title: Delaware Man Federally Indicted for Traveling  to Sexually Abuse An 11-Year-Old Victim

body_text: WILMINGTON, Del. – David C. Weiss, U.S. Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced today the unsealing of a December 14, 2023, Indictment returned by a federal grand jury charging a Bear, Delaware man with traveling from Delaware to New Jersey to sexually abuse an 11-year-old victim after meeting and enticing the victim over the internet. According to the indictment and publicly filed documents, on September 10, 2023, the Wayne Township New Jersey Police Department (“WTPD”) received a report of a missing 11-year-old victim. Through investigative measures, WTPD determined that Darius Matylewich, 27, of Bear, Delaware, took the 11-year-old victim from a New Jersey home to his home in Bear, Delaware. In assisting WTPD, the New Castle County Police Department safely recovered the 11-year-old victim and arrested Matylewich. Subsequent investigation revealed that Matylewich met the 11-year-old victim on the internet and communicated with the victim via the online video game Roblox and social media platforms Discord, TikTok, and Snapchat. A forensic analysis of Matylewich’s cellphone and social media uncovered message threads in which Matylewich coerced the 11-year-old victim to perform sexual acts, and, in turn, produce child pornography, for him. Investigators also recovered messages in which Matylewich described covertly watching and following the victim near a New Jersey home. Matylewich used an application on his iPhone to record conversations, videos, and images of the 11-year-old performing sexual acts that Matylewich solicited from the victim via Snapchat. Further, Matylewich stored hundreds of videos and images of the victim within the “hidden” folder of his Apple Photos application, which is only accessed via Apple’s facial recognition, FaceID. Matylewich is charged with Coercion and Enticement of a Minor and Production of Child Pornography. If convicted, he faces a minimum of 15 years’ incarceration up to a maximum period of life imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. In announcing the charges, U.S. Attorney Weiss and Acting Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office, commended the work of those who investigated the case, including the FBI’s Delaware Violent Crime and Safe Streets Taskforce, Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, Wayne Township New Jersey Police Department, New Castle County Police Department, and the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle Thurstlic-O’Neill and Kevin P. Pierce are assigned to prosecute the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-102. An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.


title: District Man Found Guilty of First-Degree Murder and Assault with Intent to Kill in  Shooting of Two at Northeast Labor Agency

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Matthew Walker, 25, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty of first-degree murder while armed and assault with intent to kill while armed, as well as several other related assault and gun possession charges, by Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo on January 8, 2024, following trial for a February 2019 shooting of two men, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department. According to the evidence presented at trial, on February 14, 2019, at approximately 5:45 am, a masked gunman walked into Trojan Labor, a temporary labor agency in Northeast Washington D.C. Once inside, the gunman ran directly to the agency’s dispatch office, where he repeatedly shot Mike Hardy, the manager of the agency, and David Remen, one of the agency’s workers. The gunman then ran out of the building. Remen died on scene. Hardy died in 2022. The government presented DNA, ballistic, video, and other evidence that linked the Defendant to the shooting. A sentencing is scheduled for April 5, 2024. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dan Seidel and Alec Levy.


title: Moreno Valley Man Pleads Guilty to Running Ponzi Scheme That Took in More Than $24 Million from Hundreds of Victim Investors

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: RIVERSIDE, California – A Riverside County man has pleaded guilty to a federal criminal charge for running a Ponzi scheme that lasted nearly 20 years and fraudulently obtained more than $24 million from at least 200 investors, the Justice Department announced today. Paul Horton Smith Sr., 59, of Moreno Valley, pleaded guilty late Monday afternoon to one count of wire fraud. According to his plea agreement, Smith operated Riverside-based companies named Northstar Communications LLC, Planning Services Inc., and eGate LLC. From July 2000 to May 2020, Smith obtained money from investors by soliciting individuals – who often were elderly or retired – to invest in something Smith called “Northstar.” Some of the investors previously were Planning Services clients. Smith communicated with the victim investors regarding Northstar in person, over the telephone, and via email and text messages. He falsely told investors that Northstar was an annuity or an investment like an annuity He falsely told other investors that Northstar invested in real estate or followed the stock market. He typically told the investors that their investment would generate a fixed rate of return and was a “safe investment.” While Smith led most Northstar investors to believe his company reinvested their initial investment, generating the percentage they were to earn, in fact, he never invested the money. Instead, Smith deposited all investor funds into a non-interest-bearing checking account. Smith used some money from later Northstar investors to pay earlier Northstar investors’ monthly interest payments and to repay earlier investors who wanted to withdraw their investment. For example, in April 2019, Smith caused one victim to invest with him $400,000 – life insurance proceeds after the victim’s spouse had died. The victim wrote a personal check for that amount and the check was deposited into a bank account in Riverside, which then was electronically transferred to the bank’s Alabama headquarters for processing. Smith promised the victim he would invest the $400,000 in a safe investment with a 5% rate of return. But Smith never invested the money. Instead, he transferred the funds to pay other victims of his Ponzi scheme. In an attempt to conceal his criminal activity, Smith made 11 payments to the victim that totaled $163,324. As a result of the scheme, Smith fraudulently obtained more than $24 million from at least 200 investors. Of these investors, 106 victims have not been fully repaid. The total loss for these victims is $13,331,505. United States District Judge Jesus G. Bernal scheduled an April 1 sentencing hearing, at which time Smith will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. The FBI investigated this matter. The United States Securities and Exchange Commission, which filed a complaint and obtained a judgment against Smith and Northstar Communications LLC in 2020, provided assistance. Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin J. Weir of the Riverside Branch Office is prosecuting this case.


title: North Branford Man Who Downloaded Child Sex Abuse Videos from Dark Web Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JOSEPH AMADEO, 39, of North Branford, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 84 months of imprisonment, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for downloading child sex abuse images and videos from the dark web. According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2020, HSI began investigating Amadeo for his involvement in an online community of individuals who sent and received child pornography images and videos on the dark web. Amadeo was a registered sex offender on the Connecticut Sex Offender Registry based on a 2013 state conviction involving child pornography. On March 24, 2021, investigators conducted a court-authorized search of Amadeo’s residence and seized Amadeo’s computer and other electronic devices. Analysis of the devices revealed thousands of images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children, many as young as infants. Amadeo was arrested on June 3, 2021. On April 19, 2023, he pleaded guilty to receipt of child pornography. Amadeo, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on February 2. This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda Oakes and Shan Patel. This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com .


title: Kansas City Men Accused of St. Louis County Carjacking

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – Two men from Kansas City, Missouri have been arrested after being indicted in connection with a 2022 St. Louis County carjacking. Ki’Juan Calhoun, 26, and Reginald Hudson, 27, both of Kansas City, Missouri, were each indicted December 6 on one count of carjacking and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Hudson was arrested December 20 in Texas and had his first appearance in St. Louis Monday. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. Calhoun was arrested December 19 and pleaded not guilty that same day. The indictment accuses both men of stealing a 2019 Ford Fusion on Jan. 12, 2022. A motion seeking to have them held in jail until trial says two armed men stole the victim’s purse, phone and car keys as she was walking into her apartment complex on Marbella Drive. One of the men was holding a handgun equipped with a drum magazine. The victim’s car was found the next day by the Kansas City Police Department. Officers then found the victim’s purse, and Hudson in a nearby home, the motion says. The carjacking charge is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or both. The brandishing a firearm charge is punishable by at least seven years in prison, consecutive to other charges. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. The St. Louis County Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Walker is prosecuting the case.


title: Justice Department Advances Proposed Rule to Improve Access to Medical Care for People with Disabilities

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department today sent to the Federal Register for publication a notice of proposed rulemaking under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that aims to improve access to medical diagnostic equipment (MDE) for people with disabilities. MDE includes equipment like medical examination tables, weight scales, dental chairs, x-ray machines and mammography equipment. Accessible MDE is essential for people with disabilities to have equal access to medical care. The rule proposes to adopt technical standards that clarify how public entities that use MDE, such as hospitals and health care clinics operated by state or local governments, can meet their existing obligations under the ADA. The department has received many complaints from individuals with disabilities that health care providers have not provided them with basic, vital health care — for example, not obtaining an accurate weight when administering anesthesia before surgery — because of the lack of accessible MDE. “Individuals with disabilities often experience great difficulty obtaining routine or preventative medical care because of inaccessible medical diagnostic equipment. From examination tables to weight scales to mammography equipment, accessible MDE is critical to ensuring equal access to medical care,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This groundbreaking rule marks a significant milestone in the Justice Department’s efforts to remove barriers that people with disabilities face when accessing medical care.” The department is eager to hear from the public and get input from stakeholders on our proposed rule. The proposed rule will soon be available for review on the Federal Register’s website at www.federalregister.gov . A fact sheet that provides information about the proposed rule will soon be available on www.ada.gov . The department invites the public to submit their comments on the proposed rule once it is published. The comment period will be open for 30 days from the date the proposed rule is published. Public comments can be submitted on www.regulations.gov . For more information on the Civil Rights Division, please visit the department’s website . For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TDD 833-610-1264) or visit the ADA website .


title: Canadian National Charged with Distribution and Importation of Fentanyl

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Canadian national was charged today with distribution and importation of fentanyl to the United States, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Michael C. Wozney, 38, of Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada is charged by a 14-count indictment with seven counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and seven counts of importation of a controlled substance into the United States. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From June 2019 through September 2020, Wozney was a vendor of fentanyl on the dark net – a part of the internet not accessible by most internet browsers and designed to allow users to conduct transactions anonymously. Wozney sold fentanyl on multiple dark net marketplaces, including Empire Market, where Wozney completed hundreds of transactions. Wozney shipped fentanyl to individuals in the United States, including individuals in New Jersey. Wozney advertised the sale of numerous fentanyl products, including substances that he described as “close to pure” and “DANGEROUS LEVEL.” Wozney shipped his customers’ fentanyl orders in a manner that was designed to evade detection and seizure by border officials and other law enforcement authorities. In instances where law enforcement officials seized shipments, Wozney reshipped those orders and alerted customers that he was modifying his mailing practices to evade detection. Each count of the indictment carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielson, Philadelphia Division, and FBI- Pittsburgh Division, under Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Shanahan for their assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vinay S. Limbachia of the U.S. Attorney’s Cybercrime Unit in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. wozney.indictment.pdf


title: North Fort Myers Felon Sentenced For Unlawfully Possessing A Firearm And Ammunition

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – U.S. District Judge Sherri Polster Chappell today sentenced Chester Lewis Risco, III (20, North Fort Myers) to 3 years and 10 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. The court also ordered Risco to forfeit the firearm and ammunition, which facilitated the offense. Risco had pleaded guilty on September 20, 2023. According to the plea agreement, on April 27, 2023, Risco fled from a deputy on his bicycle after committing several traffic violations. Risco had a loaded Taurus pistol in a holster in his waistband when he was apprehended by the deputy. At the time, Risco had previous felony convictions which prohibit him from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. Risco was also under court ordered supervision when he was found in possession of the loaded pistol. This case was investigated by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Three sentenced for domestic violence-related charges

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Three men were sentenced on federal charges related to domestic violence. Brian Michael Lewis, age 42, of Levels, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. According to court documents and statements made in court, Hampshire County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a domestic dispute at Lewis’s home. During a search of the home, officers found 8 firearms along with ammunition. Lewis cannot possess guns due to prior drug and larceny charges in Virginia. Derik Wayne Bowers, age 44, of Hagerstown, Maryland, was sentenced to 41 months for stalking. According to court documents, Bowers harassed and intimidated his ex-girlfriend in Berkeley County and used social media to attempt to undermine her online business. Despite being subject to a protective order, Bowers placed more than 800 phone calls to her during a 48-hour period and sent nearly 2,000 text messages in six months. Rodney Allen Mayhew, age 43, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was sentenced to 24 months for unlawful possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, while responding to a domestic violence call, officers recovered two pistols and a rifle in Mayhew’s bedroom. Mayhew is prohibited from possessing guns due to a prior conviction. The Lewis case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office. The FBI investigated the Bowers case. The Mayhew case was also investigated by the ATF, along with the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley Crockett prosecuted the Bowers case on behalf of the government. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Kane prosecuted the Mayhew and Lewis cases. U.S. District Court Judge Gina M. Groh presided.


title: U.S. Attorney Hurwit and Law Enforcement Partners Jointly Release Public Service Announcement in Recognition of  Law Enforcement Appreciation Day

component: U.S. Attorneys (USAO)

body_text: BOISE – Today, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit, along with the Idaho Sheriffs Association, the Idaho Chiefs of Police Association, the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Police, and the Idaho State Police, released a public service announcement, available here , in recognition of Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. The PSA highlights the wonderful collaboration that Idaho’s law enforcement community enjoys with each other and the impact that community support has on law enforcement as a whole. This PSA showcases Idaho’s natural beauty and the peace and prosperity of its communities. A short version of the PSA is available here . City Pocatello Police Chief Roger Schei (Past President of the Idaho Chiefs of Police Association President), Clearwater County Sheriff Chris Goetz (President of the Idaho Sheriffs Association), Coeur d’Alene Tribal Police Chief Sam Abrahamson, and Idaho State Police Director Colonel Kedrick Wills, and U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit participated in the filming of this PSA. Together, they highlight the strong law enforcement partnerships in Idaho and law enforcement’s commitment to keeping Idaho a safe and wonderful place to call home or visit. “Like our state, Idaho law enforcement is strong,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “But we all share in the responsibility of creating safe and supportive communities. So we invite you to be a part of our team by respecting and supporting our officers in uniform. Together we will ensure that Idaho continues to offer peace and tranquility for all.” "Law enforcement partnerships in Idaho are the bedrock of our commitment to ensuring that the Gem State remains safe for everyone,” said Colonel Kedrick Wills, Director of the Idaho State Police. “The collaboration between agencies reflects our collective dedication to upholding the values of safety, security, and community well-being." U.S. Attorney Hurwit expressed his gratitude to all the law enforcement agencies who partnered in sharing this message and to law enforcement throughout the entire state who are committed to safeguarding our comminutes and achieving justice through their hard work and professionalism. If you have a tip or information about crime in your community, please visit FBI.gov or contact local law enforcement in your community. ###


title: Kanawha County Woman Sentenced for COVID-19 Relief Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Imeesha Bradley, 28, of South Charleston, was sentenced today to five years of federal probation and ordered to pay $18,703 in restitution for receipt of stolen money. Bradley admitted to a scheme to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) of $18,703 in COVID-19 relief loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 21, 2021, Bradley applied for a PPP loan for her purported business, “Imeesha Bradley.” Bradley admitted that “Imeesha Bradley” was never engaged in legitimate business activity and was not a registered business entity at the time she applied for the loan. Bradley further admitted that she falsely represented that her fictitious business received $89,772 in gross income during 2020. The CARES Act, enacted in March 2020, offered emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This assistance included forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the Paycheck Protection Program. Businesses applying for PPP loans had to certify that the business was in operation on February 15, 2020, and were required to provide documentation showing their prior gross income from either 2019 or 2020. A California lender approved Bradley’s fraudulent PPP loan application for $18,703, and transferred the funds to Bradley’s personal bank account on May 10, 2021. Bradley admitted that she withdrew $5,000 of the stolen funds that day and an additional $7,000 on May 14, 2021, each time from a bank branch in Nitro, West Virginia. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the West Virginia State Police-Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI) and the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office (WVSAO) Public Integrity and Fraud Unit (PIFU). Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Francesca C. Rollo and Ryan Blackwell prosecuted the case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-112. ###


title: Citrus County Man Indicted For Forcibly Assaulting Federal Agents With Knives

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of a two-count superseding indictment charging Phil Henry Taylor (66, Homosassa) with forcibly assaulting a federal officer with a deadly weapon and receipt of stolen government property. If convicted, Taylor faces up to 20 years in federal prison on the assault charge and up to 10 years’ imprisonment on the fraud charge. On December 12, 2023, Taylor and his stepdaughter, Patricia Clinard, were each charged with one count of receipt of stolen government property. Today, the grand jury superseded that indictment to add one count of forcibly assaulting a federal officer by Taylor. According to court records, between February 26, 2016, and March 2, 2020, Taylor and Clinard fraudulently obtained Social Security benefits from Taylor’s late-wife’s account by forging her name on checks. After the return of the indictment for the receipt of stolen government property, federal warrants were issued for their arrests. On January 4, 2024, special agents with the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General attempted to arrest Taylor at his home. Taylor, however, refused to exit, telling the agents that he would stab them if they entered. After breaching the front door of the home, the agents immediately observed Taylor holding two large knives. Taylor eventually dropped the weapons and was taken into custody. An indictment is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a federal criminal offense. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case is being investigated by the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Files Lawsuit Against Franklin County Jail Alleging It Discriminated Against Officer With Lyme Disease

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that it filed a lawsuit charging Franklin County Jail (the Jail) with violating Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The lawsuit alleges that the Jail unlawfully terminated a correctional officer whose disability substantially limited her ability to walk, stand, concentrate, and sleep. The correctional officer sought, but was denied, a modification of the Jail’s policy that a probationary employee could only have two unscheduled absences during her probationary period. Although the Jail initially provided the employee an accommodation, it later relied on the absence policy to terminate her. “Employers must make reasonable accommodations so that employees with disabilities can earn a living,” said U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam. “Lyme Disease creates debilitating health issues for numerous Pennsylvanians yearly, and employers should find reasonable solutions to allow employees with any kind of disability to work and not terminate them because of that disability. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to enforce civil rights laws and ensure equal employment opportunities for all.” Title I of the ADA prohibits employers from discriminating against a qualified individual on the basis of disability in regard to the hiring, advancement, or discharge of employees; employee compensation; and other terms, conditions, or privileges of employment. An employer may not demote, terminate, or deny employment opportunities to an employee who is otherwise qualified if the demotion or termination is based on the need to make reasonable accommodations for the employee. The U.S. Employment Opportunity Commission, Philadelphia District Office, found that the Jail violated the ADA and referred the matter to the Department of Justice. The United States is represented by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Butler, Civil Rights Coordinator, and Attorney Kimberly Scheckner of the Civil Rights Division’s Disability Rights Section. For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TDD 800-514-0383) or visit www.ada.gov . Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at civilrights.justice.gov/report/. Anyone in the Middle District of Pennsylvania may also report civil rights violations to the Civil Rights Coordinator of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania by calling 717-614-4911 or emailing usapam.civil.rights@usdoj.gov. The complaint alleges unlawful conduct, but the United States must still prove that allegation in federal court.


title: Virginia Animal Breeders Surrender Approximately 200 Dogs and Cats

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: Two North Chesterfield, Virginia, animal breeders, Elena Mikirticheva and Andrey Mikirtichev, recently surrendered approximately 200 dogs and cats following court-ordered injunctive relief secured by the Justice Department, on behalf of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), for alleged, pervasive mistreatment of the animals in their possession. U.S. District Judge David J. Novak for the Eastern District of Virginia ordered the relief to replace a temporary restraining order after considering a joint agreement by the United States and the defendants. Following entry of the court order, around 45 dogs and cats were surrendered to USDA, which placed the animals in Virginia shelters and rescue organizations for adoption. The agencies then worked with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, which seized the remaining animals, more than 150, and placed them with the Humane Society of the United States. Subsequently, the Justice Department filed a consent decree in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia to permanently ban Mikirticheva and Mikirtichev from Animal Welfare Act (AWA) licensure or registration. The USDA filed a corresponding consent decision and order in its administrative enforcement proceeding that includes more than $300,000 in civil penalties and permanent AWA license revocation. Both filings were approved. In August, the Justice Department filed a complaint and motion for temporary restraining order alleging that Mikirticheva and Mikirtichev, licensed under the AWA, had received over 50 AWA citations for failing to provide adequate shelter, medical and other care, and access to USDA APHIS inspectors, thereby placing the health of their animals in serious danger. The filings alleged that, over the course of two years, APHIS inspectors repeatedly found animals in need of veterinary care. The defendants would delay seeking veterinary care, and, even when animals were seen by a veterinarian, the defendants would fail to follow the veterinarian’s advice. The filings further alleged that APHIS inspectors found animals in cages smaller than AWA requirements and others that were seemingly dehydrated or malnourished due to dominant or aggressive behavior displayed by animals with whom they should not have been housed. APHIS inspectors also allegedly observed junk, waste and/or hazardous materials in areas accessible to the animals. Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division and Deputy Administrator Dr. Roxanne Mullaney of the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Animal Care Program made today’s announcement. USDA APHIS investigated and referred the case as well as removed and secured placement for animals surrendered to it from the facility. The Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Wildlife & Marine Resources Section filed the complaint, preliminary injunction motion, and consent decree in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. The federal case is United States v. Elena Mikirticheva and Andrey Mikirtichev , No. 3:23-cv-552.


title: Washington County man pleads guilty to exploiting minors locally & internationally

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Lower Salem, Ohio, man pleaded guilty in federal court here today to crimes related to exploiting minor victims in Ohio and in the Philippines. James A. Sabolick, 58, admitted to bringing a minor from West Virginia to his hunting cabin in Washington County to engage in illicit sex acts. Sabolick also admitted to sending money to Filipino women for their basic living expenses in exchange for child sexual abuse material. Sabolick pleaded guilty to two counts of sexually exploiting a minor and one count of possessing child pornography. As part of his plea, the parties involved in his case have recommended a sentence of 25 years in prison. “This case shows that we are dedicated to working across all levels of law enforcement to hold people accountable for their crimes, no matter where they exploit their victims,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “Our priority is putting perpetrators like Sabolick behind bars for significant periods of time so that they can no longer prey on the vulnerable.” “Our law enforcement priority will always be to protect the most vulnerable, especially children in our communities,” said HSI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Angie M. Salazar. “Our laws also protect children in other countries from Americans looking to sexually exploit them. HSI special agents will continue to leverage our international footprint to hold those violators accountable.” “This predator fed his sick desires at the expense of vulnerable children,” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said. “Excellent work by our human trafficking task forces and federal partners to end his evil exploitation.” According to court documents, on July 24, 2021, Marietta police officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle that Sabolick was driving. Sabolick told officers he was alone while attempting to conceal a minor female, who officers discovered in the back seat. Further investigation conducted by the Southeastern Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office revealed that Sabolick had driven the minor from West Virginia to a cabin near his residence in Washington County to engage in various sex acts with the minor. Some of the sex acts involved abuse such as needle pokes, lighter burns, restraints, strangulation and urination. Items recovered from Sabolick’s hunting cabin and vehicle included panty hose, lubricant and a box of t-pins. Sabolick photographed the minor victim during the sexual abuse. Court documents detail that Sabolick had met the minor victim when she was approximately 13 or 14 years old. Sabolick possessed several communications and nude images of the minor victim on his phone. Additional forensic review of Sabolick’s electronics and social media accounts revealed he had communicated with Filipino women he knew through prior trips to the Philippines in 2013 and 2014. In recovered Facebook chats, the women requested money from Sabolick for basic living expenses like food, utility bills, tuition, etc. In exchange, Sabolick requested sexually explicit images of their minor children and offered to send them money for the child sexual abuse material. For example, in December 2020, Sabolick sent money to a Filipino woman for images of her daughter’s genitalia. Financial records from Paypal, Western Union, Xoom and Moneygram all revealed numerous transactions to the Philippines totaling more than $1,000, including to the Filipino women identified in the investigation on the same days that Sabolick was requesting child pornography from them. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Angie Salazar, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Washington County Sheriff Larry R. Mincks and Marietta Police Chief Katherine Warden announced the guilty plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Czerniejewski and S. Courter Shimeall are representing the United States in this case. The case was investigated by both the Southeastern Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force and the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, which are operated under Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission. # # #


title: Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Firearm Offense  After Elizabeth City Burglary Spree

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: NEW BERN, N.C. – Jonathan Jermaine Peek, of Elizabeth City, was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a felon. Peek, 33, pled guilty to the charge on May 2, 2023. According to court documents and other information presented in court, the Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) responded to multiple breaking and entering calls at residences in Elizabeth City between August and October of 2019. Checks from a stolen check book from the first burglary totaling more than $1,000 had been written to Peek’s girlfriend at the time. Following the second burglary, witnesses told PCSO that they observed a man, meeting the description of Peek near the home along with a dark SUV parked in front of the house at the time of the burglary. In the second burglary, six firearms, including at least three revolvers, and five brown holsters were taken from an unlocked gun safe in the home. The third burglary was interrupted when the home’s resident returned home to find an unfamiliar dark Honda CRV parked in the yard, and called his son, who arrived with two coworkers, to investigate. The son entered the home and saw a burglar, later identified as Peek, in the home. Following a scuffle, Peek fled in the Honda CRV. Peek was followed by the son and his two coworkers until members of PCSO intercepted and took over pursuit. Peek did not stop for law enforcement and continued to flee through Elizabeth City at speeds exceeding 85 miles per hour. He eventually lost control and crashed through a brick wall at the edge of Elizabeth City State University campus, where he was taken into custody. A search of Peek recovered cash that was identified as the same amount missing from the third burglary. Investigators also determined that the Honda CRV, driven by Peek, was registered to his girlfriend at the time. On October 15, 2019, investigators interviewed Peek’s girlfriend regarding charges relating to the robberies. She stated that Peek had brought her a checkbook and had taken the money from checks that she had cashed. She also indicated that Peek had shown up at her house with revolvers on the date of the second burglary. He handed her a case to take inside, and she saw four or five revolvers when she looked inside. She had also seen him put brown holsters into the garbage. Peek’s federal conviction follows six prior felony convictions in state court. Notably, Peek committed the above offense while still on post-release supervision after having served a multi-year sentence for felony first degree burglary and robbery with a dangerous weapon. His earlier felonies include drug offenses, possession of a stolen firearm, and common law robbery. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake D. Pugh prosecuted. 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. 2:21-cr-0001-FL.


title: Fridley Felon Charged in Federal Court After Shooting 11-Year-Old on New Year’s Day

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – A Fridley man has been charged federally with possession of ammunition as a felon after firing multiple shots from an AR-style rifle, one of which struck an 11-year-old girl in the face, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, just after midnight on January 1, 2024, officers of the Minneapolis Police Department received a report of a shooting at a residence in north Minneapolis. When officers arrived at the scene a woman told them that shots had been fired outside the residence and a round had struck the woman’s 11-year-old daughter in the face. The victim said she was sitting in her second-story bedroom when she heard gunshots outside the residence at approximately midnight. She went to her window to observe when a round came through the window and hit her in the face. According to court documents, officers obtained a Snapchat video of James William Turner, 44, that was filmed just prior to the shooting. The two-minute video showed Turner outside, near the victim’s residence, arguing with an unknown individual before the camera turned to show an AR-style rifle lying across the driver’s seat of a vehicle. A neighbor provided officers with a doorbell surveillance video that showed Turner fire multiple rounds in the direction of the victim’s bedroom window. Officers found eight live cartridges and 24 discharged cartridge casings throughout the boulevard, sidewalk, and yard. Because Turner has prior felony convictions, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time. The complaint charges Turner with one count of possession of ammunition as a felon. Turner made his initial appearance today in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Dulce J. Foster. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Minneapolis Police Department, with assistance from the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristian C.S. Weir is prosecuting the case. A complaint is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Former Social Media Influencer Sentenced to Three Years in Federal Prison for Scheming to Obtain More Than $1.2 Million in COVID-19 CARES Act Loans

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Greenbelt , Maryland – U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman sentenced Denish Sahadevan, a/k/a “Danny Devan,” age 32, of Potomac, Maryland, today to three years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and money laundering, relating to his scheme to defraud lenders and the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) of more than $1.2 million in Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDL”). Judge Boardman also ordered that Sahadevan will forfeit the cash and Bitcoin seized during a search of his residence on February 24, 2023 and will be required to pay restitution and a forfeiture money judgement of at least $429,906. Sahadevan provided a $100,000 check to the Court today as part of his restitution. The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and John T. Perez, Special Agent in Charge, Headquarters Operations, Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act was a federal law enacted in March 2020 to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering from the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Financial assistance offered through the CARES Act included forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses, through the PPP, as well as EIDLs to help small businesses meet their financial obligations, both administered through the SBA. According to his plea agreement, beginning in about March 2020, Sahadevan submitted EIDL and PPP application on behalf of four Maryland entities that he controlled, often creating fraudulent and fabricated documents, such as tax forms and bank statements, to be used in the applications. In addition, Sahadevan used the identifying information belonging to a tax preparer that he knew, without that person’s knowledge or agreement, to legitimize the fabricated tax forms he created and submitted. Specifically, Sahadevan admitted that he used his home in Rockville, Maryland to create the fabricated documents and electronically apply for EIDL and PPP loans. Sahadevan applied for approximately 71 PPP loans totaling approximately $941,794.75, and successfully obtained approximately $146,000 in PPP benefits. Sahadevan applied for and received eight EIDLs totaling $283,900. On the EIDL loans, Sahadevan induced his father into becoming a co-signer for the loan, then forged his father’s signature on the loan application. Sahadevan’s father would not have agreed to sponsor the loan had he known of its fraudulent nature and contents. As detailed in the plea agreement, Sahadevan caused the fraud proceeds to be deposited into bank accounts he opened specifically for that purpose, then laundered the funds by engaging in several monetary transactions, including purchasing and trading securities and cryptocurrency, settling personal debts and making payments to his girlfriend. In addition, between December 16, 2021 and January 10, 2022, Sahadevan applied to a financial institution for a $1,336,000 loan to purchase a property in Potomac, Maryland. In the loan application, Sahadevan failed to disclose the $283,900 he owed to the United States for the EIDL benefits he fraudulently received. Relying on Sahedevan’s representations, the financial institution approved the loan, which was used to purchase the Potomac property. On February 24, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Sahadevan’s Potomac residence and recovered multiple electronic devices, a can containing approximate 18 driver’s licenses belonging to other individuals, what appeared to be a gold physical Bitcoin in a black case, and approximately $17,043 in cash found in a suitcase in a bedroom closet. The cash and Bitcoin constitute proceeds of the fraud scheme. The District of Maryland Strike Force is one of five strike forces established throughout the United States by the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute COVID-19 fraud, including fraud relating to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act. The CARES Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The strike forces focus on large-scale, multi-state pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors. The strike forces are interagency law enforcement efforts, using prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams designed to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI and the Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Bijon A. Mostoufi, who prosecuted the case. He also recognized the assistance of the Maryland COVID-19 Strike Force Paralegal Specialist Joanna B.N. Huber. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao/md . # # #


title: Leader Of San Francisco MS-13 Clique Sentenced To Life In Prison Following Convictions For Murder And Attempted Murder In Aid Of Racketeering And Racketeering Conspiracy

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO -- The leader of the San Francisco 20th Street clique of the MS-13 street gang was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of murder in aid of racketeering, one count of attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, announced First Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Robbins and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Tatum King. There is no parole in the federal system. Elmer Rodriguez, a/k/a “Gordo,” of San Francisco, California, was convicted on June 1, 2023, following a three-week jury trial. The Honorable Richard Seeborg, Chief U.S. District Judge, handed down today’s sentence. “For years, the defendant led a violent street gang that committed several murders and attempted murders in the Bay Area, particularly in the Mission District of San Francisco,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Robbins. “San Francisco residents deserve to feel safe in their own communities. Today’s sentence sends a clear message that anyone who commits acts of violence and endangers public safety in the Northern District of California will face federal prosecution and a severe federal prison sentence as a consequence of their conduct.” “This sentence today sends a loud and clear message that HSI, with law enforcement agencies in the region, will continue to work around the clock, always prioritizing the safety of our communities. It represents another important stride in our ongoing effort to combat crime in the Bay Area,” said San Francisco HSI Special Agent in Charge Tatum King. “Working with the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California, we’ve successfully brought to justice this dangerous gang leader who played a key role in ruthlessly murdering multiple victims. Of note, collective efforts in this overarching case began in July 2017, which underlies the complexities of investigations into transnational criminal organizations like MS-13, as well as the commitment of the agencies involved. HSI is deeply appreciative of the work of its agents and analysts, as well as SFPD and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.” At trial, the government presented evidence that Rodriguez ordered the murder of Jorge Martinez near 19th and Mission Streets on March 17, 2017. Martinez had been celebrating his birthday after attending a Golden State Warriors game with his son. After the game, they went to a bar in the Mission District. Rodriguez and other MS-13 clique members were also present at the bar that night and identified Martinez as a possible rival Norteño gang member. Rodriguez ordered another clique associate to murder Martinez. The associate followed Martinez out of the bar and shot him to death. Evidence at trial also showed that Rodriguez ordered the murder of Giovanni Alvarez, a/k/a “P Wee,” on May 25, 2017. Alvarez was a 20th Street clique member whom Rodriguez and others in the clique believed to be cooperating with law enforcement. Rodriguez sanctioned Alvarez’s murder because of these suspicions. Rodriguez and his associates, including Edwin Alvarado Amaya, a/k/a “Muerte,” and Kenneth Campos, a/k/a “Nesio,” lured Alvarez into a car. Campos drove the group to Bernal Heights Park. At the park, Rodriguez gave a signal to Alvarado Amaya, who then hacked Alvarez to death by inflicting dozens of deep wounds to his face and torso with a machete. Alvarado Amaya and Campos have pled guilty and been sentenced for their roles in this murder. Rodriguez was also sentenced for his role in an attempted murder and use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence stemming from a shotgun shooting that followed an extortion attempt by Rodriguez and other MS-13 associates on Eddy Street in the Tenderloin District on November 26, 2017. Rodriguez’s trial also featured evidence of Rodriguez’s involvement in additional acts of violence including: • Ordering that other members of the clique go on a “hunt” to shoot suspected Norteños, which culminated with the September 16, 2016 shooting of a suspected Norteño at 21st Street and Hampshire Street; • Attending an October 27, 2016 gang assault in the Mission District; • Instigating a May 17, 2017 gang assault outside of a taqueria in the Mission District; • Serving as the driver in a November 30, 2017 attempted murder at 24th Street and Potrero Avenue in the Mission District during which members of the 20th Street clique repeatedly stabbed a victim whom they incorrectly identified as a Norteño. In total, 17 defendants have been convicted as a part of this investigation, which has resulted in convictions relating to four murders, four attempted murders, and multiple assaults with dangerous weapons. This case is being prosecuted by the Organized Crime Strike Force of the Office of the United States Attorney. The prosecution is the result of investigations by HSI, SFPD Homicide Unit and Community Violence Reduction Team, San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Gang Intelligence Unit and Investigations Bureau, Daly City Police Department, Pinole Police Department, Redwood City Police Department Street Crimes Reduction Team, and San Pablo Police Department.


title: 2 Cincinnati men plead guilty to illegally possessing machinegun conversion devices

body_text: CINCINNATI – Two Cincinnati men pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in separate cases to possessing Glock switches. Glock switches are devices that convert firearms to machineguns: fully automatic weapons that fire more than one shot without reloading the trigger. Ronnell Aaron Clay, 21, pleaded guilty in federal court today to illegally possessing a machinegun. Taviyon Broussard, 20, pleaded guilty on Jan. 5 to the same crime. According to court documents, on Aug. 22, 2023, Clay drove over double yellow lines and was stopped by Cincinnati police officers. Officers located a Glock pistol with a missing backplate and crack cocaine in the vehicle. In a subsequent search of the vehicle, another officer located a gold Glock switch. Clay had been using his Instagram account to advertise Glock switches for sale in the Cincinnati area. Broussard’s court documents detail that he illegally possessed a modified firearm on Nov. 8, 2022. Broussard was using a 3D-printed Glock conversion device. Illegally possessing a fully automatic weapon is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Congress sets maximum statutory sentences and sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors at a later hearing. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Angie Salazar, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa A. Theetge announced the guilty pleas. Assistant United States Attorney Ryan A. Keefe is representing the United States in these cases, and Assistant United States Attorney Ashley N. Brucato represented the United States in the case against Broussard. # # #


title: Former Oregon State Employee Pleads Guilty to Federal Civil Rights Charges After Violating Civil Rights of a Woman with Disabilities

body_text: A former Oregon Department of Human Services employee, Zakary Glover, 30, pleaded guilty today to violating the civil rights of a woman with developmental disabilities who was in his care by engaging in sexual misconduct with her. “This defendant engaged in sexual misconduct with a woman entrusted to his care who was suffering from significant cognitive impairments,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will pursue and prosecute government officials who abuse their power by sexually exploiting people under their care and custody, and we will do our utmost to vindicate the rights of survivors of sexual violence.” “Using a position of trust and authority to violate the civil rights of another person is a serious federal crime and will never be tolerated by the Justice Department,” said U.S Attorney Natalie Wight for the District of Oregon. “We thank our partners at the FBI, Oregon State Police and Civil Rights Division for their commitment to seeking justice in this case.” “There is an expectation that public servants will act with care, compassion and respect, especially when responsible for some of our most vulnerable community members,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Schlegel of the FBI Portland Field Office. “The FBI, its law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to vigorously pursue any individual who violates that trust and hold them accountable for their heinous actions.” According to the plea agreement, at the time of the offense, Glover worked as a direct support crisis specialist for the Office of Developmental Disabilities Stabilization and Crisis Unit. On Nov. 2, 2021, Glover transported an adult woman in his care to an outing in Salem, Oregon. The victim suffers from severe autism and epilepsy, cognitive delays and very limited verbal ability. Staff members responsible for her care communicate by showing her picture books, displaying YouTube videos or drawing pictures. During the outing, Glover detoured down a dead-end road in Aumsville, Oregon. Glover parked the van and then, using force, attempted to and did cause the victim to engage in a sexual act without her consent. After doing so, Glover forcefully grabbed her and then positioned his body in a way that allowed him to attempt to force her into another non-consensual sexual act. Glover admitted that the victim did not consent to any of the sexual activity. Among other offenses, his conduct constituted attempted aggravated sexual abuse. A sentencing hearing is set for April 30. Glover faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI Portland Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gavin Bruce for the District of Oregon and Trial Attorney Daniel Grunert of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.


title: Man admits making threat to blow up Dodson school

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A man accused of making threats to blow up the Dodson school admitted to a hoax crime on Jan. 8, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today. Jacob Edwin Wilson, a transient, pleaded guilty to false information and hoaxes as charged in an indictment. Wilson faces a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The court set sentencing for May 9. Wilson was detained pending further proceedings. In court documents, the government alleged that on Aug. 29, 2023, Wilson called both the 911 emergency number in Blaine County and the Dodson school, located near the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, and said he was “about to blow Dodson school up.” Law enforcement responded, and because school was in session that day, the superintendent and principle evacuated students and staff from the school on buses to a nearby church parking lot. First responders from the Phillips County Sheriff’s Office, Malta Fire Department and U.S. Border Patrol responded, set up security around the school and searched the school for an explosive device. No explosive device was found in the school. In the meantime, Wilson called 911 again and asked for someone to give him a ride off the reservation, said he was at an individual’s house and that he needed a ride from anyone except the Fort Belknap police. The 911 operators traced the call to the individual’s residence, which was located on the Fort Belknap Reservation. Officers located Wilson and arrested him. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey K. Starnes is prosecuting the case. The FBI, Fort Belknap Tribal Police, Phillips County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Border Patrol and Malta Fire Department conducted the investigation. XXX


title: New Orleans Man Sentenced  to 300 Months for Hobbs Act  Robberies and Weapons Violations

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that MARVIN LEGENDRE , age 40, of New Orleans, was sentenced on January 4, 2024 by U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier to 300 months imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and a $500 mandatory special assessment fee after previously pleading guilty to a five-count indictment. The indictment charged LEGENDRE, in Counts 1 and 3, with Hobbs Acts Robberies, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(a). Counts 2 and 4 charged LEGENDRE with using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1). Count 5 charged LEGENDRE with being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New Orleans Violent Crime Task Force, in conjunction with New Orleans Police Department and the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, investigated several Hobbs Act Robberies linked to LEGENDRE . On March 7, 2021, LEGENDRE committed an armed robbery at a Cricket Wireless store in Chalmette, LA and on March 10, 2021, LEGENDRE committed an armed robbery at a Boost Mobile store in New Orleans. Using both physical and video surveillance to track a vehicle that LEGENDRE , used for the robberies, agents located LEGENDRE ’s residence. After executing a search warrant for the residence, LEGENDRE was arrested. The search of the apartment yielded the clothes he wore during the robberies and other evidence, including firearms. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Orleans Police Department, and the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Inga Petrovich and Mike Trummel of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Justice Department Secures Agreement with Florida Housing Complexes for Discrimination Against Families with Children

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – The Justice Department announced today a settlement with three cooperative housing corporations in Hallandale Beach, Florida, to resolve allegations that they violated the Fair Housing Act (FHA) by discriminating against families with children. The department’s lawsuit alleged that Isle of Paradise “B” Inc., Isle of Paradise “C” Inc. and Isle of Paradise “E” Inc. maintained and/or enforced policies prohibiting children under age 12 at their respective properties on an island known as the Isle of Paradise during certain times since 2015. The properties are 30-unit multifamily buildings known as the Monticello, at 450 Paradise Isle Blvd. (owned by Isle of Paradise “B” Inc.), the Georgetown, at 460 Paradise Isle Blvd. (owned by Isle of Paradise “C” Inc.) and the Williamsburg, at 465 Paradise Isle Blvd. (owned by Isle of Paradise “E” Inc.) “These settlements represent the tireless efforts of attorneys with the Justice Department’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section and the Civil Rights Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, who endeavor to fulfill the promise of fair housing for all, as envisioned by Congress in its enactment of the Fair Housing Act,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “One settlement provides compensation to a realtor, and her clients, a prospective renter with a young child, who the complaint alleges were denied an opportunity to lease a unit due to unlawful policies and practices of Isle of Paradise “B” Inc., which prohibited families with children under age 12.” “The Fair Housing Act outlaws familial status discrimination, including discrimination against families with children,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to enforcing the Fair Housing Act and seeking relief for families harmed by unlawful policies and practices that unfairly exclude them.” Under the agreements, in the form of three separate consent decrees that were approved by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, the defendants will pay a total of $52,000, including $39,000 to individuals who are alleged to have been harmed by the defendants’ practices and civil penalties to the government to vindicate the public interest. The defendants also agreed to undergo fair housing training and to submit periodic reports to the department. The department conducted an investigation and filed this lawsuit after a woman and her real estate agent informed the department that she was turned away from renting a unit at the Monticello building because she had a son under age 12. The department’s allegations were based, in part, on evidence generated by the department’s Fair Housing Testing Unit, in which individuals pose as prospective renters to gather information about possible discriminatory practices. Individuals who believe they or someone they know may have been discriminated against at these properties because they have children should send an e-mail to the Justice Department at IsleofParadise@usdoj.gov or fairhousing@usdoj.gov ; or leave a message at 1-833-591-0291, selecting option 1 for English or 2 for Spanish, then option 1 for housing discrimination, and then option 7 for Isle of Paradise. The FHA prohibits discrimination in housing based on familial status, race, color, national origin, religion, sex and disability. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt . Individuals may report housing discrimination by calling the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination tip line at 1-833-591-0291, emailing the Justice Department at fairhousing@usdoj.gov or submitting a report online . Individuals may also report such discrimination by contacting HUD at 1-800-669-9777, or by filing a complaint with HUD online . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 23-cv-62277. View the complaint. View the Isle of Paradise B consent decree. View the Isle of Paradise C consent decree. View the Isle of Paradise E consent decree. ###


title: Former Oregon Department of Human Services Employee Pleads Guilty to Violating Civil Rights of a Developmentally Disabled Woman in His Care

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—A former Oregon Department of Human Services employee pleaded guilty today in federal court to violating the civil rights of a woman with developmental disabilities in his care by engaging in sexual misconduct with her. Zakary Glover, 30, of Lebanon, Oregon, pleaded guilty to one count of depriving the victim of her constitutional right to bodily integrity under color of law involving attempted aggravated sexual abuse. “Using a position of trust and authority to violate the civil rights of another person is a serious federal crime and will never be tolerated by the Department of Justice. We thank our partners at the FBI, Oregon State Police, and Civil Rights Division for their commitment to seeking justice in this case,” said Natalie Wight, U.S Attorney for the District of Oregon. “This defendant engaged in sexual misconduct with a woman entrusted to his care who was suffering from significant cognitive impairments,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will pursue and prosecute government officials who abuse their power by sexually exploiting people under their care and custody, and we will do our utmost to vindicate the rights of survivors of sexual violence.” “There is an expectation that public servants will act with care, compassion, and respect, especially when responsible for some of our most vulnerable community members,” said Matt Schlegel, Acting Special Agent in Charge, of the FBI Portland Field Office. “The FBI, its Law Enforcement Partners, and the United States Attorney’s Office will continue to vigorously pursue any individual who violates that trust and hold them accountable for their heinous actions.” According to the court documents, Glover served as a Direct Support Crisis Specialist for the Oregon Department of Human Services, Office of Developmental Disabilities Stabilization and Crisis Unit (SACU). SACU operates several 24-hour crisis residential programs in Oregon that serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As a SACU employee, Glover was tasked with ensuring the health, safety and security of the individuals who lived at the residential facility where he worked. The victim, who has severe autism and cognitive deficits, was one of the individuals under Glover’s care. As part of his duties, Glover took the victim on outings in a state-owned van. The van used for such outings was purposely secured with child locks and a heavy plastic partition between the front and rear seats so that individuals like Glover’s victim cannot get out. On November 2, 2021, while on an outing with the victim, Glover drove down a dead-end road near a cemetery in Aumsville, Oregon. Upon reaching the dead-end, he parked the van near the cemetery’s gate and proceeded to engage in sexual acts with the victim without her consent. On February 18, 2022, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging Glover with depriving the victim of her constitutional right to bodily integrity under color of law involving attempted aggravated sexual abuse and kidnapping. Glover will be sentenced on April 30, 2024, by U.S. District Court Judge Marco A. Hernández. He faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. This case was investigated by the FBI Portland Field Office with assistance from Oregon State Police. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gavin Bruce of the District of Oregon and Trial Attorney Daniel Grunert of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.


title: New Orleans Man Sentenced for Firearm Offense

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

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – TERRANCE RICHARDS , age 38, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on January 4, 2024 by U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier to 100 months incarceration after previously pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). Judge Barbier also ordered that RICHARDS be placed on supervised release for three (3) years following release from imprisonment and pay a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. According to court documents, on August 22, 2020, New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) officers responded to a report of shots fired in a New Orleans neighborhood. NOPD, in partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, determined through investigation that RICHARDS was one of the shooters. RICHARDS ’s prior felony convictions for attempted distribution of cocaine (2010), possession of cocaine (2010), felon in possession of a firearm (2011) and distribution of cocaine (2012), prohibited his possession of a firearm. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Trummel of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Leader of Portland Area Drug Distribution Organization Sentenced to More Than 8 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—The leader of a drug distribution organization responsible for trafficking large quantities of illegal drugs into the Portland Metropolitan Area for redistribution and sale was sentenced to federal prison today. Luis Angel Rivera-Huezo, 31, of Hillsboro, Oregon, was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release. According to court documents, after a monthslong investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), investigators identified Rivera-Huezo as the regional cell leader of an international and interstate drug trafficking organization based in Mexico responsible for trafficking large quantities of illegal drugs, including methamphetamine and fentanyl, into the Portland Metropolitan Area and elsewhere for redistribution and sale. Over the course of the investigation, DEA agents and other assisting law enforcement officials documented numerous incidents wherein Rivera-Huezo, with assistance of multiple co-conspirators, arranged for drugs to be transported from various locations outside of Oregon, including Mexico, California, and Washington State, into the Portland area for further distribution. Investigators lawfully seized multiple loads of narcotics Rivera-Huezo had arranged for transport to Portland. As of November 1, 2022, investigators had located and seized more than 125 pounds of methamphetamine, more than six pounds each of fentanyl and heroin, a smaller distribution quantity of cocaine, and nine firearms connected to the Rivera-Huezo network. On June 7, 2022, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging Rivera-Huezo and 10 other individuals with conspiring with one another to possess with intent to distribute and distribute controlled substance and use a communication facility. On June 12, 2023, Rivera-Huezo pleaded guilty to a one-count superseding indictment charging him with the same. Two of Rivera-Huezo’s co-conspirators have pleaded guilty and been sentenced to federal prison, seven have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing, and a tenth co-conspirator is scheduled to plead guilty later this month. This case was investigated by the DEA Portland District Office in conjunction with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Tigard Police Department (TPD), and the Westside Interagency Narcotics (WIN) Team. It was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon. WIN is a Washington County, Oregon-based interagency drug interdiction task force that includes members from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Beaverton and Hillsboro Police Departments, Oregon National Guard Counter Drug Program, DEA, FBI, and HSI. This prosecution is the result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the U.S. by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: U.S. Attorney Buchanan honors law enforcement officers on National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA – Annually, January 9 th is observed and commemorated as Law Enforcement Appreciation Day and is observed across the country. Today we honor the unwavering dedication of our law enforcement officers who selflessly serve our communities, often risking the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. “We thank law enforcement officers in the Northern District of Georgia who faithfully risk their lives to protect our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “These brave men and women put on a badge each day, knowing that they may face dangerous situations while carrying out their duties and are frequently the target of violence and abuse. Despite these challenges, they continue to serve with the utmost dedication and commitment and are unfaltering in working tirelessly to protect and serve the public.” We also solemnly take time on Law Enforcement Appreciation Day to honor officers in our district who recently paid the ultimate price in the line of duty: Officer Kenya Galloway, Atlanta Police Department - Jan. 4, 2024 Sgt. Marc McIntyre, Spalding County Sheriff's Office - Dec. 29, 2023 Deputy Sheriff Eric Minix, Coweta County Sheriff's Office - Jan. 4, 2024 “We acknowledge and thank you for your sacrifice and hope to encourage support and respect for everything that you do to keep our communities safe. Your courage, commitment, and willingness to safeguard others inspire us all,” said U.S. Attorney Buchanan. Law Enforcement Appreciation Day began when multiple organizations joined efforts to express gratitude for law enforcement officers throughout the United States. Their purpose was to provide the public opportunities to gain greater insights into the integral role that these individuals play in our society while also strengthening the social bonds between law enforcement officials and the communities that they serve. “Thank you for your service, sacrifice, and commitment to protecting and serving. Your efforts are deeply appreciated,” said Buchanan. For inquiries, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Member of notorious international hacking crew sentenced to prison

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 22-year-old French citizen from Epinal, France, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to three years in prison and more than $5 million in restitution for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced Criminal Chief Sarah Vogel for the Western District of Washington. Sebastien Raoult, aka ‘Sezyo Kaizen,’ was arrested in 2022 in Morocco and was extradited to the U.S. in January 2023. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik said, “This is an extraordinarily serious offense. We’re talking about him robbing people of millions of dollars.” “For over two years, Mr. Raoult participated in extensive computer hacking that caused millions of dollars in losses to victim companies and unmeasurable additional losses to hundreds of millions of individuals whose data was sold to other criminals,” said Criminal Chief Sarah Vogel of the Western District of Washington. “Mr. Raoult’s motive was pure greed. He sold hacked data. He stole people’s cryptocurrency. He even sold his hacking tools so that he could profit while other hackers attacked additional victims.” According to records filed in the case, Raoult and his co-conspirators hacked into protected computers of corporate entities for the theft of confidential information and customer records, including personally identifiable information and financial information. They hacked numerous companies, including companies in Washington State, elsewhere in the United States, and around the world. After Raoult and his co-conspirators hacked companies, a user going by the name ShinyHunters posted hacked data from many of those companies for sale on dark web forums, including RaidForums, EmpireMarket, and Exploit. Between April 2020 and July 2021, ShinyHunters posted sales of hacked data from more than 60 companies. Sometimes ShinyHunters threatened to leak or sell stolen sensitive files if the victim did not pay a ransom. Raoult helped create websites that pretended to be login pages belonging to legitimate businesses. The conspirators sent phishing emails to company employees that were designed to look like they came from legitimate businesses and contained links to those login pages. Victims provided their account sign-on credentials on those fake login pages, and the conspirators obtained the victims’ credentials. Raoult and his co-conspirators used the login information to breach victims’ accounts, steal the data stored there, and search the stolen data for credentials to access additional data on companies’ networks and third-party service providers, such as cloud storage services. In total, the conspirators stole hundreds of millions of customer records and caused loss to victim companies that is estimated to exceed $6 million. In asking for a six-year prison term, Assistant United States Attorney Miriam Hinman wrote to the court, “Stealing and selling customer records put these hundreds of millions of individual customers at risk of identity theft and financial loss. As ShinyHunters demonstrated by listing the number of stolen customer records in its sale offerings, buyers would value the stolen data based on the number of customers whose data could be used. Raoult understood that buyers of the stolen data sought to misuse customers’ financial information, and yet he was eager to find those buyers.” “The lengths to which Mr. Raoult and his co-conspirators went to steal personal and financial information are remarkably devious, and he played a substantial part in the scheme by creating code and phishing websites," said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the Seattle field office. "Thanks to the diligent work of federal and international law enforcement, Mr. Raoult will be held accountable for his cyber-crimes, which caused millions of dollars of harm to companies and customers.” Speaking to the court, Sebastian Raoult said “I understand my mistakes and I want to put that part behind me. No more hacking. I don’t want to disappoint my family again.” Judge Lasnik said he believed Raoult’s arrest and imprisonment “has gotten through to Sebastian.” Still, he urged Raoult’s family and friends in the courtroom to “keep an eye on him” when he returns to France to guard against a return to criminal conduct. The case is being investigated by the FBI Seattle Cyber Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Miriam R. Hinman. DOJ’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance. The Department of Justice also appreciates the significant cooperation and assistance provided by Moroccan and French authorities .


title: North Las Vegas Man Sentenced To Prison For $1.1 Million COVID-19 Relief Fraud

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – A North Las Vegas man was sentenced today by United States District Judge Gloria M. Navarro to 19 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for submitting at least 56 fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications on behalf of himself and others totaling more than $1.1 million dollars over the course of more than six months. According to court documents, on March 17, 2021, Jaquari Davonte Woodward (25) submitted a fraudulent loan application in his own name, and when he was successful in obtaining $20,833 in fraudulent funds (the maximum available), he advertised on social media by posting the amount of fraudulent proceeds he had received and offered to do the same for others in exchange for a $10,000 fee payment for each successful application. In each of these fraudulent applications, Woodward provided false financial information, often for fake companies or companies which did not exist during the qualifying time period, and he created fictitious IRS Form 1040 Schedules C. Altogether, from March 2021 to October 2021, Woodward submitted at least 56 fraudulent applications in his own name and the names of others, and he caused over $1.1 million in loss to PPP lenders and the Small Business Administration. Woodward pleaded guilty to wire fraud. In addition to imprisonment, he was ordered to pay $1,264,252.02 in restitution to PPP lenders and the Small Business Administration. United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson for the District of Nevada, Western Region Special Agent in Charge Weston King for the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General (SBA OIG), and Special Agent in Charge Spencer L. Evans for the FBI made the announcement. The SBA OIG and FBI investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Oliva prosecuted the case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of fraud related to COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . ###


title: Jose Trujillo, Co-Defendant of Solomon Peña, Pleads Guilty

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Jose Louise Trujillo pled guilty to conspiracy, interference with federally protected activities, using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, discharging said firearm, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Trujillo, 22, will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. A federal grand jury indicted Trujillo on May 24, 2023, along with his father, Demetrio Trujillo, and Solomon Peña. According to court records, Trujillo helped Peña with his political campaign for District 14 of the New Mexico House of Representatives during the November 2022 mid-term elections. Specifically, Trujillo allowed Peña to use Trujillo’s bank account to channel approximately $5,155 to his political campaign. Following his electoral defeat in November 2022, Peña decided to pressure members of the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners to refuse to certify the results of the election and paid Trujillo to help him. On Nov. 21, 2022, the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners voted to certify the results of the election. On Dec. 11, 2023, Trujillo and Peña drove to the home of an election official, and Trujillo fired a gun which Peña provided to him at the residence. On Jan. 3, 2023, Trujillo and his father and Peña drove to the home of a former candidate whom Peña had chosen to target based on their position and carried out a second shooting. Following that incident, Trujillo was stopped by a deputy from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and arrested. At the time, Trujillo was driving Peña’s car. When the car was searched, deputies located the firearms and ammunition that Peña, Trujillo and Trujillo’s father had used to carry out the shooting earlier that day and 893 fentanyl pills. At sentencing, Trujillo faces up to life in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release and may be ordered to pay fines not to exceed $1,750,000. Solomon Peña and Demetrio Trujillo are currently scheduled to stand trial in June 2024. The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the Albuquerque Police Department and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. Trial Attorney Ryan Crosswell of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy Peña and Patrick E. Cordova for the District of New Mexico are prosecuting the case. View the Indictment View the Plea Agreement # # # 24-13


title: Mercer County Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Austin Pannell, 26, of Bluefield, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 18, 2022, Pannell sold a quantity of fentanyl to a confidential informant outside of a Princeton apartment. Pannell admitted to that transaction and further admitted to selling additional quantities of fentanyl to a confidential informant on three other occasions in Princeton and Bluefield between July 12, 2022, and August 18, 2022. Pannell is scheduled to be sentenced on April 8, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force. The task force consists of members of the West Virginia State Police, the Bluefield Police Department, the Princeton Police Department, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department, the McDowell County Sheriff’s Department, and the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Department. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-109. ###