title: Registered Sex Offender Arrested and Charged With Possession of Child Pornography

body_text: BOSTON – A Boston man, who is a Level 3 sex offender, has been arrested and charged with possession of child pornography. Bryan Horgan, 58, was charged with possession of child pornography. Horgan made his initial appearance in federal court in Boston yesterday following his arrest and agreed to voluntary detention. According to the charging documents, Horgan was identified as the owner of a Microsoft account uploading child pornography. During a search of Horgan’s residence, it is alleged that one of his electronic devices contained several video files of child pornography depicting children as young as infants. It is further alleged that another device contained filenames with words and phrases indicative of child pornography. Horgan was previously convicted in the Suffolk Superior Court of rape of a child, assault to rape a child, indecent assault and battery on a child, disseminating obscene material to a minor, and possession of child pornography. The charge of possession of child pornography as a person with a prior conviction under Mass. state law relating to sexual abuse of a minor provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, five years to life 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. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Soto of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . 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.


title: Montgomery County Man Sentenced To 19 Years’ Imprisonment For Methamphetamine Trafficking

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Tylee Brown, age 39, of Norristown, Montgomery County, was sentenced on April 23, 2024, by U.S. District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani, to 19 years’ imprisonment on the charge of possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Brown previously pleaded guilty and admitted to possessing between 1.5 kilograms and 5 kilograms of high-quality crystal methamphetamine for further distribution in the Susquehanna County area in April 2020. On April 30, 2020, the Pennsylvania State Police apprehended Brown in Susquehanna County and seized approximately four pounds of crystal methamphetamine from a vehicle in which Brown was traveling. Brown had traveled from Montgomery County to distribute the crystal methamphetamine to other individuals in Susquehanna County. Brown was indicted by a grand jury in Scranton for methamphetamine trafficking in October 2020. The charges against the defendant resulted from an investigation conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. # # #


title: Morgantown Man Guilty of Child Pornography Charges

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Morgantown, West Virginia man has been convicted of possessing and receiving child pornography. United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced that Christopher Harp, age 39, was found guilty by a jury on multiple counts of receiving and possessing child pornography. According to the evidence introduced at trial, FBI agents identified an Internet Protocol (IP) address in Morgantown that appeared to be active in the distribution and receipt of illegal images and videos via a peer-to-peer network. Agents determined that the IP address was associated with Mr. Harp and executed a search warrant, seizing his computers, tablets, phones and thumb drives. Agents discovered hundreds of downloads to Harp’s devices, with many of the videos and images including children under the age of 12. “Protecting young people is one of our most important responsibilities at the Department of Justice,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. “Whenever we identify someone who is engaged in this type of activity, we devote all resources necessary to hold the offender accountable and prevent further victimization of the children involved.” Harp faces a sentence of five to twenty years in federal prison for each of the receipt charges and up to twenty years for the possession charge when sentenced. Harp was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal’s Service following the guilty verdicts where he will remain pending his sentencing hearing. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Conklin and David Perri prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated. Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided. ###


title: Four More Co-Conspirators Charged in Alleged Nationwide Abusive-Trust Tax Shelter Scheme

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: A superseding indictment was returned this week by a federal grand jury in Denver charging four people with conspiring with Larry Conner and Timothy McPhee to defraud the IRS. Connor and McPhee had previously been indicted for conspiring to defraud the IRS related to the same scheme in September 2023. According to the superseding indictment, from February 2018 until September 2023, Marcia Predmore, Roderick Prescott, Suzanne Thompson and Weldon Wulstein allegedly conspired with Conner, McPhee and others to promote, sell and implement an abusive-trust tax shelter scheme. The superseding indictment further charges Thompson and Wulstein with assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns on behalf of clients who used the shelter. Predmore and McPhee had previously been charged with tax evasion related to their use of the tax shelter to conceal their own income from the IRS. Conner and McPhee had also previously been charged with assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns on behalf of clients who used the shelter. According to the superseding indictment, the shelter was marketed as a way for business owners to avoid paying federal income taxes on nearly all of their business income. Conner and McPhee allegedly instructed clients to use the fraudulent tax shelter by assigning nearly all of their business income to a series of sham trusts and a purported “private family foundation” to create the illusion that the income did not belong to the client. Conner and McPhee then allegedly referred the clients to handpicked tax-return preparers for the preparation of false individual income tax returns that did not report the income assigned to the trusts or that was donated to the foundation. In reality, however, the clients allegedly retained full control and use of that income. Although the income assigned to the sham trusts was reported on tax returns for the trusts, those tax returns allegedly offset the income with improper deductions, including donations, to report $0 in taxes owed. As to Prescott, the superseding indictment charges that through his business, The Stewardship Institute, Prescott promoted the “private family foundation” that was advertised as the final step of the tax shelter. Prescott allegedly taught about the foundation at workshops he hosted with Conner, McPhee, Predmore and others. Prescott allegedly advised clients how to spend the funds “donated” to their private family foundations for their own personal use and to disguise the transactions to make them appear charitable. Prescott also allegedly oversaw the preparation of the instruments used to create the so-called private family foundations. The superseding indictment alleges that Conner, McPhee and Predmore referred clients to Thompson for bookkeeping services and Wulstein for return preparation services. Thompson allegedly operated a bookkeeping firm called The CFO Agency; Wulstein allegedly operated a return preparation firm called Wulstein Financial Services. Thompson and her employees allegedly prepared financial statements for clients who used the abusive-trust tax shelter and sent those financial statements to Wulstein for the preparation of false tax returns. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiring to defraud the United States. Conner, McPhee, Thompson and Wulstein also face a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count of assisting in the preparation of a false tax return. McPhee and Predmore face a maximum sentence of five years in prison for each count of tax evasion. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Amanda R. Scott and Lauren K. Pope and Senior Litigation Counsel Corey J. Smith of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: San Gabriel Valley-Based Nursing Home Chain and Executives to Pay Over $7 Million to Settle COVID-Related False Claims Allegations

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – The United States and the State of California have reached a $7,084,000 civil settlement with Monrovia-based ReNew Health Group LLC, ReNew Health Consulting Services LLC, and two corporate executives for knowingly submitting false Medicare Part A claims for nursing home residents. During the COVID-19 pandemic, to conserve hospital beds, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services waived the requirement that a person must have had a hospital stay of at least three days (signaling an acute illness or injury) before reimbursing for skilled care in a nursing home. The United States and the State of California alleged that the defendants knowingly misused this waiver by routinely submitting claims for nursing home residents when they did not have COVID-19 or any other acute illness or injury, but merely had been near other people who had COVID-19. Under the settlement, the defendants will pay $6,841,727 to the United States and $242,273 to the State of California, plus interest. “False claims are anathema to the Medicare system, especially during a public health crisis,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada of the Central District of California. “This settlement agreement highlights my office’s determination to ensure our nation’s health care programs help those who actually need them.” “The Department of Justice is committed to protecting the integrity of taxpayer-funded programs,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “We will hold accountable those who sought to defraud such programs during the COVID-19 pandemic, including those who knowingly misused emergency waivers for personal gain.” This investigation was prompted by a lawsuit filed under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to sue on behalf of the government to redress false claims for government funds and to receive a share of any recovery. The settlement agreement in this case provides for the whistleblower, Bay Area Whistleblower Partners, to receive $1,204,280, plus interest, as its share of the settlement. The case is captioned United States and State of California ex rel. Bay Area Whistleblower Partners v. ReNew Health Group LLC et al. , No. 2:20-cv-09472 (C.D. Cal.). Assistant United States Attorney Karen Y. Paik of the Civil Division’s Civil Fraud Section and Senior Trial Counsel Albert P. Mayer of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section are handling this matter with assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General and the California Department of Justice’s Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse. The claims settled by the United States and the State of California are allegations only, and there was no determination of liability.


title: Troy Woman Pleads Guilty to Yearslong Fraud to Obtain Benefits

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A Troy woman pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Bangor to Social Security fraud, health care fraud, and theft of public money. According to court records, from about October 2013 to February 2020, Christie Mitchell , 49, lied to the Social Security Administration (SSA) about her husband’s presence in her household and his income to fraudulently appear eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. Mitchell also concealed her husband’s presence and income from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (ME/DHHS) from about October 2013 to December 2019 during which time she received MaineCare benefits and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. In multiple benefit eligibility reviews, Mitchell falsely represented to the SSA and ME/DHHS that she and her husband lived separately. She failed to disclose her husband’s presence and income despite knowing that she was required to and that it would affect her eligibility to receive benefits. Mitchell faces up to five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 followed by up to three years of supervised release on each of the Social Security fraud and health card fraud charges. She faces up to 10 years and a maximum fine of $250,000 followed by up to three years of supervised release on the theft of public money charge. The Court may also order Mitchell to pay restitution to SSA for the Social Security fraud charge and must order her to pay restitution to ME/DHHS for the health care fraud and theft of public money charges. SSA’s Office of the Inspector General and ME/DHHS’s Fraud Investigation and Recovery Unit investigated the case. ###


title: Convicted Armed Bank Robber Sentenced To Life Plus 25 Years For Fort Myers Armed Bank Robbery

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber today sentenced Grant Elmore Davis, Jr. (71, Mansfield, OH) to life in federal prison plus 25 years in federal prison for armed bank robbery, discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Davis to forfeit the firearm and ammunition used in the offense. Davis entered a guilty plea on December 20, 2023. According to court documents, Davis entered a bank in Fort Myers on October 31, 2023, and discharged a handgun while making verbal commands to the teller to give him money from the cash register. After obtaining money from the teller, Davis fled the bank. Davis was previously convicted of armed bank robbery and using and carrying a short-barreled shotgun in relation to a crime of violence in November 2001. This case was investigated by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan. 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 out 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 first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Informational: Federal Court arraignments

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt: Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on April 22 was: Donnell Deriky White, 29, of Billings, on charges of attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. If convicted of the most serious crime, White faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and three years of supervised release. White was detained pending further proceedings. The Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 23-152. Charles Jesse Sanchez, Jr., 58, of Lame Deer, on charges of conspiracy with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute meth and distribution of meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Sanchez faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Sanchez was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Indian Affairs conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-30. Sergio Rene Tagaban, 54, of Calexico, California, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute meth and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Tagaban faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Tagaban was detained pending further proceedings. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-34. The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html . To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl . XXX


title: Port Charlotte Drug Dealer Sentenced To Twelve Years In Prison

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber today sentenced John Alton Knight, Jr. (58, Port Charlotte) to 12 years in federal prison for possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. Knight entered a guilty plea on April 26, 2023. According to court documents, on August 9, 2022, Knight was arrested by deputies from the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office after he was found in possession of over 2,700 grams of methamphetamine and approximately 49 grams of fentanyl. Deputies located evidence showing Knight’s intention to distribute those drugs including a scale, plastic baggies, a drug cutting agent, and vacuum sealed bags. This case was investigated by the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan.


title: Ecuadorian National Sentenced to 1 Year and 1 Day for Illegally Entering the US After a Prior Removal

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: An Ecuadorian national was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for entering the United States after a prior removal. Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Cristian Paul Pinguil-Caguana , 37, to 12 months and one day in prison. Pinguil-Caguana has been incarcerated since October 6, 2023. He pleaded guilty on November 27, 2023. According to court records, during an investigation of another individual with an open immigration detainer, U.S. Border Patrol personnel in the Jackman area encountered Pinguil-Caguana in a vehicle with that individual. Pinguil-Caguana identified himself as from Ecuador and reported that he was in the country illegally. Immigration records showed that he had previously been removed from the U.S. on four occasions, mostly recent in September 2021 at Alexandria, Louisiana, and had been prosecuted a total of four times for immigration offenses. Pinguil-Caguana had not obtained the express consent of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to reapply for admission. U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigated the case. ###


title: Federal jury convicts two Montanans, one Californian of meth, fentanyl trafficking in Butte, Helena areas

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

body_text: MISSOULA — A federal jury on Thursday convicted two Montana residents and a California man of drug trafficking crimes for bringing pounds of methamphetamine and thousands of fentanyl pills to the Butte and Helena communities for distribution, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today. After a four-day trial that began on April 22, the jury found Juan Felipe Vidrio Fuentes, 36, of Anaheim, California; James Andrew Stringari, 51, of Whitehall; and Janet Dean White, 57, of Butte, guilty of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. The defendants face 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 Dana L. Christensen presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The court set sentencing for Sept. 3 for all three defendants. The defendants remained detained pending further proceedings. “These three defendants are the last of eight Montanans and Californians indicted and now convicted for bringing at least 13 pounds of methamphetamine and thousands of fentanyl pills to the Butte and Helena areas. The harm and misery they inflicted on people so they could make money cannot be overstated. Their convictions show that our office and our law enforcement partners are relentless in rooting out and ridding these drug trafficking rings from our cities and towns. I am grateful to Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Lowney, our support staff, and the 11 law enforcement agencies who investigated and prosecuted this case,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said. At trial and in court documents, the government alleged that from June 2022 until about January 2023 in Butte and Helena, Fuentes, Stringari, White and five other co-defendants conspired to traffic meth and fentanyl. In June 2022, the Utah Highway Patrol stopped an individual traveling in a vehicle carrying 3.5 pounds of meth and 6,000 pills containing fentanyl and learned that the individual was transporting the drugs to Butte for distribution by “Esco,” who was Fuentes. Law enforcement further learned that Fuentes was staying at a house in Whitehall along with at least one co-defendant, Stringari, and that Fuentes was supplying both fentanyl and meth throughout the Butte area from the Whitehall residence. In addition, law enforcement inspected a source’s cell phone and corroborated information about meth and fentanyl trafficking that implicated Fuentes, Stringari, White and another co-defendant. The government further alleged that in October 2022, law enforcement stopped a vehicle leaving the Whitehall residence. White was a passenger in the vehicle, and law enforcement found one pound of meth in her purse. In November 2022, law enforcement again stopped White in a vehicle and located three quarters of a pound of meth and more than 100 pills containing fentanyl. White also possessed several cell phones, which contained messages indicative of White’s drug distribution. In addition, investigators in November 2022 intercepted packages containing approximately 9,000 pills containing fentanyl that were mailed by a co-defendant from California to the address in Whitehall and learned of a package the co-defendant had mailed to an address of another co-defendant in Butte. In January 2023, investigators intercepted another package containing 3,000 pills containing fentanyl that was sent from California to the address in Butte. Law enforcement also learned that Fuentes was now staying at a house in Helena. Law enforcement conducted coordinated stops and raids of the Helena and Butte addresses. In the Butte residence, law enforcement located approximately six pounds of meth, 208 grams of fentanyl, $15,000 cash and seven firearms. In the Helena residence, law enforcement located approximately seven pounds of meth and 68 grams of fentanyl. Co-defendants Martin Topete Garcia, 32, his brother, Johnathan Topete, 28, both of Mira Loma, California, Trevor Allen Handy, 27, of Butte, Anthony Wayne Johnson II, 51, of Santa Ana, California, and Agatha Noriz Carranza, 34, of Whitehall, pleaded guilty earlier to charges in the case and are pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Lowney is prosecuting the case. The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Southwest Montana Drug Task Force, Montana Highway Patrol, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Missouri River Drug Task Force, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Utah Highway Patrol and Utah State Bureau of Investigations conducted the investigation. The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF . XXX


title: Maryland Payroll Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Employment Tax Crimes and Embezzling from Employees’ 401(k) Plans

component: Tax Division

body_text: A Maryland woman pleaded guilty today to failing to pay employment taxes to the IRS and embezzling from an employee benefit plan. According to court documents and statements made in court, Michelle Leach-Bard, of Lutherville-Timonium, was the owner and sole corporate officer of iProcess Online Inc., a third-party accounting company that specialized in payroll, human resources and bookkeeping. From at least October 2016 through the end of 2021, she was, as iProcess’s sole corporate officer, responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare and income taxes from employees’ wages and paying those wages to the IRS. Though the taxes were withheld from employees wages, Leach-Bard did not pay them to the IRS, as she was required to do. In total, Leach-Bard caused a tax loss to the IRS of $2,663,264.12. In addition, iProcess had a Section 401(k) Profit Sharing and Retirement Plan for the benefit of some of its employees. Contributions to the 401(k) Plan were deducted from participating employees’ wages. Beginning in or around 2007, Leach-Bard did not pay those employee contributions to the 401(k) Plan. In total, Leach-Bard did not pay to the 401(k) plan approximately $207,180.41 in wages that had been withheld from employees’ paychecks. Additionally, Leach-Bard did not make approximately $18,740.37 in employer matching contributions for certain employees. Leach-Bard is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 20 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for both the tax and embezzlement charges. She also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation and the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration are investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Catriona Coppler and Jeffrey McLellan of the Tax Division are prosecuting the case.


title: South Carolina Construction Company and Its Owner Settle Matter Alleging Receipt of Improper CARES Act Loans

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A construction company based in South Carolina and its owner entered into a settlement agreement with the United States resolving allegations that the company violated the False Claims Act by taking two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) to which the company was not entitled, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced today. Congress created the PPP in March 2020, as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, to provide emergency financial support to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act authorized billions of dollars in forgivable loans to small businesses struggling to pay employees and other business expenses. The act also authorized EIDL non-forgivable loans to small businesses impacted by the COVID-19. According to the allegations in the complaint and the contentions of the United States in the settlement agreement: From June 20, 2020, to Nov. 21, 2021, Dennis Corp., a construction company owned by Daniel R. Dennis III, applied for and received two PPP loans, each for approximately $512,900, and a loan pursuant to the EIDL program, for $500,000. In applying for the loans, Dennis denied having a been convicted of a felony involving fraud within five years of the submitting the loan applications. In fact, in February 2017, Dennis pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia to the felony charge of conspiring to impede the IRS. As a result of Dennis’s false certification on the PPP and EIDL applications, Dennis Corp. received more than $1.5 million in loans to which it was not entitled. Dennis Corp. and Dennis fully cooperated in the investigation and resolution of this matter. In accordance with the terms of the settlement agreement, Dennis Corp. and Dennis will pay a total of $2.5 million plus interest. The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed under the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties, called relators, to file suit on behalf of the United States for false claims and share in a portion of the government’s recovery. In this matter, the relator is receiving $250,180 as his share. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney David V. Simunovich of the Health Care Fraud Unit in Newark. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Forsyth v. Dennis Corp. et al. , 23-20792 (D.N.J.). denniscorp.settlement.pdf


title: Asset Forfeiture Actions Result in More Than $2.28 Million Returned to Victims of 2 Business Email Compromise Scams

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that, through civil asset forfeiture actions, the government has recovered approximately $2,288,385 for victims of two separate business email compromise scams. A business email compromise (“BEC”) scam, which usually involves email spoofing, involves the creation of email messages with a deceptive sender display name. When a bad actor engages in an email spoofing attack, the bad actor sends an email header that displays an inaccurate sender address, which can deceive the receiver unless the receiver inspects the header closely. This inaccurate sender address is usually someone the receiver knows and trusts, so the receiver might open malicious links or engage in risky behavior that the receiver would otherwise not engage in. In each of these cases, the bad actors impersonated one of the parties to the real transactions and replaced the intended beneficiary account with their own just prior to payment. By changing the intended beneficiary account, the bad actors commit a business email compromise scam. In the first scam, criminal actors compromised an email account associated with a member of management team of the City of New Haven’s Board of Education. In June 2023, these actors created a fake email account that mimicked the email of a bus company that held a contract with the Board of Education for bussing. The criminal actors used the compromised email address to send test emails between the compromised email address and the newly created fake bus company email address. Using the fake bus company email address, the criminal actors then were able to change the bus company’s payment information from the real bus company to an account held by the criminal actors, and New Haven sent approximately $5.9 million dollars to the account. The government successfully seized and forfeited approximately $1,187,691 of the stolen money that was contained in two bank accounts. When combined with an additional approximately $3.6 million dollars that was returned by the financial institutions with the assistance of law enforcement, the government was able to significantly mitigate the loss to the City. The second forfeiture action involved a New Haven-based healthcare company that was a victim of a BEC attack. In April 2023, the company’s yearly medical malpractice insurance payment was set to be paid. Shortly before the due date, the company received a fraudulent email, purportedly from its malpractice insurance company, with new wire instructions. The company sent approximately $1,652,254 via a wire transfer using the newly provided instructions. The company discovered the fraud in late May 2023 after it received a payment reminder from its insurance company. The investigation revealed that the unknown actor had created an email address that mimicked that of a known employee of the insurance company. By the time the BEC scam was discovered, approximately $551,000 had been transferred out of the account that the victim wired the money into. The government successfully seized and forfeited approximately $1,100,694 remaining in the account, and the company was reimbursed by insurance for the remaining loss. “These cases demonstrate the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s commitment to helping victims of crime,” said U.S. Attorney Avery. “Working with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to pursue criminal prosecution of the individuals responsible for these crimes, and by using civil asset forfeiture, we can expeditiously recover as much stolen money as possible and return this money to victims prior to criminal convictions. Although it can be difficult to come forward and admit that you were a victim of a crime, we stand ready to help you to the fullest extent possible. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will work with the victims in these cases and with the Department of Justice’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section to properly return the forfeited money to the victims.” “To avoid becoming the victim of a BEC scheme, verify email addresses are accurate when checking mail on a cellphone or other mobile device before you open any attachments or follow any instructions,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Fuller. “Never make any payment changes without verifying with the intended recipient by phone or in person. If you think you have been a victim of a BEC scheme, immediately contact your bank to request a recall or reversal as well as a Hold Harmless Letter or Letter of Indemnity, and file a detailed complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov .” The Internet Crime Complaint Center, is run by the FBI and serves as the country’s hub for reporting cybercrime. Visit www.ic3.gov to report a crime, and for updated information regarding BEC trends and other cyber fraud schemes. These cases are being investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Marshals Service, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Nelson.


title: Chicago Man Sentenced to More Than Eleven Years in Prison for Carjacking Four Vehicles and Robbing a UPS Truck

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: CHICAGO — A Chicago man who carjacked four vehicles, robbed a UPS truck, and committed multiple street robberies has been sentenced to more than eleven years in federal prison. JAHEIM HENYARD committed the UPS robbery, three of the carjackings, and two street robberies within days of each other in August 2020 in Oak Park, Ill., Cicero, Ill., and Chicago. The other carjacking occurred in December 2019 in a supermarket parking lot in Westchester, Ill. During that carjacking, Henyard’s accomplice and the victim, who was armed and possessed a concealed carry license, engaged in an exchange of gunfire. Henyard also attempted to carjack another vehicle at gunpoint in Oak Park in July 2020, but was unsuccessful. In the UPS heist, Henyard and two others – DARIUS YOUNG and XAVIER TATE – robbed the truck on a residential street in Oak Park on the afternoon of Aug. 21, 2020. During the robbery, the UPS driver was ordered to lay face down in the street while the offenders removed boxes from the truck and sped off. All three defendants pleaded guilty and admitted their roles in the heist. Henyard’s guilty plea also included the four carjackings as well as the attempted carjacking. U.S. District Judge Sara L. Ellis sentenced the defendants this month to federal prison terms: Henyard, 22, of Chicago, was sentenced to eleven years and three months. Young, 28, of Berwyn, Ill., was sentenced to four years. Tate, 27, of Chicago, was sentenced to seven years and nine months. The sentences were announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Chicago Police Department, Oak Park Police Department, and Cicero Police Department participated in the investigation. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office provided valuable assistance. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles W. Mulaney and Simar Khera.


title: Labelle Felon Pleads Guilty To Unlawfully Possessing Firearm

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Angel Gabriel Hernandez (29, LaBelle) today pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon. Hernandez faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court documents, on August 9, 2023, Hernandez sold a Beretta 9mm handgun to an undercover ATF agent. As a convicted felon who previously served time in Florida state prison for burglary, Hernandez is prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make out 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 first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Simon Eth.


title: Annandale doctor who regularly prescribed “excessively high” opioid amounts pleads guilty

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Annandale doctor pleaded guilty today to maintaining a drug-involved premises. According to court documents, Lino Cueto Montilla, 57, was licensed to practice medicine in 1995. Montilla practiced as an obstetrician-gynecologist (ob-gyn). Montilla did not specialize in pain management, nor did he receive training on how to treat patients suffering from chronic pain. From 1999 to 2015, Montilla worked as an ob-gyn with Fairfax Ob-Gyn Associates, rarely prescribing Schedule II pain medication to his patients. In January2016, Montilla began to treat patients at Fairfax Pain Clinic (FPC), which specialized in pain management. From January 2016 through September 2020, Montilla was the primary doctor prescribing Schedule II controlled substances at FPC. FPC was only open during the morning on two days per week. During an approximate three-hour period on those days, Montilla would see and prescribe opioids to approximately 20 patients, spending, on average, less than 10 minutes with each patient. Despite conducting only cursory exams of patients, Montilla prescribed excessive amounts of opioids to many of these patients for years. Montilla prescribed high opioid dosing without first confirming diagnoses, performing relevant medical examinations, or reviewing prior medical records, which were relevant and necessary steps when prescribing such high opioid dosages. Montilla rarely ordered his patients to seek physical therapy or any other treatment for their chronic pain. Montilla maintained very limited documentation in the patient files, including failing to document his reasons for prescribing high opioid dosages. Montilla is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 9. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and David J. Scott, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jack Morgan and Zoe Bedell are prosecuting 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. 1:24-cr-72.


title: Former Massachusetts State Police Lieutenant Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Fraudulent Overtime Scheme

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – Former Massachusetts State Police (MSP) Lieutenant Daniel J. Griffin was sentenced today in connection with an overtime scheme dating back to 2015. Daniel Griffin, 60, of Belmont, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to five years in prison and three years of supervised release. Griffin was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $329,163, a fine in the amount of $176,700, as well as a $2,100 special assessment. In December 2023, Griffin was convicted of one count of conspiracy, one count of theft concerning a federal program and four counts of wire fraud. Prior to trial, in November 2023, Griffin pleaded guilty to four additional counts of wire fraud and 11 counts of filing false tax returns in connection with defrauding a private school attended by two of his children from at least 2016 to 2019 by concealing his income and filing materially misleading financial aid applications. Co-conspirator MSP Sergeant William W. Robertson was convicted of one count of conspiracy, one count of theft concerning a federal program and four counts of wire fraud. Robertson is scheduled to be sentenced on April 30, 2024. From 2015 through 2018, Griffin, Robertson and other troopers in the Traffic Programs Section at State Police Headquarters in Framingham, conspired to steal thousands of dollars in federally funded overtime by regularly arriving late to, and leaving early from, overtime shifts funded by grants intended to improve traffic safety. During the course of the conspiracy, Griffin made and approved false entries on forms and other documentation to conceal and perpetuate the fraud. When the MSP overtime misconduct came to light in 2017 and 2018, Griffin, Robertson and their co-conspirators took steps to avoid detection by shredding and burning records and forms. After an internal inquiry regarding missing forms, Griffin submitted a memo to his superiors that was designed to mislead them by claiming that missing forms were “inadvertently discarded or misplaced” during office moves. Additionally, Griffin spent significant time running his security business, Knight Protection Services, during hours that he was collecting regular MSP pay and overtime pay. From 2012 to 2019, Griffin collected almost $2 million in KnightPro revenue. Of that total, Griffin hid over $700,000 in revenue from the IRS and used hundreds of thousands of dollars in KnightPro income to fund personal expenses, such as golf club expenses, car payments, private school tuition and expenses related to his second home on Cape Cod. In November 2023, Griffin pleaded guilty to defrauding a private school attended by two of his children from at least 2016 to 2019 by concealing his KnightPro income and filing materially misleading financial aid applications, which understated his income and assets by hundreds of thousands of dollars. Despite Griffin’s lucrative MSP salary and KnightPro business, Griffin obtained over $175,000 in financial aid from the private school over the course of several years. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts; Christopher A. Scharf, Special Agent-in-Charge, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Chao, Chief of the Public Corruption Unit and Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Deitch of the Public Corruption Unit prosecuted the case.


title: U.S. Attorneys For The Western, Middle, And Eastern Districts Of North Carolina Host National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Ceremony

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C – United States Attorneys Dena J. King, Sandra J. Hairston, and Michael Easley from the Western, Middle, and Eastern Districts of North Carolina, respectively, gathered on Tuesday morning with local and state leaders to promote community engagement in supporting crime survivors and victims. “National Crime Victims’ Rights Week emphasizes the importance of supporting and advocating for crime victims and survivors within our justice system,” said U.S. Attorney King. “This year’s theme reflects our dedication to individuals whose lives have been affected by crime and underscores our commitment to ensuring their rights are recognized and upheld every step of the way. When we put victim advocacy at the forefront of our efforts, we ensure that crime victims and survivors have access to the care, support, and resources they need throughout their journey toward healing and justice.” “Each year, we honor and pay tribute to the victims of crime, to those who are survivors of crime, and to the courageous families who love them,” said U.S. Attorney Hairston. “We take this time to thank the outstanding victims’ advocates and law enforcement professionals who are dedicated to supporting survivors and seeking justice for all victims. We will continue this work throughout the year and in years to come to seek justice for the victims and to give hope to the survivors and their families.” “In the face of gun violence and an opioid epidemic claiming far too many lives, we won’t allow our communities to be defined by grief and loss,” said U.S. Attorney Easley. “In National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, we highlight the brave victims, survivors, and service providers seeking justice in our courts. We also recognize that true healing requires services and care, wrapping up survivors and ensuring they and their loved ones are never forgotten.” News reporter Debra Morgan of WRAL emceed the event, which featured music by The 100 Men in Black Ensemble, and an array of speakers delivering messages of hope to victims of crime. Students from Southeast Raleigh Magnet High School were also recognized for their participation in a poster contest featuring butterflies in honor of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week . Two service organizations were also featured, including Safe Child and Ship Outreach , for their role in helping survivors of crime. The U.S. Attorneys Offices for the Western, Middle, and Eastern Districts of North Carolina are proud to join the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) and communities throughout the United States during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in raising awareness of victims’ rights and honoring crime victims and their advocates. For more information about how to support all victims of crime, visit OVC’s website at ovc.ojp.gov .


title: Texas man sentenced to more than 3 years in prison for providing faulty military parts

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Texas was sentenced in U.S. District Court here today to 37 months in prison for crimes related to providing faulty parts to the U.S. military. Philip R. Huddleston, 59, of Ft. Worth, supplied the United States military with unapproved and substituted parts as a Department of Defense (DoD) contractor. Since 2013, Huddleston was a civilian employed as a quality assurance specialist at the Defense Contract Management Agency. Since 2018, Huddleston also co-owned WM Industries, a DoD contractor in Beaumont, Texas, who sold and supplied a variety of military parts to the DoD. Huddleston co-owned the DoD parts business with Gregory Gotreaux, 56, of Beaumont, Texas, who is also convicted in this scheme. Gotreaux was sentenced in November 2023 to 21 months in prison. According to court documents, Huddleston and Gotreaux conspired to supply the United States with unapproved and substituted parts on 41 orders totaling at least $704,000. Specifically, from November 2019 through September 2021, Huddleston and Gotreaux provided nonconforming parts used in various U.S. military defense and weapons systems. The defendants were paid by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) located in Columbus. The two men pleaded guilty to wire fraud and engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property. The defendants have agreed to pay $706,000 in restitution, which includes approximately $2,100 for testing costs to the DoD. “The Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the law enforcement arm of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Inspector General, is fully committed to protecting the integrity of the DoD supply chain,” said Patrick J. Hegarty, Special Agent in Charge of the DCIS Northeast Field Office. “Supplying nonconforming parts to the DoD compromises military systems and potentially endangers the lives of U.S. service members. We will continue to partner with the Defense Logistics Agency, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, and Department of Justice to ensure that DoD contractors provide approved material and quality products to the U.S. military.” Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Patrick Hegarty, Special Agent in Charge, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS); and Karen Wingerd, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); announced the sentence imposed today by Chief U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Deputy Criminal Chief Jessica W. Knight and Special Assistant United States Attorney J. Michael Marous are representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Pearl River Woman Pleads Guilty to Assault on the Choctaw Indian Reservation

body_text: Jackson, Miss. – A Pearl River woman pled guilty to assaulting a tribal member with a knife in the Pearl River Community of the Choctaw Indian Reservation. According to court documents, in 2023, Telinah Kowi Tek Farve, 25, stabbed the tribal member with a knife causing serious bodily injury. Farve was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury and she pled guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Farve is scheduled to be sentenced on August 6, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of ten 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 and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement. The Choctaw Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.


title: New York Woman Sentenced for Defacing Degas Sculpture Exhibit at the National Gallery of Art

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Joanna Smith, 54, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced today to 60 days in prison for the April 2023 defacement of an exhibit at the National Gallery of Art that displayed a wax sculpture, Little Dancer Aged Fourteen , created by Edgar Degas, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott, of the FBI’s Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division. Smith pleaded guilty on December 15, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson to one count of causing injury to a National Gallery of Art exhibit. In addition to the prison term, Judge Berman Jackson ordered Smith to serve 24 months of supervised release, serve 150 hours of community service, of which 10 hours must involve cleaning graffiti, and pay restitution for the damage to the Degas exhibit. Smith is also barred from entering the District of Columbia and all museums and monuments for two years. According to the government’s evidence, Smith, along with other co-conspirators, traveled to Washington D.C., on April 27, 2023, to smear red and black paint on the National Gallery of Art permanent exhibition of the Little Dancer Aged Fourteen created by Degas from 1878 to1881. Smith and a co-conspirator previously had conducted research on the piece and specifically targeted it. Before entering the National Gallery, the duo recorded video statements explaining their intent. Smith and the co-conspirator passed through security undetected with paint secreted inside water bottles. The duo approached the exhibit, removed the bottles from their bags, and began smearing paint on the case and base surrounding the sculpture. Smith delivered statements telling onlookers why she was undertaking the action as paint dripped from the exhibit onto the surrounding floor. Following the action, the National Gallery was required to remove the sculpture from public display for 10 days while it assessed the sculpture for damage and made repairs to the case. Gallery officials said it cost over $4,000 to repair the damage. The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, specifically the FBI’s Art Crime Team, with assistance from National Gallery of Art Police, and U.S. Park Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron A. Tepfer of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.


title: Armored truck company employee pleads guilty to stealing cash meant for ATMs

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – An employee of an armored truck company that delivered cash to bank branches and ATMs pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to embezzling money as a bank agent. Justin Eskridge, 37, of Reynoldsburg, admitted he took more than $220,000 from PNC ATMs. Eskridge was employed as an armed service technician for Loomis LLC and delivered cash for and to federally insured financial institutions. Loomis contracted with PNC Bank to transport money to various ATMs and bank branches. Eskridge was employed with Loomis beginning in July 2021 and transported bags of money by armored vehicle to various PNC branches and ATMs. The thefts began around Dec. 14, 2022, and continued through Jan. 9, 2023. PNC bank tellers reported shortages totaling approximately $226,000 cash when they balanced the residual amounts on certain ATMs. An investigation by Loomis identified Eskridge as the technician servicing that route. Eskridge eventually admitted to Loomis that he had taken the money and led Loomis to recover approximately $144,000 cash hidden in his car. As part of his plea, he will pay the remaining balance to Loomis. Theft or embezzlement by a bank employee or agent is a federal crime punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Congress sets the maximum statutory sentence, and sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court at a future hearing based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the guilty plea entered today before Chief U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley. Assistant United States Attorney Damoun Delaviz is representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Former flooring company bookkeeper sentenced to three years in prison for scheme to steal from company co-owner

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – The former bookkeeper of a Mukilteo, Washington, flooring company was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to three years in prison for four counts of wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and one count of conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Jodi Hamrick, who now resides near Memphis, Tennessee, was convicted following a five-day jury trial. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones said Hamrick “had a pattern and practice of defrauding employers… and continued her manipulation for personal gain.” Judge Jones noted Hamrick “was motivated by pure greed. There was no justification, no hardship, no financial need.” According to records filed in the case and testimony at trial, Hamrick conspired with David M. Gluth, the co-owner of Gluth Contract Flooring, to steal from the company and defraud the silent partner who had put up the money for the business. In the jury trial, prosecutors detailed how Hamrick and Gluth carried out the scheme by embezzling more than $400,000 from the commercial flooring business. Between 2011 and 2016, Gluth and Hamrick raided the company accounts to pay for everything from a home mortgage, to luxury vacations, to Nordstrom bills. The two not only raided company funds, they also defrauded financial institutions by taking out loans without the knowledge or permission of the company’s co-owner. The two used the company funds for a variety of personal expenses. The lies and deceit in this scheme involved forged signatures, forged documents, altered records, secret bank accounts, secret credit cards, false bookkeeping entries, and false statements in declarations and court filings. The evidence in the case included years of Skype instant messages between Hamrick and Gluth, showing the planning and execution of the fraud in minute detail. Ultimately, the company co-owner had to go to court to try to get the truth about the embezzlement from the company. The flooring company went bankrupt in 2016, and the victimized business partner was left with nothing but debt. In imposing the sentence requested by prosecutors, Judge Jones highlighted the fact that Hamrick had stolen from an earlier employer but was not prosecuted for that theft. “You didn’t learn from it, you used it as an opportunity to get an advanced degree in theft,” Judge Jones said. Judge Jones will determine how much restitution Hamrick must pay at a hearing scheduled for June 21, 2024. Hamrick will be on supervised release following prison for three years. Gluth was charged in November 2020, and pleaded guilty in January 2021. Gluth was sentenced in 2021 to two years in prison and agreed to a restitution figure of $325,000. The case was investigated by the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Dion and Special Assistant United States Attorney Jessica M. Ly.


title: U.S. Attorney Hurwit Highlights Success of Fentanyl Distribution Prosecution Efforts in East Idaho

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: POCATELLO – U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced the results of six separate distribution of fentanyl cases in Eastern Idaho today. “The case results announced today reflect stellar work by our prosecutors and staff in our Pocatello branch office,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “Together with our law enforcement partners in the region, our office is rising to meet the challenge that fentanyl trafficking poses to communities in Eastern Idaho. The partnerships that drive these cases will continue to make all of Idaho a terrible place for drug dealers to do business.” 1. Pocatello Man Sentenced to 121 Months for Conspiracy and Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl In one case, Donny Ray Moreno, 35, of Pocatello, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye to 121 months in federal prison for conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court records, law enforcement began investigating Moreno for distributing controlled substances in January 2021. The investigation culminated on November 2, 2021, when law enforcement attempted to stop Moreno in Downey, Idaho. Moreno fled from law enforcement in his vehicle at a high rate of speed. During the 45-minute pursuit, Moreno threw 97 grams of fentanyl and a handgun out of his car window. Law enforcement eventually stopped Moreno and later recovered the fentanyl and other items that had been thrown from Moreno’s vehicle. Judge Nye also ordered Moreno to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Moreno pleaded guilty to the federal charge in January 2024. U.S. Attorney Hurwit thanked the Idaho State Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the BADGES Task Force, for their investigation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Paskett. 2. California Man Sentenced to 70 Months for Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl In another case, Andrew Haney, 40, of Torrance, CA, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye to 70 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court records, in May 2023, Haney obtained 2,000 fentanyl pills in California. He disguised them in candy boxes and transported them to Idaho for the purpose of distribution. Judge Nye also ordered Haney to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Haney pleaded guilty to the federal charge in December 2023. U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the cooperative efforts of the BADGES Task Force including the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pocatello Police Department, the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office, and the Idaho State Police for their efforts on this case. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Blythe McLane. 3. Four Additional Fentanyl Dealers Pleaded Guilty; Awaiting Sentencing in July 2024 Additionally, this week in U.S. District Court, four more East Idaho defendants pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking cases involving fentanyl. Teyawnna Marie Littlebull, 29, of Idaho Falls, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court records, on three occasions between February and May 2023, Littlebull sold over 200 pills containing fentanyl to another person as part of an investigation led by the Idaho State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, the Idaho Falls Police Department, and the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office. Littlebull is scheduled to be sentenced on July 10, 2024, at the federal courthouse in Pocatello. William Brian Thomson, 37, of Menan, ID, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court records, in March 2023, Thomson was pulled over for a traffic violation that resulted in the search of his vehicle. During the search, Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office deputies found 2,000 pills containing fentanyl and a solid gray substance that also tested positive for fentanyl. Thomson is scheduled to be sentenced on July 31, 2024, at the federal courthouse in Pocatello. Christopher Bishop, 36, of Pocatello, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. A search warrant was served on Bishop’s hotel room in Pocatello in July 2023. BADGES Task Force officers located approximately 1,000 pills containing fentanyl. Bishop is scheduled to be sentenced on July 10, 2024, at the federal courthouse in Pocatello. Jonely Emanuel Rivera-Doblado, 35, of Taylorsville, UT, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Rivera-Doblado was arrested by BADGES Task Force officers in Malad, ID. Officers found over 4,000 pills containing fentanyl in his possession. Rivera-Doblado is scheduled to be sentenced on July 10, 2024, at the federal courthouse in Pocatello. These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Paskett and Blythe McLane. The BADGES Task Force is a collaboration of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies that focuses primarily on drug trafficking crimes in Bannock County and throughout the region. ###


title: North Carolina Man Sentenced for Role in Counterfeit Currency Conspiracy

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Xavier Sanders, 24, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was sentenced today to three years of probation after serving five months in jail, for conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States. Sanders admitted to his role in a conspiracy to create and pass counterfeit United States currency in the Southern District of West Virginia. According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 12, 2022, Sanders and co-defendants Jamarcus Harris and Crystal Wilks traveled with another individual from North Carolina to West Virginia. Sanders admitted that they passed counterfeit $100 bills at businesses in Beckley, Fayetteville and Summersville. Sanders and his co-conspirators rented a room that evening at a Summersville hotel, where they attempted to create new counterfeit United States currency. Sanders admitted that their counterfeiting process involved bleaching $1 bills, scanning a genuine $100 bill, and printing the scanned image on the bleached bills. Harris, 33, and Wilks, 24, of Lenoir, North Carolina, pleaded guilty on October 13, 2023 to conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States. Harris was sentenced on February 2, 2024, to two years and nine months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $800 in restitution. Wilks awaits sentencing. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Secret Service. United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander A. Redmon, Andrew D. Isabell and Ryan Blackwell prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-cr-54.


title: Kansas Man Indicted for Stealing 41 Firearms

body_text: A Kansas man was arrested yesterday while crossing the border from Mexico back into the United States after being indicted by a federal grand jury for stealing 41 firearms from a gun store in Raytown, Missouri. A federal grand jury indictment was unsealed today charging Frank Guereca, 22, of Olathe, with one count of stealing firearms from a federal firearms licensee. Guereca made his initial court appearance in El Paso, Texas, today in the Western District of Texas. “Today’s charges demonstrate the power of crime gun intelligence and cooperation with Mexican law enforcement to stem the flow of firearms from the United States into Mexico — where they arm the violent cartels that flood our communities with deadly drugs,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “By submitting information about recovered firearms to ATF’s eTrace system, Mexican law enforcement helped us link the alleged theft of firearms in Missouri to their international transport and recovery in Mexico.” “Unlawful firearms trafficking is not a victimless crime,” said Director Steven Dettelbach of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “Guns trafficked to Mexico often end up in the hands of violent cartels that use them to hurt people and commit crimes. Here, ATF’s agents and National Tracing Center staff quickly used our eTrace system to generate critical leads. As today’s indictment shows, working jointly with our Mexican and domestic law enforcement partners, ATF can help stop traffickers. That way, we protect communities on both sides of the border.” “We are committed to stanching the flow of illegal firearms on the black market, whether they’re trafficked within the United States or smuggled into Mexico,” said U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore for the Western District of Missouri. “Stolen firearms often supply black market dealers and fuel more crime and violence. It’s critical that we hold to account everyone involved along this chain of criminal activity.” The federal indictment alleges that Guereca, aiding and abetting others, stole the firearms on June 16, 2023. All of the stolen firearms were pistols of various manufacturers and calibers. According to court documents, Guereca and at least two others used a stolen U-Haul to conduct the firearms theft. One of the stolen pistols from the gun store was recovered in Tracy, California, on Nov. 14, 2023. A second stolen pistol was recovered in Chihuahua, Mexico, on Dec. 19, 2023. A third stolen pistol was recovered in Juarez, Mexico, on Feb. 6. Guereca was arrested yesterday, as he attempted to cross back into the United States from Mexico. Guereca is scheduled for his initial court appearance today at 2:30 p.m. in El Paso, Texas (4:30 p.m. ET) before U.S Magistrate Judge Miguel Torres of the Western District of Texas. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection records, Guereca had previously crossed the border approximately 20 times since the burglary and theft on June 16, 2023. ATF and the Raytown Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley K. Kavanaugh for the Western District of Texas is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: KC Police Officer Indicted for $300,000 Charity Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., police officer who ran an anti-crime charity has been indicted by a federal grand jury for a scheme in which he spent more than $300,000 in donations for his own personal expenses. Aaron Wayne McKie, 46, was charged in a 16-count indictment returned under seal on Tuesday, April 23. The indictment was unsealed and made public today upon McKie’s arrest and initial court appearance. McKie has worked as a police officer for the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department for 24 years, since April 2000. He was assigned as a police officer to the Crime Free Multi-Housing section from 2002 through 2023. McKie served from 2009 to 2023 as president of Mid-America Crime Free, Inc. (MACF), a non-profit organization that claimed to provide training to persons in the rental housing industry and promote anti-crime programs. He was an officer of the charity for three years prior, from 2006 to 2009. The federal indictment alleges that McKie devised a scheme to defraud MACF and its donors that began in July 2009 and lasted until October 2023. According to the indictment, individuals and businesses contributed $387,620 to MACF, not including in-kind donations. McKie spent at least $320,060 for his own personal purposes. The biggest source of MACF funds was an annual golf tournament, “Fairways 4 Fuzz Golf Tournament.” Individuals and businesses donated both money and in-kind donations, such as food and beverages, to MACF via the golf tournament. At least 121 donors have been identified. From 2009 to 2023, the flyers soliciting donations and players for the tournament claimed the funds raised would enable MACF to provide free seminars to owners of rental properties and train police officers. In reality, the indictment, those claims were false. The Kansas City Police Department paid the salaries and expenses of Crime Free Multi-Housing unit officers who may have provided training to landlords; McKie used the majority of MACF funds for personal spending; and the IRS had revoked the organization’s tax exempt status in 2010. The indictment alleges that McKie used the MACF bank account as his own personal account. McKie allegedly spent most of the money donated for charitable purposes in the following ways: $125,989 in travel, entertainment, restaurants, and bars; $57,278 in retail and luxury; $41,040 in transfers to personal accounts; $36,874 in cash; $27,279 pre-2016; $23,298 in household expenses; $8,299 in personal tax payments. The federal indictment charges McKie with 14 counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen D. Mahoney. It was investigated by the FBI and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.


title: Orleans Parish Man Indicted for Wire Fraud

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that, on April 19, 2024, JASON PICK , age 42, of New Orleans, was indicted on eight counts of wire fraud. According to the indictment, from June 2020 through October 25, 2021, PICK worked as an accountant for Company A. Company A manages residential and commercial real estate in the New Orleans area. During his employment, PICK stole approximately $64,137.00 from Company A by altering the face of money orders intended to be rent payments from tenants and deposited the altered money orders into his own bank account. While awaiting sentencing for a scheme to defraud his previous employer, PICK submitted a fraudulent letter from Company A to a federal judge. The letter was intended to delay his prison report date so he would have more time to make fraudulent changes in Company A’s accounting system, thereby concealing his scheme to defraud Company A. If convicted, PICK faces up to 20 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Secret Service in investigating this matter. G. Dall Kammer, Chief of General Crimes, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy L. Bell of the Violent Crimes Unit, are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Financial Advisor Sentenced for $1.2 Million Fraud

body_text: A financial advisor who conned at least ten clients out of more than $1.2 million was sentenced today to five years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. Dusty Sternadel, 43, pleaded guilty in January to wire fraud. She was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor. According to plea papers, Ms. Sternadel, a financial adviser at a large multi-national financial services firm, tricked clients into sending her money and checks, which she deposited into her own accounts. On Sept. 18, 2019, for example, Ms. Sternadel transferred almost $27,000 from a client’s brokerage account into their personal checking account. She then falsely told the client-victim that the firm had accidentally transferred someone else’s money into the checking account, and instructed the victim to write out a check for that amount. The victim complied, and Ms. Sternadel deposited the funds into her own business bank account and used it for personal expenses. Over the course of the scheme, which lasted from 2019 to 2022, Ms. Sternadel stole at least $1.2 million from ten victims: Victim 1: $286,021.63 (refunded to the victim by the firm) Victim 2: $18,122 (refunded to the victim by the firm) Victim 3: $ 101,240.50 (refunded to the victim by the firm) Victim 4: $21,064 ($9,334 of which was refunded by the firm) Victim 5: $43,099.21 (refunded to the victim by the firm) Victim 6: $51,600 (refunded to the victim by the firm) Victim 7: $204,442.82 (refunded to the victim by the firm) Victim 8: $40,000 Victim 9: $288,979.89 (refunded to the victim by the firm) Victim 10: $175,201.25 (refunded to the victim by the firm) At sentencing, prosecutors said most of the victims were elderly, and some of them were even suffering from cognitive decline. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Division conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Weybrecht prosecuted the case; Assistant U.S. Attorney John de la Garza handled the forfeiture.


title: Olathe Man Indicted for Stealing 41 Firearms

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Olathe, Kansas, man was arrested yesterday while crossing the border from Mexico back into the United States after being indicted by a federal grand jury for stealing 41 firearms from a gun store in Raytown, Mo. “We are committed to stanching the flow of illegal firearms on the black market, whether they’re trafficked within the United States or smuggled into Mexico,” said U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore of the Western District of Missouri. “Stolen firearms often supply black market dealers and fuel more crime and violence. It’s critical that we hold to account everyone involved along this chain of criminal activity.” “Today’s charges demonstrate the power of crime gun intelligence and cooperation with Mexican law enforcement to stem the flow of firearms from the U.S. into Mexico — where they arm the violent cartels that flood our communities with deadly drugs,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “By submitting information about recovered firearms to ATF’s eTrace system, Mexican law enforcement helped us link the alleged theft of firearms in Missouri to their international transport and recovery in Mexico.” “Mexican organized crime groups use firearms to commit heinous crimes against civilians and rival criminal groups,” stated Bernard G. Hansen, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Kansas City. “There is no safe hiding place for anyone engaged in illegal firearms trafficking to Mexico. Stemming the flow of illegal guns to Mexico is of the highest priority for ATF and we will work relentlessly to investigate firearm thefts in order to prevent and dismantle the flow of illegal firearms.” Frank Guereca, 22, was charged with one count of stealing firearms from a federal firearms licensee in an indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Wednesday, April 24. The indictment was unsealed and made public today. Guereca is scheduled for his initial court appearance today at 2:30 p.m. in El Paso, Texas (3:30 p.m. CST) before U.S Magistrate Judge Miguel Torres of the Western District of Texas. The federal indictment alleges that Guereca, aiding and abetting others, stole the firearms on June 16, 2023. All of the stolen firearms were pistols of various manufacturers and calibers. According to court documents, Guereca and at least two others used a stolen U-Haul to conduct the firearms theft. One of the stolen pistols from the gun store was recovered in Tracy, Calif., on Nov. 14, 2023. A second stolen pistol was recovered in Chihuahua, Mexico, on Dec. 19, 2023. A third stolen pistol was recovered in Juarez, Mexico, on Feb. 6, 2024. Guereca was arrested on Thursday, April 25, as he attempted to cross back into the United States from Mexico. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection records, Guereca had previously crossed the border approximately 20 times since the burglary and theft on June 16, 2023. The charge contained in this indictment is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Raytown, Mo., Police Department. Project Safe Neighborhoods This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Texas Man Admits Selling 1.4 Kilos of Methamphetamine to the DEA

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man from Texas on Friday admitted selling 1.4 kilograms of methamphetamine to an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration agent, and giving the agent another kilogram of cocaine to sell. On August 16, 2022, Marco Chavira met with the agent in El Paso. Chavira believed the agent was a driver who would transport the drugs to St. Louis and Chicago. Chavira sold 1.4 kilograms of methamphetamine to the agent and “fronted” the agent a kilogram of cocaine, meaning he expected to be paid later for the cocaine. Chavira, 35, of El Paso, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Chavira’s sentencing is set for August 9. The charge carries a mandatory minimum prison sentence of five years and a maximum of 40 years. He could also face a fine of up to $5 million. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Casey is prosecuting the case.


title: Eveleth Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Drug Trafficking Case

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – An Eveleth man has been sentenced to 120 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for possession of fentanyl and methamphetamine with intent to distribute, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to the defendant’s plea agreement and court documents, between January 1, 2023, and March 9, 2023, Juan Pedro Alapisco-Ochoa, 52, knowingly conspired with co-conspirators to acquire fentanyl with the intention of distributing it. On January 7, 2023, law enforcement conducted a controlled buy and purchased over 1,000 fentanyl pills from Alapisco-Ochoa and his co-conspirators. On March 7, 2023, as part of a separate investigation, postal inspectors stopped a shipment addressed to the defendant’s apartment which contained 481 grams of methamphetamine packed inside a stereo speaker. Shortly afterwards, law enforcement conducted a controlled delivery to Alapisco-Ochoa’s apartment. Agents seized 11 grams of methamphetamine, 170 blue fentanyl pills, and miscellaneous drug paraphernalia from the apartment. Alapisco-Ochoa pleaded guilty on October 12, 2023, to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. He was sentenced on April 24, 2024, in U.S. District Court by Judge Michael J. Davis. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Dakota County Drug Task Force, the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the Lake Superior Violent Crime Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allen A. Slaughter prosecuted the case.


title: US Attorney’s Office Charges Labar Tsethlikai for  Murder of Navajo Man

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni man made an initial appearance on his Indictment related to the murder of a member of the Navajo Nation and is considered the prime suspect in a series of crimes targeting Native American men in Gallup, Zuni, and Albuquerque. He will remain in custody pending his detention hearing and arraignment, which is set for May 1, 2024. Labar Tsethlikai , 51, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, is charged with murdering John Doe on January 18, 2024. John Doe was found deceased the next morning in a remote area of the Zuni Reservation on Route 7, approximately 300 yards eastbound of State Highway 602. Prior to the murder, John Doe was last seen along East Highway 66 in Gallup, New Mexico. According to court records, Tsethlikai is linked to a string of murders, kidnappings, robberies, sexual abuses, and assaults, in both Indian Country and the Albuquerque Metropolitan Area between May 2023 and April 2024. Through the investigation, 10 other potential victims have been identified, with 7 crimes occurring within Indian Country, 1 crime involving the victim being transported from Indian Country to Albuquerque, and 3 crimes occurring in the Albuquerque area. One other victim is believed to have died after being kidnapped. Investigators tied Tsethlikai to the crimes through a common modus operandi, victim statements, video surveillance, EBT records, DNA analysis, and advanced cellular phone tracking. This comprehensive evidence placed Tsethlikai at or around each victim, including John Doe, during the relevant time periods. If convicted, Tsethlikai faces up to life in prison followed by five years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Gallup Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department’s Sex Crimes Unit and Air Support Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew J. McGinley, Mark A. Probasco, and Eliot Neal are prosecuting the case. The FBI continues to investigate Tsethlikai’s involvement in crimes against other victims. If you have reason to believe you or someone you know may be a victim, or have information about Tsethlikai , please call the FBI at (505) 889-1300 or submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov. Labar Tsethlikai is approximately 5’7” and weighs 180 pounds. He is heavyset, has short brown hair, brown eyes, and wears glasses. He sometimes wears a gold bracelet. He is from Zuni, but travels extensively around New Mexico, including Gallup, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe. He is believed to work in the Native American jewelry industry and may be a Zuni jewely artist. Tsethlikai drives a gold/brown Chevy Silverado, single cab truck, with dual exhaust, bearing license plate number WNMU0043. This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program, which aims to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people through the resolution of MMIP cases and communication, coordination, and collaboration with federal, Tribal, state, and local partners. The Department views this work as a priority for its law enforcement components. Through the MMIP Regional Outreach Program, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify MMIP cases and issues in Tribal communities and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. This prosecution upholds the Department’s mission to the unwavering pursuit of justice on behalf of Indigenous victims and their families. View the Indictment An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. # # #


title: Cave Junction Man Sentenced to More than 14 Years Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearms and Narcotics

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: MEDFORD, Ore.—A Cave Junction, Oregon man with a lengthy criminal history was sentenced to more than 14 years in federal prison Thursday for illegally possessing methamphetamine and 12 firearms while on state supervision. William Thomas Gillespie, 39, was sentenced to 173 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release. “This lengthy prison sentence is a just outcome for a man who poses a significant danger to the community. We thank our partners on the Rogue Area Drug Enforcement Team for their dedication and commitment over many months to bringing Mr. Gillespie to justice,” said Nathan J. Lichvarick, Chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Eugene and Medford Branch Offices. “With Mr. Gillespie’s lengthy criminal record involving drug distribution, illegal firearms, and flight from supervised release, this significant sentence is well warranted,” said Jonathan Blais, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Seattle Field Division. “ATF will always investigate those who endanger our communities and citizens through their illegal actions.” According to court documents, on April 6, 2020, Gillespie was arrested in White City, Oregon attempting to deliver approximately 174 grams of methamphetamine. At the time of his arrest, he possessed six baggies of methamphetamine and a digital scale. After Gillespie consented to a search of his residence, investigators located and seized 12 firearms, including an AR-15 and multiple AK-style rifles. Three of the firearms were found to be stolen and one had an obliterated serial number. On November 5, 2020, a federal grand jury in Medford returned a three-count indictment charging Gillespie with illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, illegally possessing a short-barrel rifle, and possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. On June 23, 2021, Gillespie was released from custody pending trial, and, on August 1, 2022, pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. On January 2023, Gillespie absconded from his supervised release and a warrant was issued for his arrest. On September 13, 2023, Gillespie was located and arrested in Bandon, Oregon. This case was investigated by the Rogue Area Drug Enforcement Team (RADE), a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force supported by the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. RADE includes members from Oregon State Police, the Grants Pass Police Department, Josephine County Probation & Parole, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). This case was prosecuted by Judith R. Harper, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.


title: Former Maryland Tax Preparer Sentenced for Preparing False Returns

body_text: A Minnesota woman was sentenced today to 15 months in prison for preparing false tax returns on behalf of her clients. According to court documents and statements made in court, Kymberly Starr owned and operated The Tax Lady, also known as 5 Starr Business Solutions, a tax preparation business in Maryland. From 2013 to at least 2018, Starr inflated her clients’ tax refunds by preparing and submitting to the IRS false tax returns that claimed fraudulent tax deductions and fictitious business profits and losses. Starr’s conduct resulted in approximately $400,000 of tax loss to the IRS. Additionally, in 2020 and 2021, Starr obtained over $83,000 in COVID-19-related Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans by submitting fabricated IRS forms containing purported bogus businesses and business income. Starr also used fabricated federal tax forms to file a false claim for unemployment insurance with the Maryland Department of Labor, from which she received over $55,000. In addition to her prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang for the District of Maryland ordered Starr to serve one year of supervised release and to pay approximately $539,043 in restitution to the United States and Maryland. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Shawn Noud and Ezra Spiro of the Tax Division prosecuted the case.


title: Careless Firearm Use Near Exeter Residence Leads to a 1 Year Plus 1 Day Sentence for Illegal Possession for Millinocket Man

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A Millinocket man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Bangor for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker sentenced Scott Lynch, Jr., 23, to 12 months plus one day imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release. Lynch pleaded guilty on December 13, 2023. According to court records, in November 2020, the Maine Warden Service received a complaint about shots being fired at a residence in Exeter, Maine. A game warden observed bullets lodged in the exterior walls of the residence, and the homeowners reported hearing gunshots from across the pond and seeing two individuals wearing hunter’s orange. The warden located Lynch and a 14‑year-old minor in a parked truck. Lynch admitted to the warden that that he had been target shooting in the woods. He also told the warden that he was a convicted felon. The warden located .22 caliber and .308 caliber casings in the woods where Lynch stated they had been shooting. While at the minor’s house to retrieve the .22 rifle, the warden overheard the minor tell his mother that there was another rifle hidden in the house, which the mother then retrieved. Lynch had the key to a gun case on a key ring on his belt. Two guns were retrieved from the case, a .308 caliber rifle and a 9mm pistol, with obliterated serial numbers. Further investigation showed both the guns and the case had been stolen from a vehicle in Millinocket, and Lynch told investigators that he had traded a dirt bike for the firearms. The Maine Warden Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. ###