title: Chicago Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Edmund Omar Johnson, also known as “Chicago” and “Polo,” 44, of Chicago, Illinois, pleaded guilty today to distribution of a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 30, 2024, Johnson sold approximately 865 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant at a Fourth Avenue residence in Huntington. Johnson admitted to the transaction and to arranging it with the confidential informant beforehand. Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced on May 5, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1,000,000 fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cabell County Sheriff's Office. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-184. ###


title: Former Production Manager at American Distillation, Inc. Pleads Guilty After Releasing Chemical Pollutants into the Cape Fear River near Navassa

component: ENRD - Environmental Crimes Section

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – Barry Darnell White, 63, pled guilty today to knowingly discharging tert-Butyl alcohol and other pollutants into the Cape Fear River in violation of the federal Clean Water Act. White did so while employed by American Distillation, Inc., a chemical processing company located in Navassa, outside of Wilmington. “Rather than dispose of hazardous pollutants legally, this Navassa industrial site hooked a hose to a quarter-million-gallon waste tank, brazenly discharging over 50,000 gallons of pollutants into the Cape Fear River over a four-year period,” said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. “We won’t let corporate polluters cut corners for cash while the rest of us bear the costs. Not in North Carolina, not on the Cape Fear River, and certainly not in Navassa, where descendants of the Gullah-Geeche people have faced more than their share of environmental calamities. We’ll fight to protect our resources and our communities - until justice rolls on like a river.” According to the information presented in court, American Distillation, Inc. (ADI) is a chemical processing company located beside the Cape Fear River in Navassa. ADI was incorporated in 1992 to blend and market industrial grade ethyl alcohol. ADI’s services included distillation, dehydration, reaction, carbon treating, and blending of various chemicals and products from partners across the United States. ADI regularly intakes large quantities of tert-Butyl alcohol (TBOH) from its customer base, which ADI then distills into a usable product for such customers. TBOH is a pollutant that constitutes a solid waste, chemical waste, and an industrial waste under the law. During distillation, ADI created and stored byproducts in an approximately 250,000-gallon storage tank (known as Tank 14), which regularly stored liquid wastewater that included—in addition to TBOH—tert-butyl hydroperoxide, isopropyl alcohol, and acetone mixed with water. TBOH is highly flammable, colorless oily liquid with a sharp alcohol odor. The defendant, Barry Darnell White was the Production Manager at ADI’s main facility in Navassa. White led logistics at ADI, oversaw the movement of pollutants and various waste products within ADI, and supervised numerous other employees. Such logistics included the movement of chemicals from one tank to another, and the movements from tanker trucks in and out of ADI’s facilities. White reported directly to ADI’s corporate management. Five to six times per year, from 2020 to 2024, White released approximately 2,500 gallons of liquid wastewater from Tank 14. White did so by connecting a hose to Tank 14, then turning a valve to initiate the flow of liquid from the tank. The hose drained into a nearby pipe that drained to an outfall flowing directly to the Cape Fear River. ADI was required to properly dispose of TBOH byproduct according to its EPA-issued permit. ADI, however, beginning in late 2019 to the beginning of 2024, was accepting more TBOH and other chemicals from its customers than it could legally and safely process and remove. To ensure operations did not come to a halt and realize maximum profit, ADI released TBOH byproduct from Tank 14 causing it to flow into the Cape Fear River. ADI management had informed some of its employees that if operations came to a halt, the company would suffer serious financial harm, potentially including dissolution. ADI has not been charged with a crime or admitted to wrongdoing. “Our natural resources must be protected from those who blatantly disregard environmental laws by illegally discharging industrial waste into US waters,” said Leslie Carroll, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Environmental Protection Agency’s criminal enforcement program in North Carolina. “The defendant in this case discharged wastewater containing Tert-Butyl Alcohol and other chemicals into the Cape Fear River on multiple occasions since at least 2020. Today’s guilty plea demonstrates that EPA and its partners are committed to protecting our natural resources and the communities that rely upon them.” “This individual’s blatant violation of the Clean Water Act not only defrauded the EPA, but more critically, endangered communities relying on North Carolina rivers and streams by recklessly discharging harmful pollutants where people swim and fish” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Keith Squires of the EPA Office of Inspector General. “The EPA OIG is committed to pursuing criminals like this who disregard and degrade the integrity of EPA’s clean water mission and put profits above human health and the environment.” The Federal Water Pollution Control Act, referred to as the Clean Water Act (CWA) was enacted by Congress in 1948 and amended substantially in 1972 and thereafter to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation’s waters. In addition, the CWA was enacted to prevent, reduce, and eliminate water pollution in the United States and to conserve the Waters of the United States for the protection and propagation of fish and aquatic life and wildlife, for recreational purposes, and for the use of such waters for public drinking water, agricultural and industrial purposes. The CWA prohibits the discharge of pollutants into the waters of the United States from any point source without a permit issued under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (“NPDES”). Except in compliance with such a permit, the discharge of any pollutant by any person is unlawful. Under the CWA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) may delegate the authority to states to implement and enforce NPDES permits. North Carolina was delegated such authority in 1975. Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert B. Jones, Jr., accepted the plea. The EPA Criminal Investigation Division and EPA Office of Inspector General are leading the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Beraka is prosecuting the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:24-CR-00104-1.


title: Great Falls man admits strangulation and child abuse charges

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Great Falls man accused of strangling a woman and abusing a child on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation admitted to charges yesterday, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today. The defendant, Lane Thomas Lamere, 36, pleaded guilty to strangulation and to felony child abuse. Lamere faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the strangulation charge and a maximum of five years in prison, a $50,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the felony child abuse charge. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for May 14. Lamere was released pending further proceedings. In court documents, the government alleged that on January 12, 2024, in Box Elder, on the Rocky Boy’s Reservation, Lamere entered the residence of his ex-girlfriend, identified as Jane Doe 2, who was home with a child, identified as Jane Doe 1, who was under 14 years of age. Lamere dragged Jane Doe 2 to a bedroom and choked her. Jane Doe 1 entered the room during the strangulation, and Lamere grabbed her and began assaulting the child. Jane Doe 2 ran to get help from a neighbor, who called the police as they ran back to Jane Doe 2’s house. Both Jane Doe 2 and the neighbor tried to pull Lamere off the child and struck him with a snow shovel, but he did not release Jane Doe 1. A Rocky Boy’s Police Department officer arrived and ultimately tased Lamere when he did not respond to orders to get off Jane Doe 1. Both victims were transported to Northern Montana Hospital and were treated for injuries. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Rocky Boy’s Police Department and the FBI conducted the investigation. XXX


title: U.S. Attorney's Office and Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office Secure Sentencing in Albuquerque Firearms Case

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man has been sentenced to 46 months in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition following an incident at Adam Food Market in Albuquerque. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, on the night of January 24, 2024, officers from the Albuquerque Police Department responded to reports of a man brandishing a handgun during an argument at Adam Food Market on Central Avenue. Surveillance footage from APD's Real Time Crime Center captured most of the incident. During the altercation, the other individual involved produced a knife. Despite opportunities to disengage, Arthur Steven Stewart retrieved a small pistol and reapproached the other individual, pointing the firearm at him. APD officers arrived on scene and apprehended Stewart , recovering a loaded pistol from his pocket. Stewart , who was on probation for a previous robbery with a firearm enhancement conviction, initially claimed he had found the gun in the street and was attempting to return it to its owner. Upon his release from prison, Stewart will be subject to two years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman made the announcement today. The Albuquerque Police Department investigated this case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Haynes is prosecuting this case as part of an agreement with the Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Through the agreement, Assistant District Attorneys are designated Special Assistant United States Attorneys (SAUSAs) in the United States Attorney’s Office. The SAUSA from the Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office screens felony criminal complaints filed in Bernalillo County for federal criminal offenses, prioritizing federal charges against those who drive violence in the Albuquerque metropolitan area. Since 2020, the United States Attorney’s Office has reviewed almost 3,000 cases and has charged more than 300 criminal cases pursuant to this program. The United States Attorney’s Office has similar agreements with the New Mexico Department of Justice and the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office and plans to expand the program throughout the state. # # #


title: St. Louis County Man Admits Defrauding Online Sellers with Prop Money

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Louis County on Tuesday admitted using movie prop money to defraud at least 13 online sellers of vehicles and other property, costing them $229,200. Aaron Montgomery, 41, of Bellefontaine Neighbors, Missouri, pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud and four counts of interstate transportation of stolen vehicles. He admitted that beginning in August 2022, he targeted those who were selling vehicles or other property online. Montgomery contacted the sellers, negotiated a price and then arranged a meeting, often at a bank to make it appear as if he was using real money. Montgomery provided them “motion picture money,” or prop money, often inside a bank envelope or bag. Montgomery would then take the property, which included cars, SUVs, trucks, five pairs of Air Jordans and audio equipment, before the sellers discovered that he had not provided them with real money. Montgomery transported at least five of the stolen vehicles from the states where the sellers lived, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee, back to Missouri. Montgomery’s sentencing is scheduled for May 22. Both sides agreed to recommend 51 months in prison and full restitution to all victims. Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Secret Service and the Illinois State Police investigated the case. The Missouri law enforcement agencies that investigated include the Lake St. Louis Police Department, the St. Louis County Police Department, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the Ralls County Sheriff’s Office, the Maryland Heights Police Department, the Kansas City Police Department, the Barry County Sheriff's Office and the Richmond Heights Police Department. The Glen Carbon (Illinois) Police Department, the Palatine (Illinois) Police Department, the Holland (Michigan) Police Department and the Gahanna (Ohio) Police Department also investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Ladendorf is prosecuting the case.


title: U.S. Attorney's Office Secures Guilty Pleas in Albuquerque Fentanyl Case

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Two Albuquerque drug dealers pleaded guilty to federal charges after attempting to sell 30,000 fentanyl pills, containing approximately 3,200 grams of the drug, to an undercover law enforcement agent. According to court documents, on December 6, 2023, Miguel Antonio Ramirez , 23, and Isaiah Anthony Aragon , 24, conspired to sell approximately 30,000 fentanyl pills for $30,000 to an undercover law enforcement agent. That day, Ramirez drove to Aragon 's residence in Albuquerque, where Aragon delivered a tan plastic bag containing the fentanyl pills to Ramirez 's vehicle. When DEA agents approached the vehicle, Aragon attempted to flee, but was apprehended shortly after. A subsequent search of Aragon 's residence yielded $61,024 in cash, an electronic money counter, and a digital scale. Laboratory analysis confirmed that the seized pills contained fentanyl with a net weight of 3,217 grams. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Towanda R. Thorne-James, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration El Paso Division, made the announcement today. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case. # # #


title: Two Altoona Residents Plead Guilty to Methamphetamine Trafficking Charges

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Two residents of Altoona, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of narcotics trafficking related to a six-month Title III wiretap investigation into drug trafficking in and around Blair, Cambria, Centre, and Clearfield counties, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Tonya Settlemyer, 39, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine, while Andrew Stowell, 67, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Both pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Stephanie L. Haines. In connection with the guilty pleas, the Court was advised that Stowell sold a quantity of methamphetamine to an undercover officer on December 12, 2022. The Court was also advised that Settlemyer assisted an Altoona-based narcotics dealer who distributed large quantities of methamphetamine to various individuals throughout the Western District of Pennsylvania. Judge Haines scheduled sentencing for both defendants for May 15, 2025. The law provides for a total sentence of up to 20 years of imprisonment, a fine of up to $1 million, or both for Settlemyer and not less than 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both for Stowell. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense(s) and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. The Court ordered that Settlemyer remain detained and Stowell remain on bond pending sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan D. Lusty is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration led the multi-agency investigation of the case, which also included the United States Postal Service – Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Internal Revenue Service, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and Pennsylvania State Police. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Casper man sentenced to 16 years for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine

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

body_text: Brian Neil Wiggins, 50, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 192 months in federal prison with three years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Jan. 10, in Casper. According to court documents, in March of 2024, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) received a tip that Wiggins was selling methamphetamine and regularly carrying guns despite being a previously convicted felon. DCI investigated Wiggins and discovered that he was on parole and had a scheduled meeting with his parole officer in Casper on March 22, 2024. The parole officer requested assistance from DCI to search Wiggins’ truck and property. Law enforcement searched his vehicle and located a Taurus 9mm handgun, 16 grams of fentanyl (approximately 160 pills), 167 grams of suspected methamphetamine, a digital scale, and multiple small baggies. Law enforcement also searched Wiggins’ apartment and found 33 milliliters of liquid methamphetamine, a Glock .40 caliber handgun with an obliterated serial number, a 9mm high-capacity magazine, and miscellaneous drug paraphernalia. Wiggins was indicted on May 16, 2024, and pleaded guilty on August 27, 2024. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Forearms and Explosives, and DCI investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Hammer prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-CR-00070


title: Repeat Gun Offender Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison

body_text: WASHINGTON – Clarence Minor, 30, a previously convicted felon from Washington D.C. , was sentenced today to 46 months in federal prison for illegally possessing after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly ordered that Minor serve three years on supervised release when he is released from prison. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives- Washington Field Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Minor pleaded guilty on May 8, 2024, to being a felon in possession of a firearm. In addition to the 46-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Timothy J. Kelly ordered Minor to serve three years of supervised release. According to court documents, on June 17, 2023, a citizen called 911 to report having seen a young man pull a handgun from his backpack and place it his waistband on his right side. The caller provided details about the physical description, clothing, location, and direction of travel to the 911 operator. Within 10 minutes, MPD officers observed a man, later identified as Minor, wearing the same clothes walking in the area described by the 911 caller. Officers conducted a lawful stop of Minor, patted the right side of his waistband, and recovered a Glock19, 9 mm semi-automatic handgun loaded with one round in the chamber and ten rounds in a 31-round capacity magazine. At the time of the stop, Minor was carrying a small child on his right hip, directly over the top of the loaded handgun. A review of Minor’s criminal history revealed that he was on supervised release in D.C. Superior Court for a prior gun conviction when he was arrested in this case. Minor had only been back on the streets for four months before his arrest. This case was investigated by the MPD and ATF as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative. The matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James B. Nelson. 23cr322


title: Bureau of Prisons Inmate Sentenced to Over One Year in Prison For Offering Bribes to Corrections Officer

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – A federal inmate with the Bureau of Prisons (BOP), was sentenced to 18 months in prison today for offering bribes to a corrections officer, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison. Ison was joined in the announcement by William J. Hannah, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice, Office of Inspector General. Robert Bibbs, 28, of Chicago, Illinois, pleaded guilty in October 2024 to one count of offering bribes to a public official before United States District Judge Jonathan J.C. Grey. Federal law classifies corrections officers as public officials. According to court documents, between April 2023 and November 2023, Bibbs became acquainted with a corrections officer (identified in the plea agreement as CO-1) while he was an inmate at the Milan, Michigan Federal Correctional Institution (FCI Milan). During this time, Bibbs asked CO-1 to purchase pouches of loose tobacco and smuggle them into the prison for him. Bibbs requested these items so he could sell the tobacco in prison at a significant profit. In September 2023, CO-1 also purchased a gold necklace which she secretly brought into the prison and gave to Bibbs. Both the tobacco and the necklace are considered contraband within FCI Milan. Contraband is defined as prohibited materials which can reasonably be expected to cause physical injury or adversely affect the security, safety, or good order of the institution. Bibbs offered to pay CO-1 for smuggling contraband into the prison for him. United States Attorney Ison stated, “Our justice system cannot function properly if our prisons are not safe and secure. Inmates who engage in this type of prohibited conduct endanger the safety of everyone inside the prison. We will address crime wherever it happens.” “Contraband items such as jewelry and tobacco are used as a currency within federal prisons, which undermines the safety and security of institutions,” said William J. Hannah, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Inspector General Midwestern Region. “Today’s sentencing shows that inmates who seek to bribe Correctional Officers to introduce contraband into federal prisons will be held accountable.” The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eaton P. Brown. The investigation was conducted by the Department of Justice-Office of Inspector General


title: Non-Profit A Jewish Voice for Peace, Inc. to Pay $677,634 to Resolve PPP Fraud Allegations

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – A Jewish Voice for Peace, Inc., a Washington, D.C., based nonprofit organization, has agreed to pay $677,634 to settle allegations that the organization violated the False Claims Act when it applied for and received a $338,817 second-draw loan under the Paycheck Protection Act Program of the CARES Act Disaster Relief Program, and when it further applied for and was granted forgiveness of the entire amount of the loan. The agreement was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and U.S. Small Business Administration General Counsel Therese Meers. In March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was created to provide emergency financial support to Americans suffering economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act authorized billions of dollars in forgivable loans to small businesses and other entities, including non-profit organizations, struggling to pay employees and other business expenses. Under the applicable provision of the CARES Act, a business concern or other entity, including a nonprofit organization, is not eligible to receive a second draw loan if it is primarily engaged in political or lobbying activities, which shall include any entity that is organized for research or for engaging in advocacy in areas such as public policy or political strategy or otherwise describes itself as a think tank in any public document. At the time it applied for the second draw PPP loan, A Jewish Voice for Peace certified to its lender and the SBA in the loan application that it was “not a business concern or entity primarily engaged in political or lobbying activities, including any entity that is organized for research or for engaging in advocacy in areas such as public policy or political strategy or otherwise describes itself as a think tank in any public documents.” It further certified in the loan forgiveness application that it met the conditions for receiving the second draw PPP loan. The investigation revealed that A Jewish Voice for Peace was primarily engaged in political activities. A Jewish Voice for Peace contends that any misstatements in this application were inadvertent. “The Paycheck Protection Act Program existed to help businesses survive a devastating global pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “When business owners unfairly drain those funds – either by not reading the eligibility requirements or disregarding them – they put the entire program at risk. In the end, those who are harmed are the businesses that actually qualified for and needed the money, and the taxpayers who funded the program.” “The favorable settlement in this case is the product of enhanced efforts by federal agencies such as the Small Business Administration working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, SBA’s Office of Inspector General and other Federal law enforcement agencies, as well as private individuals who uncover fraudulent conduct to recover the product of this fraud as well as penalties,” said SBA General Counsel Therese Meers. Under the False Claims Act, a party found to violate the Act must pay three-times the amount of damage to the United States. Had A Jewish Voice for Peace been found liable to the United States under the False Claims Act, it would have been ordered to pay three times the amount of the loan and lost interest, along with civil penalties for each false certification made in the loan application and forgiveness application. In connection with this settlement, A Jewish Voice for Peace agreed to pay an amount equal to two-times the loan amount, or $677,634. The settlement announced today stems from a Federal investigation that was initiated when another public interest group, TZAC, filed a whistleblower complaint pursuant to the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. The claims resolved by the civil settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability in the civil case. The civil settlement was the result of an investigation by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen DeGenaro and Auditor Timothy Hurley of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. U.S. Attorney Graves commended Attorneys Kandace Zelaya and Arlene Messengerlerner of the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of the General Counsel for their assistance in the investigation and settlement negotiations. The case is captioned U.S. ex rel. TZAC v. A Jewish Voice for Peace, Inc. Tips and complaints regarding potential fraud affecting COVID-19 government relief programs can be reported by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or by submitting a NCDF Web Complaint form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form


title: Berkeley County Man Sentenced for Elder Financial Abuse

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Joseph Beach, age 55, of Inwood, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 41 months in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining a quarter of a million dollars from his father. Beach pled guilty to one count of wire fraud in March 2024. According to court documents and statements made in court, Beach was the fiduciary for his father, who is under the care of a veterans' facility and receives monthly benefits. As the fiduciary, Beach received his father’s veteran’s disability, retirement, and social security payments but used them for his own benefit. The total amount of funds stolen by Beach was $253,867.12. Beach was ordered to pay $253,876.12 in restitution and will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eleanor Hurney prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, and the Social Security Administration investigated. U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.


title: Four Indicted In Conspiracy To Commit Bank Fraud And Money Laundering Schemes Involving More Than $128 Million In Criminal Proceeds

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Daniel Liburdi (35, Miami), Joseph Scotto (44, Bay Shore, NY), Gregory Walker (43, Ontario, Canada), and Frank Carbone III (35, Orlando) with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Liburdi and Carbone III are also charged with bank fraud. Each bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud offense carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison. The conspiracy to commit money laundering offense carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The indictment also notifies the defendants that the United States intends to forfeit three residences in Miami Beach, and one in the U.S. Virgin Islands, which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense. In addition, the government is seeking an order of forfeiture in the amount of $128,144,908.66. According to the indictment, Liburdi, Scotto, Walker, and Carbone conspired to commit bank fraud by submitting fraudulent applications to U.S. financial institutions to obtain merchant processing accounts. These applications contained the private personal information of unwitting individuals, obtained by the conspirators under false pretenses. After fraudulently obtaining these merchant accounts, the conspirators were then able to accept credit and debit cards to further an e-commerce enterprise which used high-risk and unscrupulous sales techniques. By using the personal information of unwitting individuals, the conspirators insulated themselves from personal liability and risk associated with their business model, to the detriment of those persons, and to the financial institutions which materially rely on honest and full disclosures of ownership when providing merchant services. As a result of their activities, the conspirators obtained criminal proceeds processed through these fraudulent accounts exceeding $128 million dollars. The indictment also charges the defendants with conspiring to launder their criminal proceeds. The conspirators allegedly used the proceeds of their bank fraud activity to pay for services in promotion of the scheme, such as advertising services. The conspirators shared in the proceeds of the bank fraud through these transactions, moving criminal proceeds in and between conspirator-controlled bank accounts. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was jointly investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (Tampa) and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (Tampa). Additional assistance was provided by the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations (Miami and New York), and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (Miami and New York). It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Duso.


title: Minnesota Man Charged with Federal Hate Crimes for Assault Against Black Man

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: A Minnesota man was arrested last week and charged with federal hate crime offenses for assaulting a Black man outside of a bar. According to the indictment that was unsealed yesterday, on or about Feb. 3, 2024, Justin Anthony Kudla used force or the threat of force to injure, intimidate and interfere with the victim — a Black man identified in the indictment as Victim 1 — because of Victim 1’s race, color, religion and/or national origin, and because Victim 1 was enjoying the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages and accommodations of a local bar. The indictment also charges Kudla with willfully causing bodily injury to Victim 1 because of Victim 1’s actual and perceived race. If convicted, Kudla faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each offense and a fine of up to $250,000. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger for the District of Minnesota and Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of the FBI Minneapolis Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Minneapolis Field Office is investigating the case, with assistance from the Belle Plaine Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Gilead for the District of Minnesota and Trial Attorneys Katherine G. DeVar and Briana M. Clark of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Jefferson County felon sentenced for federal gun violation

body_text: BEAUMONT, Texas – A Hamshire convicted felon has been sentenced to federal prison for a firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. Willie Dean Nelson, III, 32, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and was sentenced to 105 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on January 14, 2025. According to information presented in court, on October 26, 2022, law enforcement officers responded to a Beaumont Fastlane convenience store robbery. The caller gave the description of the vehicle and witnesses described the subject and advised he was armed. The vehicle was located nearby, and Nelson was observed exiting the vehicle. A pistol was discovered laying a few feet in front of the vehicle. Nelson admitted to throwing the firearm from the vehicle when he saw the officers because he was a convicted felon and prohibited by federal law from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. This case was investigated by the Beaumont Police Department and the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Grove. ###


title: Chinese Nationals Plead Guilty in Fraudulent Gift Card Conspiracy Involving the Purchase and Export of Apple Products to China

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – Three Chinese nationals pleaded guilty for their roles in a large-scale fraud conspiracy based in China, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Naxin Wu, 26, Mengying Jiang, 34, and Mingdong Chen, 28, pleaded guilty in federal court in Concord to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud. Judge Landya B. McCafferty scheduled Wu’s sentencing for April 8, 2025 and Jiang’s sentencing for April 22, 2025. Judge Joseph N. Laplante scheduled Chen’s sentencing for April 11, 2025. According to the charging documents, organized criminal elements in China acquire gift cards through multiple fraudulent means. For example, gift cards are obtained by hacking U.S. companies, and targeting U.S. citizens through romance and elder fraud schemes. The criminal elements then send the gift card data to multiple cells of Chinese nationals operating in the United States through a Chinese-based messaging platform. Once U.S.-based cells receive the gift card data, they then spend the gift cards to purchase high-value electronics, principally Apple products. After purchasing the Apple products, cell members consolidate the electronics in warehouses for shipment to China, Hong Kong, or countries in Southeast Asia. The cells primarily operate in states with no sales tax, such as New Hampshire, to maximize their profits. Wu, Jiang, and Chen are members of one cell in New Hampshire. Wu and Jiang purchased fraudulent gift cards at a discount from their face value. They then either personally used the cards or disseminated them to others, including Chen, to use. Wu was responsible for $1.4 million, Jiang for $3 million, and Chen for $400,000 of fraudulent gift cards. The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. 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. Homeland Security Investigations, Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Concord Police Department led the investigation. The Merrimack County Attorney’s Office has provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Kidnapping for ransom in Mexico sends Pharr man to prison

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 27-year-old Pharr man has been ordered to federal prison following his conviction of hostage taking, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Sixto Gonzalez Jr. pleaded guilty May 15, 2023. Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Gonzalez to serve 240 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence regarding Gonzalez’s prior violent criminal history and attempts to bribe a correctional guard while he was in custody for the instant offense. In handing down the sentence, the court noted the seriousness of the crime, injuries the victim sustained and Gonzalez’s continued engagement in criminal conduct. “The victim in this case was lured into Mexico because Gonzalez assumed that authorities wouldn't bother to invest resources into a kidnapping that occurred there,” said Hamdani. “The United States will continue to work with law enforcement authorities around the world to protect American citizens abroad and bring to justice those that think foreign ground is a safe haven from prosecution.” “U.S. citizens deserve to be safe from violence, no matter where they are,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp for the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office. “The FBI relentlessly works to protect the American people whether they are here or abroad - and we do so with vigor, commitment and determination. We hope this sentence provides the victim some measure of comfort. As always, the public is urged to call 1-800-CALL-FBI or go online at tips.fbi.gov if they have information about violent crimes or other crimes against Americans overseas.” Gonzalez admitted he unlawfully detained a 19-year-old Alamo man to force a ransom to be paid for his safe return. On June 23, 2021, Gonzalez lured the victim into Mexico by purporting to have a potential job opportunity to give him. Gonzalez picked the victim up after the victim crossed into Mexico on foot. When they arrived at a house located in Reynosa, Mexico, Gonzalez and several co-conspirators beat and restrained the victim. Between June 23 and June 25, 2021, Gonzalez and his co-conspirators demanded $5,000 and a firearm in exchange for his return. When the family could not immediately obtain the funds, conspirators sent a video to the victim’s family with footage of him being beaten with a wooden board until the board fractured. Law enforcement eventually determined the location of the house where he was being held. They conducted a search of the home and found the victim bound with zip ties, covered with a blanket and with bruises throughout his body. They also discovered Gonzalez located inside the house. Gonzalez will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Reynosa State police in Tamaulipas, Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colton Turner and Roberto Lopez prosecuted the case.


title: Shanelle Booker Becomes Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia

component: USAO - Georgia, Middle

body_text: MACON, Ga. – A life-long Georgian who has served as a federal prosecutor for the Middle District of Georgia in most of its major leadership roles—including as its Criminal Division Chief and First Assistant U.S. Attorney—is the new Acting U.S. Attorney, the first time a Black person and a Black woman has led the office. C. Shanelle Booker became the Acting U.S. Attorney on Jan. 12, 2025, by virtue of the Vacancies Reform Act, and has served the citizens of the Middle District of Georgia as a federal prosecutor since 2015. “It is an honor for me to serve the citizens of the Middle District of Georgia in this leadership role, and to ensure the good work of the office continues seamlessly,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Shanelle Booker. “Upholding justice and ensuring the safety of all is our office’s utmost objective, alongside our strong law enforcement and community partners across the Middle District of Georgia.” Ms. Booker has prosecuted high-profile violent crime, child exploitation, sex trafficking, public corruption and fraud cases in the Middle District of Georgia. Since joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2015, Ms. Booker has held nearly every major leadership role, including Elder Justice Coordinator, Criminal Civil Rights and Hate Crimes Coordinator, Deputy Criminal Division Chief, Criminal Division Chief, Acting Administrative Officer and as the First Assistant U.S. Attorney. A resident of Macon, Georgia, Ms. Booker is active in the community with a special focus on volunteering with young people, including mentoring juvenile girls committed to the Macon Regional Youth Detention Center through the Girl Squad Mentoring Program and the United Way of Central Georgia’s Read United Program, a comprehensive literacy program focused on school-based, grade-level reading support and tutoring. Ms. Booker also works with Just the Beginning Foundation to inspire law careers among underrepresented students and volunteers with the Georgia High School Mock Trial Competition. She is a member of Bibb Mount Zion Baptist Church, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and is a former board member of the Central Georgia Empowerment Fund, a philanthropic fund that seeks to build capacity and financial sustainability of non-profit organizations that serve the Black community and address the most pressing needs facing Blacks in the Central Georgia region. Ms. Booker is an adjunct professor at Mercer University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, where she has taught criminal justice classes since 2020. Ms. Booker also regularly leads critical training for the law enforcement community on topics including firearm conversion devices and machineguns; fentanyl and armed drug trafficking; hate crimes; elder abuse and other major areas of concern, sharing her expertise as a seasoned prosecutor. Raised in Riverdale, Georgia, and a graduate of Clayton County Public Schools, Ms. Booker received her B.A. from Hampton University, magna cum laude, and J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law. After law school, Ms. Booker clerked for U.S. District Judge Brian Miller of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. Following her clerkship, Ms. Booker served as a state public defender and managing attorney in the Brunswick Judicial Circuit Defender’s Office where she represented indigent people charged with felony crimes in Brunswick, Georgia. As Acting U.S. Attorney, Ms. Booker is the top-ranking federal law enforcement official in the Middle District of Georgia, which covers 70 of Georgia’s 159 counties, includes Albany, Athens, Columbus, Macon and Valdosta, and has a population of approximately 2,045,000 people. The office is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes in the District, including crimes related to terrorism, public corruption, child exploitation, fraud, firearms, illegal gangs and narcotics. The office also defends the United States in civil cases and collects debts owed to the United States.


title: KCMO Man Indicted for Meth Trafficking, Illegal Firearms

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in two separate and unrelated cases for drug trafficking and illegally possessing firearms. A Kansas City, Kansas, man is also charged in one of those cases with illegally possessing a firearm. Daroy L. Thomas, 25, of Kansas City, Mo., was charged in a four-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Nov. 6, 2024. In a separate and unrelated case, Thomas and Shannon J. Price, 29, of Kansas City, Kan., were charged in a two-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Nov. 6, 2024. Both of these indictments were unsealed and made public today following the arrests of Thomas and Price. The first indictment charges Thomas with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, one count of possessing firearms in relation to a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms. The indictment alleges the drug-trafficking conspiracy lasted from Dec. 20, 2022, to April 14, 2023. Thomas allegedly was in possession of methamphetamine to distribute, as well as two Glock pistols and a Draco semi-automatic pistol, on April 14, 2023. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Thomas has prior felony convictions for robbery and armed robbery. The second indictment charges Thomas and Price with one count each of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Thomas and Price each allegedly were in possession of Glock pistols on July 28, 2023. Price has prior felony convictions for tampering with a motor vehicle and resisting arrest. The charges contained in these indictments are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. Both of these cases are being prosecuted by Department of Justice Trial Attorney Sarah J. Rasalam and Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan A. Baker. They were investigated by the FBI.


title: Former Police Lieutenant and Son Sentenced to a Combined 14 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking Crimes

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – Charles Page, age 52, and his son Treyvon Ladonte Page, age 29, were sentenced to 48 months and 120 months in prison, respectively, for their drug trafficking crimes in 2021 and 2022. At the time of Charles Page’s crimes, he was a law enforcement officer with the Ayden Police Department. “This police lieutenant, a 13-year veteran of the force, used his official position to access confidential databases and share intelligence to advance his son’s drug trafficking,” said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. “We won’t tolerate public officials breaching the public’s trust to help criminals, whether they are family or not. When law enforcement officers breach the public’s trust it undermines the rule of law and puts the entire community at risk. Many thanks to the FBI and the countless other honest officers who worked tirelessly to bring this scheme to light.” According to court documents and other information presented in court, in July of 2021, law enforcement received information that Treyvon Page was distributing cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and marijuana in Pitt County. Law enforcement launched an investigation that included conducting 15 controlled purchases from Treyvon Page between November 2021 and August of 2022. The purchases consisted of varying amounts of heroin and fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine. In 2022, surveillance showed that Treyvon Page was visiting a residence in Grifton, close in time to the controlled purchases occurring. The residence belonged to his father, Charles Page, who was serving as a lieutenant with the Ayden Police Department at the time. On September 20, 2022, law enforcement executed several search warrants across Pitt County in conjunction with the ongoing investigation. A search warrant was executed at Charles Page’s house and the following items were seized: 167 grams of pure methamphetamine; 72 grams of cocaine; 15 grams of cocaine base (crack); and three shotguns. As part of the investigation, law enforcement conducted interviews with several cooperating sources and defendants. These interviews revealed that Charles Page was aware of Treyvon’s drug trafficking and that Treyvon would often contact his dad for confidential law enforcement information related to drug trafficking investigations. A search of Charles Page’s phone corroborated this information. In several instances, Charles Page advised Treyvon Page whether Treyvon had active warrants and told Treyvon confidential information from investigations, such as the identity of victims. Charles Page resigned from his law enforcement position shortly after the search warrant was executed. Additionally, continued investigation revealed that Charles Page repeatedly queried Treyvon’s name and Treyvon’s drug dealing associates across confidential law enforcement databases in violation of North Carolina law. Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. Agencies involved in the investigation include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation, the N.C. State Highway Patrol, the Pitt, Jones and Onslow County Sheriff’s Offices, the Jacksonville and Greenville Police Departments, and the Greenville Regional Drug Taskforce. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for case number: 4:22-CR-00050-FL.


title: Missouri Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Recording Sex with Minor

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Tuesday sentenced a Missouri man who recorded himself having sexual contact with a minor to 30 years in prison. Russell Alan Pirkey, now 54, of Linn County, used his cell phone to record his sexual exploitation of a 10-year-old girl. But the abuse lasted months, Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan Chapman said in court Tuesday. The victim said the abuse began in August of 2022, after Pirkey began grooming her, Chapman said. She was 9 years old at the time. Pirkey’s crime was discovered on April 8, 2023, when someone with concerns about his contact with the victim contacted the Brookfield Police Department. Pirkey pleaded guilty in September in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to a charge of sexual exploitation of a child. The FBI, the Brookfield Police Department and the Linn County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan Chapman is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Registered sex offender gets 30 years for using social media to distribute child pornography

body_text: GALVESTON – A 46-year-old Alvin resident has been ordered to federal prison after his convictions of transportation and possession of child sexual assault material (CSAM), announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. David Lopez Jr. pleaded guilty June 27, 2024. Today, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey V. Brown sentenced him to 360 months on each of the two transportation counts and 120 months for each of the two possession counts. They will run concurrently for a total 360-month-term of imprisonment. The court heard additional evidence regarding his lengthy criminal history and his sexual interest in children which dated back to 2014. Judge Brown considered how Lopez committed this offense while he was registering as a sex offender for his 2006 convictions for sexual assault of a child and indecency with a child. The court also took into consideration the victims through their impact statements read in court. He considered how his conduct affected those minors of whom he had collected images and videos that were found in his collection. Lopez was furthered ordered to pay restitution to the victims and will be on supervised release following the completion of his prison term for the rest of his life. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to the internet. “This is an individual who has a deep-seated sexual interest in children that cannot be deterred,” said Hamdani. “After two decades of sexually exploiting children by his hands-on offenses and trading child pornography, he must be stopped. The only way to do that is by giving him to a lengthy prison sentence which is what the court did today.” “With today’s sentencing we have removed a dangerous predator from the community who has shown absolutely no remorse for his heinous actions two decades ago when he sexually assaulted a young child and destroyed an innocent life,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Houston Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz. “Instead, while registered as a sex offender, he has actively engaged in trafficking the sexual abuse materials that force child victims to relive their worst nightmare in perpetuity. HSI Houston is committed to continuing to aggressively pursue anyone who preys on the vulnerability of our children and will not rest until we have eradicated southeast Texas of this pure form of evil.” In 2016, Lopez came to the attention of law enforcement after learning he was using social media to distribute files depicting CSAM. From 2016 until 2020, Lopez used multiple sites to upload CSAM to his accounts between Feb. 19, 2016, and Jan. 14, 2020. Authorities arrested Lopez in February 2020 for failure to comply with his sex offender registration. At that time, he admitted to viewing child pornography. Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Lopez’s phone and found 100 images and 60 videos of young children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The images and videos depicted babies/toddlers and acts of violence such as the penetration of the victims, bestiality, bondage and sadistic and masochistic conduct. After serving his sentence for the failure to comply with his sex offender registration and possession of a controlled substance, Lopez began transporting, distributing, receiving and possessing child pornography again. Lopez was arrested in October 2022 and once again admitted to trading and viewing child pornography. He has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Homeland Security Investigations - Galveston conducted the investigation with the assistance of Pearland Police Department, Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Ann Leo prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page . For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page .


title: Springfield Man Indicted for Illegal Firearm

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for illegally possessing a stolen firearm that has been connected to two shootings. Jayden Isaac Simmonds, 18, was charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield. Today’s indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Simmonds on Dec. 20, 2024. The federal indictment charges Simmonds with one count of being an unlawful user of a controlled substance while in possession of a firearm. According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, Simmonds’s father turned in a Smith & Wesson 10mm semi-automatic pistol to the Springfield Police Department on Aug. 23, 2024. The pistol, which investigators later learned was stolen during the theft of a motor vehicle in December 2023, had been taken from Simmonds while he was asleep. Investigators test-fired the pistol and submitted the 10mm cartridges to the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) for analysis. The test-fired cartridges, the affidavit says, were a presumptive match to shell casings recovered from two separate shootings in Springfield in August 2024. The first shooting occurred on Aug. 4, 2024, on West Brower Street. An occupied residence was shot multiple times by unknown suspects. At least 17 rounds stuck the residence, but there were no injuries. The second shooting occurred on Aug. 14, 2024, on North Prospect Avenue. A disturbance resulted in shots being fired. One residence was struck, but there were no injuries reported. Following his arrest, the affidavit says, Simmonds told investigators he had been using marijuana daily since he was 11 or 12 years old, and that he was addicted to opioids and had been using fentanyl. The charge contained in this indictment is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Christian County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.


title: New Jersey Resident And Business Owner Admits $3,400,000 Tax Evasion

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – A Gloucester, County, New Jersey man admitted to willfully evading more than $3,400,000 of taxes, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced today. Jose Camilo Perez, Jr., 54, of Sewell, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb to an information charging him with one count of tax evasion. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Perez controlled a company that digitized medical records for hospitals and other healthcare entities. From 2016 through 2023, the business received more than $8,000,000 for the services it performed. Perez attempted to evade the assessment of federal income taxes by cashing checks payable to the business at a check cashing business rather than depositing those checks into the business’s bank account or his personal bank account, and then he used the cash for personal expenses and to pay payroll. From 2016 through 2023, Perez did not report any of the income he received from the business to the IRS. As a result, Perez evaded income taxes of more than $3,400,000. The tax evasion charge carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for May 20, 2025. Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan in Newark, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel A. Friedman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Camden. ### Defense counsel: Brian J. McMonagle Esq., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania josecamiloperez.information.pdf


title: Justice Department and OSHA Issue Statement on Non-Disclosure Agreements That Deter Reporting of Antitrust Crimes

component: Antitrust Division

body_text: Today, the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division and Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), jointly affirmed that corporate non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) that deter individuals from reporting antitrust crimes undermine the goals of whistleblower protection laws, including the Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act of 2019 (CAARA). CAARA prohibits employers from discharging or otherwise retaliating against a worker for (1) reporting potential criminal antitrust violations and related crimes to their employer or the federal government or (2) assisting a federal government investigation or proceeding. NDAs that undermine CAARA or otherwise interfere with employees’ freedom to report potential crime will cost the employer when the Antitrust Division makes its charging decisions and sentencing recommendations. Companies should also be aware that using NDAs to obstruct or impede an investigation may also constitute separate federal criminal violations. Any company that so interferes with its employees’ cooperation would jeopardize its ability to satisfy its obligations under the Antitrust Division’s leniency policy , which requires an applicant to “use its best efforts to secure the timely, truthful, continuing, and complete cooperation of all current and former employees.” And the Antitrust Division’s Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs in Criminal Antitrust Investigations guidelines consider a company’s policies around NDA and anti-retaliation training in assessing the effectiveness of the company’s compliance program. “Members of the public are often best positioned to detect and blow the whistle on antitrust crimes,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Doha Mekki of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The Antitrust Division values this information and works to ensure that individuals are free to report misconduct without fear of retaliation or retribution.” “By working jointly with partner agencies to break down barriers to employee reporting, OSHA is committed to strengthening our enforcement of whistleblower laws and protecting workers’ voices,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Jim Frederick. “This collaboration fosters a culture of accountability and upholds the integrity of worker rights.” What Companies Should Know Whistleblower Protections for Reporting Antitrust Crimes Antitrust crimes hurt consumers, workers, and taxpayers — and threaten our free-market economy and democratic institutions. For over 130 years, criminal prosecutors have used antitrust laws as a charter of economic freedom to protect and promote competition. Members of the public are often best positioned to detect and blow the whistle on antitrust crimes. Leads from the public about potentially illegal conduct enable the Antitrust Division and its law enforcement partners to uncover antitrust cartels and monopolization schemes, prosecute those crimes and protect competition. The Antitrust Division values this information and works to ensure that members of the public are free to report misconduct without fear of retaliation or retribution. The Antitrust Division protects to the fullest extent of the law the identity of those who report antitrust violations. CAARA protects company employees, contractors, subcontractors or agents who report certain criminal antitrust violations. CAARA prohibits employers from discharging or otherwise retaliating against a worker for (1) reporting potential criminal antitrust violations and related crimes to their employer or the federal government or (2) assisting a federal government investigation or proceeding. Therefore, CAARA helps to incentivize the reporting of antitrust crimes and supports the Antitrust Division’s criminal enforcement program. NDAs and Contractual Restrictions on Reporting May Conflict with Antitrust Enforcement and CAARA Individuals who seek to report antitrust violations must not be deterred or prevented from coming forward for fear of adverse employment consequences. The Antitrust Division’s work prosecuting antitrust crimes is compromised when NDAs deter individuals from providing law enforcers with relevant information on wrongdoing. When individuals believe that a corporate NDA may prevent them from reporting illegal conduct to enforcers, crimes go undetected and competition suffers. For example, some NDAs are worded so broadly as to suggest that people who report potential crimes or cooperate with law enforcement could face lawsuits and adverse employment consequences as severe as termination. This fear of retribution leads to less reporting of illegal activity and less vigorous antitrust enforcement. NDAs that discourage individuals from reporting wrongdoing or cooperating with an antitrust investigation also undermine CAARA’s goal of protecting whistleblowers. Even the mere implication that an NDA would bar employees from reporting illegal conduct or assisting an investigation or proceeding clashes with the basic principles behind CAARA that encourage self-reporting and disclosure of wrongdoing to the government. NDAs that Deter Reporting Will Cost Companies at Charging and Sentencing CAARA encourages individuals to provide tips to law enforcement and cooperate in antitrust investigations, incentivizes companies to promote compliance and complements leniency and cooperation credit policies. For these reasons, NDAs that undermine CAARA or otherwise interfere with employees’ freedom to report potential crime will cost the employer when the Antitrust Division makes its charging decisions and its sentencing recommendations. Companies should also be aware that using NDAs in efforts to obstruct or impede an investigation may also constitute separate federal criminal violations. And of course, a company that interferes with its employees’ cooperation would jeopardize its ability to fulfill its obligations under the Antitrust Division’s leniency policy , which requires an applicant to “use its best efforts to secure the timely, truthful, continuing, and complete cooperation of all current and former employees.” The Antitrust Division’s Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs in Criminal Antitrust Investigations guidelines, which prosecutors use to assess the effectiveness of compliance programs when making charging decisions and sentencing recommendations, make clear that the sufficiency and efficacy of a compliance program depends on the existence of “reporting mechanisms that employees can use to report potential antitrust violations anonymously or confidentially and without fear of retaliation.” The questions prosecutors ask in evaluating a compliance program include: Whether a company has an anti-retaliation policy; Whether it trains employees, managers and supervisors on the provisions of CAARA; Whether the company’s use of NDAs is consistent with ensuring that employees can report antitrust violations without fear of retaliation; Whether NDAs are used in a way that deters whistleblowers or violates CAARA; and Whether NDAs and other employee policies make clear that employees can report antitrust violations, including to government authorities. Companies that fail to address retaliation, CAARA and NDAs in their policies and compliance structure risk losing out on the benefits associated with maintaining an effective compliance program when the Antitrust Division is making charging decisions and sentencing recommendations. To report potential antitrust crimes to the Antitrust Division, contact the Complaint Center . If your complaint relates to potential antitrust crimes affecting government procurement, grant or program funding, contact the Procurement Collusion Strike Force Tip Center . If you feel that you have been a victim of retaliation or would like to learn more about protections for whistleblowers, please see OSHA Fact Sheet .


title: Conehatta Man Sentenced for Sexual Abuse of a Minor on the Choctaw Indian Reservation

component: USAO - Mississippi, Southern

body_text: Jackson, MS –On January 13, 2025, a Conehatta man was sentenced to 24 years and 4 months in federal prison for sexual abuse of a minor on the Choctaw Indian Reservation. According to court documents, Brett Keith Thomas, 28, sexually abused a minor who was under the age of twelve years old. The abuse occurred in 2016. Thomas was indicted by a federal grand jury in July of 2023, and pleaded guilty in June of 2024. U.S. Attorney Todd Gee and Robert Eikhoff, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Jackson Office, made the announcement. The Choctaw Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and 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.


title: Four Defendants Plead Guilty in Ongoing Bid-Rigging, Fraud and Bribery Investigation Related to U.S. Government IT Purchases

body_text: Four defendants pleaded guilty in the District of Maryland for their roles in schemes to rig bids, defraud the government and pay and receive bribes in connection with the sale of IT products and services to federal government purchasers, including the Department of Defense (DoD). The charges were previously announced on Oct. 29, 2024. These are the first guilty pleas in the Justice Department’s ongoing investigation into IT manufacturers, distributors and resellers who sell products and services to government purchasers, including to the intelligence community. On Nov. 7 and 13, 2024, Brandon Scott Glisson, a government contractor, and Lawrence A. Eady, a federal government official, both pleaded guilty to separate counts of bribery. According to public documents, between August 2019 and October 2020, Glisson paid approximately $630,000 in bribes to Eady from Glisson’s company, Alpha Greatness Omega (AGO). In exchange for the bribe payments, Eady ensured that the U.S. government purchased IT products from one of their co-conspirators’ companies at artificially inflated, non-competitive prices, and then diverted the inflated portion of the payments to AGO, which Glisson used for personal luxury purchases and to pay Eady bribes. Antwann C.K. Rawls, an on-site government IT consultant, and Scott A. Reefe, an IT sales executive, also pleaded guilty in related cases. On Jan. 8, Reefe pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and, on Jan. 13, Rawls pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States. According to public documents, from at least 2018 until at least May 2019, Rawls, Reefe and their co-conspirators used their positions of trust to learn sensitive, confidential procurement information, including procurement budgets for large U.S. government IT contracts. They and their co-conspirators used that inside information to rig bids for U.S. government IT procurements at artificially determined, non-competitive and non-independent prices, ensuring one of their co-conspirators’ companies would win the procurement. The defendants submitted their collusive bids despite knowing the government sought independent, competitive bids for these valuable contracts, causing the U.S. government to suffer at least $1,300,000 in losses. “These convictions bring to justice individuals who cheated and defrauded the United States government for their own personal gain,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Doha Mekki of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “Holding these individuals accountable shows that rigging bids for government contracts will not go unnoticed or unpunished.” “These guilty pleas underscore the grave consequences of engaging in bid-rigging and bribery in government IT procurement,” said Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “The defendants’ actions not only violated public trust but also diverted taxpayer dollars meant for essential services. The FBI remains vigilant in identifying and holding accountable those who exploit the system for personal gain, ensuring fairness and transparency.” “Today’s outcome demonstrates our commitment to aggressively investigate those who enrich themselves with federal procurement dollars while cheating taxpayers,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard of the DoD Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “DCIS is proud to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of the procurement process, including when it impacts the intelligence community.” Sentencing hearings will be set at a later date. Glisson and Eady each face a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. Reefe faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and Rawls faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. DCIS, FBI’s Baltimore Field Office, Central Intelligence Agency Office of Inspector General and National Security Agency Office of Inspector General are investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Michael Sawers, Zachary Trotter and Elizabeth French of the Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean M. Delaney and Darren Gardner for the District of Maryland are prosecuting the case. In November 2019, the Justice Department created the Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF), a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government — federal, state and local. To learn more about the PCSF, or to report information on bid rigging, price fixing, market allocation and other anticompetitive conduct related to government spending, go to www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force . Anyone with information in connection with this investigation can contact the PCSF at the link listed above.


title: U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada to Leave Justice Department After Serving as Chief Federal Law Enforcement Officer in the Largest District in the Nation

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – United States Attorney Martin Estrada announced today that he will resign his position as the chief prosecutor for the nation’s most-populous federal district, the Central District of California. While serving as the top federal law enforcement officer in the Los Angeles-based district since September 2022, Mr. Estrada oversaw more than 500 Assistant U.S. Attorneys and staff who serve almost 20 million people in the seven counties that comprise the district. Mr. Estrada tendered his resignation to the President and the Attorney General today, and he will conclude his service as United States Attorney on January 17. “As the child of immigrants from Guatemala, neither my family nor I could ever have believed that I would one day have the opportunity to serve as United States Attorney in service to the greatest country in the world,” Mr. Estrada said. “To say that serving in this position has been an honor would be a profound understatement. Giving back to the community where I grew up and that I love so dearly – and doing so alongside such talented and generous attorneys and staff – has been the greatest privilege of my life.” During his tenure, Mr. Estrada prioritized protecting the public by taking on the most significant and impactful cases, outreach to the community, and recruiting the best lawyers in the country to continue the office’s excellent service to the nation. Notable Casework With regard to casework, Mr. Estrada focused on matters addressing hate crimes, civil rights, violent crime, national security, fentanyl and other synthetic drugs, public corruption, corporate fraud and financial crimes, and protecting vulnerable communities and environmental justice. Hate Crimes In one of the most diverse regions in the country, Mr. Estrada collaborated with other civic and law enforcement leaders in numerous events to highlight the community’s unity against hate and prejudice of all types. Delivering on this message, the office aggressively prosecuted hate crimes in the district, including by convicting and obtaining a 35-year prison sentence against a man who attempted to murder two orthodox Jewish men in the Pico-Robertson area of Los Angeles; carrying out the largest-ever takedown of a Neo-Nazi organization, involving 68 members and associates of the San Fernando Valley Peckerwoods and Aryan Brotherhood; convicting an active-duty Marine and his conspirators who firebombed a Planned Parenthood clinic, sought to attack Dodger Stadium during “Pride Night” and conspired to attack the power-grid system to start a race war; obtaining a 98-count indictment against the shooter who murdered one congregant and attempted to kill 44 others at a Taiwanese church in Laguna Woods; and convicting a man who drove his car through a “stop Asian hate” rally in Diamond Bar. Civil Rights In the field of civil rights, under Mr. Estrada’s leadership, prosecutors charged a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) deputy who allegedly, along with his former law enforcement and military accomplices, unlawfully held an Irvine family as part of a multimillion-dollar business dispute; convicted a former FBI agent who accepted bribes from an organized crime figure; and convicted an LASD deputy for using excessive force against a teacher and then attempting to cover up the act. Lawyers in the office’s Civil Division obtained the largest redlining settlement in the history of the Department of Justice – $31 million – against City National Bank; secured a settlement with the County of Los Angeles to ensure access for voters with disabilities; filed a lawsuit against LA Fitness, the largest fitness club chain in the country, alleging disability discrimination at its fitness clubs; and initiated an investigation into allegations of sexual assault and harassment at the two women’s state prisons in California. Violent Crime To address violent crime, Mr. Estrada built greater federal and local partnerships throughout the region. In particular, he launched Operation Safe Cities , an enhanced collaboration with local police and sheriffs’ departments to address the most violent gun criminals, particularly those involved in commercial robberies, kidnappings, extortion and gun offenses. Through Operation Safe Cities , the office has filed dozens of cases subjecting dangerous gun criminals to enhanced federal penalties. Other notable violent crime results under Mr. Estrada’s leadership include decades-long prison sentences against three gang members who murdered an off-duty Los Angeles Police Department officer while he was shopping for a home with his girlfriend; a life sentence against a gang member who murdered the son of a former federal agent; a racketeering indictment targeting the leadership of a gang allegedly responsible for the murder of two El Monte Police Department officers; the indictment of a car-rental business and its operators who allegedly facilitated more than 120 burglaries by South American crime tourists; the indictment of a man who shot at a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department deputy responding to a domestic violence call; and the indictment of Grammy-winning Chicago rapper Durk Banks, a.k.a. “Lil Durk,” for allegedly conspiring to murder a rival rapper and killing his cousin. In September 2024, Mr. Estrada was joined by Mayor Karen Bass, City Attorney Heidi Feldstein-Soto and other law enforcement officials to announce the Figueroa Corridor Human Trafficking Initiative , a multi-agency initiative to address the sexual exploitation of children and young people along Figueroa Street, a notorious prostitution hub. With this initiative, prosecutors were able to obtain major sentences against pimps trafficking in children. National Security In the national security area, prosecutors obtained a life sentence against a Long Beach man whose bomb attack in Orange County killed his ex-girlfriend and injured two other victims; prison time for a U.S. Navy officer who transmitted sensitive U.S. military information to a Chinese intelligence officer; convictions and prison time for weapons traffickers who illegally exported military items to Russia; the indictment of a Chinese national who allegedly worked to illegally ship firearms, ammunition and sensitive technology to North Korea; and the indictment of a former member of the Chinese military who allegedly illegally operated as an agent for the People’s Republic of China and sought to influence the U.S. political system. Prosecutors also worked to protect the cybersecurity of the nation with notable cases, including indicting the leaders of the cybercriminal group known as Anonymous Sudan that launched more than 35,000 cyber attacks in one year against U.S. government agencies, major corporations and foreign governments; dismantling the massive, global botnet known as Qakbot, which was tied to ransomware attacks around the world; and indicting four individuals connected to the Scattered Spider network, which was responsible for more than $11 million in losses. Synthetic Drugs With fentanyl becoming the leading cause of death for Americans between 18 and 45 and wreaking havoc on the streets, Mr. Estrada focused major resources on combating this epidemic. As for large-scale drug traffickers, prosecutors filed critical cases, including matters against a Chinese laboratory and its staff for allegedly selling fentanyl precursor chemicals; a Canadian and former Olympic snowboarder and his conspirators charged with trafficking tons of drugs from Mexico to the United States and Canada; Mexican cartel members and Canadian truckdrivers moving hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine throughout the United States and Canada; an alliance alleged between the Sinaloa cartel and money launderers in the People’s Republic of China; and numerous fentanyl traffickers operating on the dark web. Mr. Estrada also directed the office to put significant focus on charging drug-traffickers who cause the death of another person, cases which carry 20-year mandatory minimum sentences in federal prison. Partnering with local law enforcement and district attorney’s offices in the region, the office filed over 70 “death-resulting” cases during Mr. Estrada’s tenure, by far the most of any office in the country. Among these was the prosecution of five individuals, including two doctors, responsible for the death of actor Matthew Perry in October 2023. Public Corruption Mr. Estrada led the office to continued success in combating public corruption. Among other matters, prosecutors obtained a RICO conspiracy conviction and 13-year prison sentence for former Los Angeles city councilman Jose Huizar; a 12-year prison sentence for former Los Angeles deputy mayor Raymond Chan; a bribery and fraud conviction and 3½-year prison sentence against longtime politician Mark Ridley-Thomas; a five-year prison sentence for a real estate executive who bribed a San Luis Obispo County supervisor; and convictions of the former Commerce city manager and Baldwin Park city attorney for a bribery scheme concerning cannabis permits. Prosecutors also secured the guilty plea of Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do to charges of bribery involving more than $10 million in COVID-19 pandemic relief funds. Corporate Fraud and Financial Crimes To put greater focus and resources on fraud by executives and insiders, Mr. Estrada launched the Corporate and Securities Fraud Strike Force, a section dedicated to prosecuting complex corporate crimes, abuses by company insiders, and offenses that impact the nation’s financial system. Among other cases, prosecutors charged Fat Brands Inc., its former CEO, and former CFO on fraud charges; indicted an activist short seller with multiple counts of securities fraud; and convicted the former CEO and chairman of a health care company of securities fraud and insider trading. Financial fraud prosecutors also brought criminal charges against those involved in illegal gambling, including Ippei Mizuhara, the former translator for Major League Baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani. Protecting Vulnerable Communities and Environmental Justice Mr. Estrada placed great emphasis on protecting vulnerable victims. To do so, he launched the Vulnerable Communities Task Force , which addresses scams aimed at groups that historically have had less legal recourse to address offenders targeting them, such as immigrants, indigent individuals, and older adults. With this initiative, prosecutors have convicted and sentenced numerous individuals and groups involved in “pig butchering” scams and other fraud. Prosecutors also convicted celebrity lawyer Tom Girardi, who stole from his clients in their greatest time of need. Recognizing the need to combat environmental violations in the nation’s most populous and diverse district, Mr. Estrada created the position of Environmental Justice Coordinator and bolstered the Environmental Crimes and Consumer Protection Section of the office. The section indicted Phillips 66 Company for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act by illegally discharging hundreds of thousands of gallons of contaminated wastewater; convicted the captain of the Conception dive boat for a fire that killed 34 people; and secured a landmark $20 million settlement with the City of Los Angeles for the discharge of millions of gallons of wastewater from the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant into Santa Monica Bay in 2021. Community Outreach and Recruitment Mr. Estrada, the first U.S. Attorney of Central American heritage and a native of Southern California, prioritized outreach to allow the community to better understand the work of the office. A fluent Spanish speaker, Mr. Estrada made it a point to provide Spanish-language segments in the over four dozen press conferences and interviews he provided to reporters. Mr. Estrada also created the Community Service and Outreach Committee to direct the office’s outreach efforts. Among other events, the office organized court visits for youth nonprofits in South Los Angeles, met with Tribal leaders and youth, organized civil rights roundtable events with public-interest and faith-based organizations, partnered with AARP and local leaders at fraud-prevention events for older adults, and participated in Adoption Day. To expand outreach at local schools, the office partnered with the Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest school district in the country, to educate students about cyber safety and other cybersecurity dangers. In launching this partnership, Mr. Estrada served as “Principal for the Day” at LAUSD’s Whitman High School in the Fairfax area of Los Angeles. Additionally, Mr. Estrada strengthened private sector-public sector collaboration through a series of summits attended by federal and local law enforcement, private companies, and non-profits. Among these were the Power Grid Security Summit, the Semiconductor Security Summit, and the Public Interest Summit. In the area of criminal justice reform, Mr. Estrada established one of the first federal conviction integrity committees and created an executive position of Chief of Ethics and Post-Conviction Review. The new committee and position allowed for expedited review of innocence claims, ethical issues, and requests for commutation or pardon. Further, working with the district court, U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services, and the Federal Public Defender’s Office, Mr. Estrada announced the expansion of the Conviction and Sentence Alternatives (CASA) program, which is being made available to a wider group of defendants by expanding admission criteria to include defendants facing federal charges who have demonstrated an ability and willingness to make significant and meaningful changes in their lives. To move the office toward better reflecting the diversity of the region, Mr. Estrada also significantly expanded recruitment efforts, sending attorneys to speak at law schools throughout the country and personally visiting dozens of law schools. Mr. Estrada also spoke to bar organizations throughout the country to discuss the work of the office and encourage applicants from nontraditional backgrounds to apply to become AUSAs. In addition, Mr. Estrada recruited federal investigators to create the office’s first-ever Investigative Division, which will help the office bring more meritorious cases. * * * On June 6, 2022, President Biden nominated Mr. Estrada to be U.S. Attorney, and he was unanimously confirmed by the Senate on September 13, 2022. He was sworn in as U.S. Attorney on September 19, 2022. Mr. Estrada received his B.A. from the University of California, Irvine, where he graduated magna cum laude , and his J.D. from Stanford Law School, where he graduated with distinction. Mr. Estrada, who served as an Assistant United States Attorney from 2007 to 2014, is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He also was an Adjunct Professor for Loyola Law School’s Ninth Circuit Appellate Clinic, part of the Alarcón Advocacy Project, where his teams achieved success for indigent clients. Mr. Estrada served as a law clerk for U.S. District Judge Robert J. Timlin of the Central District of California and Judge Arthur L. Alarcón of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.


title: Moscow Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: Criminal - Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section

body_text: COEUR D’ALENE – Joshua Jay Downer, 39, of Moscow, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for distribution of child sexual abuse material, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. According to court records, in early 2024, law enforcement received Cybertips from an email provider indicating that somebody who was using their email service was distributing child sexual abuse material from multiple related email addresses. Law enforcement traced the email addresses to a Moscow address where Downer, a registered sex offender on federal supervision for a prior conviction related to child sexual abuse material, lived. In February 2024, law enforcement searched Downer’s home and found a tablet in Downer’s bedroom. Downer was prohibited from possessing this tablet while on federal supervision. A forensic analysis of the tablet revealed numerous images and videos of child sexual abuse material, as well as evidence indicating that Downer was using the tablet to distribute child sexual abuse material to others. Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye ordered Downer to serve a lifetime of supervised release following his prison sentence and to pay $12,000 in restitution to four victims in the images he possessed. Downer will be required to continue to register as a sex offender as a result of the conviction. “The defendant in this case earned every day of his sentence,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “Together with our law enforcement partners, our office remains focused not only on holding accountable anyone who would distribute child sexual abuse materials, but also supporting victims and seeking restitution on their behalf.” “Every time child sexual abuse material is shared and viewed on the internet, it revictimizes the child,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Albert Kelly of the Salt Lake City FBI. “Any form of child abuse leaves a profound and enduring effect on an innocent victim. The FBI and our partners are committed to protecting children from such harm and exploitation.” U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the work of Moscow Police Department, the Latah County Sheriff’s Office, the Lewiston Police Department, the Nez Perce County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Johnson prosecuted this case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) of the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Two Romanian Men Plead Guilty to Possession of Device Making Equipment

body_text: JACKSON, MS – Alexandru Ionut Gheorghe, and Marian Aurelian Neacsu, both nationals of Romania, pleaded guilty today to one count of possession of device making equipment, also known as skimming devices. According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning on June 21, 2024, the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office Cyber Crime Division began receiving reports from various agencies regarding the discovery of skimmer devices being located at various stores in central Mississippi. The Cyber Fraud Task Force began investigating leads that would determine the location of installed skimmers throughout the Southern District of Mississippi, Tennessee, and Louisiana. Gheorghe, 28, and Neacsu, 29, could be seen on surveillance video at various stores throughout the Southern District of Mississippi placing skimming devices on point-of-sale machines in June and July 2024. The skimmers were adhered using double-sided tape and were equipped with electronics that captured or recorded bank card magstripe track data and PIN numbers. Included in the information skimmed or stolen by these defendants were SNAP benefits totaling over $80,000. SNAP provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget. These stolen SNAP benefits were used in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and can be traced back to the skimming devices in Mississippi. Gheorghe and Neacsu are scheduled to be sentenced on April 15, 2025, and face a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis, and Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch made the announcement. The United States Secret Service and the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office are investigating the case through their partnership in the Cyber Fraud Task Force with assistance from the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case. The Cyber Fraud Task Force offered the following tips to keep your bank card data safe: 1. Use terminals that offer tap to pay or chip read capabilities. Avoid swiping cards, if possible. 2. Look at the terminal prior to inserting or using your card in relation to other terminals in the store. Do they look the same? Overlay skimmers will add to the overall dimensions of a terminal.