements made in court, in the early morning hours of June 25, 2023, Bates crashed his vehicle into a parked car in Bridgeport and fled the scene on foot. Law enforcement conducted a search of Bates’ vehicle and found plastic bags containing numerous blue/green fentanyl pills stamped “M/30,” wax paper folds containing fentanyl and other controlled substances, and approximately 78 grams of crack cocaine. Bates was arrested later that day and charged with state offenses. On March 19, 2024, Bates was arrested on a federal criminal complaint. In conjunction with his arrest, investigators searched his person and his Newfield Avenue apartment and found plastic bags with thousands of blue-green fentanyl pills stamped “M/30” and weighing more than 400 grams, hundreds of wax paper sleeves containing fentanyl, and a bag containing approximately 12 grams of crack cocaine. Bates has been detained since his federal arrest. On May 10, 2024, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, including 40 grams or more of fentanyl. This matter was investigated by the FBI Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force, the Bridgeport Police Department, and the Norwalk Police Department. The Task Force is composed of personnel from the FBI, Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Norwalk, and Trumbull Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Gordon. In March 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the DEA’s New England Field Division released a public service announcement warning of the danger of fentanyl and the proliferation of counterfeit prescription pills. Click here for more information.


title: Crew Member Sentenced to 168 Months for Role in String of Gun-Point Robberies of South Asian Jewelry Stores That Netted Millions

body_text: WASHINGTON – Timothy Marquette Conrad, 34, of Washington D.C., was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 168 months in federal prison for participating in a multi-state string of violent gun-point robberies of South Asian jewelry stores that netted millions of dollars in cash and gold for the 16-member crew, allegedly led by Trevor Wright, aka rapper “Taliban Glizzy.” The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves; ATF Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; FBI Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg, of the Washington Field Office; FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado of the Newark Field Office, U.S. Marshal Peter Marketos of the United States Marshals Service, and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department. Conrad, aka “Twin,” pleaded guilty on May 30, 2024, to interfering with interstate commerce by robbery (aka Hobbs Act robbery) and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. In his plea, Conrad accepted responsibility for four robberies that took place in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. In addition to the prison sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Christopher R. Cooper ordered Conrad to serve 48 months of supervised release. According to court documents, over the course of 18 months, Conrad and his co-conspirators engaged in a scheme to rob multiple South Asian jewelry stores, across multiple states, of heavy gold jewelry. The conspiracy began in January 2022 and continued until August 2023, ending only when several of the co-conspirators, including Conrad, were charged and arrested. Before they were apprehended the co-conspirators robbed at least ten jewelry stores of millions of dollars in jewelry, terrorizing multiple victims and leaving behind a wake of destruction and financial loss. Conrad was arrested on August 30, 2023. Officers executed a search warrant at a residence associated with him in NW D.C., whereupon they recovered a Glock 23 .40 caliber pistol equipped with a machine-gun conversion device; and an AK-Style 7.62 x 39mm rifle. When he pleaded guilty, Conrad accepted responsibility for his involvement in the November 10, 2022, armed robbery of an estimated $1 million in gold from Baral Jewelers and Gift Center in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; the November 27, 2022 armed robbery of an estimated $100,000 in gold from Sara Jewelry in Jersey City, New Jersey; the December 22, 2022 armed robbery of an estimated $400,000 in gold jewelry at Chintamanis Inc. in Franklin Park, New Jersey; and the August 4, 2023 armed robbery of an estimated $150,000 in gold from Jolie Jewelry in Washington, D.C. From surveillance footage taken during the robbery of Baral Jewelers in Harrisburg. In the aftermath of the Chintamanis robbery, Conrad and his co-conspirators fled the scene at high speed, colliding with another vehicle, and ultimately killing one of the co-conspirators, who police found in the backseat of the getaway vehicle along with two loaded firearms, a hammer, a duffel bag, and stolen gold jewelry from Chintamanis. This case was investigated by the ATF, FBI Washington Field Office, FBI Newark Field Office, U.S. Marshals, and the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sitara Witanachchi and Andrea Duvall. 23cr137


title: Winterport Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A Winterport man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for distributing child pornography. U.S. District Judge Stacey D. Neumann sentenced Steven Mathis , 35, to 240 months in prison, to be followed by 20 years of supervised release. Mathis pleaded guilty on April 25, 2024. According to court records, in August 2021, Mathis used an online chat platform to discuss child sexual abuse material with others. In one exchange, another user requested a sexually explicit image of a child, and Mathis provided an image. In an interview with the Maine State Police, Mathis admitted that he had distributed child sexual abuse material online. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Maine State Police investigated the case. To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – in legal terms, "child pornography” – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are shared or viewed. File a report with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at https://report.cybertip.org or 1-800-843-5678 . If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741 . Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc . ###


title: Armed Career Criminal Indicted for Illegal Possession of a Firearm

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – A Bloomington man has been indicted for illegally possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, on April 28, 2024, Ryan Wayne Lewis, 45, knowingly possessed a Taurus Armas G2C 9mm semiautomatic pistol and ammunition. Because Lewis has prior felony convictions in Dakota, Ramsey, and Anoka counties, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time. The indictment charges Lewis with one count of possessing a firearm as a felon. He made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court yesterday before Magistrate Judge Jon T. Huseby, and a detention hearing has been scheduled for October 4, 2024. Lewis was also charged and convicted in Hennepin County for illegal possession of a firearm. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bloomington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney William C. Mattessich is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Flagstaff Man Sentenced for Arson in Grand Canyon National Park

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – Dahntay Dunbar, 21, of Flagstaff, was sentenced last week by Senior U.S. District Judge Roslyn O. Silver to 20 months in prison, to be followed by 60 months of supervised release. Judge Silver also ordered Dunbar to pay $20,146.13 in restitution. Dunbar pleaded guilty to Arson of a Dwelling, which occurred in the Grand Canyon National Park, on July 8, 2024. Between the late night of May 17, 2024, and the early morning of May 18, 2024, Dunbar pushed his way into a locked cabin within the national park, which was the residence of his former girlfriend. She was not home at the time. Dunbar found a bottle of clear liquor and dumped it on a bed. Dunbar then took a lighter, lit one of his former girlfriend’s shirts on fire and placed it on the bed. The bed started to burn, and Dunbar left the cabin. The fire caused scorching, burn damage, and smoke damage to the walls, ceiling, and other parts of the cabin. A bystander observed the fire and put most of it out prior to the arrival of the fire department. Dunbar was arrested on other charges a short time later by National Park Service law enforcement rangers and admitted to having committed the arson. National Park Service special agents and rangers, assisted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Flagstaff, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-24-08061-001-PCT-RSO RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-132_Dunbar # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced To Almost Six Years For Illegal Possession Of AR-15 Rifle And Other Firearms

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Rashad Dominic Griggs, 36, of Hickory, N.C., was sentenced today to 70 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a felon, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Chief Reed Baer of the Hickory Police Department (HPD), join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. According to court documents and the sentencing hearing, on August 20, 2022, HPD officers responded to a call for service following reports that Griggs was waving a gun at his girlfriend. The officers knew Griggs had active warrants for his arrest for violating a domestic violence protection order and carrying a concealed firearm. Upon arriving at the location, Griggs emerged from the residence and was arrested on the existing warrants. Following a search of the residence, HPD officers found a white powdery substance that was later lab tested and confirmed to be fentanyl. In addition, officers recovered multiple firearms from the residence, including an AR-15 type rifle, multiple magazines including a drum magazine with shotgun rounds, and multiple rounds of ammunition. The officers knew Griggs had prior convictions and was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. Court records show that Griggs pleaded guilty to a state offense and was placed on probation. According to court documents, on June 28, 2023, law enforcement conducted a search of the defendant’s home pursuant to his probation terms. During the search, law enforcement found a rifle magazine loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition, a pistol, and multiple rounds of ammunition. During an interview with law enforcement, Griggs acknowledged that he had obtained a pistol approximately seven to eight months prior and stated that he kept the firearm for protection. On May 16, 2024, Griggs pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon. He remains in federal custody until he is transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI and HPD for their investigation of the case, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction, Community Supervision, for their invaluable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Regina Pack and Alfredo De La Rosa of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Tulsa Man Sentenced for Coercion of a Minor and Possessing More than 600 Sexually Explicit Photos of Minor Children

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – Today, U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Justin Ray Walters, 49, for Coercion and Enticement of a Minor and Possession of Child Pornography. Judge Russell ordered Walters to be sentenced to 300 months of imprisonment, followed by ten years of supervised release. Upon his release, Walters will also be required to register as a sex offender. According to court documents from November 2022 through April 2023, Walters professed his love and engaged in sexually explicit conversations with a child victim he knew was under 16 years old. Walters pressured the child victim to produce and share sexually explicit conduct. Additionally, Walters possessed more than 600 images that depicted the sexual abuse of children. Several of the images showed the sexual abuse of children under the age of 12. Walters will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. Homeland Security Investigations and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey Todd prosecuted the case. If you believe sexually explicit photos or videos of you were posted online, Take It Down can help. Take It Down is a free online website hosted by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. You can anonymously request help to remove or stop the sharing of sexually explicit content. Take It Down also provides services for victims, survivors, siblings and caregivers looking for mental health and peer support. Further, if you are being threatened by image sharing or other forms of online exploitation, you can submit a report online . This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page . For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page .


title: New York Resident Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Harford, New York, has been sentenced in federal court to 12 years in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a special assessment in the amount of $5,200 on his conviction of violating federal laws relating to the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter imposed the sentence on Noah Oliver Fisch-Lewis, 32. According to information presented to the Court, from September 23, 2022, until October 8, 2022, Fisch-Lewis communicated with an undercover agent posing as the mother of a 10-year-old girl. During this period, Fisch-Lewis repeatedly expressed, in very graphic terms, his desire to engage in sexual activity with the minor. On October 8, 2022, Fisch-Lewis drove from upstate New York to Erie, Pennsylvania, for the purpose of engaging in illicit sexual conduct with the purported 10-year-old and was taken into custody upon his arrival at the agreed meeting place. Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Olshan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Pennsylvania State Police, Erie Police Department, Millcreek Police Department, and Erie County Detectives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Fisch-Lewis. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Bogalusa Man Sentenced for Migratory Game Bird Offenses

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA –TREVOR TRUAX, (“ TRUAX ”), age 29, of Bogalusa, La, was sentenced on August 27, 2024, by U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge, Janis van Meerveld, to three years of inactive probation suspending his hunting privileges world-wide, a fine of $15,290.00 and a $40.00 mandatory special assessment fee. Counts 1 and 2 charged TRUAX with Taking Migratory Birds During Closed Season, in violation of Title 16, United States Code, Sections 703(a)-707(a) and 50 C.F.R. § 20.22. Counts 3 and 4 charged TRUAX with Taking Migratory Birds Over the Limit, in violation of Title 16, United States Code, Sections 703(a)-707(a) and 50 C.F.R. § 20.24. According to court documents, TRUAX admitted to Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents that he illegally duck hunted on multiple occasions in Louisiana and Mississippi. Agents cited TRUAX for the illegal taking of migratory game birds during the closed season and for taking over the limit of ducks/migratory game birds in Washington Parish, Louisiana. TRUAX also previously pled guilty to migratory game bird offenses in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. The United States Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries with this matter. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mary Katherine Kaufman of the General Crimes Unit.


title: Florida Tax Return Preparer Agrees to Permanent Injunction and to Pay $85,000 in Ill-Gotten Gains

component: Tax Division

body_text: The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida issued a permanent injunction yesterday against West Palm Beach, Florida, tax return preparer Gregory Salgado, both individually and doing business as GMJ Real Investments Inc. and doing business as Cuba Salgado Tax & Real Estate. The injunction bars Salgado from preparing tax returns, working for or having any ownership stake in any tax preparation business, assisting others prepare tax returns or set up business as a preparer and transferring or assigning customer lists to any other person or entity. The court also ordered Salgado to pay $85,000 in ill-gotten gains he received from his return preparation business. Salgado agreed to both the injunction and the order to pay $85,000. The complaint alleged that Salgado pleaded guilty in 2012 to filing a false personal return and filing a false return for another taxpayer, and the IRS subsequently assessed more than $500,000 in civil penalties against him for willfully underreporting tax on returns he prepared for customers. According to the complaint, neither Salgado’s conviction, 33-month incarceration nor civil penalties altered his behavior. After his release from prison in August 2015, Salgado continued to prepare thousands returns for customers that either reduced their tax liability or inflated their refund claims. He did this largely by falsifying or overstating itemized deductions, fabricating or overstating business income and expenses and falsifying filing statuses and dependents. As a result of the court’s order, Salgado must send notice of the injunction to each person for whom he or his business prepared federal tax returns, amended tax returns or claims for refund between Jan. 1, 2019, to the present. Additionally, the court ordered Salgado post a copy of the injunction at all locations where he conducts business and on his business’s website. Deputy Assistant Attorney General David A. Hubbert of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. Taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant against unscrupulous tax preparers. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers. The IRS also offers 10 tips to avoid tax season fraud and ways to safeguard their personal information. In the past decade, the Justice Department’s Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website . An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page . If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details. Salgado - PI and Disgorgement Order.pdf


title: Youth Mentor with Philadelphia Anti-Gun Violence Organization Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Participating in Interstate Gun Trafficking Conspiracy

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Kyle McLemore, 47, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Harvey Bartle III to 120 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $300 special assessment for selling illegal firearms from South Carolina on the streets of Philadelphia. McLemore was one of seven defendants convicted for participating in a scheme to straw purchase nearly 60 firearms in South Carolina and traffic them up the “Iron Pipeline” to Philadelphia. Between approximately November 2020 and February 2021, McLemore worked closely with co-conspirator Terrance Darby in Philadelphia to place orders for firearms with co-conspirator Ontavious Plumer, who was incarcerated in a South Carolina prison. Plumer would then direct other co-conspirators to straw purchase firearms at gun stores in South Carolina and transport them to Philadelphia, where Darby, McLemore, and co-conspirator Cory Brookins would resell them. McLemore started trafficking firearms with Darby just a few months after he was released on parole from a Pennsylvania state prison after serving 21 years for a 1999 murder conviction. While he was reselling illegal guns in Philadelphia, McLemore worked as a “youth advocate” at the NoMo (New Options More Opportunities) Foundation, an organization that provides children and teens with education, tutoring, mentoring, career readiness training, behavioral health counseling, and other services to reduce the factors that lead to gun violence. McLemore was charged in a superseding indictment on March 6 of this year with conspiracy, dealing in firearms without a license, and possession of a firearm by a felon. He pleaded guilty to all three counts on May 8. Darby, Plumer, Brookins, and three other co-conspirators have also been convicted and sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy. “Kyle McLemore sold dozens of guns from South Carolina on the streets of Philadelphia, while pretending to work to reduce gun violence on those same streets,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “My office and the ATF will continue to target gun traffickers for federal prosecution – and federal prison time. Every illegal gun and unlawful seller we put out of commission makes our city that much safer.” “McLemore knew all too well from his criminal history and community work that illegally trafficked firearms fuel the deadly violence in his community,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Eric DeGree. “Stopping gun trafficking, which puts firearms in the hands of violent criminals and other prohibited people, is a top priority at ATF. We work tirelessly with our local, state and federal partners to dismantle trafficking operations and federally prosecute the criminals that endanger our communities.” This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys J. Jeanette Kang and Matthew T. Newcomer and Special Assistant United States Attorney Alexander B. Bowerman.


title: New Jersey Man Charged with Transportation of Irish Citizens Who Entered the United States Unlawfully

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office stated that Tyshan Murray, 43, of Union, New Jersey has been charged by indictment with unlawfully transporting citizens of Ireland, who had entered the United States unlawfully. On September 26, 2024, Murray appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle for an arraignment on the indictment and entered a plea of not guilty. Judge Doyle had previously ordered that Murray be detained during the pendency of this matter. According to court records, on September 8, 2024, nine citizens of Ireland had crossed into the United States illegally in the vicinity of Drew Road in Richford, Vermont. Murray picked up these nine citizens near the U.S.-Canada border and transported them in his SUV, including two young children who were unrestrained in the rear cargo compartment. The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that Murray is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Murray faces up to five years of imprisonment if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors. United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of the United States Border Patrol. The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Andrew C. Gilman. Murray is represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Barclay Johnson.


title: Essex County Man Sentenced to 51 Months in Prison for Bank Fraud Conspiracy Related to Checks Stolen from U.S. Mail

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – An Essex County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 51 months in prison for his role in a bank fraud conspiracy related to the theft of checks from the U.S. mail, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Baba Diakite, 23, of East Orange, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas to one count of an indictment charging him with conspiracy to commit bank fraud. His conspirator, Nasir Johnson, was previously sentenced last year by Judge Salas to 49 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to commit mail theft and possess stolen mail, and theft of a U.S. Postal Service key. Judge Salas imposed the sentences in Newark federal court. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From at least January 2020 to March 2022, Diakite, Johnson, and others conspired to steal checks from the mail in communities across New Jersey. Diakite and his conspirators used misappropriated keys belonging to the U.S. Postal Service to access mail collection receptacles and steal envelopes that contained checks. After stealing the checks, Diakite and his conspirators sold them to third parties or deposited them, sometimes in altered form for higher amounts, into bank accounts. Diakite and others then defrauded the banks by withdrawing money from the bank accounts. Diakite agreed that he caused a loss of between $550,000 and $1.5 million. In addition to the prison term, Judge Salas sentenced Diakite to three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen; special agents with the U.S. Postal Service - Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modafferi, Northeast Area Field Office; and special agents with the Office of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Andrew McKay, with the investigation leading to the sentencing. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey S. Smith of the General Crimes Unit in Newark.


title: Readout of Justice Department’s “Walk the Redline” Event Meeting with D.C. Local Business Leaders to Commemorate the Third Anniversary of the Combating Redlining Initiative

component: Civil Rights - Housing and Civil Enforcement Section

body_text: WASHINGTON – To commemorate the third anniversary of the Justice Department's Combating Redlining Initiative, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia conducted a walking tour along Washington D.C.'s historic U Street Corridor. This year also marks the Justice Department’s 30th anniversary of redlining enforcement efforts. In 1994, the department filed its first redlining case against Chevy Chase Federal Savings Bank in Washington, D.C. Walking the historic U Street Corridor highlights the roots of the department’s fair lending enforcement efforts and continued commitment to fight for equal opportunity for all people and communities impacted by redlining. Assistant Attorney General Clarke and U.S. Attorney Graves met with three of the longest enduring Black-owned businesses in Washington D.C. — Industrial Bank, Lee’s Flower and Card Shop and Ben’s Chili Bowl — to discuss how access to credit and financial services impacted the neighborhood. Leaders reflected on the local Black community’s rich history of entrepreneurship and contributions to the local economy despite historical redlining. Redlining is an illegal practice in which lenders avoid providing services to individuals living in communities of color because of the race or national origin of the people who live in those communities. Starting in 2025, lenders will also be required to collect and report on the racial demographics of small business loans provided by financial institutions. “These three legacy D.C. establishments underscore how access to credit and loan services can be transformative in providing access to economic opportunity and generational wealth for Black communities,” said Assistant Attorney General Clarke. “Our Combating Redlining Initiative is holding financial institutions accountable for unlawful redlining practices and has resulted in historic relief to close the widening wealth gap between communities of color and others. As we expand our efforts, we look forward to reviewing future data on business loans to ensure that banks are engaged in fair lending to small businesses.” “Lee’s Flower and Card Shop, Ben’s Chili Bowl and Industrial Bank are perfect examples of how businesses can thrive when banks provide equal access to lending,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, along with our partners at the Civil Rights Division, are committed to holding accountable those banks that are not providing equal access.” In October 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Assistant Attorney General Clarke launched the Justice Department’s Combating Redlining Initiative as the most aggressive and coordinated effort to fight discriminatory lending against communities of color. The Initiative brings a comprehensive approach by working with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, State Attorneys General and financial regulatory agencies nationwide to address redlining. Since 2021, the department has reached major milestones since its launch, including: Securing 13 settlements totaling $137 million in relief for communities of color across the country in California , Delaware , Florida , New Jersey , North Carolina , Ohio , Oklahoma , Pennsylvania , Rhode Island , Texas and Tennessee . Securing a historic amount of relief that includes $121 million in subsidies for home loans and is expected to generate over $1 billion in investment in affected communities in places such as Houston; Memphis, Tennessee; Newark, New Jersey; Los Angeles; and Charlotte, North Carolina. Information about the Justice Department’s fair lending enforcement work can be found at www.justice.gov/crt/fair-lending-program . Individuals may report lending discrimination by calling the Justice Department’s housing discrimination tip line at 1-833-591-0291 or submitting a report online. Information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s civil rights enforcement may be found at www.justice.gov/usao-dc/affirmative-civil-rights-and-environmental-justice . Beginning in 2025, consistent with section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Act, lenders will be required to collect and report certain demographic data for small business loan applications. Information about the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s small business lending rulemaking may be found at Small business lending rulemaking | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (consumerfinance.gov) . ###


title: Two Businesses and Their Owner Consent to an $850,000 Judgment to Resolve COVID-19 Relief Fraud Allegations

component: U.S. Attorneys (USAO)

body_text: BOISE– Brett Deuter and his businesses, Deuter Construction, LLC, and Enlighten, LLC, consented to an $850,000 judgment against them in United States District Court after admitting to violations of the False Claims Act, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced. The fraud perpetrated by Deuter involved misappropriating funds from two different COVID-19 Relief Programs: the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. In the consent judgment, Deuter admitted that Deuter Construction no longer had employees or operations at the time that it applied for PPP funds. Deuter further admitted that the recipient of the PPP funds – Enlighten, LLC – was ineligible to receive funds because it was not in operation prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Deuter also admitted to falsely stating the PPP loan was exclusively used for payroll and other covered expenses when, in fact, some of the funds were used to cover Deuter’s personal expenses, including personal credit card debt and gambling expenses in Las Vegas, Nevada. Additionally, Deuter admitted to recklessly making false statements in an application for EIDL funds. Deuter falsely claimed that the EIDL funds would be used as working capital to alleviate economic injury caused by the pandemic. Instead, Deuter used the EIDL funds to pay personal and business debts incurred before the pandemic started. Deuter also admitted that EIDL funds were used to purchase real property in Hailey, Idaho. “Fighting COVID-19 relief fraud has been, and will continue to be, a priority for my office,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “We will continue to bring to justice those individuals and companies who seek to obtain taxpayer funds through fraudulent schemes or illegal practices.” This judgment includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Stuart Hallam. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. Mr. Hallam will receive approximately $161,500 as his share of the total settlement. “This outcome demonstrates our unwavering commitment to ensuring relief funds provided through the PPP and EIDL programs are used for their intended purposes,” said SBA OIG’s Western Region Special Agent in Charge Weston King. “The unauthorized use of these funds for personal expenditures undermines the integrity of these programs. The whistleblower award serves as a tool to bring more whistleblowers forward. This result would not have been possible without the qui tam relator and the hard work of our dedicated law enforcement partners.” This matter was investigated jointly by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot Wertheim handled this case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Justice Department in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The task force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866‑720‑5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . For additional case information and publicly available court documents, see United State ex rel. Stuart Hallam v. Brett Deuter, et. al., 1:23-CV-00348 (U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho). ###


title: Philadelphia Man Who Committed Two Armed Carjackings Hours Apart Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison

body_text: Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Committing Two Armed Carjackings Hours Apart PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Amir Wilson, 22, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Juan R. Sánchez to 192 months’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release for his role in two armed carjackings committed in Philadelphia in May 2021. In December 2023, a federal jury convicted Wilson of conspiracy, two counts of carjacking, and using or carrying a firearm during a crime of violence. During the first carjacking, on May 15, 2021, Wilson and his co-conspirators pulled alongside a man leaving for work, brandished guns, and demanded his car key while holding him at gunpoint. The group then fled in their vehicle and the victim’s stolen vehicle. Hours later, at around 3 a.m. on May 16, 2021, Wilson and his co-conspirators pulled alongside two men who were leaving a graduation celebration for a friend. The carjackers again brandished guns, demanded the key to that victim’s vehicle, and fled the scene in the victim’s car. A short time later, Philadelphia police spotted the carjacked vehicle and attempted to stop it. The vehicle led police in a high-speed car chase, which ended with officers halting their pursuit for safety reasons. Police found the second victim’s car abandoned nearby, a short time later. At approximately 5:15 p.m. that same day, Philadelphia police spotted the first victim’s vehicle. They attempted to stop the car, but it fled from police, leading them on another chase. Police caught up to the car after it struck another vehicle and crashed through a fence in North Philadelphia. Wilson fled from the car on foot and was apprehended thereafter on scene. “These gunpoint carjackings were terrifying for the victims, who were targeted out of nowhere while just going about their lives,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “My office and our partners on the Carjacking Task Force won’t stand for these senseless acts of violence and we’re using every tool we’ve got to bring the criminals responsible to justice, as Amir Wilson now knows. Today’s sentence keeps him off the street for quite a while and our community is safer, as a result.” “Carjacking is a dangerous federal crime that will land you in federal prison,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Eric DeGree. “This perpetrator threatened his victims with a gun, and twice recklessly raced the car he stole, endangering the neighborhood until he finally crashed it. The ATF Philadelphia Field Division works diligently with the Philadelphia Carjacking Task Force to solve cases using ATF’s unique forensic and investigative tools. Thanks to our cooperative efforts, this violent criminal has been taken off Philadelphia’s streets, making our communities that much safer.” This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Martin E. Howley, Jr. and Priya T. De Souza.


title: ‘Swatting’ Phone Call Targeted IRS Employee, Led to Lockdown

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man has been charged in federal court with making a hoax telephone call that led to an IRS employee being detained and the IRS office on Pershing Road being locked down. Anthony M. Alford, 46, was charged in a criminal complaint that was filed under seal in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo., on Friday, Sept. 27. The complaint was unsealed and made public today following Alford’s arrest and initial court appearance. Alford remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing on Friday, Oct. 4. The federal criminal complaint alleges that Alford placed a hoax telephone call to emergency services, falsely claiming that an individual was armed with a firearm and was threatening to shoot people in an IRS building. According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint, Alford called 911 on Sept. 10, 2024, and reported that a person identified in court documents as “Victim One” had a gun and was threatening to shoot up the Internal Revenue Service building at 333 W. Pershing Road in Kansas City, Mo. Victim One is an employee of the IRS. Kansas City police officers were dispatched to the building, where they contacted IRS security and Federal Protective Service officers. Victim One had been detained and searched for weapons based on the 911 call. Following the 911 call, the B-Wing of the IRS building was locked down. The IRS announced that there was an active shooter in the building and told those in the B-Wing to stay locked down. Victim One was unarmed. Victim One told investigators she had been dating Alford for about a month and was trying to break up with him. Alford had never been violent, she said, but had exhibited controlling, possessive, and jealous behavior. Alford had repeatedly called and messaged her the previous night, she said, and earlier that morning sent her messages threatening to involve the police. Investigators interviewed Alford afterward, according to the affidavit, and he told them Victim One did not threaten to shoot up the IRS Building, as he had said in the 911 call. Alford stated his intention when he called 911 was to instigate trouble for Victim One at work. The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean T. Foley. It was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Protective Service, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.


title: Federal Agencies Announce New Prioritized Efforts to Address Domestic Violence in Jefferson County and Will Provide Nearly $850,000 for Local Partners

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Both the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced new resources and support to combat domestic violence in Jefferson County. This comprehensive assistance will advance the law enforcement, crime prevention, and victim assistance priorities set by the United States Attorney’s Office and its local partners through Operation Safe Families. Jefferson County’s designation for prioritized enforcement and prosecution responses to domestic violence results from United States’ Attorney General Merrick B. Garland approval of 78 communities across 47 states, territories, and the District of Columbia for designation under Section 1103 of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2022. Through this designation, the United States Attorney’s and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Field Divisions will partner with each local law enforcement and community partners to develop a plan to reduce intimate partner firearm violence and to prioritize prosecutions of domestic violence offenders who illegally possess firearms. Alongside Jefferson County’s enforcement prioritization, the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women has awarded a $500,000 grant to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office – Birmingham Division – to enhance its investigations and prosecutions of domestic violence cases. These resources will expand the work of the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Domestic Violence High-Risk Team. HHS is also dedicating new resources in Jefferson County to address generational trauma and adverse childhood experiences caused by domestic violence. HHS is awarding $347,727 to One Place Metro Alabama Family Justice Center (One Place) for the advancement of its local work through Camp HOPE America – a national, year-round program that works with children (ages 7 -17) who have been impacted by domestic and family violence. One Place facilitates Alabama’s only Camp HOPE America site, serving Jefferson County. Through the HHS grant, One Place will be able to provide living assistance and counseling to families participating in Camp HOPE. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has made combatting domestic violence, and the community violence it often leads to, a top priority. In October 2020, the Office announced a new initiative, Operation Safe Families, to fight domestic violence in the Northern District of Alabama. Our top priority is to keep our communities safe by keeping guns out of the hands of domestic abusers. Operation Safe Families brings together federal law enforcement and local victim service providers, state and local law enforcement, and local prosecutors to better respond to the needs of victims of domestic violence and the threats presented to the community by domestic violence offenders. Not only do domestic violence offenders often terrorize former intimate partners, national and local crime data confirms that domestic violence offenders present extreme risks to law enforcement officers and are often responsible for significant amounts of violent crimes in Alabama communities. Operation Safe Families is part of the United States Attorney’s Office’s Project Safe Neighborhoods strategy and supports of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime. “Domestic violence tears at the fabric of our communities and affects every demographic of society,” said U.S. Attorney Escalona. “People who commit violence within their homes are often also the same people who commit violent crimes in our communities. My office along with our federal, state, and local law enforcement and community partners continue to work together to combat violent crime, to support victims of violence, and to prioritize prosecutions of domestic violence offenders.” “ATF recognizes the role firearms play in violent crimes and, more specifically, domestic violence.” ATF Special Agent in Charge, Marcus Watson said. “We at ATF are committed to aggressively pursuing prohibited possession of firearms due to domestic violence convictions and will continue to work with our partners to remove convicted domestic abusers who possess firearms from our communities.” “Between 2021 and 2023, there were 114 total domestic violence related homicides in Jefferson County, and more than 70% of known homicide offenders in Jefferson County each year have a history of domestic violence,” said District Attorney Danny Carr. “My office will not fail to do its utmost to bring justice, safety, and protection for victims of violence and our community. These additional resources will provide meaningful assistance to sustain and expand the innovative work that our Domestic Violence High-Risk Team is conducting.” “Preventing domestic violence and remedying the trauma it causes within a family and a community requires a comprehensive approach,” said Rebecca McWilliams, Executive Director of One Place Metro Alabama Family Justice Center. “The resources provide to Camp Hope from the Department of Health and Human Services can change lives and restore hope and opportunity for children and families affected by family violence. I am grateful and excited for the support and opportunities this grant will make within the lives of our Camp Hope families and in our community”. To learn more about One Place Metro Alabama Family Justice Center or Camp Hope, please visit Camp Hope - Alabama .


title: Mobile Man Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – A Mobile man was sentenced to 24 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. According to court documents, Brandon Reed, 27, was arrested by Mobile police on January 5, 2023, following a traffic stop. Reed was operating a vehicle with a revoked license and had a switched tag. A search revealed Reed to be in possession of a firearm, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. Reed was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm and pled guilty to the charge. United States District Court Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock sentenced Bailey to 24 months in prison followed by a 3-year term of supervised release for illegally possessing the firearm. U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Mobile Police Department investigated the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Terrill prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.


title: Former contract Air Force cryptologist pleads guilty to distributing child sexual abuse material

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia Beach man pled guilty today to distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). According to court documents, Lawson Heath Wright, 51, was employed at Langley Air Force Base as a contracted cryptologist in 2023 when he distributed CSAM images depicting young children engaged in sexual conduct. Wright posed as an 18-year-old Ukrainian refugee named Lara Urbaszewski and claimed to be having a sexual relationship with a 12-year-old male. On multiple occasions, posing as Urbaszewski, Wright used an email account to send CSAM to users. On Jan. 24, 2024, Virginia Beach Police (VBPD) executed a state search warrant for the e-mail account, and on April 2, 2024, VBPD, in conjunction with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Norfolk, executed a state search warrant on Wright’s vehicle and residence. Investigators seized several electronic devices including a cellphone, an external hard drive, laptops, and a micro-SD. CSAM was found on each of these devices. Some of the CSAM on Wright’s devices depicts sadistic or masochistic conduct or other depictions of violence or sexually explicit images involving an infant or toddler. Wright is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 11, 2025. He faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C.; and Paul Neudigate, Chief of Virginia Beach Police, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Taylor is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-86.


title: Florida Woman Admits COVID-19 Relief Program Fraud

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Florida woman today admitted fraudulently obtaining $465,489 in COVID-19 relief funding after submitting fraudulent applications to victim lenders, the U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Jane Batista, 43, of Lake Worth, Florida, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Evelyn Padin in Newark federal court to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From April 2020 to August 2021, Batista submitted fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications for herself, her husband, and two businesses they owned and operated. In support of those applications, Batista lied about the number of employees the businesses employed, the income the employees earned, and the revenue Batista and her husband generated as sole proprietors. Batista also submitted forged documents, including fake tax return documents. After the victim lenders funded the loans, Batista used that money for personal expenses and made several large transfers, including one for $15,000. The wire fraud count carries a maximum of 20 years in prison. The money laundering count carries a maximum of 10 years in prison. Each count also carries a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for March 18, 2025. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan; special agents of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Corwin Rattler; special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado; and special agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Thomas Mahoney with the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Taj Moore of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and Aaron L. Webman of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark. The District of New Jersey COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force is one of the five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . batista.information.pdf


title: Lewiston Man Sentenced to 35 Years for Sexually Exploiting a Child, Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: A Lewiston man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for sexually exploiting a child and possessing child sexual abuse material. U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Timothy Doyon , 29, to 35 years in prison, to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $103,500 in restitution. Doyon pleaded guilty on October 24, 2023. In sentencing Doyon, the judge stated, “This crime is among the worst I have ever seen.” The judge also thanked the law enforcement officers who worked on this investigation, noting that if Doyon had not been caught and arrested on state charges, “I don’t know where this would have gone. And based on the images that have been described from the child sex abuse material that was in your possession, I don’t think it was going anywhere good.” According to court records, in March 2023, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit (MSPCCU) received three related CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMEC). According to the tips, a phone number had been used to upload more than 400 files of suspected child sexual abuse material to cloud-based storage. Investigation revealed that the phone number belonged to Timothy Doyon, a registered sex offender in Maine with a prior state conviction for possessing sexually explicit material of a minor under 12. In May 2023, investigators executed a warrant to search Doyon’s person, vehicle and residence. During the warrant’s execution, investigators seized multiple electronic devices, including cell phones and digital storage devices, and Doyon admitted to downloading, viewing, and saving child sexual abuse material. At least one image recovered depicted Doyon engaging in sexually explicit conduct with a child under the age of 12. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is limiting identifying information to protect the minor victim’s privacy. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the MSPCCU investigated the case with assistance from the Lewiston Police Department. “This case has been one of the most heartbreaking and emotionally challenging cases our special agents have worked. Today’s significant sentence reflects the absolute cruelty and horror Doyon inflicted upon a child. We hope that the conclusion of this case and the knowledge that he will be in federal prison for many, many years can bring some peace to all he victimized,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol for Homeland Security Investigations in New England . To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – in legal terms, “child pornography” – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are shared or viewed. File a report with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at https://report.cybertip.org or 1-800-843-5678 . If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741 . Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc . ###


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office indicts five child exploitation cases in September, discusses joint effort to protect Alaska’s children

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker announced that a federal grand jury in Alaska returned five unrelated child exploitation indictments in September, emphasizing Alaska law enforcement efforts to investigate and prosecute cases to keep children safe. “Those who target children for sexual gratification are an urgent threat to our communities,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “My office, alongside our dedicated federal, state and local law enforcement partners, maintains our steadfast commitment to identifying, investigating, and prosecuting anyone who tries to harm our children—especially in this digital age, where predators can reach victims from anywhere in the world.” “These arrests demonstrate the FBI's continued prioritization of combatting child exploitation crimes in Alaska – no matter where these violations occur or who commits them,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. "Together with our law enforcement partners and the FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, we will identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who put our most vulnerable at risk." "We, whether it is as a federal law enforcement agency such as HSI or as a community as a whole, have a duty to protect the most vulnerable among us, our children," said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. "Victims of any type of child exploitation crime are survivors of unimaginable trauma. When we successfully stop child predators, we help victims attain safety and a chance to reclaim their lives.” “The U.S. Secret Service stands firmly with our law enforcement partners to investigate crimes that exploit and target children,” said Glen Peterson, U.S. Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Seattle Field Office. “We continue to use our tools, resources and expertise to identify and arrest individuals that victimize children.” U.S. v. Feltovic According to court documents, on Aug. 22, 2024, William Alexander Feltovic, 36, an Anchorage U.S. Postal employee, allegedly attempted to coerce an individual who had not attained the age of 18 years to engage in sexual activity. Feltovic was arrested on Sept. 23 and is charged with one count attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Schroeder is prosecuting the case. U.S. v. Hadley According to court documents, in June 2023, Jesse Hadley, 31, of Kotzebue used a minor in Bethel to produce and possess visuals of child pornography. Hadley was arrested on Sept. 30 and is charged with one count sexual exploitation of a child—production of child pornography and one count sexual exploitation of a child—possession of child pornography. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison. The FBI Anchorage Field Office and the Bethel Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Brickey is prosecuting the case. U.S. v. Madros According to court documents, on Aug. 27, 2024, George Floyd Madros III, 43, of Anchorage, contacted an individual he thought was a 13-year-old female on a social media platform. Madros and the individual began communicating through a private chat via the platform and text messages. Madros then allegedly asked the individual for sexually explicit content, asked to meet in person, and talked about potential sexual interactions if they met in person. Madros was arrested on Aug. 28 on related charges filed in a criminal complaint. The indictment charges Madros with one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison. The FBI Anchorage Field Office is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ainsley McNerney is prosecuting the case. U.S. v. Rose According to court documents, on Aug. 27, 2024, Robert Nicholas Roy Rose, 44, of Anchorage, contacted an individual he thought was a 13-year-old girl on a social media platform. Throughout the course of the chat, Rose allegedly had sexually explicit conversations with the individual, including explanations of actions he wanted to do or perform with the 13-year-old, and organized a time to meet in person. In 2006, Rose was convicted of sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree in the Superior Court for the State of Alaska. As part of the conviction, he was required to register as a sex offender in Alaska. Rose was arrested on Aug. 30 on related charges filed in a criminal complaint. The indictment charges Rose with one count of attempted exploitation of a child – production of child pornography, one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, and one count offense by a registered sex offender. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison for the one charge of attempted production of child pornography, followed by an additional mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison that runs consecutively for the count of offense by a registered sex offender. The FBI Anchorage Field Office is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ainsley McNerney is prosecuting the case. U.S. v. Steadman According to court documents, William Steadman, 34, of Juneau, allegedly produced child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) depicting a minor known to him. Additionally, court documents indicate that he allegedly spent time with other children in his community. Steadman was arrested on Sept. 6 on related charges filed in a criminal complaint. The indictment charges Steadman with sexual exploitation of a child, also known as production of child pornography. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 25 years in prison. The U.S. Secret Service is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mac Caille Petursson, Jack Schmidt, William Reed and Trial Attorney McKenzie Hightower of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. ###


title: Previously extradited Nigerian national sent to prison for role in multimillion-dollar business email compromise scheme

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A 45-year-old dual citizen of Nigeria and the United Kingdom has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction in a wire fraud conspiracy involving two districts, announced U.S. Attorneys Alamdar S. Hamdani and Dena J. King for the Southern District of Texas (SDTX) and Western District of North Carolina (WDNC), respectively. Oludayo Kolawole John Adeagbo aka John Edwards and John Dayo arrived in the United States in August 2022 following his extradition from the United Kingdom to face criminal charges filed in SDTX and WDNC. He pleaded guilty April 8 for his criminal conduct in both cases. U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell of the Western District of North Carolina has now ordered Adeagbo to serve a total of 84 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by one year of supervised release. The court also ordered him to pay $942,655.03 in restitution to the victims. “Adeagbo ran a sophisticated 21st century cyber-criminal operation hiding behind fake email accounts and anonymous internet addresses to steal from the innocent, a crime as old as time itself,” said Hamdani. “Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams have become an epidemic with individuals and businesses suffering debilitating financial losses, while eroding society’s trust in digital communications and undermining overall economic stability. That’s why prosecutors and agents in two jurisdictions worked tirelessly to identify Adeagbo and reach across the Atlantic to bring him to justice.” “BEC schemes, like the one perpetrated by Adeagbo and his co-conspirators, are sophisticated and devastating crimes that target the trust businesses and institutions place in their daily operations,” said King. “By exploiting this trust, fraudsters steal millions of dollars from unsuspecting victims. This case demonstrates the commitment of my office and our law enforcement partners to pursue justice for those impacted by these schemes and to hold cybercriminals accountable, regardless of where they are operating from.” "Oludayo Adeagbo and his coconspirators perpetrated transnational cyber-enabled fraud schemes that targeted schools, government entities, and companies across the United States, and caused millions of dollars in losses,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Adeagbo’s extradition, plea, and sentencing underscore the Criminal Division’s commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to pursue cybercriminals who target American victims, no matter where that pursuit leads. We are especially grateful to the Government of the United Kingdom for its assistance in this case.” "Oludayo Adeagbo thought he was pretty slick stealing other people’s money via this scam. His victims, however, strongly disagreed,” said FBI Executive Assistant Director Michael Nordwall. “Instead of enjoying the fruits of his illegal labors, Adeagbo will now be spending time in a federal prison. The BEC is one of the fastest growing and most costly scams and the only way to fight it is through cooperation, often international cooperation, and this case is a prime example of partnerships working.” A BEC scheme, also referred to as “cyber-enabled financial fraud,” is a sophisticated scam that often targets individuals, employees or businesses involved in financial transactions or that regularly perform wire transfer payments. Fraudsters are usually part of larger criminal networks operating in the United States and abroad. There are many variations of BEC scams. Generally, the schemes involve perpetrators gaining unauthorized access to legitimate email accounts or creating email accounts that closely resemble those of individuals or employees associated with the targeted businesses or involved in business transactions with the victim businesses. The scammers then use the compromised or fake email accounts to send false wiring instructions to the targeted businesses or individuals, to dupe the victims into sending money to bank accounts controlled by perpetrators of the scheme. Generally, the money is quickly transferred to other accounts in the United States or overseas. The Texas BEC Scheme From November 2016 until July 2018, Adeagbo conspired with others to participate in multiple cyber-enabled business email compromises in an attempt to steal more than $3 million from victim entities in Texas, including local government entities, construction companies and a Houston-area college. Adeagbo and his co-conspirators registered domain names that looked similar to legitimate companies. They then sent emails from those domains pretending to be employees at those companies to clients or customers of the companies they impersonated and deceived those customers into sending wire payments to bank accounts the co-conspirators controlled. The North Carolina BEC Scheme From Aug. 30, 2016, to Jan. 12, 2017, Adeagbo and others defrauded a North Carolina university of more than $1.9 million via a BEC scheme. Adeagbo and his co-conspirators obtained information about significant construction projects occurring throughout the United States, including an ongoing multimillion-dollar project at the victim university. To execute the scheme, Adeagbo and others registered a domain name similar to that of the legitimate construction company in charge of the university’s project and created an email address that closely resembled that of an employee of the construction company. Using the fake email address, the fraudsters deceived and directed the university to wire a payment of more than $1.9 million to a bank account someone working under the direction of Adeagbo and his co-conspirators controlled. Upon receiving the payment, Adeagbo and his co-conspirators laundered the stolen proceeds through a series of financial transactions designed to conceal the fraud. Co-conspirator Donald Ikenna Echeazu, 42, a dual citizen of Nigeria and the United Kingdom extradited to the United States, was previously sentenced to 18 months in prison followed by a year of supervised release and was ordered to pay $655,408.87 in restitution for his role in the conspiracy. Adeagbo will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The FBI’s Houston Cyber Task Force and Charlotte Field Office conducted the investigation with assistance of the FBI’s Cyber and Criminal Investigative Divisions. The United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency, Metropolitan Police Service, City of London Police and Crown Prosecution Service also provided substantial assistance. The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs helped secure the arrest and extradition. SDTX Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Rodolfo Ramirez prosecuted the case along with WDNC AUSA Graham Billings and Trial Attorney Brian Mund of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section. If you suspect you are a victim of a BEC scheme, you can file a complaint online with the FBI’s Internet Complaint Crime Complaint Cetner (IC3) at bec.ic3.gov . The IC3 staff reviews complaints to detect patterns or other indicators of significant criminal activity for potential criminal prosecution.


title: U.S. Attorney's Office Announces Guilty Plea in Fatal Navajo Crash

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – An Arizona man pleaded guilty in federal court today to charges of involuntary manslaughter and assault resulting in serious bodily injury, admitting to causing a fatal three-vehicle crash. According to the plea agreement, Olan Jumbo , 31, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, admitted that on November 26, 2022, shortly after midnight, he caused a three-vehicle crash in Navajo, New Mexico while driving under the influence of alcohol. Jumbo was speeding when he collided with a vehicle driven by Jane Doe, with John Doe as a passenger. As a result of the collision, Jane Doe suffered fatal injuries, while John Doe sustained serious bodily harm. At sentencing, Jumbo faces up to 10 years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Jumbo will be subject to up to three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meg Tomlinson is prosecuting the case. View the Plea Agreement (Jumbo).pdf # # #


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Sentencing of Mentmore Man for Federal Firearms Violation After Domestic Violence Incident

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Mentmore man was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison for federal firearms offenses following a domestic violence incident during which he assaulted his wife and kidnapped their four children. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, on the morning of September 23, 2021, Rumaldo Peshlakai 's wife reported to the Navajo Nation Police Department that she had been assaulted by Peshlakai , 43, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. He then fled their home with their four children, ages 10, 7, 5, and 2, in his wife’s vehicle. The wife informed police that Peshlakai was likely under the influence of alcohol and cocaine, armed with a firearm, and had threatened to shoot officers if they attempted to stop him. A multi-agency search ensued, involving the Navajo Nation Police Department, FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and U.S. Marshals Service. Peshlakai evaded law enforcement for several hours, traversing over six miles on foot and at one point hiding the children in a drainage culvert. Along the way, Peshlakai buried the firearms under a tree along the path they walked and covered the hole with leaves and branches in an attempt to conceal them. Peshlakai eventually left the children at his mother’s home in Fort Defiance, Arizona, before turning himself in the next day, on September 24, 2021. Following Peshlakai ’s arrest, with the assistance of a specially-trained K-9 gun-sniffing canine, law enforcement recovered three firearms – two handguns and a rifle – that he had buried during his escape. As a previously convicted felon – including a prior federal conviction for being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, Peshlakai was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. Upon his release from prison, Peshlakai will be subject to three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to forfeit the firearms and ammunition, which included a Glock 19 9mm handgun, a Phoenix Arms .25 Automatic Colt pistol, a Marlin .22 caliber rifle, and various calibers and brands of ammunition. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations investigated this case with assistance from the FBI Phoenix Field Office, United States Marshals Service, New Mexico State Police, McKinley County Sheriff's Office and Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander F. Flores and Kimberly Bell are prosecuting the case. # # #


title: Belgrade man arraigned on child pornography crimes

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: BILLINGS — A Belgrade man accused of producing and distributing child pornography involving multiple minors appeared today for arraignment on a nine-count indictment, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. The defendant, Tyrell Forest Anderson, 35, also of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with three counts of production of child pornography, four counts of distribution of child pornography and two counts of transfer of obscene material to a minor. If convicted of the most serious crime, Anderson faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years to 30 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to a lifetime of supervised release. U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. Anderson was detained pending further proceedings. The indictment alleges that on separate occasions in 2023 to March 2024, in Laurel and Bozeman, Anderson knowingly coerced three minors, identified as Jane Doe 1, 2 and 3, to produce sexually explicit images of themselves. The indictment further alleges that in February 2024 in Bozeman, Anderson distributed images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct to three other minors, identified as Jane Doe 4 and 5 and John Doe 1, using a computer and the internet, and that Anderson, using Snapchat, sent obscene images to two minors, identified as Jane Doe 6 and 7, in Bozeman. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Bozeman Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and 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 Justice.gov/PSC . PACER case reference. 24-113. The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html . To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl . XXX