title: Rochester Man Sentenced to More Than 12 Years in Federal Prison for COVID-19 Fraud, Identify Theft, and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A Rochester man was sentenced today in federal court for submitting fraudulent applications for COVID-19 pandemic relief funds using stolen identities and for possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Heath Gauthier, 48, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Laplante to 145 months in federal prison and 5 years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay $202,507 in restitution with $196,507 being paid to the Small Business Administration and $6,000 to two CSAM survivors. On February 22, 2024, Gauthier pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, one count of attempted wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and one count of possession of child pornography. “The defendant possessed more than one thousand images of child sex abuse material and stole people’s identities to submit numerous fraudulent applications for COVID relief funds intended for individuals and businesses who suffered financial harm as a result of the pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “The defendant not only stole of hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars and undermined the public confidence in pandemic relief programs, but also preyed on the most vulnerable members of society-children. The sentence imposed today sends a clear message that those who possess child sex abuse material or steal from taxpayers will be incarcerated in federal prison for long periods of time.” “What Heath Gauthier did is disgraceful. This convicted sex offender possessed more than 1,500 images of child sexual abuse material on his computer and stole the identities of more than 10 dead people so he could blatantly defraud a government program meant to keep businesses and workers afloat during the pandemic,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Anyone who thinks exploiting children and defrauding American taxpayers is acceptable, better think twice, because the FBI and our partners stand ready to bring you to justice.” “Today’s sentencing of Heath Gauthier demonstrates the IRS’s commitment to protecting the America people from all criminal maleficence,” said Special Agent in Charge, Harry T. Chavis Jr., IRS Criminal Investigation Boston Field Office. “Gauthier not only stole the identities of innocent people in order to misappropriate pandemic relief funds, but he also took advantage of the most innocent people, children. IRS Criminal Investigations is committed to protecting all Americans, especially the most vulnerable, from those seeking to do them harm.” Between February 2020 and March 2021, Gauthier fraudulently applied for more than a dozen loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programs. Gauthier applied for loans for non-existent companies and used the identities of more than ten deceased individuals in his applications, listing them in some applications as owners or employees of the fictitious companies. He also submitted false documents, including fabricated tax documents and counterfeit driver’s licenses to support his fraudulent applications. In total Gauthier applied for more than $1 million in CARES Act loan funds. On February 16, 2023, investigators executed a search warrant on his residence, where they seized and later searched Gauthier’s electronic devices. During the search, investigators discovered more than 1,500 files that contained CSAM. IRS Criminal Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and the Social Security Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew T. Hunter and Kasey Weiland prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . During the early part of the coronavirus pandemic, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act included multiple relief provisions to help the millions of Americans and many small businesses adversely affected by the pandemic, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Private lenders could participate in the PPP. The loans, which were supposed to be used for payroll, were fully guaranteed by the government. If borrowers used the PPP loans for payroll and other approved expenses as intended, they could apply for loan forgiveness. The CARES Act also opened up the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. As with PPP loans, EIDL loans were supposed to be used for payroll and other business expenses such as rent and mortgage. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form. ###


title: Last Defendant Sentenced to 600 Months for Kidnap and Murder of Osage Nation Woman

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – The last of nine defendants was sentenced today for the kidnapping and murder of Jolene Walker Campbell, an Osage Nation citizen, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Tre Robert Allen Ackerson , 30, Webb City, Missouri for Murder in the Second Degree. Judge Frizzell ordered Ackerson to be sentenced to 600 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. “I hope the family of Ms. Campbell can find some sort of healing knowing the person who murdered their loved one will likely die behind bars,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “The Justice Department will continue its relentless efforts to seek justice on behalf of missing and murdered Indigenous people.” According to court documents, Ackerson kidnapped and violently murdered Jolene in July 2020 . The victim’s body was found in a remote field in Mayes County. The investigation showed that Jolene was robbed and kidnapped in Missouri and driven into the State of Oklahoma, where she was murdered by Ackerson. Ackerson and several of the defendants used physical force or threatened the use of physical force against four witnesses in separate incidents. Various assaults on witnesses took place that included witnesses being kidnapped, restrained with zipties, blindfolded or having their eyes duct taped shut, being shot at, and being beaten. The acts were committed to prevent the witnesses from testifying or as retaliation for communicating to law enforcement about Jolene’s murder. The additional defendants sentenced in this are as follows: Sarah Michelle Humbard , of Joplin, Missouri, was sentenced in Oct. 2023 for Tampering with a Witness, Victim, and Informant by Using the Threat of Physical Force. U.S. District Judge Raul M. Arias-Marxuach sentenced Humbard to five years of probation. Chloe Louise Stith , of Carthage, Missouri, was sentenced in Nov. 2023 for Tampering with a Witness, Victim, and Informant by Using the Threat of Physical Force. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Stith to 87 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. Breanna Lynn Sloan , of Joplin, Missouri, was sentenced in Jan. 2024 for Kidnapping Resulting in Death. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Sloan to 240 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. David William Morris , of Joplin, Missouri, was sentenced in Nov. 2023 for Tampering with a Witness, Victim, and Informant by Using the Threat of Physical Force. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Morris to 65 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release. Morgan Lee Bowman , of Joplin, Missouri, was sentenced in Mar. 2024 for Tampering with a Witness, Victim, and Informant by Using the Threat of Physical Force. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Bowman to 46 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. Megan Louise Detherage , of Joplin, Missouri, was sentenced in Mar. 2024 for Misprison of a Felony. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Detherage to time served, followed by one year of supervised release. Jacob Ryan Scribner , of Joplin, Missouri, was sentenced in Apr. 2024 for Conspiracy to Retaliate Against a Witness, Victim, and Informant. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Scribner to 48 months of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release. Lane Ryan Bronson , of Joplin, Missouri, was sentenced in Mar. 2024 for Tampering with a Witness, Victim, and Informant by Using the Threat of Physical Force. U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Bronson to 228 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. The FBI, Mayes County Sheriff’s Office, Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Police Department, and the Joplin Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin Bish and George Jiang prosecuted the case.


title: Deschutes County Drug Dealer Sentenced to Federal Prison

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: EUGENE, Ore.—A Bend, Oregon man was sentenced to federal prison for possessing 20 pounds of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Isaac Kitashima, 48, was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison and five years’ supervised release. According to court documents, from August 2020 through June 2021, Kitashima and co-conspirators conducted a multi-state drug trafficking operation. Kitashima used associates to assist with the purchase, shipment, and transport of methamphetamine between California, Oregon, and Hawaii. In August 2020, Kitashima hired a co-conspirator to drive a shipment of methamphetamine from California to Oregon. An Oregon State Police trooper attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle. The driver initially yielded to the stop but then fled at a high rate of speed. The trooper pursued the vehicle, which was later found abandoned. A search of the vehicle located almost 20 pounds of methamphetamine, along with items identifying Kitashima. Between February and May 2021, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and United States Postal Service (USPS) intercepted multiple packages of methamphetamine intended for Kitashima’s distribution into Oregon and Hawaii. On August 19, 2021, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned an indictment charging Kitashima with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute. On September 2, 2021, DEA and Maui Police Department executed a search warrant on Kitashima’s residence in Makawao, Hawaii, where he was arrested. During the search, investigators located methamphetamine and firearms in the residence. On February 27, 2024, Kitashima pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. This case was investigated by DEA, USPS, Oregon State Police, and Maui Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Delph.


title: Member of International Drug Trafficking Organization Operating in Lane County Sentenced to Federal Prison

body_text: EUGENE, Ore.—A Springfield, Oregon member of an international drug trafficking organization operating in Lane County, Oregon, was sentenced to federal prison. Rodolfo Arroyo-Segoviano, 38, was sentenced to 145 months in federal prison and three years’ supervised release. According to court documents, between April and August 2020, Arroyo-Segoviano managed the local distribution network for an international drug trafficking organization responsible for trafficking large quantities of methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine from Mexico into the United States. While the organization leaders operated out of Mexico, Arroyo-Segoviano was responsible for the local operations in Oregon. He coordinated the receipt, storage, and distribution of methamphetamine, the collection of drug proceeds, and payment to organization leadership in Mexico. Arroyo-Segoviano also supervised the local associates, including recruitment, pay, and directing activities. As part of this investigation, law enforcement seized more than 178 pounds of methamphetamine, 12 pounds of heroin, six pounds of fentanyl, 18 rifles, three rifle optics, and ammunition. Investigators also forfeited approximately $1.2 million from the organization, including more than $400,000 in cash. In total, 35 people—including sources of supply in Mexico, couriers, local cell operators in Lane County, and first and second level distributors responsible for sales in and around Eugene—were charged and have been convicted for their roles in the drug trafficking organization. “The prosecution of this international drug trafficking organization represents the tireless dedication of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners combatting the drug trafficking plaguing our communities,” said Natalie Wight, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. On July 31, 2020, Arroyo-Segoviano was charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. On April 3, 2024, Arroyo-Segoviano pleaded guilty to a one-count superseding criminal information charging him with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. This case was investigated by DEA, FBI, IRS-Criminal Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, Springfield Police Department, Eugene Police Department, Lane County Sherriff’s Office, Oregon State Police, Linn Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team (LINE), and Douglas Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team (DINT). It was prosecuted by Joseph Huynh and Judi Harper, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: District Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison  for Southeast Washington Shooting

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Ivan Dixon, 19, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today for the September 2023 shooting of two victims outside a local supermarket in Northeast Washington, DC, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Pamela A. Smith, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department. In March 2024, Mr. Dixon pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to one count of Assault with Intent to Kill and one count of Possession of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence, in addition to one count of Carrying a Pistol Without a License in an unrelated case. Mr. Dixon was sentenced today by the Honorable Robert Okun to 84 months’ incarceration, the top of Mr. Dixon’s voluntary sentencing guidelines for assault with intent to kill. Mr. Dixon’s period of imprisonment will be followed by 3 years of supervised release. According to the government’s evidence, with which Mr. Dixon agreed, Mr. Dixon was riding in a Ford Transit van when one of the victims, his intended target, parked his car outside of the supermarket. As the intended target walked into the supermarket, the van made a U-turn and drove slowly past the building, ultimately circling the block before parking behind the intended target’s car. After a few minutes, the intended target left the supermarket while the second victim, an innocent bystander, approached the front door. As the intended target held the door open for the innocent bystander, Mr. Dixon jumped out of the van and fired 16 shots in the direction of the intended target. While the intended target was not hit, the innocent bystander was hit five times and taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney William Lawrence, who investigated and prosecuted the case.


title: Chesapeake men sentenced for armed robbery of letter carrier and cashing stolen checks and money orders

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – Two Chesapeake men were sentenced to prison for bank fraud, identity theft, and armed robbery of a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier. According to court documents, on Dec. 18, 2022, Postal Inspectors along with the Chesapeake Police Department (CPD) conducted surveillance at the Chesapeake Main Post Office. They observed a vehicle arriving at 11:37 p.m. Two people exited the vehicle and used an arrow key to access the blue mail collection boxes while the driver, Isaiah J. Card, 24, remained in the vehicle. An arrow key is a U.S. Postal key with an engraved symbol and a serial number. Arrow keys open various types of mailboxes in a specific area, including blue collection boxes and apartment panel mailboxes. When the two individuals who stole mail from the collection boxes ran back to the vehicle, law enforcement prevented the vehicle from leaving. While Postal Inspectors detained Card, CPD pursued the other two individuals, who fled on foot. The fleeing suspects abandoned their bag filled with approximately 250 pieces of stolen mail. CPD was able to locate one of the two, Dahnico Jharon McCoy, aka Donny, 22. Officers also found clothing McCoy discarded as he fled, which included the same distinct jacket seen in at least five prior collection box break-ins. A search of the vehicle revealed numerous stolen checks and Western Union Money Orders that had been stolen from previous mail heists. Some of the money orders had been “washed" and made out in McCoy and Card’s names. These forged money orders contained the names and account numbers of various victims who had their mail stolen. On April 19, 2023, Card and McCoy traveled to Raleigh, North Carolina, and, while armed with a firearm, robbed a mail carrier for another arrow key. McCoy made a motion indicating to the mail carrier that he possessed a firearm, and the pair fled. On April 20, 2023, mail from a number of postal boxes in the Raleigh area was stolen using that arrow key. On April 27, 2023, a traffic stop was conducted on their vehicle and Card and McCoy were arrested. A search of their vehicle revealed the stolen arrow key, a handgun, and at least 180 stolen checks, some of which had already been washed. On Feb. 8, 2024, McCoy and Card pled guilty to possession of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. On June 21, McCoy was sentenced to seven years in prison. Card was sentenced today to seven years in prison. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Ajay Lall, Acting Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Kosky prosecuted 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. 2:23-cr-20.


title: Woman Sentenced to Nine Years for Sex Trafficking Conspiracy

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

body_text: WASHINGTON – A Texas woman was sentenced on June 25, 2024 for conspiring to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. According to court documents, in 2021 and 2022, Patricia Hart, 25, and her boyfriend and co-defendant, Gregory Massey, 30, forced two adult victims to engage in commercial sex. Massey and Hart advertised the victims for commercial sex on websites, kept the money the victims made from commercial sex transactions, required the victims to meet a minimum dollar threshold from commercial sex every day, and restricted the victims’ access to food. Massey also tracked the geolocation data on the victims’ phones so that they could not leave his control and used violence to accomplish the scheme. After Massey was arrested in state court, Hart continued the conspiracy by carrying out Massey’s demands via jail calls. Specifically, Massey told Hart to fire off a few rounds of a firearm to scare a victim into compliance. Hart was sentenced on June 25, 2024 in federal court. Judge Wendy Vitter sentenced Hart to nine years imprisonment, followed by fifteen years of supervised release. She also agreed to pay $21,600 in restitution. As a result of her plea, Hart must also participate in the sex offender registration and notification program. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans for the Eastern District of Louisiana made the announcement. Homeland Security Investigations; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the Louisiana State Police investigated the case. Trial Attorney Melissa E. Bücher of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria M. Carboni for the Eastern District of Louisiana are prosecuting the case.


title: Man Who Tried to Sell Marijuana in a Northeast Smoke Shop Sentenced to Seven Years for Armed Robbery

body_text: WASHINGTON – Kevon Lockerman, 29, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to seven years in prison in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for armed robbery, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Lockman was found guilty on April 5, 2024, of armed robbery with a knife, following a jury trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. In addition to the prison term, Superior Court Judge Erik Christian ordered Lockerman to serve five years of supervised release. According to the government’s evidence, on June 15, 2023, the defendant and another man, who was never identified, went into a smoke shop on West Virginia Avenue NE and tried to set up their own business inside, with a scale, a knife, and product they offered for sale. The store’s surveillance footage showed that when the complainant walked in, the defendant and his accomplice try to sell the complainant marijuana without success. The defendant handed a knife to his accomplice as the complainant spoke to the store’s clerk. When the complainant turned to leave the shop, the defendant and his accomplice blocked the complainant’s path. The accomplice gestured toward the knife, which he had tucked in the front of his pants, and the complainant handed the defendant cash. After the two men left together, the complainant turned to the store clerk with tears in his eyes and told him he had been robbed. Police arrested the defendant roughly three weeks later near the same smoke shop. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Abubakar Alawy and Antoinette Sakamsa and Supervisory Paralegal Specialist Renee Prather; Supervisory IT Specialist Leif Hickling; and Investigative Analyst Stephen Jones. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Iris McCranie, who investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Van Haasteren and Matthew Goldstein, who prosecuted the case.


title: Long Beach Man Sentenced to More Than 28 Years in Prison for Leading Crew that Committed Several Armed Robberies in the Antelope Valley

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A Long Beach man was sentenced today to 339 months in federal prison for leading a crew that committed several armed robberies in the Antelope Valley that netted hundreds of thousands of dollars in ill-gotten gains. Kaleb Williams, 38, of Long Beach, was sentenced by United States District Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha, who also ordered him to pay $503,428 in restitution. “Violent gun crime corrodes our community’s feeling of safety,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Today’s sentence shows criminals that when you break the law and use a gun to do it, the penalties will be severe.” At the conclusion of a six-day trial in September 2023, a jury found Williams guilty of two counts of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, three counts of interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act), and two counts of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Additionally, Williams’ co-conspirator, Terrance Cleyon Pearson, 44, of Long Beach, was also found guilty at the same trial of one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, one count of interference with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act), and one count of using a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 30. Four of his other accomplices have also been convicted and will be sentenced in the coming months. Gilbert Alexander Bailey Jr., 38, of Los Angeles; Tevaughn Brown, 33, of Bellflower; Da’Mari Mario Crane, 23, of Lancaster; and Tonisha Marie Johnson, 44, of Lancaster. According to court documents, in July 2019 Williams, Bailey, Johnson, and four others traveled to a jewelry store in Lancaster. Johnson approached the store's door and awaited the employees to remotely unlock the door. Once the door was opened, Bailey and three accomplices entered. Two of the individuals then brandished handguns, intimidating both employees and a customer, while Bailey proceeded to seize jewelry from a shattered display case that had been smashed by another accomplice. The defendants escaped with approximately 348 pieces of jewelry valued at approximately $479,000, along with a Glock firearm, and caused approximately $5,000 in damage before fleeing the scene. Williams and his accomplices committed a series of other robberies including one at Party City in Palmdale in October 2019, stealing approximately $10,000. During that robbery, the robbers grabbed a store employee by the shirt and dragged her through the store. One of the robbers, armed with a .45-caliber firearm, shot at a glass door that had closed and locked behind them during the robbery, shattering the door and allowing them to escape. The crew also robbed a Home Depot store in Lancaster in May 2020, stealing approximately $6,828 a gunpoint from the store vault. Operation Safe Cities establishes strategic enforcement priorities with an emphasis on prosecuting the most significant drivers of violent crime. Across this region, the most damaging and horrific crimes are committed by a relatively small number of particularly violent individuals. This strategic enforcement approach is expected to increase the number of arrests, prosecutions and convictions of recidivists engaged in the most dangerous conduct. It is designed to improve public safety across the region by targeting crimes involving illicit guns, prohibited persons possessing firearms, or robbery crews that cause havoc and extensive losses to retail establishments. The FBI and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorneys Scott M. Lara and Kevin J. Butler of the Violent and Organized Crime Section prosecuted this case.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Announces Two Indictments of Healthcare Fraud Related Charges

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky. – U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier, IV has announced criminal charges against two separate defendants, in connection with alleged schemes to defraud Medicare and Medicaid, and to fraudulently prescribe controlled substances. The charges filed in federal court are part of the Justice Department’s 2024 National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action. The charges stem from one scheme to cause claims for prescription drugs to be submitted, despite knowing the drugs were never dispensed to pharmacy customers, and another scheme to use the name and DEA registration number of another provider, without that provider’s knowledge, in order to issue prescriptions. “When government healthcare programs are fraudulently deprived of critical resources and powerful drugs are illegally prescribed, it creates real damage,” said United States Attorney Shier. “It steals taxpayer money, and it enables the devastating cycle of drug abuse in fester in our communities. Simply having a professional license cannot be a shield from the consequences of this type of criminal conduct.” “It does not matter if you are a trafficker in a drug cartel or a corporate executive or medical professional employed by a health care company, if you profit from the unlawful distribution of controlled substances, you will be held accountable,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will bring to justice criminals who defraud Americans, steal from taxpayer-funded programs, and put people in danger for the sake of profits.” The charges announced today by U.S Attorney Shier are part of a strategically coordinated, two-week nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in criminal charges against 147 defendants for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes that resulted in the submission of over $2.5 billion in alleged false billings. The defendants allegedly defrauded programs entrusted for the care of the elderly and disabled to line their own pockets, and the government, in connection with the enforcement action, seized over $150 million in cash, luxury vehicles, gold, and other assets. The Health Care Fraud Unit’s National Rapid Response, Florida, Gulf Coast, Los Angeles, Midwest, Northeast, and Texas Strike Forces; U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Southern District of Alabama, District of Arizona, Central District of California, Northern District of California, Southern District of California, District of Connecticut, Middle District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern District of Kentucky, Western District of Kentucky, Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, Western District of Louisiana, Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan, Southern District of Mississippi, District of Montana, District of New Jersey, Eastern District of New York, Southern District of New York, Eastern District of North Carolina, Western District of Oklahoma, District of Rhode Island, Middle District of Tennessee, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Eastern District of Tennessee, Eastern District of Virginia, and Southern District of West Virginia; and the State Attorney Generals’ Offices for California, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, and South Dakota are prosecuting the cases in the National Enforcement Action, with assistance from the Health Care Fraud Unit’s Data Analytics Team. Descriptions of each case involved in today’s enforcement action are available on the Department’s website . The Eastern District of Kentucky worked with the following law enforcement organizations to investigate and prosecute the cases filed during the enforcement period: the DEA; the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of Inspector General, Drug Enforcement and Professional Practices Branch; the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy; and the IRS. The following individuals have been charged in the Eastern District of Kentucky: Stephanie Collins, 57, of Corbin, Kentucky, was charged by information with health care fraud in connection with a scheme to bill Medicare and Medicaid for prescription drugs that were never dispensed by her pharmacy. As alleged, between January 2014 and June 2020, Collins, the owner of Stephanie’s Down Home Pharmacy, knowingly and willfully caused claims for prescription drugs to be submitted to those health care programs despite knowing that the drugs at issue were never dispensed to pharmacy customers, and obtained approximately $730,000 as a result of the scheme. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy Smith. Don V. Bryson, 69, of Oil Springs, Kentucky, was charged by information with a conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances by using the name and DEA registration number of another physician. As alleged, Bryson was a physician who had surrendered his medical license following a Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure investigation into his prescribing practices. Bryson continued to work as a “medical consultant” at a clinic in Paintsville, Kentucky owned by a co-conspirator, which utilized locum tenens providers to issue controlled substance prescriptions. In September 2021, Bryson agreed with the clinic owner to use the name and DEA registration number of a locum tenens provider no longer affiliated with the clinic, without that provider’s knowledge, in order to issue approximately 79 hydrocodone prescriptions, totaling approximately 6,915 hydrocodone pills. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy Smith. A complaint, information, or indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. — END —


title: Former Office Manager of Middle Georgia Health Care Business  Convicted of Bank Fraud in EIDL Embezzlement Scheme

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: MACON, Ga. – The former office manager of a Middle Georgia chiropractic office was found guilty by a federal jury this week of committing bank fraud and other federal crimes in an embezzlement scheme involving federal loans that cost the established spinal center more than $200,000 in losses. Emiliya Radford, 33, of Warner Robins, Georgia, was found guilty of one count each of bank fraud, wire fraud and federal program theft following approximately one hour of deliberations by a federal jury on June 27. Radford was taken into federal custody after the guilty verdict. Radford faces a maximum possible sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for bank fraud; a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for wire fraud; and a maximum possible sentence of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine for federal program theft, in addition to any restitution imposed by the Court. A sentencing date will be scheduled by the Court. U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell is presiding over the case. There is no parole in the federal system. “Emiliya Radford chose greed and deceit with her embezzlement scheme that victimized a small business that had operated in the Warner Robins community for many decades,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Financial crimes devastate hard-working, law-abiding citizens and will not be tolerated by this office or our law enforcement partners.” “Radford violated the trust of the company that hired her and elevated her to a position of leadership,” said Robert Gibbs, Senior Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta's Macon office. “Because of her self-interest and greed, she has not only thrown away her career, but will spend time in prison for her crime.” According to court documents and evidence submitted at trial, Radford’s company, Cyber Pinecone, was hired in Sept. 2019 under a one-year contract to perform marketing work for Smith Spinal Care Center (SSCC) in Warner Robins. In May 2020, Radford was hired as Office Manager at the business, and her new salary was to include marketing work. Radford was given signatory authority over the SSCC bank account with Wells Fargo Bank. As part of her duties, she was responsible for issuing and signing all biweekly payroll checks, including her own. Radford collected her salary as office manager and, without authorization of SSCC, continued to write and endorse checks to her business, Cyber Pinecone, for extensive marketing work totaling more than $200,000. In addition, she gave herself an unauthorized pay raise. Some of these funds came from COVID-19 Federal Economic Disaster Loans (EIDL). In addition to issuing these checks to herself and Cyber Pinecone, Radford also used money from the SSCC bank account to purchase a total of $11,015.67 worth of items from the Apple store that were shipped to her residence. When Radford quit on Dec. 19, 2022, none of these items could be located at SSCC, but some were later found inside her home when federal agents executed a search warrant on May 4, 2023. The case was investigated by FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Howard is prosecuting the case for the Government.


title: Emergency Room Doctor Pleads Guilty to HIPAA Violation

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: An emergency room doctor who illegally obtained the personal health information of multiple individuals pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Dr. Gabriel Alejandro Hernandez Roman, age 30, of Puerto Rico, formerly of Iowa City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of Wrongfully Obtaining Individually Identifiable Health Information Relating to an Individual Under False Pretenses. In a plea agreement, Dr. Hernandez Roman admitted that, in June 2020, the State of Iowa issued him a resident physician license. That same month, Dr. Hernandez Roman began participating in the emergency medicine residency program at a university hospital in the State of Iowa. Between 2020 and 2023, Dr. Hernandez Roman worked in the emergency departments of hospitals within the State of Iowa, including “Hospital-1” in Cedar Rapids and “Hospital-2” in Iowa City. In January 2022, Dr. Hernandez Roman knowingly and without authorization obtained the individually identifiable health information of “K.F” under false pretenses at Hospital-1. Specifically, Dr. Hernandez Roman used his access, as a resident doctor, to Hospital-1’s electronic medical records system to access K.F.’s medical records and learn private medical information about K.F. without K.F.’s knowledge or consent. At no time did K.F. consent to Dr. Hernandez Roman accessing K.F.’s medical records. Dr. Hernandez Roman accessed K.F.’s medical records while working a shift in Hospital-1’s emergency department. K.F. was never Dr. Hernandez Roman’s patient and was not a patient in Hospital-1’s emergency department at the time defendant accessed K.F.’s medical records. In his plea agreement, Dr. Hernandez Roman also admitted to accessing K.F.’s medical records at Hospital-2 in March 2021, as well as the medical records of “M.C.” at Hospital-2 in October 2020. Dr. Hernandez Roman also admitted that, in January 2022, he sent a photograph of one of Hospital-1’s patients to another individual via SnapChat. The photograph showed the patient in a hospital setting, wearing a gown, with the patient’s rectum clearly hanging out of the body. Dr. Hernandez Roman had no legitimate medical purpose for taking this photograph or, further, for sending it via SnapChat to the individual. Finally, Dr. Hernandez Roman admitted that, in June 2023, he mailed a letter to the Iowa Board of Medicine in which he admitted accessing the confidential medical records of K.F. and M.C. and to sharing the photograph of the prolapsed rectum. In his plea agreement, Dr. Hernandez Roman admitted he falsely wrote in the letter that he had sent the photograph of the prolapsed rectum to his mother to remind her of the importance of fiber intake. Sentencing before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Dr. Hernandez Roman remains free on bond previously set pending sentencing. Dr. Hernandez Roman faces a possible maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and was investigated by the Iowa Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-34. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Three Men Facing Federal Charges in Connection to Seizure of Methamphetamine and Thousands of Fentanyl Pills

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington- Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that three men are facing federal drug charges. Osvaldo Guadalupe Soto-Orduno, Jose Roman Lizarraga Gerardo, and Jose Efrain Gonzalez Rodriguez were charged by criminal complaint with Conspiracy to Distribute 400 Grams or More of a Mixture Containing Fentanyl and 500 Grams or More of a Mixture Containing Methamphetamine. According to the complaint, on June 26, 2024, DEA investigators identified a Toyota Corolla, believed to be used to transport drugs, travel to a house in Spokane. Investigators observed Lizarraga and Soto get out of the Toyota and enter the home. Soto was then allegedly observed carrying a black bag into the house. A short time later, investigators observed Lizarraga and Soto exit the house with the bag and leave in the Toyota. Law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of the Toyota. According to the complaint, Soto consented to a search of the vehicle. During the search, investigators located several large bundles of U.S. currency packaged in a manner which officers recognized as consistent with large scale drug trafficking. The complaint further alleges that investigators later observed Gonzalez-Rodriguez and another man exit the residence carrying a black backpack and depart in an Acura sedan. A vehicle stop was conducted on the Acura. According to the complaint, investigators conducted a search of the Acura and located approximately 7,000 pills presumed to be fentanyl as well as two pounds of presumed methamphetamine inside the vehicle. According to the complaint, investigators conducted a search of the residence and located 61,000 pills believed to be fentanyl, more than three pounds of methamphetamine, more than a pound of cocaine, a small quantity of heroin, and four firearms. “The fentanyl epidemic is taking lives at an unprecedented pace,” stated U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref. “My office is committed to working with our with our law enforcement partners to remove large quantities of deadly drugs from the streets and to disrupt drug networks.” This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Spokane Regional Anti-Violence Enforcement and Narcotics (RAVEN) task force and the United States Border Patrol. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy J. Ohms. A complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Repeat Sex Offender Convicted by Federal Jury

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Following a four-day jury trial in federal court, Steven Valder, age 34, of Syracuse, was convicted of all counts of an indictment charging him with sexual exploitation and child pornography offenses. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James made the announcement. Valder was convicted of two counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Child for producing sexually explicit images of a 13-year-old boy in 2023, one count of Committing a Felony Offense Against a Minor as a Registered Sex Offender, and one count of Receipt of Child Pornography. The jury also found that Valder committed the Sexual Exploitation offenses after a prior conviction for a sex offense against a minor. The evidence at trial showed that approximately one year after being released from prison for 2010 convictions in Cayuga County Court for Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree (forcible anal sexual conduct with a 14-year-old child), and in Federal Court for transportation and possession of child pornography, Valder sexually abused a 13-year old boy multiple times in multiple locations around the City of Syracuse and photographed that abuse, and that he received child pornography over the Internet through Russian applications he had downloaded to his phone. Valder’s crimes were discovered after his United States Probation Officer found him in possession of an unauthorized smart phone on which the images of the child victim and internet child pornography were found. At sentencing, scheduled for October 25, 2023, Valder faces a mandatory life sentence. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Mid-State Child Exploitation Task Force and the New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa M. Fletcher, Project Safe Childhood Coordinator for the Northern District of New York, prosecuted the case. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov


title: Dominican Republic Citizen Sentenced for Illegal Re-entry into the United States

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Carlos Manuel Valdez, 40, of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced yesterday to serve sixty months imprisonment for illegally reentering the United States after having been previously convicted of an aggravated felony. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of United States Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo Field Office, and Broome County Sheriff Frederick Akshar II made the announcement. As part of his guilty plea, Valdez admitted that prior to being deported to his home country in 2019, he had been convicted of a number of Massachusetts state felony offenses, including assaulting a police officer and possessing narcotics with the intent to distribute them. In February 2023, Valdez was discovered in Broome County, New York, in a vehicle that also contained over a kilogram of fentanyl. Valdez was charged for the narcotics by New York State authorities in Broome County and was sentenced to serve 6 years’ imprisonment in state court. Valdez was ordered to serve 30 months of his federal sentence consecutively, meaning that 30 months of Valdez’s federal sentence will not begin until after he has fully satisfied his New York State sentence of incarceration. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement- Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, and the Broome County Special Investigations Unit Task Force (which is comprised of personnel from the Broome County Sheriff’s Office, City of Binghamton Police Department, and Johnson City Police Department) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Gillis prosecuted the case.


title: New Rochelle Man Charged with Pandemic Fraud and Identity Theft

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Aly Kaba, age 29, of New Rochelle, New York, has been indicted on conspiracy to commit mail fraud, mail fraud, and aggravated identity theft charges for fraudulently obtaining pandemic-related unemployment insurance benefits using stolen identities. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge, Northeast Region, United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (USDOL-OIG); Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); and Matthew Scarpino, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement. The indictment alleges that from about September 2020 through October 2020, Kaba fraudulently obtained unemployment insurance benefits in the names of other people. The charges in the indictment are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The conspiracy and mail fraud charges each carry a maximum term of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory term of 2 years in prison, to be imposed consecutively to any other term of imprisonment. 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. Kaba appeared today before United States Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel in Albany and was released with conditions. This case is being investigated by USDOL-OIG, USPIS, and HSI, with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s New York Field Office and the New York State Department of Labor’s Office of Special Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander P. Wentworth-Ping and Joshua R. Rosenthal are prosecuting the case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Chemung County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug and Gun Charges

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK –Charles Kennedy, age 26, of Chemung County, pled guilty yesterday in federal court to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman, Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James, and Broome County Sheriff Frederick J. Akshar II. Kennedy was arrested on September 5, 2021, after a high-speed chase that began as he fled from New York State Police in Tioga County during a DWI investigation. Upon entering Broome County, Deputies from the Broome County Sheriff’s Office joined the pursuit. Kennedy’s car crashed on Route 17 when he unsuccessfully attempted to jump out of the moving vehicle after tire deflation devices were deployed. Kennedy was pinned between the open passenger-side door and a concrete abutment but suffered only minor injuries. A search of the vehicle located a loaded M and P 9mm semiautomatic pistol, as well as methamphetamine, cocaine base, cocaine powder, fentanyl, marijuana, and a money counting machine. Subsequent investigation established, and Kennedy admitted during his guilty plea, that he conspired with others to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, cocaine base, cocaine powder, heroin, and fentanyl. Sentencing is scheduled for November 13, 2024, at which time Kennedy faces a minimum of ten (10) years and a maximum term of life imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000,000.00. for his convictions for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Kennedy also faces a minimum of five (5) years and a maximum term of life in prison, which must run consecutively to any other term of imprisonment imposed, and a fine of up to $250,000.00. for his conviction for carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The Court will also impose a term of supervised release of at least 5 years to follow any term of imprisonment. 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. The case is being investigated by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the New York State Police, and the Broome County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen Grabowski, Richard Southwick, and Geoffrey Brown are prosecuting the case.


title: Dallas Gang Member Charged With Possessing Glock Switches

component: USAO - Texas, Northern

body_text: A gang-affiliated murder suspect has been charged with possessing multiple Glock switches, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. Jamarion White, 19, was charged by the feds via criminal complaint with possession of a machinegun and was arrested Thursday evening. He was subsequently charged by the state with the June 9 murder of an 18-year-old boy. “To think that some of our DFW’s most violent alleged criminals are armed with machinegun conversion devices is not just unsettling – it’s terrifying,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “Switch-equipped guns can fire faster than military-issue M4s. This is not the kind of weapon we want criminals carrying. This is why my office is focused on prosecuting switch cases—to protect our north Texas communities from the life-shattering effects of these devices.” According to the federal complaint, on June 12, just three days after the alleged murder, law enforcement received a call about two suspicious men smoking marijuana inside a “beat-up Ford.” When officers arrived on scene, they approached the suspect vehicle and found Mr. White, a known member of the 65 Groveside criminal street gang, in the front seat. An officer spotted a Glock pistol under Mr. White’s leg and directed him to place his hands on the dash. Instead, Mr. White allegedly fled, leaving the gun in plain view on the seat. Officers pursued him into a wooded area, where they lost sight of him. Eventually, they located him at a nearby home after receiving a call about an unknown intruder. When the officers returned to the vehicle to secure the firearm, it was gone. A bystander reported that during the pursuit, another man had removed a bag from the Ford and placed it in a nearby car. Officers located the bag, which contained three loaded Glocks, all equipped with machinegun conversion devices, colloquially known as “switches.” A subsequent search of Mr. White’s social media accounts yielded photos of the defendant allegedly holding one of the switch-equipped guns, as well as a music video in which the defendant allegedly explained how switches operate and the devastation they cause. A complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Mr. White is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If convicted of the machinegun charge, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison. Homeland Security Investigations’ Dallas Field Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division, and the Mesquite Police Department conducted the federal firearms investigation. The Dallas Police Department conducted the homicide investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marissa Aulbaugh is prosecuting the federal case. The case is part of “ Operation Texas Kill Switch ,” a statewide initiative taking aim at machinegun conversion devices, which transform commercially available semi-automatic firearms into fully-automatic weapons capable of firing faster than military-grade machine guns. Spearheaded by U.S. Attorneys Leigha Simonton, Alamdar Hamdani, Damien Diggs and Jaime Esparza, Operation Texas Kill Switch relies on partnerships with state and local law enforcement as well as rewards offered by Crime Stoppers.


title: Mexican Citizen Indicted For Illegally Reentering The United States

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Armando Lara-Contreras, age 33, a Citizen of Mexico, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury for illegally reentering the United States. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that Lara-Contreras was previously removed from the United States on February 24, 2016, through Brownsville, Tx, and it is alleged that he was subsequently found in the United States without having first obtained legal permission to reenter the country. The indictment also alleges that on April 29, 2024, Lara-Contreras was encountered in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The case was investigated by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistant United States Attorney K. Wesley Mishoe is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty upon conviction for the charged offense is two years imprisonment, one year of supervised release following imprisonment, a fine, and a special assessment. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by a court after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. ###


title: Goldsboro Cocaine Distributer Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – Christopher Montrell Williams, a 33-year-old resident of Goldsboro, has been sentenced to 240 months in federal prison for distributing cocaine in the Goldsboro area. Williams pled guilty on August 31, 2021. “This sentence demonstrates that we will not tolerate drug trafficking and violence in our community. We are dedicated to protecting our residents and ensuring that those who threaten our safety are held accountable,” said Goldsboro Police Chief Michael West. According to the court documents and other information presented in court, on March 18, 2018, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office in Goldsboro conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Williams. A search of the vehicle revealed a handgun, cocaine, marijuana, and a digital scale. In October of 2018, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) began investigating Williams. During the investigation, law enforcement conducted a number of controlled purchases of cocaine from Williams using a confidential source. Thereafter, Williams attempted to purchase a kilogram of cocaine from a second confidential source. On February 2, 2020, the Goldsboro Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Williams. Williams fled the vehicle and was apprehended after a short chase by law enforcement. Officers located a stolen, loaded .45 caliber handgun and approximately 15 grams of “crack” cocaine near the vehicle. Officers also located a cell phone and approximately $2,800 in Williams’ possession during his arrest. While in custody and pending sentencing, Williams engaged in a brutal attack on another inmate causing the inmate to lose consciousness, suffer injuries to his head and face, and be transported to the hospital. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Judge James C. Dever III. The ATF and the Goldsboro Police Department investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Nucci prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for case number 5:20-cr-0043-D.


title: South Carolina Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Stealing Deceased Wife’s Social Security Benefits

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Albert Bayer (64, South Carolina, formerly of Hillsborough County, Florida) to one year and one day in federal prison for theft of government funds. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $76,547, the proceeds of the offense. Bayer entered a guilty plea in March 2024. According to court documents, Bayer’s wife, L.D., was receiving Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits. L.D. passed away on March 31, 2015, but her death was never reported to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Consequently, the SSA continued to make the benefit payments. From April 2015 through June 2023, Bayer accessed the funds meant for L.D. and used them to pay his own personal expenses. In total, Bayer knowingly and willfully stole approximately $76,547 in benefits to which he was not entitled. This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Huyler.


title: Two Indicted in Alleged Murder-for-Hire Conspiracy

body_text: PROVIDENCE, RI – A federal grand jury in Rhode Island has returned a five-count indictment, charging two individuals with allegedly participating in a conspiracy to murder two federal prosecutors and a witness associated with a criminal matter now pending before the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. Elijah Melton, 26, of Taunton and Kareem Pires, 25 of Wareham, currently detained in federal custody in Rhode Island, are named in an indictment that charges both men with conspiracy to tamper with a witness or informant by killing or attempting to kill, and conspiracy to use interstate commerce facilities in commission of murder-for-hire. Additionally, Melton faces three counts of solicitation to commit a crime of violence. The defendants will be arraigned in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island on a later date to be determined by the court. A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. This matter was first charged by way of a federal criminal complaint filed in the District of Massachusetts by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boston. A press release issued at that time can be found here . At the direction of the Department of Justice in Washington, the District of Massachusetts is now recused from this matter. The matter was investigated by the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service for the District of Massachusetts, with the assistance of the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Rhode Island. The matter is being prosecuted in the District of Rhode Island by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stacey A. Erickson and Peter I. Roklan. ### melton_and_pires_indictment.pdf


title: West Hartford Man Admits Role in Catalytic Converter Theft Ring

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that YANQUEE RODRIGUEZ, also known as “Yankster Rodriguez,” 28, of West Hartford, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to offenses related to his participation in a stolen catalytic converter trafficking ring. According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement has been investigating the theft of catalytic converters from motor vehicles across Connecticut. A catalytic converter contains precious metals, can easily be removed from its vehicle, and is difficult to trace, making it a desirable target for thieves. The average scrap price for catalytic converters currently varies between $300 and $1,500, depending on the model and type of precious metal component. The investigation revealed that Downpipe Depot & Recycling LLC (“Downpipe Depot”), which had a warehouse on Park Avenue in East Hartford, purchased stolen catalytic converters from a network of thieves, including Rodriguez, and then transported and sold the catalytic converters to recycling businesses in New York and New Jersey. Business records seized during the investigation revealed that Rodriguez was one of Downpipe Depot’s largest suppliers of stolen catalytic converters. Between January 2021 and June 2022, Downpipe Depot paid Rodriguez $411,845 for catalytic converters. Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. Judge Nagala scheduled sentencing for November 18. Rodriguez was arrested on November 15, 2023. He is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing. This investigation is being led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI), and the East Hartford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren C. Clark and A. Reed Durham.


title: Texas Man On Federal Supervised Release Charged With Transporting 30 Kilograms Of Cocaine Through Columbia County, Florida

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Hector Villarreal (36, Pasadena, TX) with possession with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. If convicted, Villarreal faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Villarreal that the United States intends to forfeit any assets involved in the offense. According to the indictment and public documents, on May 28, 2024, deputies from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, working collaboratively with deputies from the Lowndes County (Georgia) Sheriff’s Office, were performing drug interdiction work. As Villarreal was driving a rental SUV eastbound on I-10 in Lake City, Florida, the deputies witnessed Villarreal’s vehicle fail to maintain its lane. The deputies followed Villarreal’s vehicle as it turned onto the I-75 interchange to proceed south. When deputies made a traffic stop, Villarreal told them that he was on federal supervised release for narcotics trafficking out of Texas. Ultimately, a search of the vehicle led to the discovery of sealed cardboard boxes. When a Lowndes County drug canine alerted on the vehicle, deputies found 30 kilograms of cocaine inside the boxes. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney A. Tysen Duva.


title: Rhode Island Man Sentenced to 78 Months in Prison

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Yesterday, Jesus Martinez-Salas, 44 years old, of Providence, Rhode Island, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Martinez-Salas was sentenced to 78 months in prison followed by 4 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, in late 2022, Martinez-Salas shipped more than a pound of fentanyl from Rhode Island to a buyer in Indiana. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joel Gabrielse. This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: South Bend Man Sentenced for Theft of Government Funds

component: USAO - Indiana, Northern

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Yesterday, Jake Gregory Aarreberg, 50 years old, of South Bend, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Cristal C. Brisco after pleading guilty to theft of government funds, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Aarreberg was sentenced to 2 years of probation with 8 months home detention and was ordered to pay $226,389.56 in restitution to the victims of the offense. According to documents in the case, from 2005 through 2023, Aarreberg falsely claimed to be a disabled military veteran and presented fraudulent military service records in order to obtain government benefits. As a result of his fraud, Aarreberg obtained VA medical benefits totaling over $96,000.00, and Social Security disability benefits totaling over $129,000.00. This case was investigated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General and the Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Luke N. Reilander.


title: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Statement on the Supreme Court’s Order in Moyle v. United States

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: The Justice Department issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on the Supreme Court’s order in Moyle v. United States : “The Justice Department filed this lawsuit because the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, or EMTALA, guarantees essential emergency care to all Americans, no matter which state they live in. If a patient comes into the emergency room with a medical emergency seriously jeopardizing the patient’s life or health, EMTALA requires hospitals to offer the treatment necessary to stabilize that patient — including pregnancy termination, if that is the treatment required to save a woman’s life or prevent serious harm to her health. Today’s order means that, while we continue to litigate our case, women in Idaho will once again have access to the emergency care guaranteed to them under federal law. The Justice Department will continue to use every available tool to ensure that women in every state have access to that care.”


title: Newton County Board of Commissioners Chairman and Real Estate Broker Charged with Money Laundering

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA – Marcello Banes, Chairman of the Newton County Board of Commissioners, and Stephanie Lindsey, a real estate broker and attorney, have been indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiring to launder money obtained from wire fraud and honest services wire fraud. “By allegedly laundering proceeds obtained from a fraud conspiracy, these defendants violated the trust placed in them by their client, their constituents, and their fellow commissioners,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Public officials who undermine the public’s faith in our institutions by abusing their power for personal gain must be held accountable.” “Banes and Lindsey undermined the public’s confidence in government and business in Georgia,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Keri Farley. “This indictment is a stern warning that anyone who violates our laws will be brought to face justice.” “This is a case of a public official breaking the public’s trust to enrich himself and a realtor who did not serve her client, but instead, assisted the public official in breaking the law,” said Demetrius Hardeman, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. “Criminal Investigation special agents, our law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorney’s office are working together to hold those who break the law accountable.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the indictment, and other information presented in court: In 1999, Jasper, Morgan, Newton, and Walton Counties established a Joint Development Authority (JDA) to create an industrial area to attract industries to bring jobs and investment to the region. The JDA is controlled by an eight-member board of directors, with two members from each of the four counties. Marcello Banes, as the Chairman of the Newton County Board of Commissioners, represented Newton County on the JDA. In 2018, a company identified in the indictment as “Company A” expressed an interest in purchasing approximately 40 acres of the JDA’s land for commercial development. Banes responded to Company A’s interest in the parcel by coordinating a brokerage agreement between Company A and Lindsey by which Company A would pay Lindsey’s CSL Realty Group (CSL) $150,000 upon completion of Company A’s purchase of the parcel. The indictment alleges that at the time Company A entered this brokerage agreement, Banes and Lindsey misled Company A into believing that the commission was only intended for Lindsey. Neither Banes nor Lindsey disclosed to Company A that Lindsey would pay most of the commission -- which was contingent on the JDA voting to approve the sale -- to Banes. Had Company A’s owners known Banes would receive any of the commission, they would not have entered the brokerage agreement. At a JDA board meeting on January 22, 2019, Banes voted along with other JDA members to pass a resolution authorizing the transfer of the parcel, which allowed the purchase of the land by Company A. Banes allegedly never disclosed to the JDA that, upon Company A’s acquisition of the land, Company A would pay $150,000 to Lindsey, who would funnel most of the payment to Banes. Company A’s purchase was finalized on March 1, 2019. Although Lindsey was not present at the closing and neither she nor CSL were referenced in the closing documents, Lindsey contacted Company A the next day to collect the $150,000 payment. Shortly after receiving the payment, Lindsey allegedly passed $100,000 of it to Banes through a newly formed business entity they created. Banes used a substantial amount of that payment for a new house he was building in Newton County. In addition to the money laundering offense, Lindsey is charged with two federal tax violations which allege that she filed two federal income tax returns for 2019 in which she claimed false business deductions to reduce her tax liability for the $150,000 payment. Banes is also charged with lying to FBI special agents during a 2023 interview. The indictment alleges that he falsely told FBI agents that he was unaware Lindsey was involved as a broker for the sale of the land to Company A. Marcello C. Banes, 48, and Stephanie R. Lindsey, 52, both of Covington, Georgia, were charged with conspiracy to launder money obtained from wire fraud and honest services wire fraud, and with money laundering. The grand jury also indicted Lindsey for federal income tax fraud and Banes for making materially false statements to FBI special agents. Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges. The defendants are presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove each defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S Attorneys Brent Alan Gray and Bret R. Hobson are prosecuting the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Tenderloin Neighborhood Drug Distributor Sentenced To 32 Months In Prison

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – Yohan Murillo-Medina was sentenced today to serve 32 months in prison for possessing fentanyl and methamphetamine with the intent to distribute the drugs in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco, announced U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Brian Clark. United States District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley handed down the sentence. Murillo-Medina, 22, of San Francisco, pleaded guilty to the charges on February 21, 2024. According to his plea agreement, Murillo-Medina admitted that in the early morning of January 30, 2023, he was near the corner of Golden Gate Avenue and Hyde Street where he was carrying a backpack and possessed a jacket. He ran when he noticed law enforcement officers approaching the area where he was located, and he discarded his backpack and jacket as he ran. Murillo-Medina acknowledged that he did this because he thought the officers were going to arrest him for possessing and trying to distribute the controlled substances in the backpack and jacket. After several blocks, Murillo-Medina stopped running and was detained. Law enforcement recovered the backpack and jacket which contained controlled substances including approximately 1,749.9 grams of a substance containing fentanyl; 20.7 grams of a substance containing methamphetamine; 26.7 grams of alprazolam pills; and 132.1 grams of marijuana. On April 11, 2023, a federal grand jury indicted Murillo-Medina, charging him with one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, both in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). Murillo-Medina pleaded guilty to both counts. In addition to the 32-month prison sentence, Judge Corley ordered Murillo-Medina to serve three years of supervised release. Murillo-Medina has been detained since being taken into federal custody and will begin to serve his prison term immediately. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Buszin is prosecuting the case with assistance from Laurence Macaraeg. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the DEA and the San Francisco Police Department.


title: Suspected Car Thief Facing Federal Charges for Involvement in Robbery at Edwardsville Best Buy

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A Missouri woman is facing federal charges for her involvement in a robbery at the Best Buy in Edwardsville. A federal grand jury charged Jakiaya T. McCoy, 21, of Florissant, Missouri, with two counts of transportation of a stolen vehicle, one count of interference with commerce by robbery and one count of unlawful possession of a machinegun. “To help protect store employees and instill a better sense of safety for businesses, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to reducing violent crime throughout the Metro East and southern Illinois by holding offenders accountable for their criminal acts,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. According to court documents, McCoy’s allegations stem from her involvement in a robbery of Best Buy in Edwardsville on Dec. 14, 2023. She is accused of unlawfully taking Apple iPads, a hoverboard and other property by force. As alleged in the indictment, McCoy is also accused of possessing a Glock pistol with a machinegun conversion device, commonly known as a switch. "No person or business should feel threatened by individuals who create chaos, spread fear, and have no regard for people or property," said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jermaine Deans. "The FBI Metro East Safe Streets Task Force is committed to ensuring the safety of the people who live in our communities and the businesses that operate there." In addition, McCoy is accused of knowingly transporting two stolen vehicles in Madison County in November 2023, namely a 2013 Kia Optima and a 2018 Chrysler 300. An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury. If convicted, a charge for interference with commerce by robbery is punishable by up to 20 years’ imprisonment, transportation of a stolen vehicle can face a term of up to 10 years’ imprisonment and possession of a machinegun may result in up to 10 years’ imprisonment. McCoy is scheduled for arraignment at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis at 1 p.m. on Monday, July 8. The FBI Springfield Field Office, the Glen Carbon Police Department, the Sunset Hills, Missouri, Police Department and the Wood River Police Department contributed to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Reppert is prosecuting the case.


title: Providence Felon Sentenced for Possession of a Firearm

body_text: PROVIDENCE, RI – A convicted felon found to be in possession of a privately made firearm, also known as a “ghost gun,” and hundreds of rounds of ammunition has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. Rafael Soriano, 35, pleaded guilty on December 14, 2023, to a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced on Wednesday by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to 18 months of incarceration to be followed by three years of federal supervised release. According to information presented to the court, Soriano’s arrest came during a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and United States Postal Inspection Service investigation into individuals who use the United States mail in furtherance of violating federal firearm laws and individuals who are prohibited from possessing firearms. As reflected in court documents, retailers that specialize in the advertising and sale of firearm parts, ammunition, and firearm accessories shipped orders through the U.S. Postal Service to Soriano and his brother, Lucas Soriano, at their mother’s address. These orders contained items that are commonly used to manufacture privately made firearms that lack serial numbers and other manufacturer or importer markings, rendering them difficult for law enforcement to trace. ATF and USPIS agents executed a court-authorized search of Rafael Soriano’s residence and seized, among other items, a privately made firearm bearing no serial number, two magazines with a total of 37 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and a bag containing 293 rounds of assorted 9mm ammunition. According to court records, Rafael Soriano was previously convicted and incarcerated on attempted armed robbery and drug trafficking charges. Lucas Soriano was previously convicted on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and making false statements during the purchase of a firearm. He is currently serving a term of incarceration of 24 months in federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald R. Gendron. 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. In 2021, the Department of Justice 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: Department of Justice seizes more than $1 million of collectible stamps as proceeds of criminal fraud scheme

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – The Department of Justice has seized more than $1 million in proceeds from a massive fraud scheme targeting seniors and other vulnerable populations, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington filed a Verified Civil Forfeiture Complaint seeking forfeiture of 149 lots of collectible stamps and other items seized from the Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Inc. of New York. An investigation revealed that the stamps were purchased with monies stolen from victims who were swindled by fraudsters impersonating government agents, regulators, or romantic interests. Once the stamps have been forfeited to the United States, they will be liquidated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the government will seek to return the funds to the victims. “Too often when victims have been defrauded in these schemes, their money is gone for good,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “We are delighted to be able to share good news with these victims and hope to be able to return funds to them through this civil forfeiture action.” According to the court filings, the deposits made to the Siegel Galleries and used to purchase the stamps, have been traced to victims of crime. Multiple frauds were used in this case, both government impersonation scams and romance scams. Siegel Galleries is not accused of any crime. The government has identified 28 victims, from Western Washington and from across the country who were defrauded and mislead. The fraud occurred in two phases. In phase one, victims were called by a person claiming to be from a government entity such as the FBI, SEC, or DOJ reporting that the victim’s bank account or personal identity had been breached and stating that the victim needed to send their funds to a different entity for safe keeping. In some instances, victims were told they had been implicated in a money laundering scheme and to prove their innocence and protect their funds they needed to send them to the account designated by the caller. Victims were told their funds would be returned once the matter had been resolved. Some victims were defrauded of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Some of the victims sent cashier’s checks directly to the gallery. Others were instructed to send the money via cashier’s check to a second set of victims: romance scam victims. These victims were contacted via social media, and believed they were assisting a romantic interest with money from an inheritance, or an investment or to pay debts. This second set of victims were told to deposit the cashier’s checks from the first set of victims and then withdraw the funds and send or wire the money to the gallery. In all investigators have traced $1,012,300 to the various victims. Funds deposited toward the invoices for purchase of the stamps total $1,383,437. Prosecutors and agents are still working to trace funds to additional victims. No criminal charges have been filed yet. Potential charges include conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. The FBI is investigating the case in coordination with Asset Forfeiture Assistant United States Attorney Krista Bush.


title: Louisiana Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl across State Borders

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Gulfport, MS – A Covington, LA man was sentenced to 84 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl across state borders. Santana Phillipe Elzy, 23, was sentenced 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 pled guilty on March 4, 2024, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw 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 prosecuted the case.


title: Dumfries businesswoman sentenced for employment tax crimes

component: Tax Division

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Dumfries woman was sentenced today to one year and three months in prison and payment of $950,100.18 in restitution of for not paying employment taxes to the IRS. According to court documents and statements made in court, Gail Jones, 57, was a co-owner who also served as Director, Vice President and President of S&G Property Management Inc. (S&G), a parcel delivery service. Between 2013 and 2018, Jones caused income, Social Security, and Medicare taxes to be withheld from S&G’s employees. However, Jones did not pay those withholdings to the IRS as she was required to do. Moreover, to thwart potential IRS levies and other collection activities, Jones opened new bank accounts using other individuals’ social security numbers, as well as new Employer Identification Numbers, and variations of her business’ name. Between December 2016 and December 2018, she withdrew over $450,000 in cash from business bank accounts in lieu of paying the taxes owed. In total, Jones caused a tax loss to the IRS of approximately $950,000. Additionally, Jones fraudulently applied for two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, which were part of a COVID-19 relief program intended to provide loans to certain businesses to help them retain their employees or stay afloat during the pandemic. Jones applied for the loans even though S&G was no longer operating. She fraudulently received $20,800 in loans. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Stuart M. Goldberg, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff. IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Shartar for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Marissa Brodney of the Justice Department’s Tax Division prosecuted 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. 1:24-cr-50.


title: Sacramento County Man Indicted for Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A single count indictment was unsealed following the arrest of Mark Sigl, 62, of Antelope, that charges him with attempted coercion and enticement to engage in sexual activity, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, in March 2024, Sigl attempted to persuade, coerce, and entice a minor to engage in sexual activity including oral copulation. This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zulkar Khan is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Sigl faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life in prison, and a fine of up to $250,000. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC .


title: Child rapist sentenced for receiving child pornography and assaulting a federal officer

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Honduran national who raped a 13-year-old victim was sentenced today to five years in prison for receiving child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and assaulting a federal officer. According to court documents, Jhoan Esau Lemus Ramos, 23, illegally entered the United States in 2021. In February 2022, Lemus Ramos contacted a 13-year-old girl through SnapChat. In March 2022, Lemus Ramos met the victim in a parking lot in Herndon. When the victim attempted to resist Lemus Ramos’ sexual advances, he forcibly raped her. For the next several months through at least August 2022, Lemus Ramos repeatedly asked the victim for nude or semi-nude photographs. She eventually complied and sent the photos via cellphone. When she wanted to stop interacting with him, he used the photos to threaten her and force her to have sex with him. The threats only stopped when the victim contacted Herndon Police for help. A forensic examination revealed messages between him and the victim as well as CSAM. On Jan. 4, 2024, Deportation Officers from Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Washington, D.C., arrived at Lemus Ramos’ residence in Springfield with a warrant for his arrest. As they attempted to arrest Lemus Ramos, he struck an officer in the face, causing an injury that required stitches and left a lasting scar. This is the second federal conviction for assaulting, resisting, and impeding an ICE officer in the Eastern District of Virginia this year. On Jan. 4, Jose Reyes Rubio pled guilty for causing injury to an ICE officer during an arrest in Woodbridge. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C.; and Liana Castano, Field Office Director for Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sehar Sabir and April Russo prosecuted the case, with assistance from Special Assistant United States Attorney Jamie Cohn. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . 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. 1:24-cr-34.