title: Zwolle Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of Methamphetamine and Firearms

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

body_text: SHREVEPORT, La. – Larry Maurice Malmay , 47, of Zwolle, Louisiana, was sentenced today on drug trafficking charges, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. United States District Judge S. Maurice Hicks, Jr. sentenced Malmay to 182 months (15 years, 2 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. The charges against Malmay stem from an incident which occurred on December 28, 2022, when officers with Probation and Parole went to his residence to perform a routine residence check. At the time of the visit, Malmay was on probation for prior felony convictions. When Malmay answered the door, the smell of marijuana was immediately apparent to the officer. The officer asked him if there were any prohibited items in the house and he admitted to having two firearms. When the officer attempted to handcuff Malmay, he struggled with the officer and was able to break away and flee the scene. Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to assist in locating Malmay. Meanwhile, a home visit of Malmay’s house was completed by the officer where he discovered a Ruger EC9S 9mm pistol, a Remington 410 gauge shotgun, 17 grams of methamphetamine, 74 grams of marijuana packaged for distribution, and over 90 various narcotic pills, as well as clear bags for packaging and scales. The Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office K-9 eventually located Malmay hiding and passed out in the woods and he was taken to the hospital for evaluation. The defendant later admitted to law enforcement officers that he had consumed over 100 hydrocodone pills to avoid their discovery and that is what caused him to pass out in the woods. He admitted to storing over two pounds of methamphetamine for another individual in his house at different times. Malmay has multiple prior felonies and knew that he was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Louisiana Probation and Parole, and the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert F. Moody. # # #


title: Bismarck Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

component: USAO - North Dakota

body_text: BISMARCK – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on April 1, 2024, Stacey Tyrone Fasthorse, age 33, from Bismarck, North Dakota, appeared before U.S. District Court Judge Daniel M. Traynor and pleded guilty to one count of Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon. He was sentenced to serve 10 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised. During the early morning hours of November 2, 2022, Fasthorse was a passenger in a motor vehicle that was stopped for a traffic violation in Bismarck, North Dakota. When the traffic stop was initiated, Fasthorse brandished a firearm and told the driver to not stop. After the vehicle was stopped, one of the other passengers informed the officer that she had a firearm that Fasthorse asked her to secrete. In addition to the loaded handgun, Fasthorse possessed methamphetamine and fentanyl. Fasthorse is prohibited from legally possessing a firearm and ammunition due to multiple North Dakota felony convictions, including aggravated assault, burglary, and delivery of a controlled substance. “The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota is committed to turning felons in possession of firearms into federal defendants,” Schneider said. “Violent felons with guns are a threat to law enforcement and public safety in North Dakota communities. I give credit to our career prosecutors and our federal and local partners for the strong and fair sentence in this case.” This case was investigated by the Bismarck Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, with Assistant United States Attorney David Hagler assigned to the case. # # #


title: California Man and Utah Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking in Idaho

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: POCATELLO – Hank David Langley, 42, of Visalia, California, and Thomas Joel Schooley, 39, of Hyrum, Utah, were sentenced to 11-and-a-half years and eight years in federal prison, respectively, for trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl in eastern Idaho, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. Langley and Schooley were indicted by a federal grand jury on methamphetamine trafficking charges in March 2023. According to court records, detectives with the HIDTA BADGES Task Force learned that Langley was bringing large amounts of illegal controlled substances into eastern Idaho from California. In January 2023, investigators intercepted a package sent through the U.S. Postal Service that contained 1,000 grams of methamphetamine. The package was addressed to Langley. Later the same month, Langley was arrested after a traffic stop in Pocatello. A pound and a half of methamphetamine, over 1,000 fentanyl pills, and a firearm were found in the car. Another firearm was later found in Langley’s hotel room as part of the investigation. Based on information obtained during the investigation, detectives identified Schooley as Langley’s drug trafficking partner. On January 31, 2023, officers arrested Schooley after a traffic stop in Pocatello. Eighty grams of methamphetamine were seized during his arrest. Langley entered a guilty plea to the charges on September 14, 2023. He was sentenced on January 16, 2024, by Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye to 140 months (11.5 years) in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Schooley entered a guilty plea to the charges on October 16, 2023. He was sentenced on March 27, 2024, by Judge Nye to 97 months (8 years) in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. “Drug traffickers looking for a safe-harbor in Idaho should think again or be prepared to face the same consequences as the defendants in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “Idaho enjoys stellar partnerships between federal and local law enforcement and, together, we will continue to target and remove dangerous drug dealers from our communities.” “Drug traffickers such as Mr. Langley and Mr. Schooley prey on our communities peddling poison like methamphetamine and fentanyl,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “The lengthy sentences in this case show the seriousness with which the Drug Enforcement Administration, our law enforcement partners, and the judicial system take this threat. If you deal drugs in Idaho, you will pay the price.” U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the investigations by the Bannock County Sheriff's Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Idaho State Police, and the Pocatello Police Department, which participated as part of the HIDTA BADGES Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Blythe H. McLane prosecuted the case. The BADGES Task Force is a collaboration of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies that focuses primarily on drug trafficking crimes in Bannock County and throughout the region. ###


title: Pembroke Township Man Convicted of Filing False Tax Returns

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Urbana, Ill. – A federal jury returned guilty verdicts on 3 offenses on March 28, 2024, against Larry Dean Gibbs, 64, of E. 6000 Road in Pembroke Township, Illinois, for Filing False Federal Income Tax Returns. Sentencing for Gibbs has been scheduled for July 17, 2024, at the U.S. Courthouse in Urbana, Illinois. During two days of testimony, the government presented evidence to establish that, in January of 2017, Gibbs filed three federal income tax returns for the tax years 2012, 2013, and 2014, each falsely claiming that he had earned $10 million in annual income from the “Larry Dean Gibbs Estate.” Gibbs further falsely claimed that the IRS withheld over $3 million per year from his earnings each year and that he was entitled to refunds totaling over $6.8 million. In contemporaneous filings, Gibbs claimed that he had changed his name to Mulumbua Humraukn El Taikem Bey and that he was the Ambassador for the Al Moroccan Empire National Republic, which is not officially recognized by the U.S. State Department. At the time Gibbs filed the three false tax returns, he had just been released from federal prison for a prior conviction for filing a false federal tax return in 2005, when he had obtained a $66,282 refund to which he was not entitled. “With the collaborative efforts of our law enforcement partners, the United States Attorney’s Office will continue to protect our society by actively prosecuting individuals who defraud the government and, ultimately, honest taxpayers” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris. “This verdict is an appropriate outcome to the fraud that Larry Gibbs committed against the U.S. Treasury. Instead of learning from his prior conviction for tax fraud, Gibbs decided to flaunt the Internal Revenue Code, yet again,” said Justin Campbell, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “We look forward to the conclusion of this case at sentencing.” “This conviction demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to working with our federal investigative and prosecutorial partners to hold defendants accountable for their fraud schemes,” said Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Division of the FBI. “We will continue to take strong action against those who seek to profit illegally from the theft of taxpayer dollars.” Gibbs remains released on conditions of bond, which includes home detention, pending sentencing. At sentencing, Gibbs faces statutory penalties of up to three years of imprisonment and a $100,000 fine on each of the three counts of conviction. The case investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division and Federal Bureau of Investigation, Chicago Field Office. Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney Eugene L. Miller represented the government at trial.


title: Vernon County Man Sentenced to 11 ½ Years for Trafficking Methamphetamine and Fentanyl

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Stanley J. Holte, 34, Coon Valley, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 11 ½ years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. The prison term will be followed by 5 years of supervised release. Holte pled guilty to this charge on January 16, 2024. On June 12, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the residence of Holte and his co-defendant Julia Lloyd in Coon Valley. Holte was pulled over after being observed leaving the residence. Officers searched Holte and his car and found a large quantity of cash, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. Officers arrested Lloyd at the residence, where they found additional quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl. In total, officers seized just under five pounds of methamphetamine, over an ounce of fentanyl, and almost $50,000 in cash. Lloyd and Holte were later interviewed and admitted to trafficking significant quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl. At sentencing, Judge Conley emphasized that a lengthy prison sentence was necessary for Holte because of the significant quantities of dangerous drugs that he was distributing in the community and his long history of selling drugs. At the time of this incident, Holte was on extended supervision with the State of Wisconsin for a prior methamphetamine trafficking offense. His probation in that case was revoked because of his new criminal conduct, and he was sentenced to approximately 16 months in state prison. Judge Conley ordered that the federal sentence run concurrently with the remainder of Holte’s state revocation sentence. On March 1, 2024, Judge Conley sentenced Julia Lloyd to 78 months in federal prison for conspiring with Holte to traffic methamphetamine and fentanyl. The charges against Lloyd and Holte were the result of an investigation conducted by the Campbell, La Crosse, and Onalaska Police Departments, La Crosse County and Vernon County Sheriff’s Offices, and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, with the assistance of the Vernon County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted this case.


title: Lexington Man Sentenced to 47 Years for Armed Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington man, Chase Russell Downey, 36, was sentenced on Friday, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, to 47 years in prison, for drug trafficking and firearms offenses. Following a jury trial in October 2023, Downey was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine, possession of firearms by a convicted felon, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. According to testimony at trial, Downey was selling kilogram quantities of cocaine in Lexington. Downey had a residence in Mexico, that he used as a base of operation in Mexico; he had a residence in Houston, Texas; and he had a residence where he stayed in Lexington. The evidence established that law enforcement conducted surveillance and encountered Downey, on several occasions. Then, on December 12, 2022, law enforcement observed Downey leaving a residence in Lexington, while carrying two large plastic bags, and going to potential meet locations, where he would then distribute cocaine. Ultimately, Downey was arrested, and a search warrant was executed on the Lexington residence. There a large amount of cocaine, other drugs, numerous loaded firearms, and $70,000 in drug trafficking proceeds were seized. Additional investigation determined that Downey made at least fourteen trips to Mexico during the relevant period. Downey also had prior felony convictions and was on supervised release for at least one federal felony conviction at the time of the commission of these offenses. Under federal law, Downey must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office. Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael E. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Louisville Field Office; Erek Davodowich, Acting Special Agent in Charge, DEA Louisville Field Division; Col. Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police (KSP); and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the sentencing. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, DEA, KSP, and Lexington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger West is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. — END —


title: Twin Cities Felon Charged with Illegal Possession of a Firearm

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – A Twin Cities man has been charged with illegal possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, on October 7, 2022, Salvador Anthony Pacheco, 45, knowingly possessed a Kahr .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol. Because Pacheco has prior felony convictions, including assault, weapons violations, and murder, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time. The indictment charges Pacheco with one count of possessing a firearm as a felon. Pacheco made his initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Cowan Wright in U.S. District Court on March 29, 2024. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and the Minnesota State Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Campbell Warner is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Indiana Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Illegal Firearm Possession Following Inver Grove Heights Bank Robbery

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – An Indiana man has been sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegal possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, on December 22, 2022, two men wearing masks entered a bank in Inver Grove Heights, zip-tied two bank employees, and stole nearly $80,000 in cash. The investigation into the bank robbery led law enforcement to execute search warrants on January 11, 2023, during which law enforcement searched Deundrick Damon McIntosh, 45, and a residence at which he had stored some of his belongings. On McIntosh’s person, law enforcement found money with serial numbers matching cash from the bank robbery. Inside the residence was McIntosh’s gun with an extended magazine, along with additional bait bills stolen from the bank. Because McIntosh has prior felony convictions, including bank robbery and domestic assault, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time. On November 13, 2023, McIntosh pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a felon. He was sentenced today in U.S. District Court by Judge John R. Tunheim. This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Inver Grove Heights Police Department, and the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey E. Middlecamp prosecuted the case.


title: Grant Administrator to Pay $500,000 to Resolve False Claims Act Investigation Involving Misuse of Federal Funds Intended for Combating Youth Substance Abuse

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Victoria Shaw, of Mahwah, New Jersey, the owner of Suffern, New York-based Wellcore, Inc., has agreed to pay $500,000 for her role in a scheme whereby she and a former Wellcore official forged signatures of community leaders on federal grant applications and then diverted for personal use federal funds intended to combat youth substance use, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman. “Protecting taxpayer dollars from fraud and abuse is one of my top priorities,” said United States Attorney Freedman. “Under the False Claims Act, Victoria Shaw paid far more in damages and penalties than she misappropriated, showing the important deterrent effect that this law can have in combatting fraud on federal programs.” Wellcore is a not-for-profit corporation that secures and administers Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program grants. DFC is a grant program that provides resources to community coalitions to prevent youth substance use. A “community coalition” consists of community leaders representing twelve sectors that organize to meet the local prevention needs of the youth and families in their communities. As part of the DFC grant-application process, applicants must submit to the federal government copies of signed agreements with representatives from each sector reflecting that the individual has agreed to represent their sector for purposes of the grant. As part of the settlement agreement, Shaw admitted to the following: In 2009, Wellcore applied to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for a DFC grant on behalf of the South Orangetown Community Awareness of Substance Abuse (SOCASA) coalition. Wellcore forged signatures of sector representatives and addended them to SOCASA’s application, including signatures of a local business owner (using the wrong first name), a physician (using the wrong spelling of the last name), and a school principal. Wellcore then submitted or caused the application to be submitted to the government, with the forgeries, to provide the false impression that each purported signatory had agreed to serve as a sector representative for SOCASA. SOCASA received the DFC grant in 2009, which Wellcore administered for SOCASA. Wellcore renewed the DFC grant on SOCASA’s behalf in 2011, 2013, and 2015. In 2015, Wellcore applied to SAMHSA for a DFC grant on behalf of Suffern United Coalition Against Substance Abuse (SUCASA). Wellcore forged signatures of sector representatives and addended them to SUCASA’s application, including signatures of a law-enforcement official, a physician, and a school guidance counselor. Wellcore then submitted or caused the application to be submitted to the government, with the forgeries, to provide the false impression that each purported signatory had agreed to serve as a sector representative for SUCASA. SUCASA received the DFC grant in 2015, which Wellcore administered for SUCASA. Wellcore officials also misappropriated funds from the SUCASA and SOCASA grants for unallowable costs. For example, Shaw admitted that she used SOCASA grant funds to pay $15,000 to a criminal-defense attorney to represent a family member in a personal matter and that she spent thousands of dollars of DFC grant funds to pay for gym memberships for herself and for her immediate family members. Shaw also provided evidence that an individual who was previously affiliated with Wellcore misappropriated DFC grant funds while so affiliated. Shaw provided examples of how this individual misappropriated DFC grant funds, including by spending such funds to purchase home furnishings, to pay for their child’s day camp expenses, to pay for their child’s birthday party, to pay a contractor to do home-improvement work, to pay for personal travel, and to pay for their swim club membership. Wellcore officials had access to SOCASA and SUCASA grant funds and spent some such funds in the Northern District of New York, including for meals at several restaurants in Albany. “This is an egregious example of misappropriating federal grant funds for personal use,” said Special Agent in Charge Naomi D. Gruchacz of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to preserve the integrity of HHS programs.” The investigation and settlement were the result of a coordinated effort between the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York and HHS-OIG. The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Katz.


title: Methamphetamine Trafficker Sentenced To Federal Prison Again, For More Than 17 Years

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday has sentenced Raul Carbajal (34, Plant City) to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. Carbajal entered a guilty plea on November 21, 2023. According to court documents, Carbajal, who was previously convicted in federal court for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, organized narcotics deals in the Plant City area, including three separate sales of approximately 1 kilogram of methamphetamine. Carbajal also admitted that he sold other narcotics, including cocaine. Two of Carbajal’s co-conspirators were previously sentenced to federal prison. Uriel Rosales Carvajal was sentenced to 7 years and 3 months, and Ricardo Heras received 3 years’ imprisonment. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Plant City Police Department as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). 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 www.justice.gov/OCDETF. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Kenneth.


title: Montgomery Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Ammunition Used During Shooting at Gas Station

component: USAO - Alabama, Middle

body_text: Montgomery, Alabama – Today, Acting United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross announced the sentencing of a Montgomery, Alabama man for unlawfully possessing ammunition after being convicted of a felony offense. On March 26, 2024, a federal judge sentenced 40-year-old Maricas Rondell Taylor, to 15 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court records and evidence presented during his September 2023 trial , following a brief argument, Taylor shot at a Montgomery convenience store clerk. Law enforcement recovered shell casings from the store that the jury linked to those Taylor fired during the shooting. Taylor has a previous felony conviction and is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition. “Arguments that end with gunfire have become far too common,” said Acting United States Attorney Ross. “The defendant’s use of a firearm to settle a dispute not only put the clerk’s life at risk, but he also endangered everyone in the area. The 15-year sentence ordered by the judge was the maximum allowed by federal law, and was justified by Taylor’s complete disregard for the safety of others.” This case was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Montgomery Police Department investigated this case, with Assistant United States Attorneys Brandon W. Bates and Michelle R. Turner prosecuting.


title: Hanson Man Arrested on Federal Dogfighting Charges

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Hanson man was arrested today for allegedly possessing dogs at his Massachusetts home for participation in a dogfighting venture. John Murphy, 50, was indicted on nine counts of possessing animals for use in an animal fighting venture, in violation of the federal Animal Welfare Act. Murphy will appear in federal court in Boston at 10:45 a.m. today. According to the indictment , Murphy possessed numerous items associated with possessing dogs for participation in an animal fighting venture at his residence in Hanson, Mass., including: intravenous infusion equipment; syringes; antibiotics; injectable anabolic steroids; injectable corticosteroids; a skin stapler; forceps; equipment used to train dogs, including a treadmill, a slat mill, a carpet mill, and a flirt pole; dog training and fighting literature; a hanging digital scale used to weigh dogs for matches; written training regimens; break sticks, used to separate fighting dogs; and a breeding stand used to immobilize female dogs during breeding to prevent harm while mating. The United States also filed a civil forfeiture complaint against 13 pit bull-type dogs, seized in June 2023 from Murphy’s residence and another residence in Townsend, Mass. As alleged in the civil forfeiture complaint, several of the seized dogs had evidence of scarring. The dogs are currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) being cared for by a USMS-contractor. Pursuant to the Animal Welfare Act, animals involved in violations of 7 U.S.C. § 2156 are subject to forfeiture to the United States. At both locations where the dogs were seized, as alleged in the civil forfeiture complaint, the following items commonly associated with an illegal dogfighting operation were found: training equipment; veterinary supplies; dog fighting literature, DVDs, and/or CD-ROMs; kennels used to house dogs individually; and break sticks, which dogfighters use to force open a dog’s bite onto another dog’s body, specifically at the termination of a fight or while training. The civil forfeiture complaint also alleges that Murphy communicated with other dogfighters via Facebook where they discussed the results of dogfights, injuries sustained by fighting dogs, as well as breeding dogs. It is alleged that Murphy also belonged to private dogfighting Facebook groups used to share fight results, buy and sell fighting dogs and exchange information on training and conditioning fighting dogs, among other things. It is further alleged that Murphy’s Facebook accounts contained a photo of a pit bull-type dog with scarring and discolorations on its head and leg consistent with that of dogfighting, a photo of a pit bull-type dog restrained in a breeding stand, and videos that depicted pit bull-type dogs physically tethered to treadmill-like-devices commonly used to physically condition dogs in preparation for a dogfight. One video allegedly depicted what appears to be live bait placed at the end of the mill to entice the pit bull-type dog to run faster and harder. To report animal fighting crimes, please contact your local law enforcement or the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General complaint hotline at: https://usdaoig.oversight.gov/hotline or 1-800-424-9121. The charges of possessing animals for use in an animal fighting venture each provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, 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. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Christopher P. Robinson, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region; John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; and Joseph F. King, Director of the Animal Rescue League of Boston – Law Enforcement Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service; U.S. Marshals Service; Maine State Police; New Hampshire State Police; Massachusetts Office of the State Auditor; Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; and the Hanson, Boston, and Acton Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Danial E. Bennett and Kaitlin J. Brown of the Worcester Branch Office and Trial Attorney Matthew T. Morris of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), Environmental Crimes Section, are prosecuting the case. Carol E. Head, Chief of the Asset Recovery Unit for the District of Massachusetts, and Trial Attorney Caitlyn F. Cook of ENRD’s Wildlife and Marine Resources Section are prosecuting the civil forfeiture case. The details contained in the charging documents and civil forfeiture complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The United States must establish that the dogs are subject to forfeiture by a preponderance of the evidence.


title: Federal Jury Convicts Kissimmee Man Of Attempting To Entice A Child To Engage In Sexual Activity

body_text: Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a jury has found Damien Suhr (41, Kissimmee) guilty of attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. Suhr faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 26, 2024. Suhr was indicted on June 28, 2023. According to evidence presented at trial, on May 27, 2023, the FBI was involved in an operation with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. As part of this operation, a profile was created by the FBI on a dating application (app). “Jack” and Suhr began exchanging messages on the dating app, then quickly switched to exchanging text messages in which “Jack” made clear to Suhr that he was 14 years old. For two weeks, Suhr spoke to “Jack” about engaging in sex with him. Suhr explained in detail the sexual acts he wanted to perform on and with “Jack.” Additionally, he directed “Jack” to delete his text messages with Suhr to avoid detection by his mother or law enforcement. Suhr chose a location at a gas station that was convenient for him to meet “Jack” and sent messages to “Jack,” requesting that he wear a specific type of underwear to the meeting. On June 9, 2023, Suhr went to the gas station to meet with “Jack.” Suhr was met and arrested by law enforcement officers. Evidence presented at trial showed that Suhr had previously exchanged messages with other online users about his desire to have sexual encounters with minors as young as 12 years old. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kaley Austin-Aronson and Dana Hill. This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Two Men Sentenced for Role in $9M Hospice Fraud Scheme

component: Criminal Division

body_text: The owner of two California-based hospice companies, along with his biller and consultant, were sentenced yesterday for their respective roles in a scheme that resulted in stealing over $9 million from Medicare in false and fraudulent claims for hospice services. Gayk Akhsharumov, 40, of Glendale, California, the manager and beneficial owner of San Gabriel Hospice and Palliative Care Inc. (San Gabriel) and Broadway Hospice Inc., was sentenced to one year and one day in prison and ordered to pay $9,185,211 in restitution. Akhsharumov’s biller and consultant, Karen Sarkisyan, also known as Kevin Sarkisyan, 45, also of Glendale, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison and ordered to pay $3,688,050 in restitution. According to court documents, from around January 2018 through May 2021, Akhsharumov used his two hospice companies to defraud Medicare of approximately $9 million. During the scheme, Akhsharumov concealed his ownership and control over the hospice entities from Medicare, inserted nominee owners, paid kickbacks to patient recruiters, and profited from the scheme. In April 2020, after San Gabriel had ceased operations, Akhsharumov used the company to fraudulently obtain COVID-19 relief funds. Akhsharumov submitted or caused the submission of fraudulent loan applications to the Small Business Administration for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan and to a financial institution for a Paycheck Protection Program loan, for which San Gabriel received $50,000. He also stole approximately $91,483 in funds deposited into San Gabriel’s bank account through the Provider Relief Fund program, a Department of Health and Human Services program that was intended to rapidly distribute pandemic-related funding to health care providers that met certain criteria. During the scheme, Sarkisyan submitted false and fraudulent Medicare enrollment forms for San Gabriel, falsely identifying a straw owner as the sole owner and manager and concealing the actual owners and managers. As a result, San Gabriel submitted false and fraudulent claims to Medicare, which resulted in Medicare paying approximately $3,668,050 to San Gabriel, of which $3,180,677 was paid after Sarkisyan submitted the false enrollment applications. Akhsharumov pleaded guilty on March 13, 2023, to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Sarkisyan pleaded guilty on April 3, 2023, to conspiracy to defraud the United States. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California; Special Agent in Charge Timothy B. DeFrancesca of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; and Acting Assistant Director in Charge Amir Ehsaei of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office made the announcement. HHS-OIG and the FBI Los Angeles Field Office investigated the case. Assistant Chief Niall M. O’Donnell and Trial Attorney Patrick J. Queenan of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section 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, the 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: Columbia Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for the Fourth Time for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — David Elliott Paulsen, 62, of Columbia, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of child sexual abuse materials.* Evidence presented to the court showed that in May 2023, Paulsen entered a residential reentry center to complete the remaining period of his incarceration from a 2014 conviction of possession of child sex abuse materials. Shortly thereafter, on July 13, 2023, Paulsen was found to be in possession of a contraband phone that contained over 1,200 images and at least one video of child sex abuse materials involving prepubescent girls and the sexual abuse of toddlers. Paulsen has three prior federal convictions for possession of child sex abuse materials as well as one prior conviction for failure to register as a sex offender. United States District Court Judge Joseph Anderson sentenced Paulsen to 168 months in prison to be followed by a lifetime court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle E. Klein is prosecuting the case. ### * The term “child pornography” is currently used in federal statutes and is defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person less than 18 years old. While this phrase still appears in federal law, “child sexual abuse material” is preferred, as it better reflects the abuse that is depicted in the images and videos and the resulting trauma to the child


title: Indianapolis Cocaine Trafficker Sentenced to a Decade in Federal Prison

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Pierre Burnett III, 27, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with the intent to distribute cocaine. According to court documents, on July 22, 2021, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and detectives with the Metro Drug Task Force were conducting surveillance on a known drug house in Indianapolis. At approximately 3:45 p.m., Burnett exited the house with a black trash bag that contained rectangular, brick like objects and drove away in a red Dodge Ram. At approximately 4:03 p.m., an Indiana State Police attempted to perform a traffic stop of Burnett. Burnett fled at a high rate of speed. After a brief chase northbound along River Road in Indianapolis, Burnett nearly struck multiple vehicles as he sped through intersections and the Trooper discontinued the pursuit. Burnett drove to River Ridge Apartments in Indianapolis and discarded a black trash bag and orange backpack into nearby bushes. Officers later searched the bags and found them to contain approximately six kilograms of cocaine as well as $71,500 in banded cash. DEA agents and Indiana State Police Troopers used a K9 officer to locate and arrest Burnett. On his person, the agents located $2,000 in banded cash and three grams of fentanyl in a baggie. Law enforcement officers also seized the red Dodge Ram and searched it, locating a loaded.45 caliber handgun in the driver’s side door. “The federal prison sentence imposed against this armed drug dealer demonstrates that there will be serious consequences for those who traffic in deadly drugs with utter disregard for human life,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “Our federal prosecutors are committed to working closely with the DEA, Metro Drug Task Force, and Indiana State Police to take dealers off our streets because these poisons are ravaging our communities and loved ones.” “The Indiana State Police will continue to engage with, and provide the necessary resources to its federal, county and local law enforcement partners in an effort to not only keep these dangerous and potentially deadly drugs out of our communities, but to also hold those responsible for transporting and trafficking them into those communities,” said Captain Ron Galaviz. “The DEA remains committed to working hand in hand with our state and local partners to make our communities a safer place. Individuals like Mr. Burnett who are distributing multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine into our communities must be held accountable their actions,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge J. Michael Gannon. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Metro Drug Task Force, and Indiana State Police conducted this investigation together. This collaborative effort was essential to the outcome of the investigation. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew P. Brookman. Judge Brookman also ordered that Burnett be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for five years following his release from federal prison. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Jayson W. McGrath, who prosecuted this case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. ###


title: Massachusetts Man Arrested on Federal Dogfighting Charges

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: A Massachusetts man was arrested today in Hanson, Massachusetts, for allegedly possessing dogs for participation in a dogfighting venture at his Massachusetts home. According to the criminal indictment, John Murphy, 50, of Hanson, was charged on nine counts of possessing animals for use in an animal fighting venture, in violation of the federal Animal Welfare Act. At his home, Murphy possessed items associated with participation in a dogfighting venture. This included intravenous infusion equipment, syringes, anabolic steroids, a skin stapler, forceps, equipment and literature for training dogs including a slat mill and a flirt pole, break sticks used to separate fighting dogs and a breeding stand used to immobilize female dogs during breeding to prevent harm while mating. The United States also filed a civil complaint for forfeiture of 13 pit bull-type dogs seized by federal agents while executing a federal search warrant in June 2023 of Murphy’s residence and another residence in Townsend, Massachusetts. The dogs are currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) and are being cared for by a USMS contractor. The civil complaint also alleges that several of the seized dogs had scarring. The civil forfeiture complaint further alleges that Murphy frequently communicated with other dogfighters via Facebook. Murphy also allegedly posted several dogfighting-related photos to his Facebook account, including a photo of a pit bull-type dog with scarring and discolorations on its head and leg consistent with that of dogfighting, as well as a photo of a pit bull-type dog restrained in a breeding stand. Additionally, in 2019, 2020 and 2021, Murphy allegedly posted videos that depicted pit bull-type dogs physically tethered to treadmill-like-devices commonly used to physically condition dogs in preparation for a dogfight. To report animal fighting crimes, please contact your local law enforcement or the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG) complaint hotline at usdaoig.oversight.gov/hotline or 1-800-424-9121. For each charge of possessing animals for use in an animal fighting venture, Murphy faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy for the District of Massachusetts, Acting Special Agent in Charge Christopher P. Robinson of USDA-OIG’s Northeast Region, Interim Colonel John E. Mawn Jr. of the Massachusetts State Police and Director Joseph F. King of the Animal Rescue League of Boston’s Law Enforcement Division made the annoucement. USDA-OIG investigated the case with valuable assistance from Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service; USMS; Maine State Police; New Hampshire State Police; Massachusetts Office of the State Auditor; Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and police departments of Hanson, Boston and Acton, Massachusetts. Trial Attorney Matthew T. Morris of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Danial E. Bennett and Kaitlin J. Brown for the District of Massachusetts are prosecuting the criminal case. Senior Trial Attorney J. Brett Grosko and Trial Attorney Caitlyn F. Cook of ENRD’s Wildlife and Marine Resources Section and Asset Recovery Unit Chief Carol E. Head for the District of Massachusetts are pursuing the civil forfeiture case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The United States must establish that the dogs are subject to forfeiture by a preponderance of the evidence.


title: Former City of Miami police officer pleads guilty to attempted cocaine trafficking and attempted Hobbs Act extortion charges

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – On March 27, a former police officer with the City of Miami Police Department (MPD) pleaded guilty to attempted Hobbs Act extortion under color of official right and attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The charges arose from the use of his police position and authority, and MPD-issued vehicle and equipment to conduct two illegal traffic stops to steal what he believed were drug proceeds and seven kilograms of cocaine from the drivers. Frenel Cenat, 41, who at the time of the crimes had been a police officer with the MPD since 2008, was using an MPD unmarked Black Ford Explorer as a “take home” vehicle. As an MPD police officer, Cenat was prohibited from engaging in any act of extortion or unlawful means of obtaining anything of value using his official position. In addition, Cenat was required to uphold the laws of the State of Florida and the United States, and he was not permitted to allow, facilitate, or assist individuals in breaking those laws, nor was he authorized to accept payments or things of value in exchange for allowing, facilitating, or assisting them in breaking state or federal laws. A confidential human source (CHS) stated to law enforcement that they had been told by a mutual friend that Cenat had previously conducted traffic stops of individuals known to have engaged in drug transactions for the purpose of stealing the drugs and/or money those individuals were transporting. On Oct. 16, 2023, the friend introduced Cenat to the CHS at a meeting in Broward County, during which the three of them discussed an opportunity for Cenat to use his police officer position to stop an individual immediately following a drug transaction and steal approximately $50,000 in drug proceeds that the individual would have in their vehicle. Cenat indicated that he conducts the traffic stops outside of his jurisdiction and while off duty. On Nov. 1, 2023, the friend, the CHS and Cenat planned for a traffic stop rip-off for Nov. 3, 2023. They discussed that the driver to be stopped would have approximately $50,000 in cash from the purported drug transaction, and Cenat requested the time and location of the deal, as well as detailed information about the driver.Cenat stated he would use this information when he conducted the traffic stop to scare the individual into believing they were being investigated and watched for some time so that the driver would be more likely to comply with his request for the money. On Nov. 2 and 3, 2023, Cenat and the CHS engaged in numerous communications leading up to the traffic stop. On November 3, at a hotel parking lot in Miami Gardens, Florida, Cenat initiated these communications directly with the CHS. Cenat, in his MPD-issued unmarked vehicle, observed two drivers engage in a staged drug transaction in a parking lot. These drivers were actually FBI undercover employees. One of the drivers was given a backpack containing $52,000 in cash. Cenat followed that driver out of the parking lot and turned on his lights and sirens to conduct a traffic stop. During this stop, Cenat was dressed in black tactical gear, and had his MPD-issued firearm and taser visible in their holsters. Cenat introduced himself as “Officer Martez” and told one of the drivers that he had witnessed the drug transaction. Cenat gave the driver the choice of giving up the backpack containing the cash or going to jail. The driver gave Cenat the backpack containing the cash. On Nov. 7, 2023, Cenat called the CHS and asked if he knew of a deal where Cenat could do another stop and get something like seven or ten kilograms of cocaine. Following up on the Cenat’s request, on Nov. 12, 2023, the CHS called Cenat about an upcoming deal in Deerfield Beach, Florida, on Nov. 16, 2023. The CHS told Cenat that the driver he would be stopping would have approximately six or seven kilograms of cocaine and at least $30,000 USD from a purported drug transaction. On Nov. 16, 2023, Cenat called the CHS to tell him that he was at the parking lot in his MPD-issued vehicle where the deal was to take place. Then, the CHS messaged Cenat a description of the individual’s vehicle for the traffic stop. Two undercover FBI employees then engaged in a staged drug transaction in the parking lot. Cenat followed one of them out of the parking lot and turned on the lights of his MPD-issued vehicle to conduct a traffic stop. Cenat was dressed in black tactical gear, including his MPD-issued tactical vest with body armor in place, and had his MPD-issued firearm and taser visible in their holsters. Cenat introduced himself as “Officer Martez” with “Broward County Sheriff’s Office – Narcotics Unit” and told the driver that he had witnessed the drug transaction. Cenat went to the bed of the driver’s truck and took a duffle bag containing seven kilograms of fake cocaine and $80,000 and brought it back to his own MPD vehicle. Cenat then returned to the driver-side window of the vehicle and used the information received from the CHS to create the impression that he was under investigation. Cenat asked the driver “you want to go home tonight or spend 30 years in… federal prison?” The driver told Cenat that he wanted to go home. Cenat then told the driver that he now worked for him and had to answer when he was called. Having obtained the fake cocaine and cash from the driver, Cenat let him go. Cenat left with the duffle bag containing the fake cocaine and cash and shortly thereafter was arrested by law enforcement officers. The duffle bag, the seven kilograms of fake cocaine and the $80,000 in cash from the traffic stop were found in Cenat’s unmarked MPD-issued vehicle. In addition, $2,000 in $100 bills from the Nov. 3, 2023, traffic stop rip-off were also found in his vehicle. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 13, at 9:30 a.m., before Senior U.S. District Judge James I. Cohn in Fort Lauderdale. Cenat faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of up to life in prison. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of FBI, Miami Field Office, and Chief of Police Manuel A. Morales of MPD announced the guilty plea. FBI’s West Palm Beach Resident Agency and FBI’s Miami Area Corruption Task Force, which includes task force officers from MPD’s Internal Affairs Section, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward N. Stamm is prosecuting it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marx Calderon is handling asset forfeiture. 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 24-cr-60016. ###


title: Jefferson City Man Pleads Guilty to $12 Million Bank Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Jefferson City, Mo. man has pleaded guilty in federal court to a $12.4 million bank fraud scheme that included fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for four businesses. Tod Ray Keilholz, 61, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah W. Hays on Thursday, March 28, to one count of bank fraud, one count of money laundering, and one count of aggravated identity theft. Keilholz was the sole owner of TRK Construction, LLC, TRK Valpo, LLC, TL Builders, LLC, and Project Design, LLC. By pleading guilty, Keilholz admitted that he engaged in a bank fraud scheme from Jan. 1, 2018, to Jan. 7, 2021. Prior to the bank fraud scheme, Keilholz obtained three business loans totaling $3,526,771 from Hawthorn Bank between Aug. 31, 2017, and Sept. 21, 2018. One of these loans financed the purchase of property in Valparaiso, Indiana. As Keilholz’s businesses failed, these loans fell into default and sub-contractors sued him for unpaid invoices during 2019 and 2020. In February 2020, Hawthorn Bank initiated foreclosure proceedings. Keilholz delayed the foreclosure proceedings and paid off these loans and other past due debts with fraudulent PPP loans. The CARES Act established several new temporary programs and provided for the expansion of others to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Among these programs, the PPP authorized forgivable loans, guaranteed by the Small Business Administration, to small businesses to retain workers and maintain payroll, make mortgage interest payments, lease payments, and utility payments. Keilholz received a total of $12,430,932 in PPP loans for his four businesses. In each of those loan applications, Keilholz admitted, he failed to disclose his ownership in the other three businesses, and made materially false and fraudulent claims in the loan applications and supporting documentation. Keilholz falsely stated the businesses were in operation on Feb. 15, 2020, and eligible for PPP loans. He inflated the income of those businesses and claimed payrolls for employees who did not exist or no longer worked for him. Additionally, Keilholz applied for a $7,818,705 PPP loan for TRK Valpo but the loan was denied by the bank. Keilholz received a $1,706,260 PPP loan for TRK Construction, a $3,618,815 PPP loan for TL Builders, a $3,903,857 PPP loan for Project Design, and a $3,202,000 PPP loan for TRK Valpo. Keilholz admitted that he used PPP loan proceeds for unauthorized purposes other than legitimate payroll, lease and mortgage interest, and utilities as required by the PPP. Keilholz, through TRK Construction, had accrued substantial and delinquent indebtedness to a number of lenders, and all or part of these debts were satisfied by PPP loan proceeds. The conviction for aggravated identity theft is related to Keilholz’s use of a former TRK Construction employee whose name and Social Security number were used without his knowledge or authoritization on wage reports in connection with a fraudulent PPP loan application for TRK Valpo. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Keilholz must forfeit to the government any property involved in, or derived from the proceeds of his bank fraud scheme, including a money judgment of $12,430,932, two properties in Jefferson City, one property in Valparaiso, one property in La Porte, Ind., four vehicles (a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado, two 2021 Chevrolet Silverados, and a 2019 BMW X5), a 2020 John Deer ZTrak, a 2020 John Deere Tractor, a Kubota Compact Track Loader, a Gents 43mm IWC Schaffhausen Perpetual Chronograph wristwatch, two Gents stainless steel Rolex Sea-Dweller self-winding automatic diver’s watches, and a Gents Citizen Eco-Drive Radio-controlled world time self-winding automatic watch with sapphire crystal. Under federal statutes, Keilholz is subject to a sentence of up to 40 years in federal prison without parole, plus a mandatory consecutive two-year sentence for aggravated identity theft. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant 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 United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver. It was investigated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Office of Inspector General; the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General; the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration; the FBI; and IRS-Criminal Investigation.


title: Holyoke Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Robbery

body_text: BOSTON – A Holyoke man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Springfield in connection with a string of nine armed robberies of convenience stores across Western Massachusetts and firearms charges. Alfredo Aldeco, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of interference with commerce by robbery, one count of using a firearm in relation to crime of violence and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for May 30, 2024. On Nov. 14, 2018, Aldeco and co-defendant Emilio Rivera robbed a clerk in a West Springfield convenience store at gunpoint. After forcibly taking cash and cigarettes from the clerk, Aldeco warned the clerk, “If you call the cops, I will come back and kill you.” The firearm used in the robbery was later found during a search of Rivera’s home – in a bedroom being occupied by Aldeco. At the time, Aldeco was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to a prior felony conviction. The November 2018 robbery was the last in a string of nine robberies that took place in Holyoke, Chicopee, Northampton, West Springfield and Agawam over the two-week period following Oct. 25, 2018. In each of the robberies, Aldeco held store clerks at gunpoint. On July 6, 2023 , Rivera was sentenced to six years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. The charges of interference with commerce by robbery provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of using a firearm in relation to a crime of violence provides for a sentence of at least seven years and up to life in prison, up to five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 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. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the West Springfield, Holyoke, Agawam, Chicopee, Northampton and Springfield Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Deepika Bains Shukla, Chief of the Springfield Branch Office, is prosecuting the case.


title: Boston Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Fentanyl Trafficking and Cocaine Conspiracy

body_text: BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced yesterday in connection with drug trafficking activities involving fentanyl and cocaine. Jovani Santiago, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to seven years in prison and five years of supervised release. In March 2021, Santiago pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. In August 2020, Santiago sold approximately 500 grams of fentanyl to a cooperating witness in a Roxbury apartment. During a subsequent search of Santiago’s residence, a Sig Sauer 9mm handgun and ammunition were seized. The investigation also determined that Santiago conspired with others to distribute seven kilograms of cocaine for $250,000 in Massachusetts and New York. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Special assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Field Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Hassink of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Search Warrants Executed in Federal Drug Investigation

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – Five federal search warrants were executed this morning and one person was arrested as part of an ongoing federal drug trafficking investigation. United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced that search warrants were served early today upon three residences in Wheeling, West Virginia, and two residences in Bellaire, Ohio, without incident. Quavonte Pugh, age 28, of Wheeling, was arrested for possession with intent to deliver fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine. Pugh, who has a prior federal drug distribution conviction, was taken into custody at his Carmel Road home and transported to the Northern Regional Jail where he will remain pending a detention hearing. During the searches, officers recovered controlled substances, firearms, and United States currency. The case is being investigated by the Ohio Valley Drug Task Force, which is comprised of officers and agents from the Wheeling Police Department, the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department, the West Virginia State Police, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Support for today’s enforcement operation was provided by the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms (ATF), and the Hancock-Brooke-Weirton Drug Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carly Nogay and Clayton Reid and U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld.


title: Mississippi Man and Destrehan Man Sentenced for Bank Fraud, Wire Fraud and Money Laundering Conspiracies

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – RYAN P. MULLEN , age 43 and a resident of Jayess, MS., and DUANE A. DUFRENE , age 56, of Destrehan, LA., were sentenced on March 20, 2024 and March 27, 2024 respectively by U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo for two separate cases involving conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. Judge Milazzo sentenced MULLEN to 160 months imprisonment for both cases and she sentenced DUFRENE to 24 months imprisonment for the same two cases. According to court documents, MULLEN and DUFRENE used fictitious entities, falsified tax returns, fraudulent financial statements, and fraudulent appraisals to defraud the lending institutions so that MULLEN and DUFRENE could purchase a residence in Jayess, MS. (using a state bank in Mississippi), The Briars bed and breakfast in Natchez, MS. (using a Mississippi credit union) and two other Natchez hotels (using an out of state commercial lender). The sale of the Jayess, MS. residence was premised on false financial information provided by DUFRENE to MULLEN , who then gave it to the Mississippi bank. The sales of The Briars and the two hotels were premised upon not only false information prepared by DUFRENE and given to the financial institutions by MULLEN , but also on inflated appraisals stemming from side sales agreements between MULLEN and DUFRENE . After the sales of the bed and breakfast and hotel properties, MULLEN paid DUFRENE $90,000. MULLEN used the proceeds to buy at least 20, some already governmentally seized, high-end luxury cars, a number of which have been seized. The loss from their fraudulent purchasing and flipping schemes totals approximately $6.5 million. In the second fraud scheme, MULLEN conspired with DUFRENE , DILLON ARCENEAUX, LANCE VALLO, GRANT MENARD, and ZEB SARTIN to use several shell Louisiana corporations, devoid of assets, to defraud a Georgia based merchant cash company. MULLEN and DUFRENE helped establish ARCENEAUX, VALLO, MENARD, and SARTIN as the owners of the existing shell corporations. MULLEN and DUFRENE then created fake vendor accounts for the corporations, and MULLEN , along with another person, created falsified bank records for the companies. MULLEN then used an alias and represented himself to be a broker for the shell companies he helped create. Through the aid of another broker, MULLEN supplied the victim merchant cash advance company with the fake vendor accounts and false bank records in order to obtain funding. The victim cash advance company approved the advances and began to electronically wire ARCENEAUX, VALLO, MENARD, and SARTIN millions of dollars in advances. MULLEN , ARCENEAUX, VALLO, MENARD, and SARTIN conspired to launder a portion of the funds by paying DUFRENE a fee for preparing the fake vendor contracts. ARCENEAUX, VALLO, MENARD, and SARTIN then closed their non-existent businesses before fully repaying the victim merchant cash advance company, resulting in overall losses to the victim of approximately $6.4 million. MULLEN again used criminally derived proceeds to purchase a number of high-end vehicles, that he stored at his home in Jayess, Mississippi. In addition to incarceration, Judge Milazzo ordered MULLEN to serve 3 years of supervised release and pay $6,401,385.96 in restitution for one case. She also ordered that restitution in the other case, would be determined at a future restitution hearing. In addition to incarceration, Judge Milazzo also ordered that DUFRENE serve 3 years of supervised release and pay $6,401,385.96 in restitution. Each defendant was also ordered to pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $200. “The crimes committed by the two defendants lost legitimate lenders’ money by receiving loans for fraudulently overvalued properties and nonexistent businesses,” said Lisa Fontanette, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation special agents and their law enforcement partners will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who engage in financial fraud schemes.” U.S. Attorney Evans commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS-Criminal Investigation, for their handling of the matter. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Edward J. Rivera of the Financial Crimes Unit and Andre J. Lagarde of the Public Integrity Unit.


title: Federal Jury Convicts Oklahoma City Man of Mail Theft and Witness Tampering

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – A federal jury has convicted DONALD EUGENE COOKS , 49, of Oklahoma City, of conspiracy to commit mail theft, possession of stolen mail, and witness tampering, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. On October 3, 2023, a federal grand jury returned a four-count Second Superseding Indictment against Cooks, charging him with conspiracy to commit mail theft, two counts of being in possession of stolen mail, and witness tampering. On March 28, 2024, after a three-day trial, a federal jury found Cooks guilty on all counts. According to evidence presented at trial, in July of 2022, Cooks and co-defendant IRVIN HERBERT SAWYER , 40, of Norman, conspired together to steal mail from an Oklahoma City Post Office. At the time, Sawyer was employed as a rural carrier associate, and knew the access code to enter the Post Office, which he shared with Cooks. The jury heard testimony that on July 19, 2022, on at least two occasions, Cooks entered the Post Office after hours using the code given by Sawyer. On the first occasion he successfully stole mail, which he took back to his motel room. Returning for more, Cooks and another person attempted to steal a large amount of mail, which they loaded into the bed of Cooks’ truck. However, while still loading the mail, the alarm was tripped and the Oklahoma City Police arrived before the mail could be taken from the parking lot. Cooks fled the scene but was soon detained and arrested. The investigation quickly led to Cooks’ motel, where Oklahoma City Police found several items of stolen mail in his room and empty mail packaging in the dumpster. The jury heard further testimony that in July of 2023, while in jail, Cooks had a message passed to a government witness attempting to intimidate the witness and keep them from testifying at his trial. Following his conviction, Cooks faces up to 35 years in federal prison, and fines totaling up to $1,000,000, at sentencing. Sentencing will be set in approximately 90 days. On July 18, 2023, Sawyer pleaded guilty to conspiring with Cooks to commit mail theft. Sawyer faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. This case is the result of an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bow Bottomly and Charles Brown prosecuted the case. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Billings man admits payroll check scheme to defraud Crow Tribe

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: BILLINGS — A Billings man on Thursday admitted to a scheme in which he defrauded the Crow Tribe by receiving checks from the tribe’s payroll account, forging the payees and having the payees cash the checks, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today. The defendant, Jonathan Cleve Brien, 43, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud. Brien faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. A sentencing date will be set before U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Brien was detained pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that in May 2019, Brien received checks from the Crow Tribe payroll account. Brien forged the payees on the checks and had those people cash the checks at various entities. A cooperator involved in methamphetamine in Billings admitted to law enforcement to being involved a check fraud scheme and that Brien informed the cooperator that he had access to a Crow Tribe account, which allegedly contained millions of dollars. On two occasions, the Brien brought the cooperator a signed Crow Tribe payroll check made payable to them in the amount of approximately $900. The cooperator deposited one of the checks into a personal bank account but withdrew most of the money as cash and split the money with Brien. The cooperator subsequently cashed the second check at a bank and again gave most of the cash to Brien. When interviewed, Brien initially denied knowledge of the checks, then admitted to receiving the Crow Tribe payroll checks and giving them to various people who were involved with him in using meth. He made the checks for about $900 because he thought tribe’s payroll account would have $900 in it and that it would be less suspicious if he kept the amount under $1,000. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Department of Interior, Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Weston Man Pleads Guilty to Fraud Offense Stemming from $890K Embezzlement Scheme

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that CHARLES M. AMEER, 64, of Weston, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to a fraud offense stemming from an $890,000 embezzlement scheme. According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2017 through 2022, Ameer was the Chief Financial Officer at Indeco North America, a wholly owned subsidiary of Indeco Ind. S.P.A, headquartered in Milford. From 2014 until February 2018, Ameer served as the treasurer of the Weston Soccer Club (“WSC”), located in Weston. Beginning in 2016, Ameer misappropriated at least $38,500 from the WSC and used the funds for personal expenses. In October 2017, Ameer created a $40,000 check, which was drafted on Indeco’s bank account and made payable to the order of “WSC,” and used the check to reimburse the WSC for the funds he had taken. Ameer subsequently opened a line of credit at a bank in WSC’s name, without WSC’s authorization or knowledge, and transferred funds into the WSC account that he had stolen from to further conceal his theft. Between October 2018 and July 2022, Ameer created 14 additional checks, in the total amount of $850,000, which were drafted on Indeco’s bank account and made payable to him. He deposited the checks into his personal bank account and used the funds for his own benefit. Ameer pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. Judge Underhill scheduled sentencing for June 20. Ameer was arrested on a criminal complaint on August 31, 2023. He is released on a $500,000 bond pending sentencing. This investigation has been conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Cherry.


title: Substitute teacher admits to exploiting minor he met online

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 42-year-old Mission resident has pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Juan Carlos Munoz met a 14-year-old girl from South Carolina on a social media/video chat site. He utilized a fake name and claimed to be a 19-year-old teenager and requested nude photos and videos of the girl. Local law enforcement in South Carolina were able to determine his true identity and report the allegations to Texas authorities. On Dec. 16, 2022, they located him at a local high school where he was employed as a substitute teacher. At that time, Munoz admitted to communicating with the minor victim and requesting sexually-explicit photos. U.S. District Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa will impose sentencing July 19. At that time, Munoz faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Munoz has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing. Homeland Security Investigations-Rio Grande Valley Child Exploitation Task Force conducted the investigation with the assistance of York County Sheriff Office in South Carolina. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Garcia is prosecuting the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page . For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page .


title: Kyle Man Sentenced to Federal Prison

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Kyle, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of Ammunition by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on March 27, 2024. Evan Brown Bull, 38, was sentenced to two years and nine months in federal prison and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Brown Bull was found guilty following a two-day jury trial in federal district court in Rapid City, South Dakota, in January of 2024. The conviction stems from Brown Bull, a previously convicted felon, being found in possession of 11 rounds of Black Hills Ammunition brand, .380 AUTO caliber ammunition, 49 rounds of Blazer brand, 9x19mm Luger ammunition, and 49 rounds of PMC brand, .38 Special caliber ammunition. Because Brown Bull is a previously convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing ammunition. The ammunition was found after Brown Bull came into contact with Rapid City law enforcement during a traffic stop in March of 2022. 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. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case. Brown Bull was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: McAllen Instagrammer convicted of soliciting sexual images from young children

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 23-year-old man has pleaded guilty to attempting to coerce and entice a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. From January to February 2020, Israel Ruiz used Instagram to solicit explicit images from children as young as nine. The investigation revealed he used several tactics to obtain the pornographic materials including contacting the minor victims via the social media platform. He also intimidated the minors by threatening to post other nude images of them or their friends online if additional images were not given to him. U.S. District Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa will impose sentencing July 19. At that time, Ruiz faces up to life in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing. The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cahal P. McColgan and Alexa D. Parcell prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page . For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.


title: Chilton County Man Convicted of Illegally Possessing a Firearm Used in a Shooting

body_text: Montgomery, Alabama – On March 27, 2024, a federal jury convicted 57-year-old Alvin Lee McCary, a resident of Chilton County, Alabama, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, announced Acting United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross. According to court records and evidence presented during McCary’s trial, on July 22, 2020, law enforcement responded to a Clanton residence following reports of a shooting. Deputies arrived at the scene and found that the shooting victim had multiple gunshot wounds, including one on his face. According to the victim and witnesses, following an argument, McCary had shot the victim and then fled. Deputies found shotgun shell casings at the scene. Law enforcement officers found McCary at his Chilton County residence but did not immediately locate a shotgun. A few days later, investigators discovered a shotgun and ammunition at the bottom of a well. The well was located in a wooded area behind the McCary’s residence. McCary has previous felony convictions and is prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Following this conviction, McCary faces a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison with no parole. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled in the coming months. At that hearing, a federal district court judge will determine McCary’s sentence after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. If the judge determines that the Armed Career Criminal Act of 1984 qualifies in McCary’s case, McCary will face a sentence of 15 years to life in prison. This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorneys Mark E. Andreu and Ashley J. Avera prosecuted.


title: New Hampshire Man Sentenced to Prison and Ordered to Pay Over $1.2 Million Following Conviction for Wire Fraud Related to Dog Training Business

body_text: Montgomery, Alabama – Today, Acting United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross announced that a federal judge sentenced 42-year-old Joseph Robert Merry, Jr., a resident of Plaistow, New Hampshire, to 51 months in prison for wire fraud. According to his plea agreement and other court records, from 2017 to 2018, Merry engaged in a fraudulent scheme involving dog training businesses. During his plea hearing, Merry specifically admitted to convincing multiple individuals to invest in dog training businesses he reported to have started in Indiana, New Jersey, and Lee County, Alabama. In doing so, Merry made false claims about large prospective contracts. To carry out his scheme, Merry occasionally pretended to be a potential customer. On one occasion, he falsely claimed to be a high ranking official of an energy company seeking to enter into a large contract with one of Merry’s dog training businesses. Through these falsities, Merry sought to gain the trust of his investors. Based on Merry’s misrepresentations, some of the investors spent additional money and made significant payments in anticipation of fulfilling the fictional contracts. In addition, numerous new employees moved to different states for jobs they expected to be have with one of these dog training businesses. However, the jobs never came. All the while, Merry used the proceeds of the investments for his own personal benefit. During the March 27, 2024, sentencing hearing, the judge also ordered Merry to pay restitution in the amount of $1,271.790 to his victims, and to forfeit $1,515,000 in assets. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Opelika Police Department investigated this case, which Assistant United States Attorney J. Patrick Lamb prosecuted.


title: Pascua Yaqui Tribal Member Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Assault with a Vehicle

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON Ariz. – Gerardo Vasquez Valenzuela, 62, an enrolled member of the Pascua Yaqui Indian Tribe and a resident of the Pascua Yaqui Indian Nation near Tucson, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Rosemary Márquez to 10 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Valenzuela pleaded guilty to Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury on September 13, 2023. On August 14, 2022, a Pascua Yaqui Police Department officer was flagged down by a man who was yelling out in pain and bleeding heavily from his head. The man, who sustained multiple fractures and internal injuries, told the officer that he had been intentionally struck by a truck driven by Valenzuela. Evidence collected connected Valenzuela’s truck to damage to a chain link fence at the scene. The victim’s belongings were found scattered along the tire tracks for approximately 50 feet, indicating he was dragged by the vehicle. Video evidence from a home surveillance system captured a vehicle matching the description of Valenzuela’s truck leaving the area. Valenzuela told officers that he had driven the truck earlier that day but denied being in a vehicle accident and denied hitting anyone with the truck. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pascua Yaqui Tribal Police, and Pima County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sandra M. Hansen and Frances Kreamer Hope, District of Arizona, Tucson, and Pascua Yaqui Tribal Prosecutor Russell E. Boatwright, Prosecutors Office Pascua Yaqui Tribe, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-22-01908-TUC-RM RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-040_Valenzuela # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: District Man Pleads Guilty to Second-Degree Murder for Stabbing of a Man in Northwest

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Joseph Melton, 55, of Washington, DC, pleaded guilty on March 25, 2024, to second degree murder while armed and assault with a dangerous weapon (knife) for stabbing a man, on January 14, 2020, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe scheduled a sentencing hearing for June 14, 2024. According to the government’s evidence, around 9:10 a.m. on January 14, 2020, Melton approached his first victim in the 1800 block of Connecticut Ave. NW. The victim was approached by Melton, on foot, whom he recognized from college, thirty years ago, but did not know the defendant’s name. As they encountered each other, Melton stated, “do you want me to kill you in a church,” to which the victim asked who he was, and at which point, the defendant pulled out a knife from his pants pocket and attempted to stab him. He was able to escape that attack and Melton fled the scene. Later that same day, at approximately 12:33 p.m., another victim encountered Melton in the 800 block of Vermont Ave., NW. This time Melton stabbed the victim in a vicious attack. When officers arrived at the scene, the victim was able to provide the name of his attacker before he lost consciousness. He was transported to a local hospital and has since recovered from his injuries. At 2:33 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 2400 block of Virginia Ave., NW, where a man, the same victim who had been attacked by Melton earlier this day, was found suffering from multiple stab wounds to his body. The victim was transported to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. This case was investigated by the Homicide Branch of the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Liebman.


title: Niles Man Pleads Guilty To Possessing A Firearm As A Felon

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten announced that on Wednesday Lawrence Edward Slaughter II, 19, of Niles, pled guilty to possessing a loaded firearm, which had been modified to a fully automatic weapon using a conversion device, as a convicted felon. “Gun violence is an epidemic across America and here in Michigan that inflicts senseless suffering on community members,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten . “As we did here, we will continue to hold accountable felons who possess guns illegally as well as anyone who traffics or possesses illegal machinegun conversion devices that threaten the safety of our communities. Our commitment to public safety holds true for every corner of our District – both big cities and small towns alike.” On September 23, 2022, Slaughter’s state probation officers conducted a home compliance check at his apartment in Niles, Michigan. During the check, the officers found a loaded 9mm Glock pistol in one of the bedrooms. The pistol also had a machinegun conversion device attached. Slaughter is scheduled for sentencing on July 16 before Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou. He faces a maximum possible penalty of 15 years in prison. “The access to illegal guns has plagued our communities for far too long and these machinegun conversion devices in particular are especially dangerous in the wrong hands,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Michigan . “By removing just one offender and the illegal weapons they acquire, we make our streets a little bit safer to live and work.” “The Niles Police Department remains committed to ensuring our community’s safety by investigating illegal gun violence and possession,” Niles Public Safety Director James Millin . “We will continue to work with federal law enforcement authorities in that endeavor.” The previous press release, press conference footage, and indictment can be viewed here . The case was investigated by the Niles Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney LaToyia Carpenter. ###


title: Former NYPD Officer Sentenced To 70 Months In Prison For Assisting Gang Leader’s Flight From The U.S. After Committing A Murder

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that GINA MESTRE, a former New York City Police (“NYPD”) Officer, was sentenced to 70 months in prison in connection with her involvement in obstructing a federal grand jury investigation into the Shooting Boys gang and serving as an accessory after the fact to a murder committed by a member of the gang. MESTRE pled guilty to the charge on December 7, 2023, in Manhattan federal court before U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote, who imposed today’s sentence. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Gina Mestre betrayed and abused the trust placed in her by the NYPD and the people of New York. She swore to protect the public from criminal activity, but instead participated in significant crimes of her own by passing confidential information to a gang leader and helping him evade capture for the murder of a rival gang member. For violating her oath to the citizens of New York City and her fellow police officers, Mestre has been sentenced to spend more than five years in federal prison.” According to the allegations in the Indictment and other documents filed in federal court and based on statements made in public court proceedings: MESTRE was an NYPD Officer assigned to the 52nd Precinct’s Public Safety Unit. In the summer of 2020, a major focus of both the precinct and the Public Safety Unit was the reduction of gun violence in the area. Much of that violence was attributed to members of the Shooting Boys, a violent street gang based in the University Heights section of the Bronx. In or about June 2020, MESTRE began communicating with Andrew Done, a/k/a “Caballo,” the leader of the Shooting Boys. MESTRE and Done communicated through secret social media accounts and phone numbers and eventually began an intimate relationship, during which MESTRE provided Done and other gang members with confidential, non-public law enforcement information about the federal grand jury investigation into the Shooting Boys. MESTRE warned Done, and other gang members, that federal investigators were preparing to bring a federal indictment against the Shooting Boys. MESTRE also warned Done about impending law enforcement operations, which enabled Done and other gang members to dispose of weapons and conceal other criminal activity before law enforcement arrived on scene. In addition, MESTRE disclosed the identity of a cooperating witness who provided information about the gang to law enforcement. Armed with this information, Done and other Shooting Boys assaulted the witness to prevent the witness from further cooperation and to send a clear message within the gang that the punishment for cooperation would be severe. On or about November 5, 2020, Done shot and killed a rival gang member (“Victim-1”) as Victim-1 sat in his car on Cromwell Avenue in the Bronx. NYPD Detectives investigating the murder recovered security camera video (the “Video”) capturing Done’s commission of the murder. Several members of the 52nd Precinct, including MESTRE, were tasked with identifying the shooter in the video. In fact, MESTRE was ultimately one of several officers who actually identified Done as the perpetrator. Despite identifying Done as the shooter and ostensibly participating in the NYPD’s efforts to apprehend him, MESTRE sent Done a copy of the Video to his phone and secretly communicated with Done the day of the murder and in the weeks afterwards. Specifically, MESTRE warned Done about law enforcement’s efforts to capture him, allowing Done to eventually flee from the United States. In March 2022, 10 members of the Shooting Boys were charged in a 15-count indictment with various federal crimes, including racketeering conspiracy and murder. Done was charged with the murder of Victim-1 and was apprehended in the Dominican Republic several months later. On November 17, 2022, Done pled guilty to racketeering conspiracy and admitted to his role in the murder of Victim-1. On February 22, 2023, Done was sentenced to 35 years in prison. * * * In addition to the prison term, MESTRE, 33, of Mohegan Lakes, New York, was sentenced to two years of supervised release. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau, Group 25, and the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Violent & Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dominic A. Gentile and James Ligtenberg are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Sex Abuser Sentenced to 122 Months for Decades-Old Crime

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Charles Michael Moreno, 61, of Tucson, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge John C. Hinderaker to 122 months in prison, followed by lifetime supervised release. Moreno pleaded guilty on May 15, 2023, to Sexual Abuse of a Minor, Abuse of a Minor, and two counts of Abusive Sexual Contact. In 2018, the high-school-aged victim reported to a school counselor that Moreno, a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, had committed sexual abuse on numerous occasions, beginning when the victim was in grade school. The events took place in both the city of Tucson and on the Tohono O’odham Nation. In 2020, Moreno was indicted by a federal grand jury on 14 counts of sexual abuse. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tohono O’odham Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Micah Schmit, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-20-00687-TUC-JCH RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-041_Moreno # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.