title: Florida Man Admits Fraudulently Obtaining $2.4 Million in CARES Act Loans

body_text: TRENTON, N.J. – A Florida man admitted fraudulently obtaining over $2.4 million in federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) payments, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger, announced today. Mohamed A. Awad, 61, of Ocala, Florida, pleaded guilty on Nov. 20, 2023, before Judge Michael A. Shipp in Trenton federal court to an information charging him with wire fraud and money laundering. “The defendant admitted falsifying documents to obtain millions of dollars from government programs that were intended to provide financial help to Americans who were struggling to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. My office continues to work with all of our law enforcement partners to find and punish those who take advantage of these vital programs.” U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger “The defendant’s abuse of a program designed for those in need is appalling,” Tammy Tomlins, Special Agent in Charge of the Newark Field Office, said. “Today’s plea demonstrates the significant consequence for fraudulently accessing government programs to steal from taxpayers. IRS Criminal Investigation and our law enforcement partners are committed to protecting the integrity of relief programs.” According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Awad engaged in a scheme to illegally obtain over $2.4 million in PPP and EIDL loans through numerous misrepresentations to lenders. He submitted fraudulent loan applications that fabricated numbers of employees and misrepresented company information, to induce PPP and EIDL lenders to approve the loan applications that they otherwise would not have approved. Awad submitted falsified tax documents in support of PPP applications. According to IRS records, none of the purported tax documents that Awad submitted in support of the loan applications were ever in fact filed with the IRS. Awad thereafter transferred the loan proceeds among various bank accounts he controlled, withdrawing significant amounts in cash and transferring loan proceeds out of the country via wire transfers to banks based in Egypt. The charge of wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain to the defendant or gross loss to the victim, whichever is greatest. The charge of money laundering carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $500,000, or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved in the laundering offense, whichever is greater. Sentencing is scheduled for April 9, 2024. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins; special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; postal inspectors of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, under the direction of Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen, Philadelphia Division; special agents of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Sharon MacDermott; special agents of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian Tucker; special agents of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Patricia Tarasca in New York; and special agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Thomas Mahoney, with the investigation leading to the charges. The District of New Jersey COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement 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. 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. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine M. Romano of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Health Care Fraud Unit in Newark. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . awad.information.pdf


title: Justice Department Files Statement of Interest in Religious Land Use Case Involving Oregon Church That Feeds People Who are Homeless or Hungry

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department filed a statement of interest today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon explaining that a city’s decision to restrict a church’s distribution of meals to people who are homeless or hungry may have substantially burdened religious exercise under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). The statement of interest was filed in St. Timothy’s Church v. City of Brookings, Or. , a lawsuit alleging that the City of Brookings imposed a substantial burden on the religious exercise of St. Timothy’s, an Episcopalian church, with a recently enacted ordinance that prohibits the church from serving free meals to persons in need more than two days per week, subject to a discretionary permit. “Many churches and faith-based organizations across the country are on the front lines serving the critical needs of people experiencing hunger and homelessness,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Discriminatory zoning restrictions that burden and limit religious organizations’ use of their land violate federal antidiscrimination laws. The Justice Department is committed to enforcing federal civil rights laws to ensure that all religious groups can freely exercise their religious beliefs.” For over a decade before this ordinance was enacted, St. Timothy’s had been providing meal service up to four days per week, and as many as six days per week, including during the Covid-19 pandemic, based on community need. The church has even testified that it feels a religious duty to provide food to those in need. The city argued in part that RLUIPA did not apply to the city’s actions against St. Timothy’s and that the ordinance did not substantially burden St. Timothy’s religious exercise. The department is refuting the city’s claims. Specifically, it asserts that RLUIPA’s protections apply in this context, that St. Timothy’s provision of meals to people in need is protected religious exercise and that the city’s attempt to restrict St. Timothy’s meal service may have substantially burdened the church’s religious exercise by forcing it to violate its beliefs in order to comply with local land use laws. RLUIPA is a federal law that protects religious institutions from unduly burdensome or discriminatory land use regulations. In June 2018, the Justice Department announced its Place to Worship Initiative , which focuses on RLUIPA’s provisions that protect the rights of houses of worship and other religious institutions to worship on their land. More information is available at www.justice.gov/crt/placetoworship . As part of this initiative, the department has filed statements of interest in other RLUIPA cases involving faith-based services to persons in need, including in Micah’s Way v. City of Santa Ana ( Civil Rights Division | Statement of Interest in Micah’s Way v. City of Santa Ana (C.D. Cal.) | United States Department of Justice ). Additionally, the department recently hosted an outreach forum with religious leaders at Seton Hall Law School in Newark, New Jersey, on combating religious discrimination under RLUIPA, and plans to hold additional outreach events in California and Michigan. Individuals who believe they have been subjected to discrimination in land use or zoning decisions may contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office Civil Division’s Civil Rights Section at (213) 894-2879 or the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section at (833) 591-0291 or may submit a complaint through the complaint portal on the Place to Worship Initiative website. More information about RLUIPA, including questions and answers about the law and other documents, can be found at www.justice.gov/crt/about/hce/rluipaexplain.php . st._timothy_soi_file_stamped.pdf


title: Binance and CEO Plead Guilty to Federal Charges in $4B Resolution

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: Binance Holdings Limited (Binance), the entity that operates the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance.com, pleaded guilty today and has agreed to pay over $4 billion to resolve the Justice Department’s investigation into violations related to the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), failure to register as a money transmitting business, and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Binance’s founder and chief executive officer (CEO), Changpeng Zhao, a Canadian national, also pleaded guilty to failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering (AML) program, in violation of the BSA and has resigned as CEO of Binance. Binance’s guilty plea is part of coordinated resolutions with the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). “Binance became the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange in part because of the crimes it committed – now it is paying one of the largest corporate penalties in U.S. history,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “In just the past month, the Justice Department has successfully prosecuted the CEOs of two of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges in two separate criminal cases. The message here should be clear: using new technology to break the law does not make you a disruptor, it makes you a criminal.” “Binance turned a blind eye to its legal obligations in the pursuit of profit. Its willful failures allowed money to flow to terrorists, cybercriminals, and child abusers through its platform,” said Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen. “Today’s historic penalties and monitorship to ensure compliance with U.S. law and regulations mark a milestone for the virtual currency industry. Any institution, wherever located, that wants to reap the benefits of the U.S. financial system must also play by the rules that keep us all safe from terrorists, foreign adversaries, and crime or face the consequences.” “A corporate strategy that puts profits over compliance isn’t a path to riches; it’s a path to federal prosecution,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Today’s charges and guilty pleas – combined with a more than $4 billion financial penalty – sends an unmistakable message to crypto and defi companies: if you serve U.S. customers, you must obey U.S. law.” “Changpeng Zhao made Binance, the company he founded and ran as CEO, into the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world by targeting U.S. customers, but refused to comply with U.S. law,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Binance’s and Zhao’s willful violations of anti-money laundering and sanctions laws threatened the U.S. financial system and our national security, and each of them has now pleaded guilty. Make no mistake: when you place profits over compliance with the law, you will answer for your crimes in the United States.” “Binance’s crimes gave sanctioned customers unfettered access to American capital and financial services,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division (NSD). “This prosecution is a warning that companies that do not build sanctions compliance into their services face serious criminal penalties, as do the executives who lead them.” “From the beginning of its existence, Binance and founder Changpeng Zhao chose growth and personal wealth over following financial regulations aimed at stopping the laundering of criminal cash,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman for the Western District of Washington. “Because Changpeng Zhao knowingly operated a financial platform without basic anti-money laundering safeguards, the company caused illegal transactions between U.S. users and users in sanctioned jurisdictions such as Iran, Cuba, Syria, and Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine – transactions for which Binance profited with significant fees.” “Binance’s activities undermined the foundation of safe and sound financial markets by intentionally avoiding basic, fundamental obligations that apply to exchanges, all the while collecting approximately $1.35 billion in trading fees from U.S. customers,” said Chairman Rostin Behnam of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). “American investors, small and large, have demonstrated eagerness to incorporate digital asset products into their portfolios. It is our duty to ensure that when they do so, the full protections afforded by our regulatory oversight are in place, and that illegal and illicit conduct is swiftly addressed. When, as here, an entity goes even further, deliberately avoiding to employ meaningful access controls, intentionally avoiding knowing customers’ identities, and actively concealing the presence of U.S. customers on its platforms, there is no question that the CFTC will strike hard and aggressively.” “When you put growth above compliance, you end up in hot water,” said Chief Jim Lee of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). “Our team of investigators uncovered that Binance disregarded anti-money laundering Know Your Customer laws, failed to register as a money transmitter, and willfully violated U.S. sanctions tied to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. When you do so, your business becomes a playground for bad actors. Hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit proceeds from ransomware variants, darknet transactions, and various internet-related scams moved through Binance in an attempt to evade detection by law enforcement.” According to court documents, Binance admitted to prioritizing growth and profits over compliance with U.S. law. Binance launched in 2017 and focused on attracting high-volume customers, including U.S.-based customers. Binance quickly became the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world, with the greatest share of its customers coming from the United States. As a result of serving U.S. customers, Binance was required to register with FinCEN as a money services business and to implement an effective AML program that was reasonably designed to prevent Binance from being used to facilitate money laundering. Binance chose not to comply with U.S. law and failed to implement controls and procedures to prevent money laundering. Binance also did not implement controls that would have prevented U.S. customers from conducting transactions with customers in sanctioned jurisdictions, despite knowing that the system it used to match customers for transactions would necessarily cause transactions in violation of IEEPA. Instead of complying with U.S. law, in 2019, Binance announced that it would block U.S. customers and launched a separate U.S. exchange, Binance.US. Despite this announcement, Binance took steps to maintain a substantial number of U.S. customers. In particular, Binance focused on retaining valuable “VIP” customers, which were responsible for a large portion of Binance’s trading volume and revenue. These VIP customers were critical to Binance’s business because they helped provide the necessary liquidity to facilitate trades of digital assets. For example, Binance executives, including Zhao, made a plan to contact VIP customers and help the VIP register a new account for an offshore entity and transfer holdings to that account. Binance employees also called U.S. VIPs to encourage them to provide information that suggested the customer was not located in the United States. Binance also did not implement the core components of an effective AML program: Binance did not implement comprehensive know-your-customer (KYC) protocols or systematically monitor transactions, and Binance never filed a suspicious activity report (SAR) with FinCEN. For years, Binance allowed users to open accounts and trade without submitting any identifying information beyond an email address. Binance began requiring all users to provide KYC information in August 2021 but allowed users who had not provided KYC to continue trading on the exchange until May 2022. Between August 2017 and October 2022, U.S. users, including VIPs, conducted trillions of dollars in transactions on the platform, generating over $1.6 billion in profit for Binance. As Binance’s internal communications showed, Binance’s compliance employees recognized that Binance did not have protocols to flag or report transactions for money laundering risks, which employees recognized would attract criminals to the exchange. As one compliance employee wrote, “we need a banner ‘is washing drug money too hard these days - come to binance we got cake for you.’” Due in part to Binance’s failure to implement an effective AML program, illicit actors used Binance’s exchange in various ways, including conducting transactions for mixing services that obfuscated the source and ownership of cryptocurrency; transferring illicit proceeds from ransomware variants; and moving proceeds of darknet market transactions, exchange hacks, and various internet-related scams. Binance also knew that U.S. sanctions laws prohibited U.S. persons – including its U.S. customers – from trading with its customers subject to U.S. sanctions, including customers in comprehensively sanctioned jurisdictions, such as Iran. Binance knew that it had a significant number of users from comprehensively sanctioned jurisdictions and a substantial number of U.S. users and that its matching engine would necessarily cause U.S. users to transact with users in sanctioned jurisdictions in violation of U.S. law. Nonetheless, Binance did not implement controls that would prevent U.S. users from trading with users in Iran; and, because of this intentional failure, between January 2018 and May 2022, Binance willfully caused over $898 million in trades between U.S. users and users ordinarily resident in Iran. As part of the plea agreement, Binance has agreed to forfeit $2,510,650,588 and to pay a criminal fine of $1,805,475,575 for a total financial penalty of $4,316,126,163. Binance has also agreed to retain an independent compliance monitor for three years and remediate and enhance their anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance programs. Binance separately has also reached agreements with the CFTC, FinCEN, and OFAC, and the Department will credit approximately $1.8 billion toward those resolutions. The Department reached its resolution with Binance based on a number of factors, including the nature, seriousness, and pervasiveness of the offense, as a result of which Binance processed billions of dollars of cryptocurrency transactions for U.S. persons and caused U.S. customers to engage in transactions in violation of U.S. sanctions. Binance did not make a timely and voluntary disclosure of wrongdoing, but it received partial credit for its cooperation with the Department’s investigation, and it has taken steps to remediate its compliance program. Binance did not receive full credit for its cooperation because it delayed producing relevant evidence, including recorded meetings in which Binance executives discussed U.S. legal requirements. Accordingly, the total criminal penalty reflects a 20% reduction off the bottom of the applicable U.S. sentencing guidelines fine range. In addition, according to court documents, Zhao, Binance’s founder, owner, and CEO, admitted that he understood that Binance served U.S. users and was thus required to register with FinCEN and implement an effective AML program. Zhao knew that U.S. users were essential to Binance’s growth and were a significant source of revenue and knew that an effective AML program would include KYC protocols that would mean that some customers would choose not to use Binance. Zhao told employees it was “better to ask for forgiveness than permission,” and prioritized Binance’s growth over compliance with U.S. law. Without an effective AML program, Binance caused transactions between U.S. users and users in jurisdictions subject to U.S. sanctions. These illegal transactions were a clear and foreseeable result of Zhao’s decision to prioritize Binance’s profit and growth over compliance with the BSA. IRS-CI is investigating the case. The case is being prosecuted by Bank Integrity Unit Deputy Chief and National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team Deputy Director Kevin Mosley and Trial Attorney Elizabeth Carr of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), Trial Attorneys Beau Barnes and Alex Wharton of NSD’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section (CES), and Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Mike Dion for the Western District of Washington. Trial Attorney Julia Jarrett, formerly of MLARS and currently an AUSA for the District of Oregon, and Trial Attorney Matthew Anzaldi, formerly of CES and currently with NSD’s National Security Cyber Section, made substantial contributions to this investigation and prosecution. MLARS’s Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers, and employees, whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system. The Criminal Division has surged resources to the Bank Integrity Unit, which has imposed over $12 billion in penalties on financial institutions for sanctions violations over the last decade. NSD’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section investigates and prosecutes individuals and corporations for violations of export control and sanctions laws, in addition to other national security crimes. NSD continues to expand its corporate enforcement efforts – including growing the ranks of prosecutors dedicated to this work and establishing a Chief Counsel and Deputy Chief Counsel for Corporate Enforcement. Binance Plea Agreement Zhao Plea Agreement Binance Information Zhao Information


title: Recidivist Felon Sentenced for Fentanyl, Heroin and Firearm Possession

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

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A Midlothian man was sentenced today to 5 years in prison for possessing a fentanyl and heroin mixture in addition to unlawfully possessing a firearm. According to court documents, on July 20, 2023, Allen C. Clack, 43, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of a mixture containing both fentanyl and heroin and to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. In the summer of 2022, law enforcement agents conducted an investigation of Clack’s drug trafficking activities in and around the City of Richmond. As a result of that investigation, agents executed search warrants on Clack’s vehicle and his residence. On September 21, 2022, agents located Clack in his vehicle. A search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of hallucinogenic mushrooms containing Psilocyn, approximately 36 grams of a fentanyl and heroin mixture, and 3.66 grams of cocaine, along with a loaded 9mm pistol and items used for the packaging and distribution of illegal controlled substances. From Clack’s residence, agents recovered over 73 grams of a fentanyl and heroin mixture and over 71 grams of fentanyl, along with a second handgun. Prior to September 21, 2022, Clack had been convicted of felony possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and felony possession with intent to distribute cocaine. As a result, he was prohibited from possessing or transporting firearms. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Rick Edwards, Chief of Richmond Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck. Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia L. Norman prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-35.


title: Married Couple Sentenced for Laundering $1.4 Million in Proceeds from Jewelry Thefts and Unemployment Fraud During Pandemic

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – November 20, 2023 SAN DIEGO – Eduard Ghiocel and his wife, Floarea Ghiocel, were sentenced in federal court today to 36 months and 30 months, respectively, for laundering $1.4 million in proceeds from dozens of grand thefts, robberies and swindles targeting mostly elderly victims in San Diego County. According to their plea agreements, the Ghiocels, along with co-conspirators Gabriel Ghiocel, Marius Ghiocel, Larisa Ghiocel, and Argentina Alexandru, conducted a series of 17 grand thefts and robberies of jewelry in elderly communities in San Diego. They then pawned the stolen jewelry and watches for cash in jewelry stores in Los Angeles. In addition, Eduard and Floarea Ghiocel admitted submitting fraudulent unemployment claims to the California Employment Development Department (EDD) to obtain approximately $32,250 in California unemployment insurance benefits intended to help workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Eduard and Floarea Ghiocel admitted wiring proceeds from the jewelry thefts and the unemployment insurance fraud to Romania, as well as using the proceeds to purchase gold bars, gold coins, and high-end luxury vehicles from locations in Southern California and shipping these items to Romania. In total the Ghiocels sent almost $1.4 million to Romania, knowing the money was proceeds of theft, robbery, and fraud, the plea agreement said. Eduard and Floarea Ghiocel agreed to forfeit proceeds of the crime including two Lamborghini Urus, a 2020 Ferrari Portofino, and a BMW X4 all seized by authorities in Romania. The forfeitures will be used pay restitution to victims of the crimes. The co-conspirators remain at large. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Adeline Schulberg with assistance from the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, FBI's Legal Attaché in Bucharest, and Romanian authorities including the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (DCCO) Service for Countering of Organized Criminal Groups, Brigade for Combating Organized Crime (BCCO) – Pitești, County Service for Countering Organized Crime – Teleorman, Romanian Gendarmerie Battalion, Romanian Ministry of Justice, and Romanian Criminal Investigative Directorate - Fugitive Unit. DEFENDANT Case Number 23CR0386-LAB Eduard Ghiocel (1) Age: 48 Romania aka Eduard Alexandru, aka “Filica” Floarea Ghiocel (2) Age: 49 Romania aka Floarea Alexandru SUMMARY OF CHARGES Title 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h) and Title 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(2)(A) — Conspiracy to Transport Funds to Promote Unlawful Activity Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $500,000 fine or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved in the transportation, transmission, or transfer, whichever is greater AGENCY Federal Bureau of Investigation San Diego Police Department Economic Crimes Unit IRS Criminal Investigation California Employment Development Department Investigative Division Department of Labor Office of Inspector General U.S. Department of Homeland Security


title: Foreign National Sentenced to 40 Months Custody for $5 Million Unemployment Fraud Scheme

body_text: NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – November 20, 2023 SAN DIEGO – Constantin Bobi Sandu, who admitted that he masterminded a scheme to steal more than $5 million in California unemployment benefits intended to help workers affected by the pandemic, was sentenced in federal court today to 40 months in prison. According to his plea agreement, Sandu conspired with over 200 other individuals across California and in Romania to fraudulently obtain millions of dollars by fabricating documents, creating fictitious accounts and businesses, and filing bogus claims with California’s Economic Development Department, which administers the state’s unemployment benefits. Among other things, Sandu wired $16,000 in fraud proceeds to Romania to renovate his house. Sandu also was ordered to forfeit $214,950 that he personally received from the offenses. “This devious scheme diverted millions of dollars from those who truly needed it during the pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “The public health emergency may be over, but we are still tracking, charging, and convicting the people who exploited it.” “The FBI remains fully committed to ensuring people who intentionally stole government funds during the COVID-19 pandemic are brought to justice,” said FBI San Diego Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy. “We continually collaborate with our law enforcement partners to thoroughly investigate all those responsible for stealing from the United States Government and its people during such a critical time in our lives, taking away valuable resources and services from those truly in need.” “Mr. Sandu and his criminal organization committed financial crimes that hurt people here in California and stole funds intended for those in need,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office. “IRS:CI is committed to partnerships with law enforcement organizations around the world, and we will follow the money to find the guilty and bring them to justice.” This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica Adeline Schulberg. DEFENDANT Case Number 23CR0386-LAB Constantin Bobi Sandu, Age: 34 Romanian national aka Constantin Sandu, aka Bobi Sandu, aka Ionut Mihai SUMMARY OF CHARGES Title 18, U.S.C. § 1349 and 1343 - Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Maximum penalty: Thirty years in prison, a fine of $1 million or both; Title 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(2)(A) — Laundering Monetary Instruments Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $500,000 fine or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved in the transportation, transmission, or transfer, whichever is greater; Title 18 U.S.C. §§ 981(a)(1)(C) and 982(a)(1), and Title 28, U.S.C. § 2461(c) - Criminal Forfeitures AGENCY Federal Bureau of Investigation San Diego Police Department Economic Crimes Unit IRS Criminal Investigation California Employment Development Department Investigative Division Department of Labor Office of Investigator General U.S. Department of Homeland Security


title: Former Enfield Resident Sentenced to 25 Months in Prison for Cocaine Trafficking Offense

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JUAN SANCHEZ-RAZON, also known as “Juanito,” 29, a citizen of Mexico last residing in Enfield, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 25 months of imprisonment for trafficking cocaine. According to court documents and statements made in court, in October 2021, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force began investigating a drug trafficking organization, with ties to a Mexican drug cartel, operating in the area of Enfield, Connecticut, and Springfield, Massachusetts. The investigation, which included court-authorized wiretaps and controlled purchases and seizures of narcotics, revealed that Sergio Horta-Molina, of Suffield, arranged the shipment of cocaine and other narcotics to Connecticut, and then distributed the drugs to other members of the organization who, in turn, sold the drugs to street-level traffickers and drug customers. During the investigation, Horta-Molina arranged the shipment of a package from California to Sanchez-Razon’s residence in Enfield. On April 27, 2022, Sanchez-Razon delivered the package to another individual. Law enforcement subsequently stopped that individual as he was attempting to deliver the package to Horta-Molina. A search of the package revealed a kilogram of cocaine. On May 5, 2022, a search of Sanchez-Razon’s residence revealed approximately 100 grams of cocaine and approximately $7,000 in cash. Sanchez-Razon has been detained since his arrest on June 21, 2022. On March 3, 2023, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Sanchez-Razon faces immigration proceedings when he completes his prison term. Horta-Molina pleaded guilty and, on June 6, 2023, he was sentenced to 94 months of imprisonment for both the offense and for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal narcotics trafficking conviction. This investigation has been conducted by the DEA’s Hartford Task Force and the Enfield Police Department. The Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, and Windsor Locks Police Departments. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Reed Durham through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.


title: Man Charged for 2019 Double Murder in Taos Pueblo

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

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’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced that Joshua Gonzales made an initial appearance in federal court on an indictment charging him with two counts of first-degree murder. Gonzales, 37, will remain in custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for Friday, November 24, 2023. According to court records, Gonzales and his girlfriend had been staying at the home of John Doe 1. On May 30, 2019, Gonzales assaulted his girlfriend while they were near the home. Gonzales’ girlfriend told John Doe 1 about the assault and left the home, leaving Gonzales and John Doe 1 alone. When John Doe 1 questioned Gonzales about the assault, Gonzales attacked John Doe 1. During that assault, Gonzales bludgeoned John Doe 1’s body and head, brutally killing him. Moments later, John Doe 2 arrived at John Doe 1’s house. John Doe 1 had previously called John Doe 2, likely seeking help, which is what prompted John Doe 2 to go over to the residence. Gonzales exited John Doe 1’s house and proceeded to beat John Doe 2, who was only days into recovery from a hip surgery, in the driveway, also brutally killing him. Defendant then took John Doe 2’s body inside and stacked both men’s bodies in John Doe 1’s house, then placed a roll of metal fence on top of the bodies. Gonzales then left the home and locked the door behind him with a padlock on the exterior of the doors. An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Gonzales faces life in prison. The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Taos Pueblo Department of Public Safety and New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander F. Flores and Matthew J. McGinley are prosecuting the case. # # # 23-270


title: Former Cape Coral Resident Sentenced To Federal Prison For Mail Fraud And Aggravated Identity Theft

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – Senior U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington today sentenced Devin Ryan Maresca (33, New Castle, PA) to three years in federal prison for mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $74,700, which were the proceeds of Maresca’s mail fraud scheme. Maresca was found guilty following a three-day trial on August 23, 2023. According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, while living in Cape Coral, Florida, Maresca filed more than 2,200 fraudulent indemnity claims to the United States Postal Service (USPS) claiming that Priority Mail packages that he had mailed or received were damaged. Maresca fraudulently used his mother, father, and brother’s name to submit most of the claims. Further, Maresca forged his family members’ signatures on the backs of USPS claims checks to deposit them into a bank account he controlled. The checks were mailed to UPS Store private mailboxes and Pak-Mail Store mailboxes that Maresca had opened in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and Punta Gorda. Maresca’s fraud scheme caused the USPS to issue more than $100,000 in claims checks. Internet addresses, bank, and email records, along with USPS data, linked Maresca to the fraudulent claims. In December 2021, a United States Postal Inspector and USPS Office of Inspector General (OIG) Special Agent interviewed Maresca at his home in Newcastle. During the interview, Maresca admitted to submitting more than 2,200 fraudulent claims and forging his family members’ signatures on USPS indemnity checks. This case was investigated by the U. S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Postal Service-OIG. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Trent Reichling and Patrick Darcey.


title: Casper man arraigned for unlawful possession of a firearm

body_text: McCloskey was detained at the request of the government and will remain in custody pending trial. If convicted, McCloskey faces up to 15 years’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release and up to a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. This crime is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Casper Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan C. Coppom. An indictment merely contains allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Case No. 23-CR-00155


title: Siblings Sentenced to Combined 48 Years in Prison for Smuggling Narcotics

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: DEL RIO, Texas – A Midland woman and her brother, a Mexican national, were sentenced in a federal court in Del Rio to 262 months and 324 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in a drug trafficking organization (DTO). According to court documents, Blanca Estela Maldonado, 54, of Midland, and her brother Federico Jose Maldonado-Aleman, 59, of Mexico, were part of a DTO responsible for trafficking approximately 79 kilograms of methamphetamine within the Western District of Texas between December 2016 and September 2018. The conspirators transported narcotics themselves and hired individuals to smuggle narcotics across the border, using Blanca Maldonado’s Midland residence as a primary pick-up/drop off point. Federico Maldonado-Aleman served as a supplier and facilitator of smuggling operations. “For two years, these defendants conspired as part of a Mexican DTO using one of the individual’s homes as a distribution hub,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “Thanks to the collaborative investigation efforts of our federal law enforcement partners, we were able to secure incredibly substantial prison sentences for six drug traffickers responsible for pushing dangerous drugs into our communities.” “These significant sentences send a clear message to criminal organizations that there are serious consequences for trafficking-controlled substances,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee for the Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Division. “HSI will continue to pursue transnational criminal investigations to target dangerous individuals who threaten the security of the United States.” “The collective number of years members of this organization will spend in prison shows our collective commitment to bringing those who bring devastating drugs to our communities to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Daniel Comeaux for the Drug Enforcement Administration Houston Field Office. “These sentences will now serve as a clear reminder of the consequences of choosing to poison our communities.” Four additional codefendants involved were sentenced earlier in the case, all for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Juan Francisco Guajardo, 34, of Eagle Pass, was sentenced to 262 months imprisonment on Feb. 4, 2020. April Sotelo, 42, of Seagraves, was sentenced to 262 months imprisonment on Dec. 7, 2020. Kenneth Ray Cabrera, 40, of Seminole, was sentenced to 300 months imprisonment on March 1, 2022. Agatha Marie Barrientez, 37, of Midland, was sentenced to 292 months on June 30, 2022. In total, the six co-conspirators received a combined penalty of more than 141 years in prison. HSI, DEA and USBP investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tyler Fleming, Joshua Garland and Brett Miner prosecuted the case. ###


title: Federal Grand Jury Indicts Louisville Felon for Illegally Possessing Firearm

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment on November 21, 2023, charging a local man with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement. According to the indictment, Jaron Bobbitt, 38, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On November 13, 2023, Bobbitt possessed an Anderson Manufacturing, AM-15, multi-caliber pistol, bearing serial number 19221737, and ammunition. Bobbitt was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On November 9, 2021, in Jefferson County Circuit Court, Bobbitt was convicted of two counts of receiving stolen property, possession of controlled substance in the first degree, and possession of a handgun by a convicted felon. On January 16, 2019, in Jefferson County Circuit Court, Bobbitt was convicted of escape in the second degree. On August 31, 2018, in Jefferson County Circuit Court, Bobbitt was convicted of receiving stolen property, theft of identity of another without consent, and criminal mischief in the second degree. On April 29, 2011, in Jefferson County Circuit Court, Bobbitt was convicted of possession of a handgun by a convicted felon. On June 17, 2004, in Jefferson County Circuit Court, Bobbitt was convicted of trafficking in a controlled substance in the first degree, cocaine, tampering with physical evidence, and receiving stolen property. On May 7, 2004, in Jefferson County Circuit Court, Bobbitt was convicted of receiving stolen property, receiving a stolen vehicle, and tampering with physical evidence. On December 3, 2001, in Jefferson County Circuit Court, Bobbitt was convicted of wanton endangerment in the first degree and receiving a stolen vehicle. The defendant remains in state custody on charges related to a November 13, 2023, incident in which he brandished a firearm at LMPD police officers. He will make made his initial court appearance on a later date before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, Bobbitt faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is being investigated by the ATF and the Louisville Metro Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Porter is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Kanawha County Man Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Relief Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Sean Patrick Boyd Jr., 26, of Dunbar, pleaded guilty today to receipt of stolen money. Boyd admitted to a scheme to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) of $20,832 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 18, 2021, Boyd applied for a PPP loan on behalf of his purported business, “Sean Boyd.” Boyd falsely stated in his application that “Sean Boyd” was in operation on February 15, 2020, which was a requirement to qualify for a PPP loan. Boyd admitted that “Sean Boyd” was fictitious and was not a registered business entity in West Virginia at the time he applied for the loan. Businesses applying for PPP loans were also required to provide documentation showing their prior gross income from either 2019 or 2020. Boyd admitted that he submitted a false IRS Form 1040, Schedule C, stating that “Sean Boyd” had earned $99,996 in gross income during 2019. Boyd submitted the loan application electronically from West Virginia and it was uploaded to servers in Nebraska for processing. Boyd’s loan application was approved and $20,832 was electronically transferred to his personal bank account in West Virginia. Boyd admitted that before he received the fraudulent loan, his bank account balance was $12.47. On May 24, 2021, Boyd withdrew $10,000 of the fraudulent loan proceeds from his bank’s branch in Nitro. 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 PPP. Boyd is scheduled to be sentenced on February 7, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Boyd also owes $23,817.79 in restitution. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Secret Service, the West Virginia State Police – Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), and the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office (WVSAO) Public Integrity and Fraud Unit (PIFU). Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver Jr. presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan T. Storage is prosecuting 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-123. ###


title: Dominican Republic Native Pleads Guilty to Smuggling $2 Million in Heroin Nearly 6 Years After His Flight from Justice

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: A native resident of the Dominican Republic pleaded guilty in federal court to two drug trafficking counts, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. On Monday, November 20, 2023, Habys Omar Meran pleaded guilty to both the heroin trafficking and criminal conspiracy counts in the 2016 federal Indictment, before United States District Judge Robert J. Colville. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that on January 26, 2016, Meran was driving a van containing a sophisticated, hydraulically activated, hidden compartment when stopped on Route 80 by a Pennsylvania State Trooper who specializes in drug interdiction. The compartment was found to contain over 4 kilograms of heroin - an amount valued at over $2 million once packaged and sold on the street. Meran’s passenger, his relative Juan Wilquin Hernandez-Bourdier, was convicted of all charges by a jury on December 13, 2018, and is currently serving his ten-year sentence in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. But Meran had removed his ankle monitor and fled the country before trial on November 23, 2017. The United States Marshal Service initiated a fugitive investigation and Meran was arrested in the Dominican Republic in 2023. Meran was subsequently extradited back to the United States under an international treaty with the government of the Dominican Republic . Judge Colville scheduled Meran’s sentencing for April 2, 2024, at 10:00am. Federal law provides for a total sentence of up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. Meran also faces the imposition of restitution for the ankle monitor, and the forfeiture of the van he was driving. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Pending sentencing, the court remanded Meran back to federal custody. Assistant United States Attorneys Ross E. Lenhardt and James Wilson are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of both Meran and Hernandez-Bourdier, with valuable assistance from the Pennsylvania State Police Interdiction Team, the Pennsylvania State Police Crime Lab, the Department of Homeland Security Crime Lab, the United States Marshal Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).


title: Accountant Pleads Guilty to Stealing More than  $715,000 From Spokane Medical Practice

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington - Today, Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced Carol Casilla, age 26, of Spokane, Washington, pleaded guilty to Wire Fraud in connection with Casilla’s theft of more than $715,000 from a Spokane medical practice at which she was employed between 2020 and 2023. United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice accepted Casilla’s guilty plea, and set sentencing for February 22, 2024, in Spokane. According to court documents, between May 2020 and March 2023, Casilla was employed as an accountant by Spokane Dermatology Clinic (SDC), a dermatological practice located in Spokane. While employed at SDC, Casilla used her position to fraudulently issue company checks to herself and deposit them into her own personal accounts, and to make electronic funds transfers using company funds toward her personal credit cards. According to court documents, some of the transfers were made to a fictitious company that Casilla created in order to make it appear as though the transfers were for legitimate company expenditures. Casilla made hundreds of fraudulent transfers in this manner, stealing more than $715,000 in total. “Ms. Casilla abused the trust of her employer to line her own pockets,” said United States Attorney Waldref. “We will continue to work together with our law enforcement partners to vigorously prosecute those who commit financial fraud, and to strengthen our communities by protecting our local businesses.” “Ms. Casilla was a trusted employee and used her access to steal over $700,000 from her employer.” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “Additionally, she committed and hid her fraud for over three years. This guilty plea is the first step to restoring the victims and reinforcing accountability for those who violate trust.” The charges to which Casilla pled carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Spokane Resident Agency. Assistant United States Attorneys Dan Fruchter and Tyler H.L. Tornabene are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. United States v. Casilla, Case No: 2-23-CR-00085-TOR


title: Two Defendants Sentenced for Distributing Heroin and Fentanyl That Caused a Fatal Overdose in Queens

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, at the federal court in Brooklyn, Vladimir Esguerra and Jonathan Betancur were sentenced by United States District Judge Eric Komitee to 128 months’ imprisonment and 110 months’ imprisonment, respectively, for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and distributing the heroin and fentanyl that caused the death of Michael J. Marino. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Ivan J. Arvelo, Special Agent-in-Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI), and Edward A. Caban, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the sentences. “As the defendants admitted in their guilty pleas, they conspired over a period of years to distribute narcotics in our community, and tragically those narcotics had deadly consequences,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “We are facing a national crisis of opioid addiction, which cuts lives short every day in this district and across the country. Today’s sentences send a message that those who prey on people suffering from this disease will be punished. It is our hope that these sentences will deter others from peddling dangerous drugs and provide some measure of comfort to the victim’s family.” “The opioid crisis has cut a wide swath across our country, affecting people from all walks of life and causing immense harm in every community,” stated NYPD Commissioner Caban. “To combat this scourge locally, the NYPD and our law enforcement partners work relentlessly to disrupt drug trafficking operations and hold those involved fully accountable. The sentences handed down today send a message of support to the families of loved ones lost, promising that we will not rest until justice is delivered.” As set forth in the government’s sentencing letters and other public documents, Esguerra and Betancur were drug dealers who distributed narcotics together in Queens since at least 2015. Sometimes Esguerra would meet the buyer and handle the transaction himself and sometimes he would send them to Betancur instead. In July 2019, they sold heroin cut with fentanyl to Marino, who suffered a fatal overdose as a result in a pizzeria in Ozone Park, Queens. In September 2019, Betancur was arrested by the NYPD in an unrelated case, and two cellphones that he was carrying were seized. One of them was the same phone he had used to communicate with Marino on the day of the overdose—and the number to which Marino had saved as “Vlad.” Earlier this year, both defendants pleaded guilty to drug trafficking conspiracy and admitted responsibility for Marino’s death. Assistant United States Attorney Robert M. Pollack is prosecuting the case. The Defendants : JONATHAN BETANCUR Age: 34 Queens, New York VLADIMIR ESGUERRA Age: 41 Queens, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 21-CR-525 (EK)


title: Seven Des Moines Gang Member and Associates Indicted on Federal Charges

body_text: DES MOINES, Iowa – A federal grand jury in Des Moines returned a 51-count indictment on November 16, 2023, charging seven individuals with offenses related to a racketeering conspiracy, which involved a conspiracy to engage in a years-long pattern of violence, including attempted murders, robberies, drug trafficking, the straw purchasing of firearms, and the trafficking of firearms. As alleged in the Indictment, those charged were members and associates of a criminal organization or Enterprise known as “Only My Brother” or “OMB.” OMB originated in early- to mid-2021. Prior to that, some members and associates of OMB referred to themselves as various other names, including C-Block, 600, East Side Crips, Crips, and Gangster. The principal purposes and objectives of the Enterprise were to distribute controlled substances, obtain money and things of value, and earn and maintain respect in the neighborhood. To achieve those purposes and objectives, members and associates of the Enterprise committed acts involving attempted murder, robbery, and assault; threatened to commit acts of violence; trafficking in controlled substances and firearms; and straw purchased firearms. The following members and associates of OMB, all of Des Moines, are charged in the Indictment: Majok Majok, 19, is charged with racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute at least 400 grams of fentanyl, conspiracy to distribute marijuana, conspiracy to traffic firearms, possession of a machinegun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm, illegal possession of a machinegun, and four counts of distribution of fentanyl. Majok is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 40 years of imprisonment and up to life. Santiz Cortez Langford, Jr., 20, is charged with racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute at least 400 grams of fentanyl, conspiracy to distribute marijuana, two counts of conspiracy to straw purchase firearms, conspiracy to traffic firearms, two counts of firearms trafficking, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a machinegun and firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, three counts of unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm, and illegal possession of a machinegun. Langford is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 40 years of imprisonment and up to life. Semaj Johnson, 19, is charged with racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute at least 400 grams of fentanyl, conspiracy to traffic firearms, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm. As part of this investigation, Johnson was previously charged with, and pled guilty to, illegal possession of a machinegun and is awaiting sentencing (Southern District of Iowa, 4:22-cr-106). Johnson is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years of imprisonment and up to life. Avontae Lamar Tucker, 20, is charged with racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute at least 400 grams of fentanyl, conspiracy to distribute marijuana, unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm and ammunition, interference with commerce through robbery, possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Tucker is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 22 years of imprisonment, and up to life. As part of this investigation, Tucker was previously convicted of interference with commerce through robbery, possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm. (Southern District of Iowa, 4:22-cr-164). On July 20, 2023, he was sentenced to 192 months of imprisonment. Dahaba Bahari Lula, 18, is charged with racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute at least 400 grams of fentanyl, and five counts of distribution of fentanyl. Lula is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years of imprisonment and up to life. Dawn Ellease Robinson, 44, is charged with racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to straw purchase firearms, four counts of false statement during purchase of a firearm, straw purchasing of a firearm, and two counts of unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm. Robinson is facing up to a combined total of 105 years of imprisonment. Deon Ellease Cooper, 27, is charged with racketeering conspiracy, six counts of false statement during purchase of a firearm, conspiracy to straw purchase firearms, and straw purchasing a firearm. Cooper is facing up to a combined total of 95 years of imprisonment. The Indictment may be viewed at the link below. Lula made her initial court appearance today before a United States Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. The remaining defendants will make their initial court appearances on later dates. As part of this investigation, several other members and associates of the Enterprise were charged with various drug- and firearms-related crimes, as stated in a July 2023 press release . The following defendants charged in those cases have now entered guilty pleas: Armani Eugene Gates, 19, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute at least 400 grams of fentanyl, unlawful user in possession of a firearm, two counts of conspiracy to traffic firearms, conspiracy to straw purchase firearms, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. At sentencing, which is set for March 8, 2024, Gates faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years of imprisonment, and up to life. Deadrian Maurice Nelson, 19, pled guilty to two counts of felon and unlawful drug user in possession of firearms. He faces up to a combined total of 30 years of imprisonment. Nelson’s sentencing is scheduled for March 7, 2024. Bakier Mohamd Esmaeil, 18, pled guilty to one count of being a drug user in possession of a firearm. At his sentencing on March 6, 2024, Esmaeil faces up to 15 years of imprisonment. Johnetta Marie Strode, 36, is scheduled for a change of plea hearing on November 28, 2023. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. United States Attorney Richard Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. Assistant United States Attorneys Kristin Herrera and Mallory Weiser are prosecuting the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Des Moines Police Department, and the United States Postal Inspection Service are investigating the case, with assistance from the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement (DNE), Iowa State Patrol, and Iowa Division of Intelligence and Fusion Center. This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. OMB Indictment


component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: SEATTLE – Binance Holdings Limited (Binance), the entity that operates the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance.com, pleaded guilty today and has agreed to pay over $4 billion to resolve the Justice Department’s investigation into violations related to the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), failure to register as a money transmitting business, and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Binance’s founder and chief executive officer (CEO), Changpeng Zhao, a Canadian national, also pleaded guilty to failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering (AML) program, in violation of the BSA and has resigned as CEO of Binance. Binance’s guilty plea is part of coordinated resolutions with the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). “Binance became the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange in part because of the crimes it committed – now it is paying one of the largest corporate penalties in U.S. history,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “In just the past month, the Justice Department has successfully prosecuted the CEOs of two of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges in two separate criminal cases. The message here should be clear: using new technology to break the law does not make you a disruptor, it makes you a criminal.” “Binance turned a blind eye to its legal obligations in the pursuit of profit. Its willful failures allowed money to flow to terrorists, cybercriminals, and child abusers through its platform,” said Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen. “Today’s historic penalties and monitorship to ensure compliance with U.S. law and regulations mark a milestone for the virtual currency industry. Any institution, wherever located, that wants to reap the benefits of the U.S. financial system must also play by the rules that keep us all safe from terrorists, foreign adversaries, and crime or face the consequences.” “A corporate strategy that puts profits over compliance isn’t a path to riches; it’s a path to federal prosecution,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Today’s charges and guilty pleas – combined with a more than $4 billion financial penalty – sends an unmistakable message to crypto and defi companies: if you serve U.S. customers, you must obey U.S. law.” “Changpeng Zhao made Binance, the company he founded and ran as CEO, into the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world by targeting U.S. customers, but refused to comply with U.S. law,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Binance’s and Zhao’s willful violations of anti-money laundering and sanctions laws threatened the U.S. financial system and our national security, and each of them has now pleaded guilty. Make no mistake: when you place profits over compliance with the law, you will answer for your crimes in the United States.” “Binance’s crimes gave sanctioned customers unfettered access to American capital and financial services,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division (NSD). “This prosecution is a warning that companies that do not build sanctions compliance into their services face serious criminal penalties, as do the executives who lead them.” “From the beginning of its existence, Binance and founder Changpeng Zhao chose growth and personal wealth over following financial regulations aimed at stopping the laundering of criminal cash,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman for the Western District of Washington. “Because Changpeng Zhao knowingly operated a financial platform without basic anti-money laundering safeguards, the company caused illegal transactions between U.S. users and users in sanctioned jurisdictions such as Iran, Cuba, Syria, and Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine – transactions for which Binance profited with significant fees.” “Binance’s activities undermined the foundation of safe and sound financial markets by intentionally avoiding basic, fundamental obligations that apply to exchanges, all the while collecting approximately $1.35 billion in trading fees from U.S. customers,” said Chairman Rostin Behnam of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). “American investors, small and large, have demonstrated eagerness to incorporate digital asset products into their portfolios. It is our duty to ensure that when they do so, the full protections afforded by our regulatory oversight are in place, and that illegal and illicit conduct is swiftly addressed. When, as here, an entity goes even further, deliberately avoiding to employ meaningful access controls, intentionally avoiding knowing customers’ identities, and actively concealing the presence of U.S. customers on its platforms, there is no question that the CFTC will strike hard and aggressively.” “When you put growth above compliance, you end up in hot water,” said Chief Jim Lee of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). “Our team of investigators uncovered that Binance disregarded anti-money laundering Know Your Customer laws, failed to register as a money transmitter, and willfully violated U.S. sanctions tied to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. When you do so, your business becomes a playground for bad actors. Hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit proceeds from ransomware variants, darknet transactions, and various internet-related scams moved through Binance in an attempt to evade detection by law enforcement.” According to court documents, Binance admitted to prioritizing growth and profits over compliance with U.S. law. Binance launched in 2017 and focused on attracting high-volume customers, including U.S.-based customers. Binance quickly became the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world, with the greatest share of its customers coming from the United States. As a result of serving U.S. customers, Binance was required to register with FinCEN as a money services business and to implement an effective AML program that was reasonably designed to prevent Binance from being used to facilitate money laundering. Binance chose not to comply with U.S. law and failed to implement controls and procedures to prevent money laundering. Binance also did not implement controls that would have prevented U.S. customers from conducting transactions with customers in sanctioned jurisdictions, despite knowing that the system it used to match customers for transactions would necessarily cause transactions in violation of IEEPA. Instead of complying with U.S. law, in 2019, Binance announced that it would block U.S. customers and launched a separate U.S. exchange, Binance.US. Despite this announcement, Binance took steps to maintain a substantial number of U.S. customers. In particular, Binance focused on retaining valuable “VIP” customers, which were responsible for a large portion of Binance’s trading volume and revenue. These VIP customers were critical to Binance’s business because they helped provide the necessary liquidity to facilitate trades of digital assets. For example, Binance executives, including Zhao, made a plan to contact VIP customers and help the VIP register a new account for an offshore entity and transfer holdings to that account. Binance employees also called U.S. VIPs to encourage them to provide information that suggested the customer was not located in the United States. Binance also did not implement the core components of an effective AML program: Binance did not implement comprehensive know-your-customer (KYC) protocols or systematically monitor transactions, and Binance never filed a suspicious activity report (SAR) with FinCEN. For years, Binance allowed users to open accounts and trade without submitting any identifying information beyond an email address. Binance began requiring all users to provide KYC information in August 2021 but allowed users who had not provided KYC to continue trading on the exchange until May 2022. Between August 2017 and October 2022, U.S. users, including VIPs, conducted trillions of dollars in transactions on the platform, generating over $1.6 billion in profit for Binance. As Binance’s internal communications showed, Binance’s compliance employees recognized that Binance did not have protocols to flag or report transactions for money laundering risks, which employees recognized would attract criminals to the exchange. As one compliance employee wrote, “we need a banner ‘is washing drug money too hard these days - come to binance we got cake for you.’” Due in part to Binance’s failure to implement an effective AML program, illicit actors used Binance’s exchange in various ways, including conducting transactions for mixing services that obfuscated the source and ownership of cryptocurrency; transferring illicit proceeds from ransomware variants; and moving proceeds of darknet market transactions, exchange hacks, and various internet-related scams. Binance also knew that U.S. sanctions laws prohibited U.S. persons – including its U.S. customers – from trading with its customers subject to U.S. sanctions, including customers in comprehensively sanctioned jurisdictions, such as Iran. Binance knew that it had a significant number of users from comprehensively sanctioned jurisdictions and a substantial number of U.S. users and that its matching engine would necessarily cause U.S. users to transact with users in sanctioned jurisdictions in violation of U.S. law. Nonetheless, Binance did not implement controls that would prevent U.S. users from trading with users in Iran; and, because of this intentional failure, between January 2018 and May 2022, Binance willfully caused over $898 million in trades between U.S. users and users ordinarily resident in Iran. As part of the plea agreement, Binance has agreed to forfeit $2,510,650,588 and to pay a criminal fine of $1,805,475,575 for a total financial penalty of $4,316,126,163. Binance has also agreed to retain an independent compliance monitor for three years and remediate and enhance their anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance programs. Binance separately has also reached agreements with the CFTC, FinCEN, and OFAC, and the Department will credit approximately $1.8 billion toward those resolutions. The Department reached its resolution with Binance based on a number of factors, including the nature, seriousness, and pervasiveness of the offense, as a result of which Binance processed billions of dollars of cryptocurrency transactions for U.S. persons and caused U.S. customers to engage in transactions in violation of U.S. sanctions. Binance did not make a timely and voluntary disclosure of wrongdoing, but it received partial credit for its cooperation with the Department’s investigation, and it has taken steps to remediate its compliance program. Binance did not receive full credit for its cooperation because it delayed producing relevant evidence, including recorded meetings in which Binance executives discussed U.S. legal requirements. Accordingly, the total criminal penalty reflects a 20% reduction off the bottom of the applicable U.S. sentencing guidelines fine range. In addition, according to court documents, Zhao, Binance’s founder, owner, and CEO, admitted that he understood that Binance served U.S. users and was thus required to register with FinCEN and implement an effective AML program. Zhao knew that U.S. users were essential to Binance’s growth and were a significant source of revenue and knew that an effective AML program would include KYC protocols that would mean that some customers would choose not to use Binance. Zhao told employees it was “better to ask for forgiveness than permission,” and prioritized Binance’s growth over compliance with U.S. law. Without an effective AML program, Binance caused transactions between U.S. users and users in jurisdictions subject to U.S. sanctions. These illegal transactions were a clear and foreseeable result of Zhao’s decision to prioritize Binance’s profit and growth over compliance with the BSA. IRS-CI is investigating the case. The case is being prosecuted by Bank Integrity Unit Deputy Chief and National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team Deputy Director Kevin Mosley and Trial Attorney Elizabeth Carr of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), Trial Attorneys Beau Barnes and Alex Wharton of NSD’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section (CES), and Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Mike Dion for the Western District of Washington. Trial Attorney Julia Jarrett, formerly of MLARS and currently an AUSA for the District of Oregon, and Trial Attorney Matthew Anzaldi, formerly of CES and currently with NSD’s National Security Cyber Section, made substantial contributions to this investigation and prosecution. MLARS’s Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers, and employees, whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system. The Criminal Division has surged resources to the Bank Integrity Unit, which has imposed over $12 billion in penalties on financial institutions for sanctions violations over the last decade. NSD’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section investigates and prosecutes individuals and corporations for violations of export control and sanctions laws, in addition to other national security crimes. NSD continues to expand its corporate enforcement efforts – including growing the ranks of prosecutors dedicated to this work and establishing a Chief Counsel and Deputy Chief Counsel for Corporate Enforcement.


title: Billings felon admits illegal possession of firearms; numerous guns found in residence

body_text: BILLINGS — A Billings felon who was on state probation admitted today to illegally possessing numerous firearms, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Erik Joseph Perlberg, 48, pleaded guilty to prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Perlberg faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. A sentencing date will be set before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Perlberg was released pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that on April 4, Perlberg attempted to collect a firearm at Scheels in Billings. When a store employee asked why a family member had to complete an ATF form, Perlberg replied that he was prohibited because he was on felony probation. The firearm was not provided to Perlberg. An investigation led to an interview in which Perlberg acknowledged to his probation officer that he could not possess a firearm but had them at his residence and that the keys to the gun safe were at his place of employment. When law enforcement went to his employer for the keys, officers were shown a firearm that Perlberg possessed in a toolbox. During a search of Perlberg’s residence, law enforcement found numerous firearms and determined that 18 of the guns had been manufactured outside the state of Montana. Perlberg was convicted of felony DUI in Yellowstone County in 2021 and was prohibited from possessing firearms. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zeno B. Baucus is prosecuting the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. XXX


title: Woman Convicted for Voter Fraud Scheme

component: Criminal - Public Integrity Section

body_text: A federal jury in Sioux City, Iowa, convicted an Iowa woman today for a voter fraud scheme during the Iowa 2020 primary and general elections. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Kim Phuong Taylor, 49, of Sioux City, perpetrated a scheme to fraudulently generate votes for her husband in the primary election for Iowa’s 4th U.S. Congressional District in June 2020. After Taylor’s husband lost in the primary, he ran for Woodbury County Supervisor in the 2020 general election and Taylor again engaged in ballot fraud, causing absentee ballots to be fraudulently requested and cast. Taylor submitted or caused others to submit dozens of voter registrations, absentee ballot request forms, and absentee ballots containing false information. Taylor completed and signed voter forms without voters’ permission and told others that they could sign on behalf of relatives who were not present. The jury convicted Taylor of 26 counts of providing false information in registering and voting, three counts of fraudulent registration, and 23 counts of fraudulent voting. She faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count. A sentencing date will be set after a presentence report is prepared. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Timothy T. Duax for the Northern District of Iowa, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel of the FBI Omaha Field Office, and Acting Inspector in Charge Brad Mahs of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Denver Division made the announcement. The FBI Omaha Field Office and USPIS Denver Division investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Richard B. Evans and Lauren M. Castaldi of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Timmons for the Northern District of Iowa are prosecuting the case.


title: Ingredion to Spend $8 Million in Settlement Over Violations Involving Emissions of Particulate Matter at Indianapolis Corn Wet Mill

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: Plant-based ingredient maker Ingredion Incorporated today agreed to a settlement with the Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) and the Indiana Attorney General’s Office, to settle claims that it violated the Clean Air Act (CAA) at its corn wet milling facility in Indianapolis. Ingredion will pay a civil penalty of $1,139,600 and implement measures at a cost of nearly $7 million to reduce and offset unpermitted emissions of particulate matter (PM) and to comply with lower future PM limits. A complaint filed with the consent decree states that Ingredion violated CAA permit limits on PM emissions, including inhalable PMs with a diameter of 10 microns or less, and volatile organic compounds. The complaint also states that Ingredion did not operate and monitor certain equipment as required to minimize air emissions. “Today’s settlement will not just bring Ingredion back into compliance with the Clean Air Act, it will hold it to more stringent air pollution standards going forward,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “This settlement will result in cleaner air for the residents of Indianapolis, particularly those who live in the overburdened community near the Ingredion facility.” “This settlement requires Ingredion to both lower its future emissions of particulate matter and take additional steps to offset the excess emissions it has released in prior years,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “To help ensure the Company’s future compliance, the settlement also requires Ingredion to implement a compliance management system that is subject to an independent audit program.” “IDEM is happy to be a part of this resolution that ensures responsible operations in compliance with the Clean Air Act,” said IDEM Commissioner Brian Rockensuess. “Good air quality is a shared resource that requires partnership between government entities, the public and industry. This settlement will benefit residents in Marion County and Hoosiers across Indiana.” PM is composed of microscopic solids or liquid droplets. It can get deep into the lungs and cause serious health problems including coughing, aggravated asthma, chronic bronchitis and premature death in people with heart or lung disease. The settlement requires Ingredion to install and operate new equipment to meet PM limits that are lower than the plant’s current permitted limits. The company completed installation and testing of the new system in advance of today’s filing. The settlement also requires Ingredion to implement a modernized compliance management system to address repeated operation and monitoring failures at the facility, and hire an independent auditor to verify the effectiveness of the system. Under today’s settlement, Ingredion committed to mitigating the harm associated with past excess PM emissions by paving onsite unpaved and partially paved roads and parking areas to reduce PM emissions generated by vehicle traffic, which Ingredion completed in advance of today’s filing. The company will also replace aging railway locomotives at the facility with two modern locomotives that meet emissions standards. As a state supplemental environmental project, the settlement requires Ingredion to contribute $560,400 to the State of Indiana to support Brownfields redevelopment in and around Marion County, Indiana. The EPA and IDEM are investigating the case. Attorneys from ENRD’s Environmental Enforcement Section and the Indiana Attorney General’s Office are handling the case. The consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval. The consent decree will be available for viewing at www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees .


title: White Swan Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Sexual Abuse of a Minor  and Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child

body_text: Yakima, Washington – United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke sentenced Jeremiah Bobb, age 27, of White Swan, Washington, to 180 months in federal prison for one count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor and 40 years in prison for one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child. The sentences will run concurrently. Bobb was convicted of those crimes on July 31, 2023, following a multi-day jury trial. United States District Judge Dimke also ordered Bobb to a lifetime of federal supervision after he is released from prison. According to court documents, between 2016 and 2017, Bobb sexually assaulted two minors in a home on the Yakima Nation, where Bobb and the victims lived. Bobb’s trial began on July 24, 2023. After testimony from numerous witnesses, the jury convicted Bobb of both charges on July 31, 2023. During the trial it was revealed by witnesses that for years Bobb had engaged in a pattern of sexually assaulting or attempting to sexually assault vulnerable females in the households where he had been staying. “My heart breaks for the victims in this case. I am grateful for their courage to come forward and engage with law enforcement to seek justice,” stated U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref. “Children deserve to live in a world where they feel safe -- free from abuse and the fear of abuse. Mr. Bobb was held accountable today due to the joint efforts of the Yakama Nation Tribal Police Department, the FBI, the United States Attorney’s Office and the community. By working together, we can continue to build trust and keep our communities safe and strong.” “Two children’s lives were forever impacted by Mr. Bobb’s grievous actions.” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “Our hope is they find the support they need going forward and some comfort knowing he is in prison. Protecting children in Washington state from predators like Mr. Bobb is one of the top priorities for the FBI and our partners.” This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Yakama Nation Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Murphy.


title: Two Men Arrested in Gulfport Transporting 12 Kilograms of Fentanyl

body_text: Gulfport, Miss. – Two men were arrested today in Harrison County on criminal charges related to their alleged transportation of 12 kilograms of fentanyl while driving on Interstate 10 in Gulfport. According to court documents, John Lee Price, III, and Ahmed Karim Barrie were pulled over in a pick-up truck, pulling a horse trailer, on I-10 when the driver of the vehicle was observed to commit a traffic violation. During the traffic stop, the two men were found to be in possession of roughly 50,000 fake pills that were weighed, and field tested as roughly 12 kilograms of fentanyl. Price and Barrie are both charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance (fentanyl). If convicted, they each face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Man Sentenced To 6 ½ Years for Distributing Child Pornography

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Rajiiv Isree, 32, a Jamaican citizen who was living in Baraboo, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 78 months in prison for distributing child pornography. Isree is likely to be deported following his release from prison, but if he is not, the prison term will be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Isree pleaded guilty to this charge on August 7, 2023. On July 2, 2022, a 15-year-old girl reported that she had been sexually assaulted by Isree. Further investigation showed that the defendant filmed the assault and sent her a video of it. Law enforcement found additional videos of the defendant engaged in sexual activity with the minor sexually the girl on the defendant’s phone. At sentencing, Judge Peterson said that the defendant took advantage of a vulnerable girl when he engaged in sexual conduct with her and that videoing the conduct amplified the harm to the victim. The charge against Isree was the result of an investigation conducted by the Lake Delton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman prosecuted this case.


title: Louisiana Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Two Pounds of Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Mississippi, Southern

body_text: Gulfport, Miss. – A Louisiana man was sentenced to 204 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute two pounds of methamphetamine. According to court records, in January 2022, a confidential source informed Homeland Security Investigators that Deandrea Keion Malbrough, 30, was sending methamphetamine to the Southern District of Mississippi. This source then connected undercover agents with Malbrough who went on to mail two pounds of methamphetamine to agents at an address in Gulfport. A federal grand jury indicted Malbrough on February 22, 2023, and he pled guilty on July 17, 2023. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.