title: Rockland County Man Sentenced To Over 21 Years In Prison For Distributing Fentanyl That Resulted In Six Poisonings, Including Multiple Deaths

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that JUSTIN TURNICK was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Philip M. Halpern to over 21 years in prison. TURNICK previously pled guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl. In his plea agreement, TURNICK took responsibility for distributing fentanyl that resulted in three fatal fentanyl poisonings and three non-fatal fentanyl poisonings of teenagers and young adults between February 2020 and April 2022 in Rockland County, New York. Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: “Justin Turnick’s actions didn’t just facilitate addiction—they fueled a crisis that has claimed lives and inflicted unimaginable suffering. The career prosecutors of this Office and our partners at the Drug Enforcement Administration and in local law enforcement remain resolute in our mission to combat the fentanyl epidemic and to seek justice for those who have suffered.” According to the allegations in the Indictment, Court filings, and statements made in Court: TURNICK engaged in the regular distribution of narcotics to members of his community in Rockland County, New York, including his friends, partners, and acquaintances. TURNICK knowingly distributed fentanyl — a deadly and highly potent opioid — in various forms, including fentanyl that had been packaged into pills, pure fentanyl, and fentanyl-laced powder. TURNICK distributed fentanyl that resulted in three fatal and three non-fatal poisonings: On or about February 3, 2020, Gustaf Olsen died at age 19 as a result of fentanyl received from TURNICK. On or about July 11, 2020, Jonathan Shashoua died at age 22 as a result of fentanyl received from TURNICK. On or about January 5, 2021, an 18-year-old girl experienced a non-fatal poisoning as a result of fentanyl received from TURNICK. On or about July 30, 2021, Ione Koenig experienced a non-fatal poisoning as a result of fentanyl received from TURNICK. On or about July 31, 2021, Ione Koenig died at age 18 as a result of fentanyl received from TURNICK. On or about April 19, 2022, a 23-year-old man experienced a non-fatal poisoning as a result of fentanyl received from TURNICK. * * * In addition to the prison sentence, TURNICK, 26, of Congers, New York, was sentenced to 5 years of supervised release. Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding work of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Clarkstown Police Department, and the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office. He also thanked the Ramapo Police Department, the Westchester County Police Department, the Yonkers Police Department, the Putnam County Sherriff’s Department, and the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office for their support and assistance in this matter. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan W. Allison and Kathryn Wheelock are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Crips Gang Member Charged With Ordering Murders in 2011 and 2015

body_text: Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging Rubin Moye, a/k/a “Nut,” with ordering murders in 2011 and 2015. As alleged, MOYE, a member of the Santana Block Crips set that operated around 2000 Valentine Avenue in the Bronx, ordered the murders of rival gang members or associates, leading fellow Crips to shoot and kill Phillip Richards on August 4, 2011, and Michelle Cox on March 4, 2015, neither of whom was a member of the rival gang. In between those murders, MOYE himself shot a gang rival’s mother. MOYE, who was previously detained in federal custody on separate charges, will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken. Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: “Rubin Moye allegedly terrorized his community for years, engaging in gang warfare on the streets and in apartment buildings in the Bronx. As alleged in the Indictment, Moye ordered fellow Crips gang members to murder rivals resulting in the shooting deaths of two people, and he personally attempted to kill a rival’s mother by shooting her in the head. These vicious crimes occurred years ago, but this Office and our partners at HSI and the NYPD do not forget the victims of violent crime, and we will not stop pursuing justice for them.” Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Alfonso said: “The defendant’s indictment for the 2011 and 2015 murders of innocent victims underscores HSI New York’s commitment to its enduring mission: the safety of our public regardless of how much time has passed. Together with our law enforcement partners, we refuse to let lawlessness run unchecked on the streets of New York City. I commend HSI’s Violent Gang Task Force, together with the NYPD and the Southern District of New York, for its unwavering pursuit of justice on behalf of our communities.” According to the allegations in the Indictment, 1 MOYE was a member of the Santana Block Crips set that sold drugs and engaged in violent crimes around 2000 Valentine Avenue in the Bronx—a building known as “Two Stacks.” This Crips set engaged in racketeering activity to enrich its members, preserve and protect its power, and promote and enhance its activities in that neighborhood, and they did so through drug sales, firearms offenses, robberies, and acts involving murder. On August 4, 2011, MOYE directed a co-conspirator (“CC-1”) to kill a rival gang member (“Rival-1”) or someone associated with that rival gang member, and in the course of trying to do so, the co-conspirator shot and killed Phillip Richards, an innocent bystander, near East 181st and Lafontaine Avenue in the Bronx. On November 19, 2011, MOYE shot Rival-1’s mother in the chest and head in retaliation for Rival-1’s alleged murder of MOYE’s brother, who was a leader of MOYE’s Crips set. Rival-1’s mother survived the shooting. Additionally, on March 4, 2015, MOYE directed CC-1 and a second co-conspirator (“CC-2”) to find and kill someone associated with Rival-1. CC-1 and CC-2 then located Michelle Cox, a/k/a “Destiny,” who was a friend of Rival-1, in the stairwell of an apartment building, and CC-2 shot her in the head, killing her. * * * MOYE, 42, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with two counts of murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison; two counts of murder while engaged in a narcotics conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of twenty years’ imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life; and two counts of murder through the use of a firearm, which carries a maximum sentence of life. The statutory minimum and maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding work of the Homeland Security Investigations’ Violent Gangs Task Force and the New York City Police Department’s Bronx Violent Crimes Squad. The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank Balsamello, Matthew Hellman, Michael Herman, and Ashley Nicolas are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. moye_indictment.pdf 1 As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Former CEO Of Special Purpose Acquisition Company Charged With Accounting Fraud, Obstruction Of Justice, And Perjury

body_text: Matthew Podolsky, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James E. Dennehy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging VADIM KOMISSAROV, the former Chief Executive Officer of Trident Acquisitions Corp. (“TDAC”), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company (“SPAC”), with engaging in a scheme to defraud TDAC investors and investors in TDAC’s successor company, Lottery.com Inc., by publicly reporting false and misleading revenue and business information. KOMISSAROV was arrested yesterday evening and will be presented this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein. Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky said: “As alleged, Vadim Komissarov, the former CEO of Trident Acquisitions Corp., engineered sham transactions and reported false and misleading revenue, all to ensure his SPAC merger went through and to make himself wealthy. To make matters worse, he tried to cover up his crimes by lying to the SEC under oath. This Office, and our partners at the FBI, will continue to pursue executives of public companies, including executives of SPACs, who defraud unsuspecting investors.” FBI Assistant Director in Charge James E. Dennehy said: “Vadim Komissarov allegedly tried to secure a winning ticket by developing an elaborate scheme comprised of inflated profits, falsified transactions, and perjurious statements to sell company shares. Komissarov allegedly abused his authority as the company’s CEO to conjure a façade of success and interfere with an investigation into his suspected misconduct. The FBI will never permit any individual who attempts to unlawfully cash out at the expense of their investors’ money and trust.” According to the allegations contained in the Indictment [1] unsealed today in Manhattan federal court: From November 2020 through May 2022, KOMISSAROV engaged in a scheme to defraud TDAC investors and investors in TDAC’s successor company, Lottery.com Inc., by publicly reporting false and misleading revenue and business information about a prospective acquisition target and by profiting from the effect of the deception by selling shares of Lottery.com before other market participants realized the true state of the company (the “Revenue Scheme”). The Revenue Scheme arose from an effort by KOMISSAROV to identify a suitable target for TDAC before TDAC reached a deadline to either use or return investor funds that had been raised to support an acquisition. In November 2020, KOMISSAROV settled on AutoLotto, Inc., d/b/a Lottery.com as a target for TDAC. To deceive TDAC shareholders about the nature of AutoLotto’s business, and to thereby secure their approval for TDAC’s acquisition of AutoLotto (the “Business Combination”), KOMISSAROV worked with others to improperly and misleadingly inflate AutoLotto’s revenue and to report those inflated figures to TDAC’s shareholders through public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), which KOMISSAROV signed or caused to be filed as the principal executive, financial, and accounting officer of TDAC. The Revenue Scheme created the false appearance of revenue-generating business activity for AutoLotto and later for Lottery.com through a series of sham transactions, including a fraudulent $9 million roundtrip transaction that KOMISSAROV engineered using the alias “Vlad.” In April 2022 and May 2022, KOMISSAROV sold almost 300,000 Lottery.com shares for more than $600,000, months before Lottery.com disclosed to investors that it had identified errors in the company’s reported revenue and available cash. By June 2023 and August 2023, the enforcement staff of the SEC had begun to investigate TDAC and Lottery.com. After receiving a subpoena from the SEC for documents and testimony in connection with the SEC’s investigation, KOMISSAROV schemed to obstruct the SEC’s investigation. For example, during a call with two Lottery.com executives, KOMISSAROV said he wanted to “sync” his “clock[]” with them and align on a false and misleading narrative that concealed his involvement in some of the sham transactions that were part of the Revenue Scheme. KOMISSAROV warned the Lottery.com executives, “guys, you do understand, you say that I was involved with this transaction . . . . if Trident and me specifically knew about it, then I am in deep, deep, deep, deep water . . . . So, if you come out and say that I was involved, then I am in deep shit.” KOMISSAROV also personally tried to obstruct the SEC’s investigation. On November 20, 2024, KOMISSAROV provided sworn testimony to the SEC in connection with the SEC investigation into TDAC and Lottery.com. During his testimony, KOMISSAROV gave false and misleading answers about his prior communications with the Lottery.com executives and his involvement in the $9 million fraudulent roundtrip transaction that was part of the Revenue Scheme. * * * KOMISSAROV, 53, of New York, New York, was charged in the Indictment with one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, to make false and misleading statements in proxy statements, and to make false filings with the SEC; one count of securities fraud; five counts of making false and misleading statements in proxy statements; one count of obstruction of justice; and one count of perjury. The conspiracy charge and the perjury charge each carry a maximum term of imprisonment of five years. The charges of securities fraud, making false and misleading statements in proxy statements, and obstruction of justice each carry a maximum prison term of 20 years. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. Mr. Podolsky praised the outstanding work of the FBI. Mr. Podolsky also thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for its assistance and cooperation in the investigation. This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant United States Attorneys Justin V. Rodriguez and Matthew R. Shahabian are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. komissarov_signed_indictment.pdf [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the descriptions of the Indictment constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Grand Jury Indicts Convicted Felon For Firearms Offense

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal grand jury in Charlotte returned a criminal bill of indictment charging Anil Dabydeen, 39, of Charlotte, with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon for allegedly shooting at vehicles on I-485, announced Lawrence J. Cameron, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), join Acting U.S. Attorney Cameron in making today’s announcement. According to the indictment and a filed criminal complaint, on January 8, 2025, at 3:49 p.m., CMPD officers were dispatched to I-485 at the South Tryon Street exit for a reported shooting. Court documents allege that CMPD received several 911 calls describing a male operating a white Honda sedan on the highway who was shooting at passing vehicles. Law enforcement arrived on the scene and located two victims who had been struck by gunfire. The victims told the officers that they were traveling south on I-485 when their vehicle was struck by gunfire. While on the scene, the officers reviewed a video shot by a witness. It is alleged that the video showed a white sedan stopped on the side of the highway, and an individual, later identified as Dabydeen, walking around the vehicle brandishing a firearm and pointing it at passing vehicles. According to allegations in court documents, while the officers were investigating the incident, they observed a white Honda sedan traveling south at a high rate of speed. The officers recognized the vehicle as the one observed during the shooting and began to pursue the vehicle. After a brief pursuit, Dabydeen stopped the vehicle, and he was taken into custody. It is alleged that, over the course of the arrest, officers recovered from Dabydeen a live round of 9mm ammunition, and a Taurus, Model G3c, 9mm pistol that had been reported stolen. It is further alleged that Dabydeen has a prior felony conviction for 1 st Degree Manslaughter in New York, and he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Dabydeen is currently in custody. The charge of possession of a firearm by a felon carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years. The charges against Dabydeen are allegations, and the defendant is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In making today’s announcement, Acting U.S. Attorney Cameron thanked the ATF and CMPD for leading the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alfredo De La Rosa of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.


title: U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe for the Southern District of Illinois departs from post

component: USAO - Illinois, Southern

body_text: FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. – Rachelle Aud Crowe, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, who has served as the chief federal law enforcement officer in the district, has departed from the position, effective Feb. 18. She releases the following statement: “It has been my honor to serve the Southern District of Illinois as the United States Attorney. Announcing my departure accompanies many emotions, but my heart is full of gratitude. Working for the Department of Justice and leading an office of talented attorneys, dedicated legal staff and supportive administrative employees has been a lifelong dream. It was my privilege to guide the Department on matters of policy, procedure and management as a member of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee and the Domestic Terrorism Executive Committee. I have been fortunate to partner with the local, state and federal law enforcement officers to seek justice for victims and improve public safety. In addition to prosecuting hundreds of criminal cases, the office represented the government effectively in civil lawsuits and recovered millions of taxpayer dollars. I will cherish the time I spent at the federal courthouses. I’m thankful to the district judges for their judicial oversight, it’s been my honor to work with and learn from them. The future for the office is bright, and I’m confident the employees will continue to exceed their high standard of excellence, integrity and functionality. Thank you for the encouragement during my service.” “From the beginning, USA Crowe has been a champion of the FBI mission,” said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson. “The combination of the FBI’s investigative efforts and the Southern District of Illinois’ commitment to uphold the law has brought justice for victims and made our communities a safer place to live.” “It’s been a pleasure working alongside U.S. Attorney Crowe,” Drug Enforcement Administration St. Louis Division Special Agent in Charge Michael Davis said. “She’s been a tremendous partner and we’re grateful for her service. Her commitment to helping remove the threat of drugs and those who distribute them across Southern Illinois has been invaluable.” "U.S. Attorney Crowe has been a tremendous partner for the Illinois State Police," said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. "U.S. Attorney Crowe supported our Public Safety Enforcement Group and its work, bringing charges and winning convictions in numerous criminal cases, and was instrumental in holding people accountable and bringing them to justice." “United States Attorney Rachelle Crowe has been an engaged and dedicated law enforcement partner, and we thank her for her dedication in the support of ATF’s mission in Southern Illinois,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Shannon Hamm. “ On behalf of the men and women of ATF, we wish nothing but the best for United States Attorney Crowe now and into the future.” Ali M. Summers is the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. She joined the office as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in 2012.


title: Man Who Robbed National Chain Stores in San Antonio Sentenced to More Than 6 Years in Federal Prison

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

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was sentenced in federal court to 78 months in prison after his plea of guilty to Hobbs Act Robbery. According to court documents, James Anthony Kirkwood, 70, robbed six national chain stores around San Antonio between Jan. 28 and 31, 2023, using an Airsoft gun, which employees believed to be a real handgun. Over those three days, Kirkwood robbed two Dollar General stores, two Dollar Trees, a PetSmart and a Big Lots. At the time of the robberies, Kirkwood was on state parole for aggravated robbery. He was arrested Feb. 13, 2023 and pleaded guilty in July 2024. Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the San Antonio Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Calve prosecuted the case. ###


title: Honduran National Charged With Failure To Depart And Hindering Removal  From The United States

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Noel Chinchilla-Avilez, age 26, of Honduras, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury for failure to depart the United States after a final order of removal and hindering removal from the United States. According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that Chinchilla-Avilez was subject to a final order of removal. It is alleged that he failed to depart the United States within 90 days of that order, as required by law, and hindered removal from the United States. This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Assistant United States Attorney Michael Scalera is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is up to eight years of imprisonment and a $500,000 fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Aberdeen Man Sentenced to More than 10 Years in Prison  for Drug Trafficking

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Oxford, MS – An Aberdeen man was sentenced Wednesday to 140 months in prison for distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents, Brandon Lenoir, 43, of Aberdeen, Mississippi pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi to distribution of methamphetamine. Lenoir was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Debra Brown in Oxford on Wednesday to 140 months in prison for drug trafficking. He was further sentenced to five years of supervised release. Lenoir is a repeat offender having been convicted on prior occasions of drug and firearms crimes. “Methamphetamine destroys individuals, families and communities, and those who traffic it deserve to go to prison,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “I commend the joint efforts of our AUSA, the DEA and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics in removing this repeat drug offender and the poison he peddles from our streets.” “The DEA is committed to ensuring our communities remain safe and free from the devastating impacts of drug trafficking. The lengthy sentence handed down to a repeat offender underscores the seriousness of these crimes and our unwavering determination to hold those who contribute to the cycle of addiction accountable,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw. “Together, we will continue to work diligently to protect our neighborhoods from the dangers of drugs.” The Drug Enforcement Administration, alongside the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad M. Doleac prosecuted the case. This investigation and resulting case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Indian National Indicted for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson announced that on February 6, 2025, ASHISH KAPOOR, a/k/a “ Romy Kapoor ,” (“ KAPOOR ” ) age 28, a national of India, was indicted for Possession of Child Pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(4)(B) and (b)(2). If convicted, KAPOOR faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to 250,000.00, a period of supervised release up to life, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. According to the indictment, on or about December 20, 2024, KAPOOR possessed digital videos and computer images containing visual depictions of prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. 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 Attorneys’ 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. The case was investigated by the United States Department of Homeland Security, the United States Customs and Border Protection, and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Carboni of the Financial Crimes Unit.


title: Federal Inmate Given Life Sentence for Brutal Murder of Cellmate at Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: TERRE HAUTE— Lawrence Taylor, 44, formerly of Akron, Ohio, and current inmate of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, has been sentenced to life in federal prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder. According to court documents, Taylor and Jan Stevens (“Stevens”) were inmates at the Federal Correctional Complex, in Terre Haute, Indiana, and housed within the Special Housing Unit (“SHU”). Taylor and Stevens were cellmates in the SHU for just three days prior to January 12, 2019. On January 12, 2019, at approximately 1:25 a.m., a SHU staff member walked by Taylor’s and Stevens’s cell and observed Stevens lying on the lower bunk, partially covered with a sheet, with his head at the foot of the bed. Taylor was also inside the cell, standing in front of the door window. Upon a second glance, the staff member saw a laceration to Stevens’s neck, along with blood spattered against the wall and pooling on the floor. The next day, a forensic pathologist conducted an autopsy of Stevens and found his cause of death to be 43 stab wounds to his body, most significantly to the neck area, leading him to bleed out. During an interview with FBI agents, Taylor admitted to killing Stevens with a weapon he had possessed for the previous three months. At the time of the murder, Taylor was serving a 284-month sentence for a series of bank robberies in 2009. Prior to the murder of Stevens, Taylor was projected to be released from the Bureau of Prisons in September 2031. “This murder extends beyond the taking of a life – it shatters the lives of those closest to the victim. Taylor’s act was heinous; well justifying the imposition of a life sentence,” said John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “I commend the FBI, Corrections Officers and our federal prosecutors who handled this case with such a determination for justice.” “This life sentence reflects the FBI’s commitment to justice for all victims including those who are incarcerated in federal correctional facilities. The brutality of this violent murder deserves the maximum penalty allowed under the law,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “The FBI will continue to work closely with the Bureau of Prisons and all of our law enforcement partners to investigate and apprehend those who commit violent acts and hold them accountable.” "Today's sentencing sends a clear message - those who threaten or harm others will be held accountable,” said a Federal Bureau of Prisons Spokesperson. “The safety and security of our facilities will always be the FBOP’s top priority in our mission to ensure public safety." The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Prisons investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II. Acting U.S. Attorney Childress thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jayson W. McGrath and former Assistant U.S. Attorney James M. Warden, who prosecuted this case. ###


title: Bokeelia Man Pleads Guilty To Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Fort Myers, Florida – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Vincent Jay Yau (42, Bokeelia) has pleaded guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material. Yau faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Yau has agreed to forfeit his laptop and cellphone which were used to commit the offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court documents, Homeland Security Investigations served a federal search warrant on Yau’s residence and located multiple electronic devices attributed to Yau. On those devices agents located thousands of files containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Some of the CSAM files depicted toddlers. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Morgan. 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Russian And Uzbek Nationals Charged With Conspiracy To File False Voter Registration Applications

body_text: Tampa, FL — A Tampa grand jury has returned an indictment charging Dmitry Shushlebin, 45, a citizen of Russia living in Miami Beach, and Sanjar Jamilov, 33, a citizen of Uzbekistan living in St. Petersburg, with conspiring to submit fraudulent voter registrations and four counts of submitting fraudulent voter registrations. The indictment further charged Shushlebin with two counts of false statements. Each count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. According to court documents, Shushlebin and Jamilov conspired to submit 132 fraudulent voter registration applications to the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections in February and March 2023. These applications were submitted in names other than their own, in envelopes with return and address labels that were identically formatted, including containing the same typographical error, and bore various indicia of fraud including, among other things, repeating dates of birth and addresses and nearly sequential Social Security numbers. Change of address forms were also submitted to the U.S. Postal Service to route mail to the names and addresses on the fraudulent applications to three locations that Shushlebin and Jamilov allegedly controlled. This case is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the FBI, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. This case began after a referral from the Florida Department of State, Office of Election Crime and Security. Trial Attorney Leo J. Wise of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Marcet for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.


title: Highland woman pleads guilty to selling counterfeit designer cosmetics, purses and accessories

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A Highland woman admitted in federal court to trafficking counterfeit designer goods and infringing on registered trademarks by selling items she imported from overseas through her business. The counterfeit items included cosmetics, purses, clothing, and accessories with well-known trademarks from high-end brands. Emily Montegna, 38, pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking in counterfeit goods. “Fake cosmetics pose significant health risks for consumers, and selling counterfeit goods harm unsuspecting shoppers who believe they are getting the real product,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ali M. Summers. “Counterfeit goods threaten a fair, legitimate marketplace, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prioritize consumer safety.” According to court documents, Montegna operated a business known by several names such as “Emily’s Creative Creations”, “Hickory Flat Farm Vinyl & Deals”, “Emily’s She Shed” or “Hickory Hill Vinyl & Deals,” and utilized a Facebook group and her home to sell the counterfeit products from October 2019 through January 2022. Montegna imported fake designer makeup products, socks, purses, sunglasses and other accessories from overseas to sell for a profit through her business. The items were meant to deceive consumers by including trademarks owned by Estee Lauder, L’Oreal, Parfumes Christian Dior, Tarte, Too Faced, Deckers Outdoor, Victoria’s Secret, Kate Spade, Under Armor, Nike and Michael Kors. Montegna’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on July 1 at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis. Trafficking in counterfeit goods is punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment and fines up to $2 million. Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Gross is prosecuting the case.


title: Honduran National Arrested For Illegal Reentry

body_text: Ocala, FL – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the filing of a criminal complaint charging Junior Alexander Sanabria-Barrera (27, Honduras) with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. According to court documents, Sanabria-Barrera is a citizen and national of Honduras. He was previously removed from the United States in April 2023. Afterward, Sanabria-Barrera was found to be voluntarily in the United States when he was encountered by law enforcement in Sumter County, Florida, on February 14, 2025. Sanabria-Barrera had not received the consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to apply for readmission to the United States. A complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case is being investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Belkis H. Callaos.


title: Burlington Man Who Committed Shooting Sentenced to 10-Year Prison Term

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on February 18, 2025, Loren Senna, III, age 41, of Burlington, Vermont, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss to a term of 120 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Senna previously pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute cocaine base and being a felon in possession of ammunition. According to court records, on March 19, 2021, Senna leaned out of the driver’s side window of the Jeep he was driving and fired multiple rounds from a semi-automatic rifle-style handgun while chasing another vehicle through a densely populated area of the Old North End in Burlington, Vermont. Although fired bullets went into multiple residences, and although pedestrians were present at the time of the shooting, no one was injured. Senna then sped through Burlington, briefly tried to hide in a parking lot, and crashed into an occupied Burlington Police Department cruiser with his Jeep while escaping the parking lot. He subsequently abandoned the Jeep and ran away on foot, throwing the semi-automatic handgun and a loaded pistol into an empty railcar. A short time later, Senna was pulled over in South Burlington, Vermont, driving a truck that belonged to a friend. In the truck were over 200 grams of cocaine base, over 20 grams of cocaine, and over 4 grams of a heroin/fentanyl mixture. Within a blue backpack on the floor on the passenger side was another loaded pistol. On Senna’s person was $5,812 in cash and a 9-millimeter bullet. Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher stated “The defendant’s shooting and subsequent flight from law enforcement the evening of March 19, 2021, were shocking and extraordinarily dangerous. I commend our law enforcement partners for their bravery, and their quick, collaborative, focused investigative work that night to apprehend the shooter without injury to the public, the officers involved, or to the defendant.” Specifically, the Acting United States Attorney thanked the Burlington Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the South Burlington Police Department for their contributions to this case. “From dispatch to patrol, to detectives, to our identification unit, dozens of BPD employees took part in this elaborate case, to say nothing of our partners at the South Burlington police department and in federal law enforcement,” said Burlington Chief of Police Jon Murad. “Given the volume of gunfire, the intentional collision with a cop, and the span of the multiple crime scenes—a shooting scene, a vehicle crash, discarded evidence, a traffic stop—it’s nothing short of a miracle that no one was shot or seriously injured. I’m tremendously grateful to the US Attorney’s office, particularly AUSA Cate, for prosecuting this case and winning the kind of just, effective sentence that ensures the defendant won’t put the public at risk again for a long, long time.” “The reckless actions of Loren Senna, who fired a weapon from a moving vehicle in a residential neighborhood, posed a serious threat to public safety,” said James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Boston Field Division. “This case highlights the dangers posed by armed felons and drug traffickers that underscores the importance of aggressive enforcement measures to keep our communities safe. We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to hold violent offenders accountable.” The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicole P. Cate and Zachary B. Stendig. Senna was represented by Mark Kaplan, Esq. 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: Tempe Man Sentenced to 47 Months in Prison for Illegally Possessing Firearms and Animal Crushing

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: PHOENIX, Ariz. – Eric Thomas Scionti, 36, of Tempe, was sentenced on Tuesday by United States District Judge John J. Tuchi to 47 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Scionti pleaded guilty to Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person and Animal Crushing in two separate cases on October 3, 2024. On January 18, 2023, pursuant to a search warrant, federal agents seized six firearms and 1,826 rounds of ammunition from areas of a residence controlled by the defendant. Scionti had previously been convicted of multiple Arizona state felonies and was consequently prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition. On September 29, 2023, federal agents received authorization to search records and information associated with Scionti’s email account. During that search, agents seized approximately 168 videos and 89 digital photographs depicting Scionti torturing and mutilating live pigeons. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigations in these cases. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Phoenix, handled the prosecutions. CASE NUMBER: CR-23-00600-PHX-JJT CR-24-00890-PHX-JJT RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-019_Scionti # # # 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: Kissimmee Man Sentenced To Ten Years For Attempting To Meet A Minor To Engage In Sexual Activity

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Julie Sneed has sentenced Pooran Ramjattan (61, Kissimmee) to 10 years in federal prison for attempted enticement to meet a minor to engage in sexual activity. Ramjattan pleaded guilty on November 21, 2024. According to court documents, on May 1, 2024, an undercover agent from the Federal Bureau of Investigation posed online as a 13-year-old girl. Ramjattan contacted the undercover agent’s account and, after learning the child’s age, engaged in a sexually explicit conversation. Ramjattan then arranged to meet the “child” at a predetermined location in Orange County to engage in sexual activity. When Ramjattan arrived at the meeting location, he was arrested by law enforcement. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Orlando Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson. The 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 United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: 29 Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud in $5M COVID Fraud Investigation

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. —Twenty-Nine out of 31 indicted defendants have pleaded guilty in a five-year investigation into a scheme to fraudulently obtain COVID-19 unemployment benefits led by SCDC inmates along with family members and friends outside the prison system. Evidence presented in court revealed that incarcerated inmates harvested personal information, such as social security numbers and dates of birth, from other inmates and used the information to apply for COVID unemployment benefits in the names of those inmates as well as themselves. Some inmates provided their details willingly to the named defendants in exchange for a portion of the proceeds derived from the unemployment benefits. Other inmates had no knowledge that unemployment benefits were being applied for on their behalf. The incarcerated defendants also obtained the information of unwitting individuals outside of the Department of Corrections using various extortion schemes. One of the primary schemes utilized by the defendants was known as “Johning.” Using contraband cellphones within the Department of Corrections, inmates posed as younger males or females and lured individuals to send them nude or compromising photos. After obtaining the photos, the inmates used a second line feature on their contraband cell phones and contacted the victim posing as law enforcement. The inmates then extorted the victims into sending them money and/or photos of their social security cards and driver’s license. After the defendants applied for unemployment benefits in the names of the extortion victims and Department of Corrections inmates, the benefits were diverted to the incarcerated defendants with the assistances of the non-incarcerated defendants. The non-incarcerated defendants received government checks and prepaid Visa debit cards in the mail. The non-incarcerated defendants then utilized ATM withdrawals, wire transfers, and mobile banking applications such as Zelle, Venmo, Green Dot, and Cash App to make the proceeds available to the incarcerated defendants. The indictment alleges the named defendants submitted COVID-19 unemployment applications in multiple states. Fraudulent benefit applications were filed in South Carolina, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Nevada, New Jersey, Missouri, Arizona, and California. In total, the fraudulent scheme resulted in a loss of approximately $4,996,673.00 to the United States Government. “This extensive fraud scheme exploited and misused individuals’ personal information, some unknowingly, for financial gain at the expense of American taxpayers,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Brook B. Andrews for the District of South Carolina. “The individuals involved showed a complete disregard for the law and used deception, manipulation, and extortion to unlawfully obtain nearly $5 million in unemployment benefits. Our agencies remain committed to holding those responsible accountable and ensuring that such fraudulent schemes do not undermine public trust in vital government programs.” “Inmates using this brazen scheme stole millions of dollars from an effort to help everyday Americans survive the COVID-19 pandemic,” SCDC Director Bryan Stirling said. “It is shameful, and the taxpayers deserve better. I am grateful to everyone involved in bringing these defendants to justice.” Each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon has accepted 29 guilty pleas and handed down sentences for 14 of the defendants thus far. The remaining defendants will be sentenced after the court receives and reviews a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. One defendant, Jessica Ann Howell, passed away and another defendant, Christine Hankins, remains at large as a fugitive. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the South Carolina Department of Corrections, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Winston Holliday and Scott Matthews are prosecuting the case. ###


title: Mission man sent to prison for drug trafficking, again

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 56-year-old convicted felon has been ordered to prison for drug trafficking while on federal supervision, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Salvador Noyola pleaded guilty May 3, 2024. Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Noyola to serve 188 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. On supervised release when he committed the crime, the court included 18 months as part of the sentence for violating that term. In handing down the sentence, Judge Crane warned Noyola, stating “You’ve got to get out of this business… I hope that you will find another way to make money.” In December 2023, authorities arrested Noyola following a search at his residence. At the time of the search, law enforcement seized over a kilogram of powdered cocaine. Noyola will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. This case is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Texas Department of Public Safety - Criminal Investigations Division are conducting the OCDETF operation with the assistance of the Hidalgo County Sheriffs Office and the Mission and Alton police departments. 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 on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage . Assistant U.S. Attorneys Roberto Lopez Jr., Lance Watt and Brittany Jensen are prosecuting the case.


title: Providence Woman Sentenced in Conspiracy to Smuggle Contraband Inside the Wyatt Detention Center

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A Providence woman who previously admitted to a federal judge that she provided contraband that made its way into the Wyatt Detention Center in Central Falls, RI, was sentenced today to two years of federal supervised release, the first six months to be served in home detention with GPS monitoring, and fined $1,500, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom. Yahaira Cristina Contreras, 32, admitted that in early 2021, she conspired with others to provide 201 suboxone strips containing buprenorphine that made its way to a Wyatt Detention Center correctional officer and into the facility. Contreras admitted that she provided the contraband and that she transferred $3,000 from her bank account to another person’s account to facilitate getting the suboxone strips inside the Wyatt Detention Center. Contreras’ sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Melissa R. DuBose. Former Wyatt Detention Center correctional officer Kaii Almeida-Falcones, 30, of Smithfield, pleaded guilty on June 10, 2024, to a charge of providing contraband to an inmate. He was sentenced on November 19, 2024, to six months in federal prison to be followed by twenty-four months of federal supervised release - the first six months to be served on home confinement. The cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ly T. Chin. The matter was investigated by the FBI, the United States Marshals Service, the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Inspector General, and the Professional Standards Unit at the Wyatt Detention Center. ###


title: Indictment Adds Murder and Other Charges Against Maryland Man Accused of Shooting a DCHA Officer

body_text: WASHINGTON – Victor Scott Terrill, 41, of Landover, Maryland, was charged in a 10-count superseding indictment, filed yesterday in U.S. District Court, with first-degree murder while armed and related counts, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ryan of the Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. The new charges stem from the February 23, 2024, fatal shooting of a man identified as R.C., and the nonfatal shooting of another man, while Terrill was on pre-trial release in a D.C. Superior Court matter. Terrill was initially arrested on February 29, 2024, for the shooting of a District Housing Authority Police Officer at a Southeast apartment building in Washington’s Navy Yard neighborhood. He was subsequently charged with assaulting a law enforcement officer (felony) while armed and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, and related offenses for that conduct. A Smith & Wesson .40 caliber handgun, recovered in a trashcan following his arrest, was also linked to the February 23 murder and nonfatal shooting. With respect to the fatal shooting, Terrill is charged with one count of first-degree murder while armed (premeditated), one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, and one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. With respect to the nonfatal shooting of the other man, Terrill is charged with one count of assault with intent to kill while armed, one count of assault with significant bodily injury while armed, and one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Terrill is further charged with committing these offenses while on pretrial release in a Superior Court matter. This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office's Violent Crimes Task Force and the MPD. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ariel Dean, Justin Song, Meredith Mayer-Dempsey and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan Horan for the District of Columbia. A criminal indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 24cr145


title: Career Offender Sentenced to 10 Years for Mailing Threats to Federal Officials

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Charles Morice Gilmore, 52, of Missouri, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Angela M. Martinez to concurrent statutory maximum sentences of 10 years in prison for Mailing Threatening Communications, and six years for Influencing Federal Official by Threat. Gilmore pleaded guilty to these crimes on October 1, 2024. Between February 28, 2023, and March 27, 2023, while an inmate at the United States Penitentiary in Tucson, Gilmore mailed letters to a federal judge claiming there were bombs in the courthouse where the victim worked and that the bombs could be remotely detonated. The letters to the judge contained religious slurs and asserted ties to the Hells Angels and the Ku Klux Klan. Gilmore also sent a threatening letter to a federal prosecutor who had previously handled one of his cases. Gilmore attached pipe bomb instructions to that letter. He claimed he had mailed the instructions to others outside the prison to carry out his orders. A third letter from Gilmore to a former cellmate with instructions for making pipe bombs and listing locations where the pipe bombs should be placed was also intercepted. Gilmore has a lengthy criminal history for violent offenses and is a career offender. Judge Martinez imposed concurrent stipulated sentences of 10 years for each mailing of threatening communications and six years for threatening a federal judge. The sentences will be consecutive to Gilmore’s 10-year federal sentence for mailing threatening communications in 2017; a 10-year sentence for threatening federal officials in 2014; a 90-month sentence in 2013 for mailing threatening communications to a different federal judge; and a 20-year prison sentence for stabbing an inmate in Jefferson City, Missouri in 2018. A separate case against Gilmore for mailing a hoax bomb threat to a state courthouse in Missouri was dismissed as part of the stipulated agreement in this case. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-23-2122-TUC-AMM RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-020_Gilmore # # # 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: Miami Tax Return Preparer Agrees to Permanent Injunction and Disgorgement

component: Tax Division

body_text: The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida issued a permanent injunction earlier this week against Miami tax return preparer Dieuseul Jean-Louis, which bars him from preparing or assisting in the preparation of federal income tax returns, working for or having any ownership stake in any tax preparation business, assisting others set up business as a preparer and transferring or assigning customer lists to any other person or entity. The court also ordered Jean-Louis to disgorge $245,275 in ill-gotten gains he received from his return preparation business. Jean-Louis agreed to both the injunction and ordered disgorgement. According to the complaint, Jean-Louis, doing business as DJL Multi-Services, prepared returns for customers that claimed, without their knowledge, various false or fabricated deductions and credits, including falsifying charitable and mortgage interest deductions, knowingly reporting fake or inflated business expenses and fraudulently claiming various credits like the Fuel Tax Credit and American Opportunity Credit. The complaint further alleged that Jean-Louis falsified customers’ income and filing statuses to increase the amount of the Earned Income Tax Credit, and that Jean-Louis has prepared thousands of tax returns for customers for over a decade. The complaint also asserted that Jean-Louis furnished to his customers copies of returns that were different from the returns filed with the IRS, where the return filed with the IRS claimed a higher refund, which allowed Jean-Louis to retain the additional amount for himself without the customers’ knowledge. The Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. Taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant against unscrupulous tax preparers. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers. The IRS also offers guidance on the credentials and qualifications that taxpayers should seek from their return preparer. In the past decade, the Justice Department’s Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website . An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page . If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details. Jean-Louis PI and Order.pdf


title: West Hartford Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Participating in Catalytic Converter Theft Ring

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that YANQUEE RODRIGUEZ, also known as “Yankster Rodriguez,” 28, of West Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 15 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for participating in a catalytic converter theft conspiracy. According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement has been investigating the theft of catalytic converters from motor vehicles across Connecticut. A catalytic converter contains precious metals, can easily be removed from its vehicle, and is difficult to trace, making it a desirable target for thieves. The average scrap price for catalytic converters currently varies between $300 and $1,500, depending on the model and type of precious metal component. The investigation revealed that Alexander Kolitsas owned and operated Downpipe Depot & Recycling LLC (“Downpipe Depot”), which had a warehouse on Park Avenue in East Hartford. Kolitsas and Downpipe Depot purchased stolen catalytic converters from a network of thieves, including Rodriguez, and then transported and sold the catalytic converters to recycling businesses in New York and New Jersey. Kolitsas instructed his suppliers on the types of converters that would obtain the most profit upon resale, and he would often meet with them and transact business at his home in Wolcott late at night or behind a family member’s restaurant in Middlebury after hours. Business records seized during the investigation revealed that Rodriguez was one of Downpipe Depot’s largest suppliers of stolen catalytic converters. Between January 2021 and May 2022, Downpipe Depot paid Rodriguez $411,845 for catalytic converters. Kolitsas paid Rodriguez and his other catalytic converter suppliers a total of more than $3.3 million during that time. Rodriguez was arrested on November 15, 2023. On June 26, 2024, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property. Rodriguez, who is released on a $100,000 bond, is required to report to prison on May 19. Kolitsas pleaded guilty to related charges and awaits sentencing. This investigation is being led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI), and the East Hartford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and A. Reed Durham.


title: Illegal alien sentenced for drug trafficking in South Texas

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 44-year-old Mexican national illegally residing in Mission has been ordered to prison for trafficking cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Jorge Alberto Galindo-Vargas pleaded guilty June 28, 2024. Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Galindo-Vargas to serve 210 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. During the hearing, Galindo-Vargas spoke to the court noting that he had previously received a large sentence for drug trafficking at the age of 17. In handing down the sentence, in response to Galindo-Vargas statements, Judge Crane stated “Unfortunately, you’re in the cocaine business again, and that’s going to cost you another chunk of your life.” “Illegally entering the United States is bad enough; illegally entering the United States in order to traffic drugs is even worse,” said Ganjei. “Galindo-Vargas will now have 17 years to think about his poor choices as he awaits his eventual deportation.” On Nov. 1, 2023, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop. Upon inspection, authorities discovered 12 kilograms of cocaine inside an ice chest inside the vehicle. Galindo-Vargas will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. This case is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Texas Department of Public Safety - Criminal Investigations Division are conducting the OCDETF operation with the assistance of the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office and the Mission and Alton police departments. 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 on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage . Assistant U.S. Attorneys Roberto Lopez Jr., Lance Watt and Brittany Jensen are prosecuting the case.


title: Paxton Man Arrested for Child Pornography Offense

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Paxton man has been arrested for allegedly reproducing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Barry Ward, 32, has been charged with reproduction of CSAM. Ward was arrested on Feb. 14, 2025 and, following an initial appearance in federal court in Worcester, was ordered detained pending a further hearing scheduled for 2 p.m. today. According to the charging document in October 2024, Ward was identified as a member in a Kik Messenger group used for sharing and discussing incestuous activities to include those involving minors. In private messages with undercover law enforcement, Ward allegedly stated he had a “private group” with other users who discussed the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. Ward was arrested on Feb. 14, 2025 following a search of his residence. Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274. The charge of reproduction of child sexual abuse material provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Paxton Police Chief Mark Savasta made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danial E. Bennett of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Straw purchaser sentenced for unlawfully supplying firearms to illegal aliens

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 54-year-old Baytown resident has been ordered to prison for his role in firearms trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Eduardo Hernandez pleaded guilty Oct. 31, 2024. Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Hernandez to serve 151 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by three years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence about Hernandez’ activities, including his purchase of several firearms from a licensed dealer in the Houston area. He had also sent photos of the firearms to an individual in Michoacan, Mexico, to provide confirmation of the transaction. During his allocution, Hernandez apologized for his offense against the United States. In handing down the sentence, Judge Crane responded by commenting that the victim of this offense is really Mexico and how the people of that country suffer at the hands of cartel violence. “Illegal aliens are prohibited from possessing firearms, period,” said Ganjei. “Hopefully Hernandez’s conviction and sentence will serve as a warning to others who would consider supplying guns to those illegally in the country.” On Nov. 1, 2023, as part of an on-going criminal investigation involving the unlawful purchase, transfer and exportation of firearms and ammunition, authorities conducted a search of a residence. At that time, they discovered and seized multiple firearms from an individual unlawfully present in the United States who admitted the firearms were intended to be transported into Mexico. The investigation revealed Hernandez had purchased two of the seized weapons - both rifles. At the time of his arrest, Hernandez admitted to purchasing approximately 50 firearms from licensed dealers and private sellers and transferring those firearms to aliens unlawfully present within the United States. Hernandez also admitted having transported tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition to a home near the U.S.-Mexico border. Hernandez was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. This case is a result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. Homeland Security Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Texas Department of Public Safety - Criminal Investigations Division are conducting the OCDETF operation with the assistance of the Baytown Police Department. 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 on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage . Assistant U.S. Attorneys Roberto Lopez Jr., Lance Watt and Brittany Jensen are prosecuting the case.


title: Lebanon County Man and Diesel Vehicle Repair Shop Indicted for Violations of Clean Air Act and Conspiring to Defraud the United States and Violate the Clean Air Act

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Roy Ladell Weaver, age 41, of Jonestown, PA, and Pro Diesel Werks, LLC, were indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury for conspiracy to impede the lawful functions of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and to violate the Clean Air Act, and individual violations of the Clean Air Act. According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges between 2013 and March 12, 2024, Weaver, owner of Pro Diesel Werks, LLC, doing business as Pro Diesel Werks, and Pro Diesel Werks, along with multiple co-conspirators, disabled the hardware emissions control systems on the diesel vehicles of Pro Diesel Werks customers (a practice referred to as a “delete” or “deleting”), defeating the systems’ ability to reduce pollutant gases and particulate matter being emitted to the atmosphere. It is further alleged that Weaver, Pro Diesel Werks, and their co-conspirators also tampered with the emissions diagnostic systems on the vehicles to prevent the diagnostic system software from monitoring the emission control system hardware deletes (a practice referred to as a ‘tune” or “tuning). The case was investigated by the EPA’s Criminal Investigations Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney David C. Williams, Special Assistant United States Attorney Patricia C. Miller, and Environmental Crimes Section Trial Attorney Ronald A. Sarachan are prosecuting the case. The maximum total penalty under federal law for these offenses is nine years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Repeat Child Sex Offender Sentenced To More Than 22 Years In Federal Prison

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Chad Allen Pease (49, Fort Pierce) to 22 years and 7 months in federal prison for attempting to entice or induce a minor to engage in sexual activity and committing a felony offense involving a minor when required to register as a sex offender. A federal jury found Pease guilty on November 20, 2024. According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, on February 3, 2024, Pease began communicating with an undercover law enforcement officer (UC) whom Pease believed to be the father of a 13-year-old girl. Over the course of the conversation, Pease made plans to meet up with the UC and his “daughter” so that Pease could have sex with the child. Pease drove 18 miles to the meeting location and conducted counter-surveillance before fleeing the scene. Law enforcement identified Pease, reconstructed his activities that evening, and later arrested him at his residence. Pease was previously convicted of a sex offense in 2008, after sending explicit photographs and traveling to have sex with someone he believed to be a 13-year-old girl. He has been required to register as a sex offender ever since. "This predator intentionally singled out a child, devised a plan, and executed it with the sole purpose of harming the most vulnerable in our community” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “HSI investigators, alongside our partners, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, have successfully removed another predator from the streets.” This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard Varadan and Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro.


body_text: Ocala, FL – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Jose Mario Abrego-Mejia (34, Honduras) with illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. If convicted, Abrego-Mejia faces a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison. Abrego-Mejia is currently being detained pending the resolution of the criminal case. According to the indictment, Abrego-Mejia was previously removed from the United States in 2009. After that removal, he was found to be voluntarily back in the United States on August 31, 2022. Abrego-Mejia has not received the consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for readmission to the United States. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case is being investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO). It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Belkis H. Callaos.


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced To 20 Years For Possessing With The Intent To Distribute Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, And Cocaine

body_text: Tampa, FL – Acting U.S. Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Emmanuel Dourthe (26, Deltona) to 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Dourthe pleaded guilty in November 2024. According to court documents, on February 14, 2023, law enforcement officers searched a storage unit that Dourthe, along with his co-conspirator Brendan Wells, utilized to store narcotics they were selling and intending to sell. Inside the storage unit, officers located 408 grams of methamphetamine, 399.7 grams of fentanyl, and 27.7 grams of cocaine. In addition, numerous bottles and baggies with various powders suspected to be cutting agents, as well as mixing tools, were found. A Smith & Wesson M&P semiautomatic rifle, along with numerous gun cases, magazines, and ammunition were also seized from the storage unit. A search of Dourthe’s phone had initially alerted law enforcement to the existence of the storage unit. Dourthe’s phone contained messages that showed that Dourthe and his associates were trafficking narcotics and that Wells, as well as others, were also involved in this trafficking. The firearm retrieved from the storage unit was swabbed for DNA, and testing revealed the presence of Douthe’s DNA on the firearm. Dourthe is a convicted felon and therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. Earlier in the day on February 14, 2023, law enforcement searched a backpack belonging to Wells, recovered from a residential search. Inside the backpack, law enforcement found what the Drug Enforcement Administration laboratory later confirmed to be 143.98 grams of methamphetamine. Wells pleaded guilty in November 2024. His sentencing is scheduled for March 26, 2025. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky. 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: Chatham County man sentenced to prison for stalking woman, exploding a bomb at her home

body_text: SAVANNAH, GA: A Chatham County man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges that include planting and exploding a bomb that badly damaged a woman’s home. Stephen Glosser , 38, of Savannah, was sentenced to 240 months in prison after pleading guilty to Stalking and Use of an Explosive to Commit Another Felony Offense, said Tara M. Lyons, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge R. Stan Baker also ordered Glosser to pay $507,781 in restitution to two victims in the case, and to serve three years of supervised release up completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. “The level of malevolent violence in this case is astounding, and it’s truly fortunate that there were no deaths as a result of this horrific crime,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Lyons. “This successful prosecution is a credit to the outstanding investigative work of the ATF and our state and local law enforcement partners.” As described in court documents and testimony, Bryan County emergency services personnel responded Jan. 13, 2023, to a reported explosion that extensively damaged a Richmond Hill home with two people inside. A subsequent investigation led to the arrest of Glosser and a co-conspirator, and to a March 2024 federal indictment. Glosser’s guilty plea in the case describes his efforts to communicate with his co-conspirator to “create a plan to kill, intimidate, harass, or injure” the owner of the home. “This included conspiring to acquire and shoot arrows into the victim’s front door, acquire and release a large python into the victim’s home to eat the victim's daughter, acquire and mail dog feces to the victim’s home, acquire and mail dead rats to the victim’s home, to scalp the victim, and to blow up the victim’s home,” as spelled out in the guilty plea. Glosser located the victim’s residence using internet searches on his cell phone based on an image the victim had previously shared with Glosser. His co-conspirator purchased exploding targets online, and the two used the explosive material to construct a bomb that Glosser and his co-conspirator used to blow up the victim’s home. After the bombing, Glosser hired a cleaning service to clean the carpets in his residence to hide traces of the bomb-making materials. Glosser’s co-conspirator, who was taken into custody in Louisiana on unrelated charges, is awaiting prosecution in the Southern District of Georgia. He is considered innocent unless and until proven guilty. “This case demonstrates the devastating impact of violent criminals who stop at nothing to terrorize their victims. ATF, along with our law enforcement partners, will aggressively pursue and bring to justice those who use explosive devices as tools of destruction,” said Beau Kolodka, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. “This case serves as a stark reminder that those who use terror and threats to intimidate others will face the full force of the law,” said Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey. “We are fortunate that no lives were lost, and I commend the tireless efforts of the ATF and our local partners for their dedication in bringing this dangerous individual to justice. Our commitment to ensuring public safety remains steadfast, and we will continue to work together to protect our communities from such acts of violence.” The case is being investigated by Bryan County Fire and Emergency Services, the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office and its K-9 unit, the Savannah Fire Department, and the Grant Parish (Louisiana) Sheriff’s Office, and Prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorney L. Alexander Hamner.


title: Drug distributor caught with massive amounts of fentanyl and meth as well as firearms, body armor, and silencer sentenced to 13 years in prison

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Tacoma – A 32-year-old Renton, Washington resident was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 13 years in prison for his role in a drug trafficking ring connected to Aryan prison gangs, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Shawn Ellis was arrested in March 2023, when federal agents moved in following a two-year investigation of drug trafficking activities. A search of Ellis’ car turned up buckets filled with fentanyl pills and kilos of methamphetamine, as well as four firearms – including a machine gun. At today’s sentencing hearing, Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo said, “We’re talking about a significant amount of controlled substances,” and added, “What is really significant and obviously scary for the community is the firearms.” According to records filed in the case, Ellis was a prolific drug redistributor. He obtained drugs from one branch of the drug conspiracy and sold the drugs to other customers for profit. Ellis would order as much as 30 pounds of methamphetamine at a time. When Ellis was arrested, agents seized the buckets of fentanyl and methamphetamine as well as cocaine and fake Xanax pills. Ellis carried four guns in the car to protect his drugs – a loaded pistol between the driver’s seat and center console, an SK-15 rifle hidden in a violin case, a shotgun and a second loaded pistol. He also had body armor in the vehicle. In a storage shed Ellis controlled were five additional firearms, a large amount of ammunition, additional body armor and a homemade silencer. Ellis also stored cash, jewelry, precious metals, coins and other collectibles in the shed – proceeds of his drug trafficking. Ellis has two prior felony drug convictions and is prohibited from possessing firearms. In asking for a 15-year sentence prosecutors wrote to the court, “But the danger Ellis posed to the community does not stop (with his possession of a silencer). He carried guns in his car along with his drugs, including a pistol which he kept close at hand near the driver’s seat. Ellis also kept in the car a second pistol, a shotgun, and an AR-15 type rifle that he hid in a violin case. This rifle proved to be a machinegun that fires fully automatically. As a felon, Ellis could not legally possess any firearms, much less a silencer or a machinegun.” Law enforcement made two dozen arrests on federal charges on March 22, 2023. The coordinated takedown involved ten swat teams and more than 350 law enforcement officers. On that day law enforcement seized 177 firearms, more than ten kilos of methamphetamine, 11 kilos of fentanyl pills and more than a kilo of fentanyl powder, three kilos of heroin, and more than $330,000 in cash from eighteen locations in Washington and Arizona. Earlier in the investigation law enforcement seized 830,000 fentanyl pills, 5.5 pounds of fentanyl powder, 223 pounds of methamphetamine, 3.5 pounds of heroin, 5 pounds of cocaine, $388,000 in cash, and 48 firearms. The top-level leader of the drug trafficking ring, Jesse Bailey, is scheduled to be sentenced on June 13, 2025, and his wife and co-conspirator Candace Bailey, is scheduled for sentencing on May 16, 2025. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. This investigation was led by the FBI with critical investigative teamwork from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Washington State Department of Corrections and significant local assistance from the Tacoma Police Department, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, and the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force, led by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. Throughout this investigation the following agencies assisted the primary investigators: Washington State Patrol, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Lakewood Police Department, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zach Dillon, Max Shiner, and Jehiel Baer.


title: Tampa Man With Prior Conviction For Trafficking In Cocaine Pleads Guilty To Possession Of Cocaine With Intent To Distribute

body_text: Tampa, FL – Acting United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney announces that Jose Pabon (45, Tampa) has pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Pabon faces a minimum of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. This enhanced penalty is due to Pabon’s prior conviction for trafficking in cocaine in 2013. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court documents, on May 13, 2024, a detective with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office acting in an undercover capacity (UC) contacted Pabon’s co-conspirator by phone. The co-conspirator agreed to sell the UC a kilogram of cocaine for $21,000. The next day, through an exchange of calls and text messages, the co-conspirator and the UC agreed to meet to conduct the kilogram cocaine transaction at a location in Tampa. During the preceding communications, the co-conspirator told the UC that he was waiting on a source of supply to provide the kilogram of cocaine prior to being able to distribute it to the UC. Prior to meeting with the UC, DEA agents observed the co-conspirator meeting Pabon. Surveillance footage from the transaction location showed Pabon and the co-conspirator having a short conversation outside Pabon’s vehicle. After this conversation, agents observed the co-conspirator retrieve an object from Pabon’s car, return to his own vehicle, drive across the parking lot to the UC’s location, and emerge from his vehicle holding a kilogram of cocaine. The cocaine was tested by the DEA laboratory and confirmed to be 1,012 grams of cocaine. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman.


title: Murder and Other Charges Filed in March 6, 2019 Stabbing of Natina Kiah

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Lamont Stephenson, 50, of Washington, D.C., was indicted on first degree murder while armed and cruelty to animals from a stabbing and strangulation that took place in Southeast Washington in March 2019, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Stephenson allegedly committed these offenses while on the run for the October 2014 killing of his then-fiancée and her dog. He has since pleaded guilty to the charges in the 2014 case and has been sentenced to more than 30 years of incarceration. According to the indictment, the defendant is charged with stabbing Natina Kiah and strangling her cat to death in the early morning hours of March 6, 2019, Stephenson was brought to D.C. and arraigned on the charges on February 14, 2025, during a hearing before Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman. In announcing the charges, U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Smith commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). They also commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Merikas, who is investigating and prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.


title: Former Taney County Official Pleads Guilty to Stealing $260,000

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A former official with the Taney County Health Department pleaded guilty in federal court today to a scheme to embezzle approximately $260,000 from the agency. Hugo Ricardo Huacuz, 51, waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to a five-count federal information. Huacuz pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, two counts of stealing federal funds, one count of money laundering and one count of aggravated identity theft. Huacuz was the chief operating officer and the chief financial officer of the Taney County Health Department until he resigned on Nov. 14, 2023. Huacuz had been employed by the health department since 2011. By pleading guilty today, Huacuz admitted that he stole from the Taney County Health Department in a scheme that lasted from March 23, 2022, to Nov. 14, 2023. Huacuz caused the health department to write checks to Argon Investments, LLC, a company organized by Huacuz and his wife. Huacuz forged the signatures of health department members, using their identities without their permission. Huacuz caused the health department to issue 15 checks totaling approximately $259,000, which were deposited into the bank account of Argon Investments. Huacuz used the stolen funds for personal expenses charged to his personal credit card, including automobile insurance, maintenance, repair and parts; restaurants; home construction items; gasoline; airline tickets and travel, including to Chicago, Illinois, New York State, San Diego, California, College Station, Texas, Nashville, Tennessee, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Portland, Oregon; utilities; dry cleaning; clothing; dental and medical care; and payments to the Missouri Secretary of State’s office for Argon’s LLC fees. Health board members were not aware of the existence of Argon Investments or that any checks had been issued to Argon Investments. In order to conceal his scheme from the board, Huacuz caused these checks to be coded as payments to Sanofi Pasteur, Inc., a multinational pharmaceutical company. Huacuz falsely reported to the health department’s board that some of the checks written to Argon Investments were for items purchased from Sanofi, and created false invoices from Sanofi purportedly for the purchase of pharmaceutical and medical items, including COVID-19 testing kits. In November 2023, the director of the Taney County Health Department received information concerning Huacuz’s job performance. The information stated that Huacuz was frequently absent from his job and that he had other businesses he was operating independent from his job at the health department. After reviewing the information, the director met with Huacuz on Nov. 13, 2023, and placed him on administrative leave. Huacuz went to the bank immediately afterward and withdrew more than $24,000 from the Argon bank account, leaving a balance of $100 in the account. Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Huacuz agrees that he embezzled at least $258,976 and, at the very least, this amount is subject to forfeiture and restitution. The government will recommend a sentence of no more than four years and six months in federal prison without parole while Huacuz will seek a sentence of three years in federal prison without parole. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall D. Eggert. It was investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services and the FBI.


title: Pelahatchie Man Sentenced to nearly Five Years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

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

body_text: Jackson, Miss. – A Pelahatchie man was sentenced to 57 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to court documents, Brad O’Neal Lee, 41, sold firearms to a pawn shop in Jackson, Mississippi. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives was alerted to the sale. Lee is a convicted felon, and therefore is prohibited by federal law from possessing any firearms or ammunition. Lee’s previous felony convictions on the date of the illegal possession were for residential burglary, false pretense, and uttering a forgery, for which he served several years in state prison. Lee was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 6, 2023. He pled guilty on October 3, 2024. Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement. The ATF investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.