title: Health Care Staffing Executive Indicted for Fixing Wages of Nurses

component: Antitrust Division

body_text: A federal grand jury in Las Vegas returned an indictment yesterday charging a health care staffing executive with conspiring to fix the wages of Las Vegas nurses, in violation of the Sherman Act. According to the one-count felony indictment, Eduardo Lopez, of Las Vegas, held executive positions at three different home health agencies. For each company, Lopez oversaw recruitment, hiring, retention and assignments of nurses and other health care staff. Lopez and other unnamed co-conspirators are charged with agreeing to suppress and eliminate competition for the services of nurses between March 2016 and May 2019. Specifically, Lopez and his co-conspirators are charged with participating in a series of meetings and communications to fix wages of nurses. “Wage fixing is a crime that deprives workers of hard-earned wages,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The Antitrust Division will be vigilant in protecting workers.” “We will continue to partner with the Antitrust Division and the FBI to protect the marketplace and the rights of workers to earn fair wages,” said U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada. “We will investigate and prosecute those who engage in anticompetitive activities.” “The wage fixing alleged in this case harmed hardworking Americans and cheated them of fair opportunity and compensation,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI is committed to rooting out anti-competitive activity and corruption.” A violation of the Sherman Act carries a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine for individuals and a maximum penalty of a $100 million fine for corporations. The maximum fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by victims if either amount is greater than the statutory maximum. Today’s announcement is the result of a federal investigation being conducted by the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office and the International Corruption Unit of the FBI, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada. The charges in this case were brought in connection with the Antitrust Division’s ongoing commitment to prosecute anticompetitive conduct affecting American labor markets. Anyone with information on market allocation or price fixing by employers should contact the Antitrust Division’s Citizen Complaint Center at 1-888-647-3258 or visit www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.html . An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.


title: Fentanyl Dealer Pleads Guilty, Claims Responsibility for Death of San Antonio Woman

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man pleaded guilty in federal court in San Antonio Wednesday to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in death. According to court documents, Patrick James Hall, 28, is charged with distribution of fentanyl resulting in the death of a 20-year-old woman. The two met on Oct. 28, 2020, in a hotel room where he had been selling the drug in the form of a small round blue pill disguised as oxycodone. Phone records indicate that the victim had been unconscious in Hall’s hotel room for an extended period before Hall returned a missed call to the victim’s friend using her cell phone. Hall notified the friend that she needed to pick up the victim from the hotel because she had overdosed. He then left the location without calling for emergency services. The victim’s friend, however, did alert emergency services and, upon their arrival, the victim was pronounced dead, noting she had been deceased for some time. A toxicology report showed that the victim had an amount of fentanyl in her blood that exceeded 24 times a fatal dose. Hall was arrested on Nov. 19, 2020. Text messages sent from his phone confirmed that he had been selling the pills to multiple individuals at the time of the victim’s death, and that he himself had overdosed on the pills one week prior to this instance. Hall is scheduled to be sentenced on June 15 and faces a penalty of 20 years to life in prison. A Federal District Court Judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas and Special Agent in Charge Daniel Comeaux of the Drug Enforcement Administration Houston Field Office made the announcement. The DEA and SAPD are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Hail is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Readout of Joint Task Force Alpha Summit on Anti-Human Smuggling and Trafficking Efforts

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division yesterday convened a meeting of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA) in El Paso, Texas, to bring together law enforcement leaders to discuss dismantling human smuggling and trafficking networks operating along the Southwest Border. Assistant Attorney General Polite was joined by senior leadership from five U.S. Attorneys’ offices from the districts along the Southwest Border: U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas (who hosted the meeting), U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman for the Southern District of California, U.S. Attorney Alamdar Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas, Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Savel for the District of Arizona, and U.S. Attorney Alexander Uballez for the District of New Mexico. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Deputy Secretary John K. Tien, Homeland Security Investigations Acting Executive Director Steve K. Francis, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner Troy A. Miller, also joined, as did other interagency members of JTFA. Prior to the summit, senior leaders from the Justice Department and DHS components visited the Southwest Border in El Paso. The tour provided an important perspective on challenges presented by transnational criminal organizations involved in human smuggling and other crimes, which all impact border security efforts by land, through waterways, and by air. “I am proud of the accomplishments of JTFA since its creation nearly two years ago,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. “We are better at dismantling human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras because we are a stronger, more unified law enforcement team with our counterparts in Mexico and Central America. I believe our efforts to work together to combat these crimes will continue to generate immediate results, while also building towards sustained success.” During the meeting, Assistant Attorney General Polite expressed his appreciation for the broad and continued support of JTFA. In its first two years, this joint law enforcement effort has resulted in substantial and continued disruption through specific and general deterrence, collaborating on numerous high priority investigations and cases of significant organizations and their key leaders and facilitators. These measures have resulted in dozens of arrests, indictments, and convictions both in the United States and with foreign law enforcement partners, along with obtaining substantial jail sentences and asset forfeiture. The discussion included ways to further advance JTFA’s mission to enhance U.S. enforcement efforts against the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. JTFA members also discussed identifying ways to strengthen efforts to disrupt and dismantle those human smuggling and trafficking networks that abuse or exploit those being smuggled, pose national security risks, or have links to transnational organized crime. Additionally, JTFA leadership identified enhancements made to increase the efficiencies of the task force model at the local and national levels and discussed ways to better foster interagency collaboration to target criminal organizations involved in smuggling and related crimes in and throughout the region.


title: Ecuadorian National Sentenced for Possession of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: DEL RIO, Texas – An Ecuadorian national was sentenced in federal court in Del Rio Wednesday to 84 months in prison and five years of supervised release for possession of child sexual abuse material. According to court documents, Ramiro Heliberto Cuenca-Campos, 27, of Cuenca Provincia, Azuay, Ecuador was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol agents near Brackettville during a failed human smuggling attempt. A forensic analysis of his cell phone revealed more than 2,000 images containing child sexual abuse material. Chief U.S. District Judge Alia Moses found Cuenca-Campos guilty after a bench trial on July 27, 2021. He has remained in federal custody since his arrest on March 10, 2020. In addition to the prison sentence, Cuenca-Campos was ordered to pay $18,000 in restitution to the victims and $200 in special assessments. Chief Judge Moses also ordered forfeiture of his phone. “This defendant traveled from Ecuador and crossed the border into our country with a sickening amount of child sexual abuse material on his cell phone,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas. “Thankfully, our federal law enforcement partners at the border disrupted a human smuggling operation and conducted their routine procedures, searching this individual and his phone when they detained him. This case reinforces the fact that, much like our policies against the drugs and firearms that noncitizens occasionally try to bring into the U.S., we will not tolerate anyone bringing in material that sexually exploits and harms children.” “Individuals who receive and possess child pornography participate in the victimization of children whose innocence can never be restored,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Craig S. Larrabee for the Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Division. “These criminals also represent a public safety threat to our communities. For those reasons, child exploitation cases are a top priority for HSI, and we will continue to work closely with our federal partners to ensure they are arrested, prosecuted, and ultimately removed from the United States.” HSI and USBP investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rex Beasley prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: SIM Card Swapping Fraudsters Sentenced in San Antonio

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man and woman were sentenced Wednesday in a federal court in San Antonio for their roles in a SIM card swapping fraud scheme. According to court documents, Zena Elisa Dounson, 24, and Andrew Percy Trujillo, 22, conspired to access and transfer assets from victims’ cryptocurrency accounts via SIM swapping. A mobile phone uses a SIM card to store information that identifies and authenticates the subscriber to that cellular phone. A SIM swapping scheme allows a person to use other phones or devices as though they were the authorized subscriber. In November 2021, Dounson, an employee at the AT&T store at Ingram Park Mall, assisted Trujillo in adding himself as an authorized user to the accounts of multiple victims. Using his access as an apparent authorized user, Trujillo would add multiple devices to the accounts. Dounson would then transfer the victims’ SIM card credentials to the fraudulent SIM cards in Trujillo’s phones. When the victims’ original devices were locked due to suspected fraud, Trujillo accessed and transferred at least $250,000 worth of cryptocurrency from the victims’ investment accounts to his own account. Both defendants pleaded guilty in August 2022 to one count of conspiracy to commit computer fraud and abuse and wire fraud. At the hearing, Trujillo was sentenced to 33 months in prison plus three years of supervised release. Additionally, he was ordered to pay approximately $282,000 in restitution. Dounson received a split sentence of two months in prison and five years of probation. She was also ordered to pay $282,000 in restitution. “SIM Swapping is a rapidly growing type of fraud scheme that everyone should be aware of,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas. “It’s particularly dangerous because it abuses access to two-factor authentication systems which are intended to provide additional security. Anyone who uses two-factor authentication should be mindful that it is not foolproof, and to still be on the lookout for any suspicious activity involving their phones.” “The defendants in this case callously devised a scheme to transfer more than $250,000 of cryptocurrency from multiple victims for their own personal gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Oliver E. Rich Jr. of the FBI San Antonio Division. “This sentencing brings a measure of justice to victims and holds the defendants accountable for their actions." The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Galdo and Justin Chung prosecuted the case. ###


title: Springdale Woman Sentenced to More Than 9 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - Arkansas, Western

body_text: FAYETTEVILLE – A Springdale woman was sentenced yesterday to 110 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release on one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The Honorable Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville. According to court documents, on September 12, 2022, as part of an ongoing narcotics investigation, detectives with the Fourth Judicial District Drug Task Force (DTF) executed a search warrant at the residence of Edna May Meadath , age 63, in Springdale, Arkansas. During the search, detectives located multiple digital scales, multiple drug ledgers, packaging materials for the sale and distribution of methamphetamine, two methamphetamine smoking pipes, banking receipts, and approximately 661 grams of suspected methamphetamine. The suspected methamphetamine was sent to the Homeland Security Investigations Crime Laboratory where it tested positive for methamphetamine. U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement. The Fourth Judicial District Drug Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sydney Butler prosecuted the case.


title: Prince George’s County Man Sentenced to 32 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Greenbelt , Maryland - U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Carl Gage Linden, age 57, of Mount Rainier, Maryland, yesterday to 32 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for production of child pornography. Judge Xinis also ordered Linden to pay a special assessment of $200 and that, upon his release from prison, Linden must register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”). Linden was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $25,401 to the victims. The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Chief Linwood Alston of the Mount Rainier Police Department; and Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy. According to his guilty plea, Linden was arrested on November 12, 2020, on charges of second degree assault and third and fourth degree sexual offenses, after Victim 1 found sexually explicit photos of herself on Linden’s phone. A subsequent forensic analysis of Linden’s laptop and cellular phone revealed dozens of videos, photos, and images depicting the sexual abuse of Victim 1 and Victim 2, when the victims were between seven and eleven years old. As required by his plea agreement on the federal charges, on November 30, 2022, Linden also pleaded guilty to related sex abuse charges in Prince George’s County Circuit Court. Linden is scheduled to be sentenced in that case on March 22, 2023. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI, the Mount Rainier Police Department, and the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office for their work in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caitlin Cottingham and Kelly O. Hayes, who prosecuted the federal case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Justice Department Announces Historic Guatemalan Human Smuggling Extraditions at Joint Task Force Alpha Summit

body_text: The U.S. Department of Justice yesterday announced the first ever extraditions from Guatemala to the United States on charges of human smuggling resulting in death, and the first Guatemalan human smuggling extraditions to the United States of any kind in nearly five years. This announcement was made at a meeting of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA) in El Paso, Texas. This meeting was convened by Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department's Criminal Division to bring together law enforcement leaders to discuss disrupting and dismantling human smuggling networks operating along the Southwest Border. JTFA was created by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in June 2021, in partnership with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas, to strengthen the department’s overall efforts to combat these crimes based on the rise in prolific and dangerous smuggling emanating from Central America and impacting our border communities. JTFA’s goal is to disrupt and dismantle those human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, with a focus on networks that endanger, abuse, or exploit migrants, present national security risks, or engage in other types of transnational organized crime. Since its creation, JTFA has successfully increased coordination and collaboration between the Justice Department, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and other interagency law enforcement participants, and with foreign law enforcement partners, including El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico; targeted organizations that have the most impact on the United States, and coordinated significant smuggling indictments and extradition efforts in U.S. Attorneys’ offices across the country. To date, JTFA’s work with its partners has resulted in criminal charges and over 183 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers and significant facilitators of human smuggling activities, several dozen convictions, significant prison sentences, seizure of drugs, firearms, ammunition and vehicles, and substantial asset forfeiture. “This case demonstrates the deadly threat that human smuggling groups pose to the migrants they endanger and exploit,” said Attorney General Garland. “It also demonstrates that Joint Task Force Alpha and the entire Justice Department are doubling down on our efforts to disrupt and dismantle dangerous human smuggling operations and to find and bring to justice the perpetrators – no matter where they are.” “JTFA was created to investigate and prosecute the international networks responsible for human smuggling activities that exploit and victimize migrants,” said Assistant Attorney General Polite. “The extradition of four prolific smugglers from Guatemala – in addition to the other cases and investigations we highlighted during this summit – demonstrates the Department of Justice’s commitment to holding accountable criminal organizations that prey upon the vulnerable for profit. Through JTFA, our message to human smugglers is clear: using the combined might of U.S. law enforcement and its international partners, we will continue to aggressively target you and your illegal operations both within the United States and south of the border, using every tool, technique, and resource at our disposal.” As announced last year , extensive coordination and cooperation between U.S. and Guatemalan law enforcement authorities led to the indictment and arrest of the four leaders, as well as the apprehension of 15 additional targets in Guatemala, in August 2022. Pursuant to an extradition request, Guatemalan authorities ordered the extradition of the leaders to the United States to face charges for their alleged roles in the offense. According to court documents, Guatemalan nationals Felipe Diego Alonzo, aka Siete, 39; Nesly Norberto Martinez Gomez, aka Canche, 38; Lopez Mateo Mateo, aka Bud Light, 43; and Juan Gutierrez Castro, aka Andres, 46, allegedly conspired with other smugglers to facilitate the travel of large numbers of migrants from Guatemala through Mexico, and ultimately, into the United States, charging the migrants and their families approximately $10,000 to $12,000 for the perilous journey. The defendants are also alleged to be responsible for the death of a young indigenous Guatemalan woman, who died in Texas in May 2021. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas is fully committed to working with our international and federal law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle transnational human smuggling organizations,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “Through our combined efforts we will hold accountable human smugglers who callously disregard the safety of the people they transport. We are dedicated to ensuring that all victims of these groups receive justice.” The victim’s family paid the defendants approximately $10,000 for the journey to the United States. As alleged in the indictment, the defendants and their co-conspirators guided her for several days through the desert to Odessa, Texas, where she ultimately died. Upon learning of her death, the defendants and their co-conspirators allegedly disposed of her body on the side of a road in Crane County, Texas. The defendants and their co-conspirators then allegedly arranged for payment to the victim’s family. “These extraditions speak to the collaboration in this Administration across the federal government and with our partners throughout the hemisphere,” said Deputy Secretary John K. Tien of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). “From the frontline efforts of our workforce at Customs and Border Protection, to the investigative capabilities we leverage at Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the seamless coordination with our partners at the Justice Department, we are unwavering in our commitment to holding transnational criminal networks accountable for human smuggling and their abuse of migrants.” The indictments and extraditions against Diego Alonzo, Martinez Gomez, Mateo Mateo, and Gutierrez Castro, as well as the assistance provided by U.S. authorities to Guatemalan law enforcement, were coordinated under JTFA. JTFA is comprised of detailees from southwest border U.S. Attorney’s Offices, including the Southern District of Texas, the Western District of Texas, the District of New Mexico, the District of Arizona, and the Southern District of California. Dedicated support for the program is also provided by numerous components of the Criminal Division that are part of JTFA – led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP), and supported by the Office of Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training (OPDAT), the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS), the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), the Office of Enforcement Operations (OEO), the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA), and the Organized Crime and Gang Section (OCGS). JTFA is made possible by substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and other partners. HSI Midland led U.S. investigative efforts in this case, working in concert with HSI Guatemala and the HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. HSI received substantial assistance from U.S. Immigration and Customs (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO); U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) National Targeting Center/Operation Sentinel; U.S. Border Patrol (USBP); the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS); the Odessa and Midland Police Departments; the Texas Department of Public Safety; and the Ector County, Midland County, and Crane County Sherriff’s Offices. OIA and OPDAT provided significant assistance in this matter. The Department of Justice thanks Guatemalan law enforcement, who were instrumental in furthering this investigation. JTFA Co-Director James Hepburn of HRSP, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose Luis Acosta for the Western District of Texas and JTFA, and Assistant U.S. Attorney John Fedock for the Western District of Texas handled the case, with substantial assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian Gallegos for the Western District of Texas and HRSP Historian/Latin America Specialist Joanna Crandall. The charges contained in an indictment are merely allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Minnesota Man Sentenced To Three Years In Prison For Scheme To Commit Computer Intrusion And To Illegally Stream Content From Four Major Professional Sports Leagues

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JOSHUA STREIT, a/k/a Josh Brody,” was sentenced today in Manhattan federal court by United States District Judge Andrew L. Carter for conducting intrusions into Major League Baseball (“MLB”) computer systems and illegally streaming copyrighted content from MLB, the National Basketball Association (the “NBA”), the National Football League (the “NFL”), and the National Hockey League (the “NHL”) on a website that STREIT operated, which offered the illegally streamed content to the public for profit. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Joshua Streit intruded into MLB computer networks and illegally streamed sports content online from MLB, the NHL, the NBA, and the NFL for his own personal profit. Today’s sentence shows that this crime is no game. Those who compromise computer networks and steal copyrighted content will be held accountable.” According to allegations in the Complaint, the Information, and statements made during court proceedings: Beginning in or about 2017 to in or about August 2021, STREIT operated a website which streamed copyrighted content, primarily livestreamed games from major professional sports leagues, including MLB, the NBA, the NFL, and the NHL, which STREIT had no authorization to stream. STREIT obtained the copyrighted content by gaining unauthorized access to the websites for those sports leagues via misappropriated login credentials from legitimate users of those websites. One of the victim sports leagues sustained losses of approximately $3 million due to STREIT’s conduct. In addition, at the same time STREIT was illicitly streaming copyrighted content from MLB, STREIT engaged in an attempt to extort approximately $150,000 from MLB via a threat from STREIT to publicize unrelated vulnerabilities in MLB’s internet infrastructure. Specifically, in multiple communications with MLB employees, STREIT claimed that he knew MLB reporters who were “interested in the story,” and stated that it would be bad if the vulnerability were exposed and MLB was embarrassed. * * * In addition to the prison sentence, STREIT, 31, of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $2,995,272.64 in restitution and $500,000 in forfeiture. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He also thanked MLB, the NBA, the NFL, and the NHL for their ongoing support and assistance with the case. The case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dina McLeod is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Texarkana Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Pornography

body_text: TEXARKANA – A Texarkana, Arkansas, man was sentenced today to 30 years in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, on one count of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor via Production of Child Pornography. There is no parole in the federal system. The Honorable Chief Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the sentencing hearing in the U.S. District Court in Texarkana. According to court documents, Michael Ray Beam , age 32, used the social media service Snapchat to induce a 13-year-old Texarkana, Arkansas, girl to send him nude images and videos of herself, amounting to child pornography under federal law. The victim told authorities that Beam had left a “vape” device in her home mailbox in exchange for her sending him images and videos of herself engaging in specific sexual acts. Using the Snapchat service, Beam had been able view the victim’s real-time physical location, at her Texarkana, Arkansas, residence. Following Beam’s arrest on state charges, investigators obtained a warrant to search a smart phone found in his possession. In Beam’s phone, investigators found multiple ‘screen capture’ video recordings of the child pornography he had received via Snapchat from the young victim. Beam was indicted by a Grand Jury sitting in the Western District of Arkansas in September 2021, and entered a plea of guilty in March 2022. U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement. The Miller County Sheriff’s Department, the Wake Village, Texas, Police Department, and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Jones prosecuted the case. This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Career Offender Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking

body_text: FAYETTEVILLE – A Kansas, Oklahoma man was sentenced today to 168 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release on one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The Honorable Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville. According to court documents, on July 31, 2022, detectives with the Benton County Drug Unit were investigating Christopher Dale Lewellen , age 42, for drug trafficking and determined he was wanted on multiple outstanding warrants for state charges. Records showed he had an active search waiver as a condition of parole. After learning that Lewellen was traveling in a vehicle on Highway 412, detectives were able to locate and stop that vehicle and place Lewellen under arrest. A search of the vehicle resulted in detectives locating a black bag containing approximately 450 grams of suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. The suspected methamphetamine was later submitted to the Homeland Security Investigations Crime Laboratory for additional testing where it was tested and determined to be methamphetamine. Under Federal law, Lewellen is considered a Career Criminal, subject to enhanced penalties. U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement. The Benton County Drug Unit and Homeland Security Investigations Fayetteville investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sydney Butler prosecuted the case. This case was prosecuted as 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.


title: Parolee Who Robbed a Pharmacy at Gunpoint While Wearing a GPS Tether Sent to Prison

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – A Clinton Township man was sentenced today to 171 months in federal prison based on his conviction for robbing a Hamtramck pharmacy and other related drug offenses, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today. Ison was joined in the announcement by James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Chief Ann Moise of the Hamtramck Police Department. Marcus McBride, Jr., 29, who previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, robbery involving a controlled substance, and use of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. According to court documents, McBride robbed the Hoover Pharmacy, located at 2930 Holbrook Avenue, Hamtramck, Michigan, on June 10, 2020. After entering the pharmacy, McBride waved a semiautomatic pistol at customers and yelled, “Get down!” He then approached the counter and pointed the firearm at the pharmacist and stated, “Give me 30’s and 40’s!” The pharmacist grabbed a box of medication which contained Oxycodone and Oxymorphone prescriptions and handed it to him. McBride snatched the box and fled the pharmacy. McBride took approximately 3,937 pills, with a street value of over $100,000. The FBI executed federal search warrants at McBride’s home and another location as part of this investigation and seized a handgun, pills, and over $17,000 in cash. On the date of the robbery, McBride was wearing a Michigan Department of Corrections GPS monitoring device as a condition of his parole for a prior offense. The GPS coordinates confirmed he was at the pharmacy at the approximate time of the robbery. In addition to the robbery and gun charges, McBride, along with co-defendant Patrick Johnson, pleaded guilty to charges in connection with a previous narcotics trafficking incident that occurred near the Greyhound bus station in Detroit. McBride was in a vehicle driven by the Johnson and had unsuccessfully attempted to board a bus headed to Alabama with 330 oxycodone pills and a bag of fentanyl. “This case illustrates my office’s commitment to partnering with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to combat violent crime and drug trafficking. The cooperation between the Hamtramck Police Department, Michigan Department of Corrections, the FBI, and our office resulted in violent offenders being taken off the streets,” U.S. Attorney Ison said. “The impact of McBride’s crime on the community is much more consequential than the thousands of dollars of narcotics he stole,” said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office. “He terrorized customers and employees with a gun, making them feel unsafe in their own neighborhood. The FBI is committed to working with our partners from the Hamtramck Police Department to get violent criminals like this defendant off the streets.” The investigation of the case was conducted by special agents and task force officers of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, officers with the Hamtramck Police Department, and the Michigan Department of Corrections. Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew Picek and Robert Moran prosecuted this case for the United States


title: Former IT Director Admits to Embezzling More Than $1M

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A former IT Director for a Warwick, RI, metals fabrication and supply company pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a charge of wire fraud, admitting to a federal judge that he used his purchasing authority to embezzle more than one million dollars from the company, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. Juan Hicks, 47, of New Bedford, MA, admitted that he defrauded AT Wall Companies by: creating false invoices and expense reports payable to himself; altering legitimate credit card statements to make purchases appear to be business expenses, when, in fact, they were for Hicks’ personal expenses; issuing company phones to himself and six family members and then enrolling the phones on the company’s wireless phone service plan; by submitting invoices and using company credit cards to purchase airline and entertainment tickets for himself, family members and friends; and by also using those company cards to make purchases at retail stores and auto repair centers. Hicks’ criminal conduct came to light in March 2022, when AT Wall Companies hired forensic analysts to determine the source of a cyberattack and to assess vulnerabilities in its computer system. Hicks refused to provide his computer and passwords, as per company policy. Information and analysis provided by the company to the Warwick Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Attorney’s Office subsequently revealed that Hicks had embezzled over one million dollars from the company since 2012. Hicks is scheduled to be sentenced on June 20, 2023. The defendant’s sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee H. Vilker. ###


title: Former Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Anthony Marrocco Sentenced to Prison for Extortion

body_text: DETROIT – Former Macomb County Commissioner of Public Works Anthony Marrocco was sentenced to three months in prison and fourteen months of home confinement for attempted extortion by withholding county permits from businessmen who refused to contribute to Marrocco’s campaign accounts, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today. Ison was joined in the announcement by James Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Charles Miller, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Detroit Field Office. Marrocco, 73, of Ray Township, Michigan, was sentenced to prison by United States District Judge Robert H. Cleland at the Port Huron, Michigan Federal Courthouse. Marrocco also placed on supervised release for a period of two years with the first fourteen months to be served under home confinement, without access to the internet, sports, movies, or other entertainment. In addition, Marrocco was ordered to pay a $50,000 fine. Marrocco served as the Commissioner of Public Works from 1993 through 2016. In September 2022, Marrocco pleaded guilty to Count Three of the Indictment charging him with attempted extortion of a Macomb County developer in April 2016. Marrocco admitted that he pressured the developer to spend thousands of dollars to purchase tickets to one of Marrocco’s fundraisers. Marrocco threatened to delay or withhold approval of county permits sought by the developer if he did not purchase additional tickets to Marrocco’s political fundraiser. The extortion conviction of Marrocco is the final and most significant development in federal law enforcement’s years-long effort to aggressively investigate and prosecute corruption in Macomb County. Thus far in this effort, some twenty-two public officials and bribe-paying businessmen have been charged and convicted in connection with the Macomb County corruption probe, including three defendants convicted after jury trials, as well as the conviction and imprisonment of elected Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith. The Macomb County investigation centered on corruption in suburban Detroit communities and in the City of Detroit in garbage-hauling, towing, and engineering contracts involving tens of millions of dollars. The investigation revealed that for years the owners of garbage-hauling, towing, and engineering companies were bribing elected public officials and police officers in order to secure lucrative contracts. Targets convicted in the prosecution included Chuck Rizzo, the CEO and multi-millionaire owner of one of the largest garbage-hauling companies in Michigan, Gasper Fiore, the CEO and multi-millionaire owner of the largest towing company in Michigan, and a Fazal Khan, the millionaire owner of an engineering consulting services firm. The investigation also uncovered significant wire fraud and embezzlement schemes whereby Rizzo and his father were stealing millions from company investors and the engineering partner was stealing a million dollars from his fellow partners. The investigation resulted in the conviction of nine public officials, including Detroit’s Deputy Chief of Police, eight elected officials, and the former Chief Engineer of Macomb County, Michigan. In total, the prosecution resulted in twenty-two criminal convictions of bribe payers and public officials. Significant events in the course of the investigation included (1) the conviction at trial in June 2018 of Clinton Township Trustee Dean Reynolds, for four bribery conspiracies and ten counts of bribery, involving the corruption of over $30 million worth of township contracts; (2) the 2021 conviction of elected and long-time Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith for obstruction of justice in connection with his embezzlement from his own campaign fund; and (3) the 2022 conviction of Marrocco for extortion. United States Attorney Ison said, “Marrocco had exercised unchecked power over people just trying to do business in Macomb County. Although we are disappointed in the length of the Court’s sentence, through Marrocco’s conviction for extortion, he will no longer be able to demand obedience and respect from the district’s citizens.” "Today, Mr. Marrocco has been held responsible for his part in a pervasive pattern of corruption and illegal practices by public officials in Macomb County," said James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. "Public corruption is the FBI's number one criminal investigative priority because a lack of faith in government undermines our institutions, and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to address this issue until honest and responsible government is the order of the day in Macomb County and throughout the State of Michigan." “Public officials, whether elected or appointed, hold positions of trust in the eyes of the public. Today’s sentence sends a clear message that when public officials commit crimes, they will be held accountable for that broken trust,” said Charles Miller, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Detroit Field Office. "IRS-CI will continue to provide financial investigative expertise, as we work with our law enforcement partners to enforce the law and ensure public trust.” The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven Cares and Robert Moran.


title: Man Pleads Guilty to $1.9M Baby Formula Fraud Scheme

body_text: A New York man pleaded guilty today to defrauding insurance plans and medical suppliers by fraudulently procuring specialty baby formula. According to court documents, Vladislav Kotlyar, 43, of Staten Island, submitted and caused the submission of forged prescriptions and medical records for specialty baby formula that was paid for by health insurers. Kotlyar obtained prescriptions and medical records for infants who were prescribed specialty baby formula and forged those records to obtain additional specialty baby formula. After receiving the specialty baby formula, Kotlyar fabricated issues with the shipments, including by falsely claiming they were damaged or the incorrect formula to acquire additional formula at no additional cost. Kotlyar then sold the fraudulently obtained formula. As part of the scheme, Kotlyar and his co-conspirators submitted more than $1.9 million in fraudulent claims to health insurers, including during a national shortage of baby formula. Kotlyar agreed to forfeit approximately $1 million and repay more than $738,000 in restitution. Kotlyar pleaded guilty to mail fraud and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A sentencing date has not been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York, and Assistant Director in Charge Michael J. Driscoll of the FBI New York Field Office made the announcement. The FBI is investigating the case. Trial Attorney Patrick J. Campbell of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, comprised of 15 strike forces operating in 25 federal districts, has charged more than 5,000 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $24 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


title: Career Offender Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A 37-year-old Woonsocket man previously arrested more than two dozen times and convicted on nearly four-dozen charges, including assault, domestic assault, and drug trafficking, has been sentenced to six years in federal prison for his leadership role in a drug trafficking conspiracy, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. Juan Batista was among nearly two-dozen individuals arrested and charged during an expansive investigation, initiated in January 2020by the FBI Rhode Island Safe Streets Gang Task Force that targeted sources of supplies and suppliers of drugs and firearms across Rhode Island. According to information presented to the court, not long after he was released from prison for trafficking in narcotics, and while still serving an eleven-year term of probation, Batista rebuilt his drug trafficking business in and around Woonsocket. His resumed drug trafficking activities included trafficking in fentanyl, powder cocaine, and crack cocaine. Between February 26, and June 23, 2020, members of the FBI Task Force surveilled at least six occasions when drug purchases were requested from, and delivered by, members of the conspiracy, at times including Batista himself. The transactions included deliveries of between 6.74 and 33.98 grams of crack cocaine and 5.3 grams of fentanyl, for between $360 and $1,800. Law enforcement also seized over $18,000 in cash, 5 grams of cocaine, 35 grams of crack cocaine, and 120 grams of fentanyl inside a residence where Batista was living. Batista pleaded guilty on May 5, 2021, to conspiracy to distribute 28 or more grams of cocaine base, distribution of 28 or more grams of cocaine base, and possession with intent to distribute 40 or more grams of fentanyl. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to 72 months in federal prison to be followed by four years of federal supervised release. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine D. Lowell. The Rhode Island FBI Safe Streets Gang Task Force consists of agents and law enforcement officers from the FBI, United States Marshals Service, Central Falls Police Department, Cranston Police Department, Pawtucket Police Department, Providence Police Department, West Warwick Police Department, Woonsocket Police Department, and Rhode Island State Police. ###


title: Justice Department Secures Settlement to Remedy Race and Sex-Based Harassment of Students in Vermont School District

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department today announced a settlement agreement with the Twin Valley School District in Vermont to resolve its investigation into complaints of student-on-student harassment based on race and sex. The department’s investigation revealed that the district knew of, and did not respond sufficiently to, individualized harassment and a broader hostile educational environment in Twin Valley Middle-High School. The department’s review, which focused on the district’s responses to allegations of harassment from the 2019-20 school year to the present identified instances of targeted peer harassment and pervasive documented use of derogatory epithets and comments based on students’ race, sex, sexual orientation and sex stereotypes. Because the district did not sufficiently address these instances, students were deprived of equal access to the educational opportunities the district provided. “Pervasive racial and sex-based harassment in public schools violates the Constitution’s most basic promise of equal protection,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This agreement will help ensure that Black and LGBTQ students can thrive in a safe and supportive educational environment going forward. No student deserves to be subject to unlawful and harmful bullying or harassment, especially once they enter the schoolhouse door.” “Schools should feel safe for all children, but when harassment does happen, schools have an obligation to respond appropriately so that every child has equal access to their education,” said U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest for the District of Vermont. “Here, the District has agreed to take significant steps to improve its process for responding to harassment and its overall educational environment.” Under the settlement agreement, the district agreed to implement the following reforms: Modify district policies and procedures to prevent and address peer harassment; Undertake periodic assessments of school climate at Twin Valley Middle-High School and implement responsive programming to remedy hostile educational environments; and Improve training for district employees who receive, investigate or adjudicate complaints of harassment. The district cooperated throughout the investigation, which was conducted under Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Protecting the constitutional rights of public-school students is a top priority of the Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justive.gov/crt/ , and additional information about the Educational Opportunities Section’s work is available at https://www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section . Additional information about the District of Vermont’s Civil Rights Program is available at https://www.justice.gov/usao-vt/civil-rights-program . To report a possible civil rights violation, please visit www.civilrights.justice.gov/ .


title: Oklahoma City Bank Robbery Suspects Arrested in Nebraska and Texas

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – DAVID JOHN-MATTHEW DAVIS , 38, PARIS KATHRYN MACE , 29, both of Omaha, Nebraska, and CHRISTIAN DELEON LANE , 36, of Dallas, Texas, have been arrested and charged with armed bank robbery, conspiracy to commit bank robbery, and aiding and abetting the robbery of a MidFirst Bank in Oklahoma City, announced United States Attorney Robert J. Troester. According to court records, it is alleged that on the morning of February 23, 2023, Davis entered a MidFirst Bank located at 5800 North Western Avenue in Oklahoma City, brandished a black semi-automatic pistol, and jumped over the teller counter. It is further alleged that Davis then grabbed a teller, pointed the gun at the teller’s head, and ordered the teller to open the bank vault. Davis then exited the bank with an unspecified amount of money. It is further alleged that Mace served as a getaway driver for the robbery, and Lane assisted with arranging the robbery. On February 27, 2023, law enforcement arrested Davis in Omaha, Nebraska. On February 28, 2023, Mace was arrested in Omaha and Lane was arrested in Dallas, Texas. On March 2, 2023, Davis and Mace appeared for their initial appearances in federal court in Nebraska. Both were ordered detained pending further proceedings. On March 10, 2023, Lane appeared for his initial appearance in the Western District of Oklahoma and was ordered to be detained pending further proceedings. If found guilty of armed bank robbery and aiding and abetting, each defendant faces up to 25 years in prison, five years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, and payment of mandatory restitution. If found guilty of conspiracy to commit bank robbery, each defendant faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, and payment of mandatory restitution. This case is the result of an investigation by FBI’s Oklahoma City Field Office and the Oklahoma City Police Department’s Robbery Division, with assistance from the United States Attorney’s Offices, FBI Field Offices, and local law enforcement in Dallas, Texas, and Omaha, Nebraska. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wilson McGarry and Dan Gridley are prosecuting the case. The public is reminded that these charges announced today are merely allegations, and Davis, Lane, and Mace are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Reference is made to court filings for further information.


title: Georgia White Supremacist Sentenced for Federal Hate Crime for Racially-Motivated Shootings

body_text: A federal judge in Atlanta today sentenced Larry Edward Foxworth, 48, of Jonesboro, Georgia, to 240 months in prison for shooting into two convenience stores attempting to kill those inside because he believed they were Black or Arab. According to court records, at approximately 2:35 a.m. on July 30, 2021, Foxworth fired numerous rounds from a Glock pistol through a window and door of a gas station convenience store located in Jonesboro, Georgia. Just minutes later, at approximately 2:57 a.m., he again fired multiple rounds from the same handgun through the windows and door of a different gas station convenience store located nearby. Both stores were open and occupied when Foxworth shot into the businesses. No one was injured during either shooting. Clayton County Police Department officers arrested Foxworth shortly after the second attack. After his arrest, Foxworth told officers that he had targeted the stores because he wanted to kill Arab and Black people, and he believed that there were people inside the stores who belonged to those groups. Foxworth expressed hope that he had killed his targets, and professed belief in white supremacist ideology. “The defendant fired a gun into a store wanting to kill people who he thought were Black or Arab,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Hate-fueled violence not only traumatizes the victims, but it threatens and intimidates an entire community. This sentence demonstrates the importance of holding accountable those who commit racially-motivated violence. The Justice Department is committed to aggressively prosecuting those individuals who carry out hate crimes in our country.” “Foxworth used a firearm to commit a brazen and heinous hate crime,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia. “He fired repeatedly into convenience stores in his effort to kill those inside based solely on the color of their skin. This abhorrent act of violence and intimidation left the victims, their families, and the community traumatized, and merits the prison sentence Foxworth received. The Department of Justice and our federal law enforcement partners will continue to vigorously prosecute hate crimes.” “Hopefully this lengthy sentence proves that the FBI will not tolerate intimidation and violence against anyone because of their race or ethnicity,” said Special Agent in Charge Keri Farley of FBI Atlanta Field Office. “The FBI’s Civil Rights Program will continue to use every resource available to ensure criminals, like Foxworth, that commit bias-motivated violent crimes are held accountable and removed from our streets.” The FBI Atlanta Field Office and the Clayton County Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Alan Gray for the Northern District of Georgia and Trial Attorney Alec Ward of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case. For more information and resources on the department’s efforts to combat hate crimes, visit justice.gov/hatecrimes .


title: U.S. Attorney Office Seizes $24,000 in Suspected Cryptocurrency Scam

component: USAO - Illinois, Southern

body_text: FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Illinois announced Thursday the seizure of cryptocurrency valued at approximately $24,000 from an account believed to be involved in a fraud scheme against an O’Fallon resident. “Many of us are still learning the facts about buying and trading cryptocurrency, and as in many cases, scammers are targeting the vulnerable,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “I appreciate the collaboration between the O’Fallon Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service for their efforts to recover the victim’s funds.” “The U.S. Secret Service is dedicated to safeguarding the integrity of U.S. financial systems and preventing the public from losing their hard-earned money to these types of scams,” said Stephen S. Webster, Resident Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Springfield Office. “Unfortunately, new technology has made it easier for individuals abroad to take advantage of innocent victims throughout the United States. The U.S. Secret Service worked quickly with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Illinois and O’Fallon Police Department to seize this cryptocurrency and prevent it from lining the pockets of criminals overseas.” The U.S. District Court issued a default judgment on Feb. 15 on a civil forfeiture complaint. The civil forfeiture complaint, which was filed on Sept. 21, 2022, sought the seizure of 14.77997889 Ethereum (ETH) Cryptocurrency from a Binance Account holder based in Nigeria. According to an exhibit filed in support of the government’s civil forfeiture complaint, a woman contacted the O’Fallon Police Department in June 2022 to report she was a victim of fraud in a suspected cryptocurrency scam worth more than $32,000. In May 2022, the victim began communicating with a Twitter account unbeknownst to her at the time was impersonating a cryptocurrency influencer. The fraudster instructed her to deposit $32,662 worth of Bitcoin into a “3Twarriorstrading.com” account. By the time the victim realized the website was a scam, she could not retrieve the cryptocurrency. The value of the forfeited property will be returned to the victim through a process known as remission. The victim lost about $32,000, but the investigation could only trace and forfeit property worth approximately $24,000. No criminal charges have been filed related to the civil forfeiture. The O’Fallon Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam E. Hanna is prosecuting the case.


title: Waco Return Preparers Sentenced to Prison in Tax Scheme

component: Tax Division

body_text: A group of Texas tax return preparers were sentenced to prison yesterday for conspiring to file false tax returns. According to court documents, between 2012 and 2017, Labanda Loyd, Deidra Brandon, Shaterian Parr, Jaleesia Sais, and Lashamekwa Alexander worked as return preparers at Tax World and another tax preparation firm in Waco. Loyd also served as manager and Brandon was, at times, Loyd’s assistant manager. Together, they conspired to prepare and file tax returns that fraudulently claimed refunds their clients were not entitled to receive. As manager, Loyd instructed some of her coconspirators how to prepare the false returns. For some clients, the conspirators completely fabricated employment, wage and tax withholding information on their clients’ returns. For others, they altered the wages and withholdings legitimately reported to the IRS by their employers. In all, the conspirators caused a tax loss exceeding $1.8 million. Loyd was sentenced to 51 months in prison, Sais was sentenced to 40 months in prison, Brandon was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison, Parr was sentenced to five years of probation and Alexander was sentenced to 40 months of probation. In addition, Loyd, Sais, Brandon, Alexander and Parr were each ordered to pay $918,396 in restitution to the United States. “Return preparers are entrusted to accurately report clients’ income tax information,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division. “Those who violate that trust, as these defendants did, will face the consequences.” “The sentencing of these criminals for their tax crimes during the ongoing tax season is a timely reminder justice will always prevail,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Rodrick J. Benton of IRS-CI’s Houston Field Office. “These tax preparers submitted false returns claiming fraudulent refunds to the IRS, all while betting they would not get caught. But the one thing they all forgot; no one is better at following the money than IRS-CI Special Agents.” IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Patrick Elwell, Matthew Hicks and Wilson Stamm of the Justice Department’s Tax Division prosecuted the case.


title: New Jersey Man Sentenced for Illegal Use of Credit Card

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Kyle A. Halsey, 33, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, was sentenced on March 15, 2023, by the United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher to 24 months’ imprisonment for Illegal Transaction with an Access Device. After his release from prison, Halsey will begin a three-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Halsey was also ordered to pay restitution of $2,544.24. In February 2022, Halsey used a credit card that belonged to another person to purchase a skid loader and bucket from a business in Nebraska and had the equipment delivered to New Jersey. The total for the transaction was $46,230.87, and Halsey paid with a credit card that did not belong to him. Police in New Jersey recovered the skid loader in March 2022, while Halsey was in the process of selling it to another person. This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ho-Ho-Kus and Paramus Police Departments in New Jersey.


title: Lincoln Man Sentenced for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

body_text: United States Attorney Steven A. Russell announced that Michael Ray Ernst, 65, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced today to five years’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual (pure) methamphetamine by Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard. Following his release from prison, Ernst will serve four years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. On August 30, 2021, a search warrant was executed by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force at Ernst’s Lincoln apartment. During the search, investigators found a total of 118 grams of methamphetamine which contained at least 51 grams of actual methamphetamine in Ernst’s bedroom along with plastic baggies, scales with residue, methamphetamine pipes and suspected drug records. Ernst’s cell phone showed several messages between Ernst and other persons regarding drug sales. This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Narcotics Task Force.


title: Mexican National Found Guilty of Conspiring to Distribute Drugs

body_text: United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that after a three-day jury trial in Lincoln, Nebraska, before Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard, Servando V. Urias, 48, of Mexico, was found guilty of Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin and Cocaine. The evidence presented at trial revealed that on August 28, 2019, a codefendant driving a Dodge pickup was stopped by the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office after committing traffic infractions while driving on Interstate 80 in Lancaster County, Nebraska. Simultaneously, a black Jeep occupied by two other codefendants and Urias was stopped by another Lancaster County Deputy as the Jeep was believed to be travelling with the Dodge pickup. During the course of the traffic stops, deputies became suspicious that parties in both vehicles were involved in criminal activity. Deputies received permission to search both vehicles and discovered three kilos of cocaine, and one kilo of heroin in the rear seat of the Dodge pickup. All were arrested after it was confirmed that the three individuals in the Jeep were in fact traveling with the Dodge containing the drugs. Testimony at trial indicated specifically the heroin belonged to Urias and he came along on the trip to sell it to the unnamed buyer. The three codefendants had previously pled guilty to the Conspiracy charge and are pending sentencing. Urias’ sentencing has been set for June 9, 2023. This case was the result of an investigation by the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations.


title: Postal Service Employee Charged with Stealing Mail

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa - A resident of Braddock, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of mail theft, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The one-count Indictment named Christina Ankney, age 39, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, on May 19, 2022, Ankney stole from the mail while employed by the United States Postal Service. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than five years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000, a term of supervised release of not more than three years, or a combination thereof. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney William B. Guappone is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The United States Postal Inspection Services conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: U.S. Postal Service Employee Charged with Mail Theft

body_text: PITTSBURGH - A resident of Rochester, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating federal Postal laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The one-count Indictment named Adam Gallagher, age 38, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, on Oct. 19, 2022, Gallagher engaged in theft of mail matter while employed by the United States Postal Service. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than five years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000, a term of supervised release of not more than three years, or a combination thereof. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The United States Postal Inspection Services conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Postal Employee Charged with Stealing Gift Card

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa - A resident of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of mail theft, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The one-count Indictment named India Schatzman, age 47, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, on Dec. 30, 2022, Schatzman was a postal employee who stole a gift card from the mail. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than five years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000, a term of supervised release of not more than three years, or a combination thereof. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney William B. Guappone is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Virginia Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison in Project Safe Childhood Case

body_text: PITTSBURGH - A former resident of Alexandria, Virginia, has been sentenced in federal court to 10 years’ imprisonment followed by 10 years’ supervised release on his conviction for federal crimes related to the sexual exploitation of a minor, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Specifically, Vutipawat was convicted after a plea of guilty on three counts: (1) Travel With Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct, (2) Transportation With Intent to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity, and (3) Obstruction of Justice – Hindering Communication Through Corrupt Persuasion, Apipat Vutipawat, also known as “Viktor Vutipawat,” “Viktor Koi,” “Arty Freedom,” and “Victor Kim,” age 29, of Alexandria Virginia, pleaded guilty to three counts before Senior United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti. According to information presented to the court, Vutipawat, then 26 years old, was arrested in mid-May 2020 in Washington County, Pennsylvania on charges related to the sexual abuse of a 14-year-old minor. At that time, Vutipawat was released on bond and returned to his home state of Virginia. On May 29, 2020, Vutipawat traveled from Virginia to the Western District of Pennsylvania and assisted the minor in absconding from placement. Vutipawat then took the minor to an apartment in Virginia. Vutipawat’s travel from Virginia to Pennsylvania was tracked by his cellular telephone. Other evidence on Vutipawat’s cell phone, including his internet search history, indicated Vutipawat’s intent to engage in sexual contact with the minor when he traveled to Pennsylvania and then transported the minor back to Virginia. Vutipawat originally met the minor on a website called “Secret Benefits” and presented himself to the minor as a wealthy businessman. Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. Homeland Security Investigations-Pittsburgh, Homeland Security Investigations-York, Homeland Security Investigations-DC, Pennsylvania State Police, North Strabane Township Police Department, and the Fairfax County Police (Virginia) conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Vutipawat. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Former Credit Union Manager Sentenced to Three and a Half Years in Prison for Embezzlement

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal judge today sentenced a former New Pilgrim Federal Credit Union (“NPFCU”) manager for embezzling funds from the credit union where he was employed, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples. U.S. District Court Judge R. David Proctor sentenced Philip Brian Topping , 42, of Birmingham, to 42 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Topping pleaded guilty to the charge in October 2022. According to the plea agreement and in information provided during the sentencing hearing, Topping embezzled approximately $268,000 from NPFCU over a period of five years. Topping took these funds from the NPFCU ATM and a Teller Cash Drawer. Topping would also create fictitious expenses of various items to different general ledger accounts to cover shortfalls. Topping then used these funds for his personal benefit. The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the National Credit Union Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan S. Rummage prosecuted the case.


title: Justice Department Investigation Leads to Takedown of Darknet Cryptocurrency Mixer that Processed Over $3 Billion of Unlawful Transactions

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: Philadelphia – The Justice Department announced today a coordinated international takedown of ChipMixer, a darknet cryptocurrency “mixing” service responsible for laundering more than $3 billion worth of cryptocurrency, between 2017 and the present, in furtherance of among other activities, ransomware, darknet market, fraud, cryptocurrency heists and other hacking schemes. The operation involved U.S. federal law enforcement’s court-authorized seizure of two domains that directed users to the ChipMixer service and one Github account, as well as the German Federal Criminal Police’s (the Bundeskriminalamt) seizure of the ChipMixer back-end servers and more than $46 million in cryptocurrency Coinciding with the ChipMixer takedown efforts, Minh Quốc Nguyễn, 49, of Hanoi, Vietnam, was charged today in Philadelphia with money laundering, operating an unlicensed money transmitting business and identity theft, connected to the operation of ChipMixer. “This morning, working with partners at home and abroad, the Department of Justice disabled a prolific cryptocurrency mixers, which has fueled ransomware attacks, state-sponsored crypto-heists and darknet purchases across the globe,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Today’s coordinated operation reinforces our consistent message: we will use all of our authorities to protect victims and take the fight to our adversaries. Cybercrime seeks to exploit boundaries, but the Department of Justice’s network of alliances transcends borders and enables disruption of the criminal activity that jeopardizes our global cybersecurity.” “Today's announcement demonstrates the FBI's commitment to dismantling technical infrastructure that enables cyber criminals and nation-state actors to illegally launder cryptocurrency funds,” said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate. “We will not allow cyber criminals to hide behind keyboards nor evade the consequences of their illegal actions. Countering cyber crime requires the ultimate level of collaboration between and among all law enforcement partners. The FBI will continue to elevate those partnerships and leverage all available tools to identify, apprehend, and hold accountable these bad actors and put an end to their illicit activity.” According to court documents, ChipMixer – one of the most widely used mixers to launder criminally derived funds – allowed customers to deposit bitcoin, which ChipMixer then mixed with other ChipMixer users’ bitcoin, commingling the funds in a way that made it difficult for law enforcement or regulators to trace the transactions. As detailed in the complaint, ChipMixer offered numerous features to enhance its criminal customers’ anonymity. ChipMixer had a clearnet web domain but operated primarily as a Tor hidden service, concealing the operating location of its servers to prevent seizure by law enforcement. ChipMixer serviced many customers in the United States, but did not register with the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and did not collect identifying information about its customers. As alleged in the complaint, ChipMixer attracted a significant criminal clientele and became indispensable in obfuscating and laundering funds from multiple criminal schemes. Between August 2017 and March 2023, ChipMixer processed: $17 million in bitcoin for criminals connected to approximately 37 ransomware strains, including Sodinokibi, Mamba and Suncrypt; Over $700 million in bitcoin associated with wallets designated as stolen funds, including those related to heists by North Korean cyber actors from Axie Infinity’s Ronin Bridge and Harmony’s Horizon Bridge in 2022 and 2020, respectively; More than $200 million in bitcoin associated either directly or through intermediaries with darknet markets, including more than $60 million in bitcoin processed on behalf of customers of Hydra Market, the largest and longest running darknet market in the world until its April 2022 shutdown by U.S. and German law enforcement; More than $35 million in bitcoin associated either directly or through intermediaries with “fraud shops,” which are used by criminals to buy and sell stolen credit cards, hacked account credentials and data stolen through network intrusions; and Bitcoin used by the Russian General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), 85th Main Special Service Center, military unit 26165 (aka APT 28) to purchase infrastructure for the Drovorub malware, which was first disclosed in a joint cybersecurity advisory released by the FBI and National Security Agency in August 2020. Beginning in and around August 2017, as alleged in the complaint, Nguyễn created and operated the online infrastructure used by ChipMixer and promoted ChipMixer’s services online. Nguyễn registered domain names, procured hosting services and paid for the services used to run ChipMixer through the use of identity theft, pseudonyms, and anonymous email providers. In online posts, Nguyễn publicly derided efforts to curtail money laundering, posting in reference to anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) legal requirements that “AML/KYC is a sellout to the banks and governments,” advising customers “please do not use AML/KYC exchanges” and instructing them how to use ChipMixer to evade reporting requirements. “ChipMixer facilitated the laundering of cryptocurrency, specifically Bitcoin, on a vast international scale, abetting nefarious actors and criminals of all kinds in evading detection,” said U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania . “Platforms like ChipMixer, which are designed to conceal the sources and destinations of staggering amounts of criminal proceeds, undermine the public’s confidence in cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. We thank all our partners at home and abroad for their hard work in this case. Together, we cannot and will not allow criminals’ exploitation of technology to threaten our national and economic security.” “Criminals have long sought to launder the proceeds of their illegal activity through various means,” said Special Agent in Charge Jacqueline Maguire of the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office . “Technology has changed the game, though, with a site like ChipMixer and facilitator like Nguyen enabling bad actors to do so on a grand scale with ease. In response, the FBI continues to evolve in the ways we ‘follow the money’ of illegal enterprise, employing all the tools and techniques at our disposal and drawing on our strong partnerships at home and around the globe. As a result, there’s now one less option for criminals worldwide to launder their dirty money.” “Together, with our international partners at HSI The Hague, we are firmly committed to identifying and investigating cyber criminals who pose a serious threat to our economic security by laundering billions of dollars’ worth of cryptocurrency under the misguided anonymity of the darknet,” said Special Agent in Charge Scott Brown of Homeland Securities Investigations (HSI) Arizona. “HSI Arizona could not be more proud to work alongside every agent involved in this complex international case. We thank all our domestic and international partners for their support.” Nguyễn is charged with operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, money laundering and identity theft. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. FBI, HSI Phoenix and HSI The Hague investigated the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania is prosecuting the case. German law enforcement authorities took separate actions today under its authorities. The FBI’s Legal Attaché in Germany, the HSI office in The Hague, the HSI Cyber Crimes Center, the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team, EUROPOL, the Polish Cyber Police (Centralnego Biura Zwalczania Cyberprzestępczości) and Zurich State Police (Kantonspolizei Zürich) provided assistance in this case. To report information about ChipMixer and its operators visit rfj.tips/Duhsup. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: U.S. Postal Employee Sentenced to Nine Months for Mail Theft

component: USAO - Illinois, Northern

body_text: CHICAGO — A federal judge has sentenced a former U.S. Postal Service employee to nine months in federal prison for stealing mail that he was entrusted with. DIAMANTE WILLIAMS, 25, of Chicago was indicted by a federal grand jury on three counts of mail theft by a U.S. Postal employee in March 2022 for events which occurred in March and April 2018. In September, 2022 Williams plead guilty to one count of mail theft. As stated in William’s plea agreement, on or about March 28, he stole mail and contents of mail from individuals residing on his route in Morgan Park, including financial instruments. Williams admitted to stealing a check intended for Company A in the amount of $1,274. U.S. District Court Judge Martha M. Pacold sentenced Williams to nine months in federal prison on March 9, 2023. The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Scott Pierce, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, Central Area Field Office; and Ruth M. Mendonça, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Malgorzata Tracz Kozaka.


title: Columbia Man Sentenced to 77 Months in Prison on Federal Firearm Charge

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA —Ernest Durane Mack, a/k/a “Marcus Mack,” 35, of Cayce, was sentenced to 77 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on July 26, 2019, a trooper with the South Carolina Highway Patrol initiated a lawful traffic stop on St. Andrews Road in Columbia on a car Mack was driving after recognizing it to be a car that had fled after he attempted to stop it a week earlier. After a short chase, Mack pulled into a nearby apartment complex, where he stopped the car and fled on foot. Officers located Mack in a nearby apartment complex breezeway and saw him with a handgun, which he then threw towards an officer. Mack told officers that he fled from troopers because he had the handgun in the car. The investigation revealed that the handgun had previously been reported stolen in Spartanburg County. Mack, who was on state probation at the time of the offense, has prior state convictions for trafficking cocaine (2 separate convictions), forgery, possession of a controlled substance, failure to stop for blue light and siren, and criminal domestic violence 1st degree (2 separate convictions). Mack is currently serving a 7-year sentence for criminal domestic violence 1st degree. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Mack to 77 months in prison, to be followed by a 3-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the South Carolina Highway Patrol is part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes prosecuted the case. ###


title: Man Charged With Attempted Murder Of ATF Agents, Robbery, And Carjacking After Opening Fire During A High-Speed Chase On Interstate 4

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida–United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Francisco Cabrera (28, Dover) with armed robbery, armed carjacking, and attempting to murder federal agents. If convicted on all counts, Cabrera faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 28 years, up to life, in federal prison. According to the indictment, between January 13 and 17, 2022, Cabrera robbed two Smoke Shops and one gas station in the Tampa Bay area. During each robbery, Cabrera showed victims a loaded magazine, inserted it into his pistol, and pointed the gun at the victims. On January 19, 2022, Cabrera approached a victim at a gas station and carjacked him at gunpoint. The same day, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents and Lakeland Police Department officers found Cabrera and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. Cabrera fled at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour in heavy midday traffic, including on Interstate 4. While fleeing, Cabrera fired multiple shots from his driver side window at the agents and officers pursuing him. ATF agents returned fire, striking Cabrera, which ended the pursuit. No other individuals were struck by the gunfire. Cabrera has been charged separately by the State Attorney’s Office (10 th Judicial Circuit) with attempted murder of local law enforcement officers. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lakeland Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Diego F. Novaes. 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: Uniontown Man Sentenced to 17.5 Years in Prison and Lifetime Supervision for Making Live Videos of Himself Molesting a Child

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA- A former resident of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 210 months’ imprisonment and lifetime supervised release on his conviction of production of visual depictions of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Chief United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence yesterday on Zachary Bosh, 39, following his July 12, 2022, guilty plea. According to information presented to the court, on Friday, April 12, 2019, a law enforcement officer acting in an undercover capacity (UC) entered a public chat group titled #parentstoys, using an internet-based, free mobile application. The user “ascott5505,” later identified as Bosh, initiated a private chat with the UC. During the conversation, Bosh sent the UC approximately seven video clips and/or images of a minor victim, one of which depicted the sexual exploitation of the minor victim, and verified with the UC that the video clips and/or images were “live.” The Court was further informed of the full content and context of the communications between Bosh and the UC. Investigators were able to obtain emergency disclosures from the mobile application as well as internet service provider, enabling them to identify – on the same day – the residence where the video of the minor victim’s sexual exploitation had been produced. During a search of the residence, which also occurred that day, law enforcement seized bedsheets that matched the sheets visible in the video. In imposing the sentence, of 210 month’s imprisonment and lifetime supervision, which is a guideline range sentence, Judge Hornak stated that he would not “reduce [the defendant’s] conduct to a descriptive term” – such as egregious or terrible – because it would not be “sufficient” and risked “minimizing” Bosh’s conduct. The Court explained that its sentence was “sufficient to fulfill the goals of sentencing” and “no greater than needed.” Based upon the evidence before it, the Court also found that the record “strongly suggests” that Bosh engaged in illicit conduct in the “past” and his statements to the UC expressed “desires” to engage in “more physical sexual” conduct in the future. To that end, in imposing lifetime supervision, the Court expressed its intent that this would deter Bosh and others from committing similar crimes. Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. “This defendant will spend the next 17.5 years in prison for preying upon, exploiting and abusing a young girl who was under the defendant’s care for his own sexual gratification,” said Acting United States Attorney Rivetti. “This sentence sends a clear message that predatory crimes, such as child exploitation offenses, will continue to be vigorously prosecuted by this office.” Acting United States Attorney Rivetti further praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in conjunction with the FBI Washington Field Office’s (WFO) Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force that conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Bosh. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc ..


title: Tampa Man Arrested For Possessing Fentanyl  With The Intent To Distribute

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest of Perry Ivory Wims (37, Tampa) on a criminal complaint charging possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Wims was arrested on March 9, 2023 and ordered detained pending the outcome of his case. According to the complaint, the Tampa Police Department (TPD) learned that Wims was selling fentanyl out of his room at the Garden View Motel located at 2500 East Busch Boulevard in Tampa. Based on that information, TPD obtained a warrant authorizing the search of Wims’ motel room. Prior to the execution of the warrant, officers observed Wims exit his motel room with a pistol tucked in the waistband of his shorts. Additionally, TPD learned that Wims had a verbal altercation with unknown individuals shortly before the execution of the warrant, during which Wims pointed a gun at people with whom he was arguing. During the execution of the search warrant, officers located approximately 283 grams of a substance that field-tested positive for fentanyl, a loaded Ruger 9mm pistol, a Zaviar Arms AR-style pistol, $3,705 in cash, and other suspected narcotics. Wims previously received a 15-year sentence in federal court for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. He completed serving that sentence on December 21, 2022. A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David P. Sullivan.


title: Clearwater Drug Dealer Sentenced To More Than 3 Years In Federal Prison

body_text: Tampa, Florida - U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday today sentenced Terrel Lewis (26, Largo) to 3 years and 10 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Lewis had pleaded guilty on December 21, 2022. According to court documents, in 2021, the Clearwater Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration received information that Lewis was distributing cocaine in Clearwater. On August 24, 2021, Lewis met with a confidential source (CS) and delivered a brown paper bag containing 250.75 grams of cocaine. On March 9, 2022, Lewis met again with the CS and delivered 248.97 grams of cocaine to the CS in a plastic bag. In total, Lewis distributed 499.72 grams of cocaine in both transactions. This case was investigated by the Clearwater Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Guzman.