title: Convicted Felon Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison on Gun Charge

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

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A convicted felon has been sentenced for illegally possessing a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson. Chief U.S. District Court Judge R. David Proctor sentenced Antony Daizshaun Zyquan Kirksey, aka “Antony Carson Kirksey,” 24, of Anniston, to 37 months in prison. In June, Kirksey pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on October 12, 2023, an Anniston Police Department officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle. Kirksey was a passenger in the vehicle. When asked by the officer if there were weapons in the vehicle, Kirksey admitted to having a firearm in a bag he was wearing across his chest. The officer recovered a loaded Glock 9mm pistol and a loaded extra magazine. Kirksey is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of prior felony convictions. The ATF investigated the case along with the Anniston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristy M. Peoples prosecuted the case.


title: Federal Jury Convicts Former Law Enforcement Officer Of Firearm Offense

body_text: GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Jesse Rance Moore, 47, of Bell, Florida, was found guilty by a federal jury for possession of short-barreled rifles not registered to him in the National Firearm Registration and Transfer Record. The guilty verdict was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. According to court documents, Moore was employed as a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper from January 13, 2003, to February 27, 2017. FBI Jacksonville was investigating Moore in relation to a string of pharmacy robberies that occurred in 2021. A search warrant was obtained and executed at Moore’s residence in Gilchrist County, Florida. While searching for evidence related to the robberies, law enforcement discovered numerous firearms, boxes of ammunition, and firearms accessories throughout the property. ATF identified three of Moore’s firearms as short-barreled rifles (barrels less than 16 inches) that Moore did not have registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Sentencing in the case is set for January 7, 2025, at 1:00 p.m., at the United States Courthouse in Gainesville before United States District Judge Allen Winsor. Moore is already serving a 21-year prison sentence out of the Middle District of Florida for offenses related to the pharmacy robberies, and faces up to 10 additional years in prison, 3 years on supervised release, and a $10,000 fine. This conviction was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorneys James McCain and David Byron prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. As part of its PSN strategy, the United States Attorney’s Office is encouraging everyone to lock their car doors, particularly at night. Burglaries from unlocked automobiles are a significant source of guns for criminals in the Northern District of Florida. Please do your part and protect yourself by locking your car doors. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Inmate guilty of assaulting two correctional officers

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 31-year-old felon from Donna has been convicted of assaulting two correctional officers while housed at Coastal Bend Detention Center in Robstown, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. U.S. District Judge David S. Morales has found Aaron Gutierrez guilty of two counts of assaulting or impeding a federal officer following a one-day bench trial that occurred Sept. 16. On Aug. 25, 2023, Gutierrez and six other inmates escaped from a recreation area through an unlocked gate. They ran down a walkway to intercept another inmate belonging to a rival gang. Two correctional officers were escorting that inmate - who was in full restraints. The seven escaped inmates attacked the defenseless other inmate as well as the correctional officers who were attempting to protect him. As a result, both officers suffered injuries and were transported to the hospital for treatment. One required surgery. Authorities also transported the victim inmate to the hospital for treatment. Within a minute of the attack, multiple correctional officers converged on the attackers and restrained them. Gutierrez attempted to convince the court that while he intended to join the fight, he never got the chance because he was the last one to leave the recreation yard. However, testimony revealed that every inmate participated in the attack. Judge Morales did not believe defense claims and found him guilty as charged. Correctional officers at Coastal Bend Detention Center work on behalf of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) and are protected as federal officers when in the performance of their official duties. Judge Morales will impose sentencing in January 2025. At that time, Gutierrez faces up to eight years in federal prison. He will remain in custody pending that hearing. The other six inmates involved in the attack had previously pleaded guilty. Raul Valdez, 49, San Antonio, received 24 months, while Corpus Christi residents Benito Aguirre, 43, John Steve Espinoza, 31, Joe Isaac Espinoza, 27, and Adalberto Pena, 32, each received 18 months. Emilio Salinas, 34, Edinburg, is set for sentencing Oct. 17. They all also remain in custody. The FBI conducted the investigation with assistance from the USMS. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel Dunn prosecuted the case.


title: Cornville Man Pleads Guilty After Sending Covert FBI Agent Child Sexual Abuse Material Over Kik Messenger

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A Cornville man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to accessing child sexual abuse material. According to court records, in August 2020, an individual using the Kik Messenger app contacted an FBI online covert employee (OCE) after the OCE posted on an online bulletin board known to be frequented by people with a sexual interest in children and/or child pornography. The username for the Kik account and associated email address were traced to Wade Willette , 46. In January 2022, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a cyber tip from Kik revealing that the same username had uploaded three videos containing child sexual abuse material the previous month. In March 2023, investigators executed a search warrant at Willette’s residence, and FBI agents interviewed Willette. In the interview, he confirmed the Kik account was his, that he had searched for and viewed child sexual abuse material on his phone, and that he had engaged in online conversations about child pornography in the past. Two images of young children being sexually abused were recovered from his phone. Willette faces up to 20 years imprisonment and a fine up to $250,000. Any sentence will be followed by five years to life of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI investigated the case. To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – in legal terms, “child pornography” – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are shared or viewed. File a report with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at https://report.cybertip.org or 1-800-843-5678 . If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741 . Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc . ###


title: Maryland Woman Sentenced for Conspiring to Defraud the Government

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Maryland woman was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for conspiracy to defraud the government of thousands of dollars between 2014 to 2018. Chantelle Boyd, 53, of Woodsboro, Md., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to six months home confinement, followed by two years of supervised release. The government recommended a sentence of six months in prison. Boyd will also be ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined at a later date. In April 2023, Boyd pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy, 10 counts of theft of government funds and false declarations. Boyd was arrested and charged in July 2020 along with co-defendant Thomas Bouchard. Bouchard was the Contracting Officer in charge of the U.S. Army Natick Contracting Division, a full-service contracting organization for the Department of Defense. According to the charging documents, in 2014, Bouchard used his long-standing relationship with Evolution Enterprise, Inc., a government contractor, to have Boyd hired for a “no show” job as an assistant that specifically supported Bouchard. Boyd’s position cost the Department of Defense more than $490,000 during her time at Evolution from 2014 to 2018, during which Boyd performed little if any useful function. Bouchard and Boyd took numerous government-funded trips, ranging in duration from two to 15 days, under the guise that they were work related. This included 31 trips to Orlando, Fla., among other locations such as Clearwater Beach, Fla. and Stafford, Va., during which Boyd allegedly performed little if any work. For many of the trips, Bouchard and Boyd stayed in the same hotel room and spent time at the pool and Disney parks – all during business hours. In order to conceal the personal nature of the trips, Bouchard altered, created and approved false travel to reimburse the Boyd for out-of-pocket expenses. Additionally, Boyd made false statements to the grand jury in May 2018 in relation to these trips. Bouchard pleaded guilty in April 2023. In August 2024 , Bouchard was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison followed by one year of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $487,658.87 in restitution. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Joseph Dattoria, Special Agent in Charge of the General Services Administration Office of Inspector General; Patrick Hegarty, Special Agent in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service; and Michael Connor, Special Agent in Charge of the Army Criminal Investigation Division Major Procurement Fraud Field Office made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil J. Gallagher, Jr. of the Public Corruption & Special Prosecutions Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Newburyport Man Arrested in Scheme to Defraud Home Repair Insurance Provider

body_text: BOSTON – A Newburyport man has been charged with defrauding a home repair insurance provider by billing for purported repair jobs that were never performed. Christian Decristofaro, 40, has been arrested and charged by criminal complaint with wire fraud. Decristofaro as arrested yesterday and will make an initial appearance in federal court in Boston at 2:30 p.m. today. According to the charging document, Decristofaro allegedly caused NE Premier Home Services LLC (NE Premier) – a purported home repair company he controlled – to enroll as a contractor with the home repair insurance provider (the victim). It is alleged that Decristofaro used false or stolen identities to enroll non-existent or unsuspecting homeowners in insurance plans with the victim insurance provider. Decristofaro then allegedly reported fictitious home emergencies to the victim on behalf of the purported homeowners and requested that NE Premier be assigned to perform the repairs. He then allegedly caused NE Premier to bill the victim insurance provider for the repair jobs, even though inspections of the properties showed no evidence of any repair work having been done. As a result of these fraudulent billings, between approximately 2022 and 2023, the victim insurance provider allegedly paid NE Premier at least $1.5 million for services that NE Premier had not rendered. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, restitution and forfeiture. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan C. Cleary and Leslie A. Wright of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case. The details contained in the complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Holmes County man sentenced to prison for illegal possession of a firearm

body_text: Greenville, MS – A Holmes County man was sentenced Wednesday afternoon to more than five years in prison following his conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to court documents, Tamarius Webster, 37, of Cruger, Mississippi, pled guilty in April to a charge of possession of a firearm by a previously convicted felon. Webster was arrested in September of 2022 while Deputies with the United States Marshals Service were serving an arrest warrant for kidnapping. Webster was found in possession of a firearm in Oxford, Mississippi. Following a hearing on Wednesday, Chief U.S. District Court Judge Debra M. Brown sentenced Webster to 70 months in prison for his illegal possession of that firearm. Upon release from prison, Webster will serve a three-year term of supervised release. Webster was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals following sentencing. Following the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner and federal law enforcement officials noted that this investigation and the sentence imposed was significant in ongoing efforts to fight violent crime. “When felons illegally possess and use guns to commit crimes or disrupt the community, we will respond,” remarked Joyner. “This office will continue to work alongside our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to hold accountable individuals who choose to illegally possess and use firearms in our District.” “In our effort to disrupt violent gun crime in our community, ATF will continue to focus efforts on prohibited individuals who unlawfully possess firearms,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. “The sentence imposed today sends a message to convicted felons who are prohibited from possessing firearms that we will continue to work to keep our neighborhoods safe as the top priority for ATF.” This matter was investigated by the United States Marshal’s Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department. The case was prosecuted by AUSA Clyde McGee IV. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Federal Inmate Convicted Of Drug Distribution Offenses Conducted From Federal Prison

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: PENSACOLA, FLORIDA – Antoine D. Wilson, 41, currently incarcerated in Yazoo City, Mississippi, was found guilty by a federal jury for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and conspiracy to use communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense. The guilty verdict was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. Wilson is currently serving his second federal prison sentence for drug distribution conspiracy at the Federal Correctional Institute in Yazoo City, Mississippi. In 2023, law enforcement discovered Wilson was using a contraband cell phone to orchestrate a large-scale cocaine trafficking organization operating in the Northern District of Florida from his prison cell. Trial testimony demonstrated Wilson’s coordination of multiple cocaine shipments and the receipt of drug payments for in excess of 50 kilograms of cocaine into Pensacola, Florida. Sentencing is set for January 2, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola, Florida, before the Honorable United States District Judge T. Kent Wetherell, II. Wilson faces a mandatory minimum 25 years up to life imprisonment based upon his two prior federal drug trafficking convictions out of Pensacola, Florida. This conviction was the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Task Force (HIDTA). Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Jessica S. Etherton prosecuted the case. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Indianapolis Gun Trafficker Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for “Straw Purchases” of Thirty-Six Guns

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS—Kayvonn Bailey, 26, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to making a false statement to a licensed firearms importer. According to court documents, on September 2, 2022, Bailey bought a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber pistol from a federally licensed firearms dealer in Beech Grove Indiana. The purchase was captured on store surveillance video, which showed Bailey going to the store with another person. As part of the purchase, Bailey falsely stated on required federal firearms transaction forms that he was the actual buyer of the firearm. In fact, Bailey illegally purchased the gun on behalf this other individual—a gun trafficking scheme known as “straw purchasing”—and Bailey handed the other person the gun after they left the store. Straw purchasing occurs when a person who is allowed to legally purchase a gun from a federally licensed dealer falsely states that they are purchasing a firearm for themselves, when they know that the gun is actually intended for someone else—frequently someone who is legally prohibited from making the purchase themselves. On October 20, 2022, the same Smith and Wesson was recovered in Pennsylvania during a traffic stop. During the stop, the driver stated that he was not a United States citizen. Many non-citizens are prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms, depending on their specific immigration status. The Pennsylvania driver told investigators Bailey was able to get him firearms, and that went with Bailey to the gun store in Beech Grove to purchase the firearm. Bailey later confirmed to investigators that he purchased the firearm for the person who accompanied him to the store, and that he had illegally straw-purchased and sold thirty-six firearms. In May of 2023, after the illegal firearm purchases, Bailey was convicted in state court of domestic battery and intimidation using a firearm. “Unscrupulous individuals who illegally put guns in the hands of folks who have no lawful business being armed help fuel gun violence in Indiana and across the country,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Not only did this criminal illegally traffic three dozen guns into the hands of prohibited people, but he also later engaged in armed domestic violence, demonstrating the danger he poses to his partner and our community. Together, with our partners at ATF, our office will continue to make our neighborhoods safer by targeting the sources of crime guns and holding illegal gun traffickers accountable.” The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James P. Hanlon. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy C. Fugate, who prosecuted this case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was brought as part of the LEATH Initiative (Law Enforcement Action to Halt Domestic Violence), named in honor of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Officer Breann Leath, who was killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic disturbance call. A partnership among the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the IMPD, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana, the LEATH Initiative focuses federal, state, and local law enforcement resources on domestic violence offenders who illegally possess firearms. ###


title: U.S. Department of Justice Awards University of Colorado Nearly $2 Million Grant to Combat Hate Crimes

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Matt Kirsch is pleased to announce that the United States Department of Justice has awarded the University of Colorado the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Program Grant. The grant, totaling $1,999,939, will go to support the work of The University of Colorado Boulder’s Police Department (CUPD) and Prevention Science Program to build and deliver a comprehensive approach to hate crimes prevention, intervention, and investigation for CU locations including CU Boulder, CU Colorado Springs, and CU Denver. Funds will be used to educate audiences within the CU System and train campus officials on coordinated strategies for preventing, investigating, and addressing hate-based incidents and hate crimes in higher education. Grant funding will reach approximately 60,000 students, 23,000 faculty and staff, and 60 law enforcement officers while serving as a model for other colleges and universities around the country. “The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado has a long-standing commitment both to investigating and prosecuting hate crimes and to engaging with the community on this topic,” said Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Matt Kirsch. “Public education on the tools available to prevent and address hate crimes is fundamental to these efforts, and we are proud to work with University of Colorado.” “The University of Colorado and the CU Boulder Police Department is honored to receive the Matthew Shepard and Edward Byrne Hate Crimes Grant, which will help us continue the important work of building a comprehensive approach to preventing hate crimes across the CU System,” said Doreen Jokerst, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Safety and Chief of Police of the CU Boulder Police Department at the University of Colorado Boulder. “CUPD will continue to work collaboratively with violence prevention researchers and other experts to create an effective, broad-reaching campaign to combat targeted violence.” This grant is part of the Office of Justice Program (OJP) and its wide-ranging efforts to improve community safety, serve victims of crime, support America’s youth, advance science, and promote equal justice. OJP is the largest grantmaking component of the Department of Justice and houses its criminal and juvenile justice related science and statistical units. The Department of Justice (DOJ) offers funding opportunities to support law enforcement and public safety activities in state, local, and tribal jurisdictions; to assist victims of crime; to provide training and technical assistance; to conduct research; and to implement programs that improve the criminal, civil, and juvenile justice systems. DOJ grant-making components regularly engage with United States Attorneys’ offices (USAOs) to promote outreach and communication about DOJ-funded grant programs, training, and technical assistance. Such communication helps the Department increase public awareness, access, and utilization of these resources.


title: Springfield Man Sentenced to More Than Three Years in Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition

body_text: BOSTON – A Springfield man was sentenced today for unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition. Robbie Delgado, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 40 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. In June 2024, Delgado pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Delgado was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2024. On Feb. 8, 2024, Delgado was found in possession of a Baretta .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun. Delgado is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition following a 2019 state conviction in Hampden County of armed robbery and armed assault with intent to rob, for which he was sentenced to 18 months in prison followed by four years of probation. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Brian A. Kyes, United States Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; and Superintendent Lawrence Akers of the Springfield Police Department made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd E. Newhouse of the Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.


title: Ocala Convicted Felon Indicted For Illegal Possession Of A Firearm And Ammunition

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Alan Ellis Gillespie, Jr. (31, Ocala) with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. If convicted, Gillespie faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. Gillespie is currently detained pending the resolution of the criminal case. According to the indictment and evidence presented in court, on August 27, 2024, a deputy from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle. Gillespie exited that vehicle through the passenger door and fled on foot. During the chase, Gillespie threw a backpack on the ground. Once Gillespie was apprehended, a search of his backpack revealed an AK-47 style pistol loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition. At the time, Gillespie had previous state felony convictions for battery – prior offense, carrying a concealed firearm, and possession of cannabis more than 20 grams. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. 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 Marion County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Janette Swartzberg. This case is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence for occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Oviedo Man Indicted For Receipt And Attempted Production Of Child Sex Abuse Material

body_text: Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Marvin Fredrick Wagner, II (25, Oviedo) with one count of attempted production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and one count of receipt of CSAM. If convicted, Wagner faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years, up to 30 years, in federal prison for the attempted production offense and a minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years, up to 20 years, in federal prison for the receipt offense. According to the indictment, the conduct underlying the attempted production offense took place between June 23 and October 11, 2023. Wagner received CSAM on October 11, 2023. 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oviedo Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kaley Austin-Aronson. This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 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 individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: U.S. Attorney's Office Secures Guilty Verdict in Multi-Million Dollar Investment Fraud Trial

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Following a week-and-a-half-long trial and less than four hours of deliberation, a federal jury convicted an Arizona man on multiple charges for orchestrating a fraudulent investment scheme. The charges included 17 counts of wire fraud, 12 counts of mail fraud, and two counts of engaging in monetary transactions involving property derived from specified unlawful activity. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, over an eight-year period from 2014 to 2021, John Lopez , 73, engaged in a fraudulent investment scheme through his company, Personal Money Management Company (PMMCO). Lopez claimed to have developed a sophisticated algorithm for trading stocks and bonds that had generated above-market returns and guaranteed high annual returns of 10 to 19 percent. He misled clients, many of whom live in northern New Mexico, by stating that their money was primarily invested in stocks and bonds when, in fact, he used it to purchase precious metals. Lopez even offered one investment with a purported 42% annual rate of return over 20 years. Lopez received approximately $19.4 million from clients. Instead of investing this money as promised, he allocated about $13.3 million to buy precious metals and disbursed around $6.1 million to clients as part of a Ponzi scheme, falsely representing these payouts as investment gains. Throughout the scheme, Lopez provided clients with fake account statements indicating that their investments had grown substantially. When government agents seized PMMCO’s assets in November 2021, they found that the asset’s total value was less than $15 million, despite Lopez claiming client accounts were worth approximately $39 million. Photo of all the bullion seized from storage unit in November 2021 Photo of placards of silver coins seized from storage unit in November 2021 Photo of silver coins from storage unit Photo of gold coins from business After the asset seizure, Lopez continued to court new clients, persisted in falsely representing a history of producing above-market returns, and kept generating deceptive account statements. Although prosecutors sought the defendant to be remanded into custody following his convictions, the Court ordered that Lopez remain on conditions of release pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. At sentencing, Lopez faces up to 20 years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the U.S. Marshals Service investigated this case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office brought a separate civil forfeiture action on April 15, 2022, seeking to forfeit assets seized in November 2021. Litigation in the civil proceeding is ongoing. # # #


title: Bronx Man Sentenced to More Than Two Years in Prison for Fentanyl Distribution

body_text: BOSTON – A Bronx man was sentenced yesterday for travelling to the Worcester area to distribute approximately one kilogram of fentanyl. Jose Luis Lopez Genao, 32, of Bronx, N.Y., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 30 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release. In June 2024, Genao pleaded guilty today to one count of distribution of and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 23, 2024. Genao was arrested and charged in December 2022. In and around June 2021, Genao and other subjects were identified as receiving large shipments of fentanyl from outside the United States and then distributing it throughout the Springfield and New England areas. On Dec. 8, 2022, Genao travelled from New York to the Worcester area to deliver approximately one kilogram of fentanyl. Genao was arrested immediately after he delivered the fentanyl to a government witness. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Massachusetts State Police; the Chicopee, West Springfield and Easthampton Police Departments; and the Berkshire, Hampden and Franklin County Sherriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil L. Desroches of the Springfield Branch Unit prosecuted the case. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf .


title: Crip Gang Member Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and Methamphetamine

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – A Crip Gang member from Winston Salem was sentenced today to 480 months in prison for trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Raleigh area. On April 25, 2024, Marquis Peterson, age 30, was convicted by a federal jury of three charges including conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, possession with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents and other information presented in court, Peterson was identified as a source of supply for fentanyl and methamphetamine with accomplice, Twalondus Simmons (5:23-CR-00023-D-RN-2). Simmons pled guilty for his trafficking role in March of 2024, and was sentenced to 84 months in June. During the investigation, law enforcement conducted a number of controlled purchases of fentanyl and methamphetamine from Peterson. While in custody and pending trial, Peterson orchestrated the sale and transport of drugs into the Piedmont Regional Jail in Farmville, Virginia and engaged in witness intimidation by trying to coerce his girlfriend to lie to the grand jury. When she told him that she told the truth, he called her a “rat” and told her “you dead.” Peterson, a convicted felon, was accountable for over 9 kilograms of methamphetamine, and 428 grams of fentanyl. His previous conviction was for robbery with a deadly weapon. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly L. Sandling and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Aria Q. Merle prosecuted the case. The prosecution of Peterson was a part of Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force Operation (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launders, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-CR-00023-D-RN-1.


title: Former Postal Carrier Indicted for Throwing Baskets of Mail into a Trash Dumpster in Antioch, Tennessee

component: USAO - Tennessee, Middle

body_text: NASHVILLE – DuJuan Butler, 33, of Antioch, Tennessee, was charged by a federal grand jury yesterday with unlawfully detaining and delaying the mail, announced United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis for the Middle District of Tennessee. According to publicly available information, on August 3, 2024, Butler was driving a U.S. Postal Service truck while delivering the mail in Antioch. A woman happened to look out her window and saw Butler take baskets of mail from the Postal truck and throw them into dumpsters behind a strip mall. The woman filmed Butler and then uploaded her video to TikTok where it was viewed millions of times. Other Postal Service employees were later able to recover the discarded mail from the dumpsters. If convicted, Butler faces up to five years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. This case is being investigated by the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Goldin is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent until convicted. # # # # #


title: Tama Man Sentenced to Over Two Years in Prison for Assaulting His Girlfriend

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A Tama man who attacked his girlfriend was sentenced today to a little over two years in federal prison. Roeles Reyes Cavazos, age 29, from Tama, Iowa, received the prison term after a March 29, 2024, guilty plea to domestic abuse assault. Evidence at the plea hearing and sentencing showed that in August 2022, Cavazos repeatedly punched his girlfriend in the face and stomach. She suffered significant injuries to one eye, her mouth, and stomach. She was later transported to a local hospital because of her injuries. Officers responded to Cavazos’ residence and found he was intoxicated. When officers tried to arrest Cavazos, he resisted arrest and tried to head butt one of the officers. Cavazos has over 30 criminal convictions, including multiple convictions involving battery, assault, and violating no contact orders. Cavazos was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by Chief United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Cavazos was sentenced to 25 months’ and 29 days’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 3-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ashley Corkery and investigated by the Meskwaki Nation Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-5.


title: MS-13 Gang Members Charged In Superseding Indictment for Crimes of Deadly Violence in Nassau County

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, a 17-count superseding indictment was unsealed in federal court in Central Islip charging seven members of the violent transnational criminal organization La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as the MS-13, with multiple racketeering offenses including two murders, one attempted murder, murder conspiracies, a narcotics trafficking conspiracy and related firearms offenses (the “Superseding Indictment”). Two of those defendants, William Lainez-Duran, also known as “Chino” and “Spanky,” and Elvin Eulises Vasquez-Lopez, also known as “Pikachu,” were arrested this morning in Hempstead, New York and will be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Steven L. Tiscione. Another defendant, Jose Omar Yanes-Romero, also known as “Jose Pineda,” “Chino” and “Iron,” was arrested this morning in Culpeper, Virginia, and will be arraigned at the Charlottesville federal courthouse in the Western District of Virginia. Two of the remaining three defendants are in custody on criminal charges, and the third is in immigration custody and will be arraigned at a later date. Defendants Henry Aquino-Hernandez, also known as “Zancudo,” an associate of the Herndon City clique, Yanes-Romero, a member of the Coronados clique and Lainez-Duran, a member of the Hempstead clique, have been charged with participating in the July 19, 2022 murder of Walter Ochoa. Defendant Gerson Hernandez, also known as “Steven Jefferson,” “Jeffrey,” “Serio,” “Serioso” and “Necio,” a member of the Hempstead clique, was previously charged with participating in the murder. Henry Canales, also known as “Thunder” and “Cruzito,” a member of the Coronados clique who is currently in New York State custody, has been charged with a related murder conspiracy, as well as with being an accessory after the fact. Additionally, Jairo Cornejo-Crespin, also known as “Flaco,” a member of the Hempstead clique, has been charged with a December 15, 2023 attempted murder, which occurred adjacent to Hempstead High School. Separately, Canales and Vasquez-Lopez, a member of the Coronados clique, are charged with a May and June 2022 conspiracy to murder rival gang members. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), William S. Walker, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI), Anne T. Donnelly, Nassau County District Attorney and Patrick J. Ryder, Commissioner, Nassau County Police Department (NCPD), announced the charges. “The racketeering offenses alleged in the superseding indictment, including murder, murder conspiracies, drug trafficking, and a brazen shooting outside Hempstead High School at dismissal time demonstrate the MS-13 gang members’ brutality and utter disregard for human life,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “The relentless efforts of the prosecutors in my Office and our local and federal law enforcement partners to bring these offenders to justice will help reduce violence on Long Island and make our communities safer.” Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to the FBI’s Long Island Gang Task Force, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Virginia, the Richmond Division of the FBI, the Culpeper County Sheriff's Office and the Culpeper Police Department. “These six MS-13 members allegedly conducted a series of retaliatory murders, shootings, and drug trafficking in furtherance of the gang’s nefarious tactics and criminal operations on Long Island,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy. “This alleged violence recklessly jeopardized public safety as it encroached on neighborhoods, school properties, and recreational spaces, placing innocent bystanders in the crosshairs. With the assistance of our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, the FBI will continue to dismantle all MS-13 cliques plaguing our communities.” “Today’s charges underscore our unwavering focus on public safety and the continued collaboration with our law enforcement partners to address the threat posed by MS-13 to Long Island communities. HSI New York will not stand idly by as the MS-13 gang attempts to strengthen its presence in Nassau County,” stated HSI New York Special Agent in Charge Walker. “With each new indictment, we continue to whittle away at MS-13 on Long Island and at its false notion of impunity from the law.” “For years, the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office has worked with our federal and local law enforcement partners to cripple MS-13 and other criminal organizations and has successfully diminished their impact in our communities,” stated Nassau County District Attorney Donnelly. “The defendants targeted in this wide-ranging indictment have been involved in multiple violent crimes in Hempstead and ruthless gang violence that has cost so many individuals their lives. We will continue to collaborate with our federal and local partners to take down dangerous gang members and protect our residents.” As set forth in the superseding indictment and a detention memorandum filed earlier today, six defendants are charged with participating in the July 19, 2022 murder of Ochoa in Uniondale Park in Uniondale, New York. Ochoa was targeted by the MS-13 because he was suspected of being a member of a rival street gang. Hernandez, Aquino-Hernandez, Canales, Lainez-Duran, Vasquez-Lopez, Yanes-Romero and other MS-13 members also allegedly plotted the murder in retaliation for the killing of an MS-13 member 11 days earlier, which the MS-13 blamed on the 18th Street gang. On the evening of July 19, Ochoa was with another individual in Uniondale Park when they were approached by Hernandez, Yanes-Romero and a third MS-13 member who were armed with a .45 caliber handgun and at least one knife. The three gang members shot Ochoa to death and stabbed him in the neck, and then fled the park. The superseding indictment also charges Cornejo-Crespin, who was previously charged in Nassau County and is currently incarcerated, with an attempted murder in Hempstead. Specifically, on December 15, 2023, near Hempstead High School, Cornejo-Crespin used a 9-millimeter semiautomatic pistol bearing no make, model or serial number (also known as a “ghost gun”) to shoot an 18-year-old male that he believed to be a rival gang member. The victim was shot five times but survived. The shooting took place at approximately 3:22 p.m., shortly after school dismissal, when numerous students were walking around the neighboring area. Finally, the superseding indictment charges six of the defendants with conspiring to distribute cocaine and marijuana. These charges stem from the MS-13 cliques’ street-level sales of cocaine and marijuana on Long Island, the proceeds of which were used to help finance the MS-13’s criminal operations including purchasing firearms, ammunition and other weapons and sending money to MS-13 leadership in Central America. The superseding indictment is the latest in a series of federal prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York targeting members of the MS-13, a violent transnational criminal organization. The MS-13’s leadership traditionally has been based in El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico, but the organization also has thousands of members and an increasing number of leaders in the United States. With numerous branches, or “cliques,” the MS-13 is the most violent criminal organization on Long Island. Since 2003, hundreds of MS-13 members, including dozens of clique leaders, have been convicted on federal felony charges in the Eastern District of New York. A majority of those MS-13 members have been convicted on federal racketeering charges for participating in murders, attempted murders and assaults. Since 2010 alone, this Office has obtained indictments charging MS-13 members with carrying out more than 70 murders in the Eastern District of New York, and it has convicted dozens of MS-13 leaders and members in connection with those murders. These prosecutions are the product of investigations led by the FBI’s Long Island Gang Task Force, comprising agents and officers of the FBI, the NCPD, the Suffolk County Police Department, the Nassau County Sheriff’s Department, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, the Suffolk County Probation Office, the New York State Police, the Hempstead Police Department, the Rockville Centre Police Department and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. If convicted, Hernandez, Aquino-Hernandez, Lainez-Duran and Yanes-Romero face up to life in prison, or the death penalty; Cornejo-Crespin faces up to life in prison; Canales faces up to 55 years in prison; and Vasquez-Lopez face up to 50 years in prison. The charges in the superseding indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Megan E. Farrell, Justina L. Geraci and Paul G. Scotti are in charge of the prosecution. New Defendants : HENRY AQUINO-HERNANDEZ (also known as “Zancudo”) Age: 20 Bowling Green, Virginia (formerly of Uniondale, New York) HENRY CANALES (also known as “Thunder” and “Cruzito”) Age: 24 Auburn, New York (formerly of Hempstead, New York) JAIRO CORNEJO-CRESPIN (also known as “Flaco”) Age: 24 Brooklyn, New York (formerly of Freeport, New York) WILLIAM LAINEZ-DURAN (also known as “Chino” and “Spanky”) Age: 24 Uniondale, New York Elvin Eulises Vasquez-Lopez (also known as “Elvin Amaya” and “Pikachu”) Age: 23 Hempstead, New York Jose Omar Yanes-Romero (also known as “Jose Pineda,” “Iron,” “Speedy” and “Chino”) Age: 24 Culpeper, Virginia (formerly of Hempstead, New York) Defendant Previously Indicted : GERSON HERNANDEZ (also known as “Steven Jefferson,” “Jeffrey,” “Serio,” “Serioso” and “Necio”) Age: 23 East Meadow, New York (formerly of Hempstead, New York) E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-369 (S-1)(JMA)


title: U.S. Attorney's Office Observes National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina joins the Justice Department and the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), as well as law enforcement agencies, community organizations, victim service providers, advocates, victims, and survivors in observing October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). According to OVW , domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship, used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, psychological, or technological actions or threats of actions or other patterns of coercive behavior that influence another person within an intimate partner relationship. Domestic violence can happen to anyone regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion, sex, or gender identity. Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and educational levels and occurs in both opposite-sex and same-sex relationships. It can also happen to intimate partners who are married, living together, dating, or share a child. “We have a shared responsibility to fight against domestic violence in all its forms,” said Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. “My Office is dedicated to using every tool available to ensure victims and survivors can find safety and justice, and we remain committed to working with the community year-round to address and prevent domestic violence, hold offenders accountable, and ensure that support and resources are accessible by individuals and families impacted by domestic abuse.” In September 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the City of Asheville and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) were among 78 communities designated by the Department of Justice under Section 1103 of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), to strengthen efforts to reduce intimate partner violence through training, increased prosecutions of domestic violence offenders that illegally possess firearms, and federal resources to support local efforts. Today, U.S. Attorney King announced the allocation of more than $1.8 million in grants administered by OVW, to combat intimate partner violence and assist victims of violence, survivors, and their families in Western North Carolina. The federal grants will be used to fund existing projects and new initiatives developed to prevent domestic violence and to support victims and survivors who have experienced domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, or sexual assault. Specific to Asheville and EBCI, OVW will administer $500,000 toward funding Buncombe County’s Improve the Criminal Justice Response (ICJR) project, which aims to enhance the criminal justice response to incidents of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking; foster victim safety; and enhance offender accountability. OVW will also administer $400,000 to the University of North Carolina at Asheville, to support its work to prevent, investigate, and reduce incidents of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking on campus. In addition, OVW will administer more than $414,000 to Reflection of Inspiration, Inc. (ROI), a nonprofit organization that serves the EBCI, in support of its efforts to increase awareness about domestic violence and sexual assault against Indian women and to enhance the response, services, and assistance to victims and survivors. This week, U.S. Attorney King and office staff also attended the annual “Breakfast of Hope” hosted by Safe Alliance, an organization that offers resources to domestic violence and sexual assault victims in the greater Charlotte area. The organization provides housing assistance, court advocacy, trauma services, counseling, and support groups for both adult and teen survivors. DVAM serves as an important reminder to raise awareness and engage the community in efforts to end intimate partner violence. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline , one in four women and one in seven men will experience severe domestic violence in their lifetimes. These rates are higher among American Indian and Alaska Native populations, women of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities. For more information on domestic violence, visit: https://www.justice.gov/ovw/domestic-violence#dv . If you need help, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or the Strong Hearts Native Helpline at 1-844-762-8483.


title: West Virginia Man Sentenced for Drug Charge

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – John Marshall Jones, III, 37, of Bridgeport, West Virginia, was sentenced to 136 months for possession with intent to distribute more than five grams of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, officers were executing an arrest warrant for Jones for a parole violation at a home in Barbour County. Jones was hiding inside the home, where officers also found an assault rifle, a handgun, and methamphetamine. Jones will serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Mountain Region Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; the United States Marshals Service; and the Barbour County Sheriff’s Office investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Warner prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. Chief U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.


title: Operator of South Carolina Medicaid Call Center Agrees to Pay $11.3 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Liability; Two Former Employees Plead Guilty to Wire Fraud

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. —Conduent State Healthcare, LLC, headquartered in New Jersey, has agreed to pay $11,358,767 to resolve False Claims Act allegations arising from Conduent’s fraudulent reporting of call center performance metrics and false claims for payment to the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS). Two former employees of Conduent, Richard Kirchner, 71, of Branchburg, N.J., and Brian Devanney, 66, of Lexington, S.C., pleaded guilty for their role in fabricating performance metrics and adjusting invoices to SCDHHS. In connection with the settlement, the United States acknowledged that Conduent took significant steps in cooperating with the government’s investigation, entitling it to credit. Since 2016, Conduent has been operating the South Carolina Medicaid Member Contact Center (“call center”), which takes calls from South Carolina Medicaid recipients to resolve these individuals’ questions, requests, or concerns. Conduent’s contract with SCDHHS was performance-based and used a tiered payment structure, with Conduent receiving higher payments as completed call center contacts increased, and receiving penalties if certain metrics were not met. Between Jan. 1, 2018, and Feb. 28, 2023, Kirchner and Devanney supplied fake reports to SCDHHS with inflated numbers for call volumes and misrepresented metrics to avoid penalties under the contract. SCDHHS paid Conduent an excess of $8,113,405 as a result of the fraudulent reports and invoices submitted by Devanney and Kirchner. Those payments benefitted Conduent. On June 8, 2023, Conduent self-disclosed this conduct to the United States Attorney’s Office. Conduent took remedial measures, which included promptly disclosing the problem to SCDHHS within days of discovering the conduct, communicating to SCDHHS its plan for completing a more extensive investigation, suspending monthly invoices to SCDHHS until a loss amount was determined, immediately terminating Kirchner and Devanney and others, engaging independent outside forensic examiners to audit call center reports and quantify damages, returning to SCDHHS the money fraudulently received, gathering evidence and producing that evidence to the United States Attorney’s Office, and cooperating with the United States’ subsequent investigation. “Protecting taxpayer dollars from such fraud and abuse is an important part of our work,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “This settlement highlights the importance of integrity in government contracting, the benefits of voluntary self-disclosure, and our commitment to protecting government healthcare programs.” “Individuals who exploit government healthcare programs like Medicaid divert valuable taxpayer dollars from their intended use,” said Kelly J. Blackmon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG’s Self-Disclosure Protocol enables providers to voluntarily report potential violations of the False Claims Act, assisting us in identifying, investigating, and addressing Medicare and Medicaid fraud.” “There is always an opportunity for businesses to do the right thing, and doing the right thing is especially important in the healthcare context,” said Attorney General Alan Wilson. “Our office has numerous men and women who work every day to ensure the Medicaid program in South Carolina functions properly; and sometimes our most important allies are those in the industry who identify when something has gone wrong and step forward.” Under the False Claims Act, the United States is entitled to three times the amount of actual damages plus penalties of between $13,946 and $27,894 per false claim. Damages and penalties in this case could have resulted in a judgment of up to $26,069,643. Given Conduent’s voluntary disclosure and remedial actions, it resolved this case for $11,358,767. The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General, and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Vulnerable Adult and Medicaid Provider Fraud Control Unit (VAMPF). Kirchner and Devanney are awaiting sentencing for their criminal charges. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Beth Warren and Nancy Cote handled the civil matter for the United States. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lothrop Morris and Scott Matthews are prosecuting the criminal matters for the United States. The claims resolved by the civil settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. The South Carolina Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, dba VAMPF, receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $2,889,252 for federal fiscal year 2025. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $963,084 for FFY 2025, is funded by South Carolina. ###


title: Federal Jury Finds Utah Man Guilty of Stalking the Salt Lake County Sheriff and Other Government Offices

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah –A federal jury in Salt Lake City returned a guilty verdict against a Salt Lake County resident after he made repeated death threats to the Salt Lake County Sheriff, and other government offices in the spring of 2024. Ryan Gregory Bracken, 44, of West Valley City, Utah, was convicted of four counts of stalking and one count of interstate communication of threats. Bracken was originally charged by way of complaint on April 4, 2024, and arrested on April 5, 2024. On April 17, 2024, a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Bracken. On August 21, 2024, a grand jury returned a superseding indictment against Bracken. According to evidence presented at trial, Bracken repeatedly called the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office prior to April and left threatening voicemails. The Information Technology Specialist with Salt Lake County government revealed that between March 20, 2024 and April 2, 2024, Bracken called multiple Salt Lake County government offices, including the Sheriff’s Office, the County Recorder’s Office and the Assessor’s Office 37 times. Twenty-nine of those calls occurred on April 1, and April 2, 2024, and were verbally abusive and threatening. For example, On April 2, 2024, Bracken called the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office to speak with the elected Sheriff regarding a “fraudulent Sheriff’s sale” on his property and called it a “criminal act.” Bracken threatened to “open fire” on the first person who shows up to his property to evict him. Bracken made specific reference to having a 7.62 millimeter firearm. In a separate call on the same day, Bracken made multiple threats that if the Sheriff’s sale of his property occurred, he would hold the Sheriff responsible for treasonous acts and she would swing from a rope. Additionally, on April 1, 2024, the Salt Lake County Recorder’s Office received an aggressive, verbally abusive and threating voicemail from a phone number identified as Bracken’s. Bracken also repeatedly called the Salt Lake County Assessor’s office and made numerous threats using abusive, and vulgar language. Bracken’s sentencing is scheduled for January 7, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated jointly by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.


title: Scheme to Defraud Distressed Homeowners Out of $15 Million Nets Virginia Man 60 Months

body_text: WASHINGTON –Terrylle Blackstone, 37, of Woodbridge, Virginia, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 60 months in federal prison for participating in a conspiracy that fraudulently promised thousands of homeowners across the U.S. legal help in avoiding foreclosure. The scheme generated at least $15 million for the conspirators but never provided any legal services to the client-victims. The sentence was announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Special Agent in Charge David Geist of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Washington, D.C. Field Office. Blackstone pleaded guilty on June 6, 2024, to a count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud before U.S District Court Judge Randolph D. Moss. In addition to the prison term, Judge Moss ordered Blackstone to serve three years of supervised release and pay $159,145.35 in restitution. According to court documents, from January 2018 until February 2021, Blackstone worked with attorneys David Maresca of Virginia, Scott Marinelli of New Jersey, and Sam Babbs of Florida. The co-conspirators told homeowners that they operated a “national law firm” based in Washington, D.C.; that attorneys would review the homeowner’s file and provide legal representation to the homeowners; that an attorney in the homeowner’s local area would be assigned to assist them; that the homeowner could meet and consult with those attorneys about the case; and that attorneys in their law firm could help the homeowner, if necessary, file for bankruptcy. From 2016 until 2019, the conspirators marketed Synergy Law with telephone, television, and internet advertising which told homeowners that attorneys at Maresca and Marinelli’s Synergy Law (Synergy) in Manassas could help them avoid foreclosure. During 2018 and 2019, bankruptcy judges, Synergy clients, and the U.S. Trustee’s Program raised concerns about Synergy’s practices in bankruptcy matters. Blackstone attended court hearings on behalf of Synergy where he made false statements to the court about the firm’s operations. In early 2019, Marinelli was incarcerated in Pennsylvania. Yet Blackstone, Maresca, Marinelli, and others continued to operate Synergy and collect monthly payments purportedly for legal services. During this time, there was no attorney who was a member of Synergy who could practice law. Synergy never had attorneys review all homeowner files and Synergy never had attorneys contact a client’s lender to discuss a mortgage resolution. They also continued to use the interstate wires to operate their “law firm” in ways that were essential to the scheme, such as soliciting clients by telephone. From 2019 until at least 2022, the conspirators marketed another firm, Themis Law, with television and website advertising which told homeowners that attorneys with Themis could help them avoid foreclosure. Themis operated a call center at an office in Manassas, Virginia. Call center workers used scripts during their phone calls with homeowners in which Themis falsely promised that an attorney would review the homeowner’s case file; that this attorney knew their lender’s “internal guidelines” for a “mortgage resolution”; and that an assigned “legal team” would contact the homeowner’s lender to negotiate a resolution. Themis required homeowner-clients to pay an initial retainer amount followed by a monthly recurring amount for as long as the firm represented the homeowner. When Themis clients faced imminent foreclosure, Themis advised those clients to consider filing for bankruptcy to save their home and referred the clients to Babbs at the Babbs Law Firm. Those clients then signed a new retainer agreement and paid additional fees to Babbs. During his dates of employment at Synergy Law and Themis Law, Blackstone received no less than $159,145.35 in direct payments from the companies. Judge Moss ordered that Blackstone pay a forfeiture money judgment in that amount. This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and the Washington, D.C. Field Office of IRS-CI. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Borchert. 23cr123 ### Twitter , Instagram , and YouTube


title: Department of Justice Awards More Than $172 Million in Grants to Western District of Texas Recipients

component: Office of Justice Programs (OJP)

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza today announced that the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs awarded a total of $172,686,219.00 in grant funds to agencies and services across the Western District of Texas. The funding, distributed among 53 applications, addresses priorities such as mental health response, law enforcement training, improving forensic service processes, supporting rural crime victims, and more. Recipients include the Texas Office of the Governor, the Attorney General of Texas, Texas State University, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Bexar County Auditor, the Council on At-Risk Youth, and various county and city offices along with universities and programs. “The Justice Department’s OJP grants program is a testament to our federal government’s commitment to enhancing the safety, well-being and security of communities across the Western District of Texas,” said U.S. Attorney Esparza. “These grants provide crucial support to initiatives that ensure public safety, promote justice, provide support to crime victims, and improve the lives of Americans.” The awards announced above are being made as part of the regular end-of-fiscal year cycle. More information about OJP awards can be found on the OJP Grant Awards Page . About the Office of Justice Programs The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime; advance equity and fairness in the administration of justice; assist victims; and uphold the rule of law. More information about OJP and its program offices – the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Institute of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office for Victims of Crime, and SMART Office – can be found at www.ojp.gov . ###


title: New York Man Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for Illegally Possessing Cocaine and Fentanyl

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A New York man was sentenced to 27 months in prison for illegally possessing cocaine and fentanyl for distribution, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Isidro Fernandez, 36, New York, previously pleaded guilty to before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden to an information charging him with one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Judge Hayden imposed the sentence on Oct. 2, 2024, in Newark federal court. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: On Feb. 26, 2021, law enforcement officers recovered a total of over 5 kilograms of cocaine and over 3 kilograms of fentanyl from a Passaic County residence occupied by Fernandez and from a vehicle that was seen leaving the residence. Fernandez admitted possessing the controlled substances with the intent to distribute. In addition to the prison term, Judge Hayden sentenced Hayden to three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, which comprises special agents and task force officers of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New York City Police Department, and New York State Police, with the investigation leading to the sentencing. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chelsea D. Coleman of the Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit in Newark.


title: Browning woman admits lying to FBI in investigation of apartment fire on Blackfeet Indian Reservation

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Browning woman admitted today to lying to the FBI during an investigation of a fire at an apartment building on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. The defendant, Amorette Diederika Ground, 33, pleaded guilty to false statement. Ground faces a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Feb. 5, 2025. Ground was released pending further proceedings. In court documents, the government alleged that on July 23, 2023, law enforcement and emergency services responded to multiple calls to Blackfeet dispatch of a fire at the Death Row apartments in Browning, on the Blackfeet Reservation. The burned apartment belonged to Blackfeet Housing Authority and had been rented previously by Ground. A state fire investigator arrived the next morning and determined that the fire was deliberately set. An FBI agent also arrived the same day and conducted interviews in conjunction with the fire investigator and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services. A witness reported that Ground had been at the witness’ house the evening before and that the fire broke out right after Ground left. That same day, the FBI interviewed Ground regarding her whereabout the night before. Ground denied being near the apartments on the previous evening. The agent advised Ground that it was a federal crime to lie to a federal agent. Ground continued to deny being at the witness’ house the day before. Eventually, Ground admitted to having been at the residence the night before. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation’s Fire Prevention and Investigation Section conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Lakeland Man Charged With Ten Counts Of Bank Fraud

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Abraham Othman Yacoub (26, Lakeland) with 10 counts of bank fraud. Yacoub faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison on each count. The indictment also notifies Yacoub that the United States is seeking an order of forfeiture in the amount of $181,540.51, the proceeds of the charged criminal conduct. According to the indictment, from at least January 2021 until approximately February 2023, Yacoub made dozens of fraudulent deposits and withdrawals on behalf of his companies, Visionary Auto Body LLC, and Visionary Auto Care LLC, at financial institutions throughout the Middle District of Florida. Yacoub opened and maintained business bank accounts in the name of his companies and executed two primary fraud schemes. In the first scheme, Yacoub deposited the same previously deposited checks into various business banking accounts that he controlled at different financial institutions, knowing that the checks had previously been deposited and paid, causing the victim banks to credit his accounts for the amount of the check. In the second scheme, Yacoub drafted fraudulent business checks from closed business bank accounts and then deposit these checks into other active business banking accounts that he controlled, causing the banks to credit him with the amount of the fraudulent business check. Under both schemes Yacoub attempted to withdraw, transfer, or otherwise spend the funds credited to his accounts before the financial institution realized that the checks were fraudulent. Yacoub is currently in federal custody. On July 31, 2024, he was sentenced to three years and six months in federal prison for violating airport security requirements and attempted possession of a dangerous weapon on an aircraft after bringing a Glock 19 and assorted ammunition into Tampa International Airport. 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Karyna Valdes.


title: Fort Wayne Man Sentenced to 180 Months in Prison

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

body_text: FORT WAYNE –Marcus B. Roberson, 45 years old, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Holly A. Brady after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Roberson was sentenced to 180 months in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, during 2021 and 2022, Roberson sold and supplied methamphetamine. In March 2022, a search warrant was served at Roberson’s residence where 330 grams of methamphetamine, $4,500, and a pistol were found. Roberson was previously convicted of a serious violent felony, that being robbery in 1998 in Whitley County, Indiana. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Allen County Sheriff’s Department, the Fort Wayne Police Department, the Indiana State Police, and the Auburn Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey R. Speith. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 3 Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and Methamphetamine in the Seacoast Area

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A Massachusetts man was sentenced today in federal court for drug trafficking in New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Carlos Alejandro Chevalier Santos, 23, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Samantha Elliott to 36 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release. In June 2024, Chevalier Santos pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute and two counts of distributing controlled substances. Charges are still pending against Santos’ four co-conspirators, Jose Luis Guerrero Nunez, Eddy Mendez Carmona, Juan Carlos De Los Santos Romero, and Luis Guerrero Cabral. “Methamphetamine and fentanyl destroy lives and fuel violence in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “Law enforcement in New Hampshire will continue to be relentless in the pursuit to identify individuals participating in drug trafficking at every layer of the supply chain.” “DEA stands committed to keeping highly addictive drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl off the streets of New Hampshire,” said Acting DEA Special Agent in Charge Stephen Belleau, Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division. “Today’s sentence not only holds Mr. Chevalier Santos accountable for his crimes but serves as a warning to those traffickers who are contributing to the drug crisis in America. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative law enforcement efforts and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.” Santos was part of a Methuen-based drug trafficking organization that was distributing significant quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Seacoast area. Santos was identified as a “runner,” or a person who makes drug deliveries on behalf of the organization. In early 2024, Santos made at least two deliveries of controlled substances to undercover law enforcement officers, including the delivery of a pound of methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. The Seabrook Police Department, Hampton Police Department, Portsmouth Police Department, Methuen Police Department, and the New Hampshire State Police provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kasey Weiland and Heather Cherniske are prosecuting the case. ###


title: Oregon Man Sentenced to Over 5 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: U.S. Attorneys (USAO)

body_text: BOISE – Hein Fourie, 26, of Adrian, Oregon, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison for possession of child sexual abuse material, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. According to court records, an investigation began when a citizen reported to law enforcement that Fourie had child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on his cellphone. The citizen provided law enforcement with two cellphones belonging to Fourie. Law enforcement examined the cellphones pursuant to a search warrant and located over 300 files of CSAM on each cellphone. During an interview, Fourie admitted to receiving CSAM on cellphones that he had possessed while temporarily residing in Idaho. U.S. District Judge Amanda K. Brailsford also sentenced Fourie to five years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $15,000 in restitution to victims in the images he possessed. Fourie will be required to register as a sex offender as a result of the conviction. “We are grateful to the concerned citizen who alerted law enforcement to this defendant’s possession of CSAM,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “And we are grateful to our law enforcement partners who worked together to help us bring this case. We continue to do everything in our power to bring to justice those who victimize children.” “Reporting child predators, anywhere they may be found, gives our agents an advantage in the fight against CSAM," said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees HSI operations in the Pacific Northwest. "Quite simply, if you see something, say something. Every report matters, and with community involvement our law enforcement partnerships can protect those who need it the most.” U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the cooperative efforts of Homeland Security Investigations, the Wilder Police Department, and the Malheur County Sheriff’s Office, which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kassandra McGrady prosecuted this case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Fourteen indicted in multi-state drug trafficking conspiracy linked to deadly fentanyl distributed to members of the Lummi Nation

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – Law enforcement fanned out across the country and in western Washington yesterday arresting 17 people on indictments and criminal complaints for a multi- state drug trafficking conspiracy. The two-year investigation alleges that the trafficking ring has been linked to a fatal fentanyl overdose on the Lummi Nation reservation in Whatcom County. Law enforcement in Georgia, Missouri, Texas, and Arizona executed search warrants and some arrests. Ten of 13 defendants arrested in Washington remain detained at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac, pending hearings later this week and next week. Three defendants were released on bond. “This investigation revealed that the trafficking organization was a supplier to a community that was rocked by four fentanyl overdose deaths in just four days,” said U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. “Fentanyl continues to claim lives in our community – especially in our Tribal communities. We will do all we can to stop the flow of this deadly drug.” "The significance of this case is that a family drug trafficking organization expanded from Seattle beyond Washington state to locations across the country,” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “This group distributed more than 800,000 fentanyl pills throughout the United States, including in Arizona, Texas, Missouri, Montana, and Georgia. Together with our partners, this demonstrates the national impact of today’s operations by disrupting this source of supply.” The drug ring was led by Marquis Jackson, 31, who splits time between Atlanta and the Renton, Washington home of his parents, defendants Mandel Jackson, 50, and Matelita (Marty) Jackson, 49. Also linked to the Renton family home were defendants Markell Jackson, 21, and Miracle Patu-Jackson, 22. Members of the Jackson family are indicted for various conspiracy counts including drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracies. Records filed in the case link some of the Jacksons to a Seattle area street gang. Markell Jackson is a fugitive still being sought by law enforcement. Matelita (Marty) Jackson, Miracle Patu-Jackson and Adean Batinga were released on bond. The other defendants indicted for drug trafficking include: Edgar Valdez, 26, of Phoenix Keondre Jackson, 29, Wichita, Kansas Michael Young Jr., 43, Tacoma, Washington Sir-Terrique Devon Milam, 20, Federal Way, Washington Tyrell Lewis, 32, Federal Way, Washington – a fugitive Robert Johnson, 20, Renton, Washington Diyana Abraha, 22, Seattle – a fugitive Adean Batinga, 20, Burien, Washington Tianna Karastan, 21, Seattle -a fugitive Diallo Redd, 34, Tacoma, arrested in Montana on a Montana indictment. Two additional defendants were arrested in the Seattle area in connection with the serving of yesterday’s search warrants: Chad Conti, 47, Covington, Washington Phillip Lamont Alexander, 48, Des Moines, Washington Over the course of the investigation law enforcement seized more than 846,000 fentanyl pills, nearly 7 kilograms of fentanyl powder, 7 kilograms of cocaine and 29 firearms. They also seized more than $116,000 in cash. In Whatcom County, teams led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) arrested four people on criminal complaints for fentanyl distribution. According to the complaints, the Whatcom drug traffickers were linked by phone communication and surveillance to the Jackson drug trafficking organization. In September 2023, four tribal citizens died of fentanyl overdose within a period of just four days, prompting the Lummi Indian Business Council to declare a state of emergency in response to the escalating fentanyl crisis. Tribal and federal partners examined the phone of one of the overdose victims and found connections to the Jackson Drug Trafficking Organization. DEA, the Whatcom Gang and Drug Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Bureau of Indian Affairs have continued to work closely with the Lummi Nation Police to identify additional members of this drug trafficking organization with the goal of stopping the flow of fentanyl into Indian Country and elsewhere. Those arrested on complaints this week include: Robert Bellair, 41, Ferndale, Washington Thomas J. Morris, 42, Bellingham, Washington Patrick James, 40, Bellingham, Washington Ronald Finkbonner, 50, Bellingham, Washington All four are charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute. “The Drug Enforcement Administration’s top priority is to combat fentanyl traffickers responsible for deaths and misery in our communities,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “This case highlights the lengths to which DEA and our partners will go to ensure people trafficking fentanyl are held accountable for the suffering they cause.” “The Seattle Police Department appreciates the collaboration with our federal partners in combatting the scourge of the fentanyl crisis and the proliferation of guns from drug trafficking organizations,” said Deputy Chief Eric Barden of the Seattle Police Department. “Fentanyl caused over 1,000 overdose deaths in King County last year. Seattle Police are delighted to partner with the FBI, DEA, USAO and other state and local jurisdictions to dismantle a drug distribution network undoubtedly responsible for deaths in our community.” The charges contained in the indictment and criminal complaints are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. This case is being investigated by the FBI, (Seattle, Phoenix, Atlanta, Kansas City, Dallas, Las Vegas, Montana), DEA (Seattle, Kansas City, Wichita, Montana), the Seattle Police Department, King County Sheriff’s Office, Whatcom Gang and Drug Task Force, the Lummi Police Department, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and United States Border Patrol Blaine Sector Targeting and Intelligence Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zach Dillon, Crystal Correa, and Michael Harder.


title: Michigan Man Sentenced to 86 Months in Prison

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Shauntay Wade, 43 years old, of Niles, Michigan, was sentenced by United States District Court Senior Judge Jon E. DeGuilio after being found guilty of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm following a 3-day jury in February 2024, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Wade was sentenced to 86 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case in December 2021, Wade physically assaulted a woman, pointed a gun at her, and then hid the gun once a 911 call was made. Responding officers found the gun along with over 150 grams of marijuana and 35 grams of cocaine. Wade has several prior felony convictions, any one of which prohibit him from possessing the firearm in this case. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Mishawaka Police Department and Indiana State Police Laboratory. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Hannah T. Jones and Katelan McKenzie Doyle. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Camden Businessman and Associate Charged with Conspiracy to Commit Tax Fraud

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – Two men from Camden, New Jersey, were indicted for their roles in conspiring to defraud the IRS by concealing cash wages paid to a business’s employees, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Tri Anh Tieu, 53, and Andy Tran, 49, both of Camden, New Jersey, were both charged with one count of conspiring to defraud the United States. They were arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth A. Pascal in Camden federal court on Oct. 2, 2024, and were each released on $100,000 unsecured bond. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Tieu owed Tri States Staffing LLC, a business based in Pennsauken, New Jersey. Tran was an employee of Tri States Staffing who, at times, served as its representative. Tri States Staffing provided temporary workers to New Jersey businesses located in Gloucester and Burlington Counties. As part of its agreement with its customer businesses, Tri States Staffing was responsible for collecting and paying over to the IRS the payroll taxes due and owing on the wages paid to the temporary workers provided by Tri States Staffing. Between the third quarter of 2018 and the second quarter of 2022, Tri States received more than $2.5 million in payments from its customer businesses. Tieu and Tran paid Tri States’s employees in cash and failed to pay over the payroll taxes due and owing on those wages. Tieu and Tran also filed false individual income tax returns that falsely omitted the income each received from Tri States Staffing. Tieu spent at least some of the unpaid payroll taxes on personal expenditures, including gambling. The count of conspiracy to defraud the United States carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Amy MacNeely in Philadelphia and Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan in Newark, with the investigation leading to the charge. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Bender of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. tieutran.indictment.pdf