title: Fugitive Pleads Guilty To Aggravated Identity Theft And Fraud Involving Cellphone Scheme

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Rohan Conrad Campbell (49, Jamaica) has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud offense and a consecutive minimum mandatory sentence of two years in federal prison for the aggravated identity theft offense. Campbell has also agreed to forfeit $4,207, which represents the proceeds of his offenses. His sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled. According to the plea agreement and public records, on August 5, 2017, Campbell entered a Five Star Cellular store in Clay County. Using a fraudulently established account and a counterfeit state of Washington driver license, both in the name of a victim, Campbell obtained multiple cellphones. On August 15, 2017, Campbell returned to a Sprint store in Clay County to collect cellphones he had fraudulently ordered using another victim’s identity. A store employee recognized Campbell and called the Clay County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO). Upon arriving and making contact with Campbell, Campbell provided a deputy with a counterfeit Washington driver license in the identity of a third victim. As a deputy was talking with him, Campbell ran, but was tackled. Campbell then got up and fled, but was later apprehended by the CCSO after a pursuit. Follow up investigation by the CCSO and the United States Secret Service determined that Campbell set up numerous fraudulent accounts, using counterfeit identification documents in the identity of various victims and obtained thousands of dollars’ worth of cell phones at multiple stores in Florida. Campbell was arrested on May 31, 2018. After being released on pre-trial supervision, Campbell fled the jurisdiction in August 2019 and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Campbell remained a fugitive for more than three years until law enforcement arrested him in early 2023. This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Secret Service – Jacksonville Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein. The asset forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer M. Harrington.


title: Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening Doctor Affiliated with the National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Texas man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to threatening a Boston doctor who provided care for members of the transgender community. Matthew Jordan Lindner, 39, of Comfort, Texas, pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transmission of threatening communication. Senior U.S. District Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Feb. 6, 2024. Lindner was arrested in Texas and charged on Dec. 2, 2022. He was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston on Dec. 15, 2022. In August 2022, inaccurate information spread online regarding procedures doctors at Boston Children’s Hospital were performing for gender nonconforming children. On Aug. 31, 2022, in the midst of social media vitriol directed at health care providers who serve transgender patients, Lindner called the Boston-based National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center and left a threatening voicemail targeting one of the Center’s affiliated doctors. In that voicemail, Lindner said: “You sick motherf*****s, you’re all gonna burn. There’s a group of people on their way to handle [victim]. You signed your own warrant, lady. Castrating our children. You’ve woken up enough people. And upset enough of us. And you signed your own ticket. Sleep well, you f****** c***.” “Doctors who serve pediatric patients, including the victim in this case and staff at Boston Children’s Hospital, have dedicated their professional lives to treating children. They should be celebrated for their contributions to so many in their time of need. Instead, this defendant threatened a doctor with violence just for doing her job. This conduct is deplorable and sends a chill through the medical community,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Hate and bigotry have no place in Massachusetts. Our office will stop at no end to protect the safety of all members of our community. We will continue to do all that we can to ensure individuals who engage in such behavior are identified, prosecuted and held accountable.” “There is no way to undo the damage Matthew Lindner did to this physician, with his hateful, repulsive, and threatening behavior,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “No one should have to live in fear of violence because of who they are, what kind of work they do, or what they believe. This case, sadly, is just one example of the FBI’s ongoing commitment to bring to justice anyone who violates federal law, including those who threaten violence.” After leaving the threatening voicemail, Lindner continued to try to contact the victim. To that end, he called the victim’s former medical practice and a university where the victim was a faculty member. The charge of interstate transmission of threatening communication provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian A. Fogerty and K. Nathaniel Yeager of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.


title: Washington man sentenced to 35 years after traveling  across country to have sex with child

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Marysville, Washington man has been sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for traveling to West Virginia to have sex with a child. Nathaniel James Davis, age 34, was sentenced today by Chief Judge Thomas Kleeh after having previously pled guilty to interstate travel with intent to engage in sexual act with a minor, and commission of a felony offense involving a minor by a sex offender. According to court documents and statements made in court, Davis, a registered sex offender, began an online relationship with a 13-year-old from Barbour County. Davis then traveled from Washington state to West Virginia to meet with the child for sex but was intercepted by law enforcement. Davis was required to register as a sex offender because of his conviction for communication with a minor for sexual contact and child pornography charges in Whatcom County Superior Court in Bellingham, Washington in 2016. In a separate case, Maurice Monroe Cato, III, age 49, of Gerrardstown, West Virginia, was sentenced to 10 years for possession of child pornography. According to court documents and statements made in court, Cato was posting and sharing child pornography. A search of Cato’s phone revealed more than 600 images along with videos of minors, including children under the age of five. U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided over the hearing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner prosecuted the Davis case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley Crockett prosecuted the Cato case. The West Virginia State Police investigated both cases.


title: St. Louis Felon Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison After Being Caught with a Gun

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge John A. Ross on Wednesday sentenced a convicted felon from St. Louis, Missouri to 15 years in prison after he was caught with a handgun. Doctavious Pegues, 39, pleaded guilty in September to being a felon in possession of a firearm. He admitted that on Oct. 7, 2021, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to reports of a domestic disturbance in the 3700 block of Phillips Place. They were speaking with Pegues’ girlfriend when multiple gunshots were fired in a nearby gangway. Police found Pegues hiding in a bedroom closet at his aunt’s house in the 3600 block of Winnebago, one block away. Officers found a Canik 9mm semiautomatic pistol on the landing of the home’s rear stairwell and multiple spent 9mm cartridge casings in the gangway. Pegues’ fingerprint was found on the pistol. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Martin is prosecuting the case.


title: Sells Man Sentenced to Over 20 Years for Child Exploitation Offenses

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Jeremy Espuma, 31, of Sells, was sentenced Monday by United States District Judge Scott H. Rash to 248 months in prison for child exploitation offenses. Espuma, a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, pleaded guilty to Child Exploitation by way of Production of Child Pornography on March 22, 2023. Upon release from prison, Espuma will be placed on lifetime supervised release with sex offender conditions and will be required to register as a sex offender. The case against Espuma arose after undercover agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation discovered that he was sharing child exploitation material online. A subsequent investigation led to the identification of a child victim that Espuma had sexually abused. Espuma had also distributed images of the child and offered access to the child in exchange for money in the online forum where he was found by law enforcement. The investigation also led to the identification of another individual with whom Espuma shared the images. That offender, Kyle Adam Haney, was sentenced to 120 months in prison on August 31, 2023. 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 . The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Tucson, Arizona and Knoxville, Tennessee, and the Tohono O’Odham Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carin Duryee and Scott Turk, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-21-02971-TUC-SHR RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-198_Espuma # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ q Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: State Revocation Warrant Leads to Federal Gun Charges for Carroll Plantation Man

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

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A Carroll Plantation man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court records, in November 2022, a Maine State Police trooper arrested Jason Levasseur , 47, for a state probation revocation after recognizing Levasseur’s pickup truck at a gas station in Danforth. The trooper ordered Levasseur to get on the ground and restrained him. The trooper removed a sheathed knife from Levasseur’s belt and asked whether he was carrying a gun. Levasseur indicated there was a firearm in the truck, and the officer retrieved a .458-caliber rifle wrapped in a blanket from the backseat. The rifle had two rounds in the magazine and one round in the chamber. Levasseur is precluded from possessing firearms due to previous convictions in May and July 2022. He has three prior state convictions for illegal possession of a firearm. Levasseur faces up to 15 years in prison, a fine up to $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Maine State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. ###


title: Illinois Man Convicted of Firearms Offense

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Martin Devalois, 40 years old, of Romeoville, Illinois, was found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon following a two-day jury trial presided over by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Devalois is scheduled for sentencing on March 29, 2024. Any specific sentence to be imposed will be determined by the District Court Judge after consideration of federal statutes and the United States Sentencing Guidelines. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department and the Indiana State Police Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jerome W. McKeever and Joel L. Mathur. 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: Federal jury convicts Crow Agency man of sexually abusing two girls on the Crow Indian Reservation

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: BILLINGS — A federal jury on Dec. 12 convicted a Crow Agency man of sexually abusing two girls on the Crow Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today. After a two-day trial that began on Dec. 11, the jury found Edwin Ivan Don’tMix, 59, guilty of abusive sexual contact of a child and abusive sexual contact of a minor. Don’tMix faces a maximum of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to life of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The court set sentencing for April 11, 2024. Don’tMix was detained pending further proceedings. “For the second time in two days, our office has held accountable someone for sexually abusing young girls. Here, Don’tMix victimized these two girls over eight years ago and if not for their bravery in reporting what he did to them, Don’tMix would not have been prosecuted. These are tough cases to investigate and prosecute, and we are only successful when our office and our federal partners are relentless in getting to the truth, which is exactly what happened here. I applaud and thank Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek, our office staff, the FBI, and Bureau of Indian Affairs for their dedication and hard work, without which we would not have gotten these verdicts,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said. In court documents and at trial, the government alleged that in January 2015, Jane Doe 2 disclosed to the FBI that Don’tMix touched her vaginal area over her clothes while she was sledding. Jane Doe 2 was 13 years old at the time. Jane Doe 2 also disclosed in the same interview, that in 2012 or 2013, she was asleep and awoke to Don’tMix touching her vaginal area over her clothes. The touching occurred at a Crow Agency residence. In October 2021, another child, Jane Doe 1, disclosed to a school counselor that Don’tMix touched her vaginal area over her clothes when she was either 6, 7 or 8 years old and that the touching happened three or four times at a Crow Agency residence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek is prosecuting the case. The FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs conducted the investigation. XXX


title: 20-Year-Old Pleads Guilty to Possessing 115 Pounds of Fentanyl Pills with Intent to Distribute

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – Nathan Hernandez, 20, of Yuma, pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl last week. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 25, 2024, before United States District Judge Michael T. Liburdi. Hernandez admitted that on November 3, 2023, he entered the United States through the San Luis Port of Entry in San Luis, Arizona, with 115.04 pounds of fentanyl pills hidden in a non-factory compartment of his 2020 Dodge Ram. Hernandez further admitted that he possessed the fentanyl with the intent to deliver it to another person. In his plea agreement, Hernandez agreed to forfeit the 2020 Dodge Ram used to transport the fentanyl pills into the United States. A conviction for Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Doyle, District of Arizona, Phoenix, is handling the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-23-01674-MTL RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-199_Hernandez # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Two Additional Defendants Charged in $26 Million Real Estate Scam

body_text: Two more defendants have been charged for scamming Chinese investors out of more than $26 million, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. Stephen Wall, 65, and Saskya Bedoya, 42, were charged in a superseding indictment filed this week with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of securities fraud. They are scheduled to make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Rebecca Rutherford on December 22, 2023. According to the indictment, Mr. Wall and Ms. Bedoya conspired with Timothy Lynch Barton to market real estate investment opportunities in Texas to Chinese investors. During presentations – which highlighted Mr. Barton’s supposed ties to U.S. politicians – Mr. Barton and Mr. Wall allegedly claimed that the properties in question were located in sought-after neighborhoods in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex. Mr. Wall was introduced as a builder who would purchase lots to build on to sell to future home buyers. Investors were promised annual interest payments for two years, followed by the return of their initial investment at the end of the second year. It was alleged that the investors would contribute 80 percent of the funds necessary for the project, and Mr. Barton and Mr. Wall would contribute the remaining 20 percent. It was also represented that no commissions would be paid out of investor funds. In loan agreements signed by the investors, the cost of each property was inflated by as much as 195 percent, and in some instances, never actually purchased the property. Early investors were allegedly paid interest payments with investor funds from later projects. Contrary to loan agreements, the defendants allegedly paid commissions out of investors’ funds, and even funneled investors’ money into unrelated projects. Still other funds were used to pay consultants or even to pay an unrelated company’s AmEx bill. According to the indictment, investors lost more than $26,000,000 to the scheme. An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. If convicted, each defendant faces up to 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and up to 20 years in federal prison for securities fraud. Defendant, Mark Adams, 61, previously pled guilty in September 2022 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with the scheme. Additionally, codefendant, Haoqiang Fu a/k/a Michael Fu, 49, pled guilty in October 2022 to the sale of unregistered securities. Both are scheduled to be sentenced on February 21, 2024, and face up to five years in federal prison. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Renee Hunter is prosecuting the case.


title: Man Pleads Guilty to Concealing War Crime Charge in Croatia

component: Criminal Division

body_text: WASHINGTON – An Ohio man pleaded guilty today to possessing a green card he illegally obtained by concealing that he had been charged with a war crime in Croatia prior to emigrating to the United States. According to court documents, Jugoslav Vidic, 55, of Parma Heights, in applying to become a lawful permanent resident of the United States, falsely stated that he had never been charged with breaking any law even though he knew he had been charged in Croatia with a war crime against the civilian population. Vidic also falsely stated that his only past military service was in the Yugoslav Army from 1988 to 1989 and omitting his service in the Serb Army of Krajina and its predecessors during the civil war in the former Yugoslavia from 1991 to 1995. As a result of these materially false statements, Vidic was approved for lawful permanent status and received a green card. “Jugoslav Vidic knew he had been charged with a war crime, concealed that fact from U.S. immigration officials so he could enter the United States, and enjoyed lawful status in this country for nearly 20 years,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Thanks to the dedication of prosecutors, law enforcement, and our international partners, Vidic will serve prison time and then be removed from this country. His conviction demonstrates that no human rights violation is too distant for the Justice Department to seek accountability.” “By pleading guilty, Jugoslav Vidic admitted that he lied in his application to become a lawful permanent U.S. resident, hiding the fact that he had been charged with and convicted in absentia of committing war crimes in Croatia,” said U.S. Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio. “He also admitted to concealing his military service during the civil war in the former Yugoslavia, including in the specialized ‘Red Berets’ unit. Vidic tried to outrun his past, but today it caught up with him. Our country has long provided opportunities for refugees searching for a better life, but America extends that privilege with the expectation that applicants respect basic human rights and are truthful about their personal history. The Justice Department will hold accountable anyone, such as Vidic, who abuses our immigration system by trying to hide his crimes against humanity.” Vidic was charged with a war crime in Croatia in 1994 and convicted in absentia in 1998. The Croatian court found that during an attack by ethnic Serb forces in Petrinja, Croatia, on Sept. 16, 1991, Vidic cut off the arm of civilian Stjepan Komes, who died afterward. Vidic knew about the Croatian charges when he immigrated to the United States as a refugee in 1999, applied to become a lawful permanent resident in 2000, and was interviewed by U.S. immigration officials and received his green card in 2005. “This guilty plea underscores the importance of these complex investigations and the closure they can provide to victims’ families,” said Executive Associate Director Katrina W. Berger of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “HSI special agents, along with our law enforcement partners both here in the United States and across the globe, will continue the vital work of ensuring that war criminals like Vidic can no longer hide from justice.” “The FBI is committed to ensuring that perpetrators of war crimes find no safe haven in the United States and are held accountable for lying and fraudulently obtaining U.S. citizen privileges,” said Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI will continue to work alongside our domestic and international partners to pursue justice — no matter how long it takes.” Vidic pleaded guilty to one count of possessing an alien registration receipt card knowing it had been procured through materially false statements. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 29, 2024. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. As part of the plea agreement, Vidic agreed to the entry of a judicial order of removal from the United States. Vidic would be required to serve any sentence imposed in the United States before being removed. HSI and the FBI are investigating the case with coordination provided by the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center, including the FBI’s International Human Rights Unit. The Justice Departments thanks the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration of the Republic of Croatia, which were both instrumental in furthering the investigation. Trial Attorney Patrick Jasperse of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew W. Shepherd and Jerome J. Teresinski for the Northern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided assistance. Members of the public who have information about human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or through the FBI online tip form , or HSI at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or through the ICE online tip form . All are staffed around the clock, and tips may be provided anonymously.


body_text: An Ohio man pleaded guilty today to possessing a green card he illegally obtained by concealing that he had been charged with a war crime in Croatia prior to emigrating to the United States. According to court documents, Jugoslav Vidic, 55, of Parma Heights, in applying to become a lawful permanent resident of the United States, falsely stated that he had never been charged with breaking any law even though he knew he had been charged in Croatia with a war crime against the civilian population. Vidic also falsely stated that his only past military service was in the Yugoslav Army from 1988 to 1989 and omitting his service in the Serb Army of Krajina and its predecessors during the civil war in the former Yugoslavia from 1991 to 1995. As a result of these materially false statements, Vidic was approved for lawful permanent status and received a green card. “Jugoslav Vidic knew he had been charged with a war crime, concealed that fact from U.S. immigration officials so he could enter the United States, and enjoyed lawful status in this country for nearly 20 years,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Thanks to the dedication of prosecutors, law enforcement, and our international partners, Vidic will serve prison time and then be removed from this country. His conviction demonstrates that no human rights violation is too distant for the Justice Department to seek accountability.” “By pleading guilty, Jugoslav Vidic admitted that he lied in his application to become a lawful permanent U.S. resident, hiding the fact that he had been charged with and convicted in absentia of committing war crimes in Croatia,” said U.S. Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio. “He also admitted to concealing his military service during the civil war in the former Yugoslavia, including in the specialized ‘Red Berets’ unit. Vidic tried to outrun his past, but today it caught up with him. Our country has long provided opportunities for refugees searching for a better life, but America extends that privilege with the expectation that applicants respect basic human rights and are truthful about their personal history. The Justice Department will hold accountable anyone, such as Vidic, who abuses our immigration system by trying to hide his crimes against humanity.” Vidic was charged with a war crime in Croatia in 1994 and convicted in absentia in 1998. The Croatian court found that during an attack by ethnic Serb forces in Petrinja, Croatia, on Sept. 16, 1991, Vidic cut off the arm of civilian Stjepan Komes, who died afterward. Vidic knew about the Croatian charges when he immigrated to the United States as a refugee in 1999, applied to become a lawful permanent resident in 2000, and was interviewed by U.S. immigration officials and received his green card in 2005. “This guilty plea underscores the importance of these complex investigations and the closure they can provide to victims’ families,” said Executive Associate Director Katrina W. Berger of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “HSI special agents, along with our law enforcement partners both here in the United States and across the globe, will continue the vital work of ensuring that war criminals like Vidic can no longer hide from justice.” “The FBI is committed to ensuring that perpetrators of war crimes find no safe haven in the United States and are held accountable for lying and fraudulently obtaining U.S. citizen privileges,” said Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI will continue to work alongside our domestic and international partners to pursue justice — no matter how long it takes.” Vidic pleaded guilty to one count of possessing an alien registration receipt card knowing it had been procured through materially false statements. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 29, 2024. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. As part of the plea agreement, Vidic agreed to the entry of a judicial order of removal from the United States. Vidic would be required to serve any sentence imposed in the United States before being removed. HSI and the FBI are investigating the case with coordination provided by the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center, including the FBI’s International Human Rights Unit. The Justice Departments thanks the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration of the Republic of Croatia, which were both instrumental in furthering the investigation. Trial Attorney Patrick Jasperse of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew W. Shepherd and Jerome J. Teresinski for the Northern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided assistance. Members of the public who have information about human rights violators in the United States are urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or through the FBI online tip form , or HSI at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or through the ICE online tip form . All are staffed around the clock, and tips may be provided anonymously.


title: Errant Bullets that Struck an Exeter Residence Lead to Guilty Plea for Illegal Possession for Millinocket Man

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A Millinocket man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court records, in November 2020, the Maine Warden Service (MWS) received a complaint about shots being fired at a residence in Exeter, Maine. A warden observed bullets lodged in the walls of the residence, and the homeowners reported hearing gunshots from across the pond and seeing two individuals wearing hunter’s orange. MWS located Scott Lynch Jr. , 23, and a 14-year-old minor in a parked truck. Lynch admitted to the warden that he had been target shooting in the woods. He also told the warden that he was a convicted felon. MWS located .22 caliber and .308 caliber casings in the woods where Lynch stated they had been shooting. While at the minor’s house to retrieve the .22 rifle, the warden overheard the minor tell his mother that there was another rifle hidden in the house, which was then retrieved by the mother. Lynch had the key to the gun case on a key ring on his belt. Two guns were retrieved from the case, a .308 caliber rifle and a 9mm pistol, with obliterated serial numbers. Further investigation showed both the guns and the case had been stolen from a vehicle in Millinocket, and Lynch told investigators that he had traded a dirt bike for the firearms. Lynch faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine up to $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Maine Warden Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. ###


title: Bank Employee Charged with Stealing Federal Benefits Intended for Deceased Customer

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – An employee of an Essex County, New Jersey, bank was charged with fraudulently withdrawing federal retirement benefits from the account of a former customer who had died, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Jorge Nova, 35, of Passaic, New Jersey, is charged by indictment with one count of wire fraud. He appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer and was on $100,000 unsecured bond. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: In 2014, Nova was an employee at a commercial bank in Nutley, New Jersey, where a customer received Social Security Administration (SSA) retirement benefits via direct deposit. The Social Security Administration was not notified of the beneficiary’s death and continued to deposit retirement benefits into the beneficiary’s bank account for more than four years, until October 2018. Nova fraudulently obtained funds from the beneficiary’s account by causing debit cards to be issued to himself in the beneficiary’s name, which he then used to drain the retirement benefits from the beneficiary’s bank account. Nova also registered new accounts with a money service provider in the name of the deceased beneficiary and withdrew money from a second bank account held in the beneficiary’s name. Nova fraudulently obtained more than $105,000 intended for the deceased beneficiary. The count of wire fraud is punishable by a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a maximum $1 million fine. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, New York Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Sharon MacDermott, with the investigation leading to the charges. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachelle M. Navarro of the Organized Crimes and Gang Unit in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. nova.indictment.pdf


title: Louisiana Man Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Prison for Dogfighting

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: A Louisiana man was sentenced today to 41 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to sponsor, exhibit, possess and transport animals in an interstate animal fighting venture, and to possessing an animal in such a venture, all in violation of the Animal Welfare Act. Antonio Damon Atkins, 35, of Baton Rouge, is the final of seven total defendants to be sentenced for participating in an interstate dogfighting ring. Atkins previously pleaded guilty . An Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation originally uncovered the ring. Six of the defendants have already been sentenced, receiving the following for their dogfighting convictions: Eric “EZ” Williams, Baton Rouge: 60 months in prison Corey Brown, Baton Rouge: 50 months in prison Clay Turner, Loranger, Louisiana: 36 months in prison Dangelo Dontae Cornish, Greensburg, Louisiana: 16 months in prison Aquintas Kantrell Singleton, Baton Rouge: 12 months and a day in prison David Guidry III, of Independence, Louisiana: 12 months and a day in prison “Today’s sentencing is the final chapter of a grim conspiracy to train and kill dogs for sadistic sport,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “We commend the investigators and prosecutors who worked on this case and brought these individuals to justice.” “With the sentencing of Antonio Atkins today, the culmination of hard work and prosecution of seven defendants has been successfully completed,” said U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe Jr. for the Middle District of Louisiana. “The question becomes: would this case have been discovered if not for an OCDETF lead? This is the true power of the federal government as we see all our agency partners working collectively to send a message that it is not worth violating the Animal Welfare Act. I commend these agencies, along with my office, in working together to achieve justice.” "Mr. Atkins and the other defendants in this case are faring much better than the dozens of animals they tortured and killed," said Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams Jr. of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. "The FBI thanks its partners for their help in dismantling this vicious operation." “The cruel and inhumane practice of animal fighting has no place in a civilized society and is a clear violation of federal law,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew T. Wilkins of the Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG). “The outstanding work of our law enforcement partners and USDA-OIG agents who investigated this case made it possible to bring these operators of a major animal fighting venture to justice. This agency has made animal fighting a high priority to demonstrate that these vicious acts of cruelty to animals will not be tolerated.” The FBI and USDA-OIG investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Evans for the District of Minnesota, formerly of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section, prosecuted the case along with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lyman E. Thornton III and Jeremy Johnson for the Middle District of Louisiana.


title: Providence Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing  More than Forty Grams of Fentanyl

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A 31-year-old Providence man was sentenced today to five years and 1 day in federal prison for possessing more than 40 grams of fentanyl and a firearm less than a week after he pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. According to charging documents, Mason A. Nieves was convicted in February 2021 of participating in a conspiracy that distributed significantly more than 60,000 units of steroids. Less than a week later, a court-authorized search of Nieves’ residence conducted by members of the Rhode Island State Police High Intensity Drug Area (HIDTA) Task Force found Nieves in possession of 251 grams of fentanyl. The search also recovered drug packaging materials; a loaded firearm located under Nieves’ bed; and $1,591 in cash. Nieves pleaded guilty on February 15, 2023, to a charge of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to 60 months and one day of incarceration to be followed by four years of federal supervised release. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christine D. Lowell and G. Michael Seaman. Together with Department of Homeland Security, Rhode Island State Police, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Mansfield Police Department and North Attleboro Police Departments in Massachusetts, this case was investigated and prosecuted in federal court 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 gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In 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: Carrollton man convicted of federal child pornography violations

component: USAO - Texas, Eastern

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas – A Carrollton man has been convicted of federal child pornography violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today. Eric Victor Henry Blood, 43, was found guilty by a jury of three counts of transportation of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography following a trial before U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant on December 12, 2023. According to information presented in court, Blood came to the attention of law enforcement when Google reported that his email address had been used to upload images and videos of child pornography onto a cloud storage account. Homeland Security Investigations special agents served a federal search warrant at Blood’s residence in Carrollton in May 2022, during which Blood admitted to using that Google account. He also ultimately admitted to accessing and possessing child pornography. Agents located child pornography files on multiple electronic devices he owned and possessed. Blood was charged with three counts of transporting child pornography and one count of possessing child pornography. The case proceeded to trial on December 11, 2023 and, at the conclusion, the jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts. Under federal statutes, Blood faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office. 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa Miller and Lesley Brooks. ###


title: Former Public School Information Technology Manager Pleads Guilty to Damaging School's Computer Network

body_text: BOSTON – An Ayer man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to committing a cyberattack against the computer network of his former employer, an Essex County public high school. Conor LaHiff, 30, pleaded guilty to one count of unauthorized damage to protected computers. U.S. Chief District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for March 20, 2024. Among other conditions of release, Judge Saylor required that LaHiff notify prospective employers of his guilty plea, after learning that LaHiff had obtained a similar position at another public high school after being terminated for the charged conduct. LaHiff was charged on Nov. 29, 2023. LaHiff was employed as a desktop and network manager at an Essex County public high school until he was terminated in June 2023. After he was fired, LaHiff used his administrative privileges to deactivate and delete thousands of Apple IDs from the school’s Apple School Manager account – software used to manage student, faculty and staff information technology resources. LaHiff also deactivated more than 1,400 other Apple accounts and other IT administrative accounts and disabled the school’s private branch phone system, which left the school’s phone service unavailable for approximately 24 hours. The charge of unauthorized damage to protected computers provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable investigative assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Haverhill Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie A. Queenin of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case.


title: El Paso Man Sentenced to Five Years for Attempted Transfer of Obscene Material to a Minor

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: EL PASO – An El Paso man was sentenced to five years in prison for attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. According to court documents, between November 6, 2022 and November 17, 2022, Jacob Isaiah Spencer, 25, had sexually explicit conversations on social media, to include sending lascivious photos of male genitalia, with someone he believed to be a 13-year-old child. On November 17, 2022, Spencer arranged to meet the minor to engage in sexual activity by arranging transportation for the minor to Spencer’s home. Agents from the FBI El Paso’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force arrested Spencer while he waited for the minor to show up. On August 30, 2023, Spencer pleaded guilty to one count of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor. He has remained in federal custody since his arrest on November 17, 2022. “Protecting our children and our community is a top priority for our office,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza. “We will continue to prosecute those who seek to harm our minors for their own sexual gratification.” “The defendant in this case tried to share sexually explicit material to a minor in an attempt to progress the relationship to become sexually physical,” said John Morales, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI El Paso Field Office. “Parents can rest easy with this man in federal prison, but there are so many more predators like him. The FBI El Paso’s Child Exploitation & Human Trafficking Task Force remains committed to the fight against exploitation of our children.” The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Valenzuela 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: Individuals indicted and arrested in Collin County sex trafficking conspiracy

body_text: PLANO, Texas – Three North Texas individuals have been charged with sex trafficking crimes in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today. William McKinnley Garland, 40, of Plano; Jalen Alexander Bobo, 24, of Dallas; and Robberta Marie Khan, 27, of Euless, have been charged by an indictment returned by a grand jury in the Eastern District of Texas. All three were charged with coercion and enticement and aiding and abetting. Garland and Bobo are also charged with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. This indictment is the culmination of a years-long investigation by the Plano Police Department into a sex trafficking organization run by Garland and others. Evidence revealed that young women were allegedly recruited to work for Garland as escorts. However, once enticed, they were allegedly forced into performing commercial sex by Garland, or those working under his direction, often through violence and threats of violence. Evidence obtained by law enforcement revealed that the organization operated throughout Collin County. A federal search warrant was executed at Garland’s Plano residence on December 11, 2023, at which time Garland was taken into custody. If convicted, Garland and Bobo face a maximum term of life in federal prison. Khan may be sentenced to up to 20 years in federal prison. “The Eastern District of Texas is proud to work with our local and federal partners to stand against the exploitation of vulnerable persons and hold human traffickers accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. “This indictment represents the first step toward dismantling an organization in which individuals profited from commercial sex, including from women who were threatened or forced into prostitution.” According to Plano Police Department Chief Ed Drain, “I am extremely pleased with the collaboration and diligence on the part of our Plano Police Detectives, our FBI partners, and the United States Attorney's office in this investigation. These investigative efforts brought several violent offenders to justice and restored the peace, tranquility, and safety, not only to our community, but to the victims of these egregious crimes. Our continuing work will leave no stone unturned in an effort to identify those who aid in perpetrating these offenses and to provide assistance and justice to those who fall victim to these offenders.” “Human trafficking is one of the most heinous crimes the FBI encounters and unfortunately, these encounters are far more common than most people realize,” said Dallas FBI Special Agent in Charge Chad Yarbrough. “Collaboration with the Plano Police Department and U.S. Attorney’s Office was critical to identify and arrest the alleged traffickers and as we continue the investigation and move forward to prosecute the perpetrators, we hope to identify additional victims in order to provide the services and support they need to regain their dignity, identity and sense of self.” Investigators believe that there are other individuals who worked for or had interactions with this organization. Any members of the public with information about this case or possible victims are urged to contact the Plano Police Department at (972) 941-2044. This case is being investigated by the Plano Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marisa J. Miller. It is important to note that an indictment or arrest should not be considered as evidence of guilt and that all persons charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. ###


title: Court Sentences Mobile Man to 292 Months Imprisonment in Multi-Defendant Interstate Methamphetamine Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – On November 29, 2023, United States District Court Judge, Callie V. S. Grande sentenced David Erik Crumpton to 292 months imprisonment for his role in a multi-defendant interstate drug trafficking conspiracy. Documents filed with the Court established that Christopher Perales, from the state of Texas, would regularly supply Crumpton in Mobile, Alabama, with pound quantities of methamphetamine starting in approximately 2019. During the conspiracy Perales and Crumpton opened a joint checking account at Woodforest National Bank in Texas in order for Crumpton to be able to pay Perales for the methamphetamine. From July 27, 2020, through December 7, 2020, Crumpton made deposits of $125,000 into the joint account for the methamphetamine he purchased from Perales. Perales hired the co-defendant, Daniel Castillo-Garcia, to serve as a drug courier/driver who would transport the methamphetamine from Texas to Lafayette, Louisiana for Perales. Once in Lafayette, Castillo-Garcia would meet the co-defendant David Willis Hale, who had been hired by Crumpton and HJB, to transport the methamphetamine back to Mobile for them. On some occasions, Castillo-Garcia drove the methamphetamine from Texas all the way to Mobile, Alabama for Perales. Also, on some occasions Crumpton and another co-conspirator drove themselves to Texas to obtain the methamphetamine directly from Perales. On August 3, 2020, Crumpton and another co-conspirator had directed Hale to drive to Lafayette, Louisiana to pick-up approximately 672 grams of methamphetamine from Castillo-Garcia, that had been sent by Perales. On this occasion another co-conspirator had provided HALE $8,000 in US currency to purchase the methamphetamine. During the trip, on the way to purchase the methamphetamine, Hale was stopped and arrested in Hancock County, Mississippi. Hale had approximately 50 grams of methamphetamine, also provided to him by the same co-conspirator who provided him the US currency, ten ecstasy pills, 1 gram of heroin and the $8,000 in U.S Currency. On October 12, 2020, the Mobile Police Department (MPD) Narcotics Unit conducted a search warrant on the home of co-defendant Julie Alesia Roberts in Theodore, Alabama and recovered approximately 615 grams of methamphetamine from Roberts. Crumpton and Roberts had agreed and conspired for Roberts to store the methamphetamine at her home. Both Crumpton and Roberts had a separate customer base they distributed methamphetamine to. On December 7, 2020, the MPD Narcotics Unit conducted a traffic stop on a 2007 Black Suburban bearing a Texas license plate and being driven by Castillo-Garcia. Following the stop, investigative team members conducted a search of the vehicle and seized approximately 491 grams of crystal methamphetamine. The seizure occurred after a recorded phone call was made from a confidential informant to Perales ordering a pound of methamphetamine and Perales stating he would send his courier to Mobile to deliver the methamphetamine. On December 28, 2020, a Harrison County, Mississippi highway interdiction unit stopped Hale on Interstate 10 Eastbound. As a result of the stop law enforcement seized approximately 300 grams of crystal methamphetamine from Hale. Hale was in the process of delivering the crystal methamphetamine to Crumpton in Mobile Alabama. Roberts was previously sentenced by the Court and Perales, Castillo-Garcia and Hale have all plead guilty and are pending sentencing. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Mobile Police Department, Narcotics Unit, the Harrison and Hancock County, Mississippi, Sherriff’s Offices and the Galveston County Texas Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney George F. May.


title: El Paso Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Possession of Meth and Fentanyl

body_text: EL PASO – An El Paso man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. According to court documents, during an El Paso Police Department traffic stop on September 6, 2022, Erich Calixtro, 45, was found in possession of approximately 138 grams of methamphetamine and approximately 28 grams of fentanyl. On September 14, 2023, Calixtro pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Due to his extensive criminal history, the Court found that Calixtro was a career criminal offender. Calixtro has remained in federal custody since his arrest on September 6, 2022. “My office will continue to prosecute those who peddle illegal drugs in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza. “I’m proud of the work accomplished by the El Paso Police Department and the FBI in taking another drug dealer off our streets.” “Illicit synthetic drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl continue to drive addiction and fatal poisonings in our communities,” said John Morales, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI El Paso Field Office. “People like Calixtro fuel these addictions by making these poisons accessible in our communities. His disregard for how he destroys families will no longer be a concern as he spends the next 20 years in federal prison.” The FBI and EPPD investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Myers prosecuted the case. ###


title: Federal jury convicts Lockport man for his role in violent home invasion and robbery

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that a federal jury has found Todd Laraba, 45, of Lockport, NY, guilty of Hobbs Act robbery and conspiracy for his role in a home invasion in the Town of Tonawanda. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David J. Rudroff, Paul E. Bonanno, and Nicholas T. Cooper, who handled the prosecution of the case, stated that on September 28, 2017, at approximately 8:30 p.m., Laraba and another individual entered a Town of Tonawanda residence, and went to the family room where an elderly couple (victims) were watching television. Wearing black hooded sweatshirts, black pants, black gloves, and masks, one of the men stated, “This isn't going to hurt, or take long. You won't get hurt, just relax.” The men zip tied the victims’ hands and ankles and placed duct tape across their mouths and eyes. One of the men stayed with the victims while the other went to the attic of the residence, and stole a lockbox containing $60,000 in cash. After the men left, the victims removed the duct tape and restraints and called 911. The Town of Tonawanda Police Department responded and recovered four black zip ties, four pieces of glossy duct tape, and other items. Subsequent testing established that Laraba’s DNA was on one set of zip ties and several pieces of duct tape. The verdict is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, under the direction of Chief James Stauffiger. Sentencing is scheduled for May 30, 2024, at 12:30 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara, who presided over the trial. # # # #


title: Man Sentenced for $11.4M Medicare and Medicaid Fraud Scheme

body_text: A Louisiana man was sentenced today to three years in prison for his role in a multi-year scheme to bill Medicare and Medicaid for medically unnecessary durable medical equipment (DME). According to court documents, from January 2016 to June 2022, Craig L. Lovelace, of Destrehan, billed Medicare and Medicaid through his DME supply company, Advanced Medical Equipment, Inc. (AME), approximately $11.4 million for supplying respiratory support and nutritional support DME — including ventilators, tracheostomy supplies, and feeding tubes — that were not medically necessary or not provided as represented, and for which AME was paid approximately $7.96 million. Lovelace then directed the forgery of medical records, physician notes, and provider signatures in response to audits and record requests to cover up the scheme. Lovelace personally obtained over $3.4 million in proceeds from the scheme, which he used to pay for personal vehicles, personal chef services, events, and entertainment. On Aug. 17, Lovelace pleaded guilty to health care fraud. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Special Agent in Charge Jason E. Meadows of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry made the announcement. HHS-OIG and the Louisiana Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case. Trial Attorney Kelly Z. Walters of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas D. Moses for the Eastern District of Louisiana prosecuted 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, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


title: Ventura County Man Arrested for Armed Robbery of Food Vendor

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A Ventura County man is now in federal custody after being named in a criminal complaint that specifically charges him with using a gun to rob a food truck in Oxnard and alleges that he committed four other armed robberies. Oscar Silva, 30, of Oxnard, was transferred to federal custody Tuesday after he was arrested on local charges on December 7. The federal case charges Silva with Hobbs Act robbery, a crime that carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Silva made his initial appearance Tuesday afternoon in United States District Court, where he was ordered detained and was directed to appear for an arraignment on January 22. According to an affidavit filed last week with the federal complaint, Silva committed a series of five armed robberies between November 6 and November 23 in Oxnard and Ventura. Silva allegedly robbed two street food vendors, a smoke shop, and a convenience store in Oxnard. Silva also allegedly robbed a female pedestrian near Mission Park in downtown Ventura, taking her purse and credits cards. Silva later used credit and debit cards stolen from the female pedestrian’s purse to purchase items worth several hundred dollars, the complaint alleges. Silva allegedly brandished a firearm and threatened his victims during each of the robberies. A criminal complaint contained allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The investigation into Silva is being conducted by the Ventura County Violent Crime Task Force, which includes the FBI, the Oxnard Police Department, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ventura Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Lyndsi C. Allsop of the Violent and Organized Crime Section is prosecuting this case.


title: Louisiana Man Sentenced to More than Three Years in Prison for Dogfighting

component: USAO - Louisiana, Middle

body_text: A Louisiana man was sentenced to 41 months in prison today for his part in a conspiracy to sponsor, exhibit, possess and transport animals in an interstate animal fighting venture, and to possessing an animal in such a venture, all in violation of the Animal Welfare Act. Antonio Damon Atkins, 35, of Baton Rouge, is the final of seven total defendants to be sentenced for participating in an interstate dogfighting ring. Atkins previously pleaded guilty . An Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation originally uncovered the ring. Six of the defendants have already been sentenced, receiving the following for their dogfighting convictions: Eric “EZ” Williams, Baton Rouge, Louisiana: 60 months in prison Corey Brown, Baton Rouge, Louisiana: 50 months in prison Clay Turner, Loranger, Louisiana: 36 months in prison Dangelo Dontae Cornish, Greensburg, Louisiana: 16 months in prison Aquintas Kantrell Singleton, Baton Rouge, Louisiana: 12 months and a day in prison David Guidry III, of Independence, Louisiana: 12 months and a day in prison “Today’s sentencing is the final chapter of a grim conspiracy to train and kill dogs for sadistic sport,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “We commend the investigators and prosecutors who worked on this case and brought these individuals to justice.” “With the sentencing of Antonio Atkins today, the culmination of hard work and prosecution of seven defendants has been successfully completed,” said U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe Jr. for the Middle District of Louisiana. “The question becomes: would this case have been discovered if not for an OCDETF lead? This is the true power of the federal government as we see all our agency partners working collectively to send a message that it is not worth violating the Animal Welfare Act. I commend these agencies, along with my office, in working together to achieve justice.” "Mr. Atkins and the other defendants in this case are faring much better than the dozens of animals they tortured and killed," said Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams Jr., FBI New Orleans. "The FBI thanks its partners for their help in dismantling this vicious operation." “The cruel and inhumane practice of animal fighting has no place in a civilized society and is a clear violation of federal law,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Matthew T. Wilkins of U.S. Department of Agriculture-Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG). “The outstanding work of our law enforcement partners and USDA-OIG agents who investigated this case made it possible to bring these operators of a major animal fighting venture to justice. This agency has made animal fighting a high priority to demonstrate that these vicious acts of cruelty to animals will not be tolerated.” The case was investigated by the FBI and USDA-OIG. Formerly of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section, Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew D. Evans for the District of Minnesota prosecuted the case along with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lyman E. Thornton III and Jeremy Johnson for the Middle District of Louisiana.


title: Orchard Park man sentenced for marijuana conspiracy

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Kevin Judge, 65, of Orchard Park, NY, who was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, marijuana, was sentenced to time served and two years’ supervised release by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti, who handled the case, stated that Judge was a drug trafficking associate of co-defendant Gary Wolch. Judge traveled to secure marijuana for the drug trafficking operation and coordinated with other associates and conspirators to obtain marijuana for distribution in the Western New York area. On August 16, 2019, Judge arrived at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, where he was approached by investigators at his gate and his bags were detained. After initial questioning, Judge was taken back to his vehicle in the parking lot. Once back in his vehicle, Judge contacted Wolch and said, “There’s a problem.” He then called other associates and co-conspirators. During the execution of a search warrant on Judge’s bags, law enforcement recovered $60,000 in U.S. currency and $40,000 in Western Union Money Orders. Judge admits he was attempting to go to Southern California with $100,000 to purchase marijuana. Wolch was previously convicted and is awaiting sentencing. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Orchard Park Police Department, under the direction of Chief Patrick Fitzgerald, and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino. # # # #


title: Hartford Man Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Offense

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that KARLIS MANSON, 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 48 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing controlled substances. According to court documents and statements made in court, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force and Hartford Police Department conducted an investigation of a business located at 136 Barbour Street in Hartford that was suspected of trafficking narcotics. The business, a purported clothing store, had an awning that read “The HOLE Ex-Con 360 the movement.” In October 2022, investigators made two controlled purchases of marijuana from the store. On October 5, 2022, Manson and others were in the store when investigators conducted a court-authorized search of the store and seized quantities of suspected crack cocaine, psychedelic mushrooms, cocaine, marijuana, heroin, synthetic opioid films, fentanyl pills disguised as oxycodone, MDMA, drug packaging and processing materials, U.S. currency, and five handguns. Manson, who was found in possession of distribution quantities of fentanyl and crack cocaine, and approximately $1,000 in cash, was arrested at that time. After a K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics in Manson’s vehicle, which was parked outside the store, a search of the vehicle revealed approximately 400 grams of cocaine, 10 pounds of marijuana, and $8,200 in cash. Also on October 5, 2022, investigators searched a U-Haul storage facility in Plainville, which was rented under the name of a Manson relative, and found documents connected to Manson, a large duffle bag containing approximately 28 pounds of marijuana in vacuum-sealed bags, a suitcase containing approximately 12 pounds of marijuana in vacuum-sealed bags, and approximately two pounds of phenacetin, which is used as a cutting agent for narcotics. Investigators also seized a safe containing six firearms, and a duffel bag containing approximately 25 pounds of marijuana, from a Vernon residence where Manson had stored the items. On September 7, 2023, Manson pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Manson, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on January 17, 2024. This investigation has been conducted by the DEA’s Hartford Task Force and the Hartford Police Department, with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory. The DEA Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, and Windsor Locks Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys A. Reed Durham and Brendan J. Keefe.


title: Eagle Butte Man Sentenced for Burglary

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced an Eagle Butte, South Dakota man convicted of Second Degree Burglary. The sentencing took place on December 11, 2023. Melvin Bagola III, age 23, was sentenced to 12 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, restitution of $5,760.67, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. The 12 month sentence of imprisonment runs consecutive to a seven month sentence imposed for Bagola’s violation of his federal supervised release in another case. Bagola was indicted by a federal grand jury in February of 2023. He pleaded guilty to Second Degree Burglary on July 10, 2023. On September 15, 2022, Deputy U.S. Marshals attempted to arrest Bagola in Eagle Butte for violating his supervised release. When Bagola saw the deputy marshals, he fled into an occupied home and slammed the front door. When a deputy marshal entered the home to arrest him, Bagola leapt out an open window and sprinted into another occupied home. The deputy marshals set up a perimeter around the second house. Bagola refused to leave until the officers broke the home’s windows and prepared to saturate it with OC gas. Bagola then surrendered peaceably. This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.


title: Colorado Man Sentenced to More than 19 Years in Prison for Enticing a Minor to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – On Dec. 7, Miles Steven McGough, 25, of Colorado, was sentenced to 235 months in prison by U.S. District Court Judge K. Michael Moore, after previously pleading guilty to enticing a minor victim to engage in criminal sexual activity. According to the agreed upon factual proffer in support of McGough’s guilty plea, McGough engaged in conduct with a Southern District of Florida minor to include, he sent sexually explicit communications to the minor victim through the Snapchat messaging service, a search warrant of McGough’s cellular phone revealed images of McGough’s genitals that he shared with the minor victim, and McGough's cell phone revealed videos and images of the minor victim performing oral sex on McGough that were created during McGough’s visit to Florida. Judge Moore ordered that McGough’s term of incarceration be followed by 15 years of supervised release. McGough was also ordered to pay a $25,000 fine. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami announced the sentence imposed. HSI investigated the case with assistance from Castle Rock Police Department in Colorado. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ajay J. Alexander prosecuted this 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 the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 23-cr-60061. ###


title: Court Sentences Mobile Man to 20 Years for Methamphetamine Trafficking and Gun Crime

body_text: MOBILE, AL – On December 13, 2023, United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer sentenced Eugene Darnell Cornner to 240 months imprisonment for methamphetamine trafficking and possession of a firearm in furtherance of his methamphetamine trafficking. Documents filed with the court in connection with his guilty plea established that on November 8, 2021, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant at a motel room where Cornner was staying and discovered Cornner lying in a bed. Items found during the search included approximately $10,960.00 in cash on the bed where Cornner was laying; a .380 caliber semiautomatic pistol, a brown Louis Vuitton bag with approximately 45 grams of fentanyl, 183 grams of methamphetamine and two nasal spray applicators containing 4mg of Narcan. On January 20, 2023, Cornner was stopped by the Mobile Police Department on Tillman’s Corner Parkway for a window tint violation. The stop lead to the vehicle being impounded and found in the vehicle was approximately 176 grams of methamphetamine and $2,091 in cash. In early February 2023 the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office made a controlled buy of drugs from Cornner and then executed a search at a trailer where Cornner was living in Theodore. Officers recovered approximately 500 grams of methamphetamine from Cornner’s bedroom, and a small amount of marijuana and fentanyl. The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Mobile Police Department and the Mobile County Sherriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney George F. May.


title: Ft. Thompson Man Found Guilty of Sexual Abuse of a Minor

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a jury has convicted Loren Goodlow, age 34, of Ft. Thompson, South Dakota, of eight counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor, two counts of Abusive Sexual Contact, two counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography, and Tampering with a Witness following a three-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota. The verdict was returned on December 7, 2023. The defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years up to a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison. Each count of conviction also carries a maximum fine of $250,000, a term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Goodlow was indicted by a federal grand jury in April of 2023. Evidence at trial established that on March 18, 2023, Goodlow engaged in sexual acts with two minor females who had attained the age of 12 years old but not attained the age of 16 while on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Goodlow also enticed one of the minors in December of 2022 and engaged in sexual acts with the minor between December 26, 2022, and January 16, 2023. After the minor disclosed in March of 2023, Goodlow attempted to tamper with one of the witnesses over Facebook Messenger, by repeatedly telling the minor to recant the disclosure. The investigation also revealed that on December 8, 2021, Goodlow enticed another minor female and attempted to receive child pornography. The acts of enticement and receipt of child pornography all occurred over the social media application of Snapchat. This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case. A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date has not been set. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Vestavia Man Sentenced to 24 Years in Prison on Child Pornography Charges

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Vestavia man was sentenced today on child pornography charges, 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 Eugene Douglas Reid, III, 48, to 288 months in prison followed by 20 years supervised release for distribution and transportation of child pornography. Reid was convicted of these charges at trial in August. In 2020, FBI Milwaukee, in collaboration with the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, was investigating numerous groups of individuals engaged in the receipt, possession, distribution and possible production of child sexual abuse material through a proactive operation. As part of the FBI’s operation, online covert employees documented these illegal activities and forwarded the documentation for further investigation to the appropriate FBI field office. The evidence at trial established that Reid had distributed and transported numerous videos and images of child sexual abuse material on the Kik messaging application in various private groups during the first half of 2020. In addition to the evidence collected by undercover law enforcement, Kik’s parent company, MediaLab, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children also provided evidence of further illegal activity under Kik usernames associated with Reid. “Today’s sentence is the result of the collaborative work by our law enforcement partners in Alabama and Wisconsin to protect victims of child exploitation,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “I encourage anyone who may have information about possible child sexual exploitation, including posts on social media, to report it to the NCMEC at CyberTipline.org or by calling 1-800-THE-LOST.” “Individuals who engage in the distribution and production of child pornography must be held accountable for their heinous actions. That is why the FBI, along with our local, state, and federal partners will stop at nothing to ensure these individuals and groups are brought to justice,” said SAC Peeples. This sentence just reconfirms the FBI’s commitment to stopping child predators and shutting down the online networks that produce child sexual abuse material.” The FBI Birmingham's Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force investigated the case with the assistance of FBI Milwaukee Division, Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, Vestavia Hills Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen S. Osborne and R. Leann White prosecuted the case. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov .


title: Tampa Man Pleads Guilty To Three Robberies, Brandishing And Discharging A Firearm

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, FL - United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Donald Robert Smith (29, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to three separate Hobbs Act robberies, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to one of the robberies, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to another of the robberies. Smith faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the robbery offenses: a minimum mandatory sentence of 7 years, up to life, for brandishing the firearm; and a minimum of 10 years, up to life, for discharging the firearm. The latter two penalties are to run consecutive to any other term of imprisonment. Smith has also agreed to forfeit the firearm and ammunition traceable to the offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court documents, on August 1, 2022, Smith robbed a Tampa business utilizing a firearm and pointing it at business employees. Two days later, Smith robbed another Tampa business by pointing a firearm at the cashier and demanding money. During the investigation into the first two robberies, a search warrant for Smith’s vehicle was obtained and executed. Inside the vehicle, ATF agents located a Taurus 9mm handgun. This firearm was then linked by a shell casing to another robbery on August 1, 2022. In this robbery, Smith approached an individual as he was turning in his work truck for the night. Smith approached the victim and demanded his wallet. As Smith walked away, he discharged the firearm. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney James Muench. 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: Pittsburgh Resident Indicted on Federal Fraud Charges

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges that he defrauded customers of his snow and ice removal business, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. The nine-count Indictment named Charles W. Lantzman, 50, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment presented to the court, from December 2018 through March 2019, Lantzman engaged in a scheme to defraud customers by padding the bills of customers with charges for services that were not performed. The Indictment specifically charges six counts of wire fraud. Lantzman is also charged with three counts of money laundering, occurring between December 2018 and March 2019. For each of the wire fraud counts, the law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000.00 or twice the gross gain to any person or loss to any person other than the defendant, or both. The law also provides for a maximum term of imprisonment of not more than 10 years, as well as a potential fine, on each of the money laundering counts. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and 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: Seven Individuals Arrested on Drug, Gun, and Fraud Charges

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

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Federal agents arrested seven individuals today on drug, gun, and fraud charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley, and Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson. In November 2023, a federal grand jury indicted ten individuals on drug, gun, and fraud charges. Jamar Dariunte Clay, 36, of Anniston, was charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, multiple counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and multiple counts of use of a communication facility to commit a drug trafficking crime. Jonathan Tyree McRath, 39, of Anniston, was charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, multiple counts of distribution of methamphetamine, and multiple counts of use of a communication facility to commit a drug trafficking crime. Demarcus Sharon Brown, 39, of Anniston, was charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and multiple counts of distribution of methamphetamine. Donarius Quinez Kincaid, 38, of Anniston, was charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and multiple counts of use of a communication facility to commit a drug trafficking crime. Brandon Jamal Jernigan, 30, of Anniston, was charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and multiple counts of use of a communication facility to commit a drug trafficking crime. Hantson Alexander Clark, 32, of Tuscaloosa, was charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl, and multiple counts of use of a communication facility to commit a drug trafficking crime. Raregus Rice, 40, of Tuscaloosa, was charged with wire fraud and falsely representing a Social Security number. The following three defendants were already in custody. Michael Gardner Boone, 33, of Montgomery, was charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Terrence Antwon Stevens, 40, of Anniston, was charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, multiple counts of use of a communication facility to commit a drug trafficking crime, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Yannick Kenyon Woolf, 34, of Anniston, was charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and multiple counts of use of a communication facility to commit a drug trafficking crime. The maximum penalty for distribution of a controlled substance and for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime is life in prison. The maximum penalty for use of a communication facility to commit a drug trafficking crime is four years in prison and for being a felon in possession of a firearm is fifteen years in prison. The maximum penalty for wire fraud is twenty years in prison, and the maximum penalty for falsely representing a Social Security number is five years in prison. DEA and ATF investigated the case, along with the Anniston Police Department, Oxford Police Department, 7th Judicial Major Crimes Unit, and West Alabama Narcotics Task Force. The USMS provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys M. Blake Milner and Brittany Byrd are prosecuting the case. An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: McKees Rocks Resident Pleads Guilty to a Charge of Theft of Mail by an Officer or Employee

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of McKees Rocks, PA, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of theft of mail by an officer or employee of the United States Postal Service, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. India Schatzman, age 49, of McKees Rocks, PA, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge William S. Stickman, IV. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on December 30, 2022, Schatzman, who was a postal employee at the Pittsburgh Process and Distribution Center, was surveilled by inspectors of the Postal Inspection Service stealing a Visa gift card from a greeting card intended for a recipient in the State of Washington. Judge Stickman scheduled sentencing for April 19, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than five years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Pending sentencing, the court continued the defendant’s bond. Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Schatzman.


title: Aliquippa Resident Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Involvement in a Drug Trafficking Organization

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Aliquippa, PA, has been sentenced in federal court to a total of 5 years of imprisonment, followed by 4 years of supervised release, in connection with his involvement in a drug trafficking organization from May 2021 to November 2021, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. United States District Judge William S. Stickman imposed the sentence on Anthony Tusweet Smith, Jr., age 24. According to information presented to the court, Smith belonged to a multi-defendant conspiracy that dealt in large quantities of controlled substances. Within the conspiracy, Smith distributed fentanyl to end users in the vicinity of his residence in Aliquippa, PA. In conjunction with his federal arrest, law enforcement seized four firearms from that residence, to include a loaded semiautomatic rifle with an attached 30-round capacity magazine near packaged fentanyl. During the course of the conspiracy, Smith was responsible for the distribution and/or the possession with intent to distribute at least 40 grams of fentanyl. Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Stickman stressed that mixing drugs and guns equates to death within the community. The successful prosecution of Smith was the result of an extensive and collaborative investigation conducted by Federal, state, and local law enforcement operating under the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program in Beaver County. Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna and Special Assistant United States Attorney Kara Cotter prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Olshan commended the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General and the Drug Enforcement Administration for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Smith.


title: Federal Jury in Chicago Convicts Indiana Man on Kidnapping and Interstate Domestic Violence Charges

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: CHICAGO — An Indiana man has been convicted on federal charges for kidnapping and assaulting two former girlfriends. ROBERT SPEED, 40, of Gary, Ind., held the victims against their will and repeatedly assaulted them with various dangerous weapons in May and July of 2019. During the assaults, which occurred at residences and hotels in Gary, Ind., Chicago, and the Chicago suburbs, Speed repeatedly punched, hit, and choked the victims. The victims, who had previous romantic relationships with Speed, testified at trial about their ordeals with Speed and the serious injuries he caused them. The jury on Tuesday convicted Speed on all nine counts against him, including two counts of kidnapping and seven counts of interstate domestic violence. Each kidnapping count is punishable by a maximum sentence of life in federal prison, while each domestic violence count carries a maximum sentence of ten years. U.S. District Judge Jorge L. Alonso set sentencing for March 26, 2024. Robert Speed’s niece, SHIRLEY SPEED, 27, of Chicago, pleaded guilty prior to trial to an interstate domestic violence charge. Shirley Speed admitted in a plea agreement that she and Robert Speed transported one of the victims from Gary, Ind., to Shirley Speed’s residence in Chicago, and then to a hotel room in South Holland, Ill. Shirley Speed further admitted that her uncle held the victim against her will and assaulted her at both locations. Shirley Speed was sentenced last month to two and a half years in federal prison. The convictions were announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Chicago Police Department and Gary, Ind. Police Department provided valuable assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sivashree Sundaram and Prashant Kolluri.