title: Tampa Felon Who Led Police On A Chase Through Tampa Sentenced To More Than 6 Years In Federal For Possessing Two Firearms And Extended Magazine

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Shawn Lanier Lowman, Jr. (23, Tampa) to six years and six months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Lowman had pleaded guilty on March 23, 2023. According to court documents, at approximate 11 p.m. on November 1, 2022, Lowman was a passenger in a black sedan that fled after officers from the Tampa Police Department (TPD) had attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The sedan led the officers on a vehicle chase through the Old Seminole Heights and Sulphur Springs neighborhoods in Tampa. The chase continued on foot as Lowman ran through a residential neighborhood. A TPD Air Service helicopter tracked Lowman using a Forward Looking InfraRed (“FLIR”) camera as he fled through the neighborhood and into the backyard of a residence where he hid in a shed. The helicopter’s FLIR camera captured the thermal signature of Lowman inside the shed. TPD officers converged on the shed and arrested Lowman. The officers later recovered 10.9 grams of bagged cocaine from inside the shed. TPD officers retraced Lowman’s path of flight and located a backpack containing two loaded firearms: (1) a Glock 9mm pistol; and (2) a Smith & Wesson Model 659 9mm pistol (loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition, with one in the chamber). Lowman’s fingerprints were found on both pistols. The backpack also contained a digital scale, an extended magazine (black Pro Mag-brand, with 11 rounds), and a black ski mask. In an interview following his arrest, Lowman admitted that the fingerprints found on the firearms belonged to him and that he had possessed the firearms. At the time, Lowman had previously felony convictions for armed carjacking with a deadly weapon and armed burglary. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David W.A. Chee.


title: Kentucky Man Arrested on Child Exploitation Offenses

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Kentucky man was arrested yesterday on child exploitation charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples. A four-count indictment filed in the U.S. District Court charges Aden Willis Yeager , 21, of Louisville, Kentucky, with one count of production of child pornography, one count of coercion and enticement of a minor, one count of transportation of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography arising out of events that occurred between April 2020 and October 2020 in Tuscaloosa County. “Summer is here, and children will have an increased online presence. I encourage parents to have open and ongoing conversations about safe and appropriate online behavior,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “My office, in collaboration with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, will continue in our efforts to protect our most vulnerable victims – our children.” If you suspect or become aware of possible sexual exploitation of a child, please contact law enforcement. To alert the FBI Birmingham Office, call 205-326-6166. Reports can also be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org. For information on the FBI’s guidance on child exploitation and protecting children visit https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/protecting-your-kids . The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . The maximum penalty for production of child pornography is thirty years, and the penalty for coercion and enticement of a minor is ten years to life in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum penalty for transportation and possession of child pornography is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. FBI Birmingham’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force (CEHTTF)investigated the case along with the West Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force and the University of Alabama Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney R. Leann White is prosecuting the case. An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Four Men Charged in a Superseding Indictment with Conspiring to Launder Funds from Various Fraud Schemes

component: Civil Division

body_text: A federal grand jury in Puerto Rico returned a superseding indictment charging four men with one count of conspiracy to launder funds from wire, mail, and access device fraud schemes. One defendant, Oluwasegun Baiyewu, was previously charged on Oct. 21, 2021. According to court documents, Oluwaseun Adelekan 40, and Temitope Omotayo, 40, both of Staten Island, New York; Ifeoluwa Dudubo, 37, of Austin, Texas; and Temitope Suleiman, 37, and Oluwasegun Baiyewu, 37, of Richmond, Texas, conspired to launder funds from different international organized fraud schemes, including romance, pandemic relief unemployment insurance fraud, and business email compromise scams. These fraud schemes disproportionately impacted elderly or otherwise vulnerable Americans. “Fraud that targets seniors is reprehensible, and money laundering networks like the one alleged in this case allow fraudsters to profit from their unlawful schemes,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department is committed to pursuing investigations and prosecutions of those who victimize the elderly and other vulnerable members of our community.” “These charges reflect the Department’s ongoing commitment to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and hold criminals accountable, especially those who prey on vulnerable victims,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico. “We remain steadfast in our resolve to prosecute individuals who target seniors who have been victimized for far too long by individuals who hide in the shadows and in foreign nations to commit their crimes.” “Cases like this demonstrate the FBI’s commitment to protecting the American people and defending them against financial fraud schemes,” said Executive Assistant Director Tim Langan of the FBI’s Criminal, Cyber, Response and Services Branch. “The FBI will continue to hold anyone accountable who seeks to exploit vulnerable Americans, including the elderly.” The superseding indictment alleges that in 2020 and 2021, the defendants worked together to profit from efforts to “clean” money from scams involving victims, many of whom were older adults, in California, Illinois, Washington, and Nevada, and business email compromise schemes affecting victim companies in Puerto Rico and Missouri. After receiving the proceeds, the defendants or their co-conspirators conducted hundreds of transactions with the funds, including by obtaining cashier’s checks and money orders, and then using the cashier’s checks and money orders to purchase used cars that were shipped overseas to Nigeria. Adelekan, Baiyewu, Dudubo, Omotayo, and Suleiman are charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, and FBI San Juan Cyber Task Force are investigating this case, with assistance from the National Unemployment Insurance Fraud Task Force supporting the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force teams. Trial Attorneys Emily C. Powers and Brandon Robers of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Edwin G. Mercado for the District of Puerto Rico are prosecuting the case. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. eastern time. English, Spanish, and other languages are available. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico visit their website at www.justice.gov/usao-pr. Information about the Department of Justice’s Elder Fraud Initiative is available at www.justice.gov/elderjustice. Information about the Justice Department's COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force is available at www.justice.gov/coronavirus. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


body_text: WASHINGTON – A federal grand jury in Puerto Rico returned a superseding indictment charging four men with one count of conspiracy to launder funds from wire, mail, and access device fraud schemes. One defendant, Oluwasegun Baiyewu, was previously charged on Oct. 21, 2021. According to court documents, Oluwaseun Adelekan 40, and Temitope Omotayo, 40, both of Staten Island, New York; Ifeoluwa Dudubo, 37, of Austin, Texas; and Temitope Suleiman, 37, and Oluwasegun Baiyewu, 37, of Richmond, Texas, conspired to launder funds from different international organized fraud schemes, including romance, pandemic relief unemployment insurance fraud, and business email compromise scams. These fraud schemes disproportionately impacted elderly or otherwise vulnerable Americans. “Fraud that targets seniors is reprehensible, and money laundering networks like the one alleged in this case allow fraudsters to profit from their unlawful schemes,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department is committed to pursuing investigations and prosecutions of those who victimize the elderly and other vulnerable members of our community.” “These charges reflect the Department’s ongoing commitment to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and hold criminals accountable, especially those who prey on vulnerable victims,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico. “We remain steadfast in our resolve to prosecute individuals who target seniors who have been victimized for far too long by individuals who hide in the shadows and in foreign nations to commit their crimes.” “This case shows what true coordination and teamwork looks like, and it speaks to our Cyber mission to bring risk and consequence to cyber criminals wherever they may be,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph Gonzalez of the FBI San Juan Field Office. “The FBI’s commitment to protect the people and uphold the Constitution is not limited to the subjects' or victims' location. This is only possible thanks to our strong working relationships with our state and federal partners and our FBI colleagues across the nation and the globe. Special thanks to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico for their continued support and our FBI San Antonio and Houston colleagues for their assistance in this investigation.” The superseding indictment alleges that in 2020 and 2021, the defendants worked together to profit from efforts to “clean” money from scams involving victims, many of whom were older adults, in California, Illinois, Washington, and Nevada, and business email compromise schemes affecting victim companies in Puerto Rico and Missouri. After receiving the proceeds, the defendants or their co-conspirators conducted hundreds of transactions with the funds, including by obtaining cashier’s checks and money orders, and then using the cashier’s checks and money orders to purchase used cars that were shipped overseas to Nigeria. Adelekan, Baiyewu, Dudubo, Omotayo, and Suleiman are charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, and Federal Bureau of Investigation San Juan Cyber Task Force are investigating this case, with assistance from the National Unemployment Insurance Fraud Task Force supporting the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Strike Force teams. Trial Attorneys Emily C. Powers and Brandon Robers of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Edwin G. Mercado for the District of Puerto Rico are prosecuting the case. The department’s extensive and broad-based efforts to combat elder fraud seek to halt the widespread losses seniors suffer from fraud schemes. The best method for prevention, however, is by sharing information about the various types of elder fraud schemes with relatives, friends, neighbors, and other seniors who can use that information to protect themselves. The agencies involved in this effort urge consumers to be on the lookout for signs someone is trying to recruit them to receive and transmit fraud proceeds. Do not agree to receive money or checks mailed to you or sent to your bank account for someone you have met over the phone or online. Do not open a bank or cryptocurrency account at someone else’s direction. Fraudsters will lie to persuade you to help them. They may falsely tell you that they are helping you get a lottery prize, initiate a purported romantic relationship and then tell you that they need money, or pretend to offer you a job, an opportunity to invest in a business venture, or the chance to help in a charitable effort. The department urges individuals to be on the lookout for unauthorized debits to their accounts. Regularly check your bank, credit card, and other financial statements and contact your financial institution if you see a charge you do not recognize. Report any fraudulent debit you identify to law enforcement. Reports may be filed with the FTC at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov or at 877-FTC-HELP. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. eastern time. English, Spanish, and other languages are available. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico visit their website at www.justice.gov/usao-pr. Information about the Department of Justice’s Elder Fraud Initiative is available at www.justice.gov/elderjustice. Information about the Justice Department's COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force is available at www.justice.gov/coronavirus. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Delaware Man Sentenced for Violation of National Firearms Act

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

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Attorney Davis C. Weiss announced that Mark Nepi, 46, of Wilmington, was sentenced on June 29, 2023, to 60 months in federal prison for a violation of the National Firearms Act. U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika pronounced the sentence. According to court documents and statements made in court, in July 2022, Homeland Security Investigations – Philadelphia (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the Delaware State Police executed a federal search warrant at Nepi’s home based on a Delaware State Police arrest where Nepi was in possession of illegal explosives. Found inside Nepi’s home during the search warrant were eleven firearm silencers, a grenade, explosives in various stages of completion, flash powder chemicals, and remote firing devices and switches. The silencers recovered during the search qualified as a firearm under National Firearms Act and were not registered to Nepi, a requirement pursuant to federal law. Commenting on the case, U.S. Attorney Weiss stated, ‘Identifying and prosecuting individuals who illegally possess the weapons found in Mr. Nepi’s home is a priority for my office. I wish to recognize the successful investigative efforts of HSI Philadelphia, ATF and the Delaware State Police. Their efforts resulted in a significant federal prison sentence, which helps to keep our communities safe.” “Weapons such as those seized from Mark Nepi pose real threats and dangers to our communities,” said William S. Walker Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia. “The exploitation of international shipping avenues to import these dangerous weapons is illegal. HSI is dedicated to stopping the illicit trade in these items that pose a very serious risk to the safety of the American public.” “Illegally importing and illegally possessing firearms is a potential precursor to violent acts and can create environments that can put law-abiding citizens at risk,” said ATF Baltimore Field Division Assistant Special Agent in Charge Joseph Persails. “ATF is proud to work alongside our law enforcement partners every day to identify and investigate those individuals who continue to use and acquire firearms through the illegal market, threatening the safety of Delaware communities.” This case was investigated by HSI, ATF, and Delaware State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel S. Frey and former District of Delaware Assistant U.S. Attorney Ruth Mandelbaum prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 23-44.


title: Former Malibu Resident Pleads Guilty to Bilking Investors out of $3M With False Promises of Discounted, Pre-IPO Shares of Alibaba

component: Tax Division

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A former Malibu resident who defrauded several individuals out of more than $3 million with bogus claims he had access to stock shares of Alibaba prior to its initial public offering has pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud, the Justice Department announced today. Frank Harold Rosenthal, 48, who currently resides in New York City, pleaded guilty Friday before United States District Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha. Rosenthal admitted making false claims of having inside connections at Goldman Sachs that would provide him with special access to purchase discounted shares of Alibaba, a Chinese e-commerce company, before its initial public offering. Rosenthal carried out his scheme through a middleman, David Kunkle, by making fraudulent representations and pressuring Kunkle to solicit funds from his relatives and acquaintances for the purportedly lucrative investment opportunity. To lend legitimacy to his fraudulent scheme, Rosenthal negotiated and drafted loan agreements and promissory notes with the victims that promised the victims significant returns on their loans and investments. After obtaining their money, Rosenthal lulled his victims by, among ways, falsely stating that Alibaba shares had been purchased and sold. Rosenthal paid his earlier victims with money from later victims’ funds. Instead of using victims’ funds to purchase shares of Alibaba, Rosenthal used the money to support his lavish lifestyle, which included the $16,000 monthly rent of a Malibu home. Judge Aenlle-Rocha has scheduled a sentencing hearing on October 13, at which time Rosenthal will face a statutory maximum sentence of 40 years in federal prison, as well as restitution. IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter. Trial Attorney Sara Henderson of U.S. Department of Justice’s Tax Division and Assistant United States Attorneys Steven M. Arkow and Mark Aveis of the Major Frauds Section are prosecuting this case.


title: Three Members of Drug Trafficking Organization Plead Guilty to Importing and Distributing Narcotics

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Two members of a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) pleaded guilty today in the District of Columbia to importing and distributing narcotics. A third member of the DTO pleaded guilty to the same charges on June 16. According to court documents, from January 2020 through April 2022, Angel Adan Valenzuela, 25, of Rio Rico, Arizona; Benjamin Soto Jr., 47, of Nogales, Arizona; and Refugio Veronica Quintero Moreno, 46, of Rio Rico, Arizona, worked with others to routinely transport narcotics from Mexico through the port of entry in Nogales by car and ship those narcotics across the United States. After importing the narcotics into the United States, Valenzuela and other couriers moved them to a shipping facility in Nogales, prepared the packages for shipment, and had them distributed to cities across the United States. Soto and Quintero Moreno, who at the time were employed at a commercial shipping company in Nogales, routinely accepted narcotics-laden packages from couriers without requesting identification or payment and mailed the packages fraudulently by using existing business accounts. Valenzuela paid the shipping company employees on behalf of the DTO for their role in shipping controlled substances, including Soto and Quintero Moreno, who received weekly payments in Mexico for their role in facilitating narcotics shipments. From September 2021 to November 2021, agents identified and intercepted 21 packages sent in this manner, resulting in the seizure of more than 30 kilograms of methamphetamine, 20 kilograms of cocaine, seven kilograms of fentanyl, and four kilograms of heroin. Valenzuela, Quintero Moreno, and Soto all pleaded guilty to a two-count indictment charging each with conspiring to import five kilograms or more of cocaine, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and conspiring to distribute those amounts of those substances and Ritalin. Soto and Quintero Moreno are scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 15 and Valenzuela is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 16. Each faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge David G. Nanz of the FBI Springfield Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Springfield Field Office is investigating the case with substantial assistance from Homeland Security Investigations - Arizona and the FBI Tucson Field Office. Trial Attorneys Douglas Meisel, Mingda Hang, Kate Naseef, and Samantha Thompson of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section are prosecuting the case. The case is supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF).


title: Jury returns guilty verdict in murder-for-hire plot

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A federal jury sitting in McAllen has convicted a 32-year-old man for conspiracy to commit murder for hire, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. The jury deliberated for just over an hour before convicting Christopher Andrade, Oxnard, California, following a four-day trial. The jury heard that in 2018, Mexican Mafia gang members arranged for the murder of an individual residing in Mission. Andrade was a Colonia Chiques gang member on parole who recruited and conspired with three additional individuals to execute the murder in exchange for $20,000. The others included his mother Viola Garcia, Noah Solis and Ronaldo Gallegos. Testimony revealed the co-conspirators agreed to travel from California to Texas to commit the murder in exchange for payment. On Aug. 30, 2018, Garcia and co-conspirators attempted to forcibly entered the victim’s residence. The murder attempt was unsuccessful. They then tried to flee from the scene. At that time, Garcia led responding law enforcement officers on a high speed chase until she crashed the vehicle. The jury heard testimony regarding text messages and phone calls that Andrade had made from his phone coordinating the murder attempt. The jury also heard that in July 2018, the group had attempted to murder the same victim. Andrade attempted to convince the jury he was not in fact the user of the phone and was unaware of any agreement or attempt to commit murder. The jury did not believe those claims and found him guilty as charged. U.S. District Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa presided over trial and set sentencing for Sept. 7. At that time, Andrade faces up to 10 years in federal prison. Andrade has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing. Noah Solis, 24, and Ronaldo Gallegos, both 24 and from Oxnard, had previously pleaded guilty, while Garcia, 52, also of Oxnard, California, was convicted by a jury in November 2022. All are also pending sentencing. The FBI conducted the investigation with the assistance of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and police departments in Mission and Oxnard, California. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cahal P. McColgan and Peter I. Brostowin are prosecuting the case.


title: Customs and Border Protection Officer Indicted for Receiving Bribes, Allowing Drug-laden Vehicles to Enter the U.S.

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – July 3, 2023 SAN DIEGO – U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Leonard Darnell George was charged in an indictment unsealed today with accepting bribes to allow vehicles containing drugs such as fentanyl and methamphetamine to pass through the border into the U.S. In addition, George is charged along with Mario Angel Gutierrez, Esteban Galvan and four other unnamed defendants with conspiracy to import and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances in the Southern District of California and elsewhere. According to the indictment and other public records, the defendants allegedly coordinated the smuggling of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and heroin from Mexico with an ultimate destination of the United States. Officer George is charged separately with receiving bribes. The indictment alleges that he did directly and indirectly corruptly demand, seek, receive, accept, and agree to receive items of value in return for being induced to permit narcotics laden vehicles entry into the United States in violation of his official duties, that is failing to enforce controlled substances and customs laws of the United States. Gutierrez is charged separately with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. “The indictment alleges that Officer George broke the very drug trafficking laws that he was supposed to enforce,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our agency partners in the Southern District of California are committed to rooting out and punishing corruption.” Grossman thanked the prosecution team and investigating agencies for their excellent work on this case. “This significant arrest demonstrates great teamwork and coordination by HSI and its federal law enforcement partners to dismantle transnational criminal organizations and root out alleged corruption in our government,” said Chad Plantz, Special Agent in Charge for HSI San Diego. “HSI is committed to protecting our homeland and the people of this country.” “The Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate all allegations of corruption. Today’s arrest reinforces our commitment to protecting the integrity of DHS personnel, programs, and operations,” said Homeland Security Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari, Ph.D. “It is the responsibility of all government employees to operate with the utmost integrity and do their best to foster and maintain the public's trust,” said FBI San Diego Field Office Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy. “Anyone who violates that trust will be held accountable for their actions.” “The vast majority of CBP officers are highly skilled, hard-working professionals dedicated to our mission of protecting the American public and we do not stand for those that would tarnish our badge,” said Sidney Aki, Director of Field Operations for CBP in San Diego. “The San Diego Field Office will cooperate fully as the case proceeds.” A detention hearing is scheduled for July 6, 2023, at 10 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Major. SUMMARY OF CHARGES Case Number 23CR1291 Receiving Bribe by Public Official – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 201 Maximum penalty: Fifteen years in prison Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances – Title 21 U.S.C., Sections 952, 960, 963 Maximum penalty: Life in prison with a 10-year mandatory minimum Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances – Title 21 U.S.C., Sections 841(a)(1), 846 Maximum penalty: Life in prison with a 10-year mandatory minimum Possession of Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime – Title 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) Maximum penalty: Consecutive five-year mandatory minimum AGENCIES Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General (DHS OIG) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Customs and Border Protection – Office of Professional Responsibility (CBP OPR) Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: 21 Year Old Lincoln Gang Member Sentenced for His Role in the Murder of Officer Mario Herrera

body_text: United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Senior United States District Judge John Gerrard ruled today that Orion J. Ross of Lincoln, Nebraska should be punished for the actions he took that helped bring about the murder of Lincoln Police Department Officer Mario Herrera. Judge Gerrard specifically found that Ross told his accomplice, Felipe Vazquez, where to get a stolen firearm that was stashed in the bedroom where the two were barricaded together. LPD officers issued repeated commands for Vazquez to surrender and exit the bedroom peacefully, but instead, Vazquez cocked the firearm Ross made available to him. Ross then shattered the window of the bedroom in an action intended to distract officers so that Vazquez could escape through the window while firing the weapon. Vazquez shot Officer Herrera during his escape with the stolen handgun that Ross made available to him. Judge Gerrard found these actions were part of ongoing conspiracies between Ross, Vazquez, and other members of the No Name Demons gang to possess firearms in furtherance of crimes of violence and drug trafficking. As a result, Judge Gerrard sentenced Ross to 30 years in federal prison for what the Court called a “senseless and brutal murder.” The Court further described its familiarity with the No Name Demons gang overall as a gang that espoused “extreme violence,” a “code of silence,” and the Court noted that there were many other victims of this gang’s violent acts. Ross is subject to 6 years of supervised release following the 30-year term of imprisonment. Ross was charged in his indictment with eleven other members of the No Name Demons gang. Many of those defendants were previously sentenced by Judge Gerrard to include: Isaiah James Dorsey, sentenced to 240 months in federal prison for his role in a gang rape and for firearms conspiracy in furtherance of crimes of violence. Krysean Reynolds, sentenced to 200 months in federal prison for his role in a gang rape and for firearms conspiracy in furtherance of crimes of violence. Lorenzo Anderson, sentenced to 102 months in federal prison for firearms conspiracy. Yuko Gusko, sentenced to 90 months in federal prison for firearms conspiracy. Rice Hill, sentenced to 88 months in federal prison for firearms conspiracy. Kyce Davis, sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for firearms conspiracy. Kallam Yiel, sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for firearms conspiracy. Bryan Castillo, sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for firearms conspiracy. Three other defendants have yet to be sentenced. Tang Lian is the next defendant set to be sentenced in the case on July 19, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. Following the sentencing today, FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel said, "As a member of a violent gang, Orion Ross terrorized Lincoln neighborhoods; ultimately leading to the death of one of our own. Ross may not have pulled the trigger, but his actions make him just as responsible for the killing of Officer Mario Herrera. While no sentence will bring Officer Herrera back or end his family’s pain, the FBI, and our federal, local, and state partners in the Lincoln Safe Streets Gang Task Force, hope they can take some comfort in the fact this violent gang has been dismantled and its members are behind bars. “ This case was primarily investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lincoln Police Department with operational assistance from the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office and the Nebraska State Patrol.


title: Guatemalan National Sentenced to More Than Five Years in Prison for Deaths in Human Smuggling Operation

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: ALPINE, Texas – A Guatemalan national was sentenced in federal court in Pecos Monday to 63 months in prison for one count of transportation of illegal aliens resulting in death. According to court documents, David Alexander Gonzalez-Diaz, 24, of Santa Rosa, Guatemala, was transporting 14 undocumented noncitizens north of Van Horn on Oct. 29, 2021, when he lost control of the vehicle, crashing and ejecting several occupants. As a result, four of the migrants were killed and six were critically injured. Gonzalez-Diaz has remained in federal custody since his arrest the day of the crash. “Human smuggling is extremely dangerous and, as displayed in this case, often results in serious injury or death,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “This sentence is a reminder that violators are committing a serious crime with serious consequences and will be held accountable.” "This case drives home a harsh message to anyone considering trusting a smuggler to attempt to enter the United States illegally: Anytime you trust a smuggler, you’re putting your life in grave danger,” said Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola for the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso Division. “Human smugglers have a total disregard for their clients’ safety, welfare, and lives. They see them simply as cargo and a means to make a profit." HSI investigated the case with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Greenbaum prosecuted the case. ###


title: Two Texas Medical Practices to Pay More Than $500,000 to Resolve False Claims Act Liability for Fraudulently Billing Medicare for P-Stim Devices

body_text: SAN ANTONIO - U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas announced Wednesday, separate civil settlements totaling $513,168.10 to resolve allegations that two area medical practices violated the False Claims Act (“FCA”) by improperly billing Medicare for P-Stim devices. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas has now obtained more than $2 million related to improperly billed P-Stim devices since June 2021. P-Stim is an electro-acupuncture device that is affixed behind a patient’s ear using an adhesive. Needles are inserted into the patient’s ear and affixed using another adhesive. Once activated, the device provides intermittent stimulation by electrical pulses. It is a single-use, battery-powered device designed to be worn for approximately four days until its battery runs out, at which time the device is thrown away. Medicare does not reimburse for P-Stim devices. Alamo City Pain Consultants LLC, d/b/a The Institute for Functional Health, a San Antonio medical practice, billed Medicare for P-Stim devices between May 2018 and January 2020. Ronald Moore, DNP, Theresa Lambert, DNP, through their Austin area business entities Psych Dimensions Inc., and Lambert & Moore Enterprises Inc., billed Medicare for P-Stim devices to beneficiaries between December 2018 and March 2019. The United States alleged that the medical practices fraudulently obtained payment from Medicare by falsely claiming they had implanted neuro-stimulators, a surgical procedure that usually requires an operating room and is reimbursable by federal healthcare programs. Under the terms of the separate settlement agreements in these cases, Institute for Functional Health has agreed to pay $357,913.18 and Moore and Lambert have agreed to pay $155,254.92 to resolve their respective liability under the FCA for these claims. The settled civil claims are allegations only and do not constitute admissions of liability by the settling parties. These matters were investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin M. Van De Walle negotiated the settlements on behalf of the United States. ###


title: Fort Lauderdale Man Sentenced to 5+ Years for Bank Fraud, ID Theft and Firearms Offenses in Maine, Florida and Oregon

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: A Fort Lauderdale, Florida man was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Portland yesterday for conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft and unlawful possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Leonardo Cameron, 28, to 61 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Cameron pleaded guilty on November 28, 2022. According to court records, in November 2020, Cameron and coconspirators broke into unattended vehicles in southern Maine and New Hampshire and stole personal identifying information, such as driver’s licenses and checkbooks. They then used the identifications to cash stolen checks using multiple bank drive-through lanes in southern Maine. As part of the scheme, checks from one theft victim’s account were made payable to another identity theft victim, and another coconspirator impersonated the identity theft victims to cash the stolen checks. In July 2020, Cameron engaged in similar conduct in Oregon with different coconspirators. In April 2021, when he was arrested in Florida for the Oregon federal bank fraud and identity theft charges, he was found in possession of a firearm and ammunition. A prior felony conviction precluded Cameron from possessing firearms or ammunition. Cameron agreed to transfer jurisdiction over the Florida and Oregon charges to the District of Maine for the purpose of entering guilty pleas to all pending federal charges. COCONSPIRATOR IN MAINE CASE SENTENCED TO 3 YEARS: On May 3, Travis Paige (aka “Travis McNair” or “Sway”), 26, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was sentenced to three years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud and aggravated identity theft for his part in the scheme. The Eliot, Maine Police Department; the FBI in Portland, Maine; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Portland, Oregon; and HSI in Fort Lauderdale, Florida investigated these cases. ###


title: Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty To Trying To Buy Two Firearms

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Byron Jones, Jr. (34, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to making a false statement to a federally licensed firearms dealer during the attempted purchase of two firearms. Jones faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. According to court documents, Jones completed an ATF Form 4473 during his attempted purchase of two 9mm pistols from Academy Sports and Outdoors, a federally licensed firearms dealer. Jones indicated on the required paperwork that he was not a convicted felon despite having felony convictions from 2015 and 2018 for illegal drug possession and carrying a concealed firearm. This is another case uncovered through the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). All NICS denials are reported to federal law enforcement and reviewed daily for potential criminal prosecution. Federal law makes it a felony offense to make a false statement to a firearms dealer when trying to buy a firearm. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Talbot. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Jacksonville Convicted Felon Sentenced To Eight Years For Narcotics And Firearm Possession

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Johnny Deangelo White (46, Jacksonville) to eight years and four months in federal prison for possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. He had pleaded guilty in March 2023. According to court documents, on April 27, 2022, officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office responded to a call from an individual who saw White waving a firearm outside of a grocery store. When White saw the officers, he fled into the store and threw the firearm into a shelf of potato chips. The loaded, stolen, firearm was recovered, and White was arrested. The officers found on White’s person a sunglasses case that contained fentanyl. The amount of fentanyl and the way it was packaged was indicative that White was selling fentanyl. White later admitted to selling fentanyl since the early part of 2022. White is a seven-time convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Jacksonville Sherriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro. The forfeiture will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney Mai Tran. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Federal Bureau of Prisons Nurse Sentenced for Contraband Smuggling and Bribery Conspiracy

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – Ruben Montanez-Mirabal, 33, who worked as a registered nurse for the Federal Bureau of Prisons (“BOP”) at the Federal Detention Center – Miami (“FDC-Miami”) has been sentenced to 72 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to receive bribes and introduce prohibited objects, including controlled substances, into a federal prison, and to introducing prohibited objects into a federal prison, arising from his illegal deliveries of contraband to inmates at FDC-Miami. From November 2021 through late August 2022, Montanez-Mirabal solicited and obtained illegal payments from FDC-Miami inmates in exchange for violating his official duties and FDC-Miami rules by bringing in and delivering to them prohibited objects, including sheets of paper that were soaked with synthetic cannabinoids. In exchange for this illegal activity, Montanez-Mirabal accepted thousands of dollars in bribes from these inmates and their associates. Along with these payments, Montanez-Mirabal also solicited and received other things of value from inmates, including the free use of a Lamborghini and a Rolls-Royce. Montanez-Mirabal would bring these drug-soaked pages and other prohibited items into FDC-Miami and then either deliver them directly to the inmates or hide them in places where the inmate paying him would be able to recover the contraband. Those inmates would then re-sell the pages to other inmates at a rate of $1,500 per page. Montanez-Mirabal made a number of these deliveries, providing over 100 drug-soaked pages, worth more than $150,000 in total, to inmates inside FDC-Miami in exchange for the bribes he received. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge James Boyersmith, Department of Justice Office of Inspector General (DOJ-OIG), Miami Field Office, announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez. U.S. Attorney Lapointe commended the investigative efforts of the FBI’s Miami Area Corruption Task Force and DOJ-OIG in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward N. Stamm prosecuted it. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under case number 23-cr-20051. ###


title: Orlando Man Who Destroyed Hard Drive Pleads Guilty To Distributing And Possessing Child Sex Abuse Materials

body_text: Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Christopher Tristan McKie (38, Orlando) has pleaded guilty to distribution and possession of child sex abuse material. McKie faces a minimum mandatory term of 5 years, up to 20 years, in federal prison for the distribution offense and up to 20 years in federal prison for the possession offense. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 19, 2023. According to the plea agreement, law enforcement received a CyberTip regarding a user distributing child sex abuse images and videos on a social media platform. Further investigation revealed that McKie was the user who had uploaded the child sex abuse material. While executing a search warrant on McKie’s residence, law enforcement seized multiple electronic devices belonging to McKie, including a damaged laptop under McKie’s bed and an external hard drive broken into pieces behind a freezer. Law enforcement also found a folder containing McKie’s handwritten stories describing the sexual abuse of children between the ages of five and sixteen. A forensic examination of McKie’s devices revealed several videos and images of child sex abuse material. During an interview with law enforcement, McKie admitted to viewing and trading child sex abuse material. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Richardson-Jones. This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Mescalero Man Charged with Sexual Abuse

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Garrick Richard Shendo-Herrera made an initial appearance in federal court on a criminal complaint charging him with sexual abuse. Shendo-Herrera, 34, of Mescalero, will remain in custody pending trial. According to the complaint, on May 16, 2023, the victim gave Shendo-Herrera a ride home from his workplace. After they arrived at Shendo-Herrera’s residence, Shendo-Herrera allegedly began sexually abusing the victim. Shendo-Herrera stopped assaulting the victim only when a third party interrupted the alleged assault, giving the victim a chance to escape. An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Shendo-Herrera faces up to life in prison. This case was investigated by the Las Cruces Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau Investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant United States Attorney Eliot Neal is prosecuting the case. # # # 23-142


title: Violent Gang Member Convicted of Drug and Firearms Conspiracy Involving Six Shootings

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – The last remaining defendant in a multi-phase investigation targeting drug trafficking and gang violence in communities north of Boston was found guilty yesterday of operating a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy that manufactured and distributed kilograms of fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine in Maine. The trial evidence also included proved his participation in six shootings. The defendant served as a supplier for multiple large-scale drug dealers in Maine and participated in the acquisition of over 40 firearms for gang members. Armani Minier-Tejada, a/k/a “Shotz,” a/k/a “Gustavo,” 23, was convicted by a federal jury of one count of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, cocaine, and other controlled substances; one count of conspiracy to use and carry a firearm during and in relation to, and possess a firearm in furtherance of, a drug trafficking crime; and one count of use and carrying, brandishing and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of, a drug trafficking crime.. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Oct. 5, 2023. Based upon the charges for which he was convicted, Minier-Tejada faces a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 40 years in prison. The investigation began in 2020 in direct response to an increasing number of shootings in communities north of Boston committed by street gangs whose violence is fueled by drug distribution. The investigation resulted in the arrest and charging of Minier-Tejada and his co-conspirators Shelby Kleffman, Jaiir Coleman and Christina Bernbaum in early 2021. All three of Minier-Tejada’s co-conspirators pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy and are awaiting sentencing. Minier-Tejada was a member of a street gang known as the Tiny Rascal Gangsters (TRG), one of the largest and most violent criminal street gangs in the country that operates on a decentralized structure via local groups or “sets.” TRG is involved in street-level distribution of powdered cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy and methamphetamine and members are known for their involvement in gun violence, including drive-by shootings of residences of rival gang members. The government introduced evidence at trial that Minier-Tejada and his co-conspirators participated in a long-running conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine in Boston, the North Shore and Bangor, Maine. At trial, the government introduced evidence that Minier-Tejada served as the supplier for multiple large-scale drug dealers in Maine and, in total, he and his co-conspirators were responsible for trafficking more than 10 kilograms each of fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine into Maine. Minier-Tejada and his coconspirators produced numerous videos and images in which they were depicted brandishing and holding firearms, including multiple machine guns. Evidence was introduced at trial that in 2019 and 2020, Minier-Tejada and co-conspirator Coleman committed six shootings in Boston and surrounding communities in furtherance of the drug conspiracy. One of the shootings, which took place in Cambridge in July 2020, was in response to a video being live-streamed from a parking lot accusing Minier-Tejada and Coleman of cooperating with law enforcement. Minier-Tejada and Coleman travelled to the streaming location with two firearms – including a machine gun – and together fired at least 30 rounds into a large crowd of people gathered in the parking lot. Additionally, evidence was introduced that the drug conspiracy of which Minier-Tejada was a leader acquired over 40 firearms and multiple “selector switches” for TRG members. “Selector switches,” or auto sears, are aftermarket parts that convert a semi-automatic firearm into a machine gun. “The highest calling for the Department of Justice is to keep our communities safe. This case should send a clear and unequivocal message to those who chose to pump fentanyl and other deadly drugs into our streets and brazenly brandish highly dangerous firearms to protect their trade – you will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We will spare no resources working with our federal, state and local partners to make sure that people who terrorize their communities and who show a callous disregard for human life will spend decades behind bars,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Armani Minier-Tejada stands convicted of numerous shootings committed in furtherance of his large-scale drug trafficking ring that polluted the streets of Maine with everything from deadly fentanyl to cocaine, crack cocaine & methamphetamine,” said Christopher DiMenna, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division. “The FBI’s North Shore Gang Task Force will continue to work diligently to remove violent criminals from our communities, and we thank the jury for their swift verdict in this case.” “DEA is committed to investigating and dismantling violent poly drug trafficking organizations like this operating in Massachusetts led by Armani Minier-Tejada,” said Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Office. “As we all know, drug trafficking in our communities, along with the gun and physical violence that often accompanies it, is a serious threat to public safety. This is unacceptable and we will not allow it to happen. DEA and its local, state and federal partners are dedicated to bringing to justice those that commit these crimes. This verdict not only holds Mr. Minier-Tejada accountable for his crimes but serves as a warning to those traffickers who are contributing to the drug crisis in Massachusetts.” “ATF’s deepest gratitude goes out to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for pursuing this investigation, as well as the state and local partners who diligent assisted with this investigation, which included a cavalier act of shooting a machine gun into an open public area. Our community can rest tonight, knowing our streets are safer with Armani Minier-Tejada being found guilty for his crimes,” said James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division. “I want to express my sincere gratitude to our officers, and law enforcement partners, who worked collaboratively to bring justice following a very concerning series of events in Cambridge and across our region,” said Cambridge Police Commissioner Christine Elow. “This conviction is yet another example of how working together can make our streets and communities safer. It also demonstrates the collective action we all are deeply committed to taking, particularly when addressing important issues like gun violence and drug trafficking that can cause great harm and trauma to our communities.” “The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency continues to coordinate our enforcement efforts with our local, State and Federal partners to combat the lethal drug epidemic in Maine. This case underscores how dangerous these criminal drug traffickers are and how vital it is to shut down these criminal enterprises. We want to recognize and thank the many law enforcement professionals who participated in complex case and the successful prosecution,” said Rick Desjardins, Director of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. Minier-Tejeda is the 18th and final federal defendant to be convicted in this case. Over the past three years, the investigation has resulted in the arrest, conviction and imprisonment of multiple drug traffickers and violent offenders in the greater Boston area, including Vincent Caruso, a/k/a “Fatz;” his mother Laurie Caruso and co-conspirator Ernest Johnson, a/k/a “Yo Pesci;” Malden-based drug trafficker Phillips Charles, a/k/a “Phon C;” and large-scale methamphetamine supplier and TRG leader David Oth, a/k/a “Baby Bouncer.” The charge of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, cocaine, and other controlled substances, provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least 10 years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of conspiracy to use and carry a firearm during and in relation to, and possess a firearm in furtherance of, a drug trafficking crime provides for a sentence of up to life in prison because a machine gun was involved in the offense, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge use and carrying, brandishing and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of, a drug trafficking crime provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years and up to life to be served consecutively to the penalty for the underlying drug trafficking crime, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. As such, based on the crimes for which Minier-Tejada was convicted, he faces a mandatory 40 years in federal prison. Sentences are imposed by a federal district judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Levy, FBI SAC DiMenna, DEA SAC Boyle, ATF SAC Ferguson, Commissioner Elow and MDEA Director Desjardins made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine; Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; Middlesex and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Offices; Essex and Hancock (Maine) County Sheriff’s Department; and the Chelsea, Everett, Lynn, Malden, Salem, Somerville, Bangor (Maine), Portland (Maine) and Westbrook (Maine) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip A. Mallard and Kaitlin R. O’Donnell of Levy’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit are prosecuting the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. UPDATE: This press release was amended on July 25, 2023.


title: Drug Smuggler Sentenced to 10 Years Prison

component: U.S. Attorneys (USAO)

body_text: COEUR D'ALENE – Dalila Miller, 39, of San Diego, California, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. According to court records, on October 23, 2020, U.S. Border Patrol agents spotted Miller’s vehicle in a remote area in North Idaho near the U.S. and Canadian Border. Agents from both the U.S. and Canada responded to the area. When U.S. Border Patrol arrived at the location Miller’s vehicle was initially seen, they located two men standing near bags containing 227 pounds of methamphetamine and cocaine. The two men immediately fled into Canada leaving the bags behind. U.S. Border Patrol agents eventually tracked down and stopped Miller in her vehicle leaving the area and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) tracked down and arrested the two men who had fled into Canada after running from U.S. Border Patrol. The men arrested by the RCMP were identified as Lawrence Edward Dwyer of Cranbrook, British Columbia, and Jason Cyrus Arkinstall, of Mission City, British Columbia. Arkinstall is a member of the Mission City chapter of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. Both Arkinstall and Dwyer were prosecuted in Canada for their involvement in the incident. Miller was indicted in federal court in the District of Idaho for her role in the offense. She pleaded guilty in December 2022 to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. Law enforcement’s investigation showed that Miller had traveled from the Seattle, Washington area with the bags containing methamphetamine and cocaine and dropped them off at the border where it was to be packed across into Canada. Miller was sentenced by Chief District Judge David C. Nye on Wednesday June 28, 2023, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Upon completion of her prison time, Miller was also ordered to serve an additional five years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Hurwit, of the District of Idaho, credited the cooperative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Border Patrol, Boundary County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho State Police, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which led to the charges. ###


title: Tampa Drug Trafficking Leader Sentenced To More Than 21 Years In Federal Prison

body_text: Tampa, FL – United States District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell has sentenced Edward Verdi-Bruno, (31, Tampa) to 21 years and 8 months in federal prison for conspiracy and delivery of controlled substances. Verdi-Bruno had pleaded guilty on March 29, 2023. According to court documents, Verdi-Bruno led a drug trafficking organization operating from a car wash on 22 nd Street in Palmetto Beach. During the investigation, agents made controlled purchases of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine from multiple members within the drug trafficking organization. In March 2022, agents seized two kilograms of cocaine sent by Verdi-Bruno from Puerto Rico to the Tampa area. In September 2022, agents intercepted a parcel containing two kilograms of fentanyl concealed in an air fryer mailed by the organization and destined for Puerto Rico. Verdi-Bruno and another co-conspirator were arrested when they attempted to retrieve the seized parcel. Following Verdi-Bruno’s arrest and detention on a criminal complaint, Verdi-Bruno used the recorded phone system at the Pinellas County jail to direct other members of the organization to deliver fentanyl pills to an undercover officer in October 2022. Verdi-Bruno directed two deliveries from the Pinellas County jail, resulting in the seizure of thousands of pressed fentanyl pills. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Beckman. This investigation is the result of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.


title: Former Sales Representative Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Compound Prescription Drug Scheme

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A former sales representative was sentenced to 60 months in prison for his role in a scheme to defraud public health benefits programs by billing for medically unnecessary compound prescriptions, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Matthew Puccio, 41, of Randolph, New Jersey, was convicted on July 19, 2022, of conspiracy to commit health care fraud following a seven-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez, who imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court. According to documents in this case and the evidence at trial: Compound medications are specialty medications mixed by a pharmacist to meet the specific medical needs of an individual patient. Although compound drugs are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), they are properly prescribed when a physician determines that an FDA-approved medication does not meet the health needs of a particular patient, such as if a patient is allergic to a dye or other ingredients in the prescription. From November 2014 to March 2016, Puccio participated in a conspiracy that involved submitting fraudulent prescriptions for compound medications to public health benefits programs. Marketing companies recruited and paid sales representatives, such as Puccio, to obtain compound medications for themselves and others regardless of medical necessity, targeting health plans that reimbursed for compound medications at high rates. Puccio exploited this opportunity through working as a sales representative for several compounding pharmacies. He targeted individuals who had health plans that covered compound medications and then convinced those individuals to obtain prescriptions for compound medications, regardless of medical necessity. Puccio and others induced two New Jersey-based physicians to sign medically unnecessary prescriptions for beneficiaries that Puccio and others had recruited. Once the prescriptions were written, they were filled by the compounding pharmacies with which Puccio worked. The compounding pharmacies would then receive reimbursement from the health plans and would pay Puccio a percentage of the reimbursement amount. Puccio and his conspirators caused a significant loss to public health benefits programs. In addition to the prison term, Judge Vazquez sentenced Puccio to three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $2.65 million in restitution. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the sentencing. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emma Spiro and Shawn Barnes of the Criminal Division in Newark.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office hosts United Against Hate Summit

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia partnered with the Chamblee Police Department to host the first of a series of community forums designed to educate the public about hate crimes and other civil rights enforcement tools to address hate crimes, hate incidents, and discrimination. “Our most recent United Against Hate Summit was one of many ways our office seeks to combat hate crimes and incidents in our district,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “We were honored to be joined by leaders from our community who work tirelessly to address hate incidents and discrimination who attended the summit and served as guest speakers. Like the summit participants, we encourage all citizens in our district to take a stand on hate and report these types of incidents to our office.” The event, held on June 21, 2023, in Chamblee, Georgia, featured facilitated discussions with several members of the community including: Georgia State Representative Esther Panitch, who spoke about her experience as a Jewish woman who received antisemitic fliers at her home and her decision to report the incident. Japjee Singh, a young Sikh man who was harassed in school based on his religion and national origin. Following a complaint about the harassment from Singh’s Family and the Sikh Coalition, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice reached a comprehensive agreement with DeKalb County School District that included, among other things, anti-harassment training and a safety plan to ensure Singh’s safety in the school. Brandon White, a gay man who spoke about being beaten and called slurs outside an Atlanta convenience store in 2012. His case resulted in criminal prosecution of his attackers by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and was one of the first successful prosecutions under the federal hate crimes statute based on sexual orientation. Gerald Bostock, one of the named plaintiffs in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in Bostock v. Clayton County who spoke about his experience as a gay man who was fired based on his sexual orientation. Presenters provided interactive video clips and engaged with the community to emphasize the importance of reporting hate crimes and incidents. Members of the community also heard from community organizations including Disability Link, Georgia Equality, NAACP, ADL, Georgia Consumer Mental Health Network, and Raksha. These grass roots organizations discussed alternatives to DOJ enforcement by highlighting the work they do daily to combat discrimination and hate incidents. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will host additional United Against Hate events in the coming months to engage with communities across the Northern District of Georgia. These events will encourage further collaboration, support hate crime prevention efforts, and encourage more citizens of our district to report hate crimes and acts. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga . CORRECTION: Please note that Raksha was spelled incorrectly in this release. That has been corrected in the body of this release.


title: Utah Woman Found Guilty of $10M Worth of PPP Loan Fraud

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: Salt Lake City , Utah – A federal jury convicted a Salt Lake County woman Thursday of two counts of making false statements designed to influence a bank, one count of money laundering, and one count of contempt. According to court documents and the evidence presented at trial, Allison Marie Baver, 42, of Taylorsville, Utah, submitted eight fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications for her company, Allison Baver Entertainment LLC (ABE). PPP loans were designed to enable small businesses to pay their employees during the COVID-19 crisis. Baver is the owner and agent of ABE. On April 25 and 26, 2020, Baver submitted the fraudulent PPP loan applications to Northeast Bank and Meridian Bank. In each of the loan applications, Baver sought $10 Million of PPP loan funding for ABE. She falsely stated in each application that ABE’s average monthly payroll was between $4,770,583, when ABE had no average monthly payroll; and falsely stated ABE had 430 employees, when ABE had no employees. Baver’s false statements influenced Meridian Bank to fund her requested $10 million PPP loan. After receiving the loan proceeds, she transferred $150,000 to invest in a movie. Sentencing is scheduled for October 30, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. District Court Judge Jill N. Parrish at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement. The case was investigated jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Salt Lake City Field Office, Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG), and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI). Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Muyskens and Jamie Z. Thomas are prosecuting the case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the PPP. Since the inception of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 200 defendants in more than 130 criminal cases and has seized over $78 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/ppp-fraud .


title: Federal Jury Convicts Former Louisiana Police Officer of Civil Rights Violation for Using Dangerous Weapons to Assault a Non-Violent Loitering Suspect

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: After a four-day trial, a federal jury convicted a former Louisiana police officer on one charge of deprivation of rights under color of law for assaulting a non-violent loitering suspect. The evidence at trial established that Dylan Hudson, 36, physically assaulted a loitering suspect during a daytime arrest in Shreveport, Louisiana. During the arrest, the defendant repeatedly struck the suspect in the head and face. The conduct described during the trial and played for the jury on video from police dashboard cameras included several applications of potentially deadly force. The defendant struck the suspect in the head with a loaded pistol, tased him at the base of the skull, and kicked him in the face. The defendant’s fellow officers testified that the loitering suspect was non-violent throughout the entire arrest, and that the defendant’s repeated violations of training and policy created a danger not only to the suspect, but to others as well. “This defendant’s conduct, captured on video, was appalling,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “When an officer so grievously abuses the authority entrusted to him by his community, the Justice Department will respond with the full force of the law.” “Dylan Hudson’s conduct during this incident was unacceptable and he does not deserve the honor of wearing the badge. I hope the victim, our Shreveport community and even the Shreveport Police Department can now begin to heal from Hudson’s unlawful conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown for the Western District of Louisiana. “This is the first trial resulting in a guilty verdict that we have ever had in the history of this district where the defendant was a member of the Shreveport Police Department. This administration is committed to aggressively investigating and prosecuting unjustified, use of force incidents to the fullest extent of the law.” “Mr. Hudson’s despicable actions have no place in law enforcement,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams Jr. of the FBI New Orleans Field Office. “The FBI and its partners are dedicated to protecting the public from individuals who misuse the trust and authority of the badge.” The maximum penalty for the charged crime is 10 years of imprisonment. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 26. Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Brown and Special Agent in Charge Williams made the announcement. The FBI the investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Mudrick for the Western District of Louisiana and Trial Attorney Thomas Johnson of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.


title: Readout of Civil Rights Division’s Inaugural Quarterly LGBTQI+ Rights Community Stakeholder Meeting

body_text: Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the division’s LGBTQI+ Working Group convened the inaugural quarterly meeting of LGBTQI+ Rights Community Stakeholders at the Justice Department. Department leadership, including representatives from the Civil Rights Division, FBI, Office of Justice Programs and Office on Violence Against Women heard from attending organizations on an array of topics, including anti-LGBTQI+ violence and hate, legislation targeting the LGBTQI+ community, Title VI and grant funding concerns specific to the LGBTQI+ community and the need to increase intersex awareness. Representatives from other government agencies, including the Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, Energy and Housing and Urban Development were also in attendance. This week’s meeting reinforces the Justice Department’s commitment to taking an all-of-department approach to protecting LGBTQI+ rights, including by engaging with organizations and stakeholders on issues affecting the LGBTQI+ community. The department’s recent work on LGBTQI+ rights issues includes statements of interest and lawsuits challenging state bans on gender-affirming health care for transgender minors in Oklahoma , Kentucky , Tennessee and Alabama . The department has also prosecuted hate crimes based on LGBTQI+ status, supported organizations serving LGBTQI+ victims and survivors, and educated the public about threats facing the LGBTQI+ community, including by hosting a virtual, nationwide community meeting addressing practical steps for protecting LGBTQI+ communities from hate-motivated attacks and threats of violence. These and other efforts by the department are summarized in a fact sheet released earlier in June in honor of Pride Month.


title: Cantina owner admits to forcing young girl to engage in commercial sex

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 65-year-old Mexican woman who legally resided in Mission has admitted to forcing a young girl to engage in commercial sex. Rita Martinez compelled the underage victim to engage in commercial sex work in a cantina she owned and operated in Mission known as Perez Lounge, Rita’s Lounge and Rita’s Sports Bar. “Using her cantina as a front, Rita Martinez forced a young migrant girl into sexual acts with Rita’s male patrons,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. “No one should have to endure that kind of treatment. Sometimes it takes time, but we will not give up. We will make sure people like Martinez answer for violating the laws of the United States by preying on the weak and vulnerable members of our society.” “Human trafficking – particularly trafficking of children – is a reprehensible crime with far reaching consequences. Traffickers degrade human dignity and decimate individual rights while at the same time undermining public safety, border security, economic opportunity, and the rule of law,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department remains committed to prosecuting human traffickers for this heartless exploitation of vulnerable young people and to obtaining restitution on behalf of victims.” As part of the plea, she acknowledged from the spring of 2005 to the fall of 2006, the 16-year-old Mexican minor lived in Martinez’ home and worked at her bar. Martinez arranged for male patrons of the cantina to take this minor girl from the cantina in order to engage in commercial sex. Martinez profited financially by accepting money from those male patrons. Martinez kept the money and applied it to the cost of the minor victim’s fee for the transportation from Mexico into the United States. “This case is a reminder of the need for aggressive pursuit of all those who would take advantage of anyone in vulnerable or desperate circumstances,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Oliver E. Rich Jr. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners are dedicated to protecting people from these horrible predators and will do everything we can to bring these perpetrators to justice. We would like to thank the Texas Alcoholic and Beverage Commission (TABC) for their outstanding assistance in this case.” Genaro Fuentes, 41, Martinez’s son, pleaded guilty Jan. 26 and admitted his role working at the bar and helping to facilitate the commercial sex. Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane will impose sentencing for Martinez and Fuentes Sept. 7 and July 6, respectively. Martinez faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, while Fuentes could receive a 20-year maximum sentence. Martinez and Fuentes have been and will remain in custody pending sentencing. The FBI has led the investigation with assistance from the TABC. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Garcia and Sherri Zack are prosecuting the case along with Trial Attorney Kate Hill of the Department of Justice’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.


title: Ocean County Man Admits $21.7 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme and COVID-19 Wire Fraud Scheme

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – An Ocean County, New Jersey, man admitted his role in a durable medical equipment kickback scheme, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Alexander Schleider, 57, of Lakewood, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of wire fraud. According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court: Schleider owned and operated durable medical equipment (DME) companies in New Jersey that provided orthotic braces to beneficiaries of Medicare and other federal and private health care benefit programs without regard to medical necessity. Schleider and his conspirators obtained prescriptions for the DME braces through the payment of kickbacks and bribes to individuals operating marketing call centers, who in turn utilized the service of telemedicine companies to obtain prescriptions for the DME. Schleider caused losses to Medicare and other health care benefit programs of $21.7 million. Schleider also committed wire fraud in connection with funds made available in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. After one of his DME companies received $322,237 from the Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration Provider Relief Fund, Schleider submitted a fraudulent attestation to HRSA in which he claimed that the DME company provided diagnoses, testing, and care for individuals with possible or actual cases of COVID-19 after Jan. 31, 2020. In reality, the DME company had ceased billing for any services in April 2019. The attestation also falsely claimed that the payment would only be used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, and that the payment shall reimburse the recipient only for health care related expenses or lost revenues that are attributable to coronavirus. Schleider did not use the funds for those purposes, but transferred them into other accounts and subsequently used them to purchase real estate and vehicles, among other things. The charge of conspiracy to commit health care fraud is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross profit or loss caused by the offense, whichever is greatest. The charge of wire fraud is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross profit or loss caused by the offense, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 8, 2023. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; the Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Naomi Gruchacz; and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher F. Algieri, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean M. Sherman and DeNae Thomas of the Health Care Fraud Unit in Newark. schleider.information.pdf


title: Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking a Minor

body_text: A Mexican national, who legally resided in Mission, Texas, pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Texas today to sex trafficking a minor. In February 2022, a federal grand jury indicted Rita Martinez, 65, for using force, fraud and coercion to compel 10 victims, both adults and minors, to engage in commercial sex work in a cantina that Martinez owned and operated in Mission, Texas, known at various times as Perez Lounge, Rita’s Lounge and Rita’s Sports Bar. In January 2023, a co-defendant in the case, Genaro Fuentes, 40, pleaded guilty to sex trafficking a minor. As part of her plea agreement, Martinez admitted that she operated a cantina in Mission, Texas, from 2000 to 2019 and provided housing to a minor victim whom she knew to be 16 years old in the spring or summer of 2005. Martinez had the minor victim clean her house, but eventually, sent the minor victim with men from the cantina, knowing that these men intended to engage in commercial sex with the minor victim. Martinez also admitted that she accepted money from these clients before allowing them to take the minor victim out of the cantina to engage in commercial sex. Martinez applied the money to a smuggling debt that she imposed upon the minor victim to transport her from Mexico into the United States. The minor victim left Rita’s cantina in the fall of 2006. “Human trafficking – particularly trafficking of children – is a reprehensible crime with far reaching consequences. Traffickers degrade human dignity and decimate individual rights while at the same time undermining public safety, border security, economic opportunity and the rule of law,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department remains committed to prosecuting human traffickers for this heartless exploitation of vulnerable young people and to obtaining restitution on behalf of victims.” “Behind her cantina, Rita Martinez tormented and forced young migrant women and girls into sexual acts, acts with Rita’s male patrons,” said U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas. “No one should have to endure that kind of treatment. Sometimes it takes time, but we will not give up. We will make sure people like Martinez answer for violating the laws of the United States by preying on the weak and vulnerable members of our society.” “Human trafficking strips victims of their bodily autonomy and devastates families and communities,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Justice would not be possible without the courage of the victims to come forward and tell their story. The FBI is grateful for their bravery and devoted to bringing justice to anyone affected by human trafficking.” Martinez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and up to life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. As part of Martinez’s plea agreement, she agreed to pay over $840,000 in restitution to 14 victims. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 7. Assistant Attorney General Clarke, U.S. Attorney Hamdani and Assistant Director Quesada made the announcement. The FBI investigated the case, with assistance from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Garcia and Sherri Zack for the Southern District of Texas and Trial Attorney Kate Hill of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit are prosecuting the case. Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org . Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking .


title: Couple Charged with COVID-19 Loan Fraud Scheme

body_text: NEWARK N.J. – A New Jersey and Texas man and woman were arrested in Texas on charges related to fraudulently obtaining Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) totaling approximately $790,000, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Diana Valteri, 40, and Edmond Haxhillari, 42, of Sparta, New Jersey, and Cypress, Texas, are charged by complaint with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. Both are scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jessica S. Allen in Newark federal court on July 7, 2023. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Valteri and Haxhillari are a married couple who from June through August 2020, participated in a fraudulent scheme to receive $790,000 in COVID-19 emergency relief loans and cash advances meant for distressed small businesses under the EIDL program. Valteri and Haxhillari submitted fraudulent loan applications on behalf of several businesses that purported to have employees and revenue, but were actually shell companies with no actual business operations. After receiving the EIDL funds based on their fraud, Valteri and Haxhillari diverted the proceeds for their own personal gain. The wire fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and the money laundering charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Each charge also carries a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain to the defendants or gross loss to the victim, whichever is greatest. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy; special agents of IRS – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins; special agents of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Sharon MacDermott, and special agents from the Small Business Administration, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, Eastern Regional Office, with the investigation leading to the charges. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Fatime Meka Cano of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark. 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 Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. valteri.complaint.pdf