title: California Man Pleads Guilty  to Federal Cares Act Fraud

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that NIPUN DESAI (“DESAI”) , formerly of Hammond, La., but now a California resident, age 55, pleaded guilty on July 10, 2024 before U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter to making false statements related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). On March 27, 2020, the President of the United States signed into law the CARES Act, which provided emergency assistance, administered by the United States Small Business Administration (SBA), to small business owners affected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The two primary sources of funding for small businesses were the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) program. According to court records, on or about January 25, 2021, DESAI made false statements to an approved lender in order to obtain an SBA backed PPP loan in the amount of $146,947.50 for the Fairbridge Hotel in Metairie, LA. At the time of the loan application, DESAI ’s hotel was permanently closed and had no employees or payroll. DESAI is to be sentenced on October 8, 2024. At that time, he faces up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release, and the payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. For more information on the Department of Justice’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . As part of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Task Force, this investigation was conducted by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Office of Inspector General. The PRAC was established to promote transparency and facilitate coordinated oversight of the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic response. The PRAC’s 20 member Inspectors General identify major risks that cross program and agency boundaries to detect fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement in the more than $5 trillion in COVID-19 spending, including spending via the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. This case was also supported by the PRAC’s Pandemic Analytics Center of Excellence, which applies the latest advances in analytic and forensic technologies to help OIGs and law enforcement pursue data-driven pandemic relief fraud investigations. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Office of Inspector General, the Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Bankruptcy Trustee’s Office (Region 5) in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera of the Financial Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Eight People, to Include Five Latin Kings, Charged with Drug and Firearm Offenses

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – On July 11, the United States unsealed an indictment charging eight defendants, including five members of the Almighty Latin King gang (“Latin Kings”), with federal drug and firearm offenses. The twenty-six count indictment charges Dayana Garcia, 34, Eduardo Monteagudo, 41, and Armando Rodriguez, Jr., 38, all of Miami, Fla., with conspiring with Bernardo Olvera, a/k/a “King Handsome,” 35, also of Miami, to distribute 500 or more grams of cocaine in Miami-Dade County. According to allegations in the court record, to include previously filed criminal complaints, Olvera is a known member of the Latin Kings gang, as are codefendants Jerry Rodriguez, a/k/a “King Suave,” 30, of West Palm Beach, Fla., Blas Barrios, a/k/a “King Blasito,” 44, of Miami, Joshua De Paula, a/k/a “King Vision,” 28, of West Palm Beach, and Ricky Mourin, a/k/a “King Rick,” 33, of Naranja, Fla. Olvera, Rodriguez, Barrios, De Paula, and Mourin engaged in the illegal sale of narcotics and/or firearms on multiple occasions between January and June 2024. The indictment charges Olvera, Rodriguez, Barrios, De Paula, and Mourin with conspiring to distribute 500 or more grams of cocaine, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and 28 grams of cocaine base throughout South Florida. Olvera, Rodriguez, Barrios, and De Paula also face federal charges for criminal conduct involving firearms. Olvera and Rodriguez, both convicted felons, are charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possessing a firearm after a felony conviction. Rodriguez, Barrios, and De Paula, were also charged with firearms trafficking and possessing firearms after felony convictions, with Rodriguez facing an additional charge for unlawfully transferring a machine gun. Olvera, Rodriguez, Barrios, De Paula, and Mourin were taken into custody on June 27, at locations across South Florida. They each made their initial appearances in the Southern District of Florida on June 28. If convicted, Olvera, Rodriguez, Barrios, De Paula, and Mourin each face up to life in prison. They are all currently detained. On July 11, Garcia and Monteagudo were taken into custody in Miami and had their initial appearances in the Southern District of Florida. Garcia and Monteagudo are currently detained. Rodriguez, Jr. is pending arrest. If convicted, Garcia, Rodriguez, Jr. and Monteagudo each face up to 40 years in prison. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida; Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle of the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office; Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Robinson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division; Director Stephanie V. Daniels of the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD); Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami; and U.S. Marshal Gadyaces S. Serralta of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) made the announcement. ATF Miami Field Office, MDPD, HSI Miami and USMS Miami investigated the case and executed the arrest warrants. The Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office provided invaluable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Monica K. Castro is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitchell Hyman is handling asset forfeiture. An indictment and criminal complaint contain mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. 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 . ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) was used to ascertain historical information regarding firearms. NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin . This investigation was carried out by members of the South Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force. The South Florida HIDTA, established in 1990, is made up of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies who, cooperatively, target the region’s drug-trafficking and money laundering organizations. The South Florida HIDTA is funded by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, which sponsors a variety of initiatives focused the nation’s illicit drug trafficking threats. For more information regarding HIDTA visit https://www.dea.gov/operations/hidta . You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/ or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 24-cr-20289. ###


title: Former Georgia Insurance Commissioner Sentenced to Prison

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA - John Oxendine, the former Georgia Insurance Commissioner, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud in connection with unnecessary lab testing. “Oxendine abused his position as the former Georgia Insurance Commissioner by undermining the integrity of the state’s healthcare system when he conspired with a physician to order hundreds of unnecessary and costly lab tests,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “This case demonstrates our office’s commitment to work with our law enforcement partners to hold individuals accountable who prioritize personal greed at the expense of the public’s trust.” “John Oxendine was motivated more by personal greed than his duty to patients and the citizens of Georgia whom he used to represent,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Not only did the former state insurance commissioner line his pockets off the unnecessary tests, but he also directed another to lie to federal agents to try and cover up the fraud. The FBI will continue to investigate healthcare fraud to ensure those who abuse the system are brought to justice.” “The sentence imposed today reaffirms our commitment to protecting the integrity of our nation’s health insurance programs from those who illegally profit through fraudulent activities,” said Tamala E. Miles of the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG will continue to work closely with our federal law enforcement partners to bring bad actors who defraud our programs to justice.” “Today’s sentencing should serve as a strong deterrent to those in positions of power who seek to exploit and defraud TRICARE, the military’s healthcare system relied on by our service members, retirees, and their families,” said Special Agent in Charge Darrin K. Jones, Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Southeast Field Office. “DCIS and our law enforcement partners will aggressively investigate allegations of healthcare fraud that put DoD personnel and their families at risk.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: John Oxendine conspired with Dr. Jeffrey Gallups and others to submit fraudulent insurance claims for medically unnecessary Pharmacogenetic, Molecular Genetic, and Toxicology testing. Physicians associated with Dr. Gallups’ ENT practice were pressured to order these medically unnecessary tests from Next Health, a lab in Texas. As part of Oxendine’s healthcare fraud scheme, Next Health agreed to pay Oxendine and Dr. Gallups a kickback of 50 percent of the net profit for eligible specimens submitted by Dr. Gallups’ practice to the lab company. In connection with the scheme, Oxendine gave a presentation at the Ritz Carlton in Buckhead, Georgia where he pressured doctors in Dr. Gallups’ practice to order the unnecessary tests. Next Health later submitted insurance claims seeking more than $3 million in payments from private health insurers for the unnecessary tests. The insurance companies paid more than $750,000 to Next Health because of these fraudulent claims. Next Health then paid $260,000 in kickbacks to Oxendine and Dr. Gallups. Some patients were also charged for the tests, receiving bills of up to $18,000. To conceal the kickback payments, Oxendine and Dr. Gallups arranged for the payments to be made from Next Health to Oxendine Insurance Services, Oxendine’s insurance consulting business. Oxendine used a portion of the kickback money to pay a $150,000 charitable contribution and $70,000 in attorney’s fees for Dr. Gallups. When a compliance officer at Dr. Gallups’ practice raised concerns about the kickbacks, Oxendine told Dr. Gallups to lie and say the payments were loans. He also directed Dr. Gallups to repeat the lie after he was questioned by federal agents about Next Health. When Oxendine was interviewed about Next Health by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in connection with a private lawsuit, he falsely denied working with the lab company or receiving money from the business. John W. Oxendine, 62, of Port St. Joe, Florida, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steve C. Jones to three years, six months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $760,175.34, and a $25,000 fine. Oxendine was convicted on these charges on March 22, 2024, after he pleaded guilty. This case is related to United States v. Gallups , criminal no. 1:21-cr-00370-SCJ, in which Dr. Jeffrey Gallups pleaded guilty to health care fraud and was sentenced to 33 months in prison. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, and Defense Criminal Investigative Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Huber and David A. O’Neal prosecuted the case. A video statement by U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan can be found here . For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Armstrong Group Agrees to Pay $6.5M to Settle False Claims Act Allegations Relating to Subsidies Under the Federal Communications Commission’s High-Cost Program

component: Civil Division

body_text: Butler, Pennsylvania, based Armstrong Group has agreed to pay $6.5 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by knowingly violating the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) rules governing the agency’s High-Cost Program and submitting improper costs in order to inflate the subsidies it received from the federal Universal Service Fund (USF). The FCC established the USF to help ensure that all people in the United States have access to rapid, efficient, nationwide communications service with adequate facilities at reasonable charges. The High-Cost Program is one of four programs that comprise the USF and aims to ensure that consumers in rural, insular, and high-cost areas have access to modern communications networks capable of providing reasonably comparable voice and broadband service, both fixed and mobile, at rates that are reasonably comparable to those in urban areas. In pursuit of that goal, the High-Cost Program provides federal funds to qualified eligible telecommunications carriers, including incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs), that receive subsidies to expand connectivity infrastructure within the United States. The United States alleged that, between 2008 and 2023, five ILECs owned by Armstrong Group (Armstrong Telephone Company – Maryland, Armstrong Telephone Company – New York, Armstrong Telephone Company – Northern Division, Armstrong Telephone Company – Pennsylvania, and Armstrong Telephone Company – West Virginia) failed to comply with FCC regulations that governed what costs they were allowed to report for purposes of claiming subsidy payments from the government, and as a result these companies received greater subsidy payments than those to which they were entitled. “Telecommunications providers that seek to participate in important FCC programs like the High-Cost Program must comply with applicable rules, including those governing how they report the costs used to calculate their subsidies,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s settlement demonstrates our continuing commitment to protect the integrity of the FCC’s operations and services.” “When providers like the Armstrong Group fail to follow federal law and FCC regulations, they jeopardize not only critical government programs but also consumers’ ability to access a modern lifeline — rapid, reliable, and efficient telecommunications services,” said U.S. Attorney Eric G. Olshan for the Western District of Pennsylvania. “Today’s settlement demonstrates our office’s dedication to ensuring the business community plays fairly, particularly with respect to public funds, and further assures our rural neighbors throughout the district that we will work vigorously to protect their access to essential services that many people take for granted.” “In the digital age, it is critical for everyone, everywhere to have access to reliable, high-speed broadband, including in rural and underserved areas. That is why we are laser-focused on pursuing waste, fraud, and abuse in these critical programs and ensuring that available funds flow to companies that play by the rules,” said General Counsel Michele Ellison for the FCC. “I applaud the continuing collaboration among the Office of General Counsel, the Office of the Inspector General, and the U.S. Department of Justice toward this important objective.” “Carriers receiving support from the USF or any FCC benefit program must understand that actions undermining the claims process will not be tolerated and will be investigated vigorously,” said Inspector General Fara Damelin of the FCC. “The FCC Office of Inspector General will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and the FCC to ensure the integrity of the FCC’s programs. I would like to thank the Department of Justice and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania for their unrelenting dedication to this case.” Contemporaneous with the civil settlement, Armstrong Group has entered into a robust corporate compliance agreement with the FCC, requiring Armstrong to adopt concrete changes in the company’s internal controls and implement comprehensive oversight and monitoring mechanisms. The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by James Ranko, Armstrong Group’s former Controller. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any subsequent recovery. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Ranko v. Armstrong Group of Companies, et. al. , Case No. 17-1052 (W.D. Pa.). The whistleblower will receive $1,267,500 as his share of the recovery. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania and the FCC’s Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the FCC’s Office of General Counsel. Senior Trial Counsel Benjamin C. Wei and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul E. Skirtich for the Western District of Pennsylvania handled the matter. Investigative Attorneys Elliot Lowenstein and Peter Feinberg of the FCC Office of Inspector General provided investigation support. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability. Settlement


title: Centralia Man Sentenced to 30 Years on Drug and Gun Charges

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A federal judge in southern Illinois sentenced a man from Centralia to 30 years’ imprisonment for selling drugs, unlawfully possessing a firearm and tampering with a witness. In February 2024, a jury convicted De’Andre Owens, 37, on one count of distribution of methamphetamine and one count of tampering with a witness, victim or informant. In February 2022, Owens pleaded guilty to one count of felon in possession of a firearm. “Felons who continue to sell drugs, possess firearms illegally and attempt to pay off witnesses to further conceal their crimes are a true threat to public safety, and I commend the law enforcement officers who worked this investigation that ultimately placed De’Andre Owens behind bars,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, a jury found Owens guilty of selling 18 grams of meth in March 2022. The jury also found Owens guilty of trying to pay off an individual to prevent their testimony in his case. “This substantial sentence underscores De’Andre Owens’ criminal history as a career offender,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jermaine Deans. “The successful outcome of the investigation is a testament to the collaborative efforts and teamwork of multiple law enforcement agencies working shoulder-to shoulder with the FBI to make safer communities.” Owens was prohibited from possessing a firearm as an individual with a prior felony drug conviction from 2016. In December 2019, police conducted a search warrant on Owens’s vehicle and found a 9mm pistol. Following imprisonment, Owens will serve eight years of supervised release. The FBI Springfield Field Office, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, the Centralia Police Department and the Carlyle Police Department contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Hudson and David Dean prosecuted the case.


title: Franklinton Mail Contractor Indicted for Forged Check Scam and Mail Theft

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that RACHEL WATTS SANDERS (“WATTS SANDERS”) , age 39, of Loranger, Louisiana, was indicted on July 11, 2024, for bank fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344(2), and mail theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1708. According to the indictment, WATTS SANDERS stole over forty checks from the mail, forged endorsements on the stolen checks, and deposited them into her own bank account. If convicted, WATTS SANDERS faces a maximum penalty of thirty (30) years of imprisonment, up to five (5) years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1,000,000 for bank fraud; and a maximum penalty of five (5) years of imprisonment, up to three (3) years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.00 for the theft of mail. WATTS SANDERS also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee per count. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The case was investigated by the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Christine Calogero of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Seven Charged in Wide Ranging Conspiracy Resulting in the Death of Four Victims

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Amanda Marie Correa, 29, Robert Andrew Barnes, 24, Christine Deann DiCarlo, 50, Shaqare Jaymont Blackwell, 23, Shakur Serafin Brownstein, 27, Dylan Wilson Small, 35, and Samual Jordan, 42, were charged by a federal grand jury in a Superseding Indictment which includes (1) conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance resulting in death and serious bodily injury; (2) two counts of distributing fentanyl resulting in death and serious bodily injury; (3) two counts of brandishing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; (4) kidnapping; and (5) aggravated identity theft. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment notes that this group of individuals that law enforcement has dubbed the “Fentanyl Robbery Gang (F.R.G.),” some of whom were affiliated with New York gangs, trafficked drugs and guns. Additionally, they used dating websites to connect with individuals interested in hiring prostitutes. Members and associates of the F.R.G. would arrange to come to the victim’s location with the intent to rob the victim of firearms, cash, cellular telephones, identification documents, debit and credit cards, drugs, and other items of value. The victim would be offered narcotics (usually purported cocaine), though unbeknownst to the victim, the narcotics contained fentanyl. If the victim refused the drugs, members of and associates of the F.R.G. would administer fentanyl-laced narcotics to the victim by forcibly or surreptitiously introducing it into the victim’s body. This was done to incapacitate victims as to steal firearms, cash, cellular telephones, identification documents, debit and credit cards, drugs, and other items of value. If a victim was not incapacitated, or not incapacitated quickly enough, members of the F.R.G. would instead change course and simply commit home-invasion robberies where they would be let into the victim’s home by other members and associates and then steal items of value at gunpoint or through other violent means, including threats, beatings, and aggravated assault. The superseding indictment alleges that four individuals have died as the result of overdosing on fentanyl. Three deaths occurred in Berks and Luzerne County, Pennsylvania and one death in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The seven individuals named in the superseding indictment are all in custody. This is an on-going investigation and law enforcement are attempting to identify and arrest additional members and associates of F.R.G. and to identify and locate victims. Victims and others who may have information concerning F.R.G. are requested to contact the FBI at 570-344-2404. The charges were the result of a joint investigation by the FBI; Pennsylvania State Police, the United States Marshals Service – Scranton office; the District Attorney Offices of Pike, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wyoming, and Berks Counties in Pennsylvania; the Portsmouth, New Hampshire Police Department, and the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office; and various state and local law enforcement agencies. Assistant United States Attorneys Todd K. Hinkley and Luisa Honora Berti are prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western


title: Postal Employee Charged  With Destruction of Mail

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JORRY HARRISON (“HARRISON”) , age 36, of Houma, Louisiana, was indicted on July 11, 2024, for destruction of mail, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1703. According to the indictment, HARRISON , a postal employee, unlawfully secreted, destroyed, detained, delayed, and opened multiple parcels of mail, including one large brown parcel, on October 25, 2023. If convicted, HARRISON faces a maximum penalty of five (5) years of imprisonment, up to three (3) years of supervised release, up to a $250,000.00 fine, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The case was investigated by the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Christine Calogero of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: U.S. Navy Reserve Officer Convicted for Bribery Scheme Impacting Department of State’s Approval Process for Special Immigrant Visas for Afghan Nationals

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A federal jury convicted a U.S. Navy Reserve commander today on multiple criminal charges related to a years-long bribery scheme involving Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for Afghan nationals. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Jeromy Pittmann, 53, of Pensacola, Florida, received bribe money from Afghan nationals in exchange for drafting, submitting, and falsely verifying false letters of recommendation for citizens of Afghanistan who applied for SIVs with the U.S. Department of State. Each year, the State Department offers limited SIVs to enter the United States for Afghan nationals employed as translators for U.S. military personnel. In connection with this program, Pittmann signed over 20 false letters in which he represented, among other things, that he personally knew and had supervised the Afghan national visa applicants while they worked as translators in support of the U.S. military and NATO; that the applicants’ lives were in jeopardy because the Taliban considered them to be traitors; and that, based on his personal knowledge of the applicants, he believed they did not pose any threat to the national security of the United States. In reality, Pittmann did not know the applicants and had no basis for recommending them for SIVs. In exchange, Pittmann received several thousands of dollars in bribes. To avoid detection, Pittmann received the bribe money through an intermediary and created false invoices purporting to show that Pittmann was receiving the money for legitimate work unrelated to his military service. The jury convicted Pittmann of conspiracy to commit bribery and false writing, bribery, false writing, and conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 21 and faces a maximum penalty of 45 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Inspector General Robert P. Storch of the Department of Defense; Inspector General John F. Sopko of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR); and Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service’s (NCIS) Economic Crimes Field Office made the announcement. SIGAR, NCIS, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Matt Kahn and Theodore M. Kneller of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.


title: Media Advisory – Press Conference: U.S. Attorney to Provide Update on Wilmington Violent Crime Strategy, Including Recent Indictments and Seizures

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: WILMINGTON, N.C. – United States Attorney Michael Easley, along with representatives from the Wilmington Police Department, the New Hanover County District Attorney’s Office, the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will hold a press conference on Monday to provide an update on the Wilmington Violent Crime Action Plan (VCAP). The update will include information on recent arrests and seizures. WHERE: Wilmington Police Department – Blue Room – 615 Bess Street, Wilmington, NC 28401 WHEN: Monday, July 15 at 11:00 a.m. Media please arrive at the Police Department by 10:30 a.m. for set up . For logistical information in advance of the media availability, please contact Brandon Shope at the Wilmington Police Department or the Public Information Office at the U.S. Attorney’s Office. No case specific information is available until the press conference. ###


title: MS-13 Gang Member Sentenced to 292 Months in Prison for Retaliation Murder on Long Island

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, Edwin Amaya-Sanchez, also known as “Strong,” a member of the Guanacos Lil Cycos Salvatruchas clique of La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as the MS-13, a transnational criminal organization, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Gary R. Brown to 292 months’ imprisonment. Amaya-Sanchez pleaded guilty in April 2018 to firearms-related murder charges in connection with his participation in the July 14, 2014 murder of Jose Lainez-Murcia, who was shot and killed while sitting in a car outside his home in Brentwood. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Christie M. Curtis, Acting Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Robert E. Waring, Acting Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), announced the sentence. “As Amaya-Sanchez admitted, the murder he committed was premeditated and brutal. Now he will have a long time to think about his cruel actions as he serves his sentence behind bars,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This Office and our law enforcement partners will continue working tirelessly to eliminate MS-13 and the threat this transnational criminal enterprise presents to our community.” “After ten years, justice has been served. In 2014, Edwin Amaya-Sanchez, a MS-13 gang member, meticulously planned the calculated murder of Jose Lainez-Murcia based upon unverified assumptions of his involvement in the deaths of former MS-13 affiliates. Today’s sentencing affirms the FBI’s relentless commitment to eradicating the presence of violent gangs in our neighborhoods,” stated FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Curtis. “Edwin Amaya-Sanchez's calculated actions to seek out the victim at his home are proof that he would stop at nothing to carry out his crimes,” Suffolk County Police Acting Commissioner Robert Waring said. “This sentencing sends a message that the Suffolk County Police Department and its law enforcement partners will continue to work tirelessly to combat violent criminal enterprises and bring justice to the victims and their families.” As set forth in the government’s sentencing memorandum, prior court filings and statements during the sentencing, Amaya-Sanchez and other MS-13 members orchestrated the murder of Lainez-Murcia because they suspected that Lainez-Murcia was an assassin who had killed MS-13 members in El Salvador. Amaya-Sanchez knew where Lainez-Murcia lived, what car he drove, and what time he left for work in the morning, because they previously worked together. In the early morning hours of July 14, 2014, Amaya-Sanchez drove two other MS-13 members, each of whom was armed with a 9mm handgun, to Lainez-Murcia’s neighborhood and dropped them off. When Lainez-Murcia left the house and entered his car, the MS-13 members approached and fired multiple times with the 9mm handguns, killing him. The two MS-13 members ran down the block where Amaya-Sanchez picked them up and drove away. Amaya-Sanchez, an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador, who previously was deported from the United States and illegally returned, was initially arrested on September 21, 2015, in connection with federal immigration charges. During today’s hearing, Judge Brown also sentenced the defendant to time served following his guilty plea to the immigration charge in April 2016. Upon completion of the 292-month sentence, the defendant faces deportation from the United States. Today’s sentencing is the latest achievement in a series of federal prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York targeting members of the MS-13, a violent, transnational criminal organization. The MS-13’s leadership is based in El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico, but the gang has thousands of members across the United States. With numerous branches, or “cliques,” the MS-13 is the most violent criminal organization on Long Island. Since 2003, hundreds of MS-13 members, including dozens of clique leaders, have been convicted on federal felony charges in the Eastern District of New York. A majority of those MS-13 members have been convicted on federal racketeering charges for participating in murders, attempted murders and assaults. Since 2010, this Office has obtained indictments charging MS-13 members with carrying out more than 70 murders in the Eastern District of New York, resulting in the convictions of dozens of MS-13 leaders and members in connection with those murders. These prosecutions are the product of investigations led by the FBI’s Long Island Gang Task Force, which is comprised of agents and officers of the FBI, SCPD, Nassau County Police Department, Nassau County Sheriff’s Department, Suffolk County Probation Office, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, the New York State Police, the Hempstead Police Department, the Rockville Centre Police Department and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorneys John J. Durham, Paul G. Scotti, Justina L. Geraci and Megan E. Farrell are in charge of the prosecution. The Defendant : Edwin Amaya-Sanchez (also known as “Strong”) Age: 36 Brentwood, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 16-CR-403 (JFB)


title: Jury Convicts Two Executives in Longstanding Antitrust Conspiracy to Fix Prices, Rig Bids and Allocate Markets for Concrete

component: Antitrust Division

body_text: A jury convicted Gregory and David Melton yesterday in the U.S. District Court in Savannah, Georgia, for their role in a conspiracy to fix prices, rig bids and allocate markets for sales of ready-mix concrete in Georgia and South Carolina. The conspiracy, which began as early as 2010 and continued until about July 2016, involved coordinating price-increase letters to customers, allocating specific jobs in the coastal Georgia area and submitting bids to customers at collusive and noncompetitive prices. Including yesterday’s verdicts, this investigation resulted in five criminal convictions and one deferred prosecution agreement. Defendants James Pedrick, Timothy Strickland and Strickland’s company, Evans LLC, previously pleaded guilty as a part of the same conspiracy. Pedrick’s former employer, Argos USA LLC, previously entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the Antitrust Division, admitted to its participation in the conspiracy and agreed to pay a $20 million criminal penalty. “Concrete is essential to our nation’s infrastructure,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Today’s guilty verdicts reflect the Antitrust Division’s commitment to holding individuals accountable for cheating American consumers out of the opportunity to purchase necessary building materials free of corruption and collusion. The division and its law enforcement partners will continue to prioritize their work prosecuting individuals responsible for this illegal and unethical conduct.” “Customers expect to receive fair value for construction materials – not to enrich unscrupulous vendors who collude to unfairly increase their profits,” said U.S. Attorney Jill E. Steinberg for the Southern District of Georgia. “This verdict makes it clear that our office and law enforcement partners will hold accountable those who violate the law to pad their bottom line.” “Today’s verdict shows the determination of the FBI and our partners to hold accountable those who interfere with a free marketplace for consumers,” said Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office. “The public should expect an open and fair market, free from corruption and collusion, with the ability to purchase essential building materials." “Bid rigging and fraud schemes are serious criminal actions that adversely impact the competitive contracting marketplace,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph Harris of the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT OIG), Southern Region. “Today’s conviction should serve to deter individuals and companies from engaging in deceptive practices that violate federal regulations and the public’s trust.” “The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, along with our other federal law enforcement partners, secured a victory with today’s guilty verdict in our fight against bid-rigging and collusion,” said Executive Special Agent in Charge Kenneth Cleevely of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Office of Inspector General (OIG). “The USPS OIG will vigorously investigate those who would engage in harmful anticompetitive practices, and we continue to ask for the public’s assistance in identifying and reporting those engaged in this type of activity.” Violating the Sherman Act, which is a federal criminal antitrust statute, is a felony. The maximum penalty for individuals convicted of violating the Sherman Act is 10 years in prison and a $1 million criminal fine. The fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime if either amount is greater than the statutory maximum fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI Washington Field Office, DOT OIG and USPS OIG investigated the case. Attorneys Patrick S. Brown and Julia M. Maloney of the Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney E. Greg Gilluly Jr. for the Southern District of Georgia prosecuted the case, with valuable assistance from Senior Litigation Counsel Gary Bell, Assistant Chief Megan Lewis and Trial Attorney Daniel A. Loveland of the Antitrust Division. In November 2019, the Justice Department created the Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF), a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government – federal, state and local. To learn more about the PCSF, or to report information on bid rigging, price fixing, market allocation and other anticompetitive conduct related to government spending, go to www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force .


title: Readout of Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew G. Olsen’s Trip to The Hague

component: National Security Division (NSD)

body_text: Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division traveled to The Hague, Netherlands, this week to address the Counterterrorism Law Enforcement Forum (CTLEF) and to convene a high-level meeting with European partners on stopping the illicit flow of sensitive technology to foreign adversaries. The CTLEF was held on July 10-11 at the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol). Assistant Attorney General Olsen delivered opening remarks, along with U.S. Deputy Coordinator for Counterterrorism Ian Moss. In his remarks, Assistant Attorney General Olsen discussed the Justice Department’s ongoing efforts to combat heightened threats from domestic violent extremists in the United States, including those engaged in racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism (REMVE) and individuals who cite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East as inspiration in targeting Jewish and Muslim Americans. He also highlighted the importance of international law enforcement cooperation to confront transnational connections among REMVE actors who spread violent ideologies across borders, including through social media and online gaming platforms. On July 12, Assistant Attorney General Olsen cohosted a meeting at the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) aimed at enhancing transatlantic cooperation in the fight to keep sensitive western technology out of the hands of Russia and other foreign state adversaries. In addition to the Assistant Attorney General, keynote remarks were delivered by Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin, European Commissioner Didier Reynders (by video), and Eurojust President Ladislav Hamran. Representatives from more than 30 countries as well as several EU institutions participated in the meeting. Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen (left), Eurojust President Ladislav Hamran (middle) and Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin (right). In his remarks, Assistant Attorney General Olsen described the threats posed by adversaries seeking sophisticated American technologies like semiconductors, quantum, hypersonics and artificial intelligence. Adversary regimes can exploit these tools to increase their military capabilities, engage in mass surveillance, and commit human rights abuses. He highlighted the success of the Department’s Disruptive Technology Strike Force – an interagency enforcement effort co-led with the Commerce Department to prevent critical technological assets from being unlawfully acquired and used by foreign adversaries. Citing recent criminal prosecutions, Assistant Attorney General Olsen emphasized the concrete impacts of criminal enforcement of U.S. sanctions and export control laws and the force-multiplier effect of international partners’ complementary efforts to deny malign actors these technologies. “The countries represented here have a shared commitment to the common goal of combating the national security threat posed by the misuse of critical technology,” said Assistant Attorney General Olsen. “International partnerships are critical to our work. Our adversaries’ efforts to obtain sensitive technology reach across the globe, and it demands an international response.” Valuable insights were also shared by senior officials from the European Commission, Eurojust, Europol, the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.


title: Armed Rocky Mount Narcotics Trafficker Who Fired Shots Sentenced to 50 Years

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

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – A Rocky Mount cocaine dealer was sentenced to 600 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm by a felon. On April 11, 2024, Andre Donnell Downey, age 37, pled guilty to the charges. “This high-volume drug dealer, who previously served a federal sentence for trafficking cocaine, quickly returned to a life of crime following his release from prison,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “When arrested again, this time facing drug distribution and illegal gun charges, he sought to continue his criminal activities, including threatening the use of violence towards many individuals. His plan was foiled and now he’s facing the next five decades behind bars.” “We appreciate our partnerships with the U.S. Attorney's Office and our federal partners as we continue to make Rocky Mount one of the safest places to live,” said Rocky Mount Police Chief Robert Hassell. “The outcome of Andre Donnell Downey's repeated offenses and disregard for the law goes to show drugs, guns, and violent crimes will not be tolerated.” “The threat repeat offenders pose to our communities is serious,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “ATF and our law enforcement partners remain committed to fighting back against violent crime and removing those individuals who continuously disregard the laws and the safety of the public.” According to court documents and other information presented in court, in 2021, Downey was identified by investigators as a high-volume cocaine supplier to lower-level dealers in the Rocky Mount area. During the investigation, law enforcement officers observed Downey’s operation of multiple stash houses which he used to distribute cocaine. In December 2021, a search of one house uncovered cocaine, marijuana, and other drug paraphernalia along with nearly $3,000 cash on Downey’s person. By the spring of 2022, investigators began receiving information indicating that Downey had resumed selling drugs out of a stash house on Buena Vista Drive in Rocky Mount. On July 22, 2022, Rocky Mount Police Officers responded to an emergency call at a local convenience store. Downey was seen on the convenience store’s surveillance camera discharging a firearm through the front door of the store at an individual in the parking lot. Officers later collected a 9mm handgun from Downey that matched 9mm shell casings recovered from the scene of the shooting. Through traffic stops, search warrants, and interviews of individuals who were supplied by Downey, investigators were able to establish that he was responsible for distributing over 60,000 grams of cocaine and 765 grams of crack from 2021 until Downey’s federal arrest in September 2023. After Downey’s federal arrest, he made more than 600 calls from jail within his first month of being in custody. A review of the calls by the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) task force officers found that Downey was discussing the restart of his drug activity following his release and managing his drug trafficking organization’s continued drug sales while in custody. The calls also revealed that Downey was orchestrating the use of violence against other drug traffickers that owed him money. Downey has a 2009 federal conviction for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (crack). He served a 70-month sentence for that crime as well as an additional nine months for violating his supervised release. The prosecution of Downey was a part of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force Operation (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Rocky Mount Police Department, ATF, and the Nash County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Webb prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-00116-D-1.


title: New Jersey Woman Convicted of Investment Fraud

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A New Jersey woman pled guilty today to an investment scheme in which victims from West Virginia and elsewhere lost more than $300,000. United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced that Diana Mae Fernandez, age 38, of Bergenfield, New Jersey, admitted to wire fraud. According to court documents, Fernandez, also known as “Diana Fernandez Koporan,” “Dana Fernandez,” and “Dajana Ko,” operated purported investment firms known as “The Self Made Success” and “Diana Mae K., LLC.” Fernandez used social media and email to solicit investors, claiming she offered “no-risk” and “guaranteed” investment opportunities. Multiple victims, including a victim from Marion County in West Virginia, were defrauded of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Fernandez used the money she stole for her personal benefit and made false claims about why returns on investments could not be provided to her clients. “We should always approach investment opportunities that promise high returns and no risk with skepticism,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. “One way to protect yourself before investing is to use the FINRA BrokerCheck, a valuable tool that’s free and allows you to research the background and experience of financial brokers, advisers, and firms.” Fernandez faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The FBI investigated the case. U.S. Magistrate James P. Mazzone presided. ###


title: U.S. Attorney Secures Guilty Plea in Oil and Gas Fraud Case

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Farmington woman has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to submitting false and inaccurate oil and gas extraction reports, failing to pay due taxes and royalties to the Jicarilla Apache Nation, Navajo Nation, and federal government. In her plea agreement, Teresa McCown , owner of M&M Production & Operation, Inc. (M&M) and Shoreline Oil & Gas Company (Shoreline), admitted that between 2017 and 2023, she repeatedly submitted false and inaccurate oil and gas extraction and production reports through online reporting systems, failed to submit mineral reports in some cases, and did not pay due taxes and royalties for oil and gas produced from Federal and Indian leases. As a lease operator, McCown was responsible for accounting, reporting mineral production, and paying royalties to mineral owners for extracted gas and minerals. To that end, McCown was required to submit monthly Oil and Gas Operations Reports (OGOR) and royalty payments to the Department of the Interior's Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) based on the amount and value of oil and gas produced from the leases. On December 6, 2019, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) received a complaint letter from the Jicarilla Apache Nation alleging M&M and Shoreline’s ongoing failures to report oil and gas extraction volumes and failure to report revenue. ONRR began its investigation into McCown and her companies’ failure to pay royalties and determined that required reporting for royalties was missing for long periods of time. In her plea, McCown admitted to filing over 400 incorrect reports on Indian and Federal leases during the time period, that there are approximately 1,000 missing or unfiled OGOR reports for at least 32 leases or agreements, that she falsely reported gas extraction amounts, and failed to pay due royalties and interest. McCown was issued numerous Notices of Noncompliance (NONC), Failure to Correct Civil Penalties notices (FCCP), and Immediate Liability Civil Penalty (ILCP) notices for inaccurate reporting. ONRR held two pre-penalty teleconferences with McCown to discuss the civil penalties assessed in the NONCs, FCCPs, and ILCPs and any mitigating circumstances that may have prevented her companies from complying by the prescribed deadlines. Both of these teleconferences were audio recorded. In those teleconferences, McCown offered no relevant mitigating circumstances and instead gave various excuses, blaming medical ailments and fired employees for not properly reporting the well sites. Even after those teleconferences, McCown took no corrective action. ONRR then sent the companies’ debts for unpaid royalties and penalties to the U.S. Treasury for collection. As of January 2024, neither M&M nor Shoreline had paid the debts to the U.S. Treasury and both debts continued to accrue. In addition, McCown knowingly submitted false or inaccurate reports to ONRR over the internet, constituting wire fraud. When a user accesses ONRR's online systems, there is a validation process. The validation process all occurs over wires and an interaction with the data center where user logins are authenticated and authorized. Thus, when reports are submitted via an internet connection, users are confronted with a popup message that reads “I am authorized to report for this Reporter and certify that the electronic data transmitted is valid, accurate, complete and accept responsibility for such data…”, and must click “OK” to proceed. During the reporting periods at issue in the indictment, McCown also accessed relevant websites as an official representative of her two companies. When she accessed those websites to submit information, she agreed to ONRR’s Acceptable Use Policy (AUP), which warned against entering inaccurate or false information into the reporting system. The online system separately warns users that a violation of the AUP may result in criminal prosecution. In her plea agreement, McCown admitted that she submitted inaccurate or false information through these systems on numerous occasions and that she intended to undertake a scheme to defraud the Navajo Nation, the Jicarilla Nation, and the United States of full amounts due for her companies’ operations – even after receiving notices, penalties, and participating in teleconferences with regulators. As part of her plea agreement, McCown agreed to liquidate personal properties in Farmington and Rio Arriba County, an RV, and two motor vehicles and apply the proceeds the restitution she owes. McCown also agreed not to contest proceedings initiated by the Department of the Interior, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Land Management to cancel her oil and gas leases. She agreed to file financial disclosure forms with the United States Attorney’s Office until restitution is complete, and agreed to fully comply with ongoing curative audit and compliance procedures that will follow her plea. The Court ordered that McCown remain on conditions of release pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. At sentencing, McCown faces up to 20 years in prison. Upon her release from prison, McCown will be subject to up to three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and the Department of the Interior (DOI) Office of Inspector General made the announcement today. The Department of the Interior, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Energy Investigations Unit investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Flores is prosecuting the case. View the Plea Agreement # # #


title: Clay County White Supremacist Gang Member Pleads  Guilty To Drug And Firearm Charges

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Danny Ray Boree (39, Keystone Heights) has pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Boree faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years, up to 40 years, in federal prison on the drug charge and up to 15 years’ imprisonment on the firearm offense. Boree also agreed to forfeit a Raven Arms pistol traceable to the firearm offense. Boree was arrested on September 8, 2023 and ordered detained. No sentencing date has been set. According to court documents and court proceedings, Boree is a member of The Unforgiven, a violent white supremacist gang. On June 8, 2023, a deputy with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) pulled over a Jeep for a stop sign violation in Keystone Heights. Upon approaching the car, the deputy observed Boree in the passenger seat with a meat cleaver/hatchet directly in front of him and a knife in a sheath, by his feet. For officer safety, the deputy directed Boree to step out of the car. As Boree got out, he observed part of a clear baggie in the waistline of Boree’s shorts. During a pat down of Boree, the deputy removed the baggie which contained a large amount of methamphetamine. During a subsequent search of the car, CCSO located a Raven Arms pistol and additional methamphetamine. At the time of the drug offenses, Boree had previously been convicted in state court in Florida for 10 felonies, including battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2007, 2019). As a convicted felon, Boree is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law. Boree had recently been released from the Florida Department of Corrections in January 2023, for his last firearm conviction. This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Jacksonville Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein. 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: Indian River County Drug Dealer Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Fentanyl Resulting in Death

body_text: MIAMI – On July 11, Keyon Lewis, 27, of Indian River County, Fla., was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison, to be followed by 4 years of supervised release, for distributing fentanyl resulting in death. According to the court record, on Nov. 5, 2021, Lewis distributed fentanyl to a man in the parking lot of a restaurant in Vero Beach, Fla.. The next day, the man’s wife found him dead on the kitchen floor of their residence. After law enforcement discovered the victim’s body, they used the victim’s cellphone to order more fentanyl from Lewis, unbeknownst to Lewis that law enforcement was posing as the victim. On Nov. 7, 2021, Lewis showed up at the victim’s residence with more fentanyl, at which point he was arrested by deputies with the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office (IRCSO). U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Miami Field Division, and IRCSO Sheriff Eric Flowers made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Aileen M. Cannon in Fort Pierce, Fla. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Porter. According to the DEA’s National Drug Threat Assessment , synthetic drugs, such as fentanyl, are poisoning our nation. Fentanyl has proven to be a deadly poison that does not discriminate. Its victims include every gender, race, age, and economic background, and its debilitating effects are the same across all demographics. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Even in small doses, fentanyl can be deadly. Just one fentanyl pill can kill, as noted in DEA’s One Pill Can Kill campaign. As little as two milligrams, about the size of 5 grains of salt, can be fatal. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths. Over 150 people die every day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl. The State of Florida has also seen an exponential increase in overdoses associated with fentanyl. In 2022, more than 5,622 people died from overdoses involving fentanyl and fentanyl analogs in Florida. For more information visit: https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/MEC/Publications-and-Forms/Documents/Drugs-in-Deceased-Persons/2022-Annual-Drug-Report-FINAL-(1).aspx ; https://www.cdc.gov/opioids/basics/fentanyl.html# ; and https://www.dea.gov/factsheets/fentanyl . You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-CR-14030. ###


title: Mexican National Sentenced to Nearly 20 Years for Trafficking Meth through Eagle Pass Port of Entry

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: DEL RIO, Texas – A Mexican national was sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 235 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, on Nov. 12, 2020, Braulio Reyes, 27, of Agujita, Coahuila, Mexico, attempted to enter the United States through the Eagle Pass Port of Entry pedestrian lane. Customs and Border Protection Officers discovered Reyes had several packages strapped to his waist, containing 3.45 kgs of methamphetamine hydrochloride with a purity level of 100%. Reyes pleaded guilty Feb. 26, 2021, facing a federal prison term of 10 years to life and a maximum fine of $10,000. U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas made the announcement. Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rex Beasley and Holly Pavlinski prosecuted the case. ###


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced to Eleven Years in Prison on Drug and Gun Charges

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal judge sentenced a convicted felon on drug and gun charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Katrina W. Berger. U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala sentenced Allen H. Davis, also known as “Big Homie,” 46, of Midfield, to 132 months in prison. In March, Davis pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine; possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; possession of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine with intent to distribute; and felon in possession of a firearm. According to the plea agreement, in February 2023, HSI and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency began investigating Davis for suspected fentanyl distribution. On March 23, 2023, agents located Davis at a residence in Midfield and executed a search warrant that day. During the search, agents found methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine base. Agents also found a Taurus 9mm pistol with an extended high-capacity magazine and a Zastava Arms pistol. Both firearms were fully loaded. HSI investigated the case, along with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin A. Keown, Sr. prosecuted the case.


title: New London Man Charged with Cocaine Distribution and Firearm Possession Offenses

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, today announced that a federal grand jury in Bridgeport has returned an indictment charging LUIS OLIVER-GARCIA, also known as “Bebo,” 34, of New London, with cocaine distribution and firearm possession offenses. The indictment was returned on July 2, 2024, and Oliver-Garcia appeared yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria E. Garcia in New Haven pleaded not guilty to the charges. He has been detained since his arrest on June 21, 2024. As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force identified Oliver-Garcia as a large scale distributor of cocaine. The investigation revealed that Oliver-Garcia rented a storage unit at a facility on Cross Road in Waterford to store narcotics and other items. On June 21, 2024, Oliver-Garcia arrived at the storage facility shortly before investigators were about to conduct a court-authorized search of his storage unit. Oliver-Garcia was arrested after the search revealed more than three kilograms of cocaine, approximately $30,000 in cash, and a 9mm firearm, and a search of the car that he drove to the facility revealed an additional quantity of cocaine and two boxes of 9mm ammunition. It is alleged that Ortiz-Garcia’s criminal history includes state convictions for felony drug distribution and weapon possession offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce. The indictment charges Oliver-Garcia with possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years; unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of at least five years. U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This investigation is being conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force, which includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, and Windsor Locks Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Reed Durham.


title: Joint Communique From the 2024 U.S.-Canada Cross Border Crime Forum (CBCF)

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: The United States and Canada have a longstanding and enduring security, law enforcement, and intelligence partnership that is centered on protecting public safety, consistent with rights protected by law. Yesterday, to advance our shared goals, U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas hosted Canada’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Arif Virani, and Canada’s Minister of Public Safety, Dominic LeBlanc, in Washington, D.C., for the U.S.-Canada Cross Border Crime Forum (CBCF). This meeting is the third CBCF since it was reestablished by President Biden’s and Prime Minister Trudeau’s 2021 “ Roadmap for a Renewed U.S.-Canada Partnership .” Building on the success of previous CBCF meetings, including the “Statement of Partnership to Prevent, Investigate, Prosecute, and Disrupt Cross-Border Crime,” which was signed at last year’s meeting, the four U.S. and Canadian officials (“the Ministers”) discussed ways to enhance collaboration in the following areas: Foreign Interference/National Security The Ministers acknowledged the threat from hostile foreign actors, including in the context of electoral interference. Malign actors may seek to influence outcomes and undermine public confidence in elections in many ways. They may deploy efforts to subvert democratic processes, such as engaging in cyber-attacks and other interference activities against election campaigns and election infrastructure to disrupt election processes. They may seek to influence elections, including by covertly exploiting and fueling divisions within society; and this, in turn, may also help fuel coercive activity and harassment, and threats of violence toward voters, candidates, and election personnel. Both the United States and Canada agreed that fair and secure elections are cornerstones of democracy and emphasized the need to work together to combat any threats that seek to undermine it. Malign foreign actors also have demonstrated an intent and willingness to use insiders, computer intrusion, or other means to steal trade secrets and sensitive technologies. This global problem requires a global response, and the United States and Canada will continue to investigate and, where appropriate, prosecute espionage that threatens our economies and export control violations. In this vein, the Ministers agreed on the need to preserve the cross-border flow of data between allies and partners that is critical to our economic well-being, while maintaining the security of sensitive personal data. The Ministers similarly reaffirmed their united front in protecting our democracies and the democratic process. A key tool in combating the threat of transnational repression, as well as malign foreign influence and interference generally, is transparency through foreign agent registries; the United States discussed the use of its Foreign Agents Registration Act and related statutes, while Canada highlighted its newly passed legislation in this area, Bill C-70, “An Act respecting countering foreign interference,” which will establish a Foreign Influence Transparency Registry and update criminal law tools to better safeguard democracy. These efforts, along with investigations and prosecutions of transnational repression-related cases, will further enhance the ability of the United States and Canada to protect those living within our borders. Law Enforcement Cooperation and Information Sharing The United States and Canada continue to combat the devastation caused by fentanyl and synthetic opioids by working together at disrupting the illicit supply chain, to include production and distribution and the importation of illicit precursor chemicals from China and elsewhere. Similarly, the violence wrought by firearms smuggled across the U.S.-Canada border requires continued efforts to target those responsible, including shippers and receivers, by seizing illicit firearms and tracing their origins. Key in all these counter opioid and firearm efforts is enhanced information sharing between U.S. and Canadian law enforcement agencies, which has already led to successful operations. The Ministers applauded the advances in cooperation between U.S. and Canadian law enforcement since the last CBCF and underscored the need to build on and further operationalize prior Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs). The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to provide clear policy direction and training to ensure that institutional policies and practices maximize information sharing within the context of each other’s laws and regulations, and in accordance with recent MOUs. They plan to continue to work together to improve the operationalization and systemization of intelligence and law enforcement sharing at the border, with the goals of supporting interdictions and investigations, countering transnational organized crime, continuing to build the global coalition against synthetic drug threats, and disrupting the synthetic opioid and firearm supply chains. In the context of enhancing information sharing, the Ministers also discussed the challenges associated with cross-border human smuggling that is occurring in both directions, and challenges in related investigations. Accordingly, the Ministers called on their officials to continue strengthening ways to gather and share information for the detection and investigation of organized crime groups and networks that target vulnerable people and engage in human smuggling. They also tasked officials to review information sharing case studies of border incidents and identify opportunities to further improve intelligence sharing, detection, and interdiction, in order to disrupt cross-border smuggling and investigate and hold accountable those involved. With respect to law enforcement cooperation and information sharing at the border, the Ministers also considered their respective country’s approach to providing advance notification of sex offender travel, which remains a key tool in making informed admission decisions. Both countries will seek to maximize the sharing of sex offender travel notifications, in the interest of ensuring public safety. Online Crime and Hate Crimes The Ministers began their discussion of online crime by acknowledging the need to maintain tightly controlled lawful access to communications content that is vital to the investigation and prosecution of serious crimes, including terrorism and online child sexual exploitation and abuse. The Ministers then turned to collective efforts to address the increasing prevalence of online child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The Ministers noted the increase in both countries of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated CSAM and the need for international engagement to combat this threat, to include law enforcement, non-governmental organizations, the technology industry, and others. With respect to AI more generally, the Ministers acknowledged the benefits and risks posed by AI technology. Moreover, the Ministers recognized that AI crosses over multiple government equities, including criminal law, civil rights, and antitrust law, and recommended that this continue to be a focus of study by the CBCF. The need for strategic and coordinated engagement between and among international partners was also discussed in the context of elder fraud and romance scams. The Ministers discussed avenues available to collectively identify and disrupt such schemes to prevent further victimization. The United States and Canada also acknowledged the ways in which hate crimes erode communities. The Ministers noted with concern the increased number of attacks motivated by anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of bias on both sides of the border and pledged to work together to address this issue. The Ministers also welcomed the outcomes of the strengthened collaboration between their respective Access to Justice Offices over the past year, including on strategies to overcome systemic inequality and discrimination, as part of efforts to increase access to – and strengthen confidence in – the justice system. Conclusion The Ministers plan to continue their close contact on all these critical issues, both in the context of the CBCF, and in other bilateral exchanges. They reiterated the strength, success, and depth of the security and law enforcement relationships along the U.S.-Canada border and the need to remain aligned. Contacts Jean-Sébastien Comeau Deputy Director of Communications Office of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs 343-574-8116 Jean-Sebastien.Comeau@iga-aig.gc.ca Media Relations Public Safety Canada 613-991-0657 media@ps-sp.gc.ca Chantalle Aubertin Deputy Director, Communications Office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada 613-992-6568 Chantalle.Aubertin@justice.gc.ca Media Relations Department of Justice Canada 613-957-4207 media@justice.gc.ca Nicole Navas Oxman Senior Communications Advisor for International Law Enforcement/Spokesperson U.S. Department of Justice 202-305-5625 Nicole.Navas@usdoj.gov U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Public Affairs mediainquiry@hq.dhs.gov


title: Santa Barbara County Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Fentanyl that Resulted in Death of Fellow Jail Inmate

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A Lompoc man was sentenced today to 240 months in federal prison for aiding and abetting the distribution of fentanyl that resulted in the death of a fellow inmate at a Santa Barbara County jail and the serious bodily injury of another inmate. Kaelen Jacobkeali Wendel, 32, was sentenced by United States District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong. At the conclusion of a five-day trial, a jury on March 1 found Wendel guilty of one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death and serious bodily injury. In October 2022, Wendel smuggled fentanyl into a unit of the Santa Barbara County North Branch Jail. He packaged the powerful synthetic opioid in candy containers. As the new inmate, Wendel handed some fentanyl to his co-defendant, Michael Villapania, 36, of Lompoc, in the expectation that he would receive jail commissary goods in exchange. Villapania then sold the drug to a victim identified in court documents as “J.V.” J.V. then shared the fentanyl with another victim, who is identified in court documents as “E.E.” After ingesting the drug during the early morning hours of October 20, 2022, E.E. and J.V. overdosed. After an inmate alerted a custody deputy about the overdose, deputies and nurses administered multiple doses of Narcan – a life-saving medication used to reverse opioid overdoses – and performed CPR on both inmates. They revived J.V., but E.E. died. Villapania pleaded guilty on February 1 to one count of distribution of fentanyl. He was sentenced on June 10 to seven years in federal prison. “[Wendel] committed a serious offense that ended in a tragedy,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum. “He smuggled fentanyl into a jail unit, killing E.E. and nearly killing J.V. He created a market for fentanyl where there was none.” The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Suria M. Bahadue, Alexandra Kelly, and Kenneth R. Carbajal of the General Crimes Section prosecuted this case.


title: Former Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Contraband

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: United States Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad announced that on July 12, 2024, Johanna Grace (age: 34) plead guilty to providing marijuana and a cellular telephone to an inmate of the Waukesha County Jail, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2(a), 1791(a)(1), 1791(b)(3), and 1791(b)(4). Publicly filed documents reflect that when Grace committed this offense, she was serving as a Lieutenant with the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office. She coordinated with associates outside the Waukesha County Jail to bring contraband inside the facility, and when she realized her crime would be discovered, Grace shared internal law enforcement reports with those same associates. Grace has acknowledged that as part of her offense of conviction, she obstructed justice. Grace faces a statutory maximum of five years’ imprisonment. Sentencing is set for October 9, 2024, before United States District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller. This matter was investigated by the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Katherine Halopka-Ivery and Kevin Knight. # # # For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov 414-297-1700 Follow us on Twitter


title: Former Chief Financial Officer of Chicago Hospital Among Three Defendants Charged in Alleged $15 Million Embezzlement Scheme

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: CHICAGO — The former Chief Financial Officer of a Chicago hospital schemed with a colleague and the owner of a medical supply company to embezzle more than $15 million in hospital funds, according to a superseding indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Chicago. As the hospital’s CFO, ANOSH AHMED was responsible for managing the hospital’s finances, including its Finance, Accounting, and Accounts Payable departments. From 2018 to 2022, Ahmed schemed with the hospital’s Chief Transformation Officer, HEATHER BERGDAHL, and the medical supply company owner, SAMEER SUHAIL, to cause the hospital to issue payments to vendor companies for purported goods and services that the defendants knew had not been provided, the indictment states. Many of the purported vendor companies were created by Suhail and Ahmed under various names to conceal their association with the fraudulent payments, the indictment states. Bergdahl opened bank accounts in the names of two legitimate hospital vendors and caused the hospital to deposit fraudulent payments into those accounts, the indictment states. In an effort to conceal the scheme, Ahmed, Bergdahl, and Suhail allegedly created fictitious invoices, payment requests, delivery receipts, and other false documents about goods and services purportedly provided to the hospital. As a result of the scheme, the defendants caused the hospital to pay more than $15 million into bank accounts that they controlled, the indictment states. The superseding indictment was returned on Thursday. It charges Ahmed, 40, of Houston, Texas, with eight counts of wire fraud, four counts of embezzlement, eleven counts of aiding and abetting embezzlement, and three counts of money laundering. Bergdahl, 37, of Houston, Texas, is charged with 14 counts of wire fraud, 21 counts of embezzlement, and one count of money laundering. Suhail, 47, of Chicago, is charged with six counts of wire fraud, six counts of aiding and abetting embezzlement, and two counts of money laundering. Arraignments in federal court in Chicago have not yet been scheduled. The superseding indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, Mario Pinto, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and Jason Bushey, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division in Chicago. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sheri H. Mecklenburg and Kelly L. Guzman. The officials noted that the investigation remains ongoing. The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Ahmed et al superseding indictment


title: Beckley Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Liteef Hughes, 43, of Beckley, was sentenced today to eight years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for the distribution of cocaine base, also known as “crack.” According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 28, 2022, Hughes sold a quantity of crack to a confidential informant at his Beckley residence. On May 5, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Hughes’ residence and found quantities of cocaine and crack and $1,667. Hughes admitted to possessing the cocaine and crack, and further admitted that the $1,667 was proceeds obtained from drug trafficking. The investigation revealed that Hughes had distributed cocaine for approximately two and a half years. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit. United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-105. ###


title: Six Individuals Charged in $1 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: Update: Charges against Chinenye Nwodim were dismissed in August 2024. BOSTON – Five Massachusetts residents and one New York resident have been charged in connection with a scheme to defraud various health insurance companies by submitting fabricated claims seeking reimbursement for over $1 million worth of bogus medical expenses, purportedly incurred during international travel. Brendon Ashe, 40, of Dorchester; Aqiyla Atherton, 36, of Roxbury; Darline Cobbler, 40, of Randolph; Henry Ezeonyido, 36, of Brockton; Ariel Lambert, 34, of Brooklyn, NY; and Chinenye Nwodim, 36, of Brockton, were charged in a complaint unsealed yesterday with one count each of health care fraud. All six defendants were released on conditions following initial appearances in federal court in Boston. According to the charging document, the defendants allegedly submitted health insurance claims, or had claims submitted on their behalf, for expensive medical treatment that they purportedly received and paid for out-of-pocket while traveling overseas. The claims submitted to four different insurance companies related to alleged traumatic injuries such as stabbings, hit and run car accidents, as well as gunshot wounds that the defendants purportedly suffered and that required their hospitalization abroad. The complaint alleges that the defendants were in the United States at the time they claimed to be hospitalized in foreign countries. It is further alleged that some of the defendants received unrelated medical services in the United States at the same time they were purportedly hospitalized overseas. In support of these claims submitted to the insurance companies, the defendants allegedly provided fabricated records – including fake bank records purporting to show payment to the treating facilities, bogus medical records purporting to show the medical care provided, and falsified police reports describing the circumstances of shootings or stabbings. In some instances, the details of the claims submitted by or on behalf of the defendants and supporting documentation – including the dates of service, country where the alleged traumatic injuries occurred, and nature and circumstances of the alleged injuries –are nearly identical to one another. As a result of these fraudulent claims, various health insurance companies were billed over $1 million for services that were never rendered. “These defendants allegedly fabricated over $1 million in insurance claims for injuries that never happened in a brazen abuse of our healthcare system. This kind of deceit is not only illegal, it victimizes every law-abiding person by diverting resources from those truly in need and driving up costs for everyone,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Health care fraud is a serious crime that erodes public trust and undermines the integrity of our healthcare system. Prosecuting health care fraud, in whatever permutation it takes, has always been and remains a top priority.” “Yesterday, the FBI charged six people whose guiding compass appears to have been greed. We believe they feigned injuries they never suffered and submitted bogus claims for medical treatment rendered in overseas hospitals they never set foot in, while most claimed to be victims of violent crimes that never actually took place,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Unscrupulous schemes like the one we allege here drives up health care costs for all of us which is why the FBI, and our partners won’t hesitate to bring to justice anyone who perpetrates blatant and egregious fraud.” “These individuals allegedly lied and said they sustained injuries or illness and had to pay substantial healthcare costs while abroad for their medical needs. We allege that they then fraudulently requested their health insurance carriers to reimburse them for these fictitious costs, including by using the U.S. Mail. Postal inspectors will not let these schemes go unchecked and are committed to protecting the integrity of the U.S. Mail,” said Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the United States Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division. “Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts is committed to combating this illegal activity through vigilant investigation and collaboration with our partners. Insurance fraud harms everyone and undermines trust in the insurance system and increase costs of insurance,” said Anthony M. DiPaolo, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Insurance Fraud Bureau. The charge of health care fraud carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting U.S. Attorney Levy, FBI SAC Cohen, USPIS INC Larco‐Ward and IFB Executive Director DiPaolo made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leslie Wright and Patrick Callahan of the Criminal Division’s Health Care Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case. The details contained in the complaint are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves Welcomed Youth to  14th Annual “Breaking the Silence on Youth Violence” Youth Summit

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON - U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves and numerous local and federal law enforcement agencies and community-based organizations welcomed about 150 District youths to the 14 th Annual “Breaking the Silence on Youth Violence” Youth Summit,” held today at The Catholic University of America’s Przybyla Center. The event focused on a variety of subjects, including opioid abuse prevention, gun violence prevention, and mental health awareness. A moment of silence was held to remember young victims lost by homicide in 2024. The Summit featured dynamic speakers, entertainment, information, and resources. U.S. Attorney Graves presented the United States Attorney’s Office’s Youth Citizenship Awards to four participants. Thousands of the District’s youth have participated in the Summit since the U.S. Attorney’s Office began holding this event. The Summit is a part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhood Program, a nationwide effort to reduce violent crime. The U.S. Attorney thanks this year’s partners: the East of the River Family Strengthening Collaborative; the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation; The Catholic University of America, including its Department of Public Safety; the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, DC; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; the Metro Transit Police Department; the D.C. Housing Police Department; the U.S. Marshals Service; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Department of Housing; and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigation. The event is planned and executed each year by members of the Community Engagement Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.


title: Federal Jury Found Pryor Man Guilty of Sexual Abuse

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – A jury deliberated less than two hours today prior to convicting Adam Joseph King, 35, of Pryor, for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor Under 12 in Indian Country and Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor Under 12 in Indian Country. The minor victim is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. “Today, a jury held Adam King accountable for his abusive actions towards an innocent child,” U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson said. “This guilty verdict resulted because of the courage of the child victim and the collaborative work among local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, demonstrating a commitment to the Justice Department's Project Safe Childhood initiative.” "A defenseless child suffered at the hands of Adam King. These cases are among the most difficult for the FBI, but they are also the most impactful,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Kaplan of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. “Thanks to our partnership with the Catoosa Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, this depraved individual will now face justice for his terrible crimes.” According to evidence presented at trial, from Nov. 2017 through Aug. 2021, King knowingly engaged in a sexual act with a minor under 12. In 2017, King rekindled a relationship with a former girlfriend with an eight-year-old daughter. Shortly after the girlfriend moved in with King, he began sexually abusing the child while her mother was at work. During the trial, the child victim described the sexual abuse she received and reported the abuse to a school counselor. Experts further testified that the evidence collected from King’s bedroom matched the DNA of the child victim. The investigation showed that King and his girlfriend, the mother of the victim, denied any wrongdoing by King. Once the investigation began, the minor victim was removed from the mother’s home and placed in the custody of her grandparents. King will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. The FBI, the Catoosa Police Department, and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Valeria Luster and Matthew Cyran prosecuted the case. 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: Postal Employee Charged  With Destruction of Mail

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that PJ WHITAKER (“WHITAKER”) , age 34, of New Orleans, was indicted on July 11, 2024, on two counts of destruction of mail, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1703. According to the indictment, WHITAKER , a postal employee, unlawfully secreted, destroyed, detained, delayed, and opened multiple parcels of mail on August 8, 2023 and November 7, 2023. If convicted, WHITAKER faces a maximum penalty of five (5) years of imprisonment, up to three (3) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00 and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The case was investigated by the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Christine Calogero of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.