title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Partners With Area Nonprofit to Raise Awareness About Human Trafficking

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – United States Attorney Michael Easley is partnering with the local chapter of A21 to host a training to raise awareness and provide tools on how to recognize and combat human trafficking. The training is being held on July 30, a day proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly to be “World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.” The event is open to the public and will include how to recognize indicators of human trafficking (both labor and sex). The program will also highlight a new campaign to promote the U.S. Human Trafficking Hotline encouraging citizens to report suspected labor trafficking featured on signs at the airport. “We are prioritizing human trafficking prosecution like never before. Our new task forces bring law enforcement and service providers to the table for the dual mission of locking up traffickers and rescuing victims. Survivors across North Carolina can have faith that we will help them find resources and have their backs. But we can’t do it alone,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “This training gives the public the tools to identify and report the signs of human trafficking. Together we are building a community that is safer and more free, one survivor at a time.” “Labor trafficking remains a profound challenge, necessitating continuous education and community engagement,” said Robin Seitz, Chief Marketing Officer of A21. “Through initiatives like A21's Can You See Me? campaign, we can visually communicate the signs of trafficking to the public, empowering individuals to recognize and report suspicious activities. This partnership underscores the importance of collective action in safeguarding vulnerable individuals and communities. We are resolute in our commitment to drive meaningful change and ensure that North Carolina becomes a safer place for all. We commend the U.S. Attorney's Office for their leadership and look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts in the fight against human trafficking.” Event Details : When: Tuesday, July 30 from 9:30 a.m. to noon Where: Hope Community Church – Raleigh Campus – 321 Buck Jones Road in Raleigh Individuals who wish to participate in the training, can register online . Media interested covering the event can contact USANCE.PublicInfoOfficer@usdoj.gov . ###


title: Rapid City Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on July 25, 2024. Tell Logan Cadotte, 33, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and $12,000 in restitution. Cadotte will be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. In July of 2021, Cadotte was indicted by a federal grand jury for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Receipt of Child Pornography, and Possession of Child Pornography. On May 3, 2024, he pleaded guilty to receiving child pornography. For several years, Cadotte sexually abused a female minor he was asked to babysit. Cadotte recorded the sexual abuse using his cellular phone. When law enforcement executed a search warrant on Cadotte’s residence in February of 2021, they located images and videos of the minor female being sexually abused by Cadotte. He also possessed hundreds of sexually explicit depictions of other minors, some of whom were identified by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case. Cadotte was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: South Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado Men Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced three men convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance. Chris Janis, a/k/a “Izzy” Janis, age 50, of Manderson, South Dakota, was sentenced on July 25, 2024, to six years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Dalton Fiala, age 24, of Buffalo, Wyoming, was sentenced on July 26, 2024, to four years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Richard Glover, age 43, of Denver, Colorado, was sentenced on July 26, 2024, to 17 years and six months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Janis was indicted by a federal grand jury in the summer of 2023, and pleaded guilty on March 15, 2024. Glover and Fiala were indicated by a federal grand jury in the fall of 2023 and pleaded guilty on April 26, 2024. These convictions stemmed from activities involving the large-scale distribution of methamphetamine in Rapid City, South Dakota, and on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Glover and his significant other, Teresa Goodroad, were the source of supply for Mark Bond and Todd Pape in South Dakota. During the course of the conspiracy, Bond and Pape would make trips to Colorado to pick up pounds of methamphetamine from Goodroad and Glover. Other times Goodroad and Glover would deliver the drugs to Bond and Pape in South Dakota. Once the drugs were in South Dakota it would be further distributed by multiple individuals, including Janis and Fiala. Between 15 and 45 kilograms of methamphetamine was distributed during the course of this criminal enterprise. Goodroad, Bond, and Pape were sentenced earlier this summer. Goodroad received a sentence of 17 years and six months in prison; Bond received a sentence of 26 years and eight months in prison; and Pape received a sentence of 25 years in prison. This case was investigated by the Badlands Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force, which is comprised of agents from the FBI, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs Division of Drug Enforcement, Martin Police Department, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan N. Dilges and Edward Tarbay prosecuted the case. All three men were immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following their respective sentencings.


title: Rapid City Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of Firearm

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on July 26, 2024. Darian Libert, age 26, was sentenced to one year and nine months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Libert was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in February of 2024. He pleaded guilty on May 1, 2024. In July of 2023, at Rapid City, Libert, a previously convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms, was found to be in possession of Sturm, Ruger & Company .380 AUTO caliber semi-automatic pistol. The investigation began when Libert was driving a four-wheeler on Deadwood Avenue and was involved in an accident. Libert fled the scene but was later located by law enforcement officers and was found in possession of the firearm in his pocket. 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. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case. Libert was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Sturgis Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier sentenced a Sturgis, South Dakota, man convicted of Receipt of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on July 25, 2024. Jeffery Dean Sipe, 31, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Sipe will be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. In November of 2023, a federal grand jury indicted Sipe for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, Enticement of a Minor Using the Internet, and Receipt of Child Pornography. He pleaded guilty on May 3, 2024. In May of 2022, a local minor reported that Sipe had solicited images of child pornography from her and had forcibly raped her when she was between the ages of 15 to 17. Law enforcement found sexually explicit messages from Sipe in his Snapchat account which directed the victim to pose in certain ways and send him sexually explicit images of her. Multiple sexually explicit images of the minor were located on Sipe’s electronic devices. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case. Sipe was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: California Man Sentenced on Firearm Charge

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Healdsburg, California, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on July 26, 2024. Steve Tucker, 48, was sentenced to three years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by three of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Tucker was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in August of 2023. He pleaded guilty on April 26, 2024. Tucker, who is a felon and thus prohibited from possessing firearms, was arrested in Rapid City, South Dakota, in March of 2023 with a Jimenez Arms brand .22 caliber semi-automatic handgun. When Tucker was found with the firearm, he gave a false name to law enforcement and had multiple pending arrest warrants. 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. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Custer County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case. Tucker was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Violating Federal Gun Control Act

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – KENNETH TATE (“ TATE”) , age 43, a resident of New Orleans, pled guilty on July 25, 2024, before United States District Judge Barry W. Ashe, to a violation of the Federal Gun Control Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to court records, law enforcement conducted surveillance near Tara Lane in New Orleans East when they saw TATE, armed with a rifle, as he stood in the breezeway of an apartment building. The officers observed as TATE conducted a hand-to-hand drug transaction, while armed with that rifle. When officers moved in to arrest TATE , he fled into the apartment complex, and entered a particular apartment. Police surrounded the apartment, and TATE eventually surrendered. During a subsequent search of the apartment, the police found the rifle and another handgun. TATE had prior felony convictions that prohibited him from possessing a firearm. Judge Ashe set sentencing for October 24, 2024. TATE faces a maximum term of 15 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Haller, Senior Litigation Counsel and PSN Coordinator.


title: Bomb Threat Sent via Bank’s Pneumatic Tube Leads to Guilty Plea for Bank Robber from Westbrook

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: A Westbrook man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Portland to bank robbery. According to court records, on January 26, 2024, Jason Arsenault , 41, pulled up to the drive‑through window of a South Portland bank wearing a black winter hat, sunglasses and a black mask covering his face. Using the pneumatic tube, he passed a note to the teller that read, “CAR BOMB No Cops Alarms or WE ALL DIE $50,000 in 20’s.” The teller placed some money in the pneumatic tube, and Arsenault took the funds and drove away. Using multiple surveillance cameras, investigators were able to trace the vehicle’s movements and capture an image of Arsenault’s face, leading to his identification. Six days following the robbery, Arsenault was arrested in Portland, and he confessed to the robbery and directed investigators to the money hidden in a backpack in Baxter Woods in Portland. Arsenault faces up to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, followed by up to three years of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the South Portland and Portland police departments. ###


title: U.S. Attorney Announces Sentencing in $1.2 Million Real Estate Trust Fund Fraud Case

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A former Roswell escrow company owner was sentenced to 46-months in prison for defrauding his clients of over $1.2 million. According to court documents, Christopher Adam Jensen-Tanner purchased Roswell Escrow Services, Inc. in 2013 and began conducting business as a servicer of real estate contracts, holding significant sums of money in trust for clients. In January 2017, Jensen-Tanner began illegally using customer funds to finance an extravagant lifestyle beyond his means. To conceal his actions, Jensen-Tanner commingled funds between corporate accounts, moving money held in trust to operating accounts and vice versa. By fall 2019, the scheme unraveled when Jensen-Tanner could no longer hide the shortfall created by his misuse of client funds. A victim complaint led to an examination by the New Mexico Financial Institutions Division, exposing the full extent of the fraud. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico are seeking individuals who may have been victims of a wire fraud scheme involving Jensen-Tanner and Roswell Escrow Services, Inc. (RES) between January 2017 and October 2019. If you were a client of Jensen-Tanner and/or RES and believe you are a victim, please contact the FBI tipline at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or tips.fbi.gov. A restitution hearing will be set at a later date. If you would like to attend the hearing, please contact Victim Specialist Jacquie Gutierrez at (575) 522-2304 for more information. The Roswell Division and Las Cruces Resident Agency of the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this case with assistance from the Securities and Financial Institutions Divisions of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Ry Ellison and Richard Williams are prosecuting the case. # # #


title: Monroe Man Found with Several Firearms and Extended and High-Capacity Magazines Sentenced to Federal Prison

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

body_text: MONROE, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Vonterrius D. White , 32, of Monroe, Louisiana , has been sentenced for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. Chief United States District Judge Terry A. Doughty sentenced White today to 46 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. According to information presented in court, on June 30, 2022, officers with the Monroe Police Department responded to a 911 call at an apartment complex in Monroe. Upon arrival, officers observed White with an extended magazine appearing out of his right pants’ pocket. Officers made contact with White and found a Glock 19 9mm pistol in his pocket. White then admitted to officers that he was in possession of two other firearms, a Glock 20 10mm pistol and a DPMS Panther Arms A-15 rifle, as well as ammunition and 6 magazines, 3 of which were high-capacity magazines. Officers seized all of the firearms and ammunition from inside White’s vehicle. White has prior felony convictions for illegal possession of a stolen firearm in 2012 and accessory after the fact possession of a firearm by a felon in 2014. White knew that as a convicted felon he was prohibited from possessing any firearm or ammunition. He was charged and pleaded guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm on April 26, 2024. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Monroe Police Department and prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Catherine L. Semmes. 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. PSN is part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn . # # #


title: Armed Warrick County Methamphetamine Dealer Sentenced to Fifteen Years in Federal Prison

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: EVANSVILLE- Brian Marchand, 39, of Tennyson, Indiana, has been sentenced to fifteen years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to two counts of distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents, law enforcement officers in Evansville observed Marchand selling methamphetamine on three separate occasions between July 6 and 25, 2023. On July 6, Marchand arrived at a residence and handed the buyer three small baggies, each containing one ounce of crystal methamphetamine, in exchange for $900 cash. On July 10, 2023, Marchand sold approximately four ounces of crystal methamphetamine for $1,275 in cash, from his home in Tennyson. As Marchand was counting the money, he displayed a loaded semi-automatic handgun. On July 25, 2023, Marchand “fronted” another four ounces of crystal methamphetamine to another individual, which was to be paid for with the proceeds of further sales of the drug. Laboratory analysis found that the drugs distributed by Marchand during three deals observed by law enforcement officers they contained approximately 293 grams of pure methamphetamine. “Methamphetamine and other controlled substances are have devastating impacts on users, their loved ones, and our communities,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “These poisons harm our neighbors in every community, and we are committed to holding serious traffickers accountable in federal court, wherever they are found. Our office will continue to work with our partners at the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Drug Trask Force, the Warrick County Sheriff’s Office, and the DEA to make our communities safer by getting meth and meth dealers off our streets.” The Drug Enforcement Administration, Evansville-Vanderburgh County Drug Trask Force, and the Warrick County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Matthew P. Brookman. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew B. Miller, who prosecuted this case. This prosecution is part of the Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program. ###


title: Stockton Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Elmer Yusay Ngo, 28, of Stockton, pleaded guilty today to one count of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, Ngo utilized social media to sexually exploit female minors. This sexual exploitation included attempting to coerce, entice, and persuade the minors to produce child pornography for Ngo. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, with assistance from state and local police departments nationwide. Assistant United States Attorney Kristin F. Scott is prosecuting the case. Ngo is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller on Nov. 4, 2024. Ngo faces a minimum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, supervised release and restitution. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC .


title: New Orleans Man Indicted for Federal Drug and Machinegun Offenses

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that LOVON WHITE (“ WHITE”) , age 21, of Slidell, Louisiana, was charged on July 26, 2024, in a three-count indictment. WHITE is charged in Count 1 with possession with intent to distribute tapentadol and marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 841(b)(1)(D). He is charged in Count 2 with possessing a machinegun in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(B)(ii). Finally, he is charged in Count 3 with possession of a machinegun, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(o) and 924(a)(2). As to Count 1, WHITE faces up to 20 years in prison, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least three years of supervised release. As to Count 2, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years up to a maximum sentence of life in prison, which must run consecutive to any other sentence, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to five years of supervised release. As to Count 3, he faces up to 10 years in prison, up to a $ 250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. Each count also carries a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. According to the indictment, on or about June 12, 2024, WHITE possessed tapentadol and marijuana with the intent to distribute those substances. WHITE also possessed an Anderson Manufacturing Model AM-15 rifle and Glock Model 21 pistol, both equipped with machinegun conversion devices, in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Louisville Man Sentenced to Over 29 Years for Methamphetamine Distribution, Illegal Firearms Possession, and Witness Tampering Offenses

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – A Louisville, Kentucky, man was sentenced last week to 29 years and 2 months in federal prison for methamphetamine distribution, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and witness tampering. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Interim Chief Paul Humphreys of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement. According to court documents, Kendall Shaw, 41, was sentenced to 29 years and 2 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, three counts of distribution of methamphetamine, two counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and one count of engaging in a conspiracy to tamper with a witness. The witness tampering count was part of a superseding indictment in this case. After Shaw was originally indicted on the methamphetamine and gun offenses, he engaged in a series of phone calls with others for the specific purpose of ensuring that a person he believed to be a witness against him would not appear at future court proceedings. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Louisville Metro Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua R. Porter and Frank E. Dahl, III prosecuted the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (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 www.justice.gov/OCDETF . ###


title: U.S. Attorney Secures 14-Year Sentence for  Second Assailant in 2021 Kidnapping and Death of Gallup Man

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Gallup woman was sentenced to 14 years in prison and order to pay $19,498.71 in restitution for her role in luring and abducting a man who was later found dead in Mentmore, New Mexico after a week-long community search. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, on the afternoon of September 16, 2021, Shannon Etsitty , 23 (an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation), Elias Viola, and Halbert Sam were using methamphetamine and drinking alcohol. Viola learned Etsitty had been in a relationship with John Doe and expressed a desire to harm Doe. The group devised a plan to lure John Doe to them, under the pretense of a meeting with Etsitty , who would pick Doe up alone to avoid suspicion. After picking up Doe in Viola’s car, Etsitty drove Doe to where Viola and Sam were waiting. Viola entered through the car’s missing windshield and assaulted John Doe. Sam entered through the back passenger door and held Doe against the front passenger seat so Viola could beat Doe without Doe being able to defend himself. During the assault, Doe grabbed the steering wheel, causing the car to veer off the road and become stuck. The attack upon Doe continued outside the vehicle, with Viola using a screwdriver and baseball bat. After beating and stabbing Doe, the party hid Doe’s body in nearby bushes. Law enforcement—unaware of Doe’s condition—arrived at the scene of the disabled car and helped Etsitty and Viola get the car unstuck; Sam, meanwhile, hid in the bushes with Doe’s body. Once the car was unstuck, Etsitty and Viola went to Etsitty ’s mother’s house, leaving Doe’s body and hidden with Sam by the roadside. Later, Etsitty , Viola, Etsitty ’s sister, and Etsitty’s sister’s boyfriend returned to the location where the group had hidden Doe’s body. They then moved Doe to a field near Etsitty ’s mother’s house. On September 23, 2021, John Doe’s body was located in that Mentmore field. OMI found Doe to have multiple injuries, including a stab wound to his chest and severe head trauma. The manner of his death was ruled a homicide. Evidence linked Etsitty and Viola to the crime scene and Doe’s last known whereabouts. On September 18, 2023, Viola pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit kidnapping. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Upon her release from prison, Etsitty will be subject to three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Nation Police Department and the Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations, the Gallup Police Department and the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Jones is prosecuting the case. # # #


title: Rock Valley Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Meth Conspiracy

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: Terrance Buescher, 59, from Rock Valley, Iowa, was sentenced on July 26, 2024, to 5 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. Buescher pled guilty on March 15, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that from April 2022 through January 2023, Buescher was involved in a conspiracy that distributed at least 20 pounds of methamphetamine in the Rock Valley, area. Buescher admitted to obtaining pounds of methamphetamine about every ten days from a source in Colorado to distribute in Northern Iowa, during 2022 and 2023. Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Buescher was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment and must serve a three year term of supervised release following the imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Buescher remains in custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Rock Valley, Iowa Police Department and the Tri-State Drug Task Force based in Sioux City, Iowa, that consists of law enforcement personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration; Sioux City, Iowa, Police Department; Homeland Security Investigations; Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office; South Sioux City, Nebraska, Police Department; Nebraska State Patrol; Iowa National Guard; Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation; and Woodbury County Attorney’s Office. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-4014. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Fresno Resident Pleads Guilty to Distributing Methamphetamine

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Dario Mata-Manzo, 32, of Fresno, pleaded guilty today to distribution of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, in June 2022, Mata-Manzo negotiated for the sale of crystal methamphetamine for $1,200 per pound and subsequently delivered 8 pounds of the drug to undercover officers in Fresno. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and High Impact Investigation Team (HIIT), a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Initiative (HIDTA), which consists of personnel from the California Department of Justice, the Fresno Police Department, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office, the California Highway Patrol, the Madera County Sheriff’s Office, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, the Kings County Sheriff’s Office, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar is prosecuting the case. Mata-Manzo is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston on Nov. 20, 2024. Mata-Manzo faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison, a mandatory minimum prison term of 10 years, and a $10 million fine. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about OCDETF, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Kern County Woman Pleads Guilty to 6-Year, $825,000 Credit Card Fraud Scheme

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Karina Arceo, 34, of Wasco, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft charges for her role in a long-running credit card fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court records, from February 2016 through August 2022, Arceo and her partner and co-defendant, Miguel Leyva, stole the personally identifiable information (PII) for over 125 victims. They stole much of the PII from patient files at health care providers in Kern County where Arceo worked. Leyva previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years and five months in prison. Arceo and Leyva used the stolen PII to open thousands of fraudulent credit cards in the victims’ identities. They used false identification documents to open the credit cards and provided billing addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses over which they had control so that any communications related to the credit cards would go to them instead of the victims. They then made hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent purchases on the credit cards in Kern County and elsewhere. The fraudulent purchases included home appliances, automobile accessories, designer clothing, tickets to concerts and sporting events, and travel, among other items. Arceo and Leyva often resold the items that they fraudulently purchased for cash and reaped a windfall because they did not actually pay for the items. They also used checks that had been stolen from companies in Kern County to access the companies’ bank accounts and make fraudulent payments towards the credit cards so as to keep their scheme going. Altogether, their scheme caused a total actual loss of more than $825,000. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Barton and Arelis Clemente are prosecuting the case. Arceo is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 6, 2024. She faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and $250,000 fine for the conspiracy charge, and a mandatory two years in prison, consecutive to other counts, for the identity theft charge. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of the applicable statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.


title: Former Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor Pleads Guilty to Defrauding His Elderly Client

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. –Ronald Diaz, 40, of Tucson, pleaded guilty on July 18, 2024, to Wire Fraud. Sentencing is scheduled for September 27, 2024, before United States District Judge Scott H. Rash. While working as a financial advisor, Diaz engaged in a scheme to defraud an elderly client. To induce the victim into the scheme, Diaz falsely represented an investment opportunity in an “annuity” that “guaranteed” a 10% return. Between November 2020 and July 2022, to disguise his scheme, Diaz directed the victim to transfer $970,000 to Diaz’s family members. Diaz thereafter instructed his family members to distribute most of the victim’s funds back to Diaz. Once he received the funds, Diaz used large portions of the victim’s money for his own personal benefit including gambling at casinos, making a down payment on a 2021 Range Rover, paying credit card debt, remodeling his family pool, paying his mortgage, and paying other personal expenses. Diaz made some “interest” payments to entice the victim into providing additional money throughout the scheme. None of the victim’s money was used towards any legitimate investment. As a result of the scheme, the victim lost over $867,000. As part of his plea agreement, Diaz will be required to pay restitution to the victim’s estate. A conviction for Wire Fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or both. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-24-04092-TUC-SHR RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-104_Diaz # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Madison Man Sentenced to 5 Years for Fentanyl Trafficking

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Christopher S. Wilson, 28, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 5 years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. The prison term will be followed by 4 years of supervised release. Wilson pleaded guilty to this charge on April 11, 2024. The government’s investigation revealed a large-scale drug trafficking organization that was responsible for bringing over 4 kilograms of fentanyl pills into Madison from Arizona. Law enforcement began investigating the organization in January 2022, following the seizure of two mail packages that each contained one kilogram of fentanyl pills (almost 20,000 pills in total). The packages had been mailed by the same individual in Arizona to addresses in Madison. Between March and October 2022, undercover officers purchased fentanyl pills from members of the organization on twenty-three occasions in the Madison area. Wilson was involved in thirteen of those drug sales. In October 2022, another mail package destined for members of the Madison drug organization was seized and found to contain 1.75 kilograms of fentanyl pills. On November 28, 2022, law enforcement officers searched Wilson’s residence. In the home, officers found a loaded Glock .40 caliber handgun, over $5,000 in cash, and a small bag of fentanyl pills. In Wilson’s Jeep, officers found a loaded Glock 9mm handgun under the driver’s seat. At sentencing, Judge Peterson said he was concerned about Wilson’s gun possession at the time he was also fentanyl dealing, which was an aggravating factor. Four co-defendants were previously sentenced by Judge Peterson for their roles in the fentanyl pill trafficking organization. Dejon C. Glover was sentenced on May 16, 2024, to 4 ½ years in federal prison for attempting to possess fentanyl intended for distribution. Lloyd M. McKire-Bennett was sentenced on May 17, 2024, to more than 13 ½ years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and possessing firearms and ammunition as a felon. Deshawn P. Davis was sentenced on May 22, 2024, to 5 ½ years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl. Yoshi R. Walker was sentenced on July 24, 2024, to 6 years in federal prison for attempting to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Two others were charged in connection with this trafficking organization, Jessica E. Leyvas and Dantrell T. Stevenson. Leyvas has pleaded guilty and her sentencing hearing is yet to be scheduled. Stevenson’s case is scheduled for trial, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The charge against Wilson was the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and Dane County Narcotics Task Force. The investigation was conducted and funded by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a multi-agency task force that coordinates long-term narcotics trafficking investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven P. Anderson prosecuted this case


title: Ralston Man Sentenced to More than 17 Years for Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Travis J. Bodfield, 28, of Ralston, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 26, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for receipt and distribution of child pornography. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Bodfield to 211 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Bodfield’s release from prison, he will begin a 10-year term of supervised release. Chief Judge Rossiter ordered Bodfield to pay $28,000 in restitution. On March 8, 2022, Ralston police executed a search warrant at Bodfield’s residence in Ralston after receiving an earlier report regarding an ongoing domestic disturbance involving Bodfield and a minor. During search of the residence, law enforcement recovered Bodfield’s phones. Forensic examination and analysis of Bodfield’s phones found more than 2,400 pictures and 40 videos depicting child pornography. The approximate age range of the minor children were of infant through 12 years old. Additional review of the cellphone uncovered conversations between Bodfield and other users of Kik, a communication application, engaging in communications that included the exchange of child pornography. During one of the Kik conversations, Bodfield sent a picture of a partially nude, prepubescent female, also about 8-10 years old. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's 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. This case was investigated by the Omaha FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and the Ralston Police Department.


title: Nigerian Man Sentenced for Wire Fraud Conspiracy

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Tope Gbenga Opaogun, 43, of Nigeria, was sentenced on July 26, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for wire fraud conspiracy. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Opaogun to 24 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Opaogun’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. Chief Judge Rossiter ordered Opaogun to pay restitution in the amount of $193,458.21. Opaogun will be deported to Nigeria after serving his sentence. Between October 21, 2013, and November 5, 2013, Opaogun and a co-defendant, both who were located outside of the United States, compromised the email account of an individual who had a personal bank account at a bank located in the District of Nebraska. Opaogun used the compromised email account to fraudulently induce employees at the bank to wire funds from the individual’s personal bank account to a third-party bank account controlled by Opaogun and a co-defendant. Opaogun’s use of the compromised email account induced bank employees to make six unauthorized wire transfers totaling $234,990 to the third-party bank account. Opaogun attempted three additional unauthorized wire transfers totaling $182,000, but those attempts were unsuccessful. On May 22, 2018, an Indictment charging Opaogun and a co-defendant was filed in the United States District Court in the District of Nebraska. On August 11, 2022, Opaogun was arrested in Senegal on the District of Nebraska warrant. He was extradited from Senegal, where Opaogun was vacationing at the time, to the United States under the supervision of the FBI. The FBI continues to seek the co-defendant for arrest and prosecution. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.


title: Former Rhode Island man convicted of attempt to smuggle more than 400 pounds of methamphetamine and fentanyl across Strait of Juan de Fuca to Canada

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle –A 67-year-old former resident of Rhode Island, Texas, and Chicago was convicted late Friday July 26, 2024, in U.S. District Court in Seattle of three federal felonies connected to his scheme to smuggle duffle bags full of drugs across the strait bordering Washington State and Canada via watercraft, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. John Michael Sherwood was convicted following a six-day trial of Conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute and conspiracy to commit international money laundering. The jury deliberated about three hours before reaching the guilty verdict. Judge James L. Robart scheduled sentencing for October 29, 2024. At the trial, testimony and evidence revealed that Sherwood had brought the drugs up to the Olympic Peninsula from southern California. He was attempting to use a jet ski and inflatable raft to get the drugs across the Strait to his contact on the coast of Vancouver Island. But the smuggling attempts failed. On April 7, 2021, a family on a beach near Port Angeles, Washington found a partially submerged duffel bag on the beach. The family alerted law enforcement who found more than 50 pounds of methamphetamine inside the bag, as well as two pounds of fentanyl powder. Close in time, a different beachcomber discovered a partially submerged and deflated Zodiac-style raft on the beach and noted a U-Haul van coming and going from the beach area. Just days later, on April 11, 2021, a different beach walker reported another find – seven more duffel bags stashed under a bridge just up from the beach. The bags contained 342 pounds of methamphetamine. The estimated wholesale value of the drugs in Canada was about $1.5 million. The FBI was able to trace the duffel bags to Walmart and could pinpoint the sale. Sherwood used his debit card to purchase the bags and was caught on surveillance making the purchases. Other evidence such as U-Haul rental records, motel registration, and storage locker records linked Sherwood to the smuggling attempt. Phone records revealed his communication with a coconspirator in Canada about the attempt to smuggle the drugs into Canada via the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The conviction is the result of an extensive investigation by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigation (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol and the Border Patrol Air and Marine Unit, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and the Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team (OPNET) including the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office and the Sequim Police Department. The Kootenai County (Idaho) Sheriff’s Office, the Montana Highway Patrol and the Livingston Montana Police Department also assisted with the investigation. This effort 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. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Vince Lombardi and Sean Waite.


title: U.S. Attorney and FBI Charge Albuquerque Man with Drug Distribution and Assault on Federal Officers

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – An Albuquerque man has been charged with multiple federal crimes, including drug trafficking and assaulting federal officers during a high-speed pursuit. Nicholas Mares , aka “Youngster,” 22, appeared before a federal judge today for a detention hearing, and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. According to the criminal complaint, on May 28, 2024, Mares sold 5,000 fentanyl pills to an undercover FBI agent during a controlled purchase. Photograph of MARES, taken during the May 28, 2024, controlled drug buy On July 18, 2024, FBI agents attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Mares in Albuquerque. Mares allegedly rammed his vehicle into an FBI vehicle occupied by four special agents, then fled at high speed in oncoming traffic with a child in his car. During the pursuit, approximately 10,000 fentanyl pills were allegedly discarded onto the roadway from Mares’ vehicle before he eluded capture. Photograph from the July 18, 2024, attempted FBI contact with Mares where he discarded approximately 10,000 fentanyl pills, while recklessly fleeing If convicted of the current charges, Mares faces up to life in prison. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Violent Gang Task Force of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Elena Stiteler. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. # # #


title: Slidell Woman Sentenced to Year and a Day in Prison and Ordered to Repay the Government Over $1.2 Million in Restitution for Pandemic-Related Healthcare Fraud

component: Criminal Division

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that MELISSA J. WATSON (“WATSON”) , of Slidell, has been sentenced by United States District Judge Darrel J. Papillion to twelve months and one day in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, a mandatory $100 special assessment fee, and payment of restitution totaling $1,281,818. This sentencing followed WATSON’s previous plea of guilty to theft of public money, in connection with a scheme to misappropriate over $780,000 from the Provider Relief Fund (“PRF”). The PRF was a COVID-19 pandemic relief program administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration. According to court documents, WATSON operated a primary care clinic. Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, WATSON submitted false and fraudulent attestations on behalf of her clinic to obtain PRF funds, to which she was not entitled. WATSON’s fraudulent attestations included falsely affirming that funds would only be used by the clinic to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus, and reimburse health care related expenses or lost revenues attributable to coronavirus. Instead, WATSON used the PRF funds for personal purposes, including making numerous cash withdrawals and purchasing, among other items, hundreds of thousands of dollars in real estate, a luxury vehicle, a boat, a trailer, and a time share. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General. Trial Attorney Kelly Z. Walters and Assistant Chief Justin Woodard, both of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas D. Moses, Healthcare Fraud Coordinator for the Eastern District of Louisiana, prosecuted the case.


title: Teen Admits Two St. Louis Area Carjackings

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man on Monday admitted committing two carjackings in the St. Louis area a year apart. Ramon D. Davis, 19, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to two counts of carjacking and two counts of brandishing and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Davis admitted stealing a Mazda 3 at gunpoint in 2021 and a little over a year later, a Mercedes SUV. On Nov. 7, 2021, Davis, Montrell Jackson and a juvenile male were walking past an alley when they saw an older man unloading his 2006 Mazda 3 and decided to carjack the man. Davis was armed with a stolen handgun. Jackson was also armed with a handgun. They demanded the victim’s keys, then sped off down the alley. Hours later, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s Real Time Crime Center cameras spotted the stolen Mazda. After a chase involving both St. Louis police and officers from the Hazelwood Police Department, Davis crashed and was arrested after hiding under a semitrailer nearby. Officers recovered two handguns from the stolen car. On Nov. 11, 2022, Davis and others were in a stolen BMW when they saw a 2017 Mercedes GLS550 SUV parked in front of a CVS on Watson Road in Webster Groves. Davis had a red/burgundy AR-style pistol and confronted an occupant of the Mercedes with it before pushing her to the ground. Davis and one of the others, Tristan T. Davis, then drove off in the stolen SUV. They were arrested four days later. Sentencing is scheduled for November 7. The carjacking charges carry a penalty of up to 15 years in prison and the brandishing charges carry a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of seven years consecutive to any other sentence. Jackson, 20, and Tristan Davis, 20, have pleaded guilty to carjacking and brandishing charges. The St. Louis County Police Department, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the FBI, the Webster Groves Police Department and the Hazelwood Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Bluestone 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.


title: KC Man Sentenced for Meth Trafficking, Illegal Firearms

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man who threatened his co-workers with a firearm while he was on bond was sentenced in federal court today for distributing methamphetamine and illegally possessing firearms. Reggie McDowell, also known as “Dime,” 27, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 14 years and three months in federal prison without parole. On Oct. 14, 2023, after McDowell was indicted and while he was on bond in this federal case, law enforcement officers responded to a disturbance with a firearm at a Raytown, Mo., restaurant where he was employed. McDowell was involved in an argument with a co-worker and brandished a firearm, which he retrieved from a bag he was wearing. According to court documents, McDowell began pacing around the kitchen area and threatened to “kill everyone in here.” Restaurant employees contacted law enforcement and McDowell fled from the restaurant, but left the bag behind. Officers located the bag, which contained a loaded FN 9mm handgun, a loaded Glock .40-caliber firearm, a loaded Glock 10mm handgun, ammunition, and drug paraphernalia. McDowell’s bond was revoked and he was returned to federal custody. On March 3, 2024, McDowell pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, two counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of receiving a firearm while under felony indictment and while on release. By pleading guilty, McDowell admitted that he participated in the drug-trafficking conspiracy from Jan. 1, 2016, to June 23, 2022. McDowell sold methamphetamine to an undercover agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on seven different occasions in 2021 and 2022. McDowell, who was visibly armed during four of those transactions, admitted to carrying a Glock .357-caliber handgun on at least one occasion. McDowell and his co-conspirators used social media sites to arrange and facilitate the sale of illegal drugs. They held the pills out as purported ecstasy (MDMA), rather than methamphetamine. On June 23, 2022, federal agents executed a search warrant at McDowell’s residence. Agents seized a Glock .40-caliber handgun loaded with 29 rounds of ammunition on the living room floor, approximately 240 grams of marijuana in a backpack on the living room floor, a fanny pack in the living room that contained 23 methamphetamine pills and approximately 41 grams of marijuana, an Arsenal 7.62-caliber pistol loaded with 61 rounds of ammunition under a bed in the bedroom, a Glock 10mm handgun loaded with 34 rounds under a bed in the bedroom, a Glock .40-caliber handgun loaded with 51 rounds under a bed in the bedroom, numerous methamphetamine pills in various locations in the bedroom, and assorted firearms magazines and ammunition. McDowell is the eighth defendant to be sentenced in this case. Two co-defendants have pleaded guilty and await sentencing. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie C. Bradshaw. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department. KC Metro Strike Force This prosecution was brought as a part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Co-located Strike Forces Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations against a continuum of priority targets and their affiliate illicit financial networks. These prosecutor-led co-located Strike Forces capitalize on the synergy created through the long-term relationships that can be forged by agents, analysts, and prosecutors who remain together over time, and they epitomize the model that has proven most effective in combating organized crime. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations, and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States.


title: Salvadorian Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Re-Entry of Removed Alien

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that LORENZO ALEXANDER BENITEZ (“BENITEZ”) , age 40, a citizen of El Salvador, pleaded guilty on July 23, 2024, to illegal reentry of a deported alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Sections 1326(a). According to the court documents, BENITEZ admitted to reentering the United States illegally after being previously deported on July 27, 2018. BENITEZ faces a sentence of up to 2 years imprisonment, up to 1 year of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan has set the sentencing for November 7, 2024. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Customs and Border Patrol in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Paul J. Hubbell of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Kern County Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Receiving and Distributing Child Pornography

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. — Marcus Tatum, 32, of Bakersfield, was sentenced today to 12 years and five months in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $45,000 in restitution, for receipt and distribution of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, between February 2012 and March 2018, Tatum used a laptop computer to knowingly receive and distribute over 600 files containing visual depictions of children engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The files contained images of children under the age of 12 engaging in sexually explicit conduct, as well as engaging in sado-masochistic conduct. This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Kern County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany M. Gunter prosecuted 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 growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC .


title: Two Sentenced to Prison for Roles in Methamphetamine Trafficking Organization

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A Kanawha County woman and a Michigan man were sentenced today for their roles in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Southern District of West Virginia. Ladonna Rae Abner, 50, of Nitro, was sentenced to two years and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of fentanyl. Trevon Eaarle Godfrey, also known as “Trey,” 28, of Detroit, Michigan, was sentenced to two years in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release, for use of a communications facility in committing, causing, and facilitating a felony controlled substance offense. According to court documents and statements made in court, on October 4, 2023, Abner sold approximately 1 gram of fentanyl for $120 to a confidential informant in Nitro. Abner admitted to that transaction and to selling a quantity of fentanyl to a confidential informant on October 17, 2023. On November 15, 2023, law enforcement officers arrested Abner and searched her residence, where they seized approximately 3.5 grams of suspected fentanyl. On September 4, 2023, Godfrey received a call from another individual who asked Godfrey to conduct a drug transaction with a specific customer. The individual told Godfrey to distribute 10 grams of fentanyl and a quantity of methamphetamine to the customer, who would be bringing $500 for the controlled substances. Godfrey admitted that he met the customer at a location in Huntington pre-arranged by the individual and conducted the transaction. Abner admitted that DTO ringleader Derrell Cashawn Massey or others working at this direction supplied her with approximately 10 grams of fentanyl a week to distribute from June 2022 until her arrest. Godfrey admitted that he participated in the DTO from at least August 2023 through November 2023. Massey, also known as "Rell" and "Fat Rell,", 34, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty on April 22, 2024, to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and awaits sentencing. Abner, Godfrey and Massey are among 27 individuals indicted in a 53-count indictment that charges the defendants with distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl transported from Detroit, Michigan, in Huntington and other locations within the Southern District of West Virginia. Abner, Godfrey and Massey are also among 21 defendants who have pleaded guilty in the main case. One other of the 27 indicted individuals pleaded guilty to a related offense in a separate case. The indictment against the remaining defendants is pending. An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Metropolitan Drug Enforcement Network Team (MDENT), the West Virginia State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. MDENT is composed of the Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the Nitro Police Department, the St. Albans Police Department and the South Charleston Police Department. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentences. Assistant United States Attorneys Joseph F. Adams and Stephanie Taylor prosecuted the case. The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States. 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-180. ###


title: Spartanburg County Man Pleads Guilty in Connection with Missing Woman Case

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: GREENVILLE, S.C. — Da’Ron Jerome Collins, 47, of Boiling Springs, has pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and witness tampering in connection with an ongoing federal kidnapping investigation. Evidence obtained during the investigation revealed that 44-year-old Casey Lavonne Young was last seen on May 15, 2023, after she left work and arrived at the residence she shared with Collins in Boiling Springs. Collins initially stated that Young did not come home after work, but later admitted to investigators that he last saw Young when she arrived home at approximately 5:00 p.m. on May 15, 2023. The same day, Collins was captured on security cameras as he wiped surfaces of Young’s car down and hid it in a parking lot away from their residence. Two days before Young disappeared, police responded to the couple’s residence after a 911 caller reported a domestic violence incident where Collins was accused of strangling Young. No arrest was made at that time. During the guilty plea, prosecutors stated that the evidence showed Collins destroyed and attempted to hide and destroy physical and electronic evidence, including home security video clips, Young’s vehicle and other personal identifying items, material to the federal investigation. Collins also provided investigators with the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office false and misleading information to prevent the communication of information relevant to the investigation to federal law enforcement. To date, Young has not been found. Collins was denied bond on the federal charges, and he remains in custody. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment as to each offense. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000 and up to six years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Collins after he reviews a presentence report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI Columbia Field Office, and the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leesa Washington is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Fugitive Trinidadian Man Arrested for 2009 Armed Robbery of Restaurant

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Trinidadian and Tobagonian man who has been a fugitive for over 10 years has been arrested and will face charges in connection with the armed robbery of a steakhouse in 2009, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Kofi Edwards, 51, of Trinidad and Tobago, was charged by indictment in 2014 with one count of conspiracy to commit armed Hobbs Act robbery, one count of Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Edwards appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leda Dunn Wettre in Newark federal court today, entered a plea of not guilty and was detained. He was arrested in California and had an initial appearance on July 10, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Chi Soo Kim in Sacramento, and was detained and transported to the District of New Jersey. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: In March 2009, Edwards conspired with other individuals to rob a steakhouse restaurant in Woodbridge, New Jersey, at gunpoint. A conspirator, who was an employee of the restaurant at the time, called the restaurant to determine if any managers were present, because he knew that only managers would be able to open the restaurant’s safe. After confirming that a manager was present, Edwards and another individual entered the restaurant – Edwards carrying a fake gun and the other individual armed with a firearm – and brandished the weapons while demanding that employees open the safe. After the employees complied, Edwards and the other individual bound the employees with plastic zip ties and fled with approximately $150,000 in cash. Edwards later left New Jersey and began living under a false identity. He was added to the FBI’s “Most Wanted” list and the FBI offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading directly to his arrest. Three other defendants have been convicted and sentenced in connection with the Hobbs Act robbery conspiracy. Edwards faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the counts of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and Hobbs Act robbery. On the count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, Edwards faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of seven years – which must run consecutively to any other sentence Edwards receives – and a maximum potential penalty of life in prison. Each count also carries a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gain or loss from the offenses, whichever is greatest. These charges are the result of an investigation by the Newark Central Jersey Safe Streets Task Force. Led by the FBI, the Task Force focuses on violent crime and gang violence, and is made up of agents and task force officers from the New Brunswick Police Department, Middlesex County Prosecutors Office, Raritan Township Police Department, Woodbridge Police Department, Hackettstown Police Department, Clinton Township Police Department, and Hunterdon County Prosecutors Office. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited the special agents and task force officers of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the FBI’s Sacramento, California, Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Siddhartha Patel; and Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations, under the direction of Field Office Director John Tsoukaris. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trevor A. Chenoweth of the General Crimes Unit in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. edwards.indictment.pdf


title: Eye Practice and Its Physician Owner Agree to Pay More Than $460,000 to Resolve Allegations of False Claims and Receiving Illegal Kickbacks

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – Burlington County Eye Physicians (BCEP), an ophthalmology practice with locations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and Dr. Gregory H. Scimeca, an ophthalmologist and the owner of BCEP, have agreed to pay $469,232 to resolve allegations that they submitted and caused the submission of false claims for payment for medically unnecessary transcranial doppler (TCD) tests to Medicare and the Federal Employee Health Benefit (FEHB) Program in violation of the False Claims Act. A TCD test is a noninvasive diagnostic test that can be used to estimate the blood flow through certain blood vessels in the brain. Medicare and the FEHB Program reimburse healthcare providers for both performing the test and for interpreting the test results. When a physician does not perform the test, but interprets the results of the test, they only can bill for their professional services of interpreting the test. A physician cannot bill for interpreting the test when they merely review another physician’s interpretation of the results. As part of the settlement agreement, BCEP and Dr. Scimeca each admitted to and accepted responsibility for facts underlying the covered conduct. The United States alleges that from May 13, 2019 through Feb. 22, 2021, BCEP submitted and caused the submission of false claims for TCD tests to Medicare and the FEHB Program. BCEP contracted with a medical diagnostics company (the “Company”) to perform TCD tests on BCEP patients. The Company staffed BCEP with a technician, who reviewed patient files and filled out forms to order TCD tests for BCEP patients from the Company. BCEP physicians, including Dr. Scimeca, signed the order forms the Company’s technician completed. At times, BCEP and Dr. Scimeca signed forms which indicated that patients had a diagnosis that they did not have, but that would have supported the medical necessity of the test. In addition, BCEP paid $30 to either the Company or a radiology company associated with the Company to interpret each TCD test, but BCEP physicians, including Dr. Scimeca, also billed Medicare and the FEHB Program for interpreting those tests. The Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) prohibits offering, paying, soliciting, or receiving remuneration to induce referrals of items or services covered by Medicare and other federally-funded programs. The statute is intended to ensure that medical providers’ judgments are not compromised by improper financial incentives and are instead based on the best interests of their patients. The United States contends that the claims for TCD tests that BCEP and Dr. Scimeca submitted, or caused the submission of, were false because: (1) the TCD tests were medically unnecessary because the patients did not have symptoms justifying the need for the tests, or the tests were not necessary for the patients’ treatment; (2) BCEP and Dr. Scimeca billed for professional services that they did not perform; and (3) the arrangement between BCEP and the TCD company violated the AKS because BCEP and Dr. Scimeca accepted remuneration from the Company by billing for and retaining payments from Medicare and the FEHB Program for services that the Company provided. “Health care practitioners must not bill for services they do not perform or bill for unnecessary procedures. Full stop. When they do, they violate the law. These defendants also accepted unlawful kickbacks, which all too often corrupt medical judgment and result in unnecessary medical tests,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “As this case demonstrates, our office is committed to investigating and holding accountable both the recipients of kickbacks and the companies paying them.” “When health care providers submit claims for services to the Medicare program, those services are expected to be medically necessary, actually performed, and free from the influence of illegal kickbacks,” said Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. “The integrity of our federal health care system is undermined when those expectations are not met, and we will continue to thoroughly pursue such allegations.” The resolution announced today includes claims that were brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under the Act, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. As part of today’s resolution, the whistleblower will receive approximately $84,460. Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and HHS-OIG SAC Coviello made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica J. Weber and Christopher Morgan of the Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit handled this matter.


title: Four Individuals Charged in Connection with Firearms Trafficking Conspiracy

body_text: TRENTON, N.J. – Four New Jersey men were charged with conspiring to illegally traffic in firearms, including privately manufactured handguns, in Ocean County, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced today. James Hyres, 38, of Toms River, New Jersey, Dennis McMickle, 35, of Brick, New Jersey, James Opalenik, 51, of Ocean Gate, New Jersey, and Edward Trost, III, 36, of Toms River, are each charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to traffic in firearms and trafficking in firearms. Hyres and McMickle are also charged with two counts of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. McMickle and Opalenik are also charged with one count of unlawfully possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Hyres and Opalenik were arrested this morning in Ocean County. Opalenik is scheduled to appear today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni in Trenton federal court. Hyres is scheduled to have his initial appearance on July 30, 2024, before Judge Bongiovanni. McMickle and Trost were already in custody in Monmouth County and Ocean County, respectively, on unrelated state criminal charges. According to the complaint: From April 2024 through May 2024, Hyres, McMickle, Opalenik, and Trost were members of a gun trafficking conspiracy that operated in and around Ocean County. During that time, Hyres manufactured privately made firearms, also known as PMFs or “ghost guns,” for resale using various component parts, including firearm frames manufactured by Hyres using a 3D printer. Hyres, assisted by McMickle and Trost, then sold PMFs and other traditional firearms for profit to others, including a confidential source working at the direction and supervision of the FBI. Opalenik, assisted by McMickle, sold a semi-automatic rifle to the confidential source in furtherance of the firearms trafficking conspiracy. McMickle also sold the confidential source a 9-millimeter semi-automatic handgun in January 2024. Law enforcement’s investigation revealed that none of these defendants held a federal license to deal or manufacture firearms. Hyres, McMickle, and Trost each have prior felony convictions and are prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law. The counts of conspiracy to traffic in firearms, trafficking in firearms, and possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon each carry a maximum potential penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The count of unlawfully possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited agents with the FBI Newark Red Bank Jersey Shore Safe Streets Task Force, under the direction of FBI Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy, with the investigation leading to the charges and arrests. He also thanked the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Newark Field Division, the Lakewood, New Jersey, Police Department, and the Toms River, New Jersey, Police Department for their assistance in the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ian D. Brater of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton. The charges and allegations contained in the complaints are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. hyresetal.complaint.pdf


title: Putnam County Man Sentenced to Prison for FHA Fraud Scheme

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Jason Trador, 46, of Scott Depot, was sentenced today to one year and six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $65,302.16 in restitution for making a false statement to federal agents, willfully overvaluing property on a loan application, and three counts of making a false statement to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A federal jury convicted Trador of the five felony offenses on April 10, 2024, after a two-day trial. Evidence at trial proved that Trador fraudulently obtained a $223,870 home mortgage insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) from his then-employer, Victorian Finance LLC, a mortgage lending business. At the time he applied for the FHA loan in August 2018, Trador was delinquent on paying his federal taxes for a prior tax year. Because of the tax debt, Trador was not eligible for an FHA loan under existing FHA program rules. Trador deceived Victorian Finance into approving the application and the FHA into insuring the mortgage by providing a series of falsified documents including a falsified Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax transcript purporting to show a payoff of the delinquent $8,151 tax debt. Trador also submitted three heavily edited bank statements to Victorian Finance. Each falsified bank statement substantially inflated the balances in Trador’s bank accounts. Two of the falsified statements reported balances of approximately $27,000 and $15,000 for Trador’s personal bank account when in fact the account had negative balances. Line items, such as for insufficient funds fees, were removed from the falsified bank statements and a line item was added to deceive Victorian Finance into believing that he had paid off the delinquent $8,151 tax debt. Evidence at trial proved the purported payoff never occurred and that Trador was still delinquent on the federal tax debt as of March 2024. On September 4, 2018, Trador willfully overvalued his assets on a loan application when he signed a Uniform Residential Loan Application that included the false balances from the falsified bank statements. On May 6, 2022, Trador lied to investigators with HUD’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) when they interviewed Trador at his Scott Depot residence about his application for the FHA-insured mortgage. Trador denied submitting false bank statements with his loan application, and blamed his fellow employees of the mortgage lending business for the inclusion of the false bank statements in the FHA loan file. “Jason Trador was a loan officer with a duty to keep fraud out of the mortgage lending industry when he betrayed that position of trust and tricked his then-employer with his sophisticated criminal scheme,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “Since the fraud was discovered, Mr. Trador has chosen to attempt to deceive rather than own his mistakes. He lied to federal investigators. He took the stand and made over 30 false statements during his trial. He has shown no acceptance of responsibility or remorse for any of his crimes.” Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). “Jason Trador took advantage of his knowledge of the mortgage industry to circumvent the rules and abused the position of trust he held as a loan officer and gatekeeper of FHA-insured loans. He created and passed false documents allowing him to qualify for a loan he knew he would not otherwise qualify for,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Shawn Rice with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General. “The sentence handed down today serves as a warning that significant penalties await those willing to commit fraud involving HUD-funded programs. HUD OIG remains committed to working with our prosecutorial and law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue those who engage in activities that threaten the integrity of HUD programs.” “Fraud activity of any kind has far-reaching consequences, and showing no remorse underscores the seriousness of this crime. The FBI will not stand for individuals who abuse their position for personal gain at the expense of others,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek. “The FBI remains resolute in safeguarding our financial landscape, providing a level playing field for honest consumers, and ensuring the public maintains trust in the integrity of our institutions.” United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew J. Tessman, Jonathan T. Storage and Erik S. Goes prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-117. ###


title: Missouri Man Admits Being Caught on Interstate 44 with Nearly 3 Pounds of Meth

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A western Missouri man on Monday admitted being caught with nearly three pounds of methamphetamine after a high-speed police chase that started and ended on Interstate 44 in Franklin County. Antonio D. Braxton, 49, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He admitted intending to distribute the drug. On July 2, 2022, a Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy pulled over a dark blue Pontiac Trans Am for improperly passing a tractor-trailer. The Trans Am also bore a license plate that was “not on file.” Braxton initially refused to provide his registration and argued with the deputy. When that deputy called for backup, Braxton sped off. He led law enforcement officers on a 23-mile pursuit that involved several major roads and speeds exceeding 100 mph. He eventually stopped on Interstate 44 and was arrested by officers from the Eureka Police Department. When officers approached the car, they saw three cellophane-wrapped packages on the passenger side floorboard. After obtaining a search warrant, investigators recovered the packages, which contained 1.339 kilograms of nearly pure meth. Braxton is scheduled to be sentenced October 30. The meth distribution charge carries a penalty of ten years to life in prison, a $10 million fine or both prison and a fine. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the Eureka Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the St. Louis County Police Department and the Pacific Police Department investigated or assisted with the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip Voss is prosecuting the case.


title: Huntington Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Crime

body_text: HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Tykeith Diemell Martin, 22, of Huntington, was sentenced today to six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute heroin. According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 14, 2023, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a Huntington residence where Martin was staying. Officers found approximately 37 grams of heroin, an SCCY 9mm pistol and 9mm ammunition. Martin admitted that he possessed the heroin and firearm and that he intended to distribute the heroin. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cabell County Sheriff's Office. United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-150. ###


title: Caledonia man sentenced for COVID loan fraud

component: USAO - Mississippi, Northern

body_text: OXFORD – A Caledonia man was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for receiving $800,000 in fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loans related to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to court documents, Herman Nash, 63, applied for three separate loans and received a total of $800,000. Nash claimed the loans for a business that did not exist. Nash’s loan applications claimed that his business generated $455,000 in gross revenue and $90,000 in cost of goods sold when, in reality, Nash did not have a business at all. U.S. Senior District Judge Glen H. Davidson sentenced Nash to serve 18 months imprisonment followed by 5 years supervised release and $738,000 in restitution. As a part of the investigation, the IRS seized two vehicles from Nash worth over $60,000. “This defendant stole money that was intended to help legitimate businesses survive during the COVID pandemic, and now he is paying the price for that conduct,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “We hope that this sentence will provide notice to all of those who defrauded their fellow taxpayers in similar fashion that they will be held to account for their actions.” “The sentencing today is an example of the accountability people who fraudulently obtained COVID-19 relief funds can expect,” said Demetrius Hardeman, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation special agents have not stopped pursing those who committed fraud on programs that financially helped Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.” The Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Clay Dabbs prosecuted the case.


title: Brooklyn, New York Man Charged with Firearms Possession

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont announced that Shane Hardy, 45, of Brooklyn, New York, was arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle after a federal grand jury returned an indictment, on December 21, 2023, charging Hardy with being a felon in possession of firearms. Judge Doyle ordered that Hardy be detained during the pendency of this matter. According to court records, Hardy possessed six firearms, including AR-15- and AK-47-type weapons after having been convicted of numerous felonies in New York, including manslaughter. Hardy allegedly paid for the six firearms through a combination of drugs and discharging drug debts. The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Hardy is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Hardy faces up to fifteen years or life in prison if convicted. The actual sentence would be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors. United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, with assistance by the St. Albans Police Department in making the arrest. The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Colin Owyang. Hardy is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender. 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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Former School Employee Charged with Transporting   a Former Student Across State Lines to Engage in Unlawful Sexual Conduct

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD –A former Massachusetts school employee was charged by indictment in federal court in Concord for transporting a former student to New Hampshire to engage in unlawful sexual conduct, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Jesus Moore, 35, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, was charged with one count of transportation to engage in unlawful sexual conduct. Moore self-surrendered and appeared in federal court today. He was released on conditions. According to court documents and statements made in court, on or about March 7, 2022, Moore transported a former student at the school which employed Moore. At the time, the former student was under 18. The former student was transported across state lines to engage in unlawful sexual conduct. The Department of Homeland Security, the Lawrence Police Department, and the Manchester Police Department led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski is prosecuting the case. In February 2006, the Department of Justice introduced Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, 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 identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . An indictment is merely an allegation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ###