body_text: WASHINGTON — The Justice Department announced today a settlement agreement with the Pasco County School District in Florida to resolve the department’s investigation into alleged discrimination against students with disabilities in school discipline, threat assessment practices and referrals of students to law enforcement. The department conducted its investigation under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The department’s investigation found that the district routinely suspended students or called police for disability-related behavior that could have been addressed through proper support and de-escalation. The investigation also found problems with how the district conducted threat assessments (a process to identify, evaluate and respond to potential school security concerns). When these assessments involved students with disabilities, the district systematically failed to consider the relationship between a student’s disability and their behavior, and whether appropriate support for the student would address the behavior that prompted the assessment. Instead, the district often unnecessarily referred students to law enforcement to be arrested or to start the process for an involuntary admission into a mental health facility under Florida’s Baker Act. The agreement requires the district to end discriminatory practices under which students lost hours of classroom time, were treated unfairly in the threat assessment process, and even faced the prospect of being arrested or sent to a mental health facility against their will. The department will monitor the district’s implementation of the agreement and will also continue to monitor and enforce an ongoing desegregation order that covers the district. “As we mark the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education , we remain committed to disrupting the school to prison pipeline and ensuring that the doors of academic opportunity are open to all,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Too often schools rely on suspensions and law enforcement to address disability-related behaviors of students, without considering what they can do to help those students stay in and succeed at school. Equal participation in schools for students with disabilities means providing those students with the services and interventions they need to succeed. This agreement is part of our ongoing efforts across the country to combat practices that push students out of the classroom.” “Each and every child deserves an equal opportunity to learn and thrive,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “Our office, in partnership with the department’s Civil Rights Division, will vigorously investigate and enforce the protections of the ADA to end discrimination on the basis of disability in all settings, including in our public schools. I am heartened by the district’s commitment to this significant agreement, which will undoubtedly improve the education and everyday lives of students with disabilities in our community.” The district cooperated with the department throughout the investigation and has committed to improving its services for students with disabilities. Among other actions, under the agreement, the district will: Ensure that district personnel accurately assess disability-related behaviors, identify appropriate interventions for those behaviors and monitor the implementation of those interventions; Hire a consultant with expertise in behavior interventions who will assist in updating its policies and practices; Update its student code of conduct, threat assessment process and process for calling law enforcement to ensure that the district is adequately considering disability-related behaviors and modifying its policies and procedures to avoid discrimination based on disability; Develop appropriate trainings to help schools implement the agreement and respond appropriately to student behavior and Improve data collection and analysis systems and regularly evaluate data to ensure students with disabilities are not excluded from school for disability-related behaviors through the district’s discipline, threat assessment and law enforcement referral practices. The enforcement of Title II of the ADA is a top priority of the Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt , and additional information about the work of the Educational Opportunities Section is available at www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section . Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at www.civilrights.justice.gov/report/ . The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida worked in collaboration with the Civil Rights Division’s Educational Opportunities Section to investigate this case. Information about the Civil Rights Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida and a complaint form for the unit can be found at www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/civil-rights . View the department’s letter to the district here. View the settlement agreement here. View settlement agreement summary here.


title: Virginia Man Indicted in D.C. on Charges of Distribution of Child Pornography

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: WASHINGTON – Andrey Chun Sarmiento, 24, of Hallwood, Virginia, is charged by indictment, unsealed today, with distribution of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott, of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Special agents with the FBI arrested Sarmiento in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on Friday, March 1. According to the indictment, on February 13, 2024, Chun Sarmiento distributed numerous video files depicting adult males engaging in sexually explicit conduct with minors via an encrypted instant messaging application. On February 13, 2024, a member of the MPD-FBI Child Exploitation Task Force was monitoring an online application in an undercover capacity. Law enforcement has come to learn that the application is used by some individuals who have a sexual interest in children. The undercover agent encountered Chun Sarmiento, who sent a message believing he was communicating with a pedophile. Chun Sarmiento expressed his sexual interest in children and sent the undercover agent a link to an online folder containing hundreds of videos, many of which depict adult males sexually abusing prepubescent boys. At the time of the offense, Chun Sarmiento was enrolled in law school in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. On February 29, 2024, a federal grand jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment charging Chun Sarmiento with one count of distribution of child pornography. The case is assigned to the Honorable Loren L. AliKhan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. On Friday, March 1, the FBI arrested Chun Sarmiento in Pennsylvania and executed a search warrant at his residence there. Chun Sarmiento will remain in custody pending a detention hearing to be held in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Distribution of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment and a statutory maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment. The statutory sentences for federal offenses are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes. Any sentence will be determined by the Court based on the advisory Sentencing Guideline and other statutory factors. The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department. Valuable assistance was provided by the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office’s Harrisburg Resident Agency and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul V. Courtney of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Southern California Man Pleads Guilty To Fraud Charges Involving Scheme To Divert More Than $4.6 Million In San Francisco-Based Investment

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – Joon Woo Kim pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to his role in two related multi-million-dollar fraud schemes—the first, a scheme to mislead investors to contribute to a fund he formed in San Francisco, and the second, a scheme to obtain a multi-million dollar business loans and line of credit by lying to a bank—announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp. In his plea agreement, Kim, 57, of Montebello, Calif., admitted that he engaged in the first fraud scheme from June 2015 through at least March 19, 2022. Kim created an investment fund called the M5 Doctors Fund and induced investors to contribute to the fund by making false statements and omissions about the kinds of investments Kim would make while managing the fund’s assets. For example, Kim admitted that he advertised that he would invest assets of the M5 Doctors Fund in securities of Tesla, Inc. and electric vehicle companies. Nevertheless, rather than invest the funds as he promised, Kim admitted that he transferred nearly all M5 Doctors Fund assets, including funds from the liquidation of investments and the return on those investments, to CKR Enterprise, Inc., a wholesale food distribution company owned by, among others, Kim and his wife and operated by Kim and his wife. Kim further admitted in his plea agreement that he acted with the intent to deceive and cheat investors and that in furtherance of the scheme he caused the creation of the M5 Doctors Fund and a separate management entity called M5 Management and he induced investors to invest in the M5 Doctors Fund and maintain their investment funds in the M5 Doctors Fund based on false statements and omissions regarding the kinds of investments he would make. Kim admitted that without telling his investors he transferred nearly all M5 Doctors Fund assets to his business, CKR, and thereby defrauded investors out of $4,690,000. Further, Kim misled investors into believing that the M5 Doctors fund was solvent and engaged in investment activities. For example, Kim sent investors misleading quarterly reports suggesting that their money was invested in securities such as Tesla when in fact Kim had transferred nearly all investor money to CKR. Kim further admitted that he engaged in a second fraud scheme in which he defrauded Hanmi Bank by applying for two loans for CKR, a $1,300,000 line of credit and a $3,200,000 business loan, that contained materially false and fraudulent representations and promises. As a result of these fraudulent representations and promises, Kim obtained the proceeds of these loans. A federal grand jury charged Kim on June 27, 2023, with eight counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343; two counts of bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344; and one count of making a false statement to a bank, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1014. Under the plea agreement, Kim pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of making a false statement to a bank. If Kim complies with his plea agreement, the remaining counts will be dismissed at sentencing. Kim was arrested on July 17, 2023, and subsequently released on a bond. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 24, 2024. The maximum statutory penalty for each of the wire fraud charges is 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000, plus restitution, if appropriate. The maximum statutory penalty for each of the bank fraud and making a false statement to a bank is 30 years in prison, and a fine of $1,000,000, plus restitution, if appropriate. The court also may order an additional term of supervised release to begin after a prison term as part of any sentence. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christiaan Highsmith is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Aarian Beti. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Concludes Investigation  Into Fatal Shooting

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced today that there is insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights or District of Columbia charges against two officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) for their role in an October 19, 2023, fatal shooting involving a 33-year old District resident that occurred in the 2800 block of Naylor Road, S.E., Washington, D.C. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the MPD Internal Affairs Division conducted a comprehensive review of the incident, which included a review of law enforcement and civilian accounts, crime-camera footage, BWC footage, physical evidence, recorded radio communications, forensic reports, the autopsy report, and reports from MPD. According to the evidence, at about 5:00 p.m. MPD officers were summoned to the 2800 block of Gainesville Street, S.E., for a report of a man with a gun made by a 911 caller. The officers observed a man matching the description given by the 911 caller and attempted to make contact with the individual. The individual ran from the police and a foot chased ensued. As the individual entered the backyard of a house in the 2800 block of Naylor Road, he turned and fired a handgun at the police. The officers, including MPD Officer Dallas Bennett, responded. Officer Bennett returned fire and another officer was struck during the exchange. As this was occurring, MPD Officer Jonathan Hasstedt approached the scene by running towards the front of the house. The individual emerged from the side area of the same house and pointed a gun at Officer Hasstedt, who then drew his weapon and shot the individual. The individual collapsed after running a few more feet. The police immediately initiated life-savings measures. However, the individual was declared dead at the scene. Officer Bennett was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive his wounds. After a careful, thorough, and independent review of the evidence, federal prosecutors have found insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the MPD Officers Bennett and Hasstedt, both involved in the incident, are criminally liable for the death of the decedent. Use-of-force investigations generally The U.S. Attorney’s Office reviews all police-involved fatalities to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to conclude that any officers violated either federal criminal civil rights laws or District of Columbia law. The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to investigating allegations of excessive force by law enforcement officers and will continue to devote the resources necessary to ensure that all allegations of serious civil rights violations are investigated fully and completely. The Metropolitan Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division investigates all police-involved fatalities in the District of Columbia.


title: Massachusetts Man Indicted For Fraudulently Obtaining Funds Intended to Help Veterans At Risk of Suicide

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A Massachusetts man was indicted in connection with defrauding a nonprofit health care provider to obtain funds designated for reducing suicide rates among veterans, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. David Duren, a/k/a Dawud Hakiem Duren, 48, was indicted on wire fraud and federal program fraud charges. Duren will appear in federal court in Concord today. According to the charging documents, Duren was a program manager for a nonprofit health care provider in Nashua, New Hampshire. He was in charge of overseeing a program funded by a $750,000 Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant. The grant was awarded by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to provide treatment and services to veterans at risk of suicide. At Duren’s recommendation, the health care provider hired a company called “E3 Foundation” to provide services funded by the Staff Sergeant Fox grant. E3 Foundation was in turn purportedly led by a “Dr. Michael Rapp.” However, unbeknownst to the health care provider, Duren controlled E3 Foundation and was pretending to be “Dr. Michael Rapp” on emails and calls. Duren was able to fraudulently obtain almost $50,000 in Staff Sergeant Fox program funds and tried to obtain an additional $25,000 before being discovered. He used a website called “Invoice Generator” to create fake invoices. Duren and E3 Foundation also did not provide the services and products that he billed for. Instead, Duren misused the Staff Sergeant Fox program funds on personal purchases, including landscaping, a Royal Caribbean cruise, and payments to models on OnlyFans.com. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. The charge of federal program fraud provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison 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. The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of the Inspector General and Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen 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: Springfield Man Sentenced to 18 Years for Meth Trafficking, Illegal Firearms

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man has been sentenced in federal court for using his residence for trafficking methamphetamine and for illegally possessing firearms. Anthony Brandon, 51, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark on Monday, March 4, to 18 years in federal prison without parole. Brandon was sentenced as a career offender due to his prior felony convictions. On March 15, 2022, Brandon pleaded guilty to one count of controlling a drug-involved premises and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. On May 23, 2019, Springfield police officers executed a search warrant at Brandon’s residence. Officers found a Taurus 9mm handgun and five individually packaged bags of methamphetamine that weighed a total of more than 75 grams under a couch cushion in the living room, an Eagle Arms AR10 .62-caliber rifle in a bedroom closet, an extended firearm magazine with 32 rounds of 9mm ammunition in a dresser drawer in a bedroom, and miscellaneous ammunition. Brandon admitted he was storing drugs at his residence for his source of supply. He also told investigators that he was expecting to receive methamphetamine as payment for storing the drugs. Brandon’s extensive criminal history includes violent crimes and assault, possessing and distributing illegal drugs, theft, stealing, burglary, and robbery. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cameron A. Beaver and Jessica R. Eatmon. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.


title: President Of Queens-Based Construction Company Pleads Guilty To Fraud In Connection With Homeless Shelter Contracts Worth $12 Million

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that LIAQUAT CHEEMA pled guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his leadership of a scheme to defraud New York City (the “City”) in connection with public contracts to perform general contracting work at City homeless shelters. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Liaquat Cheema has admitted to leading a scheme to steal millions of dollars in public funds intended to pay for vital maintenance at homeless shelters in New York City. This Office has no tolerance for those who use public contracts intended to aid underserved members of our society to fraudulently enrich themselves. We will continue to aggressively detect and dismantle schemes such as this one.” According to the Indictment to which CHEEMA pled guilty, the Complaint, the plea agreement, and statements made in court: LIAQUAT CHEEMA was the President of AFL Construction Co. Inc. (“AFL”), located in Queens, New York. AFL entered into public contracts with the City worth approximately $12 million to perform general contracting work at homeless shelters located in the City, including in the Southern District of New York. Pursuant to the contracts, AFL was to perform, among other things, general maintenance, landscaping, roofing, and snow removal at shelter sites. From at least in or about 2014 through at least in or about 2017, CHEEMA and others used the contracts to fraudulently enrich themselves and steal from the City. In furtherance of the scheme, CHEEMA and others, among other things, submitted fraudulent invoices and other documentation in support of requests for payment on the contracts, which falsely claimed that workers had performed work on certain projects and inflated amounts paid by the defendants for materials purportedly used on such projects. These fraudulent invoices and supporting documentation contained, without authorization, the identities of other persons, including the names, and in at least one case, the social security number, of purported workers who in fact had not worked on the projects specified in the requests for payment submitted by CHEEMA and others. CHEEMA and others also obtained tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of Medicaid benefits by repeatedly submitting fraudulent certifications, which underreported their actual incomes and accordingly enabled them to obtain Medicaid benefits for which they were not eligible. In support of requests for Medicaid benefits, CHEEMA and others repeatedly submitted nearly identical employment letters, which, among other misrepresentations, contained the name and purported signature of a purported “Project Manager” who, in fact, was deceased. In connection with his guilty plea, CHEEMA agreed to pay back the money misappropriated from Medicaid. * * * LIAQUAT CHEEMA, 64, of East Elmhurst, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. As part of his plea agreement, CHEEMA agreed to pay restitution and forfeiture of $3,267,811. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. Mr. Williams praised the work of the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and the New York City Department of Investigation. This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy V. Capozzi is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Jefferson County Man Admits to Federal Firearms Charge

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Kyle Andrew Sensel, age 23, of Falling Waters, West Virginia, pled guilty to one count of being a drug user in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, Sensel, a known unlawful user of controlled substances, was arrested after he was found with a loaded 357 Magnum during a traffic stop. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, investigated. U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided. ###


title: East Hartford Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl Pills

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that OMARI LEWIS, 25, of East Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to 15 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing fentanyl pills. According to court documents and statements made in court, Lewis was identified as a street-level dealer of fentanyl pills after Windsor Police intercepted a UPS package with approximately 3,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl inside. The investigation revealed that Lewis also used his SnapChat account to advertise the sale counterfeit oxycodone pills. In December 2021 and January 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tactical Diversion Squad made two controlled purchases of a total of more than 400 fentanyl pills from Lewis. Lewis was arrested on June 13, 2023. On November 13, 2023, he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, fentanyl. Lewis, who is released on a $75,000 bond, is required to report to prison on April 30. This matter was investigated by the DEA New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad and the Windsor Police Department. The Tactical Diversion Squad is composed of personnel from the DEA and the Bristol, East Windsor, Hamden, New Britain, West Haven, Newington, Manchester, Glastonbury, and Watertown Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and Stephanie T. Levick.


title: Maryland Man Sentenced for Firearms Trafficking

body_text: MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Malachi Michael George, age 20, of Cumberland, Maryland, was sentenced today to 57 months in federal prison for trafficking firearms. According to court documents and statements made in court, the investigation began with a shots-fired incident in Maryland, leading officers to several firearms traced to Quinton Baker. Baker purchased the firearms in Mineral County, West Virginia, and sold them to George. George then sold those firearms for cash. During a search of George’s home, investigators witnessed George discard a 9mm pistol, a bag of crack cocaine, and $4,000 out of one of the apartment’s windows. George will also serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Baker was sentenced to five years of probation earlier this year. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated. U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.


title: Houston group arrested for running pharma-grade drug stash house

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – Six Houstonians have been taken into custody for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, specifically pharmaceutical grade drugs such as oxycodone and hydrocodone, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Kerry Lewis Walker, 36, Gerald Dewayne Williams, 65, Trey Demon Neal, 34, James Glen Turk, 21, Quineshia Evangeline Hollins, 33, and Uzoanuuli Uzoaku WJ Payne, 52, will make their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina A. Bryan at 2 p.m. The indictment returned Feb. 14, and unsealed upon the arrests, alleges the group operated the “Green Houses,” a street level stash house in Fifth Ward that sold pharmaceutical controlled substances. Williams and Walker allegedly ran the Green Houses with the assistance of Neal and Turk. Hollins was the owner of First Choice Rx 245 pharmacy and supplied the Green Houses with drugs from her business, according to the charges. The indictment further alleges Payne was a pharmacist at First Choice. Law enforcement allegedly intercepted him driving a new shipment of controlled substances from the pharmacy without any lawful reason. According to the charges, there are thousands of pharmaceutical grade drugs missing from First Choice without any accompanying prescriptions or proper forms allowing their disbursal. The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of FBI and and IRS Criminal Investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found on the Department of Justice’s OCDETF webpage . Assistant U.S. Attorney Celia Moyer is prosecuting the case. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison and a possible $1,000,000 maximum fine. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Methuen Man Pleads Guilty to Role in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Involving Fentanyl, Fentanyl Analog and Cocaine

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Methuen man pleaded guilty yesterday to drug conspiracy charges involving distribution of fentanyl, fentanyl analog and cocaine. Daniel Lopez-Gonzalez, 28, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, involving 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of fentanyl analog. U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for June 10, 2024. Lopez-Gonzalez was indicted in April 2023 along with Erickson Castro Perez and Gustavo Adolfo Reyes Gonzalez. Between June 2022 and January 2023, Lopez-Gonzalez and his alleged co-conspirators sold fentanyl and fentanyl analog to undercover law enforcement on six separate occasions in Haverhill and Boxford. A search of a Haverhill-based stash location used by Lopez-Gonzalez and his alleged co-conspirators on Jan. 23, 2023, resulted in the seizure of additional quantities of fentanyl, fentanyl analog, cocaine and other narcotics. Additionally, an illegal firearm, ammunition, more than $35,000 in U.S. currency and two high-end watches were also seized from Lopez-Gonzalez's home. In total, approximately 2.5 kilograms of fentanyl or fentanyl analog was seized over the course of the investigation. Daniel Lopez-Gonzalez is the second defendant in this case to plead guilty. Castro Perez plead guilty in February 2024 and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 29, 2024. The charge of conspiracy to distribute and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, involving 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of fentanyl analog, provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 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 and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Feldman of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Lawrence Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy

body_text: BOSTON – A Lawrence man pleaded guilty on March 1, 2024 in federal court in Boston to his role in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy. Fredis Manuel Guerrero Guzman, 28, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of a fentanyl analogue; one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl; and aiding and abetting. U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor, IV scheduled sentencing for May 30, 2024. Guzman was indicted by a federal grand jury along with Melvin Antonio Perez Medina and Fraily Rodriguez Morillo in November 2022. Between March 2022 and August 2022, Guzman, Morillo and Medina conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of a fentanyl analogue, in Lawrence, Woburn, Wilmington and Andover. Specifically, Guzman and Morillo distributed 50 grams of fentanyl to a cooperating witness in April 2022. In July 2022, Morillo and Perez Medina distributed an additional nearly 130 grams of fentanyl to a cooperating witness on one occasion, as well as over 560 grams of a fentanyl and fentanyl analogue mixture to cooperating witnesses on another occasion. In August 2022, Perez Medina was arrested and found in possession of nearly two kilograms of a mixture containing fentanyl and a fentanyl analogue hidden inside of a cereal box. On Jan. 18, 2024, Perez Medina was sentenced to 64 months in prison and three years of supervised release after previously pleading guilty to his role in the conspiracy. Morillo pleaded guilty on Feb. 12, 2024 and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 31, 2024. The charges of conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of a fentanyl analogue, and of possession with intent to distribute and/or distribution of 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 100 grams or more of a fentanyl analogue, each provide for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charges of distribution and/or possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl as well as aiding and abetting provide for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 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; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; and John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. The Massachusetts Department of Correction; the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office; and the Watertown, Reading, Peabody, Hudson, Concord and Waltham Police Departments provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea Porter of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Federal Jury Convicts Sheriff’s Deputy for Providing Firearm to a Felon

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Johnny Alvarado 33, of Lakewood, was found guilty of providing a firearm to a felon. A federal jury in Denver returned a guilty verdict against Alvarado on Monday, March 4, 2024. According to the facts established at trial, a United States probation officer made a routine home visit to Kyle Garcia, a felon on supervised release. While there, the probation officer located a loaded firearm in a closet. During that visit, Garcia admitted to having the firearm, handling it, and racking the slide to see if there was ammunition in the firearm. Garcia received the firearm from his brother-in-law, Johnny Alvarado, an Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Deputy. Alvarado admitted to the probation officer that he provided the firearm to Garcia knowing he was a felon. Garcia pled to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 66 months of probation. Alvarado will be sentenced at a later date. United States District Court Judge John L. Kane presided over the jury trial. The ATF conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Celeste Rangel and Aurora Special Assistant United States Attorney Leah Perczak handled the prosecution. 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. Case Number: 23-CR-00271-JLK


title: Virginia Beach man pleads guilty to federal firearms conspiracy

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

body_text: NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Virginia Beach man pleaded guilty yesterday to possessing and transferring machineguns and to conspiring to illegally sell firearms, including machineguns, handguns, and rifles. According to court documents, beginning in April 2023, law enforcement began investigating Eric Floyd, 22, who was engaged in selling firearms and Machinegun Conversion Devices, commonly referred to as “Glock switches,” which are used to convert semiautomatic firearms into machineguns. From May to December of 2023, Floyd and his co-conspirators arranged the sale of approximately nineteen handguns, two rifles, and thirty-five Glock switches – many of which they manufactured – to an individual who, unbeknownst to Floyd, was an undercover federal law enforcement agent. At one transaction, Floyd told the individual that some of the firearms were “dirty,” that is, involved in criminal activity, because he and his associates were involved in criminal activity and that his selling the dirty firearms to others who were taking them far away helped distance the original perpetrators and firearms from their criminal activity. He also told the individual that he had reinvested the proceeds of the purchases into buying more firearms for the business. He also said, with respect to the individual’s trip, “that’s a trip and it’s a hell of a risk that you doing this s--- for like coming across them state lines, that’s straight fed time.” Floyd pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to engage in the firearms business without a license and to illegally possess and transfer a machinegun and one count of illegally possessing and transferring a machinegun. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11. Floyd faces a maximum penalty of fifteen years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Podlesni is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:23-cr-75.


title: Connecticut Man Sentenced to 110 Months for Firearm and Drug Trafficking Offenses

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office stated that, on March 4, 2024, Rafael Ortiz, 47, of Hartford, Connecticut, was sentenced by United States District Judge William K. Sessions III to 110 months in prison and three years of supervised release following his guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine base and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to court records, Ortiz was arrested in May 2021 in Lyndonville, Vermont, on two State of Vermont arrest warrants, for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and eluding a police officer. While leading Vermont State Police (“VSP”) officers on a foot chase, Ortiz discarded from his waistband a Sig Sauer 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol with a defaced serial number and loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition. Ortiz continued to flee and refused to comply with commands, until VSP used a TASER to incapacitate him and effect the arrest. A small meat cleaver and a dagger-style knife, along with approximately $1500, were recovered from Ortiz’s person. Law enforcement located the discarded firearm and, from Ortiz’s backpack, recovered approximately 38 grams of cocaine base, 13 grams of fentanyl analogue fluorofentanyl, approximately 11 grams of fentanyl, and a quantity of heroin mixed with the fluorofentanyl. United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Vermont State Police; and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the investigation and prosecution of Ortiz. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Corinne Smith, Nicole Cate, John Boscia, and Jeff Davis handled the prosecution of Ortiz. Mark A. Kaplan, Esq., represented Ortiz. 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: Lake St. Louis Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Recording Sexual Abuse of Young Girl

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Ronnie L. White on Tuesday sentenced a Lake St. Louis, Missouri man to 25 years in prison for recording his sexual abuse of a young girl. Steve G. Flores, now 52, produced hundreds of pictures and videos of the victim, and stored them on electronic devices and online. Authorities were initially alerted by a tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children from a cloud storage company. Flores pleaded guilty in December to one count of production of child pornography. The FBI, the St. Charles County Police Department and St. Charles County Cyber Crime Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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 .


title: Olean man pleads guilty to possession of child pornography

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Brian Graham, Jr., 34, of Olean, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer to possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Franz M. Wright, who is handling the case, stated that in February 2021, Graham’s IP address was identified on a child pornography file sharing website. In June 2021, a search warrant was executed at Graham’s Olean residence, during which investigators seized various electronic devices. A forensic review recovered images and videos of child pornography on the devices. For instance, a USB hard drive contained at least 200 images and 300 videos of child pornography. Some of the child pornography included violence against children and the sexual abuse of an infant or toddler. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date. # # # #


title: Buffalo man going to prison for 17 years on meth charge

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Julien Johnson, 35, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, was sentenced to serve 204 months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler, who is handling the case, stated that on September 17, 2020, after receiving information that Johnson was in possession of controlled substances, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle he was driving. Johnson exited the vehicle at the request of officers, who then observed in plain view a large clear plastic bag containing several smaller bags of crystalline and powder substances lying on the floorboard of the driver’s seat. Inside the bag, officers seized suspected methamphetamine, a heroin/fentanyl compound, and $1,117.00 in cash. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino, and the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force, under the direction of Jamestown Police Chief Timothy Jackson. # # # #


title: Tucson Orthodontist and His Spouse Charged with Engaging in Scheme to Embezzle from Dental Practice

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: Tucson, Ariz. – A federal grand jury in Tucson returned a seven-count indictment last week against Dr. Andrew L. Kassman and his wife, Laurie Ann Kassman, of Tucson, for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Wire Fraud. Dr. Kassman was the former owner of a Tucson orthodontics practice. After selling the practice, Dr. Kassman and his wife continued as employees for the new owner. Dr. Kassman worked as an orthodontist, and Dr. Kassman’s wife continued as the office manager. The indictment alleges that, after the sale, Dr. Kassman kept his business bank account open. The Kassmans then engaged in an embezzlement scheme in which they diverted funds that belonged to the practice without the new owner’s knowledge or consent. To conceal the scheme, Laurie Kassman manipulated financial records in the practice’s record keeping system. The Kassmans embezzled at least $73,000. A conviction for either charge - Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud or Wire Fraud - carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The United States Secret Service and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-00789-TUC-RM RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-025_Kassman # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Former Spencerport teacher pleads guilty to receipt of child pornography

body_text: ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Ian Milam, 38, of Pittsford, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Charles J. Siragusa to receipt of child pornography, which carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 20 years, and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan K. McGuire and Melissa M. Marangola, who are handling the case, stated that Milam was a math teacher at Cosgrove Middle School in the Spencerport, NY, School District. On January 29, 2023, Milam created the Snapchat accounts “matteckler” and “mikeywikey37,” and used these Snapchat accounts to pose as a 15-year-old male and engage in sexually explicit communications with a number of minor females, ages 11 to 15-years-old. During one of these conversations in May 2023, Milam persuaded a 12-year-old minor student to take and send him naked pictures of herself. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Wood, the FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter. Sentencing is scheduled for June 27, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. before Judge Siragusa. # # # #


title: Hartsville Man Sentenced to More than Five Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of Firearm and Ammunition

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: FLORENCE, S.C. — William Graham Stokes, 40, of Hartsville, was sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition after having previously been convicted of a felony. Evidence presented to the court showed that on the evening of Jan. 20, 2023, an officer with Hartsville Police Department made a traffic stop on a Cadillac CTS driven by Stokes. In a subsequent search of the vehicle, officers found a backpack containing a loaded 9mm handgun. Stokes later admitted that the gun was his. At the time of the traffic stop, Stokes was on supervised release from a prior federal felony conviction. That prior conviction prohibited Stokes from legally possessing either the firearm or the ammunition with which it was loaded. Chief United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell sentenced Stokes to 71 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. Chief Judge Harwell also revoked Stokes’s prior term of supervised release and sentenced him to 24 months imprisonment, with a three-year term of supervision to follow, that sentence to run concurrent with the sentence on the 2023 conduct. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. This case was investigated by Hartsville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Flynn is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Two Eastern Panhandle Residents Sentenced for Drug Trafficking

body_text: MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Two Eastern Panhandle residents were sentenced today for drug trafficking. Kimberely Sue Smith, age 54, of Falling Waters, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute crystal methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine base. According to court documents and statements made in court, Smith, also known as “Tina-Marie Smith” and “Deniej Smith,” was selling methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine base in Berkeley County. A search of her home uncovered fentanyl capsules, cocaine base, crystal methamphetamine, and cash. Smith will be required to report for supervised release for three years following her prison sentence. Charles Douglas Cobak, age 34, of Ridgeley, West Virginia, was sentenced today to 15 years and 8 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine hydrochloride. According to court documents and statements made in court, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service found a suspicious package and contacted the Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force. The package contained 2.3 pounds of methamphetamine and was meant for Cobak. Cobak will serve five years of supervised release when he is released from prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Kane prosecuted the Smith case on behalf of the government. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the Cobak case. The Eastern Panhandle Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office investigated the Smith case. The Potomac Highlands Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and the Mineral County Sheriff’s Office investigated the Cobak matter. U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh presided.


title: Disbarred Real Estate Attorney Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing Millions from Clients

body_text: ATLANTA - Matthew Allen Dickason, a disbarred attorney who was previously licensed to practice law in the State of Georgia, has been sentenced to federal prison for embezzling more than $3 million from his clients. Dickason used the money for personal purposes and created phony accounting records to cover up his theft. “Dickason engaged in a long-running and shameful practice of abusing the trust placed in him by his clients and will now serve a prison sentence as a result of his crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “This office will continue to work closely with its law enforcement partners to protect the public from attorneys who steal money from their clients.” “As a lawyer, Dickason swore an oath to uphold the law and represent his clients with integrity. Instead, he violated their trust and defrauded innocent victims,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Hopefully, this sentence sends the message that the FBI will doggedly work to protect American citizens and the real estate market from predators who drag down our economy by deception for their own personal gain.” “Closing attorneys serve a vital role for all real estate transactions in Georgia. They are entrusted with protecting their clients during the real estate transaction process. Dickason’s actions violated that trust and put many taxpayer-insured FHA mortgages at risk of default. HUD-OIG and our law enforcement partners consider this conduct egregious and hope that today’s sentence will deter anyone who contemplates engaging in this conduct,” said Tyrone Hardy, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General, Southeast Region. “As a mortgage industry insider and attorney, Dickason had a fiduciary duty to his clients and the banks funding the mortgage transactions, but instead he illegally siphoned funds for himself and his mortgage-closing company,” said Edwin Bonano, Special Agent-in-Charge of FHFA-OIG’s Southeast Region. “Today, justice was served. We are proud to have worked alongside our partner agencies on this case to arrive at today’s conclusion.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Matthew Allen Dickason was an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of Georgia and was the owner of Matthew A. Dickason, P.A., a law firm located in Atlanta, Georgia. Dickason specialized in real estate law and was responsible for overseeing hundreds of real estate sales transactions totaling tens of millions of dollars. While employed as an attorney, Dickason knowingly devised and conducted a scheme to defraud and obtain money from clients under false pretenses. Specifically, Dickason misappropriated millions of dollars belonging to clients who trusted him to handle their real estate transactions. To conceal his scheme, Dickason took one client’s money and used it to pay his own or another client’s expenses. He used this deceptive practice again and again. This allowed the scheme to go undetected for years. Dickason also hid his fraud by causing false and misleading information to be entered into his law firm’s accounting system to make it appear that the firm had paid a client’s mortgage when, in fact, Dickason had used the money for fraudulent purposes. Dickason, 48, formerly of Atlanta, Georgia, and now living in Wellington, Ohio, was sentenced to 27 months of imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $3,005,159.19. Dickason was convicted on these charges on October 16, 2023, after he pleaded guilty. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency-Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell Phillips prosecuted the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6280. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Albany Man Pleads Guilty to Armed Robbery of a Drug Dealer in Guilderland

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Jorge L. Rosario, age 53, of Albany, pled guilty today to robbing a marijuana dealer and brandishing a pistol in furtherance of the robbery at the dealer’s residence in Guilderland. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and Guilderland Police Chief Daniel P. McNally made the announcement. Rosario admitted that on January 23, 2022, at about 5 a.m., he and Alexander G. Madera, armed with a pistol and a rifle, respectively, entered a single-family residence in Guilderland with the goal of robbing a marijuana dealer. After entering the residence, Rosario remained on guard in the living room while Madera robbed the dealer of $172 in drug money, at gunpoint, in the dealer’s bedroom. Before they could leave the residence, however, another resident awoke and encountered Rosario, who pointed his pistol at the resident, warning the resident not to move or say anything. A struggle over the pistol ensued, with other residents joining in. In the course of the struggle, Rosario and Madera were disarmed. They were then restrained until the police arrived and arrested them. Bost have remained in custody since that time. Rosario will be sentenced on July 9, 2024 by Chief United States District Judge Branda K. Sannes. Under the terms of Rosario’s plea agreement, the parties have jointly recommended that Rosario receive a prison term of between 168 and 188 months, and a 5-year term of post-imprisonment supervised release. Madera previously pled guilty to armed robbery and brandishing charges, and is scheduled for sentencing on May 3, 2024. He faces a minimum term of imprisonment of 7 years, a maximum term of life, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 5 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. This case was investigated by ATF and the Town of Guilderland Police Department, with the assistance of the Albany County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emmet O’Hanlon and Joshua R. Rosenthal are prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.


title: Former New York Cheese Producer Pleads Guilty in Connection with Raw Milk Products Linked to Listeria Outbreak

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Johannes Vulto, age 64, a former raw milk cheese manufacturer, and Vulto Creamery LLC, the company Vulto founded and owned, each pled guilty today in federal court in Syracuse to guilty to one misdemeanor count of causing the introduction of adulterated food into interstate commerce, relating to the sale and distribution of cheese that was linked to a 2016-2017 outbreak of listeriosis, the disease caused by the pathogen Listeria monocytogenes . These guilty pleas were announced by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division; and Special Agent in Charge Fernando McMillan of FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations New York Field Office. In pleading guilty, Vulto admitted that he oversaw operations at the Vulto Creamery manufacturing facility in Walton, New York, including those relating to sanitation and environmental monitoring. Vulto and Vulto Creamery both admitted that between December 2014 and March 2017, they caused the shipment in interstate commerce of adulterated cheese. According to the plea agreement, environmental swabs taken at the Vulto Creamery facility between approximately July 2014 and February 2017 repeatedly tested positive for Listeria species. The Listeria family includes both harmless species and L. monocytogenes , which can cause listeriosis in humans. In March 2017, after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) linked Vulto Creamery’s cheese to an outbreak of listeriosis, Vulto shut down the Vulto Creamery facility and issued a partial recall that was expanded to a full recall within weeks. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the listeriosis outbreak resulted in eight hospitalizations and two deaths. “This investigation and prosecution hold accountable the defendant and his business who through unsafe practices caused illness and death to consumers in an entirely preventable tragedy,” said U.S. Attorney Freedman. “The law enforcement and regulatory partners involved in this case will continue to work together to bring to justice those who endanger the public through unsafe and unsanitary products and facilities.” “It is crucial that American consumers be able to trust that the foods they buy are safe to eat,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Boynton. “The department will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to hold responsible food manufacturers that sell dangerously contaminated products.” “U.S. consumers rely on the FDA to ensure that their food is safe and wholesome,” said Special Agent in Charge McMillan. “When companies and individuals put themselves above the law by producing food that endangers and harms the public, as occurred in this case, we will see that they are brought to justice.” Listeriosis is a severe, invasive illness that can be life-threatening in some cases. Persons who have the greatest risk of experiencing listeriosis due to consumption of foods contaminated with L. monocytogenes are pregnant women and their newborns, the elderly and persons with weakened immune systems. The charge to which Vulto pled guilty carries a maximum sentence of up to one year in prison, a term of supervised release of up to one year, and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge to which Vulto Creamery pled guilty carries a maximum sentence of Probation and a maximum fine of up to $500,000. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Vulto and Vulto Creamery will be sentenced on July 9, 2024, by United States Magistrate Judge Thérèse Wiley Dancks. The case has been investigated by the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations, and it is being prosecuted by Senior Trial Attorney James T. Nelson of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Northern District of New York Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael F. Perry. Further information about the case will be posted under “Information for Victims in Large Cases” at the Consumer Protection Branch’s website: www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch . For more information about the enforcement efforts of the Consumer Protection Branch visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch .


title: Peoria Man Pleads Guilty to Wide-Ranging Fraud Scheme

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois man, Chad D. Campen, 34, of the 6100 block of Pfeiffer Road, pleaded guilty on March 5, 2024, to one count of bank fraud, three counts of wire fraud, one count of money laundering, one count of bankruptcy fraud, and one count of false statements under oath. Sentencing for Campen has been scheduled for July 11, 2024, at the U.S. Courthouse in Peoria, Illinois. In court before U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid, Campen admitted that he had orchestrated a long-term fraud scheme in which he lied about his business involvement and success and created false and fraudulent documents to deceive his victims. Campen obtained money from various financial institutions as well as goods, services, and funds from individuals and companies throughout central Illinois. At the hearing, the government stated that beginning as early as January 2013, Campen engaged in a scheme to defraud in which he made several false and fraudulent statements to banks and others. Specifically, Campen obtained funds by falsely claiming his success in multiple business ventures; representing to others the amount of land he was farming; claiming that he sold agricultural inputs; that he had substantial amounts of grain stored; representing that he had substantial assets and that he was a financial success. Campen has been in the custody of U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest on January 25, 2022, and remains in custody pending sentencing. Campen faces statutory penalties as follows: Bank Fraud up to 30 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and 5 years’ supervised release; for Wire Fraud, up to twenty years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years’ supervised release for each count; for Illegal Monetary Transaction, up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine (or twice the amount of the criminally derived property), and 3 years supervised release, for Bankruptcy Fraud and False Statement Under Oath, up to 5 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years’ supervised release for each count. The matter was referred to the United States Attorney’s Office by the United States Trustee for Region 10. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas F. McMeyer is representing the government in the prosecution.


title: Pennsylvania Family Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Three members of a Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania, family pleaded guilty today to conspiring to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents, Hadja Franklin, 55, Nabyunissa Bangoura (“Nayunissa”), 34, Tanziludin Bangurah (“Tanziludin”), 52, manufactured counterfeit oxycodone and Xanax in a laboratory in their residence in rural Pennsylvania, which they sold on the darkweb under the moniker “MonPham.” Tanziludin and Franklin are the married parents of Nabyunissa. In fall 2021, law enforcement identified “MonPham” as a prolific narcotics distributor operating on several darknet markets. After making numerous controlled purchases from “MonPham” between October 27, 2021, and August 25, 2022, law enforcement traced cryptocurrency transactions to the defendants’ Internet Protocol (IP) address. Law enforcement then observed Bangurah mailing fentanyl packages to customers and later observed one of the defendants with an infant child entering the residence. While executing a search warrant on August 31, 2022, law enforcement discovered the trio’s drug lab, pills, binding agents, drug ledgers, and numerous electronic devices that contained hundreds of text messages between Nabyunissa and Franklin detailing the day-to-day operation of the conspiracy. Based on the drug ledgers, law enforcement determined the conspirators sold approximately 3,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills and approximately 55,000 counterfeit Xanax pills. In most cases, the counterfeit oxycodone pills contained fentanyl, while the counterfeit Xanax contained benzodiazepines. Franklin, Nabyunissa, and Tanziludin each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Each faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for June 5. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; David J. Scott, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division; George Scavdis, Special Agent in Charge, Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, Metro Washington Field Office; and Ajay Lall, Acting Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga accepted the plea. The Commonwealth’s Attorney for Powhatan County; USPIS – Philadelphia Division; Pennsylvania State Police; FBI Philadelphia Division – Scranton Resident Agency; and Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department assisted in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip Alito and Gavin Tisdale are prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-121.


title: Newton County man sentenced to federal prison for trafficking meth

body_text: BEAUMONT, Texas – A Bon Wier man has been sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison for trafficking drugs in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today. Charles Edward Isaac, 44, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on March 4, 2024. According to information presented in court, in March 2021, federal, state, and local law enforcement began an investigation into the distribution of methamphetamine in Newton County, Texas. During the investigation, law enforcement conducted controlled purchases of narcotics from Isaac and executed a search warrant at his residence. During the search, law enforcement recovered a firearm and additional narcotics. Isaac is responsible for distributing more than 100 grams of methamphetamine throughout East Texas. This case was investigated by the FBI; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Lab; Texas Department of Public Safety; Newton County Sheriff’s Office; and Orange County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Lee. ###


title: Liberty County woman sentenced for passport-related federal violations

component: USAO - Texas, Eastern

body_text: Beaumont, Texas – A Mexican national illegally living in Dayton has been sentenced to prison for federal violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. Margarita Torres Barajas, 50, pleaded guilty to making a false statement on a passport application and aggravated identity theft and was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone on March 4, 2024. According to information presented in court, on October 11, 2021, Barajas entered the U.S. Post Office in Beaumont to apply for a U.S. passport. Barajas claimed to be a citizen of the United States while in fact, she was a citizen of Mexico. Barajas used a social security card and Puerto Rican birth certificate she found in New York City to apply for the passport. The social security card and birth certificate belonged to a U.S. citizen. Barajas also used these items to apply for a state identification card from another state. This case was investigated by the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Diplomatic Security Service. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Reynaldo P. Morin. ###


title: Beaumont postal employee sentenced for stealing mail

body_text: BEAUMONT, Texas – A Beaumont woman has been sentenced to federal prison for stealing mail in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. Pamela Jo Rosas, 65, pleaded guilty to theft of mail by a postal employee and was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on March 4, 2024. According to information presented in court, in April 2020, postal inspectors began receiving complaints that a series of parcels containing valuable coins were missing after being placed in the post office for delivery. Federal agents conducted surveillance and identified a postal employee, Pamela Jo Rosas, as a subject involved in the theft after viewing her handling packages in a suspicious manner. Rosas was also found in possession of several pieces of stolen mail packages after leaving work. Rosas admitted to stealing many items from the post office during the previous three to four years. Agents were able to recover hundreds of valuable coins from her apartment, along with other items Rosas had stolen from the mail during the course of her employment. This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service-OIG and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell James. ###


title: FCI Schuylkill Inmate Sentenced To 27 Months In Prison For Possession Of A Weapon

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: - SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Xyvaion Lawrence, age 23, a federal inmate incarcerated at FCI Schuylkill, in Minersville, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment by United States District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion, for possession of contraband in prison. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, in November of 2022, a correctional officer observed Lawrence in possession of a 6-inch homemade knife, commonly referred to as a “shank,” hidden in the waistband of his pants. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Special Investigative Services of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luisa Honora Berti prosecuted the case. # # #


title: Washington, D.C. Man Sentenced to 50 Years in Federal Prison for Use of a Firearm in Connection With a Murder and a Robbery, and for a Drug Distribution Conspiracy

component: Criminal - Violent Crime and Racketeering Section

body_text: Greenbelt , Maryland – U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow today sentenced Madani Ilara Tejan, a/k/a “Malik,” “Mylik,” and “Dani,” age 31, of Washington, D.C., to 50 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for using a firearm in connection with murder and robbery, and for a fentanyl distribution conspiracy. Tejan was convicted of those charges on February 17, 2023, after a nine-day trial. The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock of the FBI Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration - Washington Division; Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department; Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department; Director Corenne Labbé of the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections; and Director Thomas N. Faust of the D.C. Department of Corrections. According to the evidence presented at this nine-day trial, on October 3, 2018, Tejan met with a drug customer, to whom Tejan had arranged to sell drugs. During the meeting, Tejan shot and killed the drug customer (Victim 1), then stole the Victim 1’s car, wallet, and other personal items. On October 20, 2018, a search warrant was executed at a residence in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, associated with Tejan and law enforcement recovered Victim 1’s wallet, two bags of marijuana and a prepaid cellular phone. Investigation revealed that the prepaid phone had been in contact with the Victim 1’s phone several times on October 3, 2018 and was used interchangeably with Tejan’s registered phone to communicate with Victim 1 in the hours before his murder. Additionally, 1,013 fentanyl pills were seized from Tejan while he was residing in a government-run residential facility. Tejan’s social media accounts and phone messages revealed that he distributed fentanyl marketed as oxycodone as well as other prescription drugs and marijuana to multiple individuals, including Victim 1. At a hearing held on February 27, 2024, the Court found that Tejan was also involved with the murder of Victim 2, which occurred on October 15, 2018. According to court documents and information provided at motions hearings, Victim 2 drove Tejan to his meeting with Victim 1 and was a witness to Victim 1’s murder. Witnesses reported that on October 15, 2018, the day of Victim 2’s murder, Tejan spent the day with Victim 2. Later that day, Tejan left with Victim 2 to sell marijuana in Washington, D.C., where Victim 2 was found shot to death. A ride sharing application showed that Tejan was picked up just minutes after Victim 2’s murder one block from where Victim 2 was found dead. 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. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron and Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri commended the FBI and the Baltimore Cross-Border Task Force, the DEA, the Prince George’s County Police Department, the Metropolitan Police Department, the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections, and the D.C. Department of Corrections, for their work in the investigation and thanked the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes and Trial Attorney Gerald A. A. Collins of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, who prosecuted the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Louisiana Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy  to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Gulfport, Miss. – A Covington, Louisiana man pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute approximately 1,000 pills laced with fentanyl. Santana Phillipe Elzy, 23, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Gulfport. According to court documents, on August 29, 2023, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration followed up on a written complaint alleging drug trafficking at the Motel 6 in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Agents surveilled the motel and were able to narrow down the suspected parties and rooms. During surveillance, agents observed a red Toyota Camry arrive at the Motel 6 to pick up two of the individuals suspected of selling drugs. Once the vehicle departed, agents followed the vehicle across state lines and observed the occupants of the vehicle, who were identified as Christopher Fricke, Kolby Sims, Emma Stoute, and Dakari Sykes, participate in what appeared to be a drug transaction with an individual, later identified as Santana Elzy, at a Wal-Mart parking lot in Louisiana. After the transaction, agents followed the Camry back into Mississippi and conducted a traffic stop where they recovered approximately 1,000 fentanyl laced pills and it was confirmed that Elzy had sold the group the pills for distribution in the Southern District of Mississippi. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. The DEA reports that two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, and one kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people. More facts on fentanyl can be found at https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl and https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl . Elzy plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 25, 2024. He faces a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Christopher Fricke and Emma Stoute have pled guilty and will be sentenced later this year. The cases against Dakari Sykes and Kolby Sims remain pending. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Steven L. Hofer of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case.


title: Nigerian National Pleads Guilty to His Role in a Business Email Compromise Scheme

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Greenbelt , Maryland – Henry Onyedikachi Echefu, age 32, a Nigerian national residing in South Africa at the time of the criminal conduct, pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, related to a business email compromise (“BEC”) scheme. Echefu arrived in the United States on November 30, 2023, after being extradited from Canada. The guilty plea was announced by Erek L. Barron, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; and Special Agent in Charge Matthew R. Stohler of the U.S. Secret Service - Washington Field Office. According to his plea agreement, from February 2017 until at least July 2017, Echefu conspired with others to perpetrate a BEC scheme. Specifically, Echefu and his co-conspirators, including co-conspirators residing in Maryland, gained unauthorized access to email accounts associated with individuals and businesses targeted by the conspirators and sent false wiring instructions to the victims’ email accounts from “spoofed” emails, which are emails with forged sender addresses, to deceive the victims into sending money to bank accounts controlled by perpetrators of the scheme, called “drop accounts.” Further, during the same time frame, Echefu and his co-conspirators conspired to commit money laundering by disbursing the fraudulently obtained funds in the drop accounts to other accounts by initiating account transfers, withdrawing cash, obtaining cashier’s checks and by writing checks to other individuals and entities, to hide the true ownership and the source of those assets. As detailed in the plea agreement, the intended loss for transactions in which Echefu was directly involved—which were some, but not all of the transactions involving Echefu and his co-conspirators—was approximately $304,414 and the actual loss resulting from these transactions was at least $199,929. Echefu had personal control over at least $22,187.35 of the funds obtained from victims. According to the plea agreement, Echefu will be required to pay a money judgment in the amount of $22,187.35 and pay restitution in the full amount of the victims’ losses, which the parties agree is at least $199,929. Echefu faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud conspiracy and for the money laundering conspiracy. U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman has scheduled sentencing for May 23, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. Co-defendant Kosi Goodness Simon-Ebo, age 30, also a Nigerian nation who resided in South Africa at the time of the criminal conduct, extradited from Canada on April 12, 2023, previously pleaded guilty to the same charges and was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison and was ordered to pay a money judgment of $45,925 and to pay restitution in the full amount of the victims’ losses, $1,072,306. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended HSI’s Mid-Atlantic El Dorado Task Force and the U.S. Secret Service for their work in the investigation. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Department of Justice Canada’s International Assistance Group also provided substantial assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of both Echefu and Simon-Ebo. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes, 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: Beckley Woman Pleads Guilty to Straw Purchasing Firearms

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Keniesha Brack, 27, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to false statements made during the purchase of firearms. According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 19, 2021, Brack purchased a Glock model 27 GEN5 .40-caliber pistol and a Glock model 30 .45-caliber pistol from a Mount Hope business. Brack admitted that she falsely certified on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Federal Firearms Transaction Records Form 4473 that she was the buyer of the firearms when she knew she was purchasing them for someone else. On June 13, 2021, Brack attended the R+R Gun Show at the Beckley Armory in Beckley and purchased a Taurus model G3C 9mm pistol, a Taurus model G2C 9mm pistol and a Glock model 33GEN4 .357-caliber pistol from a Federal Firearm Licensee. Brack admitted that she falsely certified on the ATF Form 4473 that she was the buyer of the firearms when she knew she was purchasing them for someone else. On June 25, 2021, Brack purchased a Glock model 36 .45-caliber pistol and a Glock model 43X 9mm pistol from a Beckley business. Brack admitted that she falsely certified on the ATF Form 4473 that she was the buyer of the firearms when she knew she was purchasing them for someone else. Brack is scheduled to be sentenced on June 20, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). United States Magistrate Judge Omar J. Aboulhosn presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Troy D. Adams is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:24-cr-32. ###


title: Stamford Man Sentenced to Prison for Theft of $800K from Trust Account

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CURTIS SOLSVIG, 69, of Stamford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 18 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for stealing more than $800,000 from a family trust he administered. According to court documents and statements made in court, a married couple (the “victims”) created a trust for the primary benefit of their two children. In 1996, Solsvig, a relative of the victims, began serving as trustee of the trust. Beginning in 2011 and continuing for approximately eight years, Solsvig stole approximately $816,000 from the trust and used the funds for a variety of personal expenses. By the time his scheme concluded, less than $20 remained in the trust account. Judge Nagala ordered Solsvig to pay restitution of $816,205.09. On December 6, 2023, Solsvig pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Solsvig, who is released on a $250,000 bond, is required to report to prison on April 19. This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Conor M. Reardon.


title: Lincoln County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – James Evans Hughes, 51, of Sumerco, pleaded guilty today to distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 28, 2018, Hughes sold a quantity of methamphetamine to a confidential informant in the South Charleston area of Kanawha County. Hughes admitted to that transaction and further admitted to selling methamphetamine to the confidential informant on seven other occasions between July 2018 and November 2018. Hughes is scheduled to be sentenced on June 11, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Senior States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-83. ###


title: New Franklin Couple Indicted for Illegal Firearms

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A New Franklin, Mo., couple has been indicted by a federal grand jury for attempted bank robbery and illegally possessing firearms. Jacob Lowell Hessing, 25, and his wife, Tristen Nicole Hessing, 25, were charged in a three-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Jefferson City, Mo., on Feb. 27,2024. That indictment was unsealed and made public today upon the Hessings arrests and initial court appearances. Jacob Hessing remains detained in federal custody pending a detention hearing on Wednesday, March 6. Tristen is released on bond. The federal indictment alleges that Jacob Hessing attempted to rob Exchange Bank of Missouri in New Franklin on Sept. 9, 2023. Jacob and Tristen Hessing are each charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The indictment alleges they were in possession of a Diamondback Arms rifle and a Rossi .38 special revolver on Oct. 30, 2023. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Jacob Hessing has two prior felony convictions for the distribution/manufacture of drugs and a prior felony conviction for possession of a controlled substance. Tristen Hessing has a prior felony conviction for possession of a controlled substance. The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation, which would require the Hessings to forfeit to the government the Diamondback Arm rifle, the Rossi revolver, and assorted ammunition, including several magazines that contained dozens of rounds of ammunition. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa A. Pierce. It was investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Howard County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department. Project Safe Neighborhoods 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: Missouri Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - Arkansas, Western

body_text: FAYETTEVILLE – A Noel, Missouri man was sentenced on Friday, March 1, to 180 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release on one count of Distribution of Methamphetamine. The Honorable Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing in the United States District Court in Fayetteville. According to court documents, in November 2022, detectives with the Benton County Drug Unit and special agents with Homeland Security Investigations received information that Lyle Russell White , age 46, was trafficking narcotics throughout the Northwest Arkansas area. Law enforcement subsequently conducted a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from White. In December 2022, investigators received information that White was in Bella Vista, Arkansas and was in possession of a large amount of methamphetamine. White was later observed traveling as a passenger in a vehicle heading towards Missouri by a Benton County Sheriff’s Office deputy who recognized White from a separate traffic stop the week before. During that first traffic stop, White had attempted to consume controlled substances and to conceal the bags in which the substances were contained when the vehicle in which he was traveling was pulled over. After recognizing White and witnessing a traffic infraction, the deputy conducted a traffic stop. In the vehicle, detectives discovered over 150 grams of actual methamphetamine. A criminal records check revealed that White has several prior convictions, including convictions for violations of controlled substance statutes, and that he was currently on release for another offense at the time he possessed the methamphetamine. U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement. The Benton County Drug Unit and Homeland Security Investigations Fayetteville investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Eaton prosecuted the case. Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov .


title: Mercer County Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Denise R. Allen, 29, of Bluefield, pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 16, 2023, Allen and another individual were apprehended at a gun store in Princeton, West Virginia. Following their arrest, Allen and the other individual consented to a search by law enforcement officers of a truck they had rented using a stolen identity. Officers found 431 grams of methamphetamine, 21 grams of fentanyl and two Glock 9mm semiautomatic handguns during the search of the rental truck. Allen further admitted that she and the other individual possessed the methamphetamine and fentanyl and intended to distribute it. Allen is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, at last three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force. The task force consists of members of the West Virginia State Police, the Bluefield Police Department, the Princeton Police Department, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department, the McDowell County Sheriff’s Department, and the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Department. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-196. ###