title: Woman Who Pointed Gun At Officer During Boyfriend’s Arrest Sentenced

body_text: A woman who pointed a loaded gun at an FBI agent during her boyfriend’s arrest was sentenced today to almost six years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. Rebekah Jones, 30, was charged via criminal complaint in December 2021 and indicted later that same month. She elected to proceed to trial. In November 2022, a federal jury found her guilty of assaulting a federal officer using a deadly weapon. She was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk to 71 months in prison. “The men and women of the FBI routinely risk their lives undertaking high-stakes operations, knowing each one could end in tragedy. This arrest was no exception. Thankfully, this agent’s deft action protected not only himself and his colleagues, but the defendants he would go on to apprehend,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “We are immensely proud of our brothers and sisters in blue, and are dedicated to holding accountable those who would seek to harm them.” “The defendant knowingly assaulted a federal officer attempting to conduct a lawful arrest. Her actions threatened the safety of not only this officer, but also others who were present. We are grateful to our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Randall County’s Sheriff’s Office for assisting us in holding this individual accountable,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge B. Chad Yarbrough. "The defendant's actions are a stark reminder of the dangers law enforcement officers face every day." At her trial, agents testified that she became combative when they attempted to arrest her boyfriend, Christopher Stephen Brown, who’d been charged with threatening to kill certain members of the Beth-Din, a Jewish rabbinical court. When Mr. Brown refused to obey agents’ commands to exit his residence, they entered his apartment and grabbed him. Ms. Jones, however, locked arms with Mr. Brown and attempted to pull him inside the bedroom. She pointed a loaded gun at one of the agents, who immediately grasped it and pointed it in a safe direction. While wrestling with both Mr. Brown and Ms. Jones, the agent was eventually able to free the gun and fling it onto the floor.’’ The pair was subdued without injury. Shortly before Ms. Jones’ trial, Mr. Brown pleaded guilty to interstate threats, admitting in court documents that he placed threatening calls to Chabad Lubavitch, a Jewish organization that has provided spiritual guidance and assistance to Jewish people since before the Holocaust, and that he threatened to “execute” several prominent rabbis. He was sentenced in January to two years in federal prison. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office, Amarillo Resident Agency and the Randall County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation in partnership with the FBI’s New York Field Office and the New York Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeff Haag and Joshua Frausto prosecuted the case.


title: Lafourche Parish Man Charged with Violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – DELVIN EDMOND , age 32, of Thibodaux, La., was charged on June 2, 2023 in a recently unsealed five-count indictment, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. EDMOND is charged with the following offenses: Count 1 -Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 846; Count 2 -Distribution of 50 grams or more of Methamphetamine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A); Count 3 -Distribution of 5 grams or more Methamphetamine and a quantity of Fentanyl in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B) (methamphetamine) , and 841(b)(1)(C) (fentanyl) ; Count 4 -Possession with Intent to Distribute a quantity of Methamphetamine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C); and Count 5 -Distribution of 50 grams or more Methamphetamine in violation to Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A). For Counts 1, 2, and 5, EDMOND faces a statutory minimum sentence of 10 years up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000, and at least five years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. For Count 3 ( Methamphetamine) , EDMOND faces a statutory minimum sentence of 5 years up to forty years imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000,000, and at least four years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. Count 3 (fentanyl) and 4, EDMOND with possession with intent to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). For this offense, he faces up to twenty years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment. For each of the counts for which EDMOND is charged, he faces a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. United States Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Thibodaux Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit.


title: Jose Trujillo, Co-Defendant of Solomon Peña, Detained Pending Trial

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Jose Louise Trujillo was arraigned on an indictment charging him with: conspiracy, four counts of interference with federally protected activities, four counts of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, possession with intent to distribute 40 grams and more of fentanyl, and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Trujillo, 22, will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. A federal grand jury indicted Trujillo on May 24 along with Solomon Peña and Demetrio Trujillo. According to the indictment, Peña ran for District 14 of the New Mexico House of Representatives during the November 2022 mid-term elections. Following his electoral defeat in November 2022, Peña allegedly organized the shootings on the homes of two Bernalillo County commissioners and two New Mexico state legislators. The shootings were carried out between Dec. 4, 2022, and Jan. 3, 2023, with assistance from Trujillo. An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Trujillo faces up to life in prison. Solomon Peña, 40, is scheduled for arraignment and a detention hearing on June 9. If convicted, Peña faces up to life in prison. Demetrio Trujillo, 41, is scheduled for arraignment and a detention hearing on June 13. If convicted, Demetrio faces life in prison. The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the Albuquerque Police Department and the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Senior Litigation Counsel Victor R. Salgado of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy Peña and Patrick E. Cordova for the District of New Mexico are prosecuting the case. # # # 23-126


title: Mercer Man Pleads Guilty to Threats against FBI

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Mercer, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of interstate threats and influencing or retaliating against a federal officer by threat, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Adam Bies, age 47, pleaded guilty to fourteen counts before United States District Judge William S. Stickman IV. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that Bies made threats to murder, injure, and assault agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the days following the FBI’s search of former President Donald Trump’s home in Florida on August 8, 2022, pursuant to a federal search warrant. Sentencing in this matter has been scheduled for October 4, 2023. The law provides for a total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Pending sentencing, the court ordered that the defendant be detained. Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey R. Bengel is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Adam Bies.


title: Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing Fentanyl, Firearms, and Ammunition

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A Weare man pleaded guilty today in federal court to possessing firearms and ammunition as a prohibited person, and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl in New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Brian Elliott, age 32, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, and two counts of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. U.S. District Court Judge Landya McCafferty scheduled sentencing for September 21, 2023. The defendant was indicted on March 21, 2022. Elliott fled on foot following a vehicle stop by an officer of the Goffstown Police Department on May 22, 2021. During flight, Elliott dropped a backpack containing approximately 138 grams of fentanyl and various types of ammunition. A loaded firearm was also recovered from the scene the next day. On May 24, 2021, Elliott was apprehended at a Holiday Inn in Manchester, where negotiators succeeded in getting him out of his room. A subsequent search of his hotel room yielded additional fentanyl, as well as another firearm and ammunition. Elliott is a convicted felon and is legally prohibited from possessing firearms. The charging statute for the drug offense provides a sentence of at least five years and no greater than 40 years in prison, a term of supervised release of at least four years, and a maximum fine of $5,000,000. The charging statute for the felon in possession of firearms and ammunition offenses provides a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, a maximum term of supervised release of four years, and a maximum fine of $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. The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Goffstown Police Department and Manchester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Gingrande is prosecuting the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (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: New Orleans Man Federally Charged in a Superseding Indictment with Producing Files Depicting the Sexual Victimization of Children, Extorting Minor Females to Send Sexually Explicit Depictions, and Distribution and Receipt of Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – On May 19, 2023 COLE DIGGS a/k/a Kevon Godson , age 29, a resident of New Orleans, was charged in a nine-count superseding indictment with production and attempted production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2251(a), interstate communications with intent to extort, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, 875(d), and distribution and receipt of CSAM, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, 2252(a)(2), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. DIGGS faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of fifteen (15) years and a maximum term of imprisonment of thirty (30) years as to each of Counts 1, 3,4, 5, and 6, a maximum term of imprisonment of two (2) years as to each of Counts 2 and 7, a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five (5) years and a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty (20) years as to Count 8, and a minimum term of imprisonment of five (5) years and a maximum sentence of twenty (20) years as to Count 9. DIGGS also faces a lifetime of supervised release and up to a $250,000 fine that applies to each count. DIGGS also faces payment of a mandatory special assessment fee per count and can be required to register as a sex offender. U. S. Attorney Evans reiterated that a superseding indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys= Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit, is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Orleans Parish Man Pleads Guilty to Concealment  of Bankruptcy Related Assets

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – JOSHUA BORGES (“BORGES”) , age 38, of New Orleans, Louisiana, pleaded guilty on to one count of Concealment of Assets, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 152(1), before United States District Judge Carl J. Barbier, announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to court records, on or about April 17, 2018, BORGES knowingly and fraudulently failed to disclose property that belonged to him in a bankruptcy case. Specifically, he knowingly and fraudulently failed to disclose to the trustee charged with control of the debtor’s property and from the creditors and the United States Trustee, $9,000.00 in cash on hand, and his business interest in Elite Enterprise Holding, LLC, which had a value of at least approximately $89,771.08. Sentencing will be September 28, 2023, and BORGES faces a maximum penalty of five (5) years imprisonment, followed by up to three (3) years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, and the Office of the U.S. Trustee for the Eastern District of Louisiana with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward Rivera of the Financial Crimes Unit and Andre Lagarde of the Public Integrity Unit.


title: Buffalo Man Sentenced For Assaulting An FBI Agent

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Tyler Collins, 27, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of assaulting a federal officer and causing a bodily injury, was sentenced to time served (approximately nine months) and three years’ supervised release by Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Franz M. Wright and Douglas A. C. Penrose, who handled the case, stated that on July 12, 2022, at approximately 4:00 p.m., Collins attempted to enter the FBI-Buffalo Division main office but was denied entry by the security guards inside of the front door. At the time, three federal agents were walking back to the main office and encountered Collins, who they observed was yelling into the intercom system. Collins was heard yelling expletives while physically banging on the FBI building’s door demanding entry. One of the federal agents attempted to calm Collins, at which time Collins punched the federal agent, physically assaulting him. One of the other federal agents discharged pepper spray, in an attempt to subdue Collins, who then fled on Elmwood Avenue. Collins was later taken into custody that evening after he was found walking on Delaware Avenue. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia. # # # #


title: Rochester Man Pleads Guilty To Fentanyl Charge

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Denzell D. Easter-Stevenson, 28, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl before Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. The charge carries a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $5,000,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassie M. Kocher, who is handling the case, stated that on November 28, 2021, investigators executed a search warrant at a residence on Smith Street in Rochester, recovering approximately 41 grams fentanyl and 4-ANPP, approximately 3.8 grams of fentanyl and para-fluorofentanyl, approximately 1.1 grams of fentanyl and tramadol, 108 glassine baggies of fentanyl packaged for sale, marijuana packaged for sale and approximately $1,207 in United States currency. In addition, a semiautomatic pistol loaded with one round of ammunition, a magazine loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition, and a variety of ammunition was also recovered. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith, the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team (GRANET), and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito, New York Field Division. Sentencing is scheduled for October 2, 2023, at 3:30 p.m. before Judge Wolford. # # # #


title: New Orleans Man Sentenced  on Federal Drug and Weapons Charges

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

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – CHRISTIAN GUITY , age 26, a resident of Orleans Parish, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Jane Triche Milazzo to 87 months imprisonment, 5 years supervised release, and a $300 mandatory special assessment fee on Counts One, Two, and Three of a four-count indictment, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. Count One of the indictment charged GUITY with possession with intent to distribute dangerous substances in violation of Title 21, United States Code Sections 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(C), and (b)(1)(D). Count 2 charged GUITY with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in violation of Title 18, United States Code Sections 924(c). Count 3 charged GUITY with possessing a machine gun in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(o). On July 29, 2021, New Orleans Police Officers conducted a stop on a vehicle containing three individuals, including GUITY . During this stop, two of the occupants fled the vehicle but were later apprehended by officers. Officers also observed GUITY in the front passenger seat of the vehicle. After searching the vehicle, officers discovered illegal drugs and weapons, including a machine gun. 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. U. S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Louisiana State Police, and the New Orleans Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Four Time Deported Honduran National  Pleads Guilty to Illegal Re-Entry

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – Today, LUIS ALFREDO LEZAMA-RAMIREZ , age 47, pled guilty to a one-count indictment for illegal reentry of a removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to court documents, LUIS ALFREDO LEZAMA-RAMIREZ (" LEZAMA-REMIREZ ") admitted reentering the United States after being deported on June 8, 2018. LEZAMA-RAMIREZ had also been previously deported in 2006, 2009, and 2012. LEZAMA-RAMIREZ faces a maximum term of imprisonment of two years, a maximum fine of up to $250,000, a maximum term of supervised release of up to one year, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in Honor of Pride Month

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: The Justice Department issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in honor of Pride Month: “As we recognize Pride Month and celebrate the LGBTQI+ community, the Justice Department renews its commitment to protecting the rights of every person to live free from discrimination and persecution based on who they are or who they love. The Justice Department is proud to stand in defense of the rights to which LGBTQI+ individuals, and all people in our country, are entitled.” Fact Sheet: Justice Department Efforts to Protect the LGBTQI+ Community The Justice Department works every day to ensure the rights of LGBTQI+ people are recognized and protected. Members of the LGBTQI+ community must be able to live their lives free from discrimination, harassment, violence, and threats of violence. The Justice Department prioritizes addressing threats and discrimination against LGBTQI+ people in the workplace, at doctor’s offices, in their schools, communities, and more. Prosecuting hate crimes based on LGBTQI+ status. As recent FBI statistics confirm, hate crimes are on the rise, including hate crimes targeting members of the LGBTQI+ community. The Justice Department is pursuing those who commit acts of hate based on sexual orientation or gender identity to the fullest extent of the law. For instance, the Justice Department has: Obtained a conviction of a Montana man of hate crimes for firing an AK-style assault rifle at the residence of a woman who identified as a lesbian and was home at the time. The defendant was on a self-described mission to rid the town of its lesbian and gay community; Charged two South Carolina men with hate crimes and obstruction offenses for the murder of a transgender woman because of her gender identity; Obtained a 45-year sentence against a Louisiana man who was convicted of kidnapping and attempting to murder a gay man as part of a hate crime scheme targeting users of a dating app for gay men; Secured a 21-year sentence against a Missouri man for committing a hate crime by shooting a local teenager eight times in an attempted murder because of his sexual orientation; Charged a Texas man for threatening a Boston doctor providing care to members of the transgender community; and Obtained a conviction against a Washington man who pleaded guilty to one count of committing a hate crime for the arson of an LGBTQ+ bar and nightclub in Seattle. Educating the public about protecting the LGBTQI+ community. The Justice Department and FBI are conducting outreach to share information about practical steps to protect the LGBTQI+ community from hate-motivated attacks and threats of violence. On Sept. 27, 2022, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the FBI hosted a meeting with national LGBTQI+ groups about protecting LGBTQI+ communities in light of the increase in hate-motivated attacks and threats of violence. The event served as an opportunity to connect law enforcement leaders with civil rights leaders and exchange ideas, raise awareness, and find new points of collaboration. On March 30, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Community Relations Service (CRS) wide that addressed practical steps for protecting LGBTQI+ communities from hate-motivated attacks and threats of violence. The Justice Department and FBI shared information about steps to take in the event of an emergency, suspected hate crime, or threat of violence, and proactive measures to protect organizations, facilities, and communities. The webinar built on themes discussed at the September 2022 meeting with national LGBTQI+ groups. Combating discrimination and harassment against LGBTQI+ people. The Department of Justice is also working to protect the rights of all LGBTQI+ people to live free of harassment and discrimination at school, at work, at home, and in their communities. For example, the Civil Rights Division has: Resolved allegations of harassment and a hostile environment based in part on sexual orientation in a Vermont school district, and filed amicus briefs supporting a school’s decision to require employees to use the names and pronouns that match transgender students’ gender identities in Indiana , and a transgender boy’s right to use the boys’ restroom at his school in Florida ; Filed briefs in support of a transgender employee of a state prison in Georgia who suffered intentional misgendering and harassment in the workplace, a teacher in Maine who alleged her employer discriminated against her because of her advocacy for LGBTQI+ people, and a former Georgia deputy sheriff whose employer-sponsored health insurance did not cover treatment of gender dysphoria; Filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court supporting the right of LGBTQI+ people to access public accommodations; Challenged an Alabama law making it more difficult for transgender people to obtain driver’s licenses that reflect their gender identity; Brought a lawsuit against the owners and managers of a rental property in Wisconsin for harassing a tenant because of his sexual orientation, and reached a landmark $4.5 million settlement in a lawsuit against a New Jersey landlord who sexually harassed both female tenants and tenants who were gay or bisexual men; and Filed a statement of interest supporting the right of transgender inmates to safe living conditions and necessary medical treatment in Georgia prisons. Defending transgender youth. The Justice Department has intervened or filed statements of interest supporting multiple challenges to state laws that restrict the rights of transgender youth and has educated the public about the rights of transgender youth. For example, the Civil Rights Division has: Challenged discriminatory laws in Alabama and Tennessee that deny necessary medical care to transgender youth, including in instances when parents consent to that care; Filed statements of interest and amicus briefs in support of litigation challenging similar bans on medical care for transgender youth in Arkansas and Kentucky ; Filed a statement of interest and an amicus brief in support of a transgender girl’s challenge to West Virginia’s law that banned her from playing on school sports teams consistent with her gender identity; and In collaboration with the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services, issued a back-to-school message of support for transgender students. The Justice Department also issued a letter to all state attorneys general notifying them that transgender youth have federal constitutional and statutory protections that shield them from discrimination, including efforts to restrict access to gender-affirming health care. Improving law enforcement response to LGBTQI+ crime victims. The Department of Justice issued updated guidance to help law enforcement agencies improve their response to sexual assault and gender violence by identifying gender bias. Sexual assault and domestic violence are crimes that disproportionately harm women, girls, and LGBTQI+ people in the United States. The updated guidance addresses the ways that gender bias can intersect with other forms of bias to disproportionately affect survivors from marginalized communities, including the LGBTQI+ community. The Community Relations Service will also partner with state and local law enforcement agencies to increase the number of law enforcement officers who have completed CRS’s training programs on engaging with transgender and non-binary youth and building relationships with transgender communities. Supporting organizations that serve LBGTQI+ victims and survivors. The Department’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) has made it a priority to improve outreach, services, civil and criminal justice responses, prevention, and support for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking from underserved communities, particularly LGBTQI+ survivors and others from historically marginalized communities. Through its Grants for Outreach and Services to Underserved Populations and its Training and Technical Assistance Initiative , OVW funds numerous projects and organizations, including: An Albany, New York, based organization serving LGBTQI+ people of color, to provide services to survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in upstate New York, many of whom are transgender or gender non-conforming. A network of organizations in Orlando, Florida, to expand outreach and victim services for LGBTQI+ survivors of sexual assault in Central Florida. A community coalition in Pennsylvania, to address long-term safety and stability for LGBTQI+ survivors of color, build the capacity of service providers to provide culturally appropriate services, and develop culturally and linguistically appropriate materials, and provide housing assistance. A Milwaukee organization, to provide mental health counseling, case management, support groups, safety planning, advocacy services, and economic resources to LGBTQI+ survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Additionally, OVW is administering grants supporting LGBTQI+ organizations and LGBTQI+ community-specific services through the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2022 and its STOP Formula Grant program. Addressing discrimination based on HIV status. The Justice Department has brought lawsuits addressing discrimination based on HIV status, which is a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). For instance, the Justice Department: Resolved claims that two doctors in California and nine dental offices in North Carolina violated the ADA by refusing to provide routine medical care to patients with HIV; Brought suit against a town in Indiana after the police department unlawfully revoked a job offer to a qualified police officer because of his HIV status; Resolved allegations against an in-home caregiving company in Wisconsin that refused to provide services to an individual with HIV; and Reached a settlement with the state of Nevada to ensure that Nevada Department of Corrections inmates are not illegally segregated or otherwise discriminated against on the basis of their HIV status. More information about the Justice Department’s work to uphold and protect the civil and constitutional rights of LGBTQI+ people is available online at www.justice.gov/crt/lgbtqi-working-group . Complaints about discriminatory practices may be reported to the Civil Rights Division at www.civilrights.justice.gov .


title: Jury Finds District Man Guilty of Assault With Intent To Kill While Armed and Related Charges In Shooting of a Pregnant Woman in Southeast Washington

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON –Joshua Hemphill, 32, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty yesterday of two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, and other charges, in an early morning shooting that took place in Southeast Washington on September 21, 2018, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Interim Chief Ashan Benedict, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The jury also found Hemphill guilty of aggravated assault while armed, first-degree burglary while armed, multiple counts of contempt, and other firearms offenses. The verdict followed a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia before the Honorable Lynn Leibovitz, who scheduled sentencing for August 11, 2023. According to the government’s evidence, on September 21, 2018, Hemphill went to the home where his former romantic partner was staying with her friend. In a fit of rage, he fired one round into the door and made his way inside the apartment. He then chased the two women into a small closet where he fired two rounds from approximately three feet away. The first round hit the friend in the left hand and the second hit her in the back of her head. The friend was 24 weeks pregnant at the time she was shot. The victim received emergency neurosurgery at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and both she and her child survived. Hemphill was arrested weeks later in Pennsylvania. Upon his return to the District of Columbia, Hemphill was ordered by a District of Columbia Superior Court Judge on October 24, 2018, to stay away and have no contact with his former romantic partner. Evidence showed that Hemphill violated that order numerous times between October 24, 2018, and April 29, 2019. In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Graves and Interim Chief Benedict commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals Service. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Loeb and Angela Buckner, current Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bonnie Thompson, Dana Joseph, Ryan Sellinger, and Jodi Lazarus, Appellate Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nick Coleman and Bryan Han, Paralegal Specialists Tiffany Fogle, Garcia Clarke, Lynda Randolph, and Tijuana McPhail, Supervisory Paralegal Specialists Linda McDonald and RaeShawn Johnson, Supervisory Victim Services Advocate Roderick Johnson, Victim/Witness Advocates Lu Lan and Rogers Dickerson, Witness Security Specialists Orlando Teel and Lesley Slade, Victim/Witness Service Coordinator Maenylie Watson, Criminal Investigations Unit Special Agent in Charge Tina Lukens, and Criminal Investigations Unit Special Agents Matthew Fox-Moles, and Nelson Rhone. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys LaVater Massie-Banks and Brian Yang, who investigated and prosecuted the case.


title: Statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on Supreme Court Decision in Allen v. Milligan

body_text: The Justice Department issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on the Supreme Court’s decision in Allen v. Milligan: “Today’s decision rejects efforts to further erode fundamental voting rights protections, and preserves the principle that in the United States, all eligible voters must be able to exercise their constitutional right to vote free from discrimination based on their race. The right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy, the right from which all other rights ultimately flow. Over the past two years, the Justice Department has rededicated its resources to enforcing federal voting rights protections. We will continue to use every authority we have left to defend voting rights. But that is not enough. We urge Congress to act to provide the Department with important authorities it needs to protect the voting rights of every American.”


title: District Man Found Guilty of Charges for Armed Robbery in Northwest Washington

body_text: WASHINGTON – A jury found Nwabueze Igwe, 32, of Washington, DC guilty of robbing a man at knifepoint, in February of 2023, in Northwest Washington D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Michael Anzallo, of the Metropolitan Transit Police Department. The verdict was returned on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. The Honorable Jason Park scheduled sentencing for August 11, 2023. Igwe was found guilty, following a three-day trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, of armed robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon, and carrying a dangerous weapon. According to the government’s evidence, on the evening of February 13, 2023, the defendant yelled at the victim, a stranger, multiple times on the Metro as the pair were travelling in the same car on the Green Line. As the train stopped at the Gallery Place Station, the defendant approached the victim, entered his personal space, and took his North Face backpack. When the victim asked for his backpack, the defendant brandished and opened a switchblade as he warned the victim to back away. The defendant and the victim both exited at Gallery Place. While the victim ran for help and found nearby officers, the defendant looked in both directions before jumping back on the train, with the victim’s backpack in his hand, as the doors were closing. Once he got back on the train, the defendant hid the backpack in a translucent trash bag. The defendant then exited at the next stop, Mount Vernon Station, where he walked throughout the station constantly looking over his shoulder before exiting the station on foot. Just over an hour later, the defendant returned to the Gallery Place Station, still carrying the victim’s belongings. Metro surveillance footage captures the defendant in the immediate moments after the robbery and confirms his flight path. He was apprehended at Gallery Place that night and charged with armed robbery. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Transit Police Department. It was investigated, prosecuted, and tried by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Omeed A. Assefi and Sabena Auyeung, of the Major Crimes Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Valuable assistance was provided by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kimberly Nielsen and Kathleen Kern, Paralegal Specialists Debra McPherson and Carolyn Carter-McKinley, and Litigation Technology Specialist Charlie Bruce.


title: Foreign National Pleads Guilty to Role in Identity Fraud Scheme

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A foreign national pleaded guilty today for his role in a scheme to sell identity documents belonging to U.S. citizens to undocumented noncitizens and others residing within the United States without lawful authority. According to court documents, Manuel Ruiz-Aguilera, 44, of Mexico, and his co-conspirators sold government-issued identity documents, including Government of Puerto Rico-issued birth certificates and corresponding U.S. social security cards, to undocumented noncitizens residing within the United States. Ruiz-Aguilera sold the documents to undocumented noncitizens so they could assume the identities of U.S. citizens, and/or fraudulently apply for other identity documents in that person’s name in order to reside in the United States. Ruiz-Aguilera and his co-conspirators knew these documents pertained to real people. Ruiz-Aguilera was arrested in Mexico in February 2022 pursuant to a U.S. request for his extradition. In March 2023, he was extradited to Puerto Rico. Ruiz-Aguilera pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit identification fraud by possessing, producing, and transferring identification documents. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 29. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico, Deputy Director and Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director Tae D. Johnson of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Chief Postal Inspector Gary R. Barksdale of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service made the announcement. The charges are the result of Operation Island Express, an ongoing, nationally-coordinated investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Chicago, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), and IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) offices in Chicago, in coordination with HSI San Juan. The Illinois Secretary of State Police; Elgin, Illinois, Police Department; Seymour, Indiana, Police Department; and Indiana State Police provided substantial assistance. The HSI Assistant Attaché office in the Dominican Republic and International Organized Crime Intelligence and Operations Center (IOC-2), as well as various ICE, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, DSS, and IRS-CI offices around the country, provided invaluable assistance. Trial Attorneys Frank Rangoussis and Marie Zisa of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Anderson for the District of Puerto Rico are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with prosecutors to prepare the extradition request for Ruiz-Aguilera. The department thanks the Government of Mexico for their assistance in arresting and extraditing Ruiz-Aguilera. Potential victims and the public may obtain information about the case at www.justice.gov/criminal/vns/caseup/beltrerj.html . Anyone who believes their identity may have been compromised in relation to this investigation or who may have information about particular crimes in this case should call the ICE toll-free hotline at 1-866-DHS-2ICE (1-866-347-2423) or use its online tip form at www.ice.gov/tipline . Anyone who believes that they have been a victim of identity theft, or wants information about preventing identity theft, may obtain helpful information and complaint forms on various government websites including the Federal Trade Commission ID Theft Website at www.ftc.gov/idtheft . Additional resources regarding identity theft can be found at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/pubs/ID_theft/idtheft.html , www.ssa.gov/pubs/10064.html , and www.irs.gov/privacy/article/0,,id=186436,00.html .


title: Chief Compliance Officer Convicted of $50M Medicare Fraud Scheme

body_text: A federal jury convicted a Florida man today for conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Steven King, 45, of Miramar, was the chief compliance officer of a pharmacy holding company that fraudulently billed Medicare over $50 million for dispensing lidocaine and diabetic testing supplies that Medicare beneficiaries did not need or want. King and his co-conspirators operated A1C Holdings LLC, which held pharmacies in various states, including All American Medical Pharmacy in Warren, Michigan. When A1C secured prescriptions and refills on behalf of its pharmacies for medically unnecessary lidocaine and diabetic testing supplies, it violated Medicare and pharmacy benefit manager rules. King and his co-conspirators took several steps to conceal their scheme, including enrolling their mail order pharmacies as brick-and-mortar retail locations to evade more rigorous oversight, shipping prescription refills for high-reimbursing medications and supplies without patient consent, concealing the ownership of A1C Holdings LLC and its pharmacies, and transferring patients among pharmacies without patient consent. King and his co-conspirators took each of these steps to ensure that Medicare continued to be billed for profitable medications and supplies. As chief compliance officer, King was in a unique position to prevent and report the fraudulent scheme, but he used his position to defraud Medicare instead. The jury convicted King of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 14 and he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine King’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Special Agent in Charge James A. Tarasca of the FBI Detroit Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Mario Pinto of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement. The FBI Detroit Field Office and HHS-OIG investigated the case. Trial Attorney Shankar Ramamurthy and Acting Assistant Chief Andrew Barras of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, comprised of 15 strike forces operating in 25 federal districts, has charged more than 5,000 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $24 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


title: Lavaca Man Sentenced in $134 Million COVID-19 Health Care Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme

component: Criminal - Criminal Fraud Section

body_text: FORT SMITH – A Lavaca, Arkansas, man was sentenced today to 15 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $29,835,825.99 in restitution for conspiracy to commit health care fraud and money laundering. Billy Joe Taylor , age 44, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and money laundering on October 27, 2022. According to court documents, Taylor and his co-conspirators submitted more than $134 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare in connection with diagnostic laboratory testing, including urine drug testing and tests for respiratory illnesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, that were medically unnecessary, not ordered by medical providers, and not provided as represented. Taylor and his co-conspirators obtained medical information and private personal information for Medicare beneficiaries, and then misused that confidential information to repeatedly submit claims to Medicare for diagnostic tests. According to court documents, Taylor and his co-conspirators received more than $38 million from Medicare on those fraudulent claims. U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes for the Western District of Arkansas; Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge James A. Dawson, of the FBI’s Little Rock division; Special Agent in Charge Jason Meadows of the Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Dallas Regional Office; and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Altemus of the IRS-Criminal Investigation, Dallas Field Office, made the announcement The FBI, HHS-OIG, and IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Elser of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Arkansas and Senior Litigation Counsel Jim Hayes and Trial Attorney D. Keith Clouser of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section’s National Rapid Response Strike Force prosecuted the case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, comprised of 15 strike forces operating in 25 federal districts, has charged more than 5,000 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $24 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.


title: LaPorte Man Sentenced to 210 months in Prison

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Donta Bridges, 39 years old, of LaPorte, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Jon E. DeGuilio after being found guilty by a jury in October 2022 of heroin distribution, attempted heroin distribution, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Bridges was sentenced to 210 months in prison followed by 6 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, in the fall of 2019, Bridges was selling various substances to include heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and the horse tranquilizer xylazine. During one sale, Bridges told a customer to be careful with the drugs because Bridges knew that someone had overdosed on the drugs he was selling. During the execution of a search warrant at his house, investigators recovered a gun along with heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Bridges was sentenced on the instant offense as a career offender based on his two prior felony convictions for controlled substance offenses; possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and heroin distribution. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of the LaPorte County Drug Task Force. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kimberly L. Schultz and Jerome W. McKeever. 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: Clermont County woman sentenced to more than 4 years in prison for  COVID-19 relief fraud

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – Kasey Hamer, 37, of Batavia, Ohio, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 55 months in prison for pandemic relief fraud. As part of her sentence, Hamer was ordered to pay more than $185,000 in restitution. According to court documents, Hamer orchestrated a scheme to defraud several programs administered by the Small Business Administration designed to provide COVID-19 relief. Hamer purported to assist family members and friends to apply for several CARES Act loans. Using the names, social security numbers and other identifiers of others, Hamer significantly overstated the gross revenues, monthly payroll, and/or number of employees for the businesses filed. Hamer then controlled disbursements of the loan funds that were issued to family and friends. For example, in June 2020, Hamer falsely claimed that a relative ran an event planning business that generated gross revenues of nearly $105,000 and employed 15 people. Hamer knew this information was false. Hamer also filed numerous fraudulent loan applications in her own name. For example, in one application, Hamer falsely claimed to make over $8,000 per month as a marketer. In total, Hamer and her associates requested more than $1 million in relief loans and received more than $150,000 in SBA program funds. Hamer used the funds she received for purchases at restaurants and retail stores, online gambling and gambling. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, announced the sentence imposed June 7 by U.S. District Court Judge Douglas R. Cole. The case was investigated by the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Ebunoluwa A. Taiwo represented the United States in this case. # # #


title: NE Georgia Man Convicted of Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: ATHENS, Ga. – A Madison County, Georgia, resident was convicted by a federal jury yesterday evening of distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), days after GBI investigators discovered evidence that he was continuing to distribute CSAM on a social media app and had concurrently cut off his ankle monitor to escape custody. Christopher Snow, 35, of Carlton, Georgia, was convicted on June 7 of one count of distribution of child sexual abuse material and one count of possession of child sexual abuse material following a two-day trial that began on June 6 before U.S. District Judge Tilman E. Self, III. Snow faces a mandatory minimum of five years up to a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count, for a maximum of 40 years in prison. In addition, he is facing up to a lifetime of supervised release and will have to register as a sex offender upon release from federal prison. Snow will remain in federal custody awaiting sentencing on Oct. 3 in Athens. “By cutting his ankle monitor prior to trial, Snow attempted to evade justice for actively distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material involving young children; he’s lost his freedom and will no longer be able to hurt innocent and vulnerable kids in this way,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “It often takes many different groups to stop a child predator, as demonstrated in this case. I am thankful for the excellent collaboration at every level to protect children.” “This conviction serves as a strong reminder of our commitment to protecting children from the atrocities of child sexual abuse. The GBI remains resolute in its pursuit of justice and will not tolerate those who exploit the innocence of our most vulnerable population,” said GBI Director Mike Register. “Snow not only distributed the disturbing material for years but didn’t stop even after he was under arrest and facing trial,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that people like this receive their full measure of justice.” According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, GBI received a Cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in Aug. 2018 that a Facebook user distributed suspected CSAM via Facebook Messenger. As a part of their investigation, GBI was able to determine that the user of that Facebook account resided in Carlton, Madison County, Georgia. A search warrant was executed at Snow’s residence in Carlton; law enforcement seized several electronic devices that Snow kept in a padlocked room. A digital forensic examiner later determined that those electronic devices, including the phone that was found on Snow the day of the search warrant, contained at least 45 images and 17 videos of CSAM. The material contained images of children under the age of 12. As a condition of Snow’s pretrial release, he was required to wear an ankle monitor and not have access to electronic devices. On June 1, 2023, GBI received an additional Cybertip indicating that Snow may have been continuing to distribute CSAM on the Kik messenger app in 2022, while awaiting trial. Snow was scheduled for a federal hearing on June 2 prior to his trial but cut off his ankle monitor on June 1. A bench warrant was issued for his arrest, and he was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals on June 5. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. The case was investigated by the GBI, with assistance from the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alex Kalim and Robert McCullers are prosecuting the case for the Government.


title: North Little Rock Man Sentenced to Prison for Falsifying Disability Claims

component: U.S. Attorneys (USAO)

body_text: LITTLE ROCK— A North Little Rock man was sentenced to prison for submitting a falsified disability application to the Veteran’s Administration (VA) and receiving more than $91,000 in disability payments. Darold Maxfield, Jr., 30, was sentenced to four months in federal prison today by United States District Judge Brian S. Miller. This is a case of stolen valor. In October 2018, Maxfield filed for disability benefits from the VA, alleging he sustained psychological trauma after he recovered the remains of a cadet who died while conducting a land navigation exercise at West Point Military Academy. At the time, Maxfield was enrolled at the United States Military Academy Prep School. Maxfield’s VA disability application was approved, and he began receiving $1,567 per month. The VA was alerted of potential fraud regarding Maxfield’s benefit application in May 2020 after it was discovered that the physician’s signature on Maxfield’s disability benefit questionnaire had been cut and pasted onto Maxfield’s application from another application. Upon further investigation, agents were able to verify that, three days after Maxfield enrolled at the United States Military Academy Prep School, a cadet at West Point Military Academy died during a field training exercise. However, agents found no evidence that Maxfield was anywhere near the proximity where the remains were located; he was not on the land navigation course on the date of the cadet’s death; and the two cadets who did find the dead cadet’s remains stated they were the only two present when the body was located. “Today, this defendant was held accountable for falsely claiming to be disabled in order to steal taxpayer dollars from a program meant to benefit deserving service-disabled veterans,” said Special Agent in Charge Kris Raper with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s South Central Field Office. “The VA OIG is dedicated to ensuring the integrity of VA’s benefits programs and services. The VA OIG thanks the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their efforts in this case.” On June 1, 2021, Maxfield was charged in an indictment with theft of public money and making a false statement or representation to a department or agency of the United States. Maxfield pled guilty to the indictment on January 19, 2023. Maxfield was sentenced to four months in prison on each count, to be served concurrently, three years of supervised release, and he was ordered to pay $91,651.70 in restitution. The case was investigated by the Veterans Affairs – Office of the Inspector General and the Army Criminal Investigation Division. Assistant United States Attorneys J. William Crow and Jana Harris prosecuted the case for the United States. # # # This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at https://www.justice.gov/edar Twitter: @EDARNEWS


title: Ada Resident Sentenced For Witness Tampering And Federal Firearms Violations

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Timmie Lee Runnels, age 33, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for tampering with a witness in a federal case, and 10 years for being a felon in possession of ammunition, to run concurrently. The charges arose from investigations by the Ada Police Department, the Coal County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On April 18, 2022, Timmie Lee Runnels pleaded guilty to one count of Tampering with a Witness and one count of Felon in Possession of Ammunition. During the plea hearing, Runnels admitted that on January 5, 2021, he was involved in an altercation in Ada, Oklahoma, during which Runnels fired a gun at another vehicle. Officers searched Runnels’ vehicle and located 41 rounds of ammunition. Runnels was a convicted felon at the time of the incident. The defendant also admitted that from April 2021 to September 2021, while in jail awaiting trial, he made telephone calls with the intent to keep a witness from testifying in his case. “The defendant knowingly interfered with a federal investigation by attempting to prevent his victim from testifying,” said FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to hold offenders like Mr. Runnels accountable, while ensuring victims are heard and supported.” “The defendant, a violent felon, used a firearm and was found in possession of ammunition, then attempted to avoid prosecution by intimidating a witness,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “This type of behavior cannot—and will not—be tolerated. The twenty-year sentence imposed by the Court ensures that Runnels is off the streets and no longer a threat to the residents of the Eastern District.” The Honorable Patrick R. Wyrick, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearings in Muskogee. Runnels will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary W. Parsons represented the United States.


title: Justice Department Secures Settlement with Domino’s Pizza Franchisee to Resolve Immigration-Related Discrimination Claims

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that it has secured a settlement agreement with Maryland-based Treacy Enterprises Inc., which owns and operates several Domino’s Pizza franchises (Treacy Enterprises). The settlement resolves the department’s determination that Treacy Enterprises violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) by requiring a non-U.S citizen worker to provide more documents than necessary to prove his permission to work, even though he had already shown sufficient documentation. “While employers must verify every new hire’s permission to work in the United States, they can’t require unnecessary documents or discriminate based on someone’s citizenship status or national origin in the process,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division will continue to fight to remove discriminatory barriers to employment.” The department’s investigation began when a lawful permanent resident worker complained that Treacy Enterprises was requiring him to provide additional and unnecessary documentation to prove his permission to work instead of accepting the valid documentation he had already presented. The department determined that Treacy Enterprises discriminated against the worker by (1) demanding additional documentation to prove he could work rather than accepting the valid documents the worker had already provided and (2) requiring that the worker prove his citizenship status by showing a Permanent Resident Card (also known as a green card). Federal law allows workers to choose which valid, legally acceptable documentation to present to demonstrate their identity and permission to work, regardless of citizenship, immigration status or national origin. Employers cannot demand more documents than necessary or specific documentation as part of this process. Under the settlement, Treacy Enterprises will pay a civil penalty to the United States. The agreement also requires the company to train its human resources staff on the INA’s requirements, revise its employment policies, and be subject to departmental monitoring and reporting requirements. The Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the INA. Among other things, the statute prohibits discrimination based on citizenship status and national origin in hiring, firing or recruitment or referral for a fee; unfair documentary practices ; retaliation and intimidation . Learn more about IER’s work and how to get assistance through this brief video . Find more information on how employers can avoid discrimination when verifying permission to work on IER’s website . Applicants or employees who believe they were discriminated against based on their citizenship, immigration status or national origin in hiring, firing, recruitment or during the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify); or subjected to retaliation, may file a charge . The public can also call IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); email IER@usdoj.gov ; sign up for a free webinar ; or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites. Subscribe for email updates from IER. Spanish version


title: El Departamento de Justicia llega a un acuerdo con un franquiciado de Domino’s Pizza que resuelve unas acusaciones de discriminación relacionada con la inmigración

body_text: El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy que ha llegado a acuerdo conciliatorio con Treacy Enterprises Inc., con sede en Maryland y dueño y operador de varias franquicias de Domino’s Pizza (Treacy Enterprises). El acuerdo resuelve la determinación del Departamento que Treacy Enterprises vulneró la ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad (INA, por sus siglas en inglés) al requerir que un trabajador no ciudadano de los EE. UU. proporcionara más documentos de los necesarios para demostrar su permiso para trabajar, aunque ya había presentado suficiente documentación. «Mientras que los empleadores deben verificar el permiso para trabajar en los Estados Unidos de cada persona recién contratada, no pueden requerir documentos innecesarios o discriminar durante el proceso con base en el estatus de ciudadanía o la nacionalidad de origen de uno», afirmó Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «La División de Derechos Civiles seguirá luchando por quitar las barreras discriminatorias al empleo». La investigación del Departamento comenzó cuando un trabajador que es residente permanente legal se quejó que Treacy Enterprises estaba requiriendo que entregara documentación adicional e innecesaria para demostrar su permiso para trabajar en vez de aceptar la documentación válida que ya había presentado. El Departamento determinó que Treacy Enterprises había discriminado al trabajador al (1) exigir documentación adicional para demostrar que él podía trabajar en vez de aceptar los documentos válidos que el trabajador ya había entregado y (2) requerir que el trabajador demostrara su estatus de ciudadanía al presentar una Tarjeta de Residente Permanente (también conocida como «tarjeta verde»). Las leyes federales permiten a los trabajadores elegir los documentos válidos y legalmente aceptables que desean presentar para demostrar su identidad y permiso para trabajar, independientemente de su ciudadanía, estatus migratorio o nacionalidad de origen. Los empleadores no pueden exigir documentos específicos o adicionales a los que son necesarios como parte de su proceso. Conforme el acuerdo, Treacy Enterprises pagará una sanción civil a los Estados Unidos. Asimismo, el acuerdo requiere que la compañía capacite a su personal de recursos humanos en cuanto a los requisitos de la INA, que revise sus políticas de empleo y que se someta a los requisitos de supervisión y declaración del Departamento. La Sección de Derechos de Inmigrantes y Empleados de la División de Derechos Civiles es responsable de hacer cumplir la disposición antidiscriminatoria de la INA. Entre otras cosas, la ley prohíbe la discriminación por motivos de estatus de ciudadanía y nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido o reclutamiento o recomendación por comisión, prácticas documentales injustas y represalias e intimidación . Para aprender más sobre la labor de la IER y cómo conseguir ayuda, vea este vídeo corto. Hay información disponible en el sitio web de la IER sobre cómo los empleadores pueden evitar la discriminación a la hora de verificar el permiso para trabajar. Aquellos aspirantes o empleados que creen haber sido discriminados por motivos de su estatus migratorio, ciudadanía o nacionalidad de origen en los procesos de contratación, despido, reclutamiento o verificación de la elegibilidad para trabajar (Formulario I-9 e E-Verify) o sujetos a represalias pueden presentar una denuncia . El público también puede llamar a la línea directa de la IER para trabajadores al 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); llamar a la línea directa de la IER para empleadores al 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY para personas con discapacidades auditivas); enviar un correo electrónico a IER@usdoj.gov ; inscribirse a un seminario en línea gratuito; o visitar los sitios web de la IER en inglés o español . Inscríbase para recibir las últimas noticias de la IER por correo electrónico. Haga clic aquí para visualizar este comunicado de prensa en inglés.


title: Nash County Man Barred From Sweepstakes Scheme Targeting Senior Citizens

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: NEW BERN, N.C. – The United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina permanently enjoined Alpheus Brewer of Nashville, North Carolina, from further participation in a fraud scheme that victimized elderly Americans. The Government alleges that participants in the fraud scheme falsely claimed that individuals had won a sweepstakes or lottery, and then induced the victims to transmit money to Brewer to account for taxes and/or fees purportedly associated with, or to otherwise obtain the release of, the victims’ falsely promised winnings. “Mr. Brewer is alleged to have taken advantage of some of the most vulnerable members of our community through his participation in a scheme that robbed them of their savings,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “This action reflects our continued commitment to using every tool in our arsenal to combat elder fraud and abuse, and to ensuring justice for our community.” “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is dedicated to investigating individuals who abuse consumer trust and target the elderly and vulnerable individuals because of greed,” said U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Tommy D. Coke of the Atlanta Division. “Postal Inspectors, along with our federal partners, are committed to holding responsible those individuals who utilize the U.S. Mail in furtherance of illicit schemes at the expense of the public.” The United States alleged that from approximately mid-2021 to at least early 2023, Brewer assisted and facilitated this predatory mail-fraud, wire-fraud, and money-laundering scheme that was, in a nutshell, a sweepstakes or lottery scam. Brewer received the victims’ funds through the United States Postal Service or commercial mail carriers, deposited the fraudulently obtained funds into various bank accounts that Brewer owned in the United States, and then permitted individuals in Jamaica to withdraw the funds through automated teller machines. As alleged by the Government, on at least two separate occasions, the United States Postal Inspection Service warned Brewer that he appeared to be involved in a fraudulent scheme and informed him that he should not participate further. Brewer continued participating. When approached by law enforcement, Brewer admitted his participation in the scheme, explaining that he, too, was a victim of a lottery fraud scheme and was trying to recover his own losses. All told, the United States alleged that victims of this scheme lost approximately $143,000. The United States filed a complaint against Brewer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1345, which allows the Government to enjoin certain fraudulent behavior. Brewer cooperated with the Government’s investigation and consented to the injunction, which the Court entered on June 1, 2023. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Anderson and Andrew Kasper represented the United States. Other than the findings in the Court’s order, the United States’ factual assertions are allegations only. The Court has, however, determined that Brewer is liable in this civil action, and has entered the injunction against him. Related court documents and information from the civil lawsuit are on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CV-260-FL.


title: Denton County Financial Advisor Guilty of Federal Violations

body_text: PLANO, Texas– A Trophy Club man has pleaded guilty to federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today. Doug McKelvey, 58, pleaded guilty to money laundering charges before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kimberly C. Priest Johnson on June 6, 2023. According to information presented in court, from 2009 to 2022, McKelvey, a vice-president and financial advisor at Morgan Stanley, misappropriated at least $1.5 million of investor funds held in brokerage accounts. The funds were supposed to be invested on behalf of his clients. Instead, McKelvey used the funds to pay for personal trips, cruises, restaurants, salons, and other personal expenses. McKelvey faces up to 10 years in federal prison. The maximum statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anand Varadarajan. # # #


title: Navajo Man Sentenced to Eight Years for Voluntary Manslaughter

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Jameson Begaye was sentenced to 97 months in prison. Begaye, 44, of Shiprock, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pleaded guilty on August 26, 2022, to voluntary manslaughter. According to the plea agreement and court records, on March 7, 2021, in Shiprock, New Mexico, Begaye killed K.B. by shooting him in the chest, abdomen, and pelvis as Begaye was trying to forcefully enter the home of K.B.’s daughter, who was also Begaye’s ex-girlfriend. After shooting and killing K.B., Begaye fled the scene. Officers from the Navajo Nation Police Department were unable to locate Begaye that night but spotted his car outside Shiprock the following day. Begaye again fled from officers. During the ensuing high-speed pursuit, which reached speeds of 112 miles per hour, officers saw Begaye throw an object from the window of his car. Begaye also fired multiple gunshots from the car toward the officers. One round struck an officer’s windshield. Begaye eventually stopped and was arrested. When officers searched the roadway near the area police observed something being thrown from the car, they located the handgun used to kill K.B. Upon his release from prison, Begaye faces three years of supervised release. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Zachary C. Jones prosecuted the case. # # # 23-123


title: Fruitland Man Sentenced to Two Years for Involuntary Manslaughter

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Vern A. Anderson was sentenced to 24 months in prison. Anderson, 40, of Fruitland, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, pleaded guilty on May 17, 2022, to involuntary manslaughter. According to the plea agreement and court records, on Sept. 26, 2021, after hours of drinking together, Anderson got into a physical altercation with his brother, identified as John Doe in court documents, at a residence in Nenahnezad, New Mexico. Anderson stabbed his brother in the back, chest, and head a total of five times. John Doe suffered multiple defensive wounds on his hands and arms in the violent attack and succumbed to his injuries at the scene. Upon his release from prison, Anderson faces three years of supervised release. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander F. Flores prosecuted the case. # # # 23-124


title: Las Vegas Man Sentenced To Prison For Using Skimming Devices On Gas Pumps In Nevada And Southern California

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A Las Vegas man was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey to 56 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his role in a large gas pump skimming fraud scheme in Nevada and Southern California. Juan Luis Sosa Tamayo previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, one count of use of unauthorized access device, and one count of aggravated identity theft. According to court documents, from at least June 2018 and continuing through June 2020, Sosa Tamayo, together with co-conspirators Danyer Manuel Alarcon Rodriguez, Adrian Leyva Tamayo, and Francisco Rodriguez Gonzalez, installed skimming devices on gas pump terminals in and around Las Vegas and Reno, Nev., and Bakersfield and Fresno, Calif., to steal credit and debit card information from unsuspecting customers. They subsequently recoded the stolen account information and other personal data onto counterfeit cards. Then, the defendants used the counterfeit cards to fraudulently obtain goods and to make ATM cash withdrawals. Sosa Tamayo and his co-conspirators captured at least 8,229 stolen credit and debit card numbers through the use of their skimmers, and caused a total estimated loss amount of $5,032,616. Adrian Leyva Tamayo awaits sentencing on June 22, 2023; Francisco Rodriguez Gonzalez was previously sentenced to 70 months in prison and Danyer Manuel Alarcon Rodriguez was previously sentenced to 61 months in prison for their role in the conspiracy. United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Karon Ransom for the United States Secret Service made the announcement. The United States Secret Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Schmale prosecuted the case. If you are a victim of identity theft, you may make a report to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by calling 1-877-438-4338 or online at www.identitytheft.gov . For identity theft prevention tips and free resources visit www.ftc.gov/idtheft . ###


title: Jefferson Parish Man Sentenced for Violating Federal Gun Control Act

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SHAWN RABATHALY , age 22, of Harvey, Louisiana, was sentenced on June 6, 2023 by U.S. District Court Judge Susie Morgan to 46 months of imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee after previously pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. Judge Morgan also imposed RABATHALY’s sentence consecutive to whatever sentence that may arise from a pending case in the 24 th Judicial District Court of Louisiana. In that matter, RABATHALY is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. On August 5, 2021, Jefferson Parish detectives observed RABATHALY exit his residence, remove an Anderson Model AM-15, 5.56 caliber rifle from his trunk, and placed it in the passenger compartment. Later that day, detectives stopped RABATHALY’S vehicle and discovered the rifle in plain view inside the vehicle. As a convicted felon, it is unlawful for RABATHALY to possess a firearm. Thereafter, detectives arrested RABATHALY . 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. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Louisiana State Police, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Crescenta Valley Man Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining Nearly $3 Million in COVID Relief Funds

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A Sunland man who fraudulently obtained almost $3 million in COVID-19 business loans and jobless benefits has been sentenced to 63 months in federal prison, the Justice Department announced today. Arman Grigoryan, 42, was sentenced late Tuesday afternoon by United States District Judge Dolly M. Gee, who also ordered him to pay $2,880,259 in restitution. Grigoryan pleaded guilty in October 2021 to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. He has been in federal custody since July 2022 after a court determined he had violated the terms of his pretrial release. During 2020 and continuing through late September of that year, Grigoryan and used other people’s identities to apply for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits through California’s Employment Development Department (EDD). Once EDD approved the false and fraudulent UI applications, a bank issued to Grigoryan and his accomplices debit cards containing the funds intended for the false identities. Grigoryan and others then used the fraudulently obtained debit cards to withdraw cash. Grigoryan and others also used other people’s identities and shell companies to apply for loans intended to help businesses weather the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. They did so by submitted falsified payroll information and attaching forged tax forms as support. Once the banks approved the business loans, Grigoryan and his accomplices then rapidly withdrew the COVID business relief funds by writing checks to co-conspirators and shell companies, and by withdrawing the funds in cash. In total, Grigoryan caused at least $2,880,259 in actual losses through this conspiracy. “When confronted with the COVID pandemic that has claimed the lives of almost 7 million persons worldwide to date, [Grigoryan] instead saw an opportunity to bilk taxpayers out of the emergency funds their government generously made available to ameliorate job losses,” prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum. “Such criminal opportunism during a global health and economic emergency is egregious.” Homeland Security Investigations, the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, and the California Employment Development Department investigated this matter as part of the El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Brown of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case. Anyone with general information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Massage Envy Agrees to Address Alleged Americans with Disabilities Act Violations in All Franchised Locations Nationwide

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – Massage Envy Franchising, LLC, and ME SPE Franchising, LLC (“Massage Envy”) have entered into a settlement agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island, requiring the company to change policies at all of its franchised locations nationwide in order to provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. There are approximately 1,100 Massage Envy franchised locations in 49 states, including five in Rhode Island. The agreement follows an investigation initiated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island after receiving allegations that Massage Envy franchisees had violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) when they discriminated against individuals with disabilities who, because of their disability, needed assistance transferring to and from massage/facial tables. “For more than thirty years, the Americans with Disabilities Act has made one thing emphatically clear: places of public accommodation have a duty to accommodate everyone, regardless of disability,” said U.S. Attorney Cunha. “When businesses open their doors to the public, they have an obligation to make their services accessible, and when they do not meet that obligation, we will act. I am pleased that, with today’s agreement, Massage Envy has taken comprehensive steps to ensure that customers can access these facilities not only in Rhode Island, but across the nation.” One such complaint came from an individual who needed assistance transferring to and from a massage table, on account of vision and mobility disabilities. A manager at the Massage Envy franchise location in Providence, Rhode Island, informed her that a corporate policy prohibited employees from providing transfer assistance, and that the individual would need to bring in a third-party to assist her. The investigation revealed that Massage Envy had a policy that required all franchisees to require customers to bring in a friend, family member or other helper if they needed assistance with getting on or off the table. Under the settlement agreement, Massage Envy will end their policy of prohibiting staff from providing transfer assistance to people with disabilities, and will develop new ADA policies, which will be included on its website and posted at all franchised locations. Massage Envy will also report any future complaints and has agreed to cooperate with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure ongoing compliance with the terms of the settlement agreement. Massage Envy will also pay a settlement of $10,000 to the individual who was denied transfer assistance at the Providence location. The matter was litigated by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy R. Romero with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill C. Solomon from the District of Arizona The Department of Justice has a number of publications available to assist entities in complying with the ADA. For more information on the ADA and to access these publications, visit www.ada.gov or call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD). Any member of the public who wishes to file a complaint alleging that a place of public accommodation or public entity in Rhode Island is not accessible to persons with disabilities may contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (401) 709-5000 or by email at USARI.CivilRightsComplaint@.gov . ### massage_envy_ada_settlement_agreement.pdf


title: Cass County Man Charged with Bank and Bankruptcy Fraud

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – On June 6, 2023, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Travis Murphy, 40, of Chandlerville, Illinois, with four counts of bank fraud alleging over $8.4 million in fraud and one count of bankruptcy fraud. The indictment alleges that Murphy, through the business Murphy Farms, devised a scheme to defraud a FDIC insured bank and obtain its funds by making materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises. According to the indictment, Murphy obtained loans totaling over $8.4 million after submitting documents that misrepresented his property values, crop holdings, and income. After obtaining the loans and defaulting on payment, Murphy later sold collateral, being crops, outside of the agreement. Further, Murphy reiterated the inflated value of his property on his petition when he filed for bankruptcy. Murphy has been issued a summons to appear before the United States Magistrate Judge in Springfield, but the exact date for his appearance has not yet been finalized. If convicted, Murphy faces a penalty of up to thirty years in prison and five years of supervised release on each bank fraud count and a penalty of up to five years in prison and three years of supervised release on the bankruptcy fraud count. The charges also carry maximum fines of up to $1,000,000 for each count of bank fraud and up to $250,000 for the bankruptcy fraud count. The charges are the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office. The bankruptcy fraud charge was referred for criminal prosecution by the Office of the United States Bankruptcy Trustee for Region 10. The U.S. Trustee Program is the component of the Justice Department that protects the integrity of the bankruptcy system by overseeing case administration and litigating to enforce the bankruptcy laws. Region 10 is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, with additional offices in South Bend, Indiana, and Peoria, Illinois. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sierra Senor-Moore is representing the government in the prosecution. Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.


title: Madison Man Sentenced for Participating in Straw Purchase of Firearms

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Isaiah Phillips, 18, Madison, Wisconsin was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 60 days in jail for aiding and abetting a false statement during a purchase of a firearm. The period of incarceration will be followed by 3 years of supervised release. Phillips pled guilty to this charge on March 14, 2023. On June 2, 2022, law enforcement in Fitchburg began an investigation into illegal purchasing of firearms, known as “straw purchasing,” involving Phillips and two others. On February 7, 2021, an individual purchased a Glock 19X in DeForest, Wisconsin, and represented that she was the actual buyer of these firearms when in fact she was not. She had actually purchased the firearm for Phillips, who was a friend of her boyfriend. Phillips is under the age of 21 and cannot legally purchase a handgun. The Glock 19X was stolen from Phillips in March. Subsequently, Phillips asked this same individual to purchase a second firearm for him and on March 22, 2021, that individual purchased a Glock 17 at the same firearms store in DeForest and gave that handgun to Phillips. She again misrepresented that she was the actual purchaser of the firearm when she was actually buying the firearm for Phillips. On July 17, 2022, Phillips was arrested during a traffic stop and found in possession of the Glock 17. At sentencing, Judge Peterson observed that Phillips was involved in “gun culture.” The judge’s decision to impose 60 days of jail time was driven by Phillips’s non-compliance on pretrial supervision. Judge Peterson remarked that he had “never had someone as defiant on pretrial supervision” as Phillips. The judge addressed that Phillips’s actions were irresponsible and that his behaviors are both “self-destructive and dangerous to the community.” The charge against Phillips was the result of an investigation conducted by the Fitchburg, Madison, Monona, and Middleton Police Departments, Dane County Tactical Response Team, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn E. Ginsberg and Corey C. Stephan 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: Marathon County Man Charged with Drug & Gun Crimes

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin returned an indictment today charging Jacob L. Gould, 34, Weston, Wisconsin with drug crimes involving fentanyl and with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The indictment is announced by Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin. The indictment alleges that twice on January 6, 2023, Gould possessed fentanyl with intent to distribute, and that one of the possessions with intent to distribute involved 40 grams or more of fentanyl. The indictment also charges that on January 6, 2023, Gould possessed a 9mm handgun and a loaded magazine, knowing he had been previously convicted of a felony offense. If convicted, Gould faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison on the count alleging the possession of 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 20 years on the second drug count, and 15 years on the gun count. The charges against Gould are the result of an investigation by the FBI’s Central Wisconsin Narcotics Task Force, comprised of investigators from the FBI, Everest Metro Police Department, Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin State Patrol, Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, Wausau Police Department and Wisconsin National Guard Counter Drug Program, with the assistance of the Marathon County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anita Marie Boor is handling the prosecution. An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.