title: Thirty-Five Individuals Charged in Second Superseding Indictment with Participating in Violent Transnational Drug and Money Laundering Operation

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Thirty-five individuals have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Johnstown on narcotics, conspiracy, and money laundering charges, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. The four-count Second Superseding Indictment was returned on December 13, 2023, and unsealed today. The Second Superseding Indictment charges a total of 35 defendants. Thirty-three defendants allegedly participated in a domestic and international narcotics conspiracy between August 2021 and June 2023, involving substantial quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine. Two defendants are charged with being principal administrators of a continuing criminal enterprise, an alleged violation of the federal “Kingpin” statute. Eight of the defendants are further charged with a money laundering conspiracy. A list of the defendants, charges, and maximum penalties is included at the bottom of this release. According to the Second Superseding Indictment, two of the defendants, Marcos Monarrez-Mendoza and Marcos Monarrez, Jr., allegedly served as the leaders of the Phoenix-based Monarrez Drug Trafficking Organization (the “Monarrez DTO”), which imported from Mexico millions of fentanyl pills, kilograms of fentanyl powder, hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine, and dozens of kilograms of cocaine that were distributed and sold throughout the United States. The narcotics allegedly were smuggled into the United States inside bulk shipping containers and hidden within commercial consumer products, among other methods. At various times, other defendants, including Jaime Ledesma, Henry Rivera Ortega, and Jesus Miguel Vibanco-Garcia, allegedly served as the suppliers of substantial quantities of narcotics for the Monarrez DTO. Redistributers then sold these drugs throughout the United States, including in Phoenix, Arizona; Seattle, Washington; Wichita, Kansas; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Cleveland, Ohio; Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Western Pennsylvania, among other destinations. As alleged in the Superseding Indictment, Monarrez-Mendoza and Monarrez, Jr. issued payment through various forms and by various means to the organization’s drug suppliers for the drug shipments. For example, Monarrez-Mendoza and Monarrez, Jr. allegedly issued payments to Humberto Arredondo-Soto, a narcotics supplier based in Mexico, in the form of hundreds of thousands of dollars in bulk U.S. currency; military-grade firearms, including .50 caliber, AK-47, and short-stock AK-47 (Draco) rifles; Glock handguns; FN SCAR assault rifles; and vehicles, which were smuggled from the United States into Mexico by way of couriers. While orchestrating this transnational drug trafficking organization, Monarrez, Jr. allegedly offered to pay and did pay defendant Carlos Zamora to perpetrate violence, including a drive-by shooting, on behalf of the Monarrez DTO. Throughout the duration of the conspiracy, members of the Monarrez DTO are alleged to have regularly possessed and carried firearms to protect the DTO’s drugs and drug proceeds. Additionally, while detained at the Cambria County Prison in the Western District of Pennsylvania, members of the conspiracy, including Monarrez, Jr., allegedly used contraband cell phones to communicate with other co-conspirators outside of the jail facility in an effort to direct the continued operations of the Monarrez DTO. Specifically, during this time, Monarrez, Jr. allegedly coordinated the distribution of approximately 500,000 fentanyl pills and kilogram-quantities of fentanyl powder throughout the United States. As alleged, Monarrez-Mendoza and Monarrez, Jr. were the principal administrators, organizers, and leaders of the alleged Monarrez DTO, which involved a total of 120 kilograms or more of fentanyl and 150 kilograms or more of methamphetamine. “Marcos Monarrez-Mendoza and his son Marcos Monarrez, Jr., along with their many co-conspirators, allegedly operated a violent drug trafficking operation that smuggled massive quantities of deadly drugs from Mexico, including millions of fentanyl pills, into the United States for distribution on the streets of our communities in the Western District of Pennsylvania, as well as many other communities throughout the country,” said U.S. Attorney Olshan. “The latest charges in this case are a direct result of the dedication and ceaseless resolve of the prosecutors in our office, who, alongside our many dedicated federal, state, and local investigative partners, will continue to do everything in our collective power to shut down deadly narcotics traffickers—even when, as alleged, they seek to ply their criminal trade from inside the walls of a jail.” “The trafficking of fentanyl to our region from other states is a huge problem,” said FBI Pittsburgh Acting Special Agent in Charge Mike Shanahan. “FBI Pittsburgh’s Southwest Safe Streets Task Force and our partners are working very hard to take dangerous drugs off of our streets, along with the people who peddle them. This is another great example of law enforcement working together to combat the drug crisis and make our communities safer by targeting those trying to do harm.” “These indictments demonstrate HSI’s commitment to cooperation and information sharing with our partner law enforcement agencies. Every time we dismantle one of these criminal enterprises, we help protect the American public from the devastation brought by addiction and the crime and violence that goes along with it,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia William S. Walker. “These charges carry with them the possibility of life sentences. Given the unparalleled devastation that fentanyl has caused, these superseding indictments send the message to those who deal death that they will be caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” A total of eight defendants are also charged with engaging in a money laundering conspiracy from April 2022 to March 2023 related to the operations of the Monarrez DTO. According to the Second Superseding Indictment, Monarrez-Mendoza and Monarrez, Jr. enlisted the assistance of associates located both in the United States and in Mexico, as well as the family members of their associates, to transport cash proceeds of the Monarrez DTO and engage in various financial transactions designed to legitimize their profits; disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the proceeds; and promote the Monarrez DTO. This conduct allegedly involved the transportation and delivery of bulk cash proceeds from drug sales to couriers for transportation from the United States to Mexico; the use of digital money transfer services; casino gaming; and the purchase of jewelry, watches, designer clothing, high-end vehicles, and real property, which were often purchased by and titled in the names of third parties to conceal the identities of their true owners. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants. Assistant United States Attorney Arnold P. Bernard, Jr. is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. This prosecution is the result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles high-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten communities throughout the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Laurel Highlands Resident Agency, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI’s Southwest Pennsylvania Safe Streets Task Force conducted the investigation leading to the Superseding Indictment in this case. Additional agencies participating in this investigation include the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation; the United States Postal Inspection Service; Cambria County, Indiana County, and Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Offices and detective bureaus; the Cambria County Sheriff’s Office; Indiana Borough Police; New Kensington Police; Upper Yoder Township Police; Cambria Township Police; the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General; Pennsylvania State Police; and numerous other local law enforcement agencies. A superseding indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. List of Defendants Name Age Place of Residence Charges Maximum Penalty Marcos Monarrez-Mendoza 53 Phoenix, AZ Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment Engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise Life imprisonment Money laundering conspiracy 20 years’ imprisonment Samuel Aguirre 21 Phoenix, AZ Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment Money laundering conspiracy 20 years’ imprisonment Marco Armenta 22 Phoenix, AZ Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl Life imprisonment Mark Camacho 24 Phoenix, AZ Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment Robert Foster 25 Buckeye, AZ Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl Life imprisonment Donald Garwood 40 Glendale, AZ Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment Erivan Guerrero 22 Phoenix, AZ Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment Money laundering conspiracy 20 years’ imprisonment Bryce Hill 25 Kennewick, WA Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment Emmanuel Lopez 27 Glendale, AZ Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment Cesar Monarrez 25 Maricopa, AZ Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment Marcos Monarrez, Jr. 23 Phoenix, AZ Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment Engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise Life imprisonment Money laundering conspiracy 20 years’ imprisonment Jairo Morales 21 Phoenix, AZ Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment Money laundering conspiracy 20 years’ imprisonment Stephanie Ortiz 24 Avondale, AZ Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment Valerie Sanchez 35 Phoenix, AZ Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment Heaven West 21 Phoenix, AZ Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl Life imprisonment Carlos Zamora 27 Peoria, AZ Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment Humberto Arredondo-Soto 23 Culiacan, Mexico Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment Colby Barrow 29 Peoria, AZ Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl Life imprisonment Luis Chavez-Ortega 26 Glendale, AZ Money laundering conspiracy 20 years’ imprisonment Donnell Collins 27 Cleveland, OH Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine Life imprisonment Possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine 40 years’ imprisonment Mohamed Kariye 34 Kent, WA Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl Life imprisonment Jesus Lopez 21 Phoenix, AZ Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment Diego Monarrez 21 Phoenix, AZ Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment Alicia Parks 24 Kent, WA Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment James Pinkston 32 New Kensington, PA Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine Life imprisonment Money laundering conspiracy 20 years’ imprisonment Possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine 40 years’ imprisonment Jesus Ramirez 25 Phoenix, AZ Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment Sahal Sahal 36 SeaTac, WA Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl Life imprisonment Diamond Williams-Dorsey 29 Cleveland, OH Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl Life imprisonment Luis Carlos Fentanes 22 Phoenix, AZ Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine Life imprisonment Jesus Aaron Garcia 24 Phoenix, AZ Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment Jaime Ledesma 26 Phoenix, AZ Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment Henry Rivera Ortega 20 Phoenix, AZ Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment Adrian Lopez Rivera 22 Phoenix, AZ Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment Michele Soto 20 Phoenix, AZ Money laundering conspiracy 20 years’ imprisonment Jesus Miguel Vibanco-Garcia 28 Mexico Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl, and 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine Life imprisonment


title: Waterloo Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a Felon

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who possessed a firearm as a felon was sentenced today to seven years in federal prison. Davion Everette Madlock, age 24, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after as August 21, 2023 guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm as a felon. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that between October 2022 and November 2022, Madlock posted videos and photos on social media advertising the sale of marijuana. On November 11, 2022, law enforcement officers searched Madlock’s residence. During the search, officers located a firearm with a laser sight and an extended magazine that was loaded with 31 rounds of ammunition on a coffee table in front of a couch where Madlock would sleep. Behind that couch, officers located a shoe box that contained 33 individually tied sandwich baggies each containing marijuana, a digital scale, and a paper identification card belonging to Madlock. At the time of the search warrant, Madlock was a felon based on multiple prior gun-related felony convictions. Madlock was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Madlock was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Madlock is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and was investigated by the Waterloo Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-CR-2027. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Alden Man Who Illegally Possessed a Firearm Sentenced to 71 Months in Federal Prison

body_text: Seth Peterson, 30, from Alden, Iowa, was sentenced on January 5, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City, to 71 months’ imprisonment. Peterson pled guilty on August 4, 2023, to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Peterson was previously convicted of Aggravated Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Aggravated Domestic Abuse Assault with the Intent or Display a Weapon, and Extortion. At the hearings, evidence showed that an investigation into Peterson for vandalism led to search warrants for his social media, and ultimately his residence. At his residence, law enforcement found a loaded Taurus 9mm handgun with an obliterated serial number and drug paraphernalia. Peterson admitted to knowingly possessing the firearm, being a felon at the time he possessed the firearm, and being a user of methamphetamine and marijuana, all of which prohibit him from possessing a firearm. Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Peterson was sentenced to 71 months’ imprisonment and must serve a term of supervised release of three years following the imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Peterson remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick T. Greenwood and was investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-3007. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Tama Man Sentenced to Over Two Years in Prison for Assaulting His Girlfriend

body_text: A Tama man who punched and kicked his girlfriend in the face was sentenced today to nearly there years in federal prison. Bryce Saunders Kapayou, age 43, from Tama, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 13, 2023 guilty plea to domestic abuse assault. Evidence at the plea hearing and sentencing showed that in April 2023, Kapayou punched and kicked his girlfriend in the face. She was transported to a local hospital where she was treated for substantial injuries to her nose and face. Evidence showed that Kapayou was drunk and in possession of a machete at the time of the assault. Kapayou has a long criminal history and has 51 prior criminal convictions. Kapayou was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Kapayou was sentenced to 31 months’ and 16 days’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Corkery and investigated by the Meskwaki Nation Police Department and the FBI. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-CR-46. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Former Iowa Businessman Sentenced to Federal Prison in Pandemic Benefits Fraud Scheme

body_text: A former Iowa businessman who defrauded the federal and state governments out of over $150,000 in pandemic benefits, and who also possessed firearms and ammunition after multiple prior felony convictions, was sentenced today to five years in federal prison. Justin Eugene Dowie, age 41, from Cedar Rapids, received the prison term after pleading guilty on July 19, 2023, to one count of bank fraud, one count of money laundering, and one count of possessing ammunition as a felon. Evidence at Dowie’s sentencing, and other hearings in the case, showed that, in 2020 and 2021, Dowie repeatedly submitted false applications to the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) in attempts to receive Paycheck Protection Program loans (“PPPs”) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDLs”). During the pandemic, Congress authorized PPPs and EIDLs to assist businesses and individuals suffering financial impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. Dowie applied for approximately $1 million in PPPs and EIDLs from the SBA, and while many of his attempts were unsuccessful, he received over $100,000 from the SBA in his own name and using a stolen identity. During the same timeframe, Dowie also received over $50,000 in fraudulent unemployment insurance benefits from the State of Iowa, again using his own name and a stolen identity. Dowie also perpetrated other fraud schemes on individual victims, including stealing insurance benefits intended for a victim of the derecho—a severe windstorm that damaged numerous properties in the Cedar Rapids area in August 2020—and obtaining over $13,000 from a line of credit. Dowie is a former businessman in the Cedar Rapids and Des Moines areas. He is also a convicted felon with sixteen prior criminal convictions, including five drunk driving convictions in state court. In late 2022 and early 2023, Dowie possessed firearms and ammunition even though he was prohibited from doing so on account of his criminal record, which included felonies for drunk driving in 2008, conspiracy to commit a nonforcible felony in 2015, and attempted eluding in 2018. While Dowie illegally possessed the firearms and ammunition, he refused to leave another man’s home after the other man had temporarily allowed Dowie to stay in the home during a snowstorm and cold weather. The other man ultimately had to leave his own home when Dowie took it over illegally. Dowie was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Dowie was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment. He was ordered to make $190,539.65 in restitution to the victims of his crimes, including the federal and state governments. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . Dowie is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, assisted the investigation. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file numbers are 23-CR-10 and 23-CR-55. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Stilwell Resident Sentenced For Federal Firearm Crime

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Edmond Lewis Jr., age 41, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 72 months in prison for possessing a firearm after a felony conviction. The charges arose from investigations by the Adair County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On January 18, 2023, Lewis pleaded guilty to the offense. On November 25, 2020, law enforcement conducting a traffic stop discovered Lewis, a convicted felon, with a handgun and a rifle in the car. During the plea hearing, Lewis agreed that he knew at the time of the traffic stop that he was barred from possessing firearms. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing in Muskogee. Lewis will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorneys T. Cameron McEwen and Kevin Gross represented the United States.


title: Charleston Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Weapon and Drug Violation

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: CHARLESTON, S.C. — Antonio Lorenzo Huggins, 40, of Charleston, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine. Evidence presented to the court showed that Charleston Police Department contacted Huggins on Oct. 3, 2021, because he had outstanding warrants for his arrest. Huggins fled from officers and tried to take off his pants during the chase. Police caught Huggins and located three bags in his pocket containing over 30 grams of crack cocaine and two grams of cocaine. Police recovered Huggins’ pants and located a loaded firearm that was stolen, $600 cash, and a cell phone. Huggins admitted possessing the firearm to the officers. United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel sentenced Huggins to 180 months imprisonment, to be followed by eight years of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Huggins faced an enhanced sentence due to previous federal convictions of a similar nature. This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Charleston Police Department (CPD). Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Serial Fraudster Sentenced for Role in Multiple Investment Fraud Schemes

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A California man previously extradited from Mexico was sentenced yesterday to 4 years in prison for his role in two high-yield investment fraud schemes in which he and his co-conspirators defrauded elderly and other vulnerable victims out of millions of dollars. According to court documents, Daniel Thomas Broyles Sr., aka Dan Thomas, 66, of Malibu, participated in a high-yield investment fraud scheme involving a sham company named Niyato Industries Inc. (Niyato). Broyles conspired with Niyato’s CEO, Robert Leslie Stencil, 66, of Charlotte, North Carolina, and others to defraud Niyato investors. Together, Broyles, Stencil, and others falsely portrayed Niyato as a leader in electric vehicle manufacturing and converting vehicles to run on compressed natural gas. In reality, Broyles knew, or intentionally avoided learning, that Niyato was merely a sham company that lacked any operational facilities or proprietary technology and virtually all investor funds were being disbursed among the co-conspirators and not used to promote Niyato’s business. In June 2016, after Broyles learned that federal law enforcement agents were investigating Niyato, he relocated to Mexico. When, in August 2016, he learned that he had been indicted, Broyles moved to a new address in Mexico and began using the alias “Daniel Cruz Torrez” to hide from federal law enforcement agents and obstruct the federal government’s prosecution of him. Broyles also participated in a second high-yield investment fraud involving EarthWater Limited (EarthWater). Broyles conspired with EarthWater’s CEO, Cengiz Jan Comu, 63, of Dallas, and others to sell EarthWater stock. Broyles and others made numerous false and misleading representations, including that EarthWater used the money raised from victim investors to develop and operate the company’s business. In truth, Broyles, Comu, and their co-conspirators had agreed to use the invested victim funds largely for their personal benefit. Broyles was extradited from Mexico in March 2022. In June 2022, Broyles pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, one count of mail fraud, and one count of money laundering in connection with the Niyato scam. Broyles also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud in connection with the EarthWater fraud. Seven other defendants have previously been convicted in connection with the Niyato scam, including Stencil, who was convicted following a three-week jury trial and sentenced to 12 years and three months in prison. Eleven other defendants have pleaded guilty in connection with the EarthWater fraud, including Comu, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Dena J. King for the Western District of North Carolina, U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton for the Northern District of Texas, Inspector in Charge Tommy Coke of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Atlanta Division, and Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the USPIS Criminal Investigations Group made the announcement. Mexican officials provided significant assistance in the extradition of Broyles to the United States. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided substantial assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Broyles. USPIS investigated the case. The U.S. Marshals Service transported Broyles from Mexico to the United States. Trial Attorney Christopher Fenton of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting both cases. Trial Attorney Theodore Kneller of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Walters for the Northern District of Texas are also prosecuting the EarthWater case.


title: Justice Department’s Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center Reaches 1,000 Technical Assistance Engagements with Local Law Enforcement Agencies

component: Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)

body_text: The Justice Department today announced that the Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center (CRI-TAC), which provides a wide array of technical assistance services for the law enforcement field, has achieved a major milestone in providing more than 1,000 technical assistance engagements to state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies across the country. Developed by the Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office), the Collaborative Reform Initiative helps law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve identify and implement organizational improvements and reforms through training, consultation, peer-based learning, analysis, and in-depth assessments. The Initiative is structured as a continuum of services offered to law enforcement agencies on a strictly voluntary basis. CRI-TAC, one of three programs under the broader Collaborative Reform Initiative, provides critical, tailored technical assistance resources to state, local, tribal, territorial and campus law enforcement agencies on a wide variety of topics. “The CRI-TAC Initiative has been a key component of the expanded Collaborative Reform Initiative relaunched almost two years ago," said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. "The response we’ve seen – now over 1000 engagements on everything from de-escalation training to officer wellness and countless other topics – speaks to the demand for, and utility of, this form of technical assistance provided ‘by the field, for the field.’ The Justice Department is grateful for the extensive engagement and partnerships with law enforcement and community groups as we continue to enhance and expand our technical assistance offerings to support public safety and police-community trust.” The Attorney General and the Associate Attorney General announced the expansion of the Collaborative Reform in March of 2022 . Some of the areas of technical assistance requested most by agencies include de-escalation techniques, active threat response, public sector coordination and partnerships, school and campus safety, and officer safety and wellness. Specific topics have included the following: Using a public health approach to address violent crime Strengthening proactive youth engagement within a transit agency Improving safety and wellness programming throughout an officer’s career Using the internal discipline process for enhanced accountability The types of technical assistance most requested are training and resource referrals; virtual and on-site consultations are the next most frequent forms of technical assistance delivered. Other forms of technical assistance included policy reviews and in-depth briefings from subject matter experts. In the evaluations submitted following their engagements, agencies uniformly praised all aspects of the program – from the delivery of services and the subject matter experts provided, to the quality of the information received, to the gains in their level of knowledge and the ability to make positive changes in their agencies based on the training and technical assistance received. “This is a big milestone for the COPS Office’s technical assistance efforts, and I am extremely grateful that so many law enforcement agencies across the country have been able to get the help they need through the Collaborative Reform Initiative,” said Director Hugh T. Clements, Jr. of the COPS Office. “When law enforcement agencies reach out for help, communities are the ultimate beneficiaries. We look forward to building on this success by helping many more agencies in the months and years ahead.” Through CRI-TAC, the COPS Office partners with the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and eight other leading law enforcement organizations to deliver tailored technical assistance that meets the needs of law enforcement agencies in a “by the field, for the field” approach. Partner agencies include: FBI National Academy Associates Fraternal Order of Police International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives National Sheriffs’ Association National Tactical Officers Association Applications to request assistance from CRI-TAC are accepted on a rolling basis, and the technical assistance is delivered at no cost to the agency. Agencies interested in requesting collaborative reform technical assistance can learn more at www.cops.usdoj.gov/collaborativereform . The COPS Office is the federal component of the Justice Department responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Justice Department agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served. The COPS Office has been appropriated more than $20 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local, territorial, and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of approximately 138,000 officers.


title: Portsmouth Man Sentenced for Carjacking at Gunpoint

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A Portsmouth man was sentenced yesterday to 15 years in prison for armed carjacking. According to court documents, on July 11, 2022, Raequan Rucker, 23, along with a co-conspirator, simultaneously approached two women late at night and stole their vehicles at gunpoint. At the time of the carjacking, one victim had her 9-month-old baby in the backseat. After Rucker entered one vehicle and his co-conspirator entered the other, they drove off and met at a location in Portsmouth where Rucker’s co-conspirator dumped his vehicle and entered Rucker’s. The two men then traveled to Virginia Beach, where they were subsequently located by Virginia Beach Police in a retention pond. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; and Paul Neudigate, Chief of Virginia Beach Police made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Heck prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-124.


title: Wilkinsburg Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison on Drug Trafficking Conviction

body_text: PITTSBURGH - A resident of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to eight years in prison on his conviction of narcotics trafficking, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Senior United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti imposed the sentence on Howard Palmer, age 35, of Wilkinsburg, PA. According to information presented to the court, on February 9, 2023, federal search warrants were executed on two apartments on Princeton Boulevard in Wilkinsburg, PA. During the execution of those warrants, two kilograms of cocaine, two firearms, quantities of fentanyl and other drugs, drug packaging material, and other items were recovered from the two apartments. Palmer admitted that the firearms and narcotics belonged to him. Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Conti indicated that the sentence was appropriate taking into consideration the large quantity of drugs possessed by the defendant as well as the presence of firearms and ammunition. Assistant United States Attorney Douglas C. Maloney prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Olshan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Palmer.


title: Spencer Iowa Man Sentenced on  Possession of Child Pornography

body_text: A Spencer man was sentenced January 4, 2024, to more than 4 years in federal prison. Leighton Marshal Jones, age 42, from Spencer, Iowa, received the prison term after an August 18, 2023, guilty plea to Possession of Child Pornography. Evidence at Jones’ sentencing hearing established that between January 1, 2012, and December 7, 2017, Jones possessed over 1,500 images of child pornography copied across six electronic devices. Jones admitted to officers that he downloaded the child pornography in approximately 2012. Jones stated he had no interest in it but kept the child pornography because it was “different,” and he “knew he would not be able to get it again if he deleted it.” These images included material that portrayed toddlers, bestiality, and sadistic and masochistic conduct. Jones was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Jones was sentenced to 51 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay $14,000 in restitution to several victims. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Jones is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and Spencer Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-CR-4015. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Mexican National Charged With Illegal Reentry

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Pedro Millan-Montero, age 36, of Mexico, was indicted on January 3, 2024, by a federal grand jury for illegal reentry into the United States by a previously deported alien. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that Millan-Montero was previously removed from the United States on June 15, 2012, through Hidalgo, Texas, and it is alleged that he was subsequently found in the United States without having first obtained legal permission to reenter the country. The indictment also alleges that on December 14, 2023, Millan-Montero was encountered in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. This matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is ten years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Dajuan Williams and Multiple Others Sentenced in Nationwide Drug and Money Laundering Conspiracy

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Dajuan Williams, 31, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced in the United States District Court on January 4, 2024, following his guilty plea to drug trafficking and money laundering charges described in counts 1 and 4 of the October 5, 2021 superseding indictment. Chief United States District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford sentenced Williams to 144 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 4-year term of supervised release. The Court also ordered Williams to pay a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $600,034.09. According to court records, Williams, who is the lead defendant in this 11-defendant case, supervised a well-organized nationwide drug trafficking business that distributed vast quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other drugs for profit. Some of the drugs involved were fentanyl pills created to resemble prescription opiate medications. Williams also supervised the laundering of drug proceeds via cash deposits into bank accounts followed by the transfer of proceeds using a variety of methods, including mobile payment services such as Cash App, Zelle, and Venmo. Williams’s business had locations across the country, including in Burlington, Vermont; Bismarck, North Dakota; and Billings, Montana. To staff these locations, Williams recruited workers and directed them where to go and what to do. The business relied on complicated logistics to obtain drugs from suppliers, transport them across the country, and distribute them to customers. At times, Williams tested drugs on customers to determine which product was favored. On the financial side, Williams micro-managed on-the-ground distribution, checking in with his workers and frequently demanding the “count” – an accounting of drugs sold and money earned. Earnings of over a million dollars were returned to bank accounts controlled by Williams. Williams laundered drug proceeds, enriched himself, and surrounded himself with the trappings of affluence: cars, cash, clothes, jewelry, houses. Among the cars Williams purchased with his illegally-obtained wealth were a black 2016 Maserati Ghibli; a white 2017 Audi A7; and a grey 2017 BMW X6. Before his arrest on January 13, 2021, in Los Angeles, California, Williams was living in a mansion that rented for approximately $15,000 per month perched high in the hills of Los Angeles under the Hollywood sign. To date, nine of Williams’ co-defendants have pleaded guilty to federal charges and have been sentenced. The following summarizes the results of this multi-defendant drug trafficking and money laundering case: Juwon Robinson : Pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges described in count 1 of the indictment. Sentenced to 51 months’ imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release. Dashawn Pulley : Pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering charges described in counts 1 and 4 of the superseding indictment. Sentenced to 40 months’ imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release resolving federal charges in Vermont and North Dakota. Jaylinn Lenoir : Pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges described in count 1 of the indictment. Sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release. Rendell Perkins : Pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges described in count 1 of the indictment. Sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release. Mohamed Luhizo : Pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering charges described in counts 1 and 12 of the indictment. Sentenced to 70 months’ imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release. Stephen Alexander : Pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering charges described in counts 1 and 2 of an information. Sentenced to 32 months’ imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release. Juan Orozco-Hernandez : Pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering charges described in counts 1 and 2 of a superseding information. Sentenced to 42 months’ imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release. Abigail Houston : Pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges described in count 1 of the superseding indictment. Sentenced to 5 years’ probation. Javonte Sovey : Pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering charges described in counts 1 and 4 of the superseding indictment. Sentenced to 1 year and 1 day of imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release and now participating in federal Reentry Court in Vermont. Jessica Elwell : Pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and money laundering charges described in counts 1 and 4 of the superseding indictment. Sentencing scheduled for March 8, 2024. The sentencing of Williams and his co-defendants follows a twelve-month investigation conducted by state and federal agencies which was led by Homeland Security Investigations. HSI was assisted in this investigation by agents from IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, troopers from the Vermont State Police Drug Task Force, the Burlington Police Department, and the South Burlington Police Department. The coordinated law enforcement effort focusing on Williams and his drug trafficking organization was conducted as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets. United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest praised the coordinated work of law enforcement in this year-long investigation and also thanked all of the United States Attorney’s Offices across the country who assisted, with specific credit to federal prosecutors in Maine, North Dakota, and the Central District of California for their assistance. “Dajuan Williams and his co-defendants spread deadly drugs throughout the Burlington, Vermont area as well as several other small cities across the United States. The focus of the organization was on profit without a care for the addicted victims of Williams’ illegal business. Multiple law enforcement agencies, led by HSI and IRS-CI, worked with focus and determination and have now successfully dismantled Williams’ organization. While we recognize the importance of prevention and treatment and rehabilitation, this office, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to prosecute those who seek to profit off of the addiction of their fellow community members.” “Dajuan Williams was responsible for spreading misery and poison throughout our region,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of HSI New England. “HSI is proud to have collaborated with our local, state, and federal partners in Vermont and beyond to put an end to Williams’s crime spree, which included the trafficking of deadly fentanyl and other dangerous drugs.” The United States is represented in this matter by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Boscia. Chandler Matson, Esq. represents Dajuan Williams. Ernest Allen, Esq. represented Juwon Robinson. Stephanie Greenlees, Esq. represented Dashawn Pulley. Jordana Levine, Esq. represented Jaylinn Lenoir. Robert Behrens, Esq. represented Rendell Perkins. Richard Bothfeld, Esq. represented Mohamed Luhizo. Kevin Henry, Esq. represented Stephen Alexander. Frederic Warner, Esq. and Richard Goldsborough, Esq. represented Juan Orozco-Hernandez. Allan Sullivan, Esq. represented Abigail Houston. Gregory Mertz, Esq. represented Javante Sovey. Michael Turndorf, Esq. represents Jessica Elwell.


title: Belchertown Man Sentenced for Social Security Fraud

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Belchertown man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Springfield for fraudulently receiving Social Security disability benefits. Kenneth Pontz, 59, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 10 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Restitution and forfeiture will be determined at a hearing on March 5, 2024. In August 2023, Pontz was convicted by a federal jury of one count of theft of public funds after a four-day trial. Over a span of 16 years, Pontz repeatedly made false statements to the Social Security Administration to obtain over $114,000 in disability benefits to which he was not entitled by concealing that he lived with his wife, whose income would have been used in calculating his monthly benefit payment for the needs-based program. Pontz further concealed his living arrangements by reporting that he lived at a vacant lot, rather than the residence he shared with his wife. Additionally, Pontz provided a fraudulent rent receipt that overstated his actual rent by $575 per month. Also during this time frame, Pontz embezzled approximately $46,000 from his trailer park association in his capacity as treasurer. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Sharon MacDermott, Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Boston Field Division; and Belchertown Police Chief Kevin Pacunas made the announcement today. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Nagelberg and Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil L. Desroches of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.


title: Justice Department Marks More Than 500 Illegal Firearm Purchases Stopped by New Enhanced Background Checks

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: On June 25, 2022, President Biden signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) into law. Among other provisions aimed at reducing gun violence, BSCA requires the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to conduct an enhanced background check before any sale or transfer of a firearm to a person under the age of 21 (U21). In addition to the traditional records databases reviewed during a standard background check, these U21 checks involve expanded outreach by the FBI’s NICS Section to state and local officials who may have access to additional disqualifying information. Since implementing BSCA’s enhanced background checks in October 2022, the FBI NICS Section has conducted enhanced background checks on more than 200,000 transactions. Those checks have kept more than 1,900 firearms out of the hands of dangerous and prohibited persons, and over a quarter of those denials — 527 as of the first week of January — were based solely on information received through the additional BSCA-enabled outreach. Without the enhanced outreach required by BSCA, these 527 U21 transactions would likely have proceeded because the disqualifying information was otherwise unavailable to NICS. “In the 19 months since the passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the law’s expanded background checks have already kept 500 firearms out of the hands of young people who are prohibited from having them,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will continue to bring to bear every tool we have to combat the gun violence that plagues our communities.” The 500th BSCA-specific U21 denial — which was recorded on Dec. 18, 2023 — involved a prospective purchaser whose transaction was denied after a state police officer provided records, otherwise not available to NICS, that showed the prospective purchaser to be an unlawful user of, or addicted to, a controlled substance. Other exemplary U21 denials include: A sheriff’s office responded to the NICS Section with an incident report implicating the U21 purchaser in a rape offense. The NICS Section obtained court documentation establishing that the purchaser was convicted of felony rape. The transaction was denied based on the federal prohibitor for persons convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year. A sheriff’s office responded to the NICS Section with an incident report indicating that the U21 purchaser had been arrested for attempted murder and other offenses. The NICS Section obtained court documentation showing that the U21 purchaser was released on bond with court-ordered firearm restrictions pending the resolution of those charges. The transaction was denied based on a state prohibitor for active court-ordered firearm restrictions. During BSCA-mandated outreach, a juvenile court provided documentation establishing that a U21 purchaser was found to be mentally ill and involuntarily committed for mental-health treatment. The transaction was denied based on the federal firearm prohibitor relating to mental-health adjudications. A police department informed the NICS Section that the U21 purchaser was under felony indictment for sexually exploiting a minor. The transaction was denied based on the federal firearm prohibitor for persons under active felony indictment. During BSCA-mandated outreach, a county court provided the NICS Section with documentation that the U21 purchaser had sustained juvenile adjudications for sexual battery, possession of a knife at school, and intimidation. The transaction was denied based on a state prohibitor for disqualifying juvenile adjudications. A sheriff’s office informed the NICS Section that a U21 purchaser was currently in jail on multiple pending charges, including domestic violence, robbery, and assault with a dangerous weapon. The transaction was denied based on the federal firearm prohibitor for persons under active felony indictment. A police department provided the NICS Section with an incident report for a U21 purchaser who was making suicidal threats and transported for emergency detention at a local in-patient psychiatric center. The transaction was denied based on the federal firearm prohibitor relating to mental-health adjudications. The FBI continues to engage in extensive education and outreach efforts to improve the state and local partnerships necessary to the success of these enhanced background checks, including by hosting trainings for over 500 law-enforcement agencies and more than 2,000 state criminal-justice officials.


title: Armed fentanyl dealer sentenced to five years in prison for drug trafficking in Great Falls

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: GREAT FALLS — An armed fentanyl trafficker from Washington who admitted to distributing the drug in the Great Falls community was sentenced on Jan. 4 to five years in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today. Jerry Scot Saunders, 35, of Houkem, Washington, pleaded guilty in August 2023 to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and to prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. In court documents, the government alleged that Saunders was a significant drug dealer in Great Falls and that in early 2022, law enforcement searched for him because he had absconded from his state probation officer. Detectives learned Saunders was distributing fentanyl in Great Falls and located him in a motel room. Law enforcement found Saunders in possession of two firearms and more than 600 fentanyl pills. The investigation determined that Saunders had been driving to Spokane, Washington, to purchase fentanyl pills to sell in Great Falls. Saunders had a prior felony conviction from 2018 in Flathead County and was prohibited from possessing firearms. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica A. Betley and Jeffrey K. Starnes prosecuted the case. The Russell Country Drug Task Force and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. 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. XXX


title: Two New Jersey Men Sentenced to Prison for Roles in Multimillion-Dollar Compounded Prescription Drug Scheme

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – Two New Jersey brothers have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a scheme to defraud public and private health benefits programs, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. John Cuffari, 61, of Cedar Grove, New Jersey, was sentenced to 17 months in prison for his role in defrauding benefits programs of at least $5.3 million for the billing of medically unnecessary compounded prescriptions. He previously pleaded guilty to an information charging him with conspiracy to commit health care fraud. U.S. District Judge Renee Bumb imposed the sentence on Jan. 4, 2023, in Camden federal court. Christopher Cuffari, 57, of Little Falls, New Jersey, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for his role in defrauding benefits programs of $7.89 million for the billing of medically unnecessary compounded prescriptions. He previously pleaded guilty to an information charging him with conspiracy to commit health care fraud. U.S. District Judge Peter Sheridan imposed the sentence on Jan. 3, 2024, in Trenton federal court. “By their own admission, these defendants bilked publicly and privately funded insurance plans of millions of dollars in fraudulent reimbursements for compounded medications. Working with our partners, we will prosecute those who take advantage of our health care system to generate illicit income.” U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger “This investigation is only one example of how the belief that these cases have no victims is not true,” FBI – Newark Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy said. “Fraud creates tougher regulations and policies from government agencies and insurance companies to prevent it from taking place. That trickles down to patients who have a much harder time getting the healthcare they may desperately need. The Cuffari brothers are just a small cog in a tremendously frustrating wheel of criminals, but we won't be deterred from bringing every one of them to justice.” According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Compounded medications are specialty medications mixed by a pharmacist to meet the specific medical needs of an individual patient. Although compounded 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. Between November 2014 and July 2016, John Cuffari participated in a conspiracy that involved the submission of fraudulent prescriptions for compounded medications to public and private insurance plans. Christopher Cuffari participated in the conspiracy between November 2014 and September 2017. The scheme centered on the discovery that certain insurance plans paid for prescription compounded medications – including scar creams, wound creams, and metabolic supplements/vitamins – at exorbitant reimbursement rates. John and Christopher Cuffari worked as sales representatives for several marketing companies and compounding pharmacies and targeted individuals who had insurance plans that covered compounded medications. They then convinced those individuals to obtain prescriptions for compounded medications, regardless of medical necessity, often by providing them with cash payments. In order to obtain prescriptions for compounded medications for some of the recruited individuals, the defendants caused payments to be made to a New Jersey-based physician. In addition to the prison terms, both defendants were sentenced to three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the sentencings. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chelsea D. Coleman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit in Newark.


title: Lodge Grass man admits meth trafficking charge in large-scale drug conspiracy based on Crow Indian Reservation

body_text: BILLINGS — A Lodge Grass man suspected of participating in a large-scale drug conspiracy based on the Crow Indian Reservation admitted on Jan. 4 to a methamphetamine trafficking crime, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today. Daniel Jiminez-Chavez, aka Raton, 40, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute meth. Jiminez-Chavez faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The court set sentencing for May 1. Jiminez-Chavez was detained pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that federal law enforcement, in a collaborative effort with local and tribal law enforcement, conducted a large-scale, narcotics trafficking investigation centered on multiple properties on the Crow Indian Reservation. The properties, including one referred to as Spear Siding, were a source of supply of meth for both the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservations from about January 2022 through March 2023. Jiminez-Chavez, aka Raton, is one of the individuals associated with the investigation. The government alleged that Jiminez-Chavez began staying at a house near Spear Siding, known as the Bloodman residence. While at the residence, Jiminez-Chavez distributed meth to others and was in contact with individuals in the conspiracy. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI conducted the investigation. 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. XXX


title: Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to  Defraud Vehicle Sellers on Facebook Marketplace

body_text: Jackson, MS – A Jackson man pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud through Facebook Marketplace. According to court records, Jerrick Floyd, 24, conspired with others to organize a scheme to defraud individuals selling vehicles on Facebook Marketplace. The victim would receive a fake cashier’s check or wire transfer to their bank and Floyd would arrange for an accomplice to pick up the vehicle before the victim discovered they had been deceived. Floyd will be sentenced on April 3, 2024. He faces up to twenty years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jessica Orench of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynn Murray is prosecuting the case.


title: Former Pharmaceutical Executive And Doctor Sentenced For Insider Trading Around Alexion Pharmaceuticals’ Acquisition Of Portola Pharmaceuticals

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that JOSEPH DUPONT and SLAVA KAPLAN, a/k/a “Stanley Kaplan,” were sentenced to three years’ probation and five months in prison, respectively, for securities fraud in connection with their participation in an insider trading scheme surrounding the announcement of Alexion Pharmaceutical, Inc.’s acquisition of Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc. DUPONT and KAPLAN were arrested June 2023 and pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Gregory H. Woods in September 2023. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “This Office continues to keep a watchful eye over Wall Street, and we will work quickly to prosecute those who choose to cheat to make a quick buck. These sentences reflect our commitment to ensuring fairness in the stock market and combatting corruption.” According to the allegations in the Indictment and statements made in public court proceedings: In 2020, DUPONT, KAPLAN, and others engaged in an insider trading scheme surrounding the announcement of Alexion’s acquisition of Portola. DUPONT was a vice president at Alexion and, on January 31, 2020, was informed of Alexion’s upcoming acquisition of Portola. Before that acquisition was publicly announced, in April 2020, DUPONT provided material, non-public information (“MNPI”) that he misappropriated from Alexion about the acquisition to a friend so that the friend could use the information to trade profitably in securities. In turn, DUPONT’s friend provided KAPLAN, who was also known to DUPONT, the MNPI about Portola’s pending acquisition, both so that KAPLAN could trade in advance of the acquisition and so that KAPLAN would assist DUPONT’s friend in formulating trading strategies to maximize DUPONT’s friend’s own trading profits. KAPLAN further shared MNPI about the upcoming acquisition with a family member and a friend and colleague. After Alexion’s acquisition of Portola was publicly announced on the morning of May 5, 2020, causing Portola’s stock price to increase significantly, KAPLAN and others who had purchased shares and options based on DUPONT’s inside information sold their shares of Portola and call options for Portola stock, reaping millions of dollars of illegally obtained trading profits. * * * Additionally, JOSEPH DUPONT, 45, of Rehoboth, Massachusetts, was fined $75,000. SLAVA KAPLAN, 45, of Hopewell Junction, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and was ordered to forfeit $472,053.61. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Williams also thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which has filed a parallel civil action. This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Margaret Graham, Sarah Mortazavi, and Samuel P. Rothschild are in charge of the prosecution.


title: St. Louis Man County Man Admits 2022 Carjacking

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Louis County, Missouri on Friday admitted committing an armed carjacking in 2022. La’Vontray Hayes-Williams, 20, of Jennings, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of carjacking and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Hayes-Williams admitted stealing a 2018 Nissan Sentra on July 7, 2022, outside a Family Dollar store at 6440 West Florissant Avenue in Jennings. Hayes-Williams pulled out his Glock handgun and repeatedly ordered the driver to “give me the car.” He then sped away in the stolen car with his girlfriend. The victim called police, who quickly spotted the vehicle. Hayes-Williams fled, sparking a chase that lasted nearly ten miles and reached speeds of over 100 mph. Hayes-Williams was caught after the car stopped and he fled on foot, his plea agreement says. Hayes-Williams is scheduled to be sentenced on April 4. The carjacking charge is punishable by up to 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. The firearm brandishing charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years, consecutive to all other charges, and a maximum of life in prison. The St. Louis County Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nino Przulj is prosecuting the case.


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced to 8+ Years on Federal Charges

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A district judge sentenced a felon from East St. Louis to 97 months’ imprisonment after he admitted to conspiring to launder money and distribute drugs in southern Illinois. Donald B. Perkins, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy, one count of conspiracy to distribute marijuana, one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and one count of felon in possession of a firearm. “This prison sentence reflects the seriousness of breaking the law by distributing illegal drugs, laundering the proceeds and unlawfully having a firearm,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. According to court documents, Perkins conspired with a co-defendant to launder money to conceal drug proceeds by using cash exchanges and cashier’s checks. The pair are estimated to have laundered more than $1.2 million. Byron Robinson, 60, of Florissant, Missouri, was also charged in the indictment with money laundering conspiracy and was sentenced to 3 years of probation in September 2023. “The act of laundering ill-gotten gains is as important to drug dealers as the distribution of illegal drugs,” said IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Melissa McFadden. “The special agents of CI are proud to partner with other law enforcement agencies to take that profit-making potential away and help protect our communities from illegal drug activity.” Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Perkins’s East St. Louis home in November 2021 and recovered more than 550 kilograms of marijuana. While executing the search warrant, officers also found a pistol belonging to Perkins, although Perkins was convicted on prior felony offenses and therefore unable to legally possess firearms. IRS Criminal Investigation and DEA agents contributed to the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Quinley prosecuted the case. This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces 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.


title: Two Florida Residents Sentenced for $93M Health Care Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme

body_text: A Florida man and woman were sentenced for their roles in a wide-ranging conspiracy to defraud Medicare by billing over $93 million for home health therapy services that were never rendered. Karel Felipe, 42, of Miami Shores, was sentenced to eight years and four months in prison. Tamara Quicutis, 54, of Hialeah, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in prison. The court also ordered forfeiture of fraud proceeds. Both defendants were convicted in October 2023 after a jury found them guilty of conspiring to commit health care fraud and wire fraud and conspiring to commit money laundering. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Felipe and Quicutis conspired with others to submit false bills to Medicare for three home health companies located in Michigan. Their co-conspirators recruited individuals from Cuba to sign Medicare enrollment documents and appear as the owners of the home health agencies to conceal the identities of Felipe, Quicutis, and others involved in the scheme. Felipe, Quicutis, and their co-conspirators used these home health companies to submit claims for services that were not rendered using lists of stolen patient identities. Felipe, Quicutis, and their co-conspirators used dozens of shell companies and hundreds of bank accounts to launder the Medicare fraud proceeds and convert the proceeds into cash at Miami-area ATMs and check cashing stores. Four additional Florida residents were previously sentenced in the case. Jesus Trujillo, 52, of Miami, was sentenced to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The court also entered a forfeiture money judgment against him for the amount involved in money laundering, $44,351,817, and ordered forfeiture of two real properties to satisfy that judgment. Didier Arcia, 44, of Davenport, was sentenced to six years and eight months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. Alexey Gil, 41, of Miami, was sentenced to five years and five months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud. Jeffrey Avila, 33, also of Miami, was sentenced to time served and supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, 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 Acting Special Agent in Charge Stephen Mahmood of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Miami Regional Office made the announcement. The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Jamie de Boer, D. Keith Clouser, and Emily Gurskis of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabrielle Raemy Charest-Turken for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


title: 20-Year-Old Peoria Man Sentenced to 41 Months in Prison  for Possession of a Machinegun

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

body_text: PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois, man, Tajurie Amir Bennett, 20, was sentenced on January 4, 2024, to 41 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a machinegun. He was also ordered to forfeit all of the firearms and ammunition involved, including a 9mm “ghost gun” pistol with no serial number. At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid, the government established that on Saturday, February 24, 2023, at approximately 2:30 p.m., Bennett, along with another person, committed a drive-by shooting of a residence located on West Gift Avenue in Peoria, Illinois. A ShotSpotter gun detection system alert identified 15 rounds of fully automatic gunfire. Police responded to the scene and located gunfire damage on the front of a house and on a gas utility line of a separate residence nearby, along with bullet holes on a car on the adjacent street. Peoria Police were able to locate the suspect vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The vehicle, then occupied only by Bennett, fled from marked squad cars, driving at times into oncoming traffic at a high rate of speed. Police officers in covert vehicles maintained surveillance on Bennet’s vehicle as it traveled through Peoria at high speed. When his car came to a stop at a red light at the intersection of War Memorial Drive and Allen Road, officers in covert vehicles boxed in the vehicle from all sides. Bennett rammed his vehicle into police vehicles, nearly striking an officer attempting to conduct an arrest. After police extricated Bennett from the car, officers located a loaded 9mm “ghost gun” on the floorboard. The pistol was loaded and equipped with a high-capacity extended ammunition magazine. The gun was further equipped with an auto-sear, commonly referred to as a “switch”. The switch enabled the pistol to fire as a fully automatic machinegun. A federal criminal complaint was filed against Bennett in February 2023, followed by a one-count indictment in March 2023. Bennett entered a guilty plea with no plea agreement in June 2023. He has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest. The statutory penalties for possession of a machinegun are up to 10 years’ imprisonment, to be followed by up to three years of supervised release. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Peoria Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna represented the government in the prosecution. The case against Bennett 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: Kennewick Man and Woman Sentenced to Decades in Federal Prison for Child Abuse

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Richland, Washington – On January 4, 2023, United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Bret Michael Emineth, age 41, to 30 years in federal prison for engaging in years-long sexual abuse of a minor victim and recording images depicting the abuse. The Court also sentenced Emineth’s codefendant, Malesa Hale, age 37, to 28 years in federal prison for conspiring with Emineth to abuse the victim and record the abuse. Judge Dimke also ordered both Emineth and Hale to pay restitution to the victim, and imposed a lifetime of federal supervision on both defendants upon their release from custody. Emineth and Hale are each from the Tri-Cities. Emineth, who began abusing the minor victim when the minor was only 12 years old, will also plead guilty to related charges in Benton County Superior Court. “I simply cannot convey how horrendousness this behavior is,” Judge Dimke said from the bench, recognizing that Emineth and Hale had inflicted “harm that will last for a lifetime.” Directly addressing the victim, Judge Dimke said: “You are brave. You are strong. You are courageous. You saved others from the hell that you were subjected to,” by reporting to law enforcement. Judge Dimke specifically told the victim that if the victim had not come forward, there was no doubt that Emineth and Hale would have expanded their abuse to other children. According to court documents and proceedings, in June 2021 the victim reported to the Kennewick Police Department that Emineth had repeatedly sexually and physically abused the victim for approximately 4 years. The victim told detectives that the abuse had started with grooming and touching, and progressed to sexual intercourse. In 2019, Emineth’s then-girlfriend, Hale, became suspicious of Emineth’s relationship with the victim. When Hale confronted Emineth, he told her that he was abusing the victim. Instead of reporting the abuse to law enforcement, Hale expressed interest and joined Emineth in sexually abusing the victim. KPD detectives found explicit text messages between Emineth and Hale discussing their sexual abuse of the victim and their plans for future sexual abuse of the victim and other children. The messages also included photos of the victim being abused, many of which Emineth had taken at Hale’s direction and sent to Hale. KPD detectives then worked closely with Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) and the Southeast Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (“ICAC”) to perform full forensic examinations of the defendant’s cell phones, which revealed the extent of Emineth and Hale’s abusive conduct. “Emineth and Hale’s child abuse was egregious, and today’s significant sentences recognize the horrors that the victim endured. But no sentence can return a child’s innocence,” said United States Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref. “All children deserve to live free from those who seek to exploit them. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prioritize offenses against our community’s youngest and most vulnerable victims. Today’s hearing sent one clear message to the victim, which is shared by each of the detectives, agents, and prosecutors who worked with you: we believe you.” "This sentence is a testament to the resilience and confidence in law enforcement exhibited by the victim in this case," stated Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Robert Hammer, responsible for overseeing HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. "The era of victimization has ended for this child, and HSI, along with our law enforcement collaborators, will tirelessly strive to prevent such exploitation from befalling anyone else." “We express our gratitude to the detectives, witnesses, and the courageous child survivor for putting a stop to these horrific acts," stated Kennewick Police Chief Chris Guerrero. "We also extend our appreciation to the US Attorney’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations for collaborating with us to ensure accountability for those who victimize our children." "The collaborative partnership of the SER-ICAC Task Force, which unites our law enforcement counterparts from Richland PD, Kennewick PD, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in conjunction with the concerted efforts of the Benton County Prosecutor’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office, has proven instrumental again in securing a successful plea deal with a substantial sentence," stated Commander Damon Jansen, Investigations Division with the Richland Police Department." Outcomes like this, marked by their severity, contribute significantly to the administration of justice for the children within our community who have endured egregious abuse yet have emerged as survivors." This case was investigated by the Kennewick Police Department (“KPD”), Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), and the Southeast Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (“ICAC”). The federal case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Laurel Holland and David Herzog, and the state case was prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Anita Petra of the Benton County Prosecutor’s Office. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Belcourt, ND, Man Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for Abusive Sexual Abuse with a Child Under the Age of 12

component: USAO - North Dakota

body_text: FARGO – United States Attorney Mac Schneider, District of North Dakota, announced that on January 5, 2024, Robert Houle , age 35 of Belcourt, ND, appeared before Chief Judge Peter D. Welte, U.S. District Court, Fargo, ND, and was sentenced to Life in federal prison, for abusive sexual contact with a child under the age of 12. Houle pleaded guilty to this offense on July 7, 2023. As charged by the United States Attorney’s Office, an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation revealed that Houle sexually abused a Native American child under the age of 12, from the ages of 6 to 11, from about 2016 until approximately 2020. Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement responded to a residence on Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation, ND, for a physical altercation. Houle was arrested and a child at the residence reported feeling unsafe due to physical and sexual abuse. The child was forensically interviewed by the Northern Plains Children’s Advocacy Center and disclosed years of sexual abuse, physical abuse, and emotional abuse by Houle. The child was fearful to disclose the sexual and physical abuse sooner because the child feared being removed from the home if noncompliant with Houle’s demands. “This is a strong sentence that protects children,” Schneider said. “It is also a real credit to our law enforcement partners and career prosecutors who worked hard to ensure this individual faced justice. The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to play its part in keeping kids safe by vigorously prosecuting crimes against children.” “Today’s sentencing of Robert Houle demonstrates the FBI’s dedication to protecting children from those who seek to exploit their innocence,” said Special Agent in Charge of FBI Minneapolis Alvin M. Winston Sr. “These types of crimes cause profound harm to both the child victims and their families, leaving behind a trail of destruction and brokenness. The FBI and our partners remain committed to pursuing justice for our most innocent victims and holding offenders accountable.” This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dawn M. Deitz, District of North Dakota. ######


title: North Carolina Woman Indicted for Embezzling More Than 500,000 From Farwell Funeral Service in Nashua

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A North Carolina woman was indicted in connection with charges arising out of her embezzlement of funds from her previous employer, Farwell Funeral Service in Nashua, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. LaSaundra Simmons, 51, previously of Nashua, was indicted on 10 counts of wire fraud on December 6, 2023. Simmons was arrested in North Carolina on December 11, 2023, and was ordered released on conditions on January 3, 2023. According to the charging documents, Simmons worked as the bookkeeper for Farwell Funeral Service, Inc. for several years. Starting in 2015, and continuing until it was discovered in January 2023, Simmons employed a scheme to embezzle funds from the company. On more than 100 occasions, she either made unauthorized wire transfers of funds from the funeral home’s bank account to her own account, or drafted unauthorized checks which she deposited by electronic wire transfer into her own account. She would often describe these checks as “commissions” or “consulting fees.” She embezzled more than $500,000 over the course of the scheme. Each charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, and up to 3 years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Nashua Police Department led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###