title: Laplace Resident Sentenced Probation  For Defrauding Cares  Act Financial Assistance Program

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that BASHIR SCHOFIELD (SCHOFIELD) , age 24, a resident of LaPlace, La., was sentenced on March 5, 2024 by United States District Judge Greg G. Guidry to 4 years’ probation, after previously pleading guilty to wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343. SCHOFIELD participated in the preparation and filing of false applications for loans related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). SCHOFIELD was also ordered to pay $282,650 in restitution, jointly and severally, with two relatives, Munira Schofield and Lynn Schofield (RELATIVES) , who were charged separately and to pay a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. According to court documents, BASHIR SCHOFIELD , and his RELATIVES, submitted applications to fraudulently obtain money from Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and Economic Injury Disaster (EIDL) loans. SCHOFIELD and his RELATIVES submitted loan applications falsely representing that the applicant had a sole proprietorship and generated substantial income from that business. The false representations included, overinflating the business’s gross receipts, and claiming the loan proceeds were for business purposes when, in fact, the proceeds were for the defendants’ personal purposes. Indeed, the entities either did not even exist or earned far less money than SCHOFIELD and his RELATIVES represented. For example, on about April 14, 2021, SCHOFIELD completed and submitted a false PPP loan application in the name of an entity he claimed to control, “Vison Six, LLC.” SCHOFIELD falsely stated in the application that his gross income from Vison Six in 2019 was $100,000 and that the money would be used for business-related purposes. In fact, Vison Six was not incorporated until November 2020, performed no business, and had no gross receipts in 2019. As a result of the fraudulent application, SCHOFIELD received approximately $20,833. Additionally, SCHOFIELD and his RELATIVES collectively submitted false applications for several other entities, including “AfroTouch, Inc.,” “Afromerica Touch 360, LLC,” and “Just Jocin.” For more information on the Department of Justice’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit, was in charge of the prosecution.


title: Nampa Man Pleads Guilty to Selling His Co-Worker Fentanyl Pills That Resulted in the Co-Worker’s Death

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: BOISE – Tanner Lee Goforth, 37, of Nampa, pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl after selling a co-worker fentanyl that led to his overdose death, announced U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit today. According to court records, on May 17, 2022, Goforth met his friend and co-worker, the victim, at a local gas station where Goforth sold the victim 10 fentanyl pills. The victim went home, ingested the fentanyl intravenously, and died almost immediately. Nearly a half hour later, his girlfriend found him in their bathroom, called 911, and began performing CPR. Nampa Police Department officers and Nampa Fire Protection District arrived on scene and attempted life-saving measures including the administration of Narcan. Unfortunately, the victim was unable to be resuscitated. U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford will sentence Goforth on May 30, 2024. Judge Brailsford will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the investigation by the Nampa Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Canyon County Coroner’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Morse is prosecuting this case. ###


title: Oregon Man Charged with Federal Hate Crime for Defacing Synagogue

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: EUGENE, Ore.—An Oregon man has been charged with a federal hate crime for intentionally defacing a Eugene synagogue several times over a five-month period. Adam Edward Braun, 34, a resident of Eugene, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with intentionally defacing a synagogue because it was a place of religious worship for Jewish people. According to court documents, on four separate occasions between August 2023 and January 2024, Braun is alleged to have intentionally defaced Temple Beth Israel, a Jewish synagogue in Eugene, by repeatedly targeting the synagogue with graffiti, some of which used antisemitic symbols and phrases. Braun’s pattern of behavior culminated in the early morning hours of January 14, 2024, when he traveled to Temple Beth Israel with a hammer and prepared to swing at the glass doors of the synagogue. Braun stopped when he saw he was being recorded by a surveillance camera, and then moved to a different area of the property and used spray paint to write “White Power” in large letters on the building’s exterior. On January 31, 2024, officers from the Eugene Police Department, with assistance from the FBI, executed a state search warrant on Braun’s Eugene residence and located multiple pieces of evidence connecting Braun to the attacks on Temple Beth Israel. Investigators also found several items and writings belonging to Braun that were consistent with antisemitic beliefs and biases. Braun was arrested today without incident by the FBI and made his first appearance in federal court before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was ordered detained pending further court proceedings. This case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Eugene Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Gavin W. Bruce, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon, and Cameron A. Bell, Trial Attorney for the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section. A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Former Navy Civilian Employee and Former Executive Indicted in Bribery Scheme Involving Over $100 Million in Government Contracts

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – March 7, 2024 SAN DIEGO – A former civilian employee of San Diego-based Naval Information Warfare Center and a former executive with a South Carolina defense contractor were charged in an indictment unsealed today with participating in a bribery scheme to trade expensive meals, jobs and a ticket to a premiere sporting event for help obtaining more than $100 million in government contracts. According to the indictment, James Soriano, of Las Vegas, Nevada, worked for the Naval Information Warfare Center, which provided contract administration services for the Navy. From 2006 to 2019, Soriano was an engineer, project leader and certified “Contracting Officer Representative” with technological expertise to help manage Department of Defense contracts. Soriano was supposed to act as liaison between the government and the contractor, including keeping contractor bid, proposal and selection information confidential, and protecting the integrity of the acquisition process by maintaining fairness in the government’s treatment of all bidders. According to the indictment, Soriano instead used his considerable influence to steer lucrative contracts to Russell Thurston of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, who was an executive vice president of a company vying for defense contracts with locations in Arlington, Virginia, and Charleston, South Carolina. The company provided technical and consulting services in the information technology field. The indictment said Thurston, and others working under him, gave Soriano various things of value including jobs for a family member and friends, free meals at various restaurants, as well as a ticket to the 2018 MLB All Star Game held at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. One of the friends who was given a job at Soriano’s request gave Soriano half her salary every month—approximately $2,000 per month—in cash. The indictment indicates the friend was not actually performing the duties for which she was being paid. In return, Soriano took official action to benefit the company, including allowing Thurston and other employees to draft procurement documents for various contracting efforts, even where the company was competing for the contract against other bidders. As a result of Soriano’s efforts, the company won a task order with a more than $300 million ceiling. Soriano then approved numerous projects on this task order, ultimately causing the government to obligate more than $100 million to the company. To conceal their activities, Thurston, Soriano, and other employees at the company would intentionally delete document properties on procurement documents drafted by employees. Soriano also failed to disclose the gifts on his yearly required OGE Form 450. “This indictment reveals callous greed at the cost of taxpayer dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “This office will vigorously investigate and prosecute fraud that threatens public trust in our institutions.” “The indictment of James Soriano and Russell Thurston should be a deterrent for individuals and companies contemplating or attempting to misuse positions of public trust in order to enrich themselves financially or ensure future lucrative contracts,” said Bryan D. Denny, Special Agent-in-Charge for the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Western Field Office. “The alleged actions subvert the integrity of the government’s acquisition process, waste taxpayers’ money, and ultimately degrade the readiness of America’s warfighters.” “The DoD contracting process ensures our taxpayer dollars are spent appropriately to equip our warfighters with the tools necessary to fight and win in an ever-increasingly complex environment. Attempts to undermine that process ultimately put our warfighters at risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation. “This most recent indictment against Mr. Soriano and Mr. Thurston is demonstrative of IRS Criminal Investigation’s relentless commitment to supporting national security through partnering on corruption investigations while continuing to pursue those who intentionally evade paying their fair share in taxes, whether their income is legally or illegally obtained.” “Using a position of public trust as a means to fraudulently grant access to federal programs for personal gain will not be tolerated,” said SBA OIG’s Western Region Special Agent in Charge Weston King. “Our Office will remain relentless in the pursuit of fraudsters who seek to exploit SBA’s vital economic programs. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and commitment to seeing justice served.” Soriano is also charged with three counts of filing false tax returns as result of failing to declare the cash that he was receiving from his friend as income. DEFENDANTS Case Number 24cr0341-TWR James Soriano Age: 63 Las Vegas, NV Russell Thurston Age: 51 Mt. Pleasant, SC SUMMARY OF CHARGES Conspiracy to Commit Bribery - Title 18, U.S.C., Section 371 Maximum penalty: Five years in prison; $250,000 fine Bribery – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 201 Maximum penalty: Fifteen years in prison; $250,000 fine for an individual or $500,000 for an organization, or three times the monetary equivalent of the thing of value, whichever is greater. Fraud and False Statement in Tax Return – Title 26, U.S.C., Section 7206(1) Maximum penalty: Three years in prison; $100,000 fine INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Defense Criminal Investigative Service Naval Criminal Investigative Service Small Business Administration – Office of Inspector General IRS Criminal Investigation Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. If you have information regarding fraud, waste, or abuse relating to Department of Defense personnel or operations, please contact the DoD Hotline at 800-424-9098.


title: Oregon Man Charged with Federal Hate Crimes for Defacing Synagogue

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: An Oregon man has been charged with hate crimes for intentionally defacing a synagogue in Eugene, Oregon, several times over the course of five months. Adam Edward Braun, 34, of Eugene, has been charged by criminal complaint with intentionally defacing a synagogue because it was a place of religious worship for Jewish people. According to court documents, on four separate occasions between August 2023 and January 2024, Braun is alleged to have intentionally defaced Temple Beth Israel, a Jewish synagogue in Eugene, by repeatedly targeting the synagogue with graffiti, some of which used antisemitic symbols and phrases. Court documents describe how Braun’s pattern of behavior culminated in the early morning hours of Jan. 14, when Braun traveled to Temple Beth Israel with a hammer and prepared to swing at the glass doors of the synagogue. Braun stopped when he saw that he was being recorded by surveillance camera, and he then moved to a different area of the property and used spray paint to write “White Power” in large letters on the building’s exterior. On Jan. 31, officers from the Eugene Police Department, with assistance from the FBI, executed a state search warrant on Braun’s Eugene residence and located multiple pieces of evidence connecting Braun to the attacks on Temple Beth Israel. Investigators also found several items and writings belonging to Braun that were consistent with antisemitic beliefs and biases. Braun was arrested today without incident by the FBI and made his first appearance in federal court before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. He was ordered detained pending further court proceedings. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Natalie K. Wight for the District of Oregon and Acting Special Agent in Charge Aubree Schwartz of the FBI Portland Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Portland Field Office investigated the case with assistance from the Eugene Police Department. Trial Attorney Cameron A. Bell of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gavin W. Bruce for the District of Oregon are prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.


title: Former Oklahoma Police Officer Convicted of Sexually Assaulting a Woman During a Traffic Stop and Obstruction of Justice

body_text: A federal jury returned a guilty verdict yesterday finding that former Savanna Oklahoma Police Officer (SPD), Jeffrey Scott Smith, 35, sexually assaulted a woman during a traffic stop and obstructed justice by turning off his body-worn camera and dash camera in an effort to avoid recording the assault. This case represents the first sexual assault conviction under the 2022 Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act that added enhanced penalties for civil rights offenses involving sexual misconduct. “Today the Department of Justice sends an unequivocal warning: we will hold accountable those who abuse their authority by engaging in sexual assault,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “That’s exactly why we advocated so strongly for reauthorization of VAWA two years ago. This may be the first time we have used the new enhanced penalties for civil rights violations involving sexual assault but it will not be the last. We will work tirelessly to seek Justice for survivors of sexual assault.” “This case is historic because this is the first defendant to be found guilty and subject to the enhanced penalties in the 2022 Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Sexual assaults perpetrated by police officers are heinous crimes and a disgraceful breach of the public trust in law enforcement. We acknowledge the victim’s courage in coming forward and immediately reporting this abuse, and for her strength as she testified in trial. The Justice Department will hold law enforcement officers accountable when they abuse their authority by engaging in sexual misconduct, and we will seek justice for all victims of these crimes.” “Law enforcement officers are sworn to protect and serve,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. “When an officer uses his position of authority to victimize another, justice demands accountability.” “It’s impossible to comprehend why the defendant felt entitled to treat an innocent woman this way,” said Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. “Instead of ensuring a safe environment for the victim, Smith abused his authority for his own sick gratification. When an officer violates the rights of any citizen, they put the public’s trust in law enforcement at risk. The FBI will not stand for this egregious behavior.” Evidence presented at trial established that on Nov. 2, 2022, Smith, working his first solo shift for SPD, conducted a traffic stop of the victim, K.H., and her then-boyfriend, J.G. After running their licenses, Smith realized that J.G.’s license had recently expired. He had J.G. and K.H. get out of J.G.’s car to switch who was driving. Smith issued J.G. a speeding ticket, and then began asking personal questions, including how long they had been in their relationship. At this point, while still speaking to J.G. and K.H., Smith manually deactivated his SPD body worn camera (BWC). Smith then asked K.H. what she did for work. K.H. reluctantly admitted that she danced at a gentlemen’s club. Upon hearing K.H.’s answer, Smith asked to search J.G.’s car. During the search, Smith looked in K.H.’s purse and found a pre-rolled promotional marijuana cigarette from K.H.’s work. Rather than arrest her, or issue her a ticket, Smith walked back to his patrol car and manually deactivated his dashboard camera. Once the defendant had K.H. in his vehicle he sexually assaulted her. Smith faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison on the civil rights count. He also faces 20 years in prison on each of the obstruction of justice counts, one count for deactivating his body-worn camera, and one count for deactivating his dashboard camera. Smith was detained pending sentencing and a sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Oklahoma City FBI Field Office investigated the case with the assistance of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Trial Attorney Laura Gilson of the Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Clay Compton and Nicole Paladino for the Eastern District of Oklahoma are prosecuting the case.


title: Citizen of the Dominican Republic Pleads Guilty to Illegally Reentering the United States After an Aggravated Felony

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Altagracios De La Cruz-Calderon, age 60, who was living in Oneida County, pled guilty yesterday to illegally reentering the United States after previously being convicted of an aggravated felony. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Thomas P. Brophy, Field Office Director, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations, (ICE-ERO) Buffalo, NY announced. As part of his guilty plea yesterday, De La Cruz-Calderon admitted that he had been convicted of federal drug and gun charges in the 1990s and spent several years in federal prison. After his prison sentence he was deported to the Dominican Republic. De La Cruz-Calderon admitted that, after he was deported, he returned to the United States illegally and was later found in New Hartford, New York. Sentencing is scheduled for July 10, 2024, before Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes. De La Cruz-Calderon faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of three years, to begin after the imposition of any term of imprisonment. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, ICE-ERO investigated the case with the help of the United States Marshall Service and the New Hartford Police Department and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Tuck.


title: Oneida County Woman Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Carol Evans, age 56, of Sauquoit, New York, pled guilty today to multiple counts of wire fraud. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced. As part of her guilty plea, Evans admitted that, while she was employed at Sullivan Contracting, Inc., she doctored invoices from vendors to reflect inflated charges. Unaware that the invoices were altered, Sullivan Contracting, Inc. then issued checks for the amount due in the doctored invoices and gave the checks to Evans to pay the invoices. Instead, Evans deposited the checks into her own bank account. Thereafter, Evans paid the vendors the amount due in the unaltered invoices or kept the entire payment herself. Altogether, Evans admitted to depositing approximately $1,800,000 in checks into her personal bank account from Sullivan Contracting, Inc. Sentencing is scheduled for June 26, 2024, before United States District Judge David N. Hurd. Evans faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of three years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. The FBI is investigating the case and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Tuck is prosecuting the case.


title: Final defendant sentenced in narcotics case involving 76 kilograms of fentanyl, California-to-Ohio drug operation

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – The final of 11 defendants convicted of crimes as part of a national narcotics distribution operation bringing drugs into Central Ohio from California was sentenced in U.S. District Court here today. The organization was led by Isabel Odir Castellanos, of Los Angeles, and involved the seizure of 76 kilograms of fentanyl, as well as the seizure and forfeiture of seven firearms, vehicles and nearly $650,000 in cash. Castellanos was sentenced in June 2023 to 21 years in prison. Today, co-defendant Justin M. Berrien, 44, of Springfield, Ohio, was sentenced to 70 months in prison. The defendants were arrested in June 2022. According to court documents, Castellanos transported narcotics from Los Angeles to Columbus via semi-truck. Castellanos is a business owner of a transportation company and a semi-truck driver who frequently travels across the United States. Castellanos delivered the narcotics to a co-defendant’s residence in Columbus, which served as a stash house. Co-conspirators then delivered the drugs to mid-level retail distributors like Berrien. Those mid-level retailers then sold the drugs in Central Ohio, Youngstown, Springfield, and in West Virginia. Castellanos would then collect the drug proceeds before returning to California. Many of the individual drug transactions charged involve tens of thousands of dollars. For example, one drug transaction detailed in an affidavit describes a co-defendant transporting 5,000 fentanyl pills to another co-defendant’s home in Columbus in exchange for $36,000. The other defendants in this case include: Name Age City of residence Sentence imposed Susana M. Orellana 41 Columbus 87 months in prison Martel D. Owens 40 Springfield 72 months in prison Jermaine A. Peterson 39 Springfield 60 months in prison Kelvin Battle 49 Springfield 60 months in prison Carl Jenkins 55 Wadestown, W.Va. 60 months in prison Dwayne S. Childs 35 Columbus 48 months in prison James I. Sheets 51 Fairview, W.Va. 30 months in prison Darrell Peterman Sr. 62 Youngstown 24 months in prison Linda M. Houle 49 Springfield Three years supervised release Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; and Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced the sentence imposed today by Chief U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center, Ohio State Highway Patrol and Springfield Police Department assisted in the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Hunter is representing the United States in this case. This investigation was conducted as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) initiative. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about OCDETF can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . # # #


title: Grove City man sentenced to 9 years in prison for firearms, narcotics & fraud crimes

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A large-scale narcotics trafficker was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 108 months in prison for drug and gun crimes and wire fraud. Dylan D. Polk, 31, of Grove City, was charged federally in October 2022. Polk, who is also known as “Dunk,” pleaded guilty the evening before his jury trial was scheduled to begin in October 2023. According to court documents, in October 2022, federal agents executed a search warrant at a property associated with Polk. During the search, they discovered more than a kilogram of fentanyl and a bulk amount of cocaine. Investigators also discovered five firearms, including a converted Glock-pistol fully automatic weapon and an AR style rifle. As a previously convicted felon, Polk was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. Additionally, Polk committed fraud related to employment assistance and pandemic relief assistance. He fraudulently collected public employment assistance funds although he was not working. Specifically, Polk reported income from Our Lady of America Farms in 2020; however, records indicate that company was dissolved in 2018. Polk also claimed to be a barber for three years and, in 2020, received more than $12,000 in pandemic unemployment assistance. Polk was incarcerated from 2016 until 2020 and not employed. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General announced the sentence imposed today by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy D. Prichard and S. Courter Shimeall are representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Member of the Minneapolis Lows Gang Sentenced to Prison for Possession of a Machine Gun

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – A Brooklyn Center man has been sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegally possessing a machine gun, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, in April 2023, law enforcement began investigating members of the Minneapolis Lows, a street gang that engages in drug trafficking, firearm possession, and acts of violence. On June 29, 2023, law enforcement conducted a search of a residence belonging to Marquez Demar Hill-Turnipseed, 21, a member of the Lows. As a result of the search, law enforcement recovered a loaded .45 Glock semi-automatic pistol with an attached auto-sear, also known as a switch; a conversion device that turns a handgun into a fully automatic machinegun. Law enforcement also recovered from the residence a loaded ghost gun. On October 4, 2023, Hill-Turnipseed pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a machine gun. He was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Ann D. Montgomery. This case is the result of investigations conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, Minneapolis Police Department, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, IRS Criminal Investigations, Minnesota Department of Corrections, and Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Calhoun-Lopez prosecuted the case.


title: Walla Walla Felon Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison  For Trafficking Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Richland, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that Seth Cory Cunha, 38, of Walla Walla, Washington, was sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Mixture and Substance Containing a Detectable Amount of Methamphetamine. United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke imposed a sentence of 84 months imprisonment to be followed by 4 years of supervised release. According to court documents and information disclosed at sentencing, on the evening of January 10, 2021, Cunha was in a rental vehicle when he was arrested by Walla Walla Police (WWPD) on a felony arrest warrant from the Washington State Department of Corrections. A narcotics K-9 alerted to the presence of the odor of narcotics in the vehicle, and as a result, the vehicle was seized pending a search warrant. Investigators executed the search warrant and observed more than $3,500 in cash in the center console. No drugs were found in the vehicle. On January 12, A detective with WWPD reviewed several phone calls made by Cunha while he was housed at the Walla Walla County Jail. Cunha made calls to his girlfriend and a roommate. During the phone calls, Cunha discussed the cash, his phones, and a storage unit. The WWPD Detective noted that anytime the storage unit was mentioned, Cunha became uneasy and redirected the conversation. Cunha would also refer to the storage unit in coded language only the person on the call could understand. Through further investigation, detectives determined the location of the storage unit, and on January 13, Detectives obtained and executed a search warrant for the unit. During the search, detectives located several power tools, a Gatorade bottle that had been made into a smoking device and a small black safe. Inside the safe, detectives located five bags containing a methamphetamine, a loaded Smith & Wesson .45 caliber pistol, a spare magazine with bullets, and cash. During the prosecution, Mr. Cunha challenged the admissibility of certain evidence against him. Ultimately, our prosecution team successfully established that the evidence was legally obtained through lawful search warrant. “Mr. Cunha was a felon who trafficked narcotics and had access to firearms. Furthermore, he continued his drug trafficking while in the Walla Walla County jail,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “Our office is working tirelessly to hold those who peddle poison in our community criminally accountable. We are working together with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to make Eastern Washington a safer place for everyone” "Drug traffickers like Mr. Cunha have no regard for the safety of our communities,” said ATF Seattle Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais. “He exacerbated this by trying to continue his illegal actions while in jail. He also had access firearms to ‘protect’ his illegal actions, further endangering citizens. ATF will continue to work with our local, state and federal partners to investigate and take traffickers off the streets.” “I am extremely proud of the work done by our team here at the Walla Walla Police Department,” said Walla Walla Police Chief Chris Buttice. “We are grateful for the continued partnerships within this valley and region of the state. We will remain committed to taking dangerous drugs and those who provide them off our streets.” This case was investigated by the ATF, Walla Walla Police Department, and the College Place Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Van Marter.


title: Hilo Man with “Life of Crime” Sentenced to 155 Months in Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking

component: USAO - Hawaii

body_text: HONOLULU – Robert Kinoshita, 59, of Hilo, Hawaii, was sentenced today by Senior United States District Judge Helen Gillmor to 155 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Kinoshita pleaded guilty on October 27, 2023, and had been detained since his arrest in August 2023. The court ordered Kinoshita’s prison sentence to run consecutive to a State of Hawaii sentence for prior state convictions in 2021 involving unlawful imprisonment of a minor and promoting a dangerous drug. According to information produced to the court, the federal offense occurred in August 2023, while Kinoshita was on state probation. He was caught by the Hawaii Police Department dealing methamphetamine to a confidential informant from his car in Hilo. A search warrant of his vehicle recovered over 2.5 pounds of methamphetamine as well as more than $6,600 in cash and other drug distribution paraphernalia. Information regarding the State proceedings produced to the court during the federal proceedings recounted Kinoshita’s May 2020 arrest in his vehicle in Hilo, after he was found with methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and an unconscious minor who had no pants and displayed physical indications of sexual assault. At that time, Kinoshita was out on bail for two state felony cases. In sentencing Kinoshita, Judge Gillmor noted Kinoshita’s State of Hawaii felony and misdemeanor convictions, which include assault, criminal contempt, abuse of a family member, terroristic threatening, theft, driving under the influence and vehicular offenses, receiving proceeds of a felony, and drug crimes. The Court then stated that Kinoshita “has lived a life of crime for forty-one years” and that “protecting the community is an important value.” “Today, Robert Kinoshita was finally stopped in his tracks and held accountable for decades of drug dealing offenses and crimes that caused significant harm to others,” said United States Attorney Clare E. Connors. “Justice is best achieved when we collaborate with our state and local partners, as we did in this case and will continue to do every day to protect our community.” Homeland Security Investigations and the Hawaii Police Department conducted the investigation that led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Perlmutter handled the prosecution.


title: First Guilty Verdict Obtained Under 2022 Reauthorization Of The Violence Against Women Act Enhanced Penalties

body_text: WASHINGTON, D.C. - A federal jury returned a guilty verdict yesterday finding that former Savanna Oklahoma Police Officer (SPD), Jeffrey Scott Smith, 35, sexually assaulted a woman during a traffic stop and obstructed justice by turning off his body-worn camera and dash camera in an effort to avoid recording the assault. This case represents the first sexual assault conviction under the 2022 Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act that added enhanced penalties for civil rights offenses involving sexual misconduct. “Today the Department of Justice sends an unequivocal warning: we will hold accountable those who abuse their authority by engaging in sexual assault,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “That’s exactly why we advocated so strongly for reauthorization of VAWA two years ago. This may be the first time we have used the new enhanced penalties for civil rights violations involving sexual assault but it will not be the last. We will work tirelessly to seek Justice for survivors of sexual assault.” “This case is historic because this is the first defendant to be found guilty and subject to the enhanced penalties in the 2022 Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Sexual assaults perpetrated by police officers are heinous crimes and a disgraceful breach of the public trust in law enforcement. We acknowledge the victim’s courage in coming forward and immediately reporting this abuse, and for her strength as she testified in trial. The Justice Department will hold law enforcement officers accountable when they abuse their authority by engaging in sexual misconduct, and we will seek justice for all victims of these crimes.” “Law enforcement officers are sworn to protect and serve,” said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Wilson for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. “When an officer uses his position of authority to victimize another, justice demands accountability.” “It’s impossible to comprehend why the defendant felt entitled to treat an innocent woman this way,” said Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Gray of the FBI Oklahoma City Field Office. “Instead of ensuring a safe environment for the victim, Smith abused his authority for his own sick gratification. When an officer violates the rights of any citizen, they put the public’s trust in law enforcement at risk. The FBI will not stand for this egregious behavior.” Evidence presented at trial established that on Nov. 2, 2022, Smith, working his first solo shift for SPD, conducted a traffic stop of the victim, K.H., and her then-boyfriend, J.G. After running their licenses, Smith realized that J.G.’s license had recently expired. He had J.G. and K.H. get out of J.G.’s car to switch who was driving. Smith issued J.G. a speeding ticket, and then began asking personal questions, including how long they had been in their relationship. At this point, while still speaking to J.G. and K.H., Smith manually deactivated his SPD body worn camera (BWC). Smith then asked K.H. what she did for work. K.H. reluctantly admitted that she danced at a gentlemen’s club. Upon hearing K.H.’s answer, Smith asked to search J.G.’s car. During the search, Smith looked in K.H.’s purse and found a pre-rolled promotional marijuana cigarette from K.H.’s work. Rather than arrest her, or issue her a ticket, Smith walked back to his patrol car and manually deactivated his dashboard camera. Once the defendant had K.H. in his vehicle he sexually assaulted her. Smith faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison on the civil rights count. He also faces 20 years in prison on each of the obstruction of justice counts, one count for deactivating his body-worn camera, and one count for deactivating his dashboard camera. Smith was detained pending sentencing and a sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Oklahoma City FBI Field Office investigated the case with the assistance of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Trial Attorney Laura Gilson of the Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Clay Compton and Nicole Paladino for the Eastern District of Oklahoma are prosecuting the case.


title: Seminole Resident Pleads Guilty To Accessory After The Fact To Murder In Indian Country

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Scott William Lanham, age 45, of Seminole, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea to Accessory After the Fact to Murder in Indian Country. According to the Indictment, on April 2, 2019, Lanham knowingly assisted Coker Dean Barker in hindering and preventing Barker’s apprehension, trial, and punishment for murder. On April 10, 2023, Barker was convicted by a federal jury at trial for that murder. Lanham’s crime occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The charges arose from investigations by the Seminole Police Department, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Texas Rangers, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Lanham will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Gross represented the United States.


title: Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for Attempted Enticement of a Minor  Using the Internet

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet. The sentencing took place on March 4, 2024. Joshua David Catron, age 34, was sentenced to 12 years and seven months years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Catron will need to register as a sex offender upon his release. Catron was indicted by a federal grand jury in March of 2023. He pleaded guilty on September 29, 2023. The conviction stemmed from an incident on March 3, 2023, when Catron, using his cellular phone to access the application MeetMe, attempted to persuade an undercover agent posing as a 15-year-old female to distribute child pornography to him. This case was investigated by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Sioux Falls Police Department, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children task force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . Catron was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Lower Brule Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Lower Brule, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. The sentencing took place on March 4, 2024. Garrett Goodlow, age 26, was sentenced to six years and eight months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, $1,000 fine, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Goodlow was indicted by a federal grand jury in July of 2023. He pleaded guilty on November 30, 2023. The conviction stemmed from a conspiracy beginning in February of 2022 when Goodlow knowingly and intentionally conspired and agreed with others to distribute methamphetamine in and around the central South Dakota area, including on the Lower Brule and Crow Creek reservations. Goodlow received distributable quantities of methamphetamine and re-distributed it. During the course of the conspiracy, a traffic stop occurred on February 28, 2023, where Goodlow was arrested after over a pound of methamphetamine was located in his vehicle. This case was investigated by the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, the FBI, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case. Goodlow was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for Possession of Child Pornography

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on March 4, 2024. Matthew Richard Hainje, age 45, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, followed by10 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Hainje was indicted by a federal grand jury in March of 2023. He pleaded guilty on November 30, 2023. The conviction stemmed from incidents December 20, 2022, and February 13, 2023, when Hainje possessed thousands of digital files which contained photos and video recordings of child pornography. Hainje used his cellular phone to access the digital files of child pornography on the internet and saved them to his Google and Dropbox accounts. This case was investigated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper 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 the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . Hainje was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Sixteen Members And Leaders Of Armed And Violent Drug Trafficking Crew In The Bronx Charged

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”); and Edward A. Caban, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing today of an Indictment charging EDWIN CARRASQUILLO, a/k/a “Malo,” HECTOR HERNANDEZ, a/k/a “Hec,” JOSE HERNANDEZ, a/k/a “Nene,” a/k/a “Little,” NATHANIEL MANNING, a/k/a “Tio,” DAMEL MARCUS, a/k/a “Shank,” EDWARDO MORENO, a/k/a “AR,” JASON RIVERA, a/k/a “Colombo,” JOSUE VARGAS, a/k/a “Leo,” JUAN KUANG, a/k/a “Jo Jo,” a/k/a “Jay,” a/k/a “Blanco,” STEVEN SANTIAGO, a/k/a “Swizz,” VICTOR MENDENG, a/k/a “Cali,” DELILAH CARRIEL, ROSEMARIE SANCHEZ, a/k/a “Rosie,” JUAN CALDERON, a/k/a “Jazzo,” a/k/a “Juanito,” CHRISTOPHER MEADOWS, and ANGEL VILLAFANE with engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, distributing narcotics, and carrying and using firearms in connection with an armed drug trafficking operation based on Valentine Avenue in the Bronx, New York, for well over a decade from 2012 to the present. CARRASQUILLO, H. HERNANDEZ, J. HERNANDEZ, MANNING, MARCUS, MORENO, VARGAS, KUANG, SANTIAGO, CARRIEL, SANCHEZ, CALDERON, and MEADOWS were arrested earlier today in an operation conducted by the FBI and NYPD, and they are expected to be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave or U.S. Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo later this afternoon. MENDENG, who is detained in the custody of the New York City Department of Correction on separate charges, will be writted into federal custody at a later date. RIVERA and VILLAFANE were previously arrested and charged in prior indictments. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Today, I am announcing that we have filed charges against 16 members of a violent drug trafficking crew that for over 10 years has held a Bronx neighborhood hostage. As alleged, day in and day out, this crew distributed fentanyl, heroin, and crack along several blocks on Valentine Avenue, effectively creating an open drug market. To protect their territory, they allegedly carried guns, extorted addicts through threats of violence and, far too often, used violence against rivals and anyone else attempting to weaken their control on their block, committing multiple shootings as they fought for control over the streets. I promise that we are not going to abandon any of our communities. Our commitment to public safety will never waver — not anywhere, and not for one moment. The people of this great city deserve nothing less.” FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said: “For over 12 years, as alleged, the defendants strategically organized themselves into the 'Valentine Avenue Crew' to freely distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine within the Bronx. The Valentine Avenue Crew allegedly carried firearms and often used violence, including two non-fatal shootings, to maintain dominance in the narcotics trafficking industry. The FBI maintains its unwavering stance against all forms of violence and drug trafficking, and will continue to apprehend those who threaten our community’s safety.” NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban said: “Today’s charges demonstrate the thorough and diligent efforts of NYPD investigators and our law enforcement partners in dismantling an allegedly violent drug trafficking organization operating in New York City. We will continue to identify and hold accountable anyone who peddles dangerous substances or possesses illegal weapons in our communities. And I am grateful to our colleagues at the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their commitment to this critical public safety mission.” As alleged in the Indictment: [1] The defendants are charged for their involvement in an armed drug trafficking organization (the “Valentine Avenue Crew”) that took over the block of Valentine Avenue between East 194th Street and East 196th Street in the Bronx, New York (the “Block”), and its surrounding neighborhood. Working in shifts throughout the day and night, and organized in a clear hierarchal structure, the Valentine Avenue Crew and its members, including the defendants — many of whom were typically armed with firearms and other weapons — distributed fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and cocaine base, in a form commonly known as “crack.” These narcotics were often manufactured and packaged elsewhere and then delivered to the Block, where members and associates of the Valentine Avenue Crew sold them to a large base of end-user customers. Controlling the sidewalks and street of the Block, as well as the public spaces of multiple buildings along the Block, the Valentine Avenue Crew and its members, including the defendants, operated freely, creating an open market for drugs, in which they extorted payments from customers through violence. For well over a decade, members of the Valentine Avenue Crew also used violence — including multiple shootings — to compete with rival drug traffickers, and at times within the Valentine Avenue Crew itself, to maintain dominance over the drug trade on the Block. In addition, ANGEL VILLAFANE is charged for his commission of two non-fatal shootings in Manhattan in July 2020 and January 2021. Specifically, in or about July 2020, VILLAFANE paid a co-conspirator (“CC-1”) to lure a victim to a location in Manhattan where VILLAFANE attempted to murder the victim over a drug debt, resulting in personal injury to the victim. Additionally, on or about January 8, 2021, VILLAFANE committed another non-fatal shooting in Manhattan. * * * A chart containing the names, charges, and minimum and maximum penalties for the defendants is set forth below. The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and NYPD and thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pennsylvania State Police for their assistance in this case. This case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael R. Herman and Thomas John Wright are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. COUNT CHARGE DEFENDANTS MIN. AND MAX. PENALTIES 1 Narcotics conspiracy EDWIN CARRASQUILLO, HECTOR HERNANDEZ, JOSE HERNANDEZ, NATHANIEL MANNING, DAMEL MARCUS, EDWARDO MORENO, JASON RIVERA, JOSUE VARGAS, JUAN KUANG, STEVEN SANTIAGO, VICTOR MENDENG, DELILAH CARRIEL, ROSEMARIE SANCHEZ, JUAN CALDERON, CHRISTOPHER MEADOWS, and ANGEL VILLAFANE Mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison Maximum sentence of life in prison 2 Continuing criminal enterprise EDWIN CARRASQUILLO, HECTOR HERNANDEZ, JOSE HERNANDEZ, NATHANIEL MANNING, DAMEL MARCUS, EDWARDO MORENO, JASON RIVERA, JOSUE VARGAS, JUAN KUANG, and STEVEN SANTIAGO Mandatory sentence of life in prison for CARRASQUILLO and HERNANDEZ Mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison for other defendants Maximum sentence of life in prison 3 Using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a drug trafficking crime EDWIN CARRASQUILLO, HECTOR HERNANDEZ, JOSE HERNANDEZ, NATHANIEL MANNING, DAMEL MARCUS, EDWARDO MORENO, JASON RIVERA, JOSUE VARGAS, JUAN KUANG, STEVEN SANTIAGO, VICTOR MENDENG, DELILAH CARRIEL, ROSEMARIE SANCHEZ, JUAN CALDERON, CHRISTOPHER MEADOWS, and ANGEL VILLAFANE Mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of 10 years in prison Maximum sentence of life in prison 4 Using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a drug trafficking crime JASON RIVERA Mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of seven years in prison Maximum sentence of life in prison 5 Using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a drug trafficking crime ANGEL VILLAFANE Mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of 10 years in prison Maximum sentence of life in prison 6 Murder for hire ANGEL VILLAFANE Maximum sentence of 20 years in prison 7 Using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a drug trafficking crime ANGEL VILLAFANE Mandatory minimum consecutive sentence 10 years in prison Maximum sentence of life in prison 8 Felon in possession of ammunition ANGEL VILLAFANE Maximum sentence of 10 years in prison [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Former Boyle County Sheriff’s Deputy Found Guilty of Federal Civil Rights Charges following Multiple Assaults and Obstruction

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky. – A federal jury in Lexington, Kentucky, on Monday found former Boyle County, Kentucky, Sheriff’s Deputy Tanner Abbott, 31, guilty of criminal civil rights violations and obstruction of justice. Evidence at trial proved that, during the first four months of 2021, Abbott willfully violated the civil rights of four people by using excessive force while arresting them, and obstructed justice by writing and directing another to write false reports to cover up his violations. “We’re grateful to this jury of Kentucky citizens who held an officer accountable for repeatedly and violently brutalizing people he was arresting, even though they were not resisting arrest and did not pose a threat,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This prosecution makes clear our commitment to confronting law enforcement criminality from the bottom to the top. The Justice Department will continue to investigate and prosecute law enforcement officers who abuse their authority and violate their public trust by preying upon those they are sworn to protect.” “This case is a disgraceful example of betrayal of trust, a profound violation of the rights of others, and a danger to our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier IV for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “When those charged with enforcing the law and protecting the public turn to violating the rights of others and trying to cover it up, that does real damage. It not only injures victims, but also undermines the hard work and true dedication of so many in law enforcement. The defendant will now face the consequences of such a grave betrayal of the public trust. “Law enforcement officers are given a gun, a badge and an incredible amount of power when it comes to protecting the communities they serve,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office. “Therefore, when the FBI learns of allegations of color of law violations, they are taken seriously and investigated rigorously. Through our thorough investigation of former Sheriff Deputy Abbott, and re-enforced by the jury’s guilty findings, it was found that on more than one occasion, he clearly abused his power and deprived individuals of their civil rights. Seeking justice for victims of police misconduct continues to be of the upmost importance to the FBI.” According to evidence presented at trial, on Jan. 20, 2021, Abbott conducted a traffic stop on two young men driving to a restaurant in Danville, Kentucky. When the driver requested to speak with the defendant’s supervisor, Abbott punched him in the face, pulled him out of the car and struck him several more times as he lay on the ground, not resisting arrest or posing any threat. When the passenger, the driver’s brother, stepped out of the car and pleaded with Abbott to stop the beating, the defendant struck him in the face with an elbow, breaking his glasses. On Feb. 2, 2021, Abbott was involved in another traffic stop during which the passenger of the stopped vehicle was arrested. While the passenger was being handcuffed, the defendant suddenly and without justification punched him in the face, although the passenger’s actions posed no threat to the defendant at the time. The defendant then conspired with another officer to write a report in which the other officer falsely alleged that the victim had advanced aggressively toward Abbott before being punched. On March 31, 2021, the defendant went to a hotel in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, intending to search the room of a guest. He obtained a key to the room he wished to search by falsely representing to hotel staff that he had a search warrant, then used the key to force his way into the room, over the guest’s objection. Once inside, without consent or other lawful authority, he conducted an intrusive search of the guest’s personal property. Abbott then wrote a false report in which he claimed the guest had consented to the search. On April 28, 2021, the defendant arrested a driver who had failed to pull over when the defendant attempted to conduct a traffic stop of his car. After the chase ended and the driver had been arrested and handcuffed, Abbott approached the driver and punched him in the face, although he was not resisting arrest and posed no threat to the defendant or anyone else. The jury convicted Abbott of four counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, one count of conspiracy, and one count of falsification of records within federal jurisdiction. Abbott was also found not guilty of one count of deprivation of rights under color of law. A sentencing here is scheduled for June 7, at 10:00 AM in Lexington. The FBI Louisville Field Office investigated the case. Trial Attorney Alec Ward of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Dembo for the Eastern District of Kentucky are prosecuting the case. — END —


title: Edwardsville Doctor Pleads Guilty to Healthcare Fraud

component: USAO - Illinois, Southern

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A doctor from Edwardsville admitted guilt to a federal healthcare fraud charge for falsely documenting services provided to nursing home patients for reimbursement from Medicare. Phillip J. Greene, 59, pleaded guilty to one count of healthcare fraud. “We entrust medical professionals to provide ethical care, but some choose to act in bad faith,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “I’m thankful to the investigators who uncovered Greene’s fraud and partnered with our office to hold him accountable.” According to court documents, Greene was a practicing licensed physician employed by General Medicine and working at various nursing home locations throughout the Southern District of Illinois. He was an enrolled provider in the federal Medicare program. To conduct the fraud, Greene documented misrepresentations in his medical and progress notes for nursing home patients for services he did not perform, including claims related to patients who were already deceased at the time of the billed services. By way of General Medicine, Greene submitted false claims to Medicare totaling more than $20,000 for health services he did not provide from October 2016 through September 2018. “Physicians who submit fraudulent claims in our federal health care programs not only unjustly enrich themselves, but also undermine the trust and confidence of their patients,” said Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Our agency will continue to work diligently with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who defraud these valuable programs.” Medicare reimbursed Greene and General Medicine more than $15,000 for the false claims. Greene’s sentencing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on June 5. Healthcare Fraud is punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years’ supervised release. Greene must also pay restitution for government losses. The investigation was conducted by the Southern District of Illinois Health Care Fraud Task Force: the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Railroad Retirement Board Office of Inspector General, Office of Personnel Management Office of the Inspector General, the Illinois State Police Medicaid Fraud Control Bureau and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Trial attorneys Victor Yanz and Andres Almendarez with the Fraud Section of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Burke are prosecuting the case.


title: Georgia Man Sentenced to 4.5 Years in Federal Prison for Using Stolen Credit Card Numbers to Obtain Over Half a Million Dollars in Gift Cards

body_text: EVANSVILLE- Yapo Jean Franck Ngbichi, 41, of Georgia, has been sentenced to 54 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to use of unauthorized access devices. According to court documents, between December 2017 and September 2019, Ngbichi used 318 different stolen credit card numbers to purchase gift cards at Lowe’s Home Improvement stores in 28 states, including Indiana. Ngbichi conducted over 1,363 fraudulent transactions using the stolen credit card numbers, thereby causing a loss of $587,626. On two separate occasions, Ngbichi used stolen credit card numbers to purchase four Visa gift cards valued at $200 each from Lowe’s stores located in Evansville, Indiana. After obtaining a search warrant for Ngbichi’ s laptop, law enforcement discovered documents titled, “Everything You Wanted to Know About Instore Carding,” “Basic Mistakes That Lead to People Getting Arrested from Darknet—Free,” as well as numerous chat threads related to credit card numbers, several email fragments containing credit card numbers, and even Internet search history that included searches for “which embosser is best,” “federal charges stolen gift cards,” “federal criminal possession of forged instrument,” “possession of counterfeit credit card,” and “how long after a crime can you be charged.” At the time of arrest, Ngbichi had a previous similar conviction in state court. In May 2018, Ngbichi was convicted in Scott County, Kentucky for attempted false making/embossing of a credit card/debit card and attempted criminal possession of a forged instrument. “Every year, American lose billions of dollars to identity theft and fraud. This defendant alone stole nearly half a million dollars and is responsible for more than 1,300 fraudulent transactions,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Frauds such as these have lasting impacts on victim individuals and businesses. The serious federal prison sentence imposed here is a warning to others considering these schemes—the FBI, Secret Service, and U.S. Attorney’s Office are committed to unraveling financial crimes and holding fraudsters accountable.” “The defendant wreaked havoc on the lives of those he perpetrated this financial fraud against, leaving them to pick up the pieces,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “This case highlights the strong relationships we have with our law enforcement partners in diligently pursuing those who take advantage of others through their criminal behavior.” The FBI and United States Secret Service investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Richard L. Young. Judge Young also ordered that Ngbichi be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years following his release from federal prison and pay $587,623.91 in restitution. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Matthew B. Miller, who prosecuted this case. ###


title: Three Defendants Arrested For Gunpoint Robberies Of Sex Workers In The Bronx

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Tommy Kalogiros, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”); and Edward A. Caban, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing of a Complaint charging RAMEL DECKARD, DASHAWN HAMPTON, and TALIEK PAYNE in connection with three armed robberies of women engaged in sex work at hotels in the Bronx. DECKARD, HAMPTON, and PAYNE were arrested this morning and will be presented in Manhattan federal court later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “These defendants, motivated by greed, allegedly targeted individuals engaged in sex work in the Bronx. Under the pretext of setting up appointments with the victims for sexual services, the defendants allegedly met the victims at hotel rooms and proceeded to rob them at gunpoint. My Office is committed to doing everything possible to protect the people in this District from violent crime.” ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Tommy Kalogiros said: “Today’s arrests should send a strong message to those targeting the most vulnerable in our communities. The ATF/NYPD Strategic Pattern Armed Robbery Technical Apprehension Group will continue working tirelessly to detect, disrupt, and prosecute the most violent offenders. We hope that these arrests demonstrate to the victims of violent crime that ATF, along with our partners, remain steadfast in our resolve to deliver justice. Thank you to the New York City Police Department and to the Southern District of New York, two of ATF’s most valued partners.” NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban said: “As alleged, today’s arrests are another example of our laser-like focus on combating violent crime and holding accountable anyone who endangers people on our streets. If you carry an illegal gun in New York City, and especially if you use that gun to terrorize our communities, you will be arrested and charged accordingly. Thanks to the combined efforts of the NYPD and our partners at the ATF and the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the defendants in this case now face the prospect of significant federal prison time.” According to the allegations in the Complaint: [1] On August 15, 2023, DECKARD met an individual who was engaged in sex work (“Victim-1”) at a hotel room in the Bronx for an appointment to exchange sexual services for payment. DECKARD subsequently displayed a firearm, demanded that Victim-1 go into the bathroom and sit in the shower, and then proceeded to steal personal possessions and cash from Victim-1. A still image of DECKARD at the hotel where he robbed Victim-1 is shown below: On September 19, 2023, DECKARD and PAYNE committed another robbery of two individuals who were engaged in sex work (“Victim-2” and “Victim-3”) at a hotel room in the Bronx. Victim-2 and Victim-3 were spending time at a hotel room, when Victim-2 was notified by an individual, who advertised Victim-2 and Victim-3’s services online, that someone would meet Victim-2 at the hotel room later that day. DECKARD and PAYNE then went to the hotel room where Victim-2 and Victim-3 were located. After entering the hotel room, DECKARD displayed a firearm, and DECKARD and PAYNE stole personal items as well as cash from Victim-2 and Victim-3. During the robbery, DECKARD struck Victim-2 in the face with his elbow. Still images of DECKARD (left) and PAYNE (right) at the hotel where they robbed Victim-2 and Victim-3 are shown below: On January 6, 2024, DECKARD and HAMPTON robbed Victim-1 at gunpoint a second time at a hotel room in the Bronx. At approximately 1:30 pm on January 6, 2024, DECKARD and HAMPTON traveled to the Bronx hotel room where Victim-1 was staying for an appointment to exchange sexual services for payment. After entering the hotel room, HAMPTON displayed a firearm, and HAMPTON and DECKARD proceeded to rob Victim-1 of her cellphone. DECKARD also demanded that Victim-1 give him the passcode to her phone, and HAMPTON asked Victim-1, in substance and in part, whether she wanted “to die over a passcode.” After Victim-1 gave them the passcode to her phone, HAMPTON used Victim-1’s cellphone to send $300 to his account using a payment application. A still image of HAMPTON (left) and DECKARD (right) at the hotel where they robbed Victim-1 is shown below: The NYPD and ATF Strategic Patterned Armed Robbery Technical Apprehension (“SPARTA”) Task Force believes these defendants may be responsible for the robberies of other women in New York. Anyone with information about this or any other incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or, for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips on the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/ or by sending a direct message to @NYPDTips on X, formerly known as Twitter. All tips are strictly confidential. * * * DECKARD, 34, of New York, New York, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and three counts of Hobbs Act robbery, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and three counts of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during, in relation to, and in furtherance of, a crime of violence, each of which carries a mandatory seven-year consecutive sentence. HAMPTON, 34, of New York, New York, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and one count of Hobbs Act robbery, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during, in relation to, and in furtherance of, a crime of violence, which carries a mandatory seven-year consecutive sentence. PAYNE, 34, of East Orange, New Jersey, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and one count of Hobbs Act robbery, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during, in relation to, and in furtherance of, a crime of violence, which carries a mandatory seven-year consecutive sentence. The mandatory minimum and maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the ATF and NYPD, in particular, the SPARTA Task Force, which is composed of agents and officers of the ATF and the NYPD. This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith C. Foster and Georgia V. Kostopoulos are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Newcomb Man Pleads Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Leighton Spencer pleaded guilty in federal court to involuntary manslaughter. Spencer, 31, of Newcomb, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, was placed on conditions of release pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. According to publicly available court records, on June 2, 2021, John Doe and Spencer were drinking at his residence in Newcomb when John Doe had an altercation with his girlfriend. Spencer and John Doe then got into an argument which turned physical. At some point after that, John Doe produced a knife and stabbed Spencer in the forearm multiple times. Spencer then took the knife from him and stabbed John Doe. A stab wound to the neck damaged a vein and artery which caused John Doe to bleed to death. At sentencing, Spencer faces up to 8 years in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case. View the Plea Agreement # # #


title: Sussex County Man Admits Distribution of Child Pornography

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Sussex County, New Jersey, man admitted distributing videos and images of child sexual abuse, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Gaetano Lapegna, 65, of Franklin, New Jersey pleaded guilty on March 5, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark federal court to an information charging him with one count of distribution of child pornography. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From December 2022 to March 2023, Lapegna distributed videos and images of child sexual abuse via a publicly available online peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing program. During the course of the investigation, an undercover law enforcement officer conducted online sessions using the P2P program, during which a user shared hundreds of videos and images of child sexual abuse from an IP address traced to Lapegna’s address. Subsequent to a lawful search of his residence on March 30, 2023, law enforcement officers recovered over 100 items depicting child pornography on Lapegna’s thumb drive. Law enforcement also found that Lapegna’s computer was running the same version of the P2P program from which law enforcement downloaded child pornography from Lapegna. The count of distribution of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for July 23, 2024. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. He also thanked the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office, and Franklin Borough Police Department for their assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Farhana C. Melo of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Newark. lapegna.information.pdf


title: FBI Electronics Technician Found Guilty of Child Exploitation Offenses

body_text: NASHVILLE – On March 4, 2024, a jury in the Middle District of Tennessee found Justin Carroll guilty of sexual exploitation of a minor, coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity, receipt of child pornography, and transfer of obscene material to an individual under the age of sixteen, announced United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis. According to evidence presented at trial, between June 2020 and April 27, 2021, Carroll, who was employed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation as an electronics technician, engaged in sexually explicit chats and exchanged sexually explicit images with three fourteen-year-old females over various social media platforms after connecting with the minors on chatting websites. Carroll’s conduct was discovered after one of the victims mailed a Valentine’s Day package to the FBI office. Sexually explicit images of the minor females were found in Carroll’s social media accounts and on his cell phone. Images of Carroll were found in one of the minor’s social media accounts and on another minor’s cell phone. Carroll continued communicating with the fourteen-year-old victim who mailed the package, even after receiving an e-mail from her mother inquiring why her daughter mailed him a package and advising him of her daughter’s age. “It is no longer adequate to keep our children physically separated from strangers,” said United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis. “We must be vigilant in monitoring who they communicate with online to ensure their safety and to prevent the type of egregious conduct committed by the defendant in this case. I commend the trial team and our law enforcement partners for their excellent work investigating this case and presenting it to the jury.” “The FBI will continue to find, arrest, and prosecute those who seek to exploit our most vulnerable population, no matter who they are or what their profession is,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas DePodesta of the FBI Memphis Field Office. “This individual abused his position of trust as an FBI technician to prey on the vulnerability of children,” said HSI Nashville Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud. “Thanks to the outstanding teamwork between the dedicated men and women at HSI Nashville and our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, we were able to remove this dangerous predator from the community before he could victimize any more innocent children.” Carroll will be sentenced on August 9, 2024, by United States District Judge Aleta A. Trauger. He faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of life. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Monica R. Morrison and Juliet Aldridge prosecuted the case. # # # # #


title: St. Louis Sex Offender Who Sought Pictures from Teens Sentenced to 17 ½ Years in Prison

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Court John A. Ross on Tuesday sentenced a sex offender from St. Louis, Missouri who sought explicit images from teens online to 17 ½ years in prison. In January of 2023, detectives from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in California were conducting an undercover investigation into online child exploitation when they received a message from James W. Rankin. Using the screen name “Lonely_Nerd,” Rankin began communicating with someone he thought was a 14-year-old girl. On the social media application Whisper, Rankin sent her a picture of his genitals, discussed going to California to pick her up and asked for sexually explicit pictures of her. Rankin also possessed child pornography on his cell phone and admitted that he’d sought sexually explicit pictures via Whisper from others who identified themselves as minors. Rankin, 47, pleaded guilty in November to one count of solicitation of child pornography and one count of transfer of obscene material. Rankin was on parole and residing in a residential re-entry center at the time of his crimes. He had served prison time on a charge of first-degree statutory rape of a minor under 14 in Greene County Circuit Court. Rankin was also convicted of endangering the welfare of a child and domestic assault in a 2017 Christian County, Missouri case after he engaged in sexual contact with a child under 17, court records show. The San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson 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: Brothers Indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute 49 Kilograms of Cocaine

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging two brothers with conspiring to distribute and possessing with intent to distribute 49 kilograms of cocaine, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Nelson Santos Munoz, 30, and his brother, Amauris Santos Munoz, 31, both of Miami, Florida, are charged by indictment with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The Santos Brothers appeared on March 5, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi in Trenton federal court. They were charged by criminal complaint in May 2023. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: On Jan. 26, 2023, law enforcement stopped a vehicle in Woodbridge, New Jersey, with three individuals, including the Santos brothers. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement discovered approximately 49 kilograms of suspected cocaine, individually wrapped in packages with cellphone/plastic wrap in several suitcases and a backpack. A review of cell phone communications revealed that the Santos brothers traveled to the Dominican Republic and conspired to purchase cocaine and transport it to the United States for distribution. After importing the cocaine into the United States, the Santos brothers traveled from Florida to New Jersey with the intent to distribute the cocaine. Each count carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of life imprisonment, and a maximum fine of $10 million. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited members of the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz, New Jersey Division, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the Woodbridge Police Department for its assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Farhana C. Melo of the OCDETF/Narcotics Unit in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. santosmunoz.indictment.pdf


title: Indiana Sex Offender Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison for Failure to Register in Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – A Bemidji man has been sentenced to 21 months in prison followed by eight years of supervised release for knowingly failing to register as sex offender as required by federal law, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, in June 2009, Stephon Rene Jones, 34, was convicted of molesting a 7-year-old child in LaPorte County, Indiana. Based on this conviction, Jones is a Tier III sex offender under federal law. As a Tier III sex offender, Jones was aware that he was required to register as a sex offender for life and complete verification every three months. Additionally, Jones was required to provide registration updates within three days of a change of where he lived, worked, or attended school, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). However, starting in 2018, Jones was noncompliant and evaded his registration requirement for five years after he relocated from Indiana to Minnesota. Additionally, Jones admitted that he fraudulently used aliases and others’ names and social security numbers in order to gain employment in Minnesota in 2022 and 2023, most recently at a language immersion camp. Jones pleaded guilty on October 20, 2023, in U.S. District Court to one count of failure to register as a sex offender. He was sentenced on March 4, 2024, by Judge Katherine M. Menendez. Jones has a lifetime registration requirement as required under SORNA. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service, the FBI, and the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary A. Taylor prosecuted the case.


title: Generic Pharmaceuticals Manufacturer Pleads Guilty, Agrees to $1.5 Million Criminal Penalty for Distributing Adulterated Drugs and $2 Million to Resolve Civil Liability under the False Claims Act

component: Civil Division

body_text: KVK Research Inc., a generic drug manufacturer in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty today to criminal charges that it introduced adulterated drugs into interstate commerce. A criminal information filed in federal court in Philadelphia charged KVK Research and its corporate affiliate, KVK Tech Inc., with two misdemeanor counts of introducing adulterated drugs into interstate commerce in violation of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA). Pursuant to a plea agreement, KVK Research pleaded guilty to the information and agreed to a proposed fine and forfeiture amount of $1.5 million. KVK Tech agreed to a three-year deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) that will allow the company to avoid conviction on the charges in the information if it complies with the terms of the agreement, which include implementation of a compliance program designed to prevent and detect violations of federal regulations regarding current good manufacturing processes. The DPA also requires KVK Tech to engage an independent compliance monitor to evaluate the company’s corporate compliance program to address and reduce the risk of future violations. U.S. District Judge Harvey Bartle III presided over the KVK Research plea hearing. “Consumers have a right to expect that the drugs they purchase are safe and manufactured in compliance with the FDCA and FDA regulations,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department will continue to work with FDA to prosecute companies that put consumers at risk by selling adulterated drugs.” “Consumers in this District expect that manufacturers will adhere to FDA regulations,” said U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “When adulterated drugs are introduced into interstate commerce, that conduct has the potential to jeopardize patient safety. This case exemplifies my office’s commitment to holding manufacturers responsible for their crimes, as well as refocusing efforts on the company’s compliance to prevent future illegal conduct. In this case, the joint efforts between the office’s criminal and civil divisions to hold defendants accountable also returned money to those federal agencies affected by the defendants’ conduct.” “The FDA’s requirements for manufacturing generic drugs are designed to ensure that patients receive safe and effective medical treatments. Evading the FDA process and distributing adulterated drugs to U.S. consumers will not be tolerated,” said Special Agent in Charge George Scavdis of the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Metro Washington Field Office. “We will continue to investigate and protect the public health of the nation.” As part of the plea agreement and the DPA, the companies admitted that between January 2011 and October 2013, KVK Tech introduced into interstate commerce at least 62 batches of adulterated hydroxyzine tablets. The tablets were manufactured with an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) made at a foreign facility. KVK Tech failed to notify FDA or seek FDA authorization to use that facility as a source of API for its hydroxyzine products. The companies also admitted that between Feb. 27, 2019, and April 16, 2019, KVK Tech manufactured prescription drugs while failing to exercise appropriate controls over computer and related systems as required by current good manufacturing practices regulations. Under federal law, such drugs are deemed to be adulterated. Additionally, KVK Tech agreed to pay $2 million to resolve its civil liability under the False Claims Act arising from the company’s failure to exercise appropriate controls as required by current good manufacturing practice regulations, which caused KVK Tech to introduce into interstate commerce drugs deemed to be adulterated. During the Feb. 27, 2019, through April 16, 2019, time period, KVK Tech sold the adulterated pharmaceuticals, which resulted in alleged false claims submitted to the TRICARE program, Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), Veterans Administration (VA) and Department of Labor, Office of Workers Compensation Programs (DOL-OWCP), in violation of the False Claims Act. “Protecting the welfare of our nation’s military members and their families is a priority for the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the law enforcement arm of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Brian J. Solecki of the DCIS Northeast Field Office. “The introduction of adulterated pharmaceuticals into the TRICARE system endangers the lives of American service members and threatens our military readiness. The DCIS is committed to working with the Justice Department and our law enforcement partners to ensure that companies who engage in fraudulent activity, at the expense of the U.S. military, are investigated and prosecuted.” “We expect manufacturers to comply with all federal laws and regulations when they are serving federal health care recipients,” said Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Conrad J. Quarles of the Office of Personnel Management Office of the Inspector General. “We applaud our investigative staff, and our law enforcement partners for their hard work protecting FEHBP enrollees and their families.” FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations investigated the case. Assistant Director Ross S. Goldstein and Trial Attorney Alisha Crovetto of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorneys M. Beth Leahy and Patrick Murray for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania are prosecuting the case. Deputy Chief Charlene Keller Fullmer, Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony D. Scicchitano and Auditor Dawn Wiggins for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania handled the civil case. Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch . Except to the extent that the defendants’ admissions are part of its criminal resolution, the claims resolved by the civil settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Operation Smoke and Mirrors Update: Kanawha County Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Role in Methamphetamine Trafficking Organization

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Michael Allen Roberts Jr., 40, of St. Albans, was sentenced today to 14 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine. Roberts admitted to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that operated in the Charleston area. According to court documents and statements made in court, between November 2022 and March 15, 2023, Roberts conspired with other individuals to distribute quantities of methamphetamine. On March 14, 2023, Roberts met with co-defendant Todd Tyler Snead at Roberts’ residence in Saint Albans, where he delivered approximately 4 pounds of methamphetamine to Snead. Law enforcement officers later searched Snead’s vehicle and recovered the methamphetamine. Co-defendant Antonio Jeffries had delivered 50 pounds of methamphetamine to Roberts’ residence a couple of weeks prior to March 15, 2023. On March 15, 2023, law enforcement officers searched a property on Smith Street in St. Albans and seized approximately 44 pounds of methamphetamine. Roberts admitted that he had placed the methamphetamine at the property a day or two before the search. Snead, 57, of Waynesboro, Virginia, was sentenced on September 6, 2023, to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Roberts and Snead are among 32 individuals indicted as a result of Operation Smoke and Mirrors, a major drug trafficking investigation that has yielded the largest methamphetamine seizure in West Virginia history. Law enforcement seized well over 400 pounds of methamphetamine as well as 40 pounds of cocaine, 3 pounds of fentanyl, 19 firearms and $935,000 in cash. Roberts and Snead are among 27 defendants who have pleaded guilty. Indictments against Jeffries and the other defendants are pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the West Virginia National Guard Counter Drug program, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the Raleigh County Sheriff's Office. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department. Chief United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearings. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted the case. The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States. 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. 2:23-cr-31. ###