title: Evergreen Man Sentenced for Making Threats to Commit Mass Violence

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Kyle William Staebell, age 34, of Evergreen, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for making threats to commit mass violence. According to the defendant’s plea, in the early morning hours of January 16, 2023, the defendant threatened to commit mass violence at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) office in Denver, an office of the Department of Homeland Security, and a Colorado-based performing arts group’s location. Thanks to the swift investigative work of the FBI, the Denver Police Department, the Lakewood Police Department, and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the defendant was arrested that same day. Subsequent investigation revealed that, in the month before issuing the threats, the defendant went to each of the three locations in person, conducted online research regarding acts of mass violence, and possessed a Molotov cocktail. “The Office of the United States Attorney of Colorado is committed to prosecuting individuals who threaten the safety and security of Coloradans,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado Cole Finegan. “We remain grateful to our law enforcement partners who were able to swiftly investigate this case and keep our communities safe.” "Free speech is protected by the First Amendment, but when speech crosses the line into threats of violence, it becomes a crime," said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. "Violence and threats of violence have no place in our society, and this sentence demonstrates our resolve to disrupt plots to commit mass violence and keep our communities safe." The FBI urges the public to report suspicious or threatening behavior to their local law enforcement or by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or submitting a tip online at https://tips.fbi.gov . United States District Court Judge Daniel D. Domenico sentenced the defendant on May 1, 2024. The FBI Denver Field Division conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Laura Cramer-Babycz handled the prosecution of the case.


title: Mother and son duo charged in $1M elder fraud scheme

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A 56-year-old Houston resident has been arrested following her indictment in a fraud scheme with her son in which they allegedly tricked an elderly couple out of over $1 million, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Authorities have arrested Regina Lynn Thomas aka Nikki Laday. She made her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo who ordered her into custody pending a detention hearing May 6. Regina Thomas and her son Isaiah Thomas, 38, Houston, are both charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 67 counts of wire fraud. The indictment alleges Regina Thomas pretended to be a nurse and assisted a couple with caring for an elderly parent. The couple allegedly allowed her to live at their home while they were out of the country for work. Regina Thomas then told the couple federal authorities wanted them in connection for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) fraud and provided them with whom she claimed was an attorney, according to the charges. That individual was allegedly not a real attorney. The indictment alleges the couple believed they were paying for the attorney’s services. However, the money was allegedly deposited into Isaiah Thomas’ account who shared the funds with his mother. If convicted, both face up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine for each count. The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Laurence Goldman is prosecuting the case. The case is brought as part of the Elder Justice Initiative. Its goal is to support and coordinate the Department of Justice’s enforcement and programmatic efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial fraud and scams that target our nation’s older adults. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Captain of Santa Barbara-Based Dive Boat that Burned and Sank, Resulting in 34 Deaths, Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – The captain of the P/V Conception – a Santa Barbara-based dive boat that caught fire and sank near Santa Cruz Island on Labor Day in 2019, resulting in the deaths of 33 passengers and one crew member – was sentenced today to 48 months in federal prison. Jerry Nehl Boylan, 70, of Santa Barbara, was sentenced by United States District Judge George H. Wu. A restitution hearing was scheduled for July 11. At the conclusion of a 10-day trial, a jury found Boylan guilty in November 2023 of one count of misconduct or neglect of ship officer – an offense commonly called “seaman’s manslaughter.” The Conception was a 75-foot, wood-and-fiberglass passenger vessel that docked in Santa Barbara Harbor. During a Labor Day weekend dive trip in 2019, the boat carried 33 passengers and six crew members, including Boylan. During the early morning hours of September 2, 2019, a fire broke out while the boat was anchored in Platt’s Harbor near Santa Cruz Island. The fire, which engulfed the boat and led to its sinking, resulted in the deaths of 34 people who had been sleeping below deck. Five crew members, including Boylan, were able to escape and survived. “The defendant’s cowardice and repeated failures caused the horrific deaths of 34 people,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “The victims’ families will be forever devastated by this needless tragedy. While today’s sentence cannot fully heal their wounds, we hope that our efforts to hold this defendant criminally accountable brings some measure of healing to the families.” “The fate of the victims on the Conception might have been different were it not for the negligence of the defendant,” said Mehtab Syed, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “I want to commend the collaborative effort by investigators and prosecutors that led to today’s sentence and hope that it delivers a measure of justice to the victims’ families as they continue to heal from this tragedy.” Boylan, as captain of the Conception , committed a series of failures – including abandoning his ship instead of rescuing passengers – that resulted in the disaster. Such conduct constituted misconduct, gross negligence, and inattention to his duties and led to the deaths of 34 victims, prosecutors argued. As the ship’s captain, Boylan was responsible for the safety and security of the vessel, its passengers, and its crew. Federal prosecutors argued he failed in his responsibilities in several ways, including by: failing to have a night watch or roving patrol; failing to conduct sufficient fire drills and crew training; failing to provide firefighting instructions or directions to crew members after the fire started; failing to use firefighting equipment, including a fire ax and fire extinguisher that were next to him in the wheelhouse, to fight the fire or attempt to rescue trapped passengers; failing to perform any lifesaving or firefighting activities whatsoever at the time of the fire, even though he was uninjured; failing to use the boat’s public address system to warn passengers and crew members about the fire; and becoming the first crew member to abandon ship even though 33 passengers and one crew member were still alive and trapped below deck in the vessel’s bunkroom and in need of assistance to escape. “There are no winners when lives are lost at sea, but there is justice in bringing those accountable to answer for their crimes. Today is an example of that.” said Coast Guard Investigative Service Director, Jeremy Gauthier. “This was in its truest form, a joint effort by our hard-charging CGIS Special Agents, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.” “The horrific tragedy on the Conception has forever changed many lives,” said Christopher Bombardiere, special agent in charge of ATF’s Los Angeles Field Division. “I want to express my deepest condolences to everyone who lost a loved one. No sentencing will ever be sufficient for the suffering you have endured, nor will it bring back your loved ones. I hope this prosecution and sentencing sends a message to other captains and this recklessness is never repeated. I want to thank our National Response Team, which investigated the cause and origin of the fire. Their dedication and skilled expertise provided much needed answers.” The FBI, the Coast Guard Investigative Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark A. Williams, Matthew W. O’Brien and Juan M. Rodríguez of the Environmental Crimes and Consumer Protection Section, Brian R. Faerstein of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section, and Alexander P. Robbins of the Criminal Appeals Section prosecuted this case.


title: New Orleans Woman Charged with False Statements on an Individual Tax Return

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that ANGELA SHELTON (“SHELTON”) , age 57, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was charged with making false statements on an individual tax return, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(1). According to yesterday’s one count bill of information, SHELTON willfully under-reported the gross receipts for her company, Big Easy Accommodations, LLC, by over $300,000.00 for the calendar year 2017 on her United States Individual Tax Return, Form 1040. If convicted, SHELTON faces a maximum sentence of three (3) years of imprisonment and/or a fine of $250,000 or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to any person under Title 18, United States Code, Section 3571. Upon release from prison, SHELTON also faces a term of supervised release for up to one (1) year. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the work of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations on this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni.


title: Charlotte Man Sentenced To Five Years In Prison For Creating And Using Fake U.S. Passport Cards

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – On Monday, Calvin Williams, 31, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr. for creating counterfeit U.S. passport cards and using them to obtain multiple lines of credit, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Jason Byrnes, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Charlotte Field Office, Robert Little, Resident Agent in Charge, Greensboro Resident Office, U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. According to court documents and court proceedings, in from late 2019 until May 2022, Williams forged U.S. passport cards using the personal identifying information (PII) of victims of identity theft. A U.S. passport card is a wallet sized passport that is issued by the U.S. Department of State, serves as proof of U.S. citizenship and identity, and allows for travel to and from certain countries. Court documents show that Williams created the fraudulent passport cards in the names of identity theft victims, substituting the photographs of the victims with his own photograph. Then Williams used the fake passport cards to open multiple lines of credit with various retail and online stores in order to purchase new iPhones and other electronic items. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement seized over 30 forged passport cards from Williams. Williams continued the fake passport card scheme after he was placed on state probation for convictions involving identity theft and obtaining property by false pretenses. On April 19, 2023, Williams pleaded guilty to passport forgery. He is currently in custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the U.S. Secret Service, the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, and CMPD for their investigation of the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick J. Miller, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, prosecuted the case. If you are aware of, or have been a victim of, fraud associated with a U.S. passport or U.S. visa application, please contact PassportVisaFraud@state.gov


title: Georgia Methamphetamine Trafficker Is Sentenced To More Than 15 Years In Prison

body_text: ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Larry Edward Wood, 62, of Mount Airy, Georgia, was sentenced to 188 months in prison today for trafficking methamphetamine, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Wood was also ordered to serve five years under court supervision after he is released from prison. Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which oversees the Charlotte District Office, Sheriff Doug Farmer of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Curtis Cochran of the Swain County Sheriff’s Office, and Chief Devin Holland of the Franklin Police Department join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. According to filed court documents and court proceedings, law enforcement initiated an investigation into Wood, a Georgia resident, for suspected methamphetamine trafficking in and around Macon County. In May 2021, a confidential source working with law enforcement purchased methamphetamine from Wood. In July 2021, Wood traveled to Macon County and delivered five kilograms of methamphetamine that was seized by law enforcement. On July 28, 2023, Wood pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Wood remains in the custody of the United States Marshals Service pending placement by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the DEA, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Swain County Sheriff’s Office, and the Franklin Police Department for their investigation of the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hess of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.


title: Major Methamphetamine Trafficker In Burke County Is Sentenced To 25 Years In Prison

body_text: ASHEVILLE, N.C. – A major drug trafficker responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine in and around Burke County was sentenced to 25 years in prison today, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition to the prison term imposed, Gregory Travis Gowan, 53, of Morganton, N.C., was ordered to serve five years under court supervision upon completion of his prison sentence. Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which oversees the Charlotte District Office, and Sheriff Banks Hinceman of the Burke County Sheriff’s Office join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. According to today’s sentencing hearing and documents filed with the court, in February 2022, law enforcement investigating Gowan’s drug trafficking activities executed search warrants at Gowan’s residence and vehicle in Burke County. Law enforcement seized over $100,000 from Gowan’s residence and vehicle, as well as a quantity of methamphetamine, and items consistent with drug distribution. Subsequently, law enforcement executed additional search warrants at Gowan’s garage and residence, and more drugs and cash were seized. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement determined that Gowan was responsible for trafficking more than 60 kilograms of methamphetamine in Burke County and was a major source of supply for local dealers. On August 21, 2024, Gowan pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Gowan is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the DEA and the Burke County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Hess of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.


title: Florida man heads to prison for using fake debit cards to scam Houston banks

component: USAO - Texas, Eastern

body_text: HOUSTON – A 35-year-old resident of Miami, Florida, has been sentenced for conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Claude Casimir pleaded guilty Sept. 7, 2023. U.S. District Judge Charles Eskridge has now ordered Casimir to serve 30 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by 3 years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional arguments about the scheme and the defendant’s criminal history. From April to May 2019, Casimir and others conspired in a scheme targeting the Houston area. The investigation began in early 2019 after a local bank discovered numerous fraudulent transactions. They found that individuals had used the personal identification numbers of actual bank customers and withdrew money via counterfeit cards. At the time of the plea, Casimir admitted he rented a vehicle to access several ATMs in the Houston area and withdrew cash using counterfeit debit cards. He also drove another individual around the Houston area using the rented vehicle to do the same. Additionally, Casimir admitted that on May 8, 2019, he used a debit card of another individual without that person’s knowledge or consent. In this single transaction, Casmir attempted to take $2,000. He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The Secret Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rodolfo Ramirez prosecuted the case.


title: Malachi Crockett Sentenced for Role in Violent Albuquerque Crime Spree

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Malachi Alan Crockett , 19, was sentenced to 6 years in prison for his role in a violent crime spree that terrorized Albuquerque residents in the Spring of 2023. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, on March 21, 2023, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) responded to a series of violent carjackings that occurred in Southwest Albuquerque. The first incident occurred around 5:33 PM, when Jane Doe 1 was carjacked at gunpoint by three male suspects, including two juveniles and Crockett . The suspects fled in the victim's white Nissan Sentra. Approximately 10 minutes later, a second carjacking was reported near Westgate Community Park. Crockett and his accomplices, carjacked Jane Doe 2 at gunpoint, taking her Chevrolet Traverse. During this incident, the suspects also fired multiple shots at a witness, causing her to crash her vehicle. Minutes later, the group attempted to carjack a couple, Jane Doe 3 and John Doe 1, near Carlos Rey Elementary school, but the victims were able to drive away. The final carjacking occurred around 6:00 PM, when the group robbed Jane Doe 4 of her red Chevrolet Spark at gunpoint. APD officers later spotted the stolen Spark and initiated a pursuit, which ended in a crash. Four male suspects, including Crockett and three juveniles, fled the vehicle. Crockett and one of the juveniles were apprehended on scene. Crockett was found to be in possession of a handgun with an extended magazine. The handgun was fitted with a machine conversion device, commonly called an auto sear or “switch.” U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, made the announcement today. The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Natasha Moghadam prosecuted the case. # # #


title: Montana Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl Through Idaho

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: COEUR D'ALENE – Quinn Michael Brockman, 34, of Libby, Montana, was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. According to court records, Brockman was pulled over in the Coeur d’Alene area while traveling through Idaho with over 216 grams of fentanyl pills that he had recently acquired in the Seattle area. Based on the quantity involved, law enforcement’s investigation, and Brockman’s own statements, the pills had been acquired for the purpose of reselling in Montana. U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also ordered Brockman to serve three years of supervised release upon the completion of his prison sentence. Brockman pleaded guilty in August 2023. Fentanyl continues to plague communities throughout the country and these two cases are prime examples of its far-reaching effects. Addiction to fentanyl was a contributing factor behind both of these cases. “I am grateful for our collaboration with ISP and all law enforcement in North Idaho to remove fentanyl dealers from our state,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “Together, we are committed to addressing the fentanyl problem affecting the health of our communities.” “Our ongoing collaboration with the DEA Task Force and the U.S. Attorney’s Office is a testament to a joint commitment to community safety,” said Idaho State Police Captain Paul Berger of District 1. “These partnerships significantly amplify our effectiveness and underscore the critical importance of interagency cooperation in addressing our region’s complex challenges. By fortifying our ability to combat crime and upholding the law, we will continue achieving positive results and foster safer communities.” U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Idaho State Police for their investigation in this case. ###


title: Registered Sex Offender From Sandisfield Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Possessing Child Pornography and Unregistered Firearm

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Sandisfield man was sentenced today in federal court in Springfield for possession of child pornography and possession of an unregistered firearm. Brian Hohman, 60, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 10 years in prison to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. In January 2024, Hohman pleaded guilty to one charge of possession of child pornography and one charge of receipt and possession of an unregistered firearm. During a search of Hohman’s residence in September 2023, a sawed-off shotgun not registered to Hohman and a laptop containing over 300 visually unique images, including at least two videos depicting child pornography were found. Hohman was subsequently arrested and detained on an unrelated matter. The investigation revealed that Hohman also possessed two cell phones and a SIM card containing child pornography. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Litchfield Judicial District State’s Attorney’s Office in Connecticut. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine G. Curley of the Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Billings man admits attempted sex trafficking of minor girl

body_text: BILLINGS — A Billings man today admitted to a sex trafficking crime after he was accused of offering to provide a minor girl alcohol in exchange for sex, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. The defendant, Joshua Allen Morgan, 40, pleaded guilty to attempted sex trafficking of a minor. Morgan faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to a lifetime of supervised release. Under the terms of a plea agreement, the parties agree that a sentence of no less than 15 years in prison is appropriate. U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. A sentencing date will be set before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Morgan was detained pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that in March 2023, following Morgan’s arrest on other charges, law enforcement served a search warrant on his phone. Law enforcement found Facebook communications between Morgan and a juvenile girl, identified as Jane Doe. In an interview with law enforcement, Doe disclosed that she had met Morgan when she was 15 or 16 after he began sending her messages on Facebook. Morgan provided Doe with alcohol, and they spent time together. During this period, Moran sexually assaulted Doe at his residence. In March 2023, Morgan and Doe began corresponding again and discussions involved Morgan providing Doe with alcohol in exchange for sexual conduct. Doe informed Morgan she was a juvenile, and Morgan instructed her not to disclose their relationship to anyone. Doe and Morgan did meet, but Doe left prior to engaging in sexual conduct with Morgan. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zeno B. Baucus and Jacob A. Yerger are prosecuting the case. The FBI and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . XXX


title: San Diego Pharmacy Pays $350,000 for Mishandling Controlled Substances

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – May 2, 2024 SAN DIEGO – Palm Care Pharmacy, a San Diego County pharmacy chain with a storefront in El Cajon, has paid $350,000 to resolve allegations that it diverted controlled substances, failed to keep necessary accounting records for controlled substances, and improperly sold pseudoephedrine chemical products. The settlement arises from a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigation into suspected illegal activity at Talimi International, Inc. d/b/a Palm Care Pharmacy. Based on an inventory audit conducted by the DEA and other investigative activities, the government concluded that Palm Care Pharmacy’s El Cajon location committed multiple violations of the Controlled Substances Act and the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act from 2018 through 2022. The government alleged that Palm Care Pharmacy failed to control its inventory of controlled substances, failed to maintain a complete record of controlled substances and the transactions, and sold listed chemical products ( e.g. , pseudoephedrine) without the necessary training and certification. Palm Care Pharmacy’s failure to control inventory resulted in unaccounted-for pills, including: opioids (oxycodone, hydrocodone, and tramadol), benzodiazepines (Xanax), and muscle relaxants (Soma). In addition to paying $350,000 to resolve the government’s claims, Palm Care Pharmacy entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the DEA requiring Palm Care Pharmacy to undertake additional measures to handle controlled substances properly and safely. “Failure to manage inventory of controlled substances is not just a compliance issue, it’s a public safety issue,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “Every untracked pill is a problem waiting to happen.” “Accurate record keeping prevents controlled substances from ending up in the wrong hands,” said DEA Diversion Program Manager Rostant Farfan. “DEA will continue to hold registrants accountable to ensure they are operating within the closed system of distribution.” This settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California and the Drug Enforcement Administration. To report a tip directly to a DEA representative regarding medical personnel writing suspicious opioid prescriptions and pharmacies dispensing large amounts of opioids, call (571) 324-6499 or visit the DEA’s website ( https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/ ) and click on “Report Illicit Pharmaceutical Activities.” This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dylan M. Aste. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.


title: Project Safe Neighborhoods News for April 2024

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence. At the core of PSN is setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place. U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announces the following actions in federal PSN cases. Indictments Billy Fobbs, 24, of Sacramento, was indicted on April 4, 2024, and charged with being a felon in possession of ammunition. According to court documents, on Sept. 28, 2023, Fobbs possessed 39 rounds of 300 caliber BLK ammunition. Fobbs is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he has prior felony convictions, including convictions for evading a police officer, assault, illegal possession of firearms, and attempted domestic violence. This case is the product of an investigation by ATF, with assistance from the Sacramento Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily G. Sauvageau is prosecuting the case. Jeremy Goodwin Jr. , 22, of Fresno, was indicted on April 18, 2024, and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. According to court documents, on March 2, 2024, Goodwin was found in possession of a 9 mm gun and 9 mm ammunition. Goodwin is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he has a prior felony conviction for carrying a loaded firearm in public. This case is the product of an investigation by the Fresno Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple is prosecuting the case. Tionte Beard , 25, of Fresno, was indicted on April 18, 2024, and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. According to court documents, on Nov. 7, 2023, Beard possessed a handgun, an assault-style rifle, and several rounds of ammunition in his Fresno residence. Beard posted photographs of some of the firearms to his Instagram account. Beard is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition because he has prior felony convictions for illegal possession of a firearm and domestic violence. This case was the product of an investigation by the Fresno Police Department and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody S. Chapple is prosecuting the case. Monte Shepherd , 53, of Rio Linda, was indicted on April 11, 2024, and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on Jan. 27, 2024, Shepherd was found to be in possession of a stolen Ruger KP89 9 mm handgun. Shepherd has five prior felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing firearms. This case is the product of an investigation by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Cárdenas is prosecuting the case. The penalty for being a felon in possession of a firearm or ammunition is up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Guilty Plea Sophondara Hun , 28, of Stockton, pleaded guilty on April 25, 2024, to being a felon in possession of ammunition. According to court documents, law enforcement officers responded to a report of a prowler at an apartment complex. The caller advised there was a man inside her apartment and that he possibly entered through a window. When officers arrived they saw an open window and observed Hun sleeping on a bed in the apartment. Officers arrested Hun and upon searching Hun, noticed a .22 caliber bullet on the ground in front of Hun’s leg. Two .22 caliber bullets were found in Hun’s pocket and an additional .22 caliber bullet on the ground in front of Hun. Hun is prohibited from possessing ammunition because he has multiple state felony convictions, including assault on a person with a firearm, assault with a deadly weapon with force–possible great bodily injury, vandalism, and evading law enforcement in a vehicle. This case is the product of an investigation by the Stockton Police Department and ATF, with assistance from the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Haddy Abouzeid is prosecuting the case. Hun is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 1, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta. Sentencings Michael David Punzal Jr. , 41, of Fairfield, was sentenced on April 9, 2024, to three years and six months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and 21 months in prison for violating the terms of his supervised release in a prior felon-in-possession case, for a total consecutive sentence of five years and three months in prison. According to court documents, in August 2022, Punzal was serving a term of supervised release for a prior federal felon in possession conviction. On August 30, 2022, a lawful search was executed at Punzal’s apartment in Fairfield. In it, law enforcement officers found a Model 22 Glock, .40 caliber pistol with an obliterated serial number between the box spring and mattress in Punzal’s room. Punzal is prohibited from possessing firearms due to seven prior felony convictions. This case was the product of an investigation by the FBI, ATF, and the San Francisco Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily G. Sauvageau prosecuted the case. These cases are 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 U.S. Department of Justice 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: Fairfield Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Steven Daniel Miller, 48, of Fairfield, pleaded guilty today to one count of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, in October 2018, Miller used another person’s social security number to complete a credit application with a bank in order to purchase a 2018 Dodge Challenger Hellcat at a car dealership in Yuba City. Based on the false information on the credit application, the bank approved the loan and paid approximately $75,754 to the car dealership. Miller left the dealership with the vehicle, and it was subsequently seized by law enforcement. This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Secret Service with assistance from the California Highway Patrol, the Solano County Sheriff’s Office, the Rocklin Police Department, the Gilroy Police Department, and the Fairfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise N. Yasinow is prosecuting the case. Miller is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta on Aug. 8, 2024. Miller faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine on the bank fraud count. He faces a two-year mandatory prison sentence on the aggravated identity theft count, which must run consecutive to any sentence received on the bank fraud count. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.


title: Eleven South Bay Residents Charged In Racketeering Conspiracy For Alleged Involvement In Numerous Street Gang Crimes

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN JOSE – A federal grand jury has handed down an indictment charging 11 South Bay residents with taking part in a racketeering conspiracy to promote the aims of the Salinas Acosta Plaza Norteños (SAP Norteños) street gang. The indictment, filed April 18, 2024, and unsealed earlier today, describes a halting list of crimes including eight murders during the last five years, multiple additional shootings, drug and gun distribution, and other related crimes allegedly perpetrated by the defendants on behalf of the street gang. The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Salinas Police Department this afternoon. “The allegations in the indictment, if proven, describe a group that has a wanton disregard for life and an extreme penchant for violence,” said U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey. “The dozens of crimes outlined in the complaint describe a vicious gang that, for example, uses beatings as a hazing for membership and death as a penalty for trying to leave the group. I want to thank Homeland Security Investigations and the Salinas Police Department, including Acting Chief John Murray, for their excellent work. We will continue to round up and prosecute all such offenders to the fullest extent of the law.” "The charges against the eleven South Bay residents signify a concerted effort to dismantle criminal enterprises and hold individuals accountable for their alleged involvement in egregious organized crime,” said San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Tatum King. “Thank you to the men and women of HSI, Salinas Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California, and partner law enforcement agencies for making today’s court authorized actions safe for all involved. We appreciate their selfless work in protecting those who may not have a voice. In recognition of Police Week, I also acknowledge law enforcement personnel who have given the ultimate sacrifice in service to our Nation.” The 12-page indictment charges all 11 defendants under a single count of racketeering conspiracy. According to the indictment, the SAP Norteños are a street gang that originated in a Salinas apartment complex by the same name. The group is now recognized as a clique within the larger collection of Norteño criminal street gangs. The 11 defendants are as follows: Gil Vasquez, aka “Rhino;” 35, Rigoberto Ramirez Jr., aka “Scooby,” 36; Sergio Hernandez Jr., aka “Mono,” 35; Juan Alvarez, aka “Yogi,” 38; Bertin Medrano, aka “Dre,” 30; Jose Mexicano, aka “Armani,” 25, Salvador Mexicano, aka “Jumpshot,” 20; Raul Coronel Suarez, aka “Ray,” 20; Gustavo Garcia, aka “Tatis,” 25; Lorenzo Garcia Jr., aka “Chito,” 30; and Jose Saldana aka “Chepe,” 19. As described by the indictment, members of the street gang “meet and work together” to carry out crimes for the benefit of the street gang, its members, the larger Norteño organization, and the Nuestra Familia prison gang. Crimes are perpetrated by gang members to protect and uphold its power, territory, and profits and gang members are expected to engage in shootings, robberies, drug sales, and other criminal conduct to gain entry into, and improve a member’s status in, the gang. In addition, once in the gang, attempting to leave is not permitted; the punishment for attempting to leave is death. Indictment lists more than three dozen criminal acts that the defendants are alleged to have committed. The list of crimes includes eight murders, one that occurred in July 2014, and another seven that occurred between December 2019 and December 2023. The murder victims include people who defendants perceived were associate with rival gangs, transient men, and men perceived to have dropped out of the SAP Norteños. In addition to the murder allegations, additional crimes described in the indictment that allegedly were committed by the defendants include robberies of individuals at gunpoint; the firebombing of a Salinas apartment; the distribution of drugs including fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana; firearms trafficking, and numerous shootings. In sum, each defendant is charged with one count of racketeering conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d). The maximum statutory penalty for a racketeering conspiracy violation is 20 years in prison, and $250,000 fine. In addition, the indictment alleges that special sentencing factors apply to four defendants as follows: (a) Gustavo Garcia and Lorenzo Garcia for their respective roles in the July 19, 2014, murder of a person identified in the indictment as “Victim 1;” and (b) Raul Coronel Suarez and Jose Saldana for their respective roles in the December 2, 2023, murder of a person identified as “Victim 2.” The maximum statutory penalty applying to these violations is life in prison. In addition, as part of any sentence, the court may order additional fines; restitution, if appropriate; and an additional term of supervised release to begin after any prison. Nevertheless, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. All the defendants except Lorenzo Garcia and Salvador Mexicano were arrested this morning in coordinated law enforcement operations. Lorenzo Garcia and Salvador Mexicano already were in custody. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Leif Dautch, Amani Floyd, and George Hageman. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Salinas Police Department, with assistance from the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office. acosta_plaza_indictment.pdf


title: Hernando Man Sentenced To 14 Years In Prison For Destruction Of Evidence And Accessing With Intent To View Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber has sentenced Basilio Jim Diaz (Hernando, 64) to 14 years in federal prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for destruction of evidence and accessing with intent to view child sexual abuse material. The court also ordered Diaz to forfeit electronic devices, which were used in the commission of the offense, register as a sex offender, and pay $38,000 in restitution. A federal jury found Diaz guilty on January 10, 2024. According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, on March 9, 2023, the FBI executed a search warrant at Diaz’s home seeking evidence of child exploitation. When the FBI announced their presence, Diaz refused to exit his home. FBI SWAT members used an armored vehicle to break through the front door and obtain a visual inside the home. The SWAT agents also deployed two drones to better assess the situation inside the home. After nearly an hour, Diaz had disabled one of the drones and was in the process of disabling the second drone when SWAT agents entered the home and detained Diaz. A search of the home revealed that Diaz had spent those 45 - 50 minutes destroying evidence. Despite Diaz’s efforts, the FBI used forensic tools to recover thousands of images and videos depicting the child sexual abuse and exploitation of children from Diaz’s laptop. Agents also recovered two child-like sex dolls. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, and task force officers from the Tampa Police Department and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ilyssa M. Spergel and Ross D. Roberts. This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Utah Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Celso Carillo, 44, of Beryl, Utah, was sentenced on May 2, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Senior United States Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Carillo to 121 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Carillo’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. On January 10, 2023, a Nebraska State Patrol trooper stopped a car driven by Alfonso Carillo, in which Celso Carillo was a passenger, for license plate violations near North Platte, Nebraska. Celso Carillo admitted he had two THC vape cartridges in the car. Alfonso Carillo had a pipe with methamphetamine residue on his person. As a result, the vehicle was searched. Three packages of fentanyl weighing a total of 6.6 pounds were found. Later, additional information was developed which led investigators to do an additional search of the vehicle. During that search, an additional package of fentanyl weighing 2.5 pounds was found, for a total of 9.1 pounds. While incarcerated in Lincoln County, Celso Carillo wrote two letters taking responsibility for the drugs. Alfonso Carillo, believed to be Celso Carillo’s nephew, pleaded guilty to a state felony charge of possession of meth in Lincoln County and was sentenced to 364 days in jail in June of 2023. He was given credit for time served and was released. He was federally indicted with Celso Carillo in August of 2023, but his whereabouts are currently unknown. This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol.


title: Lincoln Man Sentenced for Distribution of Methamphetamine

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Rondale King, 44, of Lincoln, Nebraska was sentenced on May 2, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln for distribution of methamphetamine. Senior United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced King to 180 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After King’s release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release. On four occasions in October of 2022, Rondale King sold meth to a cooperating individual working with law enforcement. In total, King sold over 5 ounces of meth. King has a prior conviction for possession with intent to deliver meth from 2019. He faces increased penalties in federal court due to his prior drug conviction. This case was investigated by the Lincoln/Lancaster County Drug Task Force.


title: Former Ericson State Bank President Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced today that Jack Poulsen, age 71, of Ericson, Nebraska, entered a plea of guilty to an Information alleging bank fraud in front of United States Magistrate Judge Jacqueline M. DeLuca. Judge DeLuca scheduled Poulsen’s sentencing hearing for August 1st, 2024, at 11:00 AM before United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis. Poulsen faces a maximum possible penalty of 30 years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $1 million, and a mandatory special assessment of $100. Ericson State Bank was a small rural bank founded in 1959 and had its sole location in Ericson, Nebraska. It was an insured member of the FDIC since June of 1960, until its closing in February of 2020. Poulsen was the President of Ericson State Bank from June of 2010 until September of 2019. He additionally sat on the Board of Directors. As President of Ericson State Bank, Poulsen was responsible for overseeing all Ericson State Bank’s affairs and managing day-to-day operations. Poulsen was additionally responsible for keeping other Board of Directors informed of the bank’s financial condition. As President, Poulsen had lending authority but was required to seek approval from the bank’s loan committee for any loans exceeding $250,000. Poulsen was not allowed to be the loan officer on loans for which he would have a personal conflict of interest, including loans Ericson State Bank made to parties or entities related to Poulsen. Beginning in 2012, Ericson State Bank began a lending relationship with an individual related to Poulsen. This individual and his business entities received numerous loans and opened several accounts with the bank. Pursuant to rules and regulations, Poulsen was not allowed to be the loan officer for these insider-related loans. Nevertheless, beginning at least in June of 2015, Poulsen began interfering with these insider-related loans and accounts for the purpose of hiding their unsoundness from the Board of Directors. These actions included advancing bank funds on insider-related loans more than the approved loan amounts; manipulating data contained in the bank’s computer system by advancing Payment Due Dates and Loan Maturity Dates to conceal the past-due status of the insider-related loans from the Board of Directors; advancing loans over the approved note amounts and applying the funds to conceal overdrafts on the insider-related checking accounts from the Board of Directors. Poulsen’s actions continued until September of 2019 when Poulsen was removed from his positions of authority with Ericson State Bank. In one instance, in March 2019, Poulsen manipulated the maturity date and entered a new due date for one of the insider-related loans without proper authorization. Due to this manipulation, the loan was not presented as past-due to the Board of Directors despite the loan being mature for 181 days and drawn to a balance of approximately $1.6 million over the approved loan amount. Ultimately, Ericson State Bank failed and was placed into a receivership with the FDIC. At the time of Ericson State Bank’s failure, Ericson State Bank was a state chartered financial institution regulated and examined by the Nebraska Department of Banking and Finance and it was determined that a loss of more than $800,000 was attributable to the insider-related loans which were subject to the above-described scheme. This case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of Inspector General, Federal Reserve Board – Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.


title: Felon Who Unlawfully Possessed a Gun Sentenced to Prison

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A woman who illegally possessed a firearm was sentenced May 2, 2024, to more than 2 years in federal prison. Andrea Crystal Lee, age 36, from Emmetsburg, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 19, 2023, guilty plea to Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. Evidence at the sentencing hearing showed that on January 24, 2023, Lee was on state probation for possession of a controlled substance offense. During a probation check, a state probation officer located methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in Lee’s home. Law enforcement secured a search warrant, and a search of Lee’s home was conducted. During the search, law enforcement found a loaded 9mm handgun concealed in a floor vent, ammunition, and magazines. As a drug user and felon, Lee was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. Lee was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Lee was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment. She must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. 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. Lee is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until she can be transported to a federal prison. The case was investigated by the Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick T. Greenwood and Kraig R. Hamit. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-3011. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Bree Black Horse Sworn in as Assistant United States Attorney Dedicated to Prosecuting MMIP Cases in the Northwest United States

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Yakima, Washington - Today, United States Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref administered the oath of office to Assistant United States Attorney Bree R. Black Horse . A swearing-in ceremony was held at the Yakama Nation Justice Center in Toppenish, Washington. AUSA Black Horse will prosecute cases involving Missing or Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP), in connection with the Justice Department’s MMIP regional program. AUSA Black Horse will work out of our Yakima Office, but she also will serve throughout the Northwest Region – including in Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, and California. “I am honored and grateful that our District was selected to have an Assistant United States Attorney dedicated to prosecuting cases related to Missing or Murdered Indigenous People,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “We are so excited for Ms. Black Horse to join our team. Our commitment to justice is not new, but it is renewed. We will continue to prioritize cases arising in Indian Country and, with renewed resources, focus on addressing the root causes that have led to increased violence in our Tribal Nations – such as fentanyl, domestic violence, child abuse, illegal possession and use of firearms, illegal narcotics, and human trafficking. Our communities are safer and stronger as we join together to seek justice on behalf of victims and their families.” “Ms. Black Horse has the background and experience to excel as an AUSA focused on Missing and Murdered Indigenous People cases, but more importantly she has the cultural knowledge and the heart to handle MMIP prosecutions with compassion for the victims and their families, and tenacity to hold accountable those perpetrating crimes against our People,” stated Gerald Lewis, Chairman, Yakama National Tribal Council. “I joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Washington because I believe in this new role. I can meaningfully serve our Tribal communities while effectively combating MMIP in Indian country,” stated AUSA Black Horse. “I also stepped into this position to serve our MMIP victims and MMIP families. This new program is victim-centered at its core. The program aims to prevent harm to Indigenous people and help bring healing and justice to our MMIP victims and their families, and ultimately to our Tribal communities.” The MMIP regional program prioritizes MMIP cases consistent with the Deputy Attorney General’s July 2022 directive to United States Attorneys’ Offices promoting public safety in Indian country. The program is part of the Justice Department’s promise to dedicate new personnel to MMIP consistent with Executive Order 14053, Improving Public Safety and Criminal Justice for Native Americans and Addressing the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People, and the Department’s Federal Law Enforcement Strategy to Prevent and respond to Violence Against American Indians and Alaska Natives, Including to Address Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons issued in July 2022. The program dedicates five MMIP Assistant U.S. Attorneys and five MMIP coordinators to provide specialized support to United States Attorneys’ offices to address and combat the issues of MMIP. This support includes assisting in the investigation of unresolved MMIP cases and related crimes, and promoting communication, coordination, and collaboration among federal, Tribal, local, and state law enforcement and non-governmental partners on MMIP issues. The five regions include the Northwest, Southwest, Great Plains, Great Lakes, and Southeast Regions, and MMIP personnel will be located within host United States Attorneys’ offices in the Districts of Alaska, Arizona, Eastern Washington, Minnesota, New Mexico, Northern Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, and Western Michigan. Program support will be provided by the MMIP Regional Outreach Program Coordinator at the Executive Office for United States Attorneys. More broadly, this MMIP Program will complement the work of the Justice Department’s National Native American Outreach Services Liaison, who is helping amplify the voice of crime victims in Indian country and their families as they navigate the federal criminal justice system. Further, the MMIP Program will liaise with and enhance the work of the Department’s Tribal Liaisons and Indian Country Assistant United States Attorneys throughout Indian Country, the Native American Issues Coordinator, and the National Indian Country Training Initiative Coordinator to ensure a comprehensive response to MMIP.


title: Jimcy McGirt Sentenced To 30 Years For Aggravated Sexual Abuse

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Jimcy McGirt, age 75, of Holdenville, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 360 months imprisonment for one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country. On December 5, 2023, McGirt pleaded guilty to one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country. As part of the plea agreement, McGirt confessed to sexually abusing a child in August of 1996. “Today’s sentence closes a chapter on a perpetrator who has attempted to evade the legal consequences of his actions at every turn,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “For the victim, we hope it is but a beginning. To go into a courtroom—to fight to be heard and to be believed—that takes courage. To do so over three decades requires unimaginable fortitude of spirit. It is our hope the guilty plea and the sentence imposed bring some solace and comfort to those most effected by the defendant’s crimes.” The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah McAmis and Kyra Jenner represented the United States.


title: U.S. Attorney Will Thompson to Announce Guilty Plea in Bankruptcy Fraud Case with U.S. Trustee and Law Enforcement Officials

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Will Thompson will hold a press conference with U.S. Trustee Program and law enforcement officials on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at 11:30 a.m. to announce a guilty plea in a bankruptcy fraud case. The press conference will be held at the Robert C. Byrd United States Courthouse in Charleston, and is slated to include officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States Trustee Program and the West Virginia State Police-Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). WHAT: Plea Hearing Press Conference WHEN: Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at 11:30 a.m. WHERE: Fourth Floor, Robert C. Byrd U.S. Courthouse, Charleston 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. ###


title: Recidivist Sex Offender Sentenced for Possessing Deepfake Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A Pennsylvania man was sentenced yesterday to 14 years and seven months in prison for possessing deepfake child sexual abuse material (CSAM) depicting numerous child celebrities. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on two separate occasions, James Smelko, 57, of Pittsburgh, possessed and accessed pictures that digitally superimposed the faces of child actors onto nude bodies and bodies engaged in sex acts. Smelko possessed the pictures at his home in Pittsburgh. After law enforcement discovered the pictures during a search of Smelko’s computer, he was charged for possessing CSAM. While pending trial, Smelko was found to have violated his conditions of pretrial release by again accessing such images after incriminating web searches and images were detected by court-mandated monitoring software installed on his cell phone. In November 2023, a federal jury in Pittsburgh convicted Smelko of one count of possessing child pornography and one count of accessing with the intent to view child pornography. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Eric G. Olshan for the Western District of Pennsylvania; and Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek of the FBI Pittsburgh Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Pittsburgh Field Office investigated the case. Trial Attorney Gwendelynn Bills of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Mitchell for the Western District of Pennsylvania prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: California Man Sentenced for Sex Trafficking and Related Offenses for Forcing Victim to Engage in Commercial Sex Across the Country

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: A California man was sentenced yesterday for sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution. Michael Deon Fulcher, 54, of Gardena, was sentenced to life in prison and a lifetime of supervised release after a jury found Fulcher guilty in January. “This significant sentence imposed by the court reflects the severity of the defendant’s abuse and exploitation of the victim,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This defendant traumatized the victim, robbed her of her dignity and deprived her of the choice and control essential to her personal autonomy by forcing her to engage in prostitution for his own profit. The Justice Department will vigorously prosecute human trafficking crimes to hold offenders accountable and to seek justice for survivors of these heinous crimes.” “Human trafficking is not just a plot for Hollywood movies,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee for the Southern District of Mississippi. “It happens all over the country in a variety of ways, and even here in Mississippi as the tragic facts of this case show. The strength and resiliency of the victim in this case to escape the defendant and then report what happened will ensure that he never harms anyone else again. But this crime sadly still occurs all too often, and law enforcement needs your help to stop it. If you are a victim of human trafficking or believe that you may have witnessed it occurring, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.” “This investigation exemplifies how human trafficking is not just a physical crime but is also conducted through emotional and psychological abuse,” said Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Sex trafficking has devastating short term and long-term consequences, and the FBI will continue to investigate traffickers and pursue justice for the victims.” The evidence presented at trial demonstrated that Fulcher used sexual assault, threats of violence, isolation, control, psychological manipulation and emotional abuse to compel the victim to engage in commercial sex between April and June 2020. Fulcher lured the physically injured victim into his car in Las Vegas by making false promises to help her, but then brought her to his home where he sexually assaulted her. Shortly afterwards, Fulcher brought the victim to California, where he acted in concert with a co-defendant, Jonzie Hamilton, to compel the victim to engage in commercial sex acts over the course of several weeks. Fulcher required the victim to follow his strict rules, threatened the victim with physical harm, confiscated her money and Social Security debit card and even had an unlicensed dentist pull out her teeth. Fulcher also sent the victim and Hamilton across the country for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex, stopping in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana and eventually Mississippi where the victim ran away. While the victim was on the road, Fulcher required the victim to send him all of her earnings and continued his coercive scheme by threatening the victim with physical harm, controlling her access to her phone, isolating her from anyone she knew and refusing to allow her to receive much-needed medical treatment for an existing chronic illness. Hamilton was previously sentenced on April 9 to 29 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to interstate transportation for prostitution. The FBI Jackson Field Office, Gulfport Resident Agency investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Kate Alexander and Francisco Zornosa of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit prosecuted the case, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones for the Southern District of Mississippi. Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org . Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking .


title: Long Island Woman Arrested For Selling Misbranded And Adulterated Weight Loss Drugs, Including Ozempic, On TikTok

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Fernando P. McMillan, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Office of Criminal Investigations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), announced the unsealing of a criminal Complaint in Manhattan federal court charging ISIS NAVARRO REYES, a/k/a “Beraly Navarro,” with receipt of misbranded drugs in interstate commerce and subsequent delivery thereof, dispensing prescription drugs without a prescription, conspiracy to introduce and deliver for introduction misbranded drugs in interstate commerce, and smuggling. As alleged in the Complaint, from about November 2022 through about January 2024, REYES marketed, advertised, and sold various misbranded weight loss drugs that require a prescription, including Ozempic, Mesofrance, and Axcion, to followers on social media. REYES, who is not licensed by law to prescribe or administer prescription medication, obtained the weight loss drugs that she held for sale from Central and South America. None of the weight loss drugs that REYES sold were approved for sale or dispensing in the United States by the FDA. REYES was arrested this morning and will be presented in Manhattan federal court later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Moses. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Isis Navarro Reyes used her social media following to sell weight loss drugs unapproved for distribution in the United States. Reyes’s alleged unlawful dispensing of these drugs caused significant, life-threatening injuries to some victims and put all of her victims in harm’s way. Recently, public interest in semaglutide and weight loss drugs has skyrocketed, and criminals have sought to take advantage of this interest for their ends. With this, the first misbranding and adulteration charges brought pertaining to Ozempic, Reyes will be held accountable for her conduct, and criminals should think twice before trying to sell weight loss drugs without a license to do so. This case makes clear that extreme caution and physician consultation should always be taken when purchasing medications, especially on social media.” FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Special Agent in Charge Fernando P. McMillan said: “Selling misbranded prescription drugs, particularly injectable products that should be sterile, in the U.S. marketplace puts all consumers’ health at risk. We will continue to pursue and bring to justice those who jeopardize the public’s health by selling misbranded drugs.” As alleged in the Complaint: [1] From about November 2022 through about November 2023, ISIS NAVARRO REYES, using TikTok, posted dozens of videos about weight loss drugs including, but not limited to, Ozempic, Axcion, and Mesotherapy. In her videos, REYES showcases the weight loss drugs, instructs viewers how frequently they should be used, describes how they should be taken or injected, and claims to describe her personal experiences — for example, side effects and effectiveness in causing weight loss — in detail. In several of these videos, REYES tells viewers that they can contact her via an encrypted messaging application on her cellphone (the “Cellphone”) if they would like to order the weight loss drugs that she is selling. On about October 11, 2023, REYES posted a video pertaining to Ozempic. In this video, REYES demonstrates how to inject oneself with the medication and shares her experience using the drug. Toward the end of the video, REYES instructs viewers to contact her on the Cellphone if they are interested in having her obtain Ozempic for them. A screenshot from this TikTok post is below: In about December 2023, a law enforcement officer acting in an undercover capacity (the “UC”) began messaging REYES on the Cellphone. From about December 2023 through about January 2024, the UC and REYES exchanged several messages concerning REYES’s supply of Ozempic and the UC’s interest in purchasing Ozempic from REYES. On about January 7, 2024, pursuant to instructions from REYES, the UC sent $375 to a Zelle account in the name of “Isis Reyes Navarro.” REYES did not ask the UC to provide a prescription, and the UC did not provide one. On about January 9, 2024, REYES dropped off a package intended for the UC at a post office located in or around Shirley, New York. On about January 12, 2024, law enforcement received a package addressed to the UC from REYES (the “UC Parcel”) in Manhattan. The UC Parcel contained a box containing what purported to be Ozempic. [2] Photos of packaging containing the purported Ozempic that REYES mailed the UC are below: All of the labeling accompanying the Ozempic in the UC Parcel was in Spanish, in violation of FDA regulations. In about November 2022, a woman who had viewed content posted to REYES’s TikTok account (“Victim-1”) called the Cellphone for the purpose of ordering weight loss drugs. The individual who answered Victim‑1’s call identified herself as “Isis Navarro Reyes.” In about February 2023, Victim-1 purchased 30 injections of Mesofrance, an injectable weight loss drug, from REYES. REYES mailed the Mesofrance to Victim-1’s residence in White Plains, New York. REYES did not ask Victim-1 to provide a prescription, and Victim-1 did not provide one. Between about February 2023 and about June 2023, Victim-1 self-administered 28 injections. In an audio message that she recorded and transmitted, REYES provided Victim-1 with instructions on how to administer the drug. REYES told Victim-1, among other things, to inject herself every three days. All of the labeling of the vials that contained the Mesofrance that Victim‑1 purchased from REYES were in a language other than English, in violation of FDA regulations. On about July 13, 2023, Victim-1 began developing lesions from administering the Mesofrance. Victim-1 sent messages to REYES about her injuries and sent photos. In about October 2023, Victim-1’s physician diagnosed her with a mycobacterium abscessus infection, which is frequently caused by the contamination of medications, medical products, and medical devices with the mycobacterium abscessus bacterium. In about November 2023, the New York Department of Health tested one of the vials of Mesofrance that Victim-1 purchased from REYES. The substance tested positive for mycobacterium abscessus, a species of rapidly growing, multidrug-resistant, nontuberculous mycobacteria. * * * REYES, 36, of Shirley, New York, is charged with one count of smuggling, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of receipt of misbranded drugs in interstate commerce and subsequent delivery thereof, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison; three counts of dispensing prescription drugs without prescriptions, which each carry a maximum sentence of one year in prison; and one count of conspiracy to introduce and deliver for introduction a misbranded drug in interstate commerce, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by a judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the New York City Police Department, the Customs and Border Protection Task Force Officers of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Special Agents and Task Force Officers of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon C. Thompson is in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation. [2] To date, there is no evidence that the Ozempic that REYES sold the UC is not genuine.


title: Two Raleigh Men Sentenced to Prison for Laundering Proceeds of Transnational Crime

component: Office of the Inspector General

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – Two Raleigh, North Carolina men, Joseph Kingsley Irona and Mamady Fadima Conde, were sentenced for conspiracy to commit money laundering. Both men previously pled guilty to the charge. Irona was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment and three years of supervised release. Conde was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment and five years of supervised release. The defendants were each ordered to pay restitution to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) in connection with the scheme. “These defendants took advantage of benefits that hard-working Americans pay for by fraudulently obtaining identities and funneling the funds through elaborate laundering channels to obscure their trail,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “This case highlights our relentless pursuit of those who exploit financial systems and harm the citizens of Eastern North Carolina.” “The misuse of SSA’s e-Services to defraud SSA and rightful beneficiaries and recipients will not be tolerated at any level. This sentence holds these defendants accountable for their malicious and egregious crimes,” said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for the Social Security Administration. “My office will continue to investigate those who abuse SSA programs and operations, including its e-Services, for their own selfish gain. I thank our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their diligence in investigating and prosecuting this complex case.” According to court documents and other information presented in court, Irona and Conde were involved in a highly complex network of bank accounts at multiple financial institutions. This network was used for laundering over $1 million criminal proceeds derived from various fraud schemes, particularly identity theft. One particularly intricate scheme involved the misuse of stolen victim identifiers to submit online applications for Social Security retirement benefits in victims’ names. After the applications were approved, the resulting payments were unlawfully deposited into accounts within the money laundering network, including accounts held by Irona and Conde. After receiving criminal proceeds, Irona and Conde took elaborate steps to dissipate the funds and obscure their source and destination. In addition to his money laundering activity, Irona was also responsible for managing multiple co-conspirators in the United States and the flow of criminal funds through their accounts in furtherance of the larger money laundering operation, including facilitating money transfers to co-conspirators in Nigeria. A third defendant in the case, Chinedu Frances Okwuosha, was previously sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment and three of supervised release on February 22, 2024. Michael Easley, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Adam F. Hulbig prosecuted the case for the government. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-CR-348-D. ###


title: Justice Department, Federal Trade Commission, and Department of Health and Human Services Extend Comment Period on Public Inquiry into Impact of Corporate Ownership Trend in Health Care

component: Antitrust Division

body_text: The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Health and Human Services are extending the comment period for the Request for Information on Consolidation in Health Care Markets (RFI) by 30 days. The new deadline is June 5. In March, the agencies issued the RFI to understand how health care mergers, acquisitions and other transactions may decrease the number of firms competing to provide health care products or services. Increased firm consolidation may threaten patients’ health, workers’ safety, quality of care and affordability. The RFI requests public comment on transactions by health systems, private payers, private equity funds and other alternative asset managers. The agencies want to know more about these types of transactions in the health care industry, which involve direct or indirect providers, services or products. The RFI also seeks information about health care transactions with dollar amounts that are not large enough to require submission to the Justice Department or FTC for review. The public can submit comments at Regulations.gov . Once submitted, comments will be posted to Regulations.gov. The comment period was originally set to end on May 6.


title: Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Conspiracy After Officers Seize $1 Million Worth of Cocaine in I-70 Traffic Stop

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, man has pleaded guilty to his role in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine after law enforcement officers seized more than $1 million worth of cocaine from a rental truck that was stopped on Interstate 70 in Lafayette County, Mo. Luis Gerardo Nieto-Acosta, 37, a citizen of Mexico, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough on Monday, April 29, to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, one count of possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute, and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Nieto-Acosta, the fourth and final defendant to plead guilty in this case, entered his plea on the day his trial was scheduled to begin. Co-defendants Wilmer Antony Mendoza-Perez, 25, a citizen of Honduras, and Miguel Angel Anguiano-Viera, 27, both of Oklahoma City, and Jose Eduardo Acosta-Bermejo, 29, a citizen of Mexico, of Bethany, Okla., also have pleaded guilty to their roles in the drug-trafficking conspiracy. An officer with the Missouri State Highway Patrol stopped Mendoza-Perez on Jan. 24, 2023, as he was driving a Penske rental truck eastbound on Interstate 70 in Lafayette County. A Toyota Highlander, later determined to be occupied by Nieto-Acosta and Acosta-Bermejo, attempted to prevent the officer from getting behind the Penske truck to initiate a stop. When the Penske truck pulled over, the Toyota Highlander continued traveling eastbound on Interstate 70. According to the rental agreement for the Penske truck, it was rented in Oklahoma City on Jan. 20, 2023, by a woman who was not present in the truck, and scheduled to be returned to Fullerton, California, on Jan. 26, 2023. Mendoza-Perez could not explain why he was driving the truck in Missouri. The officer searched the rear cargo area of the truck and found two boxes that contained a total of 34 kilograms of cocaine. The average street price in the Kansas City metropolitan area for a kilogram of cocaine was approximately $30,000 at that time, which would make 34 kilograms of cocaine worth approximately $1,020,000. Mendoza-Perez was arrested. The Toyota Highlander was found abandoned at the Pilot truck stop a few miles away. Investigators later searched the Highlander and found two Taurus 9mm semi-automatic handguns, with four magazines and 9mm ammunition. Investigators reviewed surveillance video at the truck stop, which showed a third vehicle, a Honda Pilot occupied by Anguiano-Viera and a juvenile female, arrived at the truck stop and picked up Nieto-Acosta and Acosta-Bermejo. A short time later, this vehicle was located, and the occupants arrested when they stopped at a convenience store in Odessa, Mo. Under federal statutes, Nieto-Acosta is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert M. Smith and John C. Constance. It was investigated by the Lafayette County, Mo., Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas City Airport Police, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.


title: Former Massachusetts State Police Trooper Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Conspiring to Steal Overtime Funds and Wire Fraud

body_text: BOSTON – A former Massachusetts State Police (MSP) Sergeant was sentenced yesterday in connection with an overtime scheme dating back to 2015. William W. Robertson, 62, of Westborough, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to three years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Robertson was also ordered to pay restitution of $142,774 and forfeit $32,180. In December 2023, Robertson was convicted of one count of conspiracy, one count of theft concerning a federal program and four counts of wire fraud. On April 26, 2024, co-conspirator former MSP Lieutenant Daniel Griffin was sentenced 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. 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. 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. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts; Christopher A. Scharf, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. 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’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dustin Chao, Chief of the Public Corruption Unit and Assistant United States Attorney Adam Deitch of the Public Corruption Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Maida Pharmacy, Inc. Agrees to Pay $25,000 to Resolve Allegations of Inadequate Recordkeeping

body_text: BOSTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office has reached a $25,000 settlement with the Arlington-based retail and compounding pharmacy Maida Pharmacy, Inc. (Maida) to resolve allegations that it failed to maintain adequate records of controlled substances and improperly disposed of controlled substances. The Controlled Substances Act (the Act) regulates the manufacturing, purchasing, distribution and maintenance of certain controlled substances. Pursuant to the Act, Maida was required to keep records and follow security protocols for its controlled substances. As part of the settlement, Maida admitted that during an inspection, the Drug Enforcement Administration found that Maida did not have in place proper security protocols or maintain appropriate records for controlled substances. Maida also admitted that it had not conducted its mandatory inventory accountability audit and failed to maintain an appropriate security system for its controlled substances. Additionally, Maida admitted that, on several occasions, its employees disposed of Ketamine by placing it in the curbside trash, rather than properly destroying it in a manner consistent with the Act. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julien M. Mundele of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit handled the case.


title: Orangeburg Man Sentenced to 40 Months in Federal Prison for Violent Assault on Postal Worker

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Gregory Ellison, 42, of Orangeburg, was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to assault on a federal employee. Evidence presented to the court showed that on March 20, 2023, a U.S. Postal Mail Carrier stopped to deliver mail at a daycare facility in Orangeburg. Ellison, who had a prior relationship with the carrier, arrived at the facility. When Ellison arrived, the carrier tried to escape into the daycare, but Ellison caught her and began assaulting her inside of the facility where children and workers were present. The carrier convinced Ellison to leave the premises and talk outside. Once outside, Ellison pinned her against the mail truck, ripped out her earing, and took her cell phone. The carrier managed to distract Ellison long enough to jump into her mail truck and drive away. However, Ellison caught up to the truck, punched the carrier in the head, and pulled her out of the moving vehicle by her hair causing her to land on dirt and concrete resulting in visible injuries. The truck continued to roll and crashed into a nearby ditch. Further investigation revealed that Ellison previously visited the carrier’s place of employment multiple times in the weeks leading up to the assault. Additionally, Ellison’s social media revealed he had sent multiple messages to the victim before and after the assault threatening to kill her with a firearm. Prior to the assault, he also sent messages to two other individuals asking for a firearm. Ellison has prior convictions for domestic violence 3 rd degree and harassment 2 nd degree. “Keeping our citizens, and federal workers, safe is a core to our mission,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “Such intentional violence against federal workers will be prosecuted.” “While this incident stemmed from domestic violence, this sentencing clearly illustrates that individuals who endanger the safety and wellbeing of USPS workers will be held accountable for their actions,” said Tommy D. Coke, Inspector-in-Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Ellison to 40 months' imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office, and the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar J. Fyall is prosecuting the case.


component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Gulfport, Miss. – A California man was sentenced yesterday for sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution. Michael Deon Fulcher, 54, of Gardena, was sentenced to life in prison and a lifetime of supervised release after a jury found Fulcher guilty in January. “This significant sentence imposed by the court reflects the severity of the defendant’s abuse and exploitation of the victim,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This defendant traumatized the victim, robbed her of her dignity and deprived her of the choice and control essential to her personal autonomy by forcing her to engage in prostitution for his own profit. The Justice Department will vigorously prosecute human trafficking crimes to hold offenders accountable and to seek justice for survivors of these heinous crimes.” “Human trafficking is not just a plot for Hollywood movies,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee for the Southern District of Mississippi. “It happens all over the country in a variety of ways, and even here in Mississippi as the tragic facts of this case show. The strength and resiliency of the victim in this case to escape the defendant and then report what happened will ensure that he never harms anyone else again. But this crime sadly still occurs all too often, and law enforcement needs your help to stop it. If you are a victim of human trafficking or believe that you may have witnessed it occurring, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.” “This investigation exemplifies how human trafficking is not just a physical crime but is also conducted through emotional and psychological abuse,” said Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Sex trafficking has devastating short term and long-term consequences, and the FBI will continue to investigate traffickers and pursue justice for the victims.” The evidence presented at trial demonstrated that Fulcher used sexual assault, threats of violence, isolation, control, psychological manipulation and emotional abuse to compel the victim to engage in commercial sex between April and June 2020. Fulcher lured the physically injured victim into his car in Las Vegas by making false promises to help her, but then brought her to his home where he sexually assaulted her. Shortly afterwards, Fulcher brought the victim to California, where he acted in concert with a co-defendant, Jonzie Hamilton, to compel the victim to engage in commercial sex acts over the course of several weeks. Fulcher required the victim to follow his strict rules, threatened the victim with physical harm, confiscated her money and Social Security debit card and even had an unlicensed dentist pull out her teeth. Fulcher also sent the victim and Hamilton across the country for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex, stopping in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana and eventually Mississippi where the victim ran away. While the victim was on the road, Fulcher required the victim to send him all of her earnings and continued his coercive scheme by threatening the victim with physical harm, controlling her access to her phone, isolating her from anyone she knew and refusing to allow her to receive much-needed medical treatment for an existing chronic illness. Hamilton was previously sentenced on April 9 to 29 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release after pleading guilty to interstate transportation for prostitution. The FBI Jackson Field Office, Gulfport Resident Agency investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Kate Alexander and Francisco Zornosa of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit prosecuted the case, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones for the Southern District of Mississippi. Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org . Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking .