title: Former College Track and Field Coach Pleads Guilty to Cyber Fraud Scheme to Obtain Explicit Photos of Innocent Women from Across the Country

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A former college track and field coach pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston in connection with a scheme to trick women across the country into sending him nude or semi-nude photos using more than a dozen sham social media and email accounts. The defendant cyberstalked one female student-athlete and orchestrated a scheme to gain unauthorized access to a victim’s Snapchat account. Steve Waithe, 30, of Chicago, Ill., pleaded guilty 12 counts of wire fraud; one count of cyberstalking; one count of conspiracy to commit computer fraud; and one count of computer fraud, aiding and abetting. U.S District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for March 6, 2024. Waithe was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in April 2021 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2021. “Mr. Waithe’s conduct is despicable. For almost a year, he manipulated, exploited and in one case stalked young women across the county hiding behind a web of anonymized social media accounts and fabricated personas he engineered. Mr. Waithe maliciously invaded the lives of dozens of innocent victims and inflicted real trauma. He now knows no one can hide from justice – even anonymously behind a keyboard. Protecting our communities is one of the highest priorities for this office and we will use every tool at our disposable to ensure predators like Mr. Waithe face the full consequences of their actions,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Today, this former coach finally admitted to using his position of trust to betray his students when he extorted them for his own sexual gratification. He even went as far as cyberstalking one of them. Make no mistake, predators come in many different forms, and Steve Waithe is no exception,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Cyberstalking is a serious crime that can inflict lasting harm, and thankfully, the victims in this case did not let fear silence them. Many don’t report these types of crimes because they don’t think anything will be done to the perpetrator. We hope this case demonstrates otherwise.” Waithe previously worked as a track and field coach at several academic institutions, including Northeastern University, Penn State University, Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Tennessee and Concordia University Chicago. While a track coach at Northeastern, Waithe requested the cell phones of female student-athletes under the pretense of filming them at practice and at meets and covertly sent himself explicit photos of the victims that had previously been saved on their phones. Starting at least as early as February 2020, Waithe began perpetrating an evolving scheme to dupe women into sending him nude or semi-nude photos of themselves. Specifically, Waithe used anonymized social media accounts with usernames like “anon.4887” and variations of the phrase “Privacy Protector” to contact prospective victims, claiming that he had found compromising photos of them online and offering to “help” get the photos removed from the internet. Waithe also requested additional nude or semi-nude photos from victims that he could purportedly use for “reverse image searches.” Further, Waithe fabricated at least two female personas, “Katie Janovich” and “Kathryn Svoboda,” in an effort to obtain nude and/or semi-nude photos of women. Under the purported premise of an “athlete research” or “body development” study, Waithe emailed prospective victims pretending to be “Katie” or “Kathryn” with email accounts in their names. The emails described a phony study for athletes and requested information relating to height, weight, body fat and diet habits. The emails also included a request for the victims to send photos of themselves in order to “track their progress” and recommended that the photos show the women in a “uniform or bathing suit to show as much skin as possible.” The emails often included attachments of sample nude and semi-nude images to illustrate the types of photos that victims should send. Investigators identified over a dozen sham social media accounts used by Waithe and hundreds of photos sent dozens of victims who thought they were emailing someone conducting a legitimate research study. Waithe also cyberstalked one victim, from at least June 2020 to October 2020, through text messages and direct messages sent via social media, as well as by hacking into her Snapchat account. He texted and sent nude photos of the victim to the victim’s boyfriend, stating, “I wanted to make you aware that someone hacked your girlfriend’s snapchat account and will leak it soon. I need your help to assure this does not happen.” Over the course of those five months, Waithe sent harassing and intimidating messages to the victim and her boyfriend. The messages included explicit photos that Waithe had stolen from the victim’s phone when she was on the Track and Field team at Northeastern. In October 2020, Waithe conspired with another individual to hack into Snapchat accounts, ultimately gaining access to at least one account and its private “My Eyes Only” folder that contained nude and/or semi-nude photos. In addition, Waithe provided his co-conspirator with the usernames and phone numbers for the Snapchat accounts of at least 15 women. Waithe and his co-conspirator then used this information to craft and send text messages purporting to be from the “Snapchat Support Team” and requesting security information, through which they gained access to at least one account. The investigation revealed that Waithe’s internet browsing history included visits to webpages with titles like, “Can anyone trace my fake Instagram account back to me?” and “How to Hack Someones Snapchat the Easy Way.” Waithe’s search history also included searches for, among other things, “how to hack snapchat with a username and phone number.” Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274. Case information, including links to charging documents and victim resources, can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/victim-and-witness-assistance-program/us-v-steven-waithe The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison for each count, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of cyberstalking provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charges of conspiracy to commit computer fraud and computer fraud, aiding and abetting, each provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and FBI SAC Cohen made the announcement today. The Northeastern University Police Department provided substantial assistance with the investigation; the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and the Chicago Police Department also provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam W. Deitch of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.


title: Dual U.S./Mexican Citizen Extradited to the United States from Spain to Face Charges Related to Most Potent Fentanyl Seizure

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – November 21, 2023 SAN DIEGO –Aaron Leib Kobisher, the alleged leader of a drug trafficking organization based in San Diego and Tijuana, made his first appearance in federal court today following his extradition from Spain to face fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine trafficking charges. According to publicly filed court documents, the charges relate to multiple seizures, including a June 2021 interception of approximately two kilograms of powdered fentanyl that was linked to Kobisher and his drug trafficking organization. After the fentanyl was tested by the DEA Southwest Laboratory, investigators discovered that it was the most concentrated powdered fentanyl that had been tested to date by the laboratory. At today’s hearing, the United States moved for detention, arguing that Kobisher was a substantial flight risk. U.S. Magistrate Judge Steven B. Chu scheduled a detention hearing for November 24, 2023, at 10 a.m. Kobisher is the lead defendant charged in a six-defendant indictment stemming from a long-term investigation. Four others charged in the same indictment were arrested earlier this year. One defendant remains a fugitive. In court documents, Kobisher was described as an organizer and leader of the drug trafficking organization who coordinated the smuggling of fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine from Mexico to San Diego for distribution in the U.S. Prosecutors alleged that Kobisher fled to Mexico in November 2022, after several seizures linked to Kobisher and his drug trafficking organization. Kobisher was arrested in Spain on June 21, 2023. He had boarded a flight in Madrid that was headed to Mexico City, Mexico. After the flight left the gate, Spanish police stopped the aircraft and arrested Kobisher based on an Interpol Diffusion Notice from the United States government. On November 20, 2023, Kobisher was extradited to the United States. “Fentanyl is deadly in all forms, but one of the seizures in this case packed an extraordinary punch,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “Getting fentanyl out of the hands of drug traffickers – especially the most potent versions - no doubt saves many lives. The diligence of law enforcement means our neighborhoods are safer.” “Drug trafficking is a violent crime, that impacts the safety and security of our communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Shelly Howe. “The DEA and its partners will continue to work together to disrupt drug trafficking organizations and bring drug traffickers to justice. These organizations must be held accountable for the harm they cause in our communities.” “Fentanyl continues to be the most significant drug-related concern for Homeland Security Investigations and our partners due to its widespread availability, highly addictive features, and deadly effects,” said Chad Plantz, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations San Diego. “The success of this investigation is the result of law enforcement agencies working together to dismantle drug trafficking organizations and holding those accountable for their actions- no matter where they hide.” The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Kobisher. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mokhtari. DEFENDANT Case Number 23cr0916-JES-1 Aaron Lei Kobisher Age: 34 Mexico aka “El Kobi” SUMMARY OF CHARGES Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Fentanyl and Cocaine – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 841(a)(1), 846 Maximum penalty: Life in prison and $10 million fine Criminal Forfeiture – Title 21, U.S.C., Sections 853 AGENCIES Drug Enforcement Administration Homeland Security Investigations United States Marshals Service DEA Attaché Madrid, Spain U.S. Department of Justice, Office of International Affairs U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Enforcement Operations Department of Justice, Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) U.S. Customs and Border Protection *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Federal Grand Jury Indicts Grand Junction Man for Distributing Fentanyl

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Shawn Burket, age 43, of Grand Junction, was charged with possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute, and with possessing a firearm as a prohibited person. A federal grand jury returned the indictment against Burket on October, 4, 2023, and he was arrested on November 14, 2023. According to court documents, the offenses allegedly took place in Clear Creek County on or about August 2, 2023. If convicted on the narcotics charge, Burket faces not less than ten years imprisonment. He is currently detained in federal custody pending trial. The investigation in this matter was conducted by the ATF and the Idaho Springs Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Al Buchman is handling the prosecution. The charges in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Case Number 23-cr-420


title: Washington County Man Sentenced for Possessing a Stolen Firearm

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: ST. GEORGE, Utah – A Southern Utah man was sentenced today to 33 months’ imprisonment followed by a term of three years supervised release for possession of a stolen firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah. According to court documents, Kenneth N. Webb, 67, of Washington County, Utah, possessed a stolen Ruger .380 firearm in June 2022. Webb pleaded guilty on Aug. 10, 2023. At his change of plea hearing, Webb admitted that at the time he possessed the firearm, he knew or had reason to believe it was stolen. Webb also admitted that the Ruger .380 traveled in and affected interstate commerce. The case was investigated by the Utah State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). Assistant United States Attorneys Stephen P. Dent and Brady Wilson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: San Francisco Resident Charged With Murder Of A Person Whose Body Was Found In The Presidio

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – The Office of the United States Attorney has filed a federal criminal complaint charging Leion Butler with aiding and abetting murder after surveillance videos led investigators to conclude Butler was involved in the murder of a victim whose lifeless body was found on November 12, 2023, in the Presidio, in San Francisco, Calif. The complaint was filed November 20, 2023, and was unsealed earlier today. According to the complaint, Butler, 20, of San Francisco, is responsible for the murder of the victim found in the Presidio on November 12, 2023. Early that morning, witnesses discovered a deceased body in the parking lot of Crissy Field East Beach in the Presidio. The complaint describes how the victim was found to have suffered from a single gunshot wound to his head. The criminal complaint describes how investigators reviewed video from surveillance cameras near where the body was found, including those capturing cars leaving the area near the time of the murder. One of the cars observed leaving the area was linked to the deceased victim. Three days later, the victim’s vehicle was located, unoccupied, with its license plates still attached. The car reportedly was double parked for days in a street in the Hunters Point neighborhood of San Francisco. The criminal complaint describes how investigators obtained additional surveillance footage from cameras near where the victim’s car was found. The additional surveillance video captured the arrival of the victim’s car and showed someone—later identified as the defendant—parking the car, exiting, and speaking into a cellphone. Further, the video captured the eventual arrival of a second car. The criminal complaint further describes how the surveillance camera captured images of the defendant speaking with the driver of the second car, the defendant making several trips between the victim’s car and the second car, and the defendant wiping down the driver’s side door and interior of the victim’s car with “a clothing item or towel.” In addition, the video showed additional images of the defendant retrieving items from the victim’s car and eventually getting into the second vehicle and leaving the scene. The complaint describes how further investigation led investigators to discover the name of the person who owned the second vehicle and, eventually, to the defendant. According to investigators, the defendant both fit the description of the person who parked the victim’s car in Hunter’s Point and was related to the owner of the second vehicle. Further, investigators developed evidence establishing that on the day of the murder, the defendant’s cell phone was both in the general area where the victim was found and where the victim’s car was wiped down. In sum, Butler is charged with murder, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1111 and 2. A criminal complaint merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The maximum statutory penalty for murder is death or life imprisonment. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. Butler was arrested on November 20, 2023, and remains in federal custody. Butler appeared this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sallie Kim to face the charges. Butler pleaded not guilty. Butler’s next appearance is scheduled for November 22, 2023, before Magistrate Judge Kim, for further status on detention. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Davidson is prosecuting the case. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.


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, age 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 right to vote is one of our most important constitutional rights,” said United States Attorney Timothy T. Duax. “Ms. Taylor deprived citizens of their right to vote in order to benefit her husband’s campaign. Today, another group of citizens, fulfilling their civic duty as jurors, held her accountable for her actions. The guilty verdict is an example of how the justice system works to protect the voting rights of citizens and ensure fair and honest elections.” 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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ron Timmons for the Northern District of Iowa and Trial Attorneys Richard B. Evans and Lauren M. Castaldi of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section are prosecuting the case.


title: Omaha Man Convicted for Escape from Custody

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that William Lamb, 55, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on November 20, 2023, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for escape from custody. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Lamb to 2 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Lamb’s release from prison, he will begin a 2-year term of supervised release. On August 2, 2004, Lamb was sentenced for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On August 27, 2022, Lamb was transferred to Dismas Charities in Omaha, Nebraska, a Residential Reentry Center, to complete his sentence. On June 16, 2023, RRC staff conducted a routine vehicle search of Lamb’s vehicle and discovered what appeared to be a white, crystalline substance consistent with meth. Upon questioning of the substance by RRC staff, Lamb exited the facility, entered his vehicle, and drove off the property without authorization. He did not return to the RRC and was later arrested in Oklahoma. This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service.


title: Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Santiago Montes-Osorio, 30, a Mexican citizen most recently living in Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on November 21, 2023, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. United States Chief District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Montes-Osorio to 114 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Montes-Osorio’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. On July 21, 2022, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of Montes-Osorio’s vehicle in Omaha and found approximately 872 grams of meth. A search of Montes-Osorio’s residence in Omaha uncovered approximately 2,437 grams of meth and $19,451 cash. A search of a storage unit in Council Bluffs, Iowa, that Montes-Osorio had access to uncovered another 21.9 kilograms of meth. The $19,451 cash was forfeited as proceeds of illegal narcotics sales. This case was investigated by multiple agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Omaha Police Department, the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Department, and the Southwest Iowa Narcotics Task Force.


title: Omaha Man Sentenced for Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Wesley T. Vavra, 51, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on November 21, 2023, in federal court in Omaha for attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. Vavra was convicted of the charge by a jury on August 23, 2023. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Vavra to 235 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Vavra’s release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release. Between May 2022 and July 16, 2022, Vavra communicated on the Whisper application and through text messages with someone Vavra thought was interested in “open family play dates.” The other Whisper user was a law enforcement officer working in an undercover (“UC”) capacity pretending to be a father with an 8-year-old child. Vavra arranged to meet the UC on July 18, 2022, to engage in sexual acts with the supposed father’s 8-year-old child. Vavra was arrested upon arrival at the meetup location in Omaha. Vavra’s cell phone was seized. Analysis of Vavra’s phone showed that in addition to communicating with the UC, Vavra was also communicating with someone he thought was a 13-year-old female during this same timeframe. The 13-year-old female was also a law enforcement officer working in an undercover capacity. This case was investigated by the Omaha FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and the Douglas County’s Sheriff’s Office.


title: Kansas Woman Sentenced for Witness Retaliation Plot

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Juanita Gibson, age 38, originally of Hillsboro, Kansas, was sentenced on November 21, 2023, in federal Court in Omaha, Nebraska, for conspiracy to assault a witness and attempted assault of a witness. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter sentenced Gibson to 24 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Gibson’s release from prison, she will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. In the fall of 2021, Johnny Dolph (hereinafter “Dolph”) was being investigated by the United States Secret Service for financial crimes to include crimes involving counterfeit currency and checks. Dolph claims to be a “shot caller” in the Irish Mob Gang, a street gang that originated in Oklahoma. In September 2021, Victim 1’s husband was arrested in Nebraska for forgery counts. Victim 1’s husband was coming to Nebraska to assist Dolph in his forgery activities. Following Victim 1’s husband’s arrest, Dolph and Jennifer Norwood A/K/A Jennifer Dolph (hereinafter “Norwood”) began contacting Victim 1 in attempts to prevent her from cooperating with law enforcement. Dolph believed Victim 1 and Victim 1’s husband were cooperating with law enforcement. As a result, Dolph put a “green light” on Victim 1 and her husband. In October 2021, a search warrant was obtained through the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska for Dolph’s apartment in Omaha. This search warrant was signed by Magistrate Judge Susan Bazis and the affiant for the warrant was a Special Agent with the United States Secret Service. Following the execution of the search warrant, Dolph and Norwood began researching the affiant agent and magistrate judge listed on the search warrant. Dolph and Norwood also reached out to individuals outside of Nebraska providing information about Victim 1, where Victim 1 resides, and where family members of Victim 1 lived. On November 19, 2021, Dolph contacted Kate Ruth A/K/A Kate Winter A/K/A Kate Hill (hereinafter “Ruth”) and requested that she travel from Kansas to Omaha, Nebraska to attempt to carry out his “green light” on Victim 1. Dolph instructed Ruth to go to Greyhound and attempt to pick up a ticket that had been purchased in a third party’s name. Ruth was instead driven to Nebraska from Kansas by Gibson. Gibson obtained a red pickup truck to drive she and Ruth to Omaha. During the drive to Nebraska, Dolph sent Gibson and Ruth money for gas over CashApp, inquired to the status of their travel, and provided directions on where to park once they arrived at his apartment. Dolph and Norwood let Gibson and Ruth stay at their apartment in Omaha. While there, Dolph, Norwood, Gibson, and Ruth researched Victim 1. On September 2, 2022, Gibson was interviewed by the United States Secret Service and admitted to coming to Nebraska with Ruth at Dolph’s request. Gibson admitted that the purpose of the trip was to find a female that Dolph was looking for. The individual from Kansas was sentenced in 2022 to time-served after serving a nine-month sentence for possession of counterfeit currency and possession of a document making implement or authentication feature and is currently serving a five-year term of supervised release. On August 17, 2023, Dolph was sentenced to a total of 150 months’ imprisonment for felon in possession of a firearm; possession of a firearm following a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence; 2 counts of false statement during the purchase of a firearm; conspiracy to tamper with documents or proceedings; tampering with documents or proceedings; 2 counts of conspiracy to assault a witness; and 2 counts for attempted assault of a witness. On November 14, 2023, Norwood pleaded guilty to making false statements during the purchase of a firearm, conspiracy to destroy evidence, and conspiracy to assault a witness. Ruth is currently pending trial and are presumed innocent unless and until she is proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Secret Service, the Omaha Police Department, and the Richardson County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.


title: Omaha Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Launder Money

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Carlos Martinez Desmoineaux, 47, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on November 21, 2023, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to launder money. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Desmoineaux to time served, approximately 24 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Desmoineaux will also serve a 2-year term of supervised release. In 2009, Desmoineaux agreed with a confederate to use Desmoineaux’s bank account in Trinidad and Tobago to launder proceeds from marijuana sales. Wire transfers totaling $77,700 were sent to Desmoineaux’s bank account from locations in the United States, and an additional $10,800 cash was transported by the confederate to Trinidad and Tobago and deposited into the account. All the funds were generated from the sale of marijuana. Desmoineaux sent $88,500 by wire transfer to an airplane seller in Oklahoma to help finance the purchase of an airplane that the confederate planned to use and later did use to transport marijuana. Desmoineaux surrendered to authorities in Colombia in 2022 and was extradited to the United States in 2023. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and IRS Criminal Investigations.


title: Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Traveling to Engage in Sex with a Minor

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: CHARLESTON, S.C. —Brandon Lazarus Pelphrey, 26, of Monroe, North Carolina, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct and Commission of a Felony Sex Offense by a Registered Sex Offender. Evidence presented to the Court showed that Pelphrey traveled from Monroe, North Carolina, to Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina on Nov. 5, 2021, to have sex with whom he believed to be a 13-year-old girl he met online on chat applications Scout and KIK. Pelphrey was actually communicating with an officer of the South Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force posing as a minor. Prior to his trip, Pelphrey transmitted a sexually explicit photograph of himself to the perceived minor female. Upon arrival at the undercover location, Pelphrey was arrested and taken into custody. Further investigation revealed that Pelphrey was previously convicted of a sexual offense with a minor while he was enlisted in the United States Army, and he was a registered sex offender. United States District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks sentenced Pelphrey to 120 months for Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct and 120 months imprisonment for Commission of a Felony Sex Offense by a Registered Sex Offender, to be followed by a life term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. “Pelphrey’s actions are reprehensible and thankfully he was stopped before he could victimize an innocent child; subjecting them to unspeakable trauma,” said Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge for HSI Charlotte, which covers North and South Carolina. “We will remain vigilant and unwavering in our commitment to protect our community and hold predators accountable for their crimes.” “We will work tirelessly to protect our children from predators like Pelphrey,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina Adair F. Boroughs. “This just sentence serves as a warning to those who attempt to harm the most innocent among us.” This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Mount Pleasant Police Department (MPPD), the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office (SCAG), and other members of the South Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dean H. Secor is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education. ### Media note: If you are seeking a booking photo, Pelphrey is currently detained at the Charleston County Detention Center.


title: 25 Charged in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - North Carolina, Middle

body_text: GREENSBORO, N.C. - A federal indictment was unsealed yesterday charging 25 defendants in a narcotics trafficking conspiracy, announced Middle District of North Carolina United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston. The indictment, which followed a two-year investigation, charges the following individuals with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine hydrochloride in the Counties of Guilford, Randolph, Durham, and Montgomery, in the Middle District of North Carolina, and elsewhere: FELIPE AGUILAR-RIOS, also known as “Gallo,” ADOLFO MEDRANO-VARGAS, ALAN CHRISTOPHER LITTLE, also known as “Rick Ross,” ALEX VILLAFUENTE, also known as Alex Villafuerte, TRAVIS LAQUAN HEADEN, ANA OCHOA-IBARRA, also known as Anna Maria Guada Morales-Iriqui, ANGEL YAHIR QUINTERO-ARRENDONDO, also known as Angel Yahir Quintero, ANTHONY JAMES BUTLER, also known as “Ant,” LORETTA MCCOY LITTLE, also known as Arivette Little and Loretta Arivette Little, CAMERINO ATANACIO-HERNANDEZ, CESAR AYON GAMBOA, CESAR NOE LOPEZ, DAMIEN TERRELL CLYBURN, also known as Damian Clyburn and “Rell,” EDUARDO JOSUE HERNANDEZ, JARED MARCUS MOORE, J-KARI CHRISTYLE COLLINS, also known as “J,” MERISSA COLLINS WALL, also known as Merissa Faye Collins, Merissa Faye Wall, and “Rissa,” MICHAEL JAMES BUTLER, NAYELI PEREZ, MARY OJEDA, OMAR MEZA, RASHAD LEQUAN SHIPP, also known as “Green Mile,” RODRICK EUGENE LITTLE, also known as “Fruit,” RONALD LEE JOHNSON, and WESLEY QUEZNEK COLLINS, also known as “Quez.” Additional counts in the indictment charge some defendants named above with distribution of narcotics, possession with intent to distribute narcotics, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, felon in possession of a firearm, and money laundering. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted, individual defendants face penalties ranging from up to 20 years, 5 years to 40 years, or 10 years to life, for narcotics conspiracy, distribution, and possession with intent to distribute, depending on the drug amounts involved in the offenses; 5 years to life for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; up to 10 years or up to 15 years for felon in possession of a firearm, depending on the date of the offense; and up to 20 years for money laundering. In the event of conviction, a federal district court judge would determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The United States Postal Inspection Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Marshals Service, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Moore County Sheriff’s Office, and Stanly County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Terry M. Meinecke and Craig M. Principe. This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . ###


title: U.S. Trustee Program Provides Nearly 10,000 Language Interpretation Sessions in Fiscal Year 2023 for Debtors with Limited English Proficiency

component: U.S. Trustee Program

body_text: Consistent with its commitment to access to justice for all, the U.S. Trustee Program provided 9,910 free telephone interpretation sessions for debtors with limited English proficiency in bankruptcy proceedings in Fiscal Year 2023, the Executive Office for U.S. Trustees announced today. “Language interpretation services are essential to fulfilling the bankruptcy system’s promise of a fresh start for consumer debtors,” said Director Tara Twomey of the Executive Office for U.S. Trustees. “The U.S. Trustee Program is committed to ensuring that promise is accessible to all debtors no matter their English language proficiency.” Debtors use the interpretation services during their meetings of creditors. Section 341 meetings, as they are known, are a critical part of the bankruptcy process at which debtors testify under oath in response to questions by trustees and creditors. The interpretation services help consumer debtors with limited English proficiency participate meaningfully in these meetings. Interpretation for more than 200 languages is available through a third-party vendor contracted with the U.S. Trustee Program. Historically, the top five languages of debtors who use the service have been Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, Russian and Mandarin, while other top languages include Portuguese, Arabic, Cantonese, Armenian, Tagalog and Haitian Creole. Before the USTP made language interpretation services available nationwide, interpretation at section 341 meetings occurred ad hoc, sometimes through the debtor’s relatives, friends or attorney. The U.S. Trustee Program and trustees were concerned about the objectivity and accuracy of those interpretations. Using third-party translation services for the debtor’s sworn testimony helps protect consumer debtors from fraud and abuse by opening access to independent, objective and professional interpretations from service providers free from conflicting interests. Beyond offering free interpretation services, the U.S. Trustee Program also has posted on its website a Bankruptcy Information Sheet that is available in 17 languages and provides debtors with a helpful overview of the bankruptcy process . These and other language access initiatives reflect the Justice Department’s broader goal of providing meaningful access to programs and activities conducted or supported by federal agencies regardless of an individual’s English proficiency. The U.S. Trustee Program is the component of the Justice Department whose mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders – debtors, creditors and the public. The USTP consists of 21 regions with 89 field offices nationwide and an Executive Office in Washington, D.C. Learn more about the program at www.justice.gov/ust .


title: Drug Trafficker Sentenced To 12 Years In Prison

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle has sentenced Joseph Paul (30, Cordele, Georgia) to 12 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Paul had pleaded guilty on July 31, 2023. According to court documents, on January 17, 2022, Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies conducted a traffic stop and subsequent search on a car being driven and occupied by Paul. During the search, deputies found a scale, 187.2 grams of pure methamphetamine, and 19.72 grams of fentanyl. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha E. Beckman.


title: Methamphetamine And Fentanyl Trafficker Sentenced To More Than 10 Years In Federal Prison

body_text: Tampa, FL– U.S. District Judge Charlene Edwards Honeywell has sentenced Ja’Vion RaShard Jackson (23, Coleman) to 10 years and 5 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, cocaine, and promethazine with codeine, as well as three counts of distribution of controlled substances. Jackson had pleaded guilty on August 14, 2023. According to court documents, beginning in November 2022, and on a few dates thereafter, Jackson sold an undercover officer more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 52 grams of fentanyl, and bottles of promethazine with codeine in addition to cocaine and methorphan. On January 12, 2023, agents executed search warrants at two locations associated with Jackson. At one location (261 CR 222, Oxford, Florida), agents located quantities of marijuana, MDMA, and prescription pills. On the same date, Jackson was arrested at 715 Oakdale Avenue, Unit 38 in Brooksville. Agents served a search warrant on that residence and arrested another co-conspirator after locating methamphetamine, fentanyl, promethazine with codeine, and firearms inside a vehicle. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha E. Beckman.


title: Justice Department Secures Agreement with Tennessee Trucking Companies to Resolve Allegations of Hiring Discrimination

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that it has secured a $700,000 agreement with Covenant Transport Inc. (Covenant), as well as the affiliated entity Transport Management Services LLC (Transport), two transportation logistics and long-haul trucking companies headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The agreement resolves the department’s determination that the company violated the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) by routinely discriminating against non-U.S. citizen workers when checking their permission to work in the United States. “Employers cannot discriminate against non-U.S. citizens by demanding specific or unnecessary documents from them to prove their permission to work,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to ensuring compliance with our federal civil rights laws so that non-U.S. citizens with permission to work can contribute their talents to our workforce.” The department’s investigation found that from January 2020 through at least August 2022, Covenant and Transport routinely discriminated against non-U.S. citizens by requiring lawful permanent residents to show their Permanent Resident Cards (known as green cards) and by requiring other non-U.S. citizens to show documents related to their immigration status. Federal law allows all workers to choose which valid, legally acceptable documentation to present to demonstrate their identity and permission to work, regardless of citizenship status, immigration status or national origin. The INA’s anti-discrimination provision prohibits employers from requiring specific or unnecessary documents because of a worker’s citizenship status, immigration status or national origin. Indeed, many non-U.S. citizens, including lawful permanent residents, are eligible for several of the same types of documents to prove their permission to work as U.S. citizens are (for example, a state ID or driver’s license and an unrestricted Social Security card). Employers must allow workers to present whatever acceptable documentation the workers choose and cannot reject valid documentation that reasonably appears to be genuine and to relate to the worker. Under the terms of the agreement, Covenant and Transport will pay $700,000 in civil penalties to the United States, train their employees on the INA’s anti-discrimination requirements, revise their employment policies and be subject to monitoring by the department. The Civil Rights Division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the INA. The statute prohibits discrimination based on citizenship status and national origin in hiring, firing or recruitment or referral for a fee; unfair documentary practices ; and retaliation and intimidation . Find more information on how employers can avoid discrimination when verifying someone’s permission to work on IER’s website . Learn more about IER’s work and how to get assistance through this brief video . Applicants or employees who believe they were discriminated against based on their citizenship, immigration status or national origin in hiring, firing, recruitment or during the employment eligibility verification process (Form I-9 and E-Verify); or subjected to retaliation, may file a charge . The public can also call IER’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); call IER’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); email IER@usdoj.gov ; sign up for a live webinar or watch an on-demand presentation or visit IER’s English and Spanish websites. Subscribe for email updates from IER. covenant-final_settlement_agreement.pdf


title: Two Charged With $12 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme

body_text: Two individuals were charged with submitting fraudulent claims for corticosteroid injections and other services that were not performed and unlawfully distributing hydrocodone, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. Drs. Desi Barroga, 51, and Deno Barroga, 51, were indicted on November 14th on one count each of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, five counts each of healthcare fraud, and one count each of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. The defendants were arrested November 16th, and made their initial appearances Friday morning. According to court documents, the defendants operated a pain management clinic in Dallas where patients received prescriptions for high doses of hydrocodone, oxycodone, and morphine. Patients submitted to a short office visit each month and would receive their prescriptions. As part of those monthly visits, the defendants would submit fraudulent claims to the patients’ insurance companies representing that the patients received dozens of corticosteroid injections, when in fact, the patients received few injections or none. The doctors would place a needle on the patient’s body without actually piercing the skin to mimic an injection. If patients actually received any injections they would generally receive only a small amount. In many instances the defendants falsely represented that they provided over eighty injections to the patient on a single date of service. Fake medical records were also created to falsely reflect that injections were performed. The doctors billed health care benefit programs over $50 million and were paid approximately $12 million for these fraudulent services. An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If convicted, they face up to up to ten years in federal prison for each count of health care fraud and conspiracy to commit health care fraud. They face up to twenty years for the unlawful distribution of a controlled substance counts. They will also be required to forfeit any proceeds or property traceable to the commission of the offenses of which they’re convicted. The U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, U.S Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, U.S Office of Personnel Management, Office of the Inspector General, Drug Enforcement Administration Dallas Field Division Diversion Group, Texas Department of Insurance – Fraud Unit – Austin and Ft. Worth Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Renee Hunter is prosecuting the case.


title: Superseding Indictment Adds 13 Defendants to Fentanyl Distribution Conspiracy Spanning From California to D.C.

body_text: WASHINGTON – Federal law enforcement in D.C., Virginia, Maryland, San Diego, and Los Angeles arrested 11 additional alleged members of a fentanyl drug distribution, responsible for bringing hundreds of thousands of fake blue Oxycodone (M30) pills, containing fentanyl, from California to D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Administrator Anne Milgram, of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget, of the DEA Washington Division, Inspector in Charge Damon Wood, of the United States Postal Inspection Service Washington Division, and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Defendants Trayveon James Johnson, Karon Olufemi Blalock, Ronte Ricardo Greene, Melvin Edward Allen, Jr., Darius Quincy Hodges, Lamin Sesay, Paul Alejandro Felix, Omar Arana, Edgar Balderas, Jr., Raul Pacheco Ramirez, and Giovani Alejandro Briones, were arrested in coordinated law enforcement operations conducted across three states and the District of Columbia. They are named in a fourth superseding indictment that includes 13 other previously charged defendants (complete chart of arrested defendants below) and alleges a conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl. “As the breadth and scope of this indictment and corresponding arrests show, our office is working tirelessly to hold those who peddle poison in our community criminally accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves. “There will be no hiding from law enforcement for anyone selling fentanyl in the District. One of the surest ways to find yourself the subject of a federal investigation is to be part of a trafficking network like these alleged defendants.” “This investigation started when a young woman in Washington, D.C.—Diamond Lynch—took one pill and died almost immediately. DEA has worked to track down every single individual who played a part in Diamond’s death, and we found a vast network of traffickers who transported fentanyl from Mexico to L.A. to right here in D.C.,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “Today, 26 defendants are charged and in custody as a result of the investigation into Diamond Lynch’s death, and law enforcement has seized over a 94,000 fentanyl pills, 15 pounds of fentanyl powder, and 30 firearms as part of this investigation. DEA will continue to relentlessly pursue every single aspect of the global fentanyl supply chain to bring justice for Diamond Lynch and for the hundreds of thousands of American lives lost to fentanyl.” “This joint investigation is an example of how the US Postal Inspection Service utilizes our unique investigative capabilities in the fight against the trafficking of narcotics, specifically opioids such as fentanyl, that are killing Americans,” said Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge – Washington Division. “It further highlights our commitment to keep the US Mail and our postal employees safe. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will ensure that those who engage in such activity are brought to justice.” “To protect the American public, it is the mission of the DEA to investigate and take down major drug traffickers like the ones indicted today, that are illegally distributing fake pills containing fentanyl to the citizens of the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia,” said Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget, of the DEA Washington Division. “As part of our initiatives Operation Overdrive and One Pill Can Kill, the DEA is making a difference by attacking the violent drug traffickers poisoning our communities.” “Fentanyl poisons our neighbors, steals our friends and family, and attracts violence that plagues our community,” said Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela A. Smith. “Every member of the Metropolitan Police Department is deeply committed to riding our neighborhoods of this drug. This investigation and the resulting federal charges are just the latest example of how MPD will use every resource and partnership that we have to bring offenders to justice. We are all working together to make DC a safer place for everyone.” According to the indictment, the defendants are members of a drug conspiracy that began in August of 2020 and operated in the District of Columbia, the Eastern District of Virginia, the Central District of California, the Southern District of California, the District of Maryland, the Middle District of Tennessee, and elsewhere. It further charges defendants Carias Torres, Briones, and Valdez with conspiracy to launder the proceeds of the illegal drug distribution. Defendant Columbian Thomas is charged with possession of a machinegun in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. DEFENDANT NAME AGE LOCATION CHARGES Hector David Valdez, aka “Curl” 26 Santa Fe Springs, California Conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; Conspiracy to commit international money laundering Craig Eastman 20 Washington, D.C. Conspiracy to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl; Possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; Possession with intent to distribute fentanyl within 1000 feet of a protected location Charles Jeffrey Taylor 20 Washington, D.C. Conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; Possession with intent to distribute fentanyl Raymond Nava, Jr. 19 Bell Gardens, California Conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl Ulises Aldaz 27 Bell Gardens, California Conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl Max Alexander Carias Torres 26 Bell Gardens, California Conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; Conspiracy to commit international money laundering Teron Deandre McNeil, aka “Wild Boy” 33 Washington, D.C. Conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl Marvin Anthony Bussie, aka “Money Marr” 21 Washington, D.C. Conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl Marcus Orlando Brown 28 Washington, D.C. Conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl Columbian Thomas, aka "Cruddy Murda” 25 Washington, D.C. Conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; Possession of a machinegun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime Wayne Rodell Carr-Maiden 28 Washington, D.C. Conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl Andre Malik Edmond, aka “Draco” 22 Temple Hills, Maryland Conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl Treyveon James Johnson, aka “Treyski” 19 Alexandria, Virginia Conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl Karon Olufemi Blalock, aka “Fat Bags” 29 Alexandria, Virginia Conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl Ronte Ricardo Greene, aka “Cardiddy” 28 Washington, D.C. Conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; Possession with intent to distribute fentanyl Melvin Edward Allen, Jr., aka “21” 38 Washington, D.C. Conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl Darius Quincy Hodges, aka “Brick” 33 Glen Allen, Virginia Conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl Lamin Sesay, aka “Rock Star” 27 Alexandria, Virginia Conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl Paul Alejandro Felix 24 Glendale, California Conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl Omar Arana, aka “Frogs” 26 Cudahy, California Conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl Edgar Balderas, Jr., aka “Nano” 25 San Diego, California Conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl Raul Pacheco Ramirez 29 Long Beach, California Conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl Giovani Alejandro Briones 29 Victorville, California Conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; Conspiracy to commit international money laundering The conspiracy charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison up to life. The sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 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. The prosecutions followed a joint investigation by the DEA Washington Division and the U.S. Postal Inspector, in partnership with the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional support from the DEA Los Angeles, San Diego, and Riverside Field Offices, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Washington Field Office, and the Charles County, Maryland Sheriff’s Office. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Central and Southern Districts of California, the Eastern District of Virginia, and the District of Maryland. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew W. Kinskey, Solomon Eppel, and David T. Henek, of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses (VRTO) Section. Valuable assistance was provided by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy T. Wang. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Coffeyville Resources Refining & Marketing Will Pay More Than $23 Million to Address Clean Air Act Violations and Offset Environmental Harm Related to Its Kansas Refinery

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: The Justice Department and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced a settlement with Coffeyville Resources Refining & Marketing LLC and its affiliated companies (CRRM) for violations of the Clean Air Act and a previous consent decree related to operation of its petroleum refinery in Coffeyville, Kansas. These violations resulted in illegal emissions of various pollutants including an EPA estimate of over 2,300 excess tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2), a pollutant that can make breathing more difficult, from the refinery’s flares from 2015 to 2017. The United States and the State of Kansas allege that CRRM violated numerous provisions of a 2012 consent decree and the Clean Air Act. Under the settlement, CRRM will spend at least $1 million on a project to benefit the public and environment of Kansas and implement measures costing up to $9 million to prevent future violations and redress the environmental harm caused by their unlawful conduct. The company will also pay more than $13 million in penalties to the United States and Kansas. “This settlement demonstrates that the United States will take decisive action to address Clean Air Act violations, to enforce the terms of consent decrees and to promote environmental justice,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “The emissions reductions achieved under this settlement will result in healthier air for a community disproportionately affected by air pollution.” “The settlement with Coffeyville delivers on the promise of EPA’s new climate enforcement strategy by reducing greenhouse gas emissions in amounts equal to taking 10,000 cars off the road every year,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “In addition, the actions we are taking alongside our state partners in Kansas will reduce harmful air pollution that makes breathing more difficult and causes smog, acid rain and tree and plant damage.” “We are committed to protecting people and families in the communities where they live,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister. “In addition to the emission controls provided in the settlement, this order requires CRRM to invest $1 million in an environmental project to be approved by the state of Kansas, which will directly benefit the citizens of the state.” Since the United States and Kansas began investigating CRRM’s alleged non-compliance in 2016, CRRM’s efforts to come into compliance with Clean Air Act requirements have already eliminated more than 39,000 tons per year of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from excessive flaring of waste gas, equivalent to using nearly 4 million fewer gallons of gasoline per year. In addition, EPA estimates that the flare gas recovery system required by the consent decree lodged today will further reduce yearly emissions of greenhouse gases by 12,888 tons, equivalent to using 1.3 million fewer gallons of gasoline annually, and will also reduce yearly emissions of SO2 by 1.7 tons and nitrogen oxide (NOx) by 9.57 tons. NOx is a primary contributor to the formation of smog. In 2020, the United States and Kansas sought more than $6.8 million in stipulated penalties from CRRM because of the company’s alleged violations of the 2012 consent decree – primarily regarding its failure to properly monitor SO2 emissions from flaring. Various refinery processes lead to flaring or burning of waste gases which emit various pollutants into the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide, methane, and SO2. The U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas held CRRM liable for the stipulated penalties and the company appealed the decision. Also in 2020, the United States and Kansas alleged additional Clean Air Act violations at the refinery, resulting in excess emissions of SO2 in a community already disproportionately impacted by air pollution. Exposure to SO2 can harm breathing and particularly affects those with asthma, children, and older adults. High concentrations of SO2 can lead to formation of other sulfur oxides and ultimately small particles, which can contribute to particulate matter pollution, acid rain and tree and plant damage. The consent decree, which the United States filed today, resolves the stipulated penalties demand and violations identified in the complaint. CRRM must: Pay more than $6.8 million in stipulated penalties awarded by the court and $183,000 in stipulated penalties for additional violations of the 2012 consent decree; Pay more than $6.2 million in additional penalties for Clean Air Act violations alleged in the complaint; Spend at least $1 million on an environmentally beneficial project to be approved by the State of Kansas; Undertake various measures to facilitate future compliance with the Clean Air Act; Reduce NOx emissions from refinery heaters; and Build an approximately $9 million flare gas recovery system to reduce the refinery’s flaring. EPA Region 7, EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment investigated the case. Attorneys from ENRD’s Environmental Enforcement Section and the State of Kansas prosecuted the case. The consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas, 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: Appleton Sex Offender Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Child Pornography Possession

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on November 17, 2023, William B. Bowers (age: 42) of Appleton, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison by Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach. According to court records, in 1999, Bowers was convicted of two counts of Second-Degree Sexual Assault of a Child in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Bowers was sentenced to 20 years in state prison and ordered to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life. On February 5, 2020, after being released onto supervision, Wisconsin Probation and Parole Agents were contacted by a concerned individual who observed sexually suggestive websites bookmarked on Bowers’ computer. The following day, a search of Bowers’ electronic devices revealed that Bowers was active on numerous illicit websites and social media applications, in violation of the terms of his state supervision and his rules as a lifetime sex offender registrant. Further investigation revealed that several of Bowers’ devices contained child sexual abuse material. On May 9, 2023, following a series of legal motions and medical evaluations, Bowers entered a guilty plea to one count of Possession of Child Pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252A(a)(5)(B) and (b)(2). At sentencing, Judge Griesbach noted the serious nature of the crime, especially in light of Bowers’ history of child sexual abuse. Judge Griesbach determined that a sentence of 180 months’ imprisonment was a fair and just sentence under federal law. Upon the completion of his federal prison sentence, Bowers will spend the remainder of his life on supervised release. He also must continue to register as a sex offender under state and federal law. This case was investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, Division of Community Corrections and the City of Menasha Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Humble. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006, by the U.S. Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . # # # For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov 414-297-1700 Follow us on Twitter


title: Deming Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Federal Firearms Offenses

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced that Manuel Lucero III was sentenced to the statutory maximum of 120 months in prison. Lucero, 42, of Deming, pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition on March 21, 2023. According to court records, on Jan. 31, 2022, Lucero came to the attention of law enforcement when his former romantic partner reported him for harassment. The woman stated that she had been driving down a road earlier that day with her mother and two children in the vehicle when she noticed that another vehicle was following her. The woman pulled over and recognized Lucero as the driver. Lucero approached the car and pulled a firearm from his waistband and pointed it at the woman. Lucero then moved to the passenger side of the vehicle and pointed the gun at the woman’s mother. The woman fled the scene, but Lucero continued to follow her until she pulled into the parking lot of a local police station. The woman was able to describe the firearm Lucero threatened her with to law enforcement as a 9mm Beretta. Early the following morning, Lucero contacted law enforcement and stated he was feeling depressed and upset and wanted to speak to an officer. When law enforcement arrived at his home, Lucero was holding a loaded magazine. When officers asked Lucero if he had a weapon, Lucero stated it was not on the property. Officers left the home and returned the next day, Feb. 2, with a search warrant for Lucero’s residence. During the resulting search, officers located the 9mm Beretta, a loaded magazine, a pistol holster and one round of .45 ammunition. Lucero had multiple prior felony convictions, mostly related to incidents of domestic violence, and was most recently convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, resulting in great bodily harm in 2016. As a previously convicted felon, Lucero could not possess a firearm or ammunition. Based on the circumstances of the incident on Jan. 31, the United States requested a sentencing enhancement from a range of 57 to 71 months to 84 months. On Nov. 16, 2023, the sentencing judge sentenced Lucero to the statutory maximum of 120 months. Upon his release from prison, Lucero will be subject to 3 years of supervise release. The Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Deming Police Department. The Las Cruces Bureau Office of the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case. # # # 23-268


title: District Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearms Offense

body_text: WASHINGTON – Maurice Devonte Beckham, 22, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to a federal firearms offense stemming from his possession of a loaded firearm on Jan. 30, 2023, while driving a stolen vehicle in Northeast Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Beckham pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a person convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. The Honorable Reggie B. Walton scheduled sentencing for Feb. 26, 2024. According to plea documents, shortly after 2 a.m. on Jan. 30, 2023, MPD officers were on patrol in the 1100 block of Raum St. Northeast when they observed Beckham walk quickly toward a running Honda CR-V and enter its driver’s seat. The officers recognized Beckham from prior interactions and knew him to have outstanding arrest warrants. An officer approached the Honda—which was later determined to have been stolen—and Beckham accelerated, nearly striking the officer, and crashing into an occupied, marked police cruiser and a citizen’s parked vehicle. Officers opened the driver’s door and removed Beckham. Beckham attempted to flee on foot. Officers apprehended Beckham and detained him in handcuffs. They then observed in plain view on the driver’s seat floorboard—the same area from which they had just removed Beckham—a semi-automatic firearm. The recovered weapon was a Micro Draco 7.62x39mm caliber firearm, with one round in the chamber and 20 rounds in its 30-round capacity magazine. Beckham was arrested on Jan. 30, 2023, and has remained in custody since. Federal law prohibits Beckham from possessing a firearm because he has a prior conviction in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for unauthorized use of a vehicle, which is a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. Beckham faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentence imposed in this case will be determined by the court after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of the officers of the Metropolitan Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Washington Field Office. The case was investigated and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul V. Courtney.


title: Utah Man Arrested on Charges of Interstate Death Threats

body_text: WASHINGTON – Kevin Brent Buchanan, 62, of Tooele, Utah, was charged by complaint, unsealed today, with threatening a Palestinian rights organization. According to publicly filed court documents, between Oct. 31 and Nov. 2, Buchanan called the organization and left at least five voice messages stating, in part, “You’re the enemy,” “You’re being catalogued,” “You’re gonna die,” and “You’re dead people walking.” Buchanan is charged with transmitting in interstate commerce a communication containing a threat to injure the person of another. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum of five years in prison and a fine not to exceed $250,000. U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, and Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case, with significant assistance from the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah. Trial Attorney Sanjay Patel of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Risa Berkower, of the Fraud, Public Corruption, and Civil Rights Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case, with assistance from James Donnelly of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. A Complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Illegally Armed Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced to a Decade in Federal Prison

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Larry Scott, 49, of Indianapolis has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents, on February 23, 2023, investigators executed a search warrant at Scott’s residence following a months-long investigation into his ongoing drug trafficking activities. During the search, investigators located approximately 40.1 grams of fentanyl, two digital scales, a box of baggies, a spoon, a box of razor blades, and $1,309 in U.S. currency. Additionally, investigators located a Smith & Wesson M&P 45 handgun and a Del-Ton, AR-style pistol. Scott was already a felon at the time of his most recent crimes, with a lengthy criminal history including a prior conviction for illegal gun possession. As a convicted felon, is prohibited under federal law from ever possessing a firearm. “Again and again, we see illegally armed criminals pushing fentanyl into our neighborhoods. Deadly weapons and deadly drugs cause immense harms and end far too many lives far too soon,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Our office is prioritizing prosecution of criminals like this defendant, whose crimes pose such a danger to our communities. This defendant will now serve a decade in federal prison, a serious sentence that demonstrates that these crimes will not be tolerated.” DEA, IMPD, and the Hamilton/Boone County Drug Task Force investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered that Scott be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for 4 years following his release from federal prison and pay $500 in restitution. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy C. Fugate, who prosecuted this case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. ###


title: Colorado Man Pleads Guilty to Charges in Wire Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, the Department of the Interior (DOI) Office of Inspector General, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Inspector General announced today that James Matison pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. Matison, 46, of Pueblo, Colorado, will remain on conditions of release pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. According to the plea agreement, Matison was the Program Director for Restoration Programs at WildEarth Guardians, a not-for-profit which relies on funding from federal agencies, the State of New Mexico and other not-for-profit organizations. As Program Director, Matison was responsible for approving all Restoration Program project invoices submitted by contractors for payment. One such contractor was Timberline Environmental, LLC, a Colorado based environmental company owned and operated by Matison’s co-defendant, Jeffrey Ham. In 2015, Matison was experiencing financial difficulties and asked Ham for help with a fraudulent scheme to obtain money from WildEarth Guardians. Ham agreed to allow Matison to generate fraudulent invoices from Timberline for submission to and payment from WildEarth Guardians, which Matison would approve for payment. Matison would collect the checks and deposit them into Timberline’s bank account. Ham provided Matison with pre-signed blank Timberline checks which Matison would use to write checks to an entity called Euro-American Development, an Arizona company under Matison’s control. In this manner, Matison obtained $242,210 from WildEarth guardians between Feb. 2015 and Feb. 2019 when Ham put a stop to the scheme. By the terms of his plea agreement, Matison faces up to twenty years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines. Jeffrey Ham pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud on July 17, 2023. At sentencing, Ham faces up to twenty years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines. The Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General and the Department of the Interior Office of Inspector General investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy Peña is prosecuting the case. # # # 23-269


title: Justice Department Secures Agreement with City of Blaine, Minnesota, to Resolve Discrimination Claim Involving Alcohol Use Disorder

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that it filed a complaint and proposed consent decree with the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota to resolve allegations that the City of Blaine, Minnesota, discriminated against an employee with alcohol use disorder (AUD) in violation of Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA prohibits employers from discriminating against employees with disabilities in the terms, conditions and privileges of their employment. The lawsuit alleges that the city discriminated against an employee with alcohol use disorder who voluntarily disclosed that he was to undergo treatment by requiring him to pay for alcohol and controlled substances testing and evaluation based on his disability. This is the Justice Department’s first ADA settlement resolving a claim of employment discrimination based on alcohol use disorder. “Close to 30 million Americans in our country have had an alcohol use disorder and many are entitled to protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Employees with alcohol use disorder, or other disabilities, should not have to pay for employer-required health assessments to document information about their disabilities,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department remains committed to ensuring that people with alcohol use disorder and other disabilities have equal opportunities in the workplace.” Under the proposed consent decree, which the court must approve, the city will implement policies and procedures regarding non-discrimination in employment and train personnel on the requirements of Title I of the ADA. The city will also pay out-of-pocket losses and compensatory damages to the employee. In 2022 , 48.7 million people aged 12 or older (or 17.3%) had a substance use disorder (SUD) in the past year, including 29.5 million who had AUD, 27.2 million who had a drug use disorder (DUD), and 8 million people who had both an AUD and a DUD. AUD is a medical condition that is characterized by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as “a problematic pattern of alcohol use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress” that can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the number of symptoms experienced in the prior 12 months. This matter is based on a referral from the Minneapolis Area Office of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which conducted the initial investigation. For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TTY 1-833-610-1264) or visit www.ada.gov. For more information on the Civil Rights Division, please visit www.justice.gov/crt . If you believe you’ve been discriminated against based on disability, please submit a report online at www.civilrights.justice.gov . 11_20_23_complaint_u.s._v_city_of_blaine.pdf 11_20_23_consent_decree_u.s._v_city_of_blaine.pdf


title: Huntington Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Aaron Zachary Slash, 22, of Huntington, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute heroin. According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 5, 2023, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Slash on the 700 block of Sixth Avenue in Huntington. Officers searched the vehicle and found approximately 92 grams of heroin, a loaded Glock 17 9mm pistol and approximately $1,717 in the vehicle. Slash admitted that he possessed the seized heroin and intended to distribute it. Slash further admitted that the cash was proceeds from selling heroin. Slash is scheduled to be sentenced on March 18, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Huntington Violent Crime and Drug Task Force and the Huntington Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney L. Finney is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-173. ###


title: Bridgeport Gun Trafficker Sentenced to Federal Prison

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that DAQUAN LAMONT WRIGHT, 26, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 30 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing and selling firearms. According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation determined that Wright was illegally selling firearms without a license. In January and February 2023, investigators made three controlled purchases of handguns from Wright. One of the handguns had been reported stolen in North Carolina. During the investigation, Wright indicated that he possessed, and had access to, other firearms and firearm parts. Wright was arrested on March 13, 2023. On that date, a search of his Bridgeport residence revealed a Glock Model 43 handgun, ammunition, and various gun parts. Wright was previously convicted in state court of theft of a firearm, and possession with intent to sell narcotics. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce. Wright has been detained since his arrest. On July 5, 2023, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. This investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Fairfield, and Stamford Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis through the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program. PSN, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts, is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.


title: Virginia tactical gear & equipment company agrees to pay more than $2 million to settle allegations related to Buy American Act

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker today announced that a Virginia-based tactical gear and equipment company has agreed to pay nearly $2.1 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations that it failed to comply with the requirements of the Buy American Act (“BAA”), Trade Agreements Act (“TAA”) and Berry Amendment when selling textile-based products to the Department of Defense. London Bridge Trading Company, Ltd. (“LBT”) entered the settlement with the United States and qui tam relator Ann Keating. The BAA was enacted in 1933 to protect U.S. manufacturing by creating a preference for domestic products when the federal government purchases supplies. The Berry Amendment requires certain items purchased by the Department of Defense to be 100% domestic in origin and mandates a higher level of domestic content than the Buy American Act. The TAA governs trade agreements between the United States and foreign countries and limits certain U.S. Government procurement to US-made products or products made in designated countries. Court documents allege that since at least 2008, LBT submitted false claims in connection with the sale of “American-made” products that were actually manufactured in foreign countries, including Peru, Mexico and China. The company marketed its goods as “100% made in America” and replaced the original foreign manufacturers’ tags with tags that read “Made in USA.” LBT also offered its products for sale to all federal agencies on the government-owned website “GSA Advantage!” that permits government agencies throughout the United States to purchase products from contracted vendors. The United States, including through the Defense Logistics Agency’s supply center located in Columbus, purchased a variety of textile-based products from LBT, including clothing, armor, boots, belts, bags, rope, slings, backpacks and medical pouches. This settlement specifically addressed load-out bags purchased from LBT that violated the TAA and Berry Amendment. The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought by an employee of LBT under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. These provisions allow a private party, known as a relator, to file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. Under the terms of the settlement agreement the relator will receive a share of the proceeds. The lawsuit is titled U.S. ex rel. Keating v. London Bridge Trading, et al. The relator in this case had a personal interest in the safety and security of the United States military; in 2004, the relator’s son was killed while serving in Iraq. The relator believes the scheme as alleged was a threat to the safety and integrity of U.S. military operations. This matter was investigated by agents from the Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s Mid-Atlantic Field Office; Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, Major Procurement Fraud Field Office; General Services Administration, Office of Inspector General, Mid-Atlantic Division; Homeland Security Investigations; and Defense Logistics Agency working with the U.S. Attorneys’ offices in the Southern District of Ohio and Eastern District of Virginia. “We greatly appreciate the steadfast, thorough, and collaborative work on this case by each of the federal agencies involved,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. “This office takes very seriously the duty of government contractors to meet all of their obligations under government contracts and we will pursue anyone falsely certifying compliance with the Buy American Act.” “GSA OIG will continue to work with its investigative partners and the Department of Justice to protect the integrity of GSA's Multiple Award Schedule program and hold accountable those who attempt to defraud the government," said Special Agent in Charge Elisa Pellegrini with the General Services Administration’s Office of Inspector General. “We are very pleased with this resolution. This is a testament to the aggressive investigation we conducted, and now the public can see this.” said Andrew Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, Major Procurement Fraud Field Office. “Companies that do business with the government must comply with all of their obligations, and if they seek to circumvent the rules and regulations of what and how they supply our women and men in uniform, they must be held accountable for their actions.” Civil Chief Andrew M. Malek is representing the United States in this matter. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. # # #