title: Western District of Oklahoma's "Operation 922" Domestic Violence Initiative Remains a Powerful and Effective Tool to Combat Domestic Violent Crime

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: 352 Charged and Nearly 500 Firearms Recovered OKLAHOMA CITY – With October serving as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Oklahoma (USAO), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Oklahoma City Police Department want the community to know that “Operation 922” continues to be a powerful tool in the fight against domestic violence-related violent crime. “Domestic violence remains at unacceptable, epidemic levels in Oklahoma. Through the power of federal prosecution, Operation 922 seeks to save the lives of domestic violence victims and responding law enforcement officers, while holding abusers accountable,” said United States Attorney Robert J. Troester. “Safe neighborhoods start with safe homes.” “ATF’s top priority has always been to keep firearms out of the hands of people that shouldn’t have them. This is particularly true when it comes to domestic violence offenders within our communities. The mere presence of a firearm in a home where abuse is occurring significantly increases the risk of considerable harm,” said ATF Dallas Division Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II. “Domestic abuse knows no boundaries, nor does the extent of the methods we will go to in order to stop it. We thank our partners, especially the United States Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Oklahoma, for their continued pursuit of justice through Operation 922. Together we are stronger.” “With October being Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we recognize domestic abuse continues to affect individuals and families across our community,” said Oklahoma City Police Chief Ron Bacy. “We are committed to working with our federal partners in doing everything we can to protect victims of abuse, while ensuring those who inflict harm face the consequences.” OPERATION 922 - STRATEGY In 2018, the USAO launched “Operation 922” as a local strategy to reduce violent crime and target the subject matter of domestic violence. Domestic violence is found in all ethnic groups and all communities, including rich and poor, educated and undereducated, urban and rural, and employed and unemployed. When domestic violence escalates to a point that it involves firearms, the result can be lethal for victims, responding law enforcement officers, or others ( e . g ., family members, mass shootings, bystanders, etc.). For these reasons, Operation 922 focuses on repeat domestic abusers and particularly violent offenders who violate federal law—primarily firearms offenses—and uses the power of federal prosecution to quickly remove abusers from the home, protect the victims over whom the abuser exerts control, and safeguard law enforcement responding to domestic calls. Although the USAO has used more than 20 separate federal statutes to hold abusers accountable, the cases most frequently used are federal firearms laws, mostly found in 18 U.S.C. § 922. This statute is the origin of the name “Operation 922.” OPERATION 922 - IN ACTION State, local, and tribal law enforcement and prosecutors know who the repeat domestic abusers and particularly violent offenders are in their respective communities. Through Operation 922, they have access to federal agents and prosecutors who ultimately determine whether the facts warrant federal prosecution. Unlike in a typical state domestic violence case, when federal prosecutors bring federal firearms charges, the abuse is not critical to the charged offense. Because the focus of the crime centers on the illegal firearm offense, victims are often shielded from testifying and being subject to cross-examination regarding the abuse. However, federal prosecutors are nevertheless able to use instances of abusive behavior, victim protection orders, and prior violent conduct to seek to detain the defendant during the case. Federal prosecutors are also able to present this information at sentencing for consideration by the judge. Because Operation 922 is victim-focused, federal prosecutors work closely with, and rely upon, the Palomar Family Justice Center and other service providers. These entities ensure that domestic violence survivors receive necessary wrap-around services far beyond the USAO’s capabilities. OPERATION 922 - BY THE NUMBERS Since Operation 922 was launched in 2018, 352 defendants have been charged with federal offenses, with those charges originating in 26 of the Western District of Oklahoma’s 40 counties. Of the 352 defendants charged: more than 94% have already pled guilty or been convicted at trial, more than 88% have already been sentenced with the average sentence of more than 74 months in federal prison, and 33% were known gang members from 43 different gangs, even though this initiative does not specifically target gangs. In addition to removing the abuser from the home on federal charges, law enforcement has removed 495 firearms and more than 12,250 rounds of ammunition from those same homes. Outside of the courtroom, federal prosecutors have provided training on Operation 922 to more than 2,500 federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers and prosecutors across the country since 2018. Well over half of those trained were in Oklahoma. The USAO has also provided multiple trainings to other U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, some of which have implemented their own domestic violence initiative patterned after Operation 922. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok .


title: Baltimore Man Sentenced To 60 Months In Federal Prison For Access Device Fraud And Aggravated Identity Theft

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – U.S. District Chief Judge George L. Russell III yesterday sentenced Dolapo Lawal, age 34, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 60 months’ imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release for federal charges of access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. The sentence was announced by Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland and Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office. According to the guilty plea, Lawal knowingly and willfully participated in and executed a stolen identity tax refund fraud scheme to obtain fraudulent tax refunds using the identities of elderly victims, then load those refunds onto debit cards tied to bank accounts opened in the victims’ names, sent those cards to secure known addresses throughout the United States, and finally withdraw those refunds in cash. As outlined at his guilty plea Lawal’s involvement in the scheme can be grouped into two efforts. In the first instance, Lawal intentionally trafficked and used 24 Green Dot Bank debit cards in elderly victims’ names in the spring of 2022. These cards were fraudulently loaded with more than $200,000 in 2021 tax refunds, which were fraudulently obtained through identity theft. On April 8, 2022, the Baltimore County Police Department lawfully stopped and searched Lawal’s Mercedes S-class sedan. During the search, officers found approximately $18,900 in cash and these 24 debit cards in a bag left under Lawal’s seat. Lawal admitted to officers on the scene that this was his bag. The vehicle also contained multiple plastic bags filled with opened packaging for these or similar debit cards. Cell tower pings, automated license plate reader data, bank records, and Lawal’s admissions to law enforcement show that Lawal had used these 24 cards to conduct more than 300 cash withdrawals at ATMs to obtain more than $80,000 in the preceding month. Lawal later admitted that he used these fraudulent debit cards on multiple occasions to conduct cash withdrawals for his personal benefit – specifically to make payments on his Mercedes and to pay off personal credit card debt. In the second instance, Lawal possessed over 300 additional unique Green Dot Bank debit cards in his home on or about June 21, 2023. That day, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Lawal’s residence. During the search, IRS-CI agents found, among other items, a box containing more than 300 additional unique Green Dot Bank debit cards. Lawal’s iPhone – also seized pursuant to the same search warrant – contained photographs of several of these cards along with portions of the packaging for each of the cards that had the bank account number and routing number for the corresponding account associated with the card. Approximately 200 of these cards were linked to bank accounts opened in the names of additional victims, which were listed as the direct deposit accounts for fraudulent 2021 and 2022 tax refund claims filed in the names of those same victims. Many of these tax returns were filed after Lawal’s April 8, 2022 traffic stop. The total amount of fraudulent tax refund claims associated with these cards was over $3 million. The IRS had not issued these refund claims before law enforcement searched Lawal’s home. In total, Lawal’s offenses furthered a scheme to defraud the United States of over $3 million. Reporting from consumers about fraud and fraud attempts is critical to law enforcements efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Department of Justice Hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying next steps, including identifying appropriate reporting agencies, providing information to callers to assist them in reporting or connecting them with agencies, and providing resources and referrals on a case-by-case basis. The hotline is staffed from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. English, Spanish, and other languages are available. More information about the Department’s elder justice efforts can be found on the Department’s Elder Justice website, www.elderjustice.gov . Victims are encouraged to file a complaint online with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at this website or by calling 1-800-225-5324. U.S. Attorney Barron commended the IRS-CI for its work in the investigation and thanked the Baltimore County Police Department for its assistance. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph L. Wenner, who is prosecuting the federal case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission Meet with G7 Enforcement Partners in Rome to Discuss the Challenges of Ensuring Competition in AI

component: Antitrust Division

body_text: The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission participated in the G7 Competition Authorities and Policymakers Summit yesterday and today to discuss how enforcers and policymakers can ensure healthy competition in AI-related technologies, products and applications. The Summit was convened by the G7 Industry, Technology and Digital Ministerial Declaration and hosted in Rome by the Italian Competition Authority (Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato). The Antitrust Division was led by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Doha Mekki. “Sharing the United States’ experiences and perspectives and reflecting on best practices alongside international enforcers helps us better apply the U.S. antitrust laws to unlock economic opportunity for the American people,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Doha Mekki. “We thank Italy for organizing an exceptional G7 summit and for driving a timely conversation on promoting competition in AI.” At the conclusion of the Summit, G7 competition authorities and policymakers issued a communiqué , which highlights potential competition concerns in AI-related markets and identifies guiding principles to apply to ensure healthy competition in AI. The communiqué also underscores the important role that competition authorities and policymakers have in addressing competitive threats, emphasizing that the potential risk of concentrated market power in AI-related markets and possible collusion or improper information sharing using AI technologies necessitate careful vigilance and vigorous and timely competition enforcement. The G7 competition authorities and policymakers are committed to working to safeguard open and fair competition in digital markets and AI, and to ensure that the benefits of AI are fully realized and widely available in our societies.


title: City of Yakima Awarded more than $350,000 to Combat  Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Yakima, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced a Department of Justice grant award for the City of Yakima. The grant allocates $353,998 to combat domestic violence. The grant was awarded on September 13, 2024. Funding for the grant was awarded by The Office on Violence Against Women, Fiscal Year 2024 Enhancing Investigation and Prosecution of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Initiative. This initiative encourages law enforcement agencies and prosecutors’ offices to expand and improve their capacity to effectively investigate and prosecute domestic violence, support victim safety, and hold offenders accountable. The project description for the $353,998 grant awarded to the City of Yakima says the funds will be used by the City of Yakima, Washington, in partnership with the YWCA Yakima, to provide a victim advocate, identify high risk cases for referral to the Domestic Violence High Risk Team, provide more resources for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, and provide training for officers and prosecutors to recognize and address bias about victims of domestic violence. “Supporting survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and holding individuals accountable who perpetrate this violence is critical to building safer and strong communities. This award demonstrates the Department of Justice’s commitment to working with law enforcement and community partners to fund critical services to assist sexual assault survivors, protect victims of crime, amplify their voices, and to seek justice on behalf of all citizens in Eastern Washington,” said U.S. Attorney Waldref. “The City of Yakima Prosecution Division is excited for the opportunity to enhance domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking prosecution efforts, including victim advocacy services through our partnership with YWCA Yakima, and supported by the grant resources provided by the Office on Violence Against Women,” said City Prosecutor Cynthia Martinez. “The Prosecution Division, Yakima Law Enforcement, and our community partners, including the YWCA Yakima, are committed to holding offenders accountable, supporting victims and their children in their efforts to remain safe, and eliminating bias at all levels in the City of Yakima criminal justice system. The Prosecution Division welcomes this opportunity to expand and improve our current service delivery for the City of Yakima.” Additional information about grants and funding through the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs is available at https://www.ojp.gov. Information regarding the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence against Women is available at https://www.justice.gov/ovw.


title: New Orleans Man Guilty of Being Felon in Possession of Firearm

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULIUS AUGILLARD (“AUGILLARD”) , age 38, of New Orleans, pled guilty on September 26, 2024, before United States District Judge Carl Barbier to two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). According to court documents, on February 20, 2023, AUGILLARD possessed a firearm on the 500 block of Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras festivities, after leading Louisiana State Police Troopers on a short foot pursuit. The troopers found a Smith and Wesson Model SD40VE, .40 caliber pistol on his person. Later, on December 31, 2023, AUGILLARD possessed an International Model PT609 PRO, nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol near 200 Tremé Street while trespassing at an apartment complex. At the time of the apprehension and arrest by Housing Authority of New Orleans police officers, AUGILLARD had been previously convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. AUGILLARD is scheduled for sentencing on January 16, 2025. For each count, AUGILLARD faces up to 15 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Honduran National Sentenced for Transporting Illegal Aliens from Texas to Georgia

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced the October 1, 2024 sentencing of WILFREDO GARCIA-HERNANDEZ (“GARCIA”) , age 31, a Honduran national, who previously pled guilty to transporting aliens, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1324(a)(1)(A)(ii). According to court documents, GARCIA was encountered by a United States Border Patrol agent near Slidell, Louisiana. A traffic stop was conducted and GARCIA was found to be driving two illegal aliens from Texas to Georgia for employment. United States District Judge Brandon S. Long sentenced GARCIA to time served, followed by 3 years of supervised release and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Border Patrol, in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jon M. Maestri of the General Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Member of Violent Gang Pleads Guilty to Racketeering and Drug Trafficking Offenses

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty yesterday to his role in Cameron Street, a violent Boston gang. Charod Taylor, a/k/a “Pachino,” 35, of Boston, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise (commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy) and conspiracy to distribute cocaine. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Jan. 15, 2025. Taylor was identified as a member of Cameron Street, a violent gang based largely in the Dorchester section of Boston that uses violence and threats of violence to preserve, protect and expand its territory, promote a climate of fear and enhance its reputation. Cameron Street gang ran an open-air drug market in the parking lot of a business on in Dorchester in which Taylor and several other Cameron Street members participated in controlled purchases of cocaine and cocaine base (crack cocaine) to cooperating witnesses. From February 2021 to March 2022, Taylor worked with other Cameron Street members and associates to distribute crack and powder cocaine to cooperating witnesses seven times. According to the charging documents, Cameron Street members possess, carry and use firearms to murder and assault gang rivals as well as protect narcotics and drug proceeds. Cameron Street members post videos or use social media applications to promote Cameron Street, celebrate murders and other violent crimes committed by the gang, and denigrate rivals, in particular NOB (for Norton, Onley, and Barry Streets), known more generally as Wendover. Cameron Street members also possess, carry, and use firearms to murder and assault gang rivals as well as protect narcotics and drug proceeds. Additionally, Cameron Street members distribute controlled substances and firearms, commit armed robberies, and engage in human trafficking in part to generate income for the Cameron Street enterprise. The charge of RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to interfere with commerce by force or violence each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to distribute cocaine provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Feld Division; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; the United States Postal Inspection Service; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; Suffolk, Plymouth, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Canton, Quincy, Randolph, Somerville, Brockton, Malden, Stoughton, Rehoboth and Pawtucket (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Pohl and Charles Dell’Anno of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case. This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Richmond man sentenced to prison after brandishing a machinegun in social media livestream

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

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced yesterday to four years in prison for possession of a machinegun. According to court documents, on April 7, 2023, during a livestream on social media, Perry Ike Mason, 29, entered a vehicle and removed from his jacket a .40 caliber handgun equipped with a machinegun conversion device (MCD), a weapon-mounted laser, and an extended magazine. Detectives with the Richmond Police Department (RPD) viewed the video and learned that there was an outstanding arrest warrant for Mason from Chesterfield County for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon in August 2022. Mason later posted another video brandishing the same firearm. Detectives identified Mason’s location at a restaurant in the Chesterfield Towne Center. After arriving at the location, they observed Mason entering a vehicle in the parking lot and followed him to a residence on Kimrod Road in Richmond. Mason exited the vehicle and proceeded to a shed behind the residence, where officers arrested him on the outstanding warrant. The detectives searched the shed and discovered the firearm, which still was equipped with the extended magazine, laser, and MCD. The firearm was loaded with 31 rounds in the magazine and another in the chamber. The MCD rendered the semi-automatic firearm capable of fully automatic fire. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division, Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia; and Rick Edwards, Chief of Richmond Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Miller and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Devon E. Schulz, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, 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. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-131.


title: Costa Rican National Pleads  Guilty to Firearm Possession

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that MILTON RAYO CASTILLO (“RAYO CASTILLO”) , age 26, a native of Costa Rica, pled guilty October 1, 2024 to being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(5)(A). According to the indictment, on or about March 10, 2024, RAYO CASTILLO , an alien illegally present in the United States, was found in possession of a nine-millimeter semi-automatic pistol after brandishing that weapon at a patron while at a Kenner, La. restaurant. At sentencing, RAYO CASTILLO faces up to 15 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. United States District Judge Wendy B. Vitter scheduled sentencing for December 12, 2024. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Department of Homeland Security and the Kenner Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.


title: Cedar Lake Woman Sentenced to 42 Months in Prison

body_text: HAMMOND- Felicia Bywater, 33 years old, of Cedar Lake, Indiana was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to distributing methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Bywater was sentenced to 42 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, between October 2022 and February 2023, Bywater sold methamphetamine on three separate occasions, totaling approximately two ounces. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Padilla.


title: Department of Justice Announces more than $600,000 in Federal Funding for the Kalispel Tribe of Indians to Respond to and Prevent Sexual Assault

body_text: Spokane, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced a Department of Justice grant award for the Kalispel Indian Community of the Kalispel Reservation (Kalispel Tribe of Indians). The grant allocates $610,000 to respond to and prevent sexual assault. In announcing this award, U.S. Attorney Waldref stated, “This latest grant award demonstrates the federal government’s continued commitment to combatting sexual violence, including within Tribal communities in Eastern Washington, which disproportionately impacts women and vulnerable populations. Victims of sexual assault deserve to live in a world where they feel safe – free from abuse and the fear of abuse.” With this funding, the Kalispel Tribe of Indians will hire one full-time sexual assault advocate to provide crisis intervention, emergency services, advocacy, and referrals. The Kalispel Tribe also will use the grant award to manage an emergency hotline as well develop materials to provide resources and support to survivors of sexual assault. “The Kalispel Tribe is deeply committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our people and our community,” says Kalispel Vice Chair and Executive Director of Kalispel Casino & Government Affairs, Curt Holmes. “We have invested in a robust Victim Assistance Services program for the past 21 years. This grant funding will allow us to add much needed additional staff as we serve approximately 760 victims each year. Not only do we serve tribal members and non-tribal members, we are also a frequent referral source for law enforcement agencies, other victim service providers, and social service agencies in both Spokane and Pend Oreille Counties. As the need in our community continues to grow, the Kalispel Tribe is committed to providing victims with valuable resources in an effort to break the cycle of violence.” Kalispel Tribe Victim Assistance Services (“KTVAS”) provides services throughout Pend Oreille County, including the Ione and Metaline Falls areas, and Spokane Counties, including the West Plains Region of Cheney, Airway Heights, and the US Airforce Base at Fairchild. KTVAS also serves Kalispel Tribal Members and Members from all other Tribes, as they are the only Tribal Victim Service program on the east side of the State that provides culturally specific services to all Native Americans. Funding for the $610,000 grant was awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, Fiscal Year 2024 Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program. The program supports projects to create, maintain and expand sustainable sexual assault services provided by tribes, tribal organizations, and nonprofit tribal organizations within Indian country and Alaska Native villages.


title: Slidell Man Guilty of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Materials

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that on October 2, 2024 CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL SOMMERS (“SOMMERS”) , age 42, of Slidell, La., pled guilty to Possession of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(4)(B) and (b)(2). SOMMERS faces a mandatory minimum sentence of not less than ten (10) years imprisonment and a maximum sentence of not more than twenty (20) years, and/or a fine of up to $250,000.00, or the greater of twice the gross gain to the defendant or twice the gross loss to any person of the offense. SOMMERS also faces a term of supervised release of not less than five (5) years and up to life, after his release from prison. Finally, SOMMERS faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. The defendant’s sentence is subject to a sentencing enhancement of a ten-year mandatory minimum because of a previous conviction on December 13, 2011, in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, of Receipt of Child Pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(2). According to court documents, the case against SOMMERS developed from an undercover online investigation by the Apache Junction Police Department in Arizona into those individuals who were sharing Child Sexual Abuse Material (“CSAM”). As a result, on April 3, 2024, Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) special agents, along with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, executed a federal search warrant at SOMMERS’s residence in Slidell. During the execution of the search warrant, SOMMERS was found in possession of a Samsung 256 gigabyte USB thumb drive containing 950 images and videos depicting the sexual victimization of minors. Sentencing in this matter is scheduled for December 18, 2024 before United States District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; the St Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office; The Apache Junction Police Department; and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, with this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit.


title: U.S. Attorney's Office Announces Guilty Plea in Fatal Shooting Case Involving Farmington Man

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Farmington man pleaded guilty in federal court to second degree murder and assault resulting in serious bodily injury after he fired a shotgun into a group of people, resulting in one death and one serious injury. According to court documents, on September 5, 2021, Hanson Tsosie , 33, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, fired a shotgun into a group of people near Nenahnezad, New Mexico, killing Jane Doe 1 and seriously injuring Jane Doe 2. Hanson will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. At sentencing, Hanson faces a range of eight to 25 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark A. Probasco and Matthew J. McGinley are prosecuting the case. View the Plea Agreement (Tsosie).pdf # # #


title: North Andover Man Charged with Possessing Over 30 Firearms and Explosives as a Convicted Felon

body_text: BOSTON – A North Andover, Mass. man has been charged for allegedly possessing over 30 firearms and explosives as a convicted felon. Daniel Medina, 64, was charged by criminal complaint with unlawful possession of a machine gun, unlawful possession of explosives, and as a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Medina is currently in state custody on related charges and will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. According to the charging documents, on July 1, 2024, law enforcement was dispatched to the area of Medina’s North Andover residence after receiving a report of an explosion. Upon arrival, damage to two vehicles was observed as well as a piece of mail addressed to Medina beneath the damaged rear passenger door of one vehicle. It is alleged that the damages to the vehicles and materials left behind were consistent with common items used in manufacturing homemade explosive devices, specifically ball bearings or shrapnel. It is further alleged that witnesses observed Medina running from the damaged vehicles toward his residence following the explosion. According to the charging documents, during a search of Medina’s residence the following day, law enforcement located and seized the following items: 32 firearms, including 12 rifles, 15 pistols, three shotguns and two antique firearms; 9,000 rounds of various calibers of modern ammunition manufactured outside of Massachusetts; 75 magazines for various caliber firearms; Various firearm parts; A Glock switch device; Books pertaining to the building of firearms and manufacturing of explosives and drugs; Shrapnel accessories such as BB’s and ball bearings; Multiple firework containers; and Various containers of powders produced and shipped in interstate commerce. It is alleged that the containers of powder were found to contain potassium chlorate and aluminum powder – the same flash powder found in the suspected explosive material used for the prior day’s explosion. Medina is prohibited from possessing firearms, ammunition and explosive material due to a 2002 state conviction of assault and battery in Lawrence District Court, for which he was sentenced to two and a half years in jail. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of illegal possession of a machine gun provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of illegal possession of an explosive material provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the North Andover Police Department, Massachusetts State Police and the Essex County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. 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: Armed Fayetteville Drug Trafficker Who Led Law Enforcement on Dangerous High-Speed Chase Sentenced to Over 27 Years

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: NEW BERN, N.C. –A Fayetteville man was sentenced to 327 months in prison for armed drug trafficking and illegal firearm possession. Nathan Omar Frink, aka “Ray Nate,” age 41, pled guilty to the charges on September 13, 2023. According to court documents and other information presented in court, on May 31, 2022, officers with the Fayetteville Police Department (FPD) attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a vehicle operated by Frink for an expired license plate tag. Frink refused to pull over and began driving recklessly by crossing over into a turning lane and passing multiple vehicles. During the pursuit, Frink reached speeds of more than 80 miles per hour (MPH) in a 45 MPH zone. Due to the dangerous speeds, the FPD called off the chase. Frink’s vehicle then collided with another occupied vehicle and Frink fled on foot but was quickly apprehended and arrested. No injuries were sustained by the occupants of the car that was struck by Frink’s car. After searching Frink and his car, law enforcement located more than $17,000 in cash, a loaded 9mm handgun, a loaded AK-47 with a high-capacity magazine, marijuana, cocaine, fentanyl, heroin and assorted drug paraphernalia. Witnesses who spoke with investigators dated Frink’s drug trafficking to starting as early as 2016 and continuing until his arrest. Frink has nine prior felony convictions, including four for drug trafficking, and three for illegal firearm possession. This investigation was a part of Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force Operation (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, 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. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Fayetteville Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Caroline Webb and Casey Peaden prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-CR-000248-FL.


title: California Man Arrested for Threatening Massachusetts Companies

body_text: BOSTON – A California man was arrested yesterday and charged with leaving a series of violent and threatening voicemails at companies in Massachusetts. Daniel Nguyen, 34, was charged by complaint with transmitting a threat in interstate commerce. Nguyen will have an initial appearance today in federal court in San Francisco and will appear in Boston and a later date. According to the charging documents, from January through February 2024, Nguyen made a series of five phone calls to companies based in Massachusetts, and left voicemails in which he threatened to “shoot up” the offices with an AK-47. In the voicemails, Nguyen allegedly said the employees were “all going to be [expletive] dead. It’s going to be a [expletive] bloodbath.” The charging document also describes threatening emails that Nguyen allegedly sent to individuals in Nevada and California. Those emails allegedly contained race-based threats, stating “I will … shoot all you [expletive] [expletive]s dead and burn al[l] you [expletive] piece of [expletive] [expletive]s in the dump and ditches where all you [expletive]s belong,” and “the only good [expletive] is a dead [expletive] that is shot and killed.” The charge of transmitting a threat in interstate commerce provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years 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. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Maynard of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. 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: U.S. Attorney's Office and FBI Announce Upgraded Charges Against Zuni Man After Victim Dies Following Initial Assault Case

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Zuni man was charged by indictment with voluntary manslaughter after a confrontation at a residence in Zuni escalated into violence. Joey Luarkie , 24, an enrolled member of the Zuni Pueblo, appeared before a federal judge today and will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. According to court records, on Feb. 4, 2024, Luarkie was at the home of Jane Doe in Zuni when her boyfriend, John Doe, arrived. Jane Doe and John Doe went outside and argued for a short time before John Doe entered the residence to get some belongings. Luarkie followed John Doe and Jane Doe into her bedroom, where a physical altercation allegedly ensued, and Luarkie allegedly stabbed John Doe in the throat. John Doe exited the residence and collapsed in the front yard, where responding officers from the Zuni Police Department found Jane Doe performing CPR on him. John Doe was transported to Zuni Health Center before being life-flighted to the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque where he underwent two emergency surgeries. Luarkie initially faced charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury, but after John Doe died from his injuries, prosecutors upgraded the charges to voluntary manslaughter through an indictment. If convicted, Luarkie faces a maximum of 15 years in prison. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case. View the Indictment (Luarkie).pdf An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. # # #


title: Man Sentenced to 87 Months  in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possession with Intent to Distribute Six Kilograms of Fentanyl

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – ORLIAN CABRERA-JOA (“CABRERA-JOA”) , 32, was sentenced on October 2, 2024 to 87 months of imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and a $200 mandatory special assessment fee by U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846, 841(a)(1), and 841(b)(1)(A) and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(A), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to court documents, CABRERA-JOA was pulled over during a traffic stop in St. John the Baptist Parish. As a result of the traffic stop, Louisiana State Police Troopers recovered approximately six kilograms of fentanyl hidden within a suitcase inside of the truck he was driving. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Louisiana State Police, and St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman of the Narcotics Unit.


title: Charlotte Man Sentenced To Prison For Role In Bank Fraud Conspiracy Involving Stolen Mail

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte man was sentenced to prison today for his role in a bank fraud conspiracy involving stolen mail, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Terrell Alexander Hager, Jr., 25, of Charlotte, was ordered to serve three years in prison followed by two years of supervised release. In September 2023, Hager’s co-conspirators, Kiara Padgett, and her husband, Dominique Dunlap, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Dunlap also pleaded guilty to four counts of possession of stolen mail. A sentencing date for Padgett and Dunlap has not been set. Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which oversees Charlotte, Jeff Krafels, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General (USPS-OIG) for the Mid-Atlantic Area Field Office (MAAFO), which oversees Charlotte, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. According to court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, from August 2021 to November 2022, Hager conspired with Padgett, Dunlap, and others to operate a bank fraud scheme involving stolen checks. Padgett, who at the time was employed by the U.S. Postal Service, used her position as a postal carrier to steal incoming and outgoing checks of businesses and individuals. Padgett used Dunlap as her intermediary to sell the stolen checks to Hager. Hager and his co-conspirators then deposited the stolen checks into bank accounts they controlled and withdrew the funds before the financial institutions discovered the fraud. During the conspiracy, Hager and his co-conspirators deposited more than $66,000 in stolen or counterfeit checks and money orders. Court documents also show that, from October 2021 through November 2022, Hager served as the primary administrator and owner of a Telegram channel, “Hunnitband Swipe School,” which he used to sell some of the stolen checks. For example, in June 2022, law enforcement operating in an undercover capacity purchased a check with a face value of more than $2,400 for $250. According to court records, over the course of the scheme, the Telegram channel posted over 400 checks stolen from the U.S. Mail, with a total face value over $7.3 million. At the time Hager committed this fraud, he was on probation with the state of North Carolina for an unrelated offense. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended the USPIS, USPS-OIG, and CMPD for their investigation of the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Frick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case. * * * In September, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced efforts to stop the rise in mail thefts and increase the prosecution of cases involving stolen mail. Federal prosecutors and investigators also continue to urge residents and businesses to report stolen mail promptly and to take the following steps to protect their mail and avoid becoming a victim of mail theft: Promptly Retrieve Mail : Collect your mail daily and avoid leaving it in the mailbox overnight. Secure Mailboxes : Use secure, lockable mailboxes for incoming and outgoing mail. Inquire About Overdue Mail: If you have not received valuable or important mail you’re expecting, contact the sender to inquire about it. Don’t Send Cash: Avoid mailing cash, gift cards, or other items of value. When doing, so utilize the package tracking and signature confirmation options. Hold Mail When Away : Use the USPS Hold Mail service when you are out of town. File a Change of Address : When moving, file a change of address with USPS. Report Suspicious Activity : Immediately report any suspicious individuals or activities near mailboxes to local law enforcement. Monitor Financial Statements : Regularly review bank and credit card statements for any unusual activity. Sign up for Informed Delivery and get daily digest emails that preview your mail and packages scheduled arriving soon. Customers are encouraged to report stolen mail as soon as possible by submitting an online complaint to the Postal Inspection Service at www.uspis.gov/report or calling 877-876-2455. Additionally, report the theft to your local police department to ensure they are aware of potential criminal activity in your area. Individuals are also encouraged to report allegations of Postal Service employee misconduct, including attempts to corrupt a Postal Service employee, to the USPS OIG at 1-888-877-7644 or www.uspsoig.gov .


title: New Orleans Man Sentenced for Violations of the Federal Controlled Substances and Gun Control Acts

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that CYRUS ROLLINS (“ROLLINS”) , age 41, of New Orleans, was sentenced om October 2, 2024 by U.S. District Judge Wendy B. Vitter after previously pleading guilty to possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C), and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i). ROLLINS was sentenced to 97 months of imprisonment, three (3) years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 mandatory special assessment fee. According to court documents, in August 2023, ROLLINS was arrested by New Orleans Police Department officers for distributing narcotics and carrying firearms in and around the Low Barrier Shelter, a homeless shelter in New Orleans. ROLLINS was found in possession of four firearms, as well as methamphetamine, crack cocaine, and fentanyl. 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. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Greg Kennedy of the Violent Crimes Unit.


title: Former Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Racketeering Conspiracy that Corrupted City Real Estate Projects

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A former deputy mayor and long-time Los Angeles city official was sentenced today to 144 months in federal prison for soliciting and accepting more than $750,000 in bribe money for himself and facilitating over $1 million in bribes from property developers to then-Los Angeles City Councilmember José Huizar as part of a long-running pay-to-play racketeering conspiracy at the highest levels of government in Los Angeles. Raymond She Wah Chan, 68, of Monterey Park, was sentenced by United States District Judge John F. Walter, who also ordered him to pay $752,457 in restitution to the City of Los Angeles. At the conclusion of a 12-day trial, a jury on March 27 found Chan guilty of all 12 felony counts for which he was charged: one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, seven counts of honest services wire fraud, three counts of federal program bribery, and one count of making false statements to a federal government agency. “Chan abused his public office and sought to deepen the corruption of city politics for the benefit of his own business interests,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Today’s sentence sends a message to the public and City Hall alike that our government should not be for sale and those that undermine our democracy through pay-to-play schemes will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” “Today’s sentence serves as a reminder that there are consequences for robbing communities of the honest government services they deserve” said Akil Davis, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. “The harm of public corruption manifests itself not only in financial loss, but also the loss of faith in government and public officials. The FBI will remain laser focused on those who seek to use their personal wealth and influence to facilitate relationships between those willing to pay or accept bribes.” Chan served for years as the General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) and, later, as the Deputy Mayor of Economic Development from 2016 to 2017. Chan abused both of these high offices and the influence they carried to enrich himself, Huizar, and other public officials within the city. Huizar, 56, of Boyle Heights, represented Council District 14 (CD-14) on the Los Angeles City Council from 2005 until his resignation in October 2020. CD-14 encompassed downtown Los Angeles and some of its surrounding areas. When downtown Los Angeles was experiencing a huge real estate development boom, Huizar chaired the Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) Committee, which oversaw all major commercial and residential development projects in the city. Along with Huizar, Chan helped conceive, lead, and operate the “CD-14 Enterprise,” a criminal racketeering enterprise that exploited the city approval process for large real estate development projects to exact bribes from developers. Chan played a critical role in guiding and ensuring the CD-14 Enterprise’s success, managing the conspiracy through both the powerful public offices he occupied and the private relationships he held with wealthy foreign developers seeking to build in the city. Capitalizing on this unique position, Chan steered nearly $2 million in financial benefits to himself, Huizar, and other public officials as part of the pay-to-play bribery scheme. In furtherance of the conspiracy, while he was General Manager of LADBS and then Deputy Mayor, Chan established and directed a secret business partnership with real estate development consultant George Chiang , securing a lucrative real estate consulting agreement with Chinese real estate developer Shenzhen Hazens. As part of that agreement, Chan solicited and accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to advise and pressure other city officials, including Huizar, in favor of Hazens’ Luxe Hotel redevelopment project in downtown Los Angeles. When he left city employment, Chan used the consulting business that he had secretly built to direct bribes to other public officials for the benefit of his private consulting clients. To help prolong the pay-to-play bribery scheme, Chan also facilitated a $100,000 campaign contribution commitment from Hazens for Huizar’s wife’s candidacy to succeed Huizar as CD-14 Councilmember in exchange for Huizar’s votes to approve the Luxe Hotel project. Chan also helped facilitate numerous other bribes from Hazens to Huizar, including tens of thousands of dollars in sham real estate consulting fees, concert tickets, China travel expenses, and contributions to Huizar’s 2015 campaign debt and alma mater high school. Chan also facilitated payment of nearly $1 million in bribes to Huizar from billionaire developer Wei Huang, 58, of Shenzhen, China, including $600,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit, nearly $200,000 in casino chips, and luxury-laden gambling trips to Las Vegas. Chan similarly facilitated bribes from Huang to George Esparza , Huizar’s special assistant and key associate in the pay-to-play bribery scheme, through casino chips and lavish Las Vegas trips. When Huang provided these bribes, his company, Shen Zhen New World I LLC , was planning to redevelop the downtown L.A. Grand Hotel into the tallest tower west of the Mississippi, which would require city approvals and Huizar’s official assistance. Chan played a crucial role in facilitating Huang’s payment of $600,000 for Huizar to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a former CD-14 staffer, which threatened Huizar’s 2015 re-election campaign and the continued operation of the CD-14 Enterprise. Chan conceived of and helped carry out an elaborate plan involving a foreign shell company, intermediaries, and fraudulent corporate documents to arrange a sham private loan that shielded the fact of Huang’s involvement in the payment. Chan later lied to FBI agents that he was not involved in the settlement, that Huang had no projects in Huizar’s district needing Huizar’s support, and that Huang had never asked Huizar for help with anything – all of which Chan knew to be false. Huizar was sentenced on January 26 to 13 years in federal prison and also was ordered to pay $443,905 in restitution to the City of Los Angeles and $38,792 in restitution to the IRS. He pleaded guilty in January 2023 to one count of racketeering conspiracy and one count of tax evasion. Huizar has been ordered to begin serving his prison sentence no later than October 7. Hazens’ U.S. subsidiary, Jia Yuan USA Co. Inc. , which was seeking to redevelop the Luxe Hotel, has paid $1.05 million to resolve the government’s investigation into its conduct related to this case, which included bribery and illegal campaign contributions. Huang, who is charged with several felonies for his bribes to Huizar with Chan’s assistance, fled the United States shortly after the execution of numerous federal search warrants in this case and is considered a fugitive from justice. Huang’s downtown Los Angeles-based company Shen Zhen New World I LLC was convicted in 2022 of eight felonies for – through Huang’s actions as its owner – paying more than $1 million in bribes to Huizar for his critical support for the L.A. Grand Hotel redevelopment project. The company was sentenced to five years of probation, fined $4 million, and ordered to pay the costs of prosecution. Relatedly, real estate developer Dae Yong Lee , a.k.a. “David Lee,” 60, of Bel Air, and one of his companies, 940 Hill LLC, were convicted in 2022 of providing $500,000 in cash to Huizar and Esparza in exchange for their help in resolving a labor organization’s appeal of a downtown Los Angeles development project. Lee is serving a six-year federal prison sentence and was fined $750,000. 940 Hill LLC was sentenced to five years’ probation, fined over $1 million, and ordered to pay the costs of prosecution. Prosecutors also have secured guilty pleas from Chiang; Esparza; lobbyist Morrie Goldman ; and political fundraiser Justin Jangwoo Kim . Each of these defendants cooperated with the government and testified during at least one trial in this case and will be sentenced at upcoming hearings in November. The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Mack E. Jenkins, Chief of the Criminal Division, and Assistant United States Attorneys Cassie D. Palmer, Susan S. Har, and Brian R. Faerstein of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section prosecuted this case. Any member of the public who has information related to this or any other public corruption matter in the City of Los Angeles is encouraged to send information to the FBI’s email tip line at https://tips.fbi.gov or to contact the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office at (310) 477-6565.


title: Jacksonville Felon Sentenced To More Than Seven Years For Possessing A Firearm

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Matthew Junior Rice (43, Jacksonville) to 7 years and 3 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Rice entered a guilty plea on April 11, 2024. According to court documents, on November 8, 2023, officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office were on patrol when they observed Rice exiting his residence wearing a black bag across his chest. The officers were aware that Rice had an active warrant for his arrest and began to pursue him. Rice observed law enforcement, got on his bike, and went inside a convenience store. When Rice entered the store, he threw the bag he was wearing onto a shelf inside the store. The officers entered the store, arrested Rice, and retrieved the bag. Inside the bag was a loaded 9mm pistol, 32 small bags of Flakka, marijuana, and additional drug paraphernalia. Rice was previously convicted of multiple felonies, including narcotics sales and illegal firearm possession. Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro. 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: Guilty Verdict Returned in First Jury Trial Involving a Felony Machine Gun Charge Since New Firearms Law Went Into Effect

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Keimontay Holston, 21, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty in Superior Court of possession of a machine gun, possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, possession of an unregistered firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The verdict was returned on October 2, 2024, following a jury trial. Superior Court Judge Robert Salerno scheduled sentencing for December 11, 2024. According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 6:00 a.m. on June 6, 2024, members of MPD’s Robbery Suppression Unit executed a search warrant at the defendant’s apartment, located in the 2300 block of Hartford Street, SE. Upon entering the apartment, law enforcement officers encountered Holston in the hallway, as he was leaving the dining room of the residence. Once stopped, officers searched the apartment and recovered a black 9mm Glock 17. The Glock had a “giggle” switch attached to it, and it had a magazine containing 17 rounds of ammunition. Officers also found an additional magazine with 31 rounds of ammunition in the defendant’s apartment. The recovered firearm was fully functional, and the “giggle” switch attachment allowed a shooter to fire multiple rounds of ammunition with a single pull of the trigger, converting the Glock 17 into a machine gun. Holston was arrested during the execution of the search warrant and has been detained since. Holston is the first individual convicted at trial of the felony offense of possession of a machine gun, which was increased from a misdemeanor to a felony under the Secure DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2024. “As a result of the recently enacted Secure DC Omnibus Amendment Act, it is now a felony to possess one of these conversion devices that transform handguns into the types of machine guns that mobsters used in the 1920s and 30s,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves. “This is the first guilty verdict, at trial, under this new statute, and we expect many more such verdicts. Our Office will continue to make aggressive use of this new statute to try to remove these devices from the streets in the same way that laws passed in the 1930s helped to remove machine guns from our streets.” This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Geoffrey Comber of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.


title: Jacksonville Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Unlawfully Possessing A Machinegun

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Wendy M. Berger has sentenced Mar’Kesie Williams (28, Jacksonville) to 18 months in federal prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release, for possessing a machinegun. Williams entered a guilty plea on June 28, 2024. According to court documents, on March 6, 2023, a property manager at an apartment complex in Jacksonville reported that while cleaning a vacant apartment they discovered Williams inside, armed with a firearm. Officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s responded to the apartment complex, arrested Williams, and located the firearm on top of a mattress. Williams subsequently admitted to possessing the firearm, which was a loaded Glock pistol equipped with a Glock switch. A Glock switch is a device that converts a semi-automatic Glock pistol into a fully automatic machinegun. Federal law prohibits the possession of machineguns and Glock switches. This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro. 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: Four Men Charged with Violating Export and Firearms Laws

body_text: Haitham Al-Dulaimi, 30, Haider Lazem, 41, Hasan Wasak, 27, and Abdullah Alsajee, 30, all of Louisville, Kentucky, were arrested today pursuant to a now-unsealed indictment. They were charged with conspiracy to: violate the Export Control Reform Act, smuggle goods from the United States, engage in the business of dealing firearms without a license, make false statements in the purchase of firearms, and defraud the United States government. The indictment also charges Alsajee, Lazem, and Wasak with making false statements in the purchase of firearms. According to the indictment, from February 2023 through September 2024, Al-Dulaimi, Lazem, Wasak, and Alsajee conspired to export firearms, including Glocks, Rugers, Sig Sauers, and Smith & Wessons, from the United States to Iraq, without obtaining the required export licenses. In furtherance of the conspiracy, Wasak, Alsajee, and Lazem, procured firearms from federal firearm licensees and at gun shows in the Louisville area. Wasak, Alsajee, and Lazem then delivered the firearms to Al-Dulaimi, who arranged them for the export to Iraq. Thirty-eight firearms were detained by law enforcement from a shipment sent by Al-Dulaimi intended for Iraq. If convicted, Al-Dulaimi, Lazem, Alsajee, and Wasak face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for violations of export control laws, and five years in prison for the conspiracy charge. Lazem, Alsajee, and Wasak also face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for false statements during the purchase of a firearm. Al-Dulaimi faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for smuggling and five years in prison for dealing in firearms without a license. The indictment also notifies defendants that the United States intends to forfeit firearms alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky, Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI’s National Security Branch, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Louisville Field Division, and Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Nashville Field Office announced the case. The ATF, HSI, and FBI are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia P. Gomez for the Western District of Kentucky and Trial Attorney Leslie C. Esbrook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Durango Teacher Charged With Coercion And Enticement Of A Minor, Possession Of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DURANGO – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Benjamin Vincent Smith, 28, of Durango, Colorado, was charged by complaint with one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, and one count of possession of child pornography. According to the complaint, Smith was a former music teacher at Escalante Middle School in Durango. In July 2024, Smith allegedly posed as a 16-year-old female on the social media service SnapChat under username “MTNCHICK69.” Via SnapChat, Smith contacted Minor #1 under the ruse that Smith was a 16-year-old female, and enticed Minor #1 to meet him in a parking lot for a sexual encounter. After meeting Smith, Minor #1 reported the incident to law enforcement, who were able to identify Smith as the suspect. During the investigation, law enforcement seized Smith’s phone and searched it pursuant to a warrant. Smith allegedly possessed numerous photographs of minor children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, apparently belonging to over two dozen school-age minors living in the Durango area. The charges contained in the complaint are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent of the charges unless and until proven guilty. The United States Attorney’s Office encourages anyone with information related to this investigation or who had any contact with “MTNCHCK69” to contact the Homeland Security Investigation tip line at: 1-877-4-HSI-TIP. The case is being investigated by HSI with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Durango Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey K. Graves. Case Number: 24-mj-00185-JMC


title: National Center for Disaster Fraud Reminds the Public to be Aware of Fraud in the Wake of Hurricane Helene

component: USAO - Louisiana, Middle

body_text: On September 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend Region and quickly caused major devastation there and across states including Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and others. In the wake of Helene, fraudsters will target victims of the storm along with citizens across the country who want to do what they can to assist individuals affected by the storm. Unfortunately, criminals exploit disasters for their own gain by sending fraudulent communications through email or social media and by creating deceiving websites designed to solicit contributions. The U.S. Department of Justice established the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to deter, investigate, and prosecute fraud in the wake of disasters. United States Attorney for the Middle District of Louisiana, Ronald C. Gathe, Jr., serves as the Executive Director of the NCDF. More than 50 federal, state, and local agencies participate in the NCDF, which reminds the public to be aware of and report any instances of alleged fraudulent activity related to relief operations and funding for victims. Complaints of fraud may be reported online at www.justice.gov/DisasterComplaintForm . Complaints may also be reported to the NCDF at (866) 720-5721, a hotline that is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The public should exercise diligence before giving contributions to anyone soliciting donations or individuals offering to assist those affected by Helene. Solicitations can originate from phone calls, texts, social media, e-mail, door-to-door collections, flyers, mailings, and other similar methods. Before making a donation to benefit victims of Helene, individuals should adhere to certain guidelines, including: Make contributions directly to known organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf. Do not be pressured into making contributions as reputable charities do not use such tactics. Do not respond to any unsolicited communications (e.g., e-mails and texts), and never click links contained within those messages because they may be targeting your personal information, to include bank and credit card account information, and other identifiers such as dates of birth and social security numbers. Rather than clicking on a purported link to a charity, verify its legitimacy by utilizing various Internet-based resources that may assist in confirming whether the organization is a valid charity. Beware of organizations with copy-cat names similar to but not exactly the same as those of reputable charities. Avoid cash donations if possible. Pay by credit card or write a check directly to the charity. Do not make checks payable to individuals. Know that legitimate charities do not normally solicit donations via money transfer services, and their website will normally end in .org rather than .com. Be cautious of e-mails that claim to show pictures of the disaster areas in attached files because the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders.


title: U. S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona Announces Over $30 Million in Justice Department Grants to Address and Support the Needs of Residents of the Northern District of Alabama

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs has recently announced new grant-funded resources and support for a variety of law enforcement, crime prevention, victim assistance, and emergency management programs across the Northern District of Alabama. United States Attorney Escalona stated, “These awards reflect the many ways that the Department of Justice is engaged to improve the lives of the residents of this District. We are proud to support the work of our state, local, and community partners across our District and our whole state in a wide range of activities including reducing violent crime, assisting crime victims, and supporting reentry and crime prevention efforts.” Some of the recipients include: Alabama A&M University will receive $300,000 for campus security upgrades. The City of Birmingham will receive $4,200,000 for additional cameras and intelligence resources that provide information to its Real Time Crime Center. The Blount County Sheriff’s Office will receive $400,000 for additional patrol vehicles. The City of Jacksonville, Alabama will receive $218,728 to update and supplement law enforcement intelligence and communications resources. Jefferson County, Alabama will receive $833,000 to support the treatment of substance abuse disorders for people involved within the local justice system. Also, Jefferson County will receive $1,000,000 for Veterans’ Treatment Court services that will be provided via the University of Alabama of Birmingham. The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office – Birmingham Division – will receive $500,000 to enhance its investigations and prosecutions of domestic violence cases. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office will receive $1,020,00 for the purchase and outfitting of at least15 new patrol vehicles. Morgan County, Alabama will receive $595,000 for law enforcement equipment to enhance responses to active shooter incidences. The National Child Advocacy Center in Huntsville, Alabama will receive $1,100,000 to provide technical assistance and support to child advocacy across the nation. Sheffield, Alabama will receive $495,000 to purchase and equip police vehicles. Talladega College will receive $500,000 to increase campus-based resources to respond to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Along with the resources provided to many communities and agencies within the Northern District of Alabama, the Department of Justice has provided resources to various State of Alabama agencies to administer numerous statewide public safety and victim support initiatives. The Alabama Department of Commerce will receive $741,975 to collaborate with The Dannon Project for opioid recovery and intervention youth programming. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) will receive $11,850,932 for Victims of Crime Assistance. ADECA will also receive $2,555,663 to distribute for crisis intervention programming. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency will receive $3,097,598 to enhance criminal background check and justice statistics systems. The awards announced above are being made as part of the regular end-of-fiscal year cycle. More information about these and other OJP awards can be found on the Office of Justice Programs Awards .


title: Jacksonville Felon Sentenced To 18 Months For Illegally Possessing A Firearm

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Dondre Shauntrell Rosier (44, Jacksonville) to 18 months in federal prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release, for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Rosier entered a guilty plea on February 27, 2024. According to court documents, on January May 31, 2022, a confidential informant, along with undercover ATF agents, conducted a controlled purchase of a firearm from Rosier at his residence. Rosier sold a 9mm handgun to the undercover agents for $660. The firearm was loaded with 26 rounds of 9mm ammunition and had an extended magazine. Rosier is a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro. 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: Protestor Federally Charged with Damaging U.S. Government Property at Union Station

body_text: WASHINGTON – Zaid Mohammed Mahdawi, 26, of Richmond, Virginia, was arrested this morning in connection with a federal criminal complaint charging him with destruction of federal property. The complaint alleges that Mahdawi spray-painted the monument at Columbus Circle in front of Union Station in Washington, D.C., on July 24, 2024. The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani of the FBI Washington Field Office Counterterrorism Division, and Chief Jessica M. E. Taylor of the U.S. Park Police (USPP). Mahdawi will make his initial appearance this afternoon in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. He is charged with destruction of government property. “Politically motivated destruction or defacing of federal property is not protected speech, it is a crime,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “Anyone engaged in such conduct in the District of Columbia should expect to get federally prosecuted. Our community has zero tolerance for those who want to destroy or deface our monuments and other federal property.” “The FBI does not conduct investigations based solely on First Amendment activities,” said Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani of the FBI Washington Field Office Counterterrorism Division. “The FBI investigates people only when we receive information or allegations that they are, or may be, violating federal law or posing a risk to national security. We are committed to working closely with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to bring to justice any individuals who commit federal crimes, including destruction of federal property.” According to court documents, on July 24, 2024, an organization was granted a permit to demonstrate in the area of Columbus Circle, located at Massachusetts Ave. NE, and E St. NE, directly in front of Union Station. From about 3 p.m. until 5 p.m., demonstrators who had gathered in Columbus Circle pulled down flags affixed to the flagpoles; burned flags and objects; sprayed graffiti on multiple statutes and structures; and interfered with law enforcement’s ability to place individuals under arrest. Between 3:30 p.m. and 3:45 p.m., an individual later identified as Mahdawi climbed the monument located in the center of Columbus Circle, which was captured on video footage filmed by USPP from an observation post looking down at Columbus Circle. The same event was captured in open-source video and photos later posted to various internet platforms. After climbing to a ledge, Mahdawi began to spray paint the monument. Footage obtained from a review of open-source videos posted to X (formerly Twitter) showed Mahdawi using red spray paint to write “HAMAS IS COMIN” on the Columbus statue. After completing the phrase, Mahdawi spray-painted an inverted red triangle above the slogan. On July 30, 2024, the U.S. Park Police issued a bulletin seeking information on five individuals who engaged in criminal activity on July 24, 2024. The same day the bulletin was posted, the U.S. Park Police received a tip that they forwarded to the FBI. Through that tip and other leads, FBI was able to identify Mahdawi. Additionally, law enforcement databases revealed that Mahdawi had previously been arrested in Richmond, Virginia, on two occasions (December 2023 and April 2024). The flags that were pulled down from the flag poles, and the statues and structures in Columbus Circle, are all property of the federal government. The National Park Service estimated that the cost to clean and repair the site at about $11,282.23. This case is being investigated by the USPP’s Intelligence and Counterterrorism Unit and the FBI Washington Field Office, with assistance from the FBI Richmond Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Martin. 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.


title: North Carolina Physician Assistant Sentenced To Six Years In Prison For Role In $10 Million Telemedicine Fraud Scheme

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A physician assistant was sentenced to prison today for his role in a $10 million Medicare fraud scheme involving genetic testing, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Colby Edward Joyner, 37, of Monroe, N.C., was sentenced to 72 months in prison and ordered to pay over $3.6 million in restitution. Last June, a federal jury convicted Joyner of health care fraud and making false statements relating to health care matters. Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Kelly Blackmon, Special Agent in Charge with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. According to today’s sentencing hearing and evidence presented at Joyner’s trial, in 2018 and 2019, Joyner was a physician assistant in the Charlotte area who worked as an independent contractor for a physician staffing and telemedicine company. During the relevant time frame, Joyner signed fraudulent prescriptions for medically unnecessary genetic testing, specifically cancer genomic and pharmacogenetic testing, for over 600 Medicare beneficiaries residing in North Carolina. Joyner had never met, seen, or treated the beneficiaries, and only had brief telephone conversations with them or no interactions at all. According to court records, Joyner received from the telemedicine company and its clients pre-populated prescription forms and related records for patients who were pre-selected for genetic testing, which he then electronically signed and returned, in exchange for $12 – and later $15 – for each purported consultation that he performed. As trial evidence showed, to conceal that Joyner was not the beneficiaries’ treating physician and that he did not conduct medical evaluations or examinations of the beneficiaries, Joyner falsified medical records in connection with the unnecessary prescriptions and falsely certified that the genetic tests were medically necessary. Joyner’s scheme resulted in the submission of more than $10 million in fraudulent reimbursement claims to Medicare, and more than $3.6 million in payments. In announcing Joyner’s sentence, U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad, Jr. stated that Joyner “abused his position of trust” as a Medicare provider and referred to Joyner’s “cheap and easy” opportunity to make money and “willingness to sign and attest to things, knowing them not to be true.” Judge Conrad further noted the potential impact of Joyner’s conduct on Medicare beneficiaries’ future ability to obtain certain genetic tests. Joyner will be ordered to report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. The FBI in Charlotte and HHS-OIG investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Armstrong and Matthew Warren, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Frick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.


title: Men Sentenced to Prison for Multiple Robberies

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal judge has sentenced two Birmingham men for committing armed robberies, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peoples. Chief U.S. District Court Judge R. David Proctor sentenced Dedrick Taylor, 33, of Birmingham, to 155 months in prison. In July, Taylor pleaded guilty to two counts of Hobbs Act Robbery, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and felon in possession of a firearm. According to the plea agreement, on April 14, 2022, Taylor committed two armed robberies at businesses in Birmingham—a Citgo gas station and a Dollar General store. Previously, Chief Judge Proctor sentenced co-defendant Dominic Bimbow, 31, of Birmingham, to 120 months in prison for his role as Taylor’s getaway driver for both robberies. That sentence followed Bimbow’s guilty pleas to two counts of Hobbs Act Robbery, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and felon in possession of a firearm. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: New York Man Pleads Guilty to Role in International Money Laundering Conspiracy

body_text: BOSTON – A New York man pleaded guilty yesterday to his involvement in a sophisticated international money laundering and drug trafficking organization. Yanbing Chen, 30, of Brooklyn, N.Y., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley scheduled sentencing for Jan. 21, 2025. In May 2023, a federal grand jury in Boston returned a superseding indictment charging 12 individuals from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York and California for their alleged involvement in a sophisticated international money laundering and drug trafficking organization. Jin Hua Zhang, based in Staten Island, was identified as the leader of the organization along with a number of his criminal associates. The investigation revealed that, for a fee, Zhang laundered bulk cash for drug dealers and laundered profits from other illegal businesses. In less than one year, Zhang and his organization laundered at least $25 million worth of drug proceeds and funds from other illegal businesses through undercover agents. In July 2022, on Zhang’s behalf, Chen delivered $50,000 in drug funds to undercover agents to be laundered. Those funds were converted to Tether, a type of cryptocurrency, and transferred to Zhang, the organization’s leader, minus a fee. Funds were eventually traced from the Zhang organization to Hong Kong and elsewhere in China, India, Cambodia and Brazil, among other locations. Cash and cryptocurrency in accounts tied to Zhang were seized at the conclusion of the investigation. In addition, in two separate meetings in August and September 2022, Zhang sent Chen to meet with cooperating witnesses near South Station in Boston. Chen was recorded by the undercover agents as he delivered a total of five kilograms of cocaine at Zhang’s direction. Zhang pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 15, 2024. The charge of money laundering conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $500,000, or twice the amount involved, whichever is greater. The charge of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms of cocaine calls for a sentence of up to life in prison, a minimum of five years of supervised release, and a $10 million fine. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was also provided by the Quincy Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl, Brian A. Fogerty and Meghan C. Cleary of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case. The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty


title: Former NISD Employee Sentenced to 16 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Child Pornography

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: DEL RIO, Texas – A San Antonio man was sentenced in federal court in Del Rio today to 192 months in prison for distribution of child pornography. According to court documents, Thomas Mckinley Koog Jr., 63, uploaded a one-minute video on a social media website of two minors engaged in sexual acts. The upload led to a report by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Cyber Tipline to Homeland Security Investigations agents on Aug. 6, 2020. The report also indicated that Koog had additionally distributed three videos of child pornography to six different recipients on multiple days in 2019. During the investigation, HSI agents determined that Koog was employed as a guidance counselor at a Northside Independent School District (NISD) elementary school. Koog revealed he had been a guidance counselor with the district for more than 12 years and had also spent more than 20 years as an NISD teacher. U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas made the announcement. HSI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rex Beasley and Holly Pavlinski prosecuted 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 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and 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.justice.gov/psc . ###