title: Multiple defendants prosecuted on federal firearms charges

body_text: SAVANNAH, GA: Three people have been indicted in the Southern District of Georgia on felony charges including illegal firearms possession, while additional defendants have been sentenced to federal prison or await further proceedings after pleading guilty to federal charges including illegal possession of firearms. The cases are prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods in collaboration with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI, to reduce violent crime with measures that include targeting convicted felons who illegally possess guns. “A key factor in our fight against violent crime is to remove guns from the hands of those who are prohibited from possessing them – particularly convicted felons,” said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “We commend our law enforcement partners for their diligent work in keeping our streets safe.” In the past four years, more than 800 defendants have been prosecuted in the Southern District of Georgia for firearms offenses – most often for possessing a firearm after conviction for a previous felony. That charge carries a statutory penalty of up to 15 years in prison, and there is no parole in the federal system. Those indicted during the August term of the U.S. District Court Grand Jury include: Tommy Cowart , 60, of Statesboro, Ga., charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; Donyah Rayquan Hardaway , 27, of Statesboro, Ga., charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Possession of a Stolen Firearm; and, Jamell Williams , 44, of Savannah, charged with Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon. Defendants recently adjudicated on federal firearms charges include: Olajuwon Raheem Williams , 25, of Augusta, was sentenced to 120 months in prison and fined $1,500 after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Williams after he threatened to shoot up his ex-girlfriend’s home and fled from police while firing at the pursuing officer with an AR-style pistol. Williams was previously convicted of armed robbery. Tyrique Marquez Mills , 25, of Waycross, Ga., was sentenced to 27 months in prison after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Mills was wanted on felony warrants related to a shooting when he was arrested in July 2022 by Waycross Police officers who found a loaded pistol in his pocket. Horatio Trimane Bynes , 65, of Augusta, was sentenced to 60 months in prison and fined $2,500 after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies found drugs, cash, and a .357 caliber revolver in Bynes’ car during a traffic stop . Javonte Deshawn Washington , 30, of Savannah, was sentenced to 44 months in prison after pleading guilty to Straw Purchase of a Firearm. In his plea, Washington agreed that in November 2022 he aided and abetted Nygeria Tasheema Brown , 32, of Savannah, in purchasing a semi-automatic pistol for Washington from a Chatham County gun store even though he knew that, as a convicted felon, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm. Garden City police officers found Washington in possession of the gun later that month when responding to a report of a man pointing a gun at motorists outside an apartment complex. Brown awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm. Dequan Donte Payne , 31, of Augusta, was sentenced to 110 months in prison and fined $1,500 after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Richmond County Sheriff’s investigators arrested Payne in March 2022 after finding drugs and guns during a search of his residence as part of a drug investigation. Payne previously was convicted of armed robbery. Daquan Marquise Rolack , 25, of Grovetown, Ga., was sentenced to 60 months in prison and fined $1,500 after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Richmond County deputies arrested Rolack as part of Operation Grace during a June 2022 traffic stop in which they found Rolack in possession of a pistol while engaging in drug trafficking. Daquan Minor , 32, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Savannah Police officers found a pistol in Minor’s possession during an August 2022 traffic stop. Minor previously was convicted of illegal gun possession and drug trafficking offenses. Joquan K. Clark , 25, of Waynesboro, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Waynesboro Police officers responding to a domestic dispute arrested Clark after finding a pistol in his pocket. Jovonn Courtney Stokes , 26, of Springfield, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to three counts of Interference with Commerce by Robbery, and one count of Use of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. In his plea agreement, Stokes admitted that he brandished a handgun while robbing two Chatham County convenience stores and an Effingham County convenience store in November and December 2022. Stephan Dewaine Jackson , 28, of Brunswick, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Glynn County Police officers found a pistol in Jackson’s vehicle during a January 2022 traffic stop. Tyrell Smith , 32, of Savannah, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Smith, who had an active arrest warrant related to a Savannah shooting, ran from police who arrested him when they found him carrying a pistol. Isaac Wilford Stewart , 23, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Waynesboro Police officers found a pistol in the floorboard of Stewart’s vehicle in October 2022 after an attempted traffic stop led to a chase and crash. Tyrone Dion Lyons Sr. , 39, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Richmond County deputies and U.S. Marshals found a pistol in Lyons’ vehicle while serving a warrant for his arrest on Gwinnett County, Ga., charges. Jared Tyrese Adger , 23, of Augusta, awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Illegal Receipt of a Firearm by a Person Under Indictment. In June 2022, Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies found Adger in possession of two firearms during a traffic stop as part of Operation Grace. William Beau Devore , 21, of Martinez, Ga., awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Columbia County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Devore in January 2022 as a suspect in a burglary, and determined that he was illegally in possession of five guns. Agencies investigating these cases include the ATF, the FBI, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Savannah Police Department, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, and the Georgia State Patrol. The cases are being prosecuted for the United States by the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office. Under federal law, it is illegal for an individual to possess a firearm if he or she falls into one of nine prohibited categories including being a felon; illegal alien; or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime. It is also illegal to purchase – or even to attempt to purchase – firearms if the buyer is a prohibited person or illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others. Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to lawfully purchase a firearm, also is a federal offense. For more information from the ATF on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atfw-form-4473


title: U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown and Caddo Parish District Attorney James E. Stewart, Sr. Announce the Appointment of Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in Shreveport

component: USAO - Louisiana, Western

body_text: SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced the appointment of Jason Waltman to serve as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. This appointment is the result of a partnership between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Caddo Parish District Attorney’s Office in the Shreveport Division of the Western District of Louisiana. Due to the proliferation of gang and gun violence in the Shreveport area, U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown and Caddo Parish District Attorney James E. Stewart, Sr. have joined efforts in a unique way to fight violent crime in that area by adding a specially appointed federal prosecutor to work these types of cases. The goal is for Mr. Waltman to partner as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney with the district’s Project Safe Neighborhood Program and other Assistant U.S. Attorneys to improve the program’s effectiveness in the northwest corner of the district. “Collaboration with our state and local law enforcement and prosecutive partners is vital. For years, we have had a great partnership with the Caddo Parish District Attorney’s Office, but we want to take our collaborative efforts the next level. I am grateful that District Attorney Stewart is willing to share such a skilled and talented Assistant District Attorney with our office as we jointly fight to eradicate violent crime in Shreveport,” said U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “SAUSA Jason Waltman is an extremely experienced and knowledgeable prosecutor and knows the federal court system, given he was a former federal criminal defense attorney. Over the years, he has developed a great working relationship with our Assistant U.S. Attorneys, federal agents and task force officers, and will give us valuable insight when it comes to charging decisions and prosecutive strategy.” “This is another example of our cooperative efforts of how we work together to serve the people of the community,” stated Caddo Parish District Attorney James E. Stewart, Sr. Jason Waltman has worked as an Assistant District Attorney for the First Judicial District Court in Caddo Parish since 2016, where he serves as one of the office’s Section Chiefs in the Criminal Division. Prior to working at the District Attorney’s Office, SAUSA Waltman worked as a Trial Attorney with the Capital Assistance Project of Louisiana, and in private practice handling criminal, civil, and administrative law. SAUSA Waltman also previously served as an Instructor at the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office Training Academy. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Baylor University and a Juris Doctorate from South Texas College of Law. # # #


title: Hartford Fentanyl Distributor Sentenced to 67 Months in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that TROY COLEMAN, also known as “Hoy” and “TJ,” 37, formerly of Hartford and Waterbury, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton in New Haven to 67 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, an investigation by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force revealed that Troy Coleman and his brother, Tyshawn Coleman, were selling fentanyl and crack cocaine in Hartford. In November and December 2020, investigators made five controlled purchases of fentanyl, totaling 900 dose bags of the drug, from Troy Coleman. As the investigation continued, on April 13, 2021, Troy Coleman was shot multiple times outside of a restaurant located at 2393 Main Street in Hartford. Coleman, who possessed fentanyl and crack cocaine at the time of the shooting, was released from the hospital approximately one week later. It is alleged that an undercover law enforcement officer purchased fentanyl from Tyshawn Colman in late April and early May 2021. On May 5, 2021, investigators conducted a court authorized search of Tyshawn Coleman’s apartment on Sisson Avenue in Hartford, where Troy Coleman also resided. The search revealed distribution quantities of fentanyl and crack cocaine, items used to process and package narcotics for street sale, a .40 caliber “ghost gun” with a loaded high-capacity magazine, a loaded 9mm pistol with an obliterated serial number, and additional loaded gun magazine, ammunition, and $4860 in cash. Troy Coleman was located and arrested on unrelated later that day. Troy Coleman has been detained since his federal arrest on October 4, 2021. On August 23, 2022, he pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, fentanyl. Tyshawn Coleman, also known as “Ty” and “Mazi” has been charged by indictment for conduct stemming from this investigation, and is currently being sought by law enforcement. Individuals with knowledge of his whereabouts are encouraged to call the FBI at 203-777-6311. As to Tyshawn Coleman, U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force and the Hartford Police Department. The Task Force includes members of the FBI, Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, New Britain Police Department, West Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian P. Leaming and Brendan J. Keefe through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.


title: Two Men Plead Guilty to Violent Carjackings and Illegal Possession of Firearms

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – Two men have pleaded guilty to multiple carjacking and firearms violations, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, on January 3, 2022, Jordan James Smith, 26, of Ramsey, approached an individual who was sitting in a parked vehicle. Smith opened the driver’s door of the victim’s Nissan Juke and pushed a gun into the victim’s torso. Smith then stated, “I’ve got a [expletive] gun,” and directed the victim to “give me everything you have and get out of the car.” Smith pulled the victim from the car, got into the driver’s seat, and drove off. The victim’s phone and wallet were still in the car as Smith fled. On January 10, 2022, Smith and an associate used the victim’s Nissan Juke as collateral to test drive a black Maserati. Smith and his associate abandoned the Nissan Juke and stole the black Maserati before being apprehended by law enforcement. On February 3, 2022, Smith and his co-defendant Carson Thomas McCoy, 22, of Blaine, broke into a local car dealership. They stole several vehicles, including an unlicensed GMC Acadia. Later that morning, at 8:30 a.m., the Minneapolis Police Department responded to a hit-and-run accident. Smith was driving a blue Honda Accord while McCoy—who was driving the stolen GMA Acadia and following Smith’s blue Honda Accord—ran a stop sign and struck another vehicle. McCoy abandoned the GMC Acadia and got into the blue Honda Accord driven by Smith. However, before leaving the area, Smith approached the vehicle McCoy hit, pointed a gun at the driver, and said “give me your purse or I’ll [expletive] kill you.” Smith returned to the blue Honda Accord and fled the scene with the victim’s iPhone, housekeys, and a child’s backpack. Shortly thereafter, at approximately 9:00 a.m., Smith and McCoy noticed the driver of a silver Honda Accord parked in a nearby residential area. Smith and McCoy exited the blue Honda Accord and approached the silver Honda Accord. Smith tapped on the driver’s side window with a black gun that had a red camouflage slide while McCoy used his hand to gesture that he also possessed a gun. The driver of the silver Honda Accord exited the vehicle and, as the driver attempted to retrieve his wallet, Smith threatened the driver with his gun. Smith and McCoy then drove off in the silver Honda Accord. Because Smith has prior felony convictions, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time. According to court documents, on August 10, 2022, after stealing a black BMW sedan, McCoy broke into a residence in Ham Lake, Minnesota, stealing various items—including a firearm. Less than 30 minutes later, law enforcement responded to a road-rage incident involving a black BMW sedan. A group of motorcyclists reported nearly colliding with a black BMW sedan after which the driver—later identified as McCoy—fired a handgun into the air from the sunroof of the black BMW. Shortly thereafter, law enforcement officers located the black BMW sedan and attempted a traffic stop. McCoy fled, collided with a marked patrol car, and ultimately crashed into a tree. A search of the black BMW sedan revealed, among other things, the Springfield Armory semi-automatic pistol the defendant had stolen from the Ham Lake residence, another handgun, baggies of controlled substances, and the false identification card the defendant used to test drive the black BMW sedan before he stole it. Smith pleaded guilty yesterday before Judge John R. Tunheim to two counts of carjacking. McCoy pleaded guilty on April 11, 2023, before Judge John R. Tunheim to one count of aiding and abetting carjacking and one count of possessing a firearm as a felon. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Blaine Police Department, the Hennepin County Violent Offender Task Force (VOTF), and the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan L. Sing is prosecuting the case.


title: Woman Charged with Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Jacquelyn Moore made an initial appearance in federal court on a criminal complaint charging her with assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Moore, 47, a registered member of the Navajo Nation, will remain on conditions of release pending trial, which has not been scheduled. According to the criminal complaint, on July 18, 2023, the victim, Jane Doe, was standing outside the To’hajiilee Chapter House, which is located within the exterior boundaries of the Navajo Nation, when Moore drove over a cement wheel stop and pinned Jane Doe’s lower body against the building, amputating her left leg. Jane Doe’s husband pulled Moore out of her car and reversed it, freeing Jane Doe so that a bystander could apply a belt to her leg as a tourniquet. Others poured water on her and tried to shade her until medical personnel arrived. Jane Doe was transported to UNMH and underwent surgery. Moore was arrested at the scene. When she was interviewed by a Navajo Criminal Investigator the next day, Moore admitted that she was intoxicated and claimed to have blacked out and have no memory of the incident. An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Moore faces up to 10 years in prison. The FBI Albuquerque Field Office and the Navajo Police Department investigated this case with assistance from the New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittany DuChaussee is prosecuting the case. # # # 23-192


title: Ocean Vessel Operator Pleads Guilty, Agrees to Pay $2 Million for Marine Environmental Crimes

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: Ocean vessel operating company Zeaborn Ship Management (Singapore) PTE. LTD. (Zeaborn) pleaded guilty to maintaining false and incomplete records relating to the discharge of oily bilge water and garbage on board the vessel Star Maia . In its plea, Zeaborn has agreed to pay a total monetary penalty of $2 million. The company’s Chief Engineer, Constancio Estuye, and Captain, Alexander Parreno, also pleaded guilty for their roles in the crimes. According to court documents, Zeaborn and Estuye admitted that – at least four times between June and October 2022 – they dumped over 7,500 gallons of oily bilge water from the Star Maia into the ocean without first processing the oily bilge water through required pollution prevention equipment. They also admitted that these illegal discharges were falsely recorded in the oil record book as having been made using the vessel’s pollution prevention equipment when the equipment had not been used. Oily bilge water typically contains oil contamination from the operation and cleaning of machinery on the vessel. In addition to the illegal discharges of oily bilge water, Zeaborn and Parreno admitted that on at least three or four occasions between June and August 2022, they had burned garbage – including paper, plastics and oily rags – in barrels on the Star Maia’s deck. The barrels were then thrown into the ocean. This garbage burning and barrel disposal was not recorded in the vessel’s garbage record book, as required by law. “Illegally dumping oily waste and garbage at sea poses a serious threat to the health and viability of the marine environment,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This prosecution demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that those who violate environmental laws are held accountable for their criminal conduct.” “Unlawful oil discharges can cause significant harm to the marine environment,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Andrew Haden for the Southern District of California. “We will continue to safeguard our oceans by vigorous enforcement of environmental laws. Today’s case is a reflection of that commitment.” “This prosecution highlights the Justice Department and the U.S. Coast Guard’s continued dedication in safeguarding our maritime environment against those that seek to deliberately harm our natural resources,” said Sector Commander Captain James W. Spitler of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Sector San Diego. “Illegal dumping of oil, falsification of oil record books and flagrant disregard for air emission requirements are egregious violations. These guilty pleas should serve as a reminder that the Coast Guard and our partners at the Justice Department will work tirelessly to hold accountable those that seek to deliberately harm the maritime environment.” Zeaborn pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in San Diego to two felony violations of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS). The plea agreement, subject to acceptance by the court, includes a $1.5 million fine and a $500,000 community service payment. The community service payment will go to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to fund projects to benefit marine and coastal natural resources located in or around the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve in Southern California. Zeaborn will also serve a four-year term of probation during which all containerships and conventional bulk carriers operated by the company and calling on U.S. ports will be required to implement a robust environmental compliance plan. Estuye and Parreno each pleaded guilty to one felony violation of the APPS for failing to accurately maintain the oil and garbage record books for the Star Maia . Sentencing for defendants Zeaborn, Estuve and Parreno is set for Dec. 1. The U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Diego and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service are investigating the case. Senior Trial Attorney Stephen Da Ponte of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Melanie K. Pierson for the Southern District of California are prosecuting the case. Note, this release has been updated to specify which types of Zeaborn vessels are subject to the four-year term of probation.


title: Hammond Man Sentenced to 60 Months Incarceration for Committing Interstate Domestic Violence

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – VINCENT TURNER , age 39, a resident of Hammond, Louisiana, was sentenced by United States District Judge Susie Morgan to 60 months in federal prison for violating 18 U.S.C. 2261(b)(5), Interstate Domestic Violence, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. The sentence imposed will run concurrent with a sentence to be imposed in a Plaquemines Parish revocation proceeding. On May 2, 2023, TURNER pled guilty to a three-count indictment charging him with violations of Assault and Interstate Domestic Violence. The remaining counts of the indictment were dismissed pursuant to a plea agreement between the government and TURNER . Following his incarceration, TURNER will be placed on supervised release for 36 months. The Court also imposed a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. According to court records, TURNER physically assaulted his dating partner while aboard the Carnival cruise ship Valor , an American vessel. The ship left from the Port of Orleans and traveled to Costa Maya, Mexico. While aboard the cruise ship, TURNER and his dating partner engaged in a verbal altercation that turned physical when TURNER pushed his dating partner, causing her to fall to the floor. TURNER continued to strike the victim with his hand and kick her with his foot, resulting in physical injuries to her. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brittany Reed of the Public Integrity Unit.


title: Permanent Injunction and $650,000 Civil Penalty Imposed on Experian Consumer Services for Allegedly Sending Commercial Emails Without Providing Consumers the Ability to Opt Out of Future Emails,  in Violation the CAN-SPAM Act

component: Civil Division

body_text: The Justice Department, together with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), today announced that ConsumerInfo.com, Inc. dba Experian Consumer Services (Experian), has agreed to a permanent injunction and a $650,000 civil penalty as part of a settlement to resolve alleged violations of the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003 (CAN-SPAM Act), the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Rule (CAN-SPAM Rule), and the Federal Trade Commission Act. The CAN-SPAM Act and Rule require senders of commercial emails to notify the recipients of such emails of their right to opt-out of future emails and to provide an opt-out mechanism. Experian shares a parent company, Experian PLC, with Experian Information Solutions Inc., which offers credit information, analytical tools and marketing services. The case, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, involves emails Experian sent to consumers who had created free Experian accounts to control third-party access to their credit reports. Account holders may “freeze” their credit reports to make them inaccessible to identity thieves and legitimate potential creditors such as banks. They can also “unfreeze” their credit reports when they require a credit check, for example, to finance a expensive purchase. The complaint asserts that Experian sent its account holders millions of commercial emails promoting additional Experian services. These emails asked the consumer to confirm whether a car that Experian had associated with the user’s account was theirs, offered a service aimed at boosting the user’s credit score, and advertised a free scan of the dark web. The emails did not give the recipients notice that they could opt-out of future such emails or provide any opt-out mechanism, violating the CAN-SPAM Act and the CAN-SPAM Rule. The complaint alleges that these emails implied that they contained important information about the recipient’s account, even though they were commercial in nature. The government received many consumer complaints that these emails contained no opt-out mechanism. The stipulated order, entered by the federal district court yesterday, enjoins Experian from sending commercial emails that do not provide notice that the recipient may opt-out of receiving such emails in the future or an opt-out mechanism. The order also enjoins Experian from otherwise violating the CAN-SPAM Act. Under the order, Experian is also subject to a civil penalty judgment of $650,000. “Consumers have the right to opt-out of email advertising that they do not want,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department is committed to enforcing the CAN-SPAM Act and preventing senders of commercial emails from falsely describing those emails as providing account updates or other transactional information in order to circumvent the opt-out requirements.” “Signing up for a membership doesn’t mean you’re signing up for unwanted email, especially when all you’re trying to do is freeze your credit to protect your identity,” said Director Samuel Levine of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “You always have the right to unsubscribe from marketing messages, and the FTC takes enforcing that right seriously.” “It is critical that consumers have the ability to opt-out of unwanted commercial emails, and such emails should not be misleading in any way,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California. “This permanent injunction and civil penalty will provide relief to consumers and help to prevent future violations of the CAN-SPAM Act.” This matter was handled by Senior Trial Attorney James T. Nelson and Assistant Director Lisa Hsiao of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, Assistant U.S. Attorney Ross Cuff for the Central District of California and Frances Kern and Elsie Kappler of the FTC. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch . For more information about the FTC, visit www.FTC.gov .


title: New Orleans Man Sentenced for Violating the Federal Gun Control Act

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

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – MELVIN WALKER , age 35, a resident of Westwego, Louisiana, was sentenced by United States District Judge, Jay C. Zainey to 37 months in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons for violating the Federal Gun Control Act, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. On May 11, 2023, WALKER pled guilty to a one-count indictment charging him with Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). According to court records, WALKER was standing outside of his residence when the occupants of a white SUV opened fire at him. WALKER removed a nine-millimeter firearm from his waistband and fired back at the fleeing SUV. WALKER sustained a gunshot wound during the gunfire exchange. Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the scene and collected fired casings from WALKER ’s nine-millimeter firearm, as well as .223 rifle casings believed to have been discharged by the occupants of the white SUV. WALKER ’s residence was searched by deputies who located a bloody nine-millimeter magazine was found on WALKER ’s living room couch. The deputies also determined that the ammunition collected from the magazine was the same caliber and brand of ammunition discharged by the nine-millimeter that WALKER discharged. WALKER has two previous convictions for firearms-related offenses and is prohibited from possessing firearms. Following his term of incarceration, WALKER will be placed on supervised release for 36 months. The court also imposed a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. 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. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brittany Reed of the Public Integrity Unit.


title: Former Puerto Rico Mayor Sentenced for Accepting Bribes

component: Criminal Division

body_text: WASHINGTON – The former mayor of the municipality of Humacao, Puerto Rico, was sentenced today to three years and one month in prison for his involvement in a bribery scheme in which he received cash payments for awarding municipal contracts to two companies. According to court documents, from 2021 until 2022, Reinaldo Vargas-Rodríguez, 49, was the mayor and highest-ranking government official in the municipality of Humacao. Starting in 2021, Vargas-Rodríguez was involved in a bribery conspiracy in which he received and accepted cash payments from two businessmen in exchange for awarding municipal contracts for waste disposal services, asphalt and paving services, and debris removal, and paying outstanding invoices on the contracts. Vargas-Rodríguez received at least $27,000 in cash bribes from January 2021 through July 2021 from the two businessmen. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph González of the FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement. The FBI San Juan Field Office investigated the case. Trial Attorney Nicholas W. Cannon of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Erbe for the District of Puerto Rico prosecuted the case. Trial Attorney Ryan R. Crosswell of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott H. Anderson for the District of Puerto Rico assisted in the investigation. This case is part of the Justice Department’s ongoing efforts to combat public corruption by municipal officials in Puerto Rico. In addition to the above matters, the Public Integrity Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico have recently obtained convictions against other former public officials and contractors in the District of Puerto Rico for soliciting and accepting bribes related to municipal contracts. ### 23-900


title: Man Who Claimed Bounty for St. Louis Murder Sentenced to 9 years in Prison

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Ronnie L. White on Tuesday sentenced a man who claimed the $10,000 bounty for a 2017 murder to nine years in prison. Delvin Bost, 28, pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He admitted calling to confirm that a bounty was still in place for Kevin Davis Jr. and then accepting the money after the fatal shooting of Davis, 24, on June 30, 2017 in the 1900 block of Belt Avenue in St. Louis. Bost said he then paid Michael “Beezy” Johnson. A witness told investigators that Johnson fired 25 shots at Davis Jr. after chasing him down the street. On August 1, Judge White sentenced Johnson, 30, to 18 years in prison. Both Bost and Johnson were involved in a narcotics conspiracy led by Maurice Herbert Lee II, 35, who had placed a bounty of between $5,000 and $15,000 on any rival gang members or drug dealers. Lee pleaded guilty May 2 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and two counts of conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. In his guilty plea, Lee admitted to offering and paying the bounty for the killing of two different men. In addition to Kevin Davis, Lee admitted that another fatal shooting occurred in furtherance of the drug conspiracy, that of Alexander Noodel on May 8, 2017. Lee is scheduled to be sentenced September 7. Bost also admitted selling drugs on Facebook and being caught with methamphetamine on Feb. 11, 2019. Judge White ordered Bost to pay more than $16,000 in restitution to the victim’s family. In all, 17 defendants were charged and all pleaded guilty. The case was investigated by the St. Louis County Police Department, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul D’Agrosa and Mohsen Pasha are prosecuting the case.


body_text: The former mayor of the municipality of Humacao, Puerto Rico, was sentenced today to three years and one month in prison for his involvement in a bribery scheme in which he received cash payments for awarding municipal contracts to two companies. According to court documents, from 2021 until 2022, Reinaldo Vargas-Rodriguez, 49, was the mayor and highest-ranking government official in the municipality of Humacao. Starting in 2021, Vargas-Rodriguez was involved in a bribery conspiracy in which he received and accepted cash payments from two businessmen in exchange for awarding municipal contracts for waste disposal services, asphalt and paving services, and debris removal, and paying outstanding invoices on the contracts. Vargas-Rodriguez received at least $27,000 in cash bribes from January 2021 through July 2021 from the two businessmen. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph Gonzalez of the FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement. The FBI San Juan Field Office investigated the case. Trial Attorney Nicholas W. Cannon of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Erbefor the District of Puerto Rico prosecuted the case. Trial Attorney Ryan R. Crosswell of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott H. Anderson for the District of Puerto Rico assisted in the investigation. This case is part of the Justice Department’s ongoing efforts to combat public corruption by municipal officials in Puerto Rico. In addition to the above matters, the Public Integrity Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico have recently obtained convictions against other former public officials and contractors in the District of Puerto Rico for soliciting and accepting bribes related to municipal contracts.


title: Former Louisiana Resident Charged with Federal Cares Act Fraud

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – BRIA PETERS , age 38, formerly of New Orleans, LA and now residing in Houston, Texas, was charged on August 18, 2023 in a one-count bill of information with making false statements related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. On March 27, 2020, The CARES Act established several new temporary programs and provided for the expansion of others to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Among these programs, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) authorized forgivable loans backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to small businesses to retain workers and maintain payroll, make mortgage interest payments, lease payments, and utility payments. The PPP allows the interest and principal on the PPP loan to be forgiven if the business spends the loan proceeds on these expense items within a designated period of time after receiving the proceeds and uses at least a certain percentage of the PPP loan proceeds on payroll expenses. According to the charging documents, PETERS made false statements to an approved lender on or about May 27, 2021, for the purpose of fraudulently obtaining a PPP loan, which she later received in the amount of approximately $29,166.00. PETERS stated in her PPP application that she owned a clothing business impacted by the pandemic when,in truth, she had no such business in 2020. PETERS faces a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to $250,000 in fines, and up to three years of supervised release for the false statements count. There is also a $100 mandatory special assessment fee due after conviction. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. For more information on the Department of Justice’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Amtrak Office of Inspector General – Criminal Investigations in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera of the Financial Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Former attorney, convicted of defrauding clients, now charged with defrauding taxpayers by falsely claiming COVID program benefits

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Tacoma – A disbarred attorney, sentenced last year to 18 months in prison for stealing money from a deceased client’s estate and defrauding a friend, is now charged by information with wire fraud and making false statements in connection with a scheme to illegally claim COVID pandemic benefits, and with lying to the government about her income, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Darlene Baker, aka Darlene Piper, 58 of Port Orchard, Washington, was sentenced in March 2022 to 18 months in prison for her scheme to steal a $500,000 bequest to a children’s hospital, and then defrauding a friend out of $500,000 to repay the estate. Piper has officially changed her name to Baker. She is scheduled for a plea hearing on the information on Friday August 25, 2023. Following the sentencing hearing for the original wire fraud case, prosecutors were alerted that Baker had lied to the government about her income and work status. The investigation revealed that she had also lied to government agencies to obtain pandemic relief loans to which she was not entitled. The charging information alleges that between March of 2020 and August of 2021, Baker sought to obtain $265,000 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Funds and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), and successfully obtained over $80,000. In connection with the applications for the programs, Baker allegedly falsely claimed that she had lost all income due to the pandemic and stated that she would use the aid to meet payroll expenses for her business. In fact, throughout that period, Baker worked providing accounting and related services for a Gig Harbor, Washington, investment firm earning as much as $145,000. Baker also had no employees and no payroll obligations. The False Statement charge alleges that Baker lied on financial disclosure statements required by the court in her earlier criminal case. In those statements, Baker claimed to be out of work, when in fact she had substantial income working for the investment firm. Despite that income, Baker failed to repay the victim in the wire fraud case and claimed to have virtually no resources to pay restitution. Darlene Piper was released from federal custody on March 16, 2023, but remains on supervised release. Wire fraud in connection with a presidentially declared major disaster or emergency is punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Making a false statement is punishable by up to five years in prison. The charges contained in the information 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. The case is being investigated by the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mike Dion. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . baker_information.pdf


title: Fugitive and Alleged Drug Dealer Behind Bars After Three Years in Hiding

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: Salt Lake City, Utah – A Utah fugitive was arrested in Salt Lake County after fleeing from federal law enforcement in 2020 on federal charges related to the distribution of a narcotic in the District of Utah. According to court documents, Llobani Fredrigco Figueroa, 32, of Magna, Utah, was located and taken into custody by federal agents in early August 2023. In 2020, a federal grand jury charged Figueroa by indictment for distribution of methamphetamine. Court documents allege that in February 2020, Figueroa distributed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Figueroa had his initial appearance on the indictment August 8, 2023. He had a detention hearing on August 21, 2023, at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated jointly by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Safe Streets Task Force, West Valley City Police Department, Unified Police Department Salt Lake Area Metro Gang Unit (MGU), and the Department of Public Safety State Bureau of Investigation (DPS-SBI). Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Nelson of the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Utah Fugitive and Alleged Drug Trafficking Ringleader Among 28 Defendants Charged in Major Multi-Agency Operation

body_text: Salt Lake City, Utah – A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an 18-count indictment Wednesday charging a fugitive and 27 other defendants with multiple drug related crimes, including conspiracy to distribute drugs, possession and distribution of drugs, aiding and abetting and firearm offenses. According to court documents, Llobani Federico Figueroa, aka “Pablo,” 32, of Magna, Utah, is the alleged ringleader in a major drug trafficking organization that operated in the District of Utah. Figueroa was taken into custody on August 3, 2023. Figueroa had been a fugitive since he was indicted by a federal grand jury in 2020 for distribution of methamphetamine. See full news release here: Fugitive and Alleged Drug Dealer Behind Bars After Three Years in Hiding . In the 2023 indictment, Figueroa is listed as the main defendant with 27 additional co-defendants, many of whom were also taken into custody. Some of the main conspirators in the drug trafficking conspiracy include Lorena Inez Herrera, aka Lorena Duran, aka Melissa Valencia, 40, of West Valley City, Utah; Isaac David Valdez, 39, of Salt Lake City; Christopher Kin Chun, aka, “Sinner,” aka, “C Kin,” 25, of West Jordan, Utah; and Candelario Lopez-Perez, 21, a foreign national. According to the indictment, beginning but not later than December 2022 and continuing through August 2023, in the District of Utah, Figueroa and the defendants named in the indictment, conspired to distribute narcotics, including 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. During this same time period, undercover agents conducted multiple controlled narcotics purchases from different distributors working on behalf of Figueroa’s drug trafficking organization. As part of their alleged drug trafficking conspiracy, Figueroa served as the primary conduit among multiple Californian and Mexico-based sources of supply and broker/distributors in the District of Utah. Figueroa and other members of the drug trafficking conspiracy allegedly rented residences on a short-term basis, often referred to as “trap houses,” from which members of the conspiracy possessed with the intent to distribute narcotics under Figueroa’s direction. According to court documents, at the time of Figueroa’s arrest, he possessed more than $300,000 in cash, three Glock firearms with ammunition, 3.8 pounds of methamphetamine, 328 grams of heroin, 1.6 pounds of “crack” cocaine, and 409 grams of powder cocaine. Figueroa is also a known member of the nationwide criminal organization “LaRaza.” At the time of Herrera’s arrest, she possessed more than 46 pounds of methamphetamine and more than 37 pounds of cocaine. At the time of Lopez-Perez’s arrest, he possessed approximately 700 grams of methamphetamine, more than 240 grams of heroin, 189 grams of cocaine, more than $15,000 in cash and a loaded firearm. Figueroa is charged with a continuing criminal enterprise; conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; conspiracy to distribute heroin; conspiracy to distribute cocaine; possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, aiding and abetting; possession of heroin with intent to distribute, aiding and abetting; felon in possession of a firearm; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. All defendants in the indictment are charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Defendants charged in counts three through 18 are listed in the indictment. Figueroa’s arraignment on the indictment was Monday, August 21, at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. His trial date will be scheduled at a later date. Initial court appearances on the other defendants can be found in the court docket. U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated jointly by the FBI Safe Streets Violent Crime Task Force and West Valley City Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys for the District of Utah are prosecuting the case. Remaining defendants named in the indictment: 1. Steven Kay Langley, aka Steven Vernon Johnson, 55, of Ennis, Montana 2. Tammie Lynn Salstrom, aka Tammie Lynn Tumsuden, 51, of Ennis, Montana 3. Brandon Leon Simmons, aka, Adam Lee Evans, 42, of North Salt Lake, Utah 4. Irineo Brito, aka’s Neo Brito, and Neo Trujillo, 42, of Salt Lake City, Utah 5. Glen Anthony Witham, 62, of Salt Lake City, Utah 6. Jon Tyler Pearson, aka’s Treetop, Droopee, 34, of West Jordan, Utah 7. Monique Maria Garcia, 45, of West Valley City, Utah 8. Buff Joseph Boss, 46, of Heber, Utah 9. Coty Lee Stiehl, 44, of Murray, Utah 10. Kimberly Sue Stubbs, 50, of Clarkston, Utah 11. Irene Mary McIntosh, aka Irene Douglas, 35, of Salt Lake City, Utah 12. Harold Brent Larsen, 66, of Gusher, Utah 13. Paul Casey Krehbiel, 38, of Murray, Utah 14. Kimberly Johnson, 38, of Salt Lake City, Utah 15. Jack Eugene Lamb, 42, of Salt Lake City, Utah 16. Anthony Vincent Barbera, 42, of Salt Lake City, Utah 17. Crystal Ann Beck, 42, of Heber City, Utah 18. Travis K. Hansen, aka’s Christopher J. Stevens, and Chris Steven, 53, of Park City, Utah 19. Mary Emilia Herrera, 41, of Salt Lake City, Utah 20. Jessica Archuletta, 32, of West Valley City, Utah 21. Alisha Nicole Brown-Reinsimar, 43, of West Valley City, Utah 22. Cree Williams, 43, of Salt Lake City, Utah 23. Megan Olmos, 40, of Stansbury Park, Utah An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Experian Consumer Services Agrees to Injunction and $650,000 Civil Penalty for Allegedly Sending Emails to Consumers Without Giving Future Opt-Out Option

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: STIPULATED ORDER SANTA ANA, California – ConsumerInfo.com Inc., which does business as Experian Consumer Services (Experian), has agreed to a permanent injunction and to pay a $650,000 civil penalty as part of a settlement resolving alleged violations of federal law that requires senders of commercial emails to notify the recipients of such emails of their right to opt-out of future emails and to provide an opt-out mechanism, the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission announced today. The settlement resolves alleged violations of the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003 (CAN-SPAM Act), the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Rule (CAN-SPAM Rule), and the Federal Trade Commission Act. Experian shares a parent company, Experian PLC, with Experian Information Solutions Inc., which offers credit information, analytical tools, and marketing services. The lawsuit, filed in United States District Court in Santa Ana, concerns emails Experian sent to consumers who had created free Experian accounts to control third-party access to their credit reports. Account holders may “freeze” their credit reports to make them inaccessible to identity thieves and legitimate potential creditors such as banks. They can also “unfreeze” their credit reports when they require a credit check, for example, to finance an expensive purchase. The complaint asserts that Experian sent its account holders millions of commercial emails promoting additional Experian services. These emails asked the consumer to confirm whether a car that Experian had associated with the user’s account was theirs, offered a service aimed at boosting the user’s credit score, and advertised a free scan of the dark web. The emails did not give the recipients notice that they could opt-out of future such emails or provide any opt-out mechanism, violating the CAN-SPAM Act and the CAN-SPAM Rule. The complaint alleges that these emails implied that they contained important information about the recipient’s account, even though they were commercial in nature. The government received many consumer complaints that these emails contained no opt-out mechanism. The stipulated order, entered on Monday by United States District Judge Fred W. Slaughter, enjoins Experian from sending commercial emails that do not provide notice that the recipient may opt-out of receiving such emails in the future or an opt-out mechanism. The order also enjoins Experian from otherwise violating the CAN-SPAM Act. Under the order, Experian is also subject to a civil penalty judgment of $650,000. “It is critical that consumers have the ability to opt-out of unwanted commercial emails, and such emails should not be misleading in any way,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada. “This permanent injunction and civil penalty will provide relief to consumers and help to prevent future violations of the CAN-SPAM Act.” “Consumers have the right to opt-out of email advertising that they do not want,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department is committed to enforcing the CAN-SPAM Act and preventing senders of commercial emails from falsely describing those emails as providing account updates or other transactional information in order to circumvent the opt-out requirements.” “Signing up for a membership doesn’t mean you’re signing up for unwanted email, especially when all you’re trying to do is freeze your credit to protect your identity,” said Director Samuel Levine of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “You always have the right to unsubscribe from marketing messages, and the FTC takes enforcing that right seriously.” This matter was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Ross M. Cuff of the Civil Division’s Civil Fraud Section, Justice Department Senior Trial Attorney James T. Nelson, Assistant Director Lisa Hsiao of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, and Frances Kern and Elsie Kappler of the FTC. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch . For more information about the FTC, visit www.FTC.gov .


title: Justice Department Secures Title IX Agreement Addressing Campus Sexual Assault and Harassment with Case Western Reserve University

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today an agreement with Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) in Cleveland, Ohio, to resolve a federal investigation under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 into the university’s response to complaints of student-on-student and employee-on-student sexual harassment. Under the agreement, CWRU will undertake campus-wide reforms so that students can attend school and participate in Greek life programming free from sex discrimination, including sexual assault, sex-based stalking and retaliation for filing complaints of sex discrimination. “All students should be able to participate in college life without being subjected to sex discrimination. Far too often, students on our nation’s college and university campuses face stalking, harassment or sexual assault,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “When sex discrimination rears its head, universities must respond appropriately to stop the misconduct and provide support so that the student can safely participate in school activities and complete their educational pursuits. This agreement would not have been possible without the many current and former student survivors who came forward and courageously shared their stories. We hope this agreement sends a message to the higher education community about the actions that must be taken to ensure that campuses are safe for all students.” “The U.S. Attorney’s Office takes sex discrimination allegations such as these very seriously. The agreement provides not only for increased training but also for revised policies and procedures along with increased efforts at campus engagement and internal monitoring to address such matters proactively,” said U.S. Attorney Rebecca Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio. “This settlement sends a strong message that sexual harassment on college campuses will not be tolerated, and the measures in the agreement will help protect current and future students. We acknowledge and commend the students from CWRU whose efforts shined a light on this issue, and we look forward to working with CWRU to implement this important agreement.” The department’s investigation, which was conducted jointly by the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, focused on CWRU’s response to student complaints and hundreds of social media reports alleging sexual harassment on campus and a hostile environment in Greek life. One quarter of CWRU’s undergraduate population participates in the university’s 10 sororities and 16 fraternities. The department’s investigation concluded that, among other things, CWRU did not respond appropriately to a well-known climate of sexual harassment in its Greek life program. Further, CWRU employees did not report sexual harassment complaints to the office tasked with responding to such allegations and providing students with support and resources. CWRU fully cooperated during this investigation. The agreement requires CWRU to undertake extensive reforms, including: Publicizing Title IX policies and protocols and developing user-friendly materials so the CWRU community knows how to report concerns regarding sex discrimination and access resources to address it; Delivering comprehensive annual training for all students and employees; Implementing new policies, protocols and well-designed trainings to reform the university’s Greek Life programming; Providing students who experience sex discrimination with resources to prevent disruptions to their education; Funding the women’s center, Office of Greek Life and University Health and Counseling Services, as needed, to support students affected by sex discrimination; and Conducting outreach and analyzing trends to strengthen prevention and response to sex discrimination on campus. A summary of the agreement can be found here . Individuals with information related to CWRU’s compliance with Title IX are encouraged to contact the Justice Department at 1-866-432-0339 or Outreach.CWRU@usdoj.gov . Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at www.civilrights.justice.gov/report/ . Protecting students from harassment and other discrimination is a top priority of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt , and additional information about the work of the Educational Opportunities Section is available at www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section . Additional information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Northern District of Ohio is available on its website at www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh . Cover Letter Agreement Agreement Summary


title: Stanislaus County Man Pleads Guilty to Passing Forged Treasury Bonds

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Ronnie Douglas Fleming, 37, of Keyes, pleaded guilty today to passing a counterfeit obligation of the United States, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, from March to May 2022, Fleming passed counterfeit treasury bonds on 10 occasions at banks in the Central Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area. The banks paid Fleming more than $134,000 for the bonds. This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Secret Service with assistance from the Department of the Treasury Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas M. Fogg is prosecuting the case. Fleming is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 28, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd. Fleming faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.


title: Missaukee County Man Sentenced To 90 Years For Sexual Exploitation Of Multiple Children

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced the sentencing of Nathan Gary Christensen, 45, of Manton, Michigan, to 1,080 months in custody with the Bureau of Prisons. If released, Christensen must spend the rest of his life on supervised release. “Mr. Christensen’s sexual abuse of innocent children is horrific," said U.S. Attorney Totten . “This 90-year sentence does not begin to undo the harm he’s inflicted on our most vulnerable. No sexual predator who learns of Mr. Christensen’s fate should experience a moment of ease: we will find you and we will hold you accountable.” “These crimes are nothing less than monstrous,” said HSI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Angie M. Salazar . “My thoughts are with the victims in this case, and it is my hope that today’s sentencing will bring some measure of peace as they heal from these horrific crimes. I would like to thank the Australian Federal Police and the HSI office in Canberra, whose vigilance helped bring this predator to justice.” At sentencing today, Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou denounced Christensen’s conduct as horrific. Judge Jarbou stated that in her 25-years of experience as a lawyer and judge she had not seen anything like this before. He “abused trust in the worse possible way and did it for years and did it to multiple victims” with children as young as “3-days old and 3-months old.” Judge Jarbou observed that the “exploitation will last forever” and that the children and their families will be impacted the rest of their lives. “The damage inflicted is life-long.” Judge Jarbou announced that “a life sentence is appropriate,” and sentenced Christensen to 90 years to protect the community, punish him for his conduct, and to send a message of deterrence to others who might contemplate sexually abusing children. In September 2022, Christensen was identified by Australian Federal Police as a collector of child pornography and a potential producer and contacted Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). In October, HSI and the Michigan State Police (MSP) located Christensen and executed search warrants on his home and another associated residence. HSI and MSP then identified Christensen and recognized rooms in the home as the background of some of the images and videos. Christensen was immediately arrested on state charges of criminal sexual assault. Computer forensic examination disclosed hundreds of thousands of images and videos of child pornography. Christensen was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2023, and transferred to federal custody. In total, eight children were identified as victims and located. The victims were as young as 3-days-old and 3-months-old. Two of the victims had special needs. In March 2023, Christensen pleaded guilty to three counts stemming from his production of child pornography. Each charge had a mandatory minimum of 15 years and a statutory maximum of 30 years. By law, the court was permitted to run the sentences consecutively for a combined maximum of 90 years. In June 2023, Christensen pleaded guilty in Missaukee County to criminal sexual conduct charges and will be sentenced next month with the agreement that his state sentence will run concurrent with the federal sentence. This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor's offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. The partners in Project Safe Childhood work to educate local communities about the dangers of online child exploitation, and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit the following web site: www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Individuals with information or concerns about possible child exploitation should contact local law enforcement officials. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Mekaru and investigated by HSI Grand Rapids, Michigan State Police, MSP Internet Crimes Against Children taskforce in Traverse City, and the Missaukee County Sheriff’s Office in coordination with the Missaukee County Prosecutor’s Office. ###


title: Two Former Lexington Business Owners Sentenced for Wire Fraud and Money Laundering Charges

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky.- Two former Lexington business owners, Douglas William Vance, 54, and Molly McKinnon, 59, were sentenced on Monday, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, to 174 months and 156 months, respectively, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, multiple counts of wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to evidence at trial, from August 2016 through December 2018, Vance and McKinnon used falsified bank statements, financial reports, purchase orders, sales and production figures, and other fabricated records, to convince different investors that each owned a controlling stake in a company called “Nex-Gen.” The company purported to produce “calcined coal” and other carbon-based products, in Chavies, Kentucky. The false and fabricated documents also convinced two companies to lend money to Nex-Gen, and concealed the fact that Vance and McKinnon were misappropriating both investor and lender funds. The evidence presented at trial established that Vance and McKinnon worked together to defraud multiple investors and lenders, out of more than $2 million. Vance and McKinnon were convicted of the charges in October 2022. Under federal law, Vance and McKinnon must serve 85 percent of their prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, they will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years. Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Brian Jones, Acting Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the sentencing. The investigation was conducted by the FBI. The United States was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory Rosenberg and James Chapman. — END —


title: Melvin Hill Convicted by Jury on Federal Drug and Firearms Charges

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Melvin Hill, 44, of Tignall, Georgia, was convicted yesterday in U.S. District Court in Rutland on five drug and gun charges after a week-long jury trial. Chief U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford ordered that Hill remain in jail pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. Hill has been held without bail since his arrest in March 2022. According to court records, in January 2022, a confidential source told Burlington narcotics investigators that the source could buy narcotics from Hill. In February and March, this source made two controlled purchases of fentanyl from Hill in transactions that were recorded and surveilled by police officers. Officers learned that Hill was staying at a hotel in South Burlington. They obtained a state-court warrant to search Hill’s hotel room and the car he had been driving. Officers arrested Hill on March 10 and recovered a loaded pistol and crack cocaine from his person. In his car and hotel room, officers seized hundreds of folds of fentanyl, hundreds of pills containing methamphetamine, and powder cocaine. They also found narcotics paraphernalia and around $13,000 in cash. The following day, March 11, state and federal agents searched a storage unit that Hill had rented in Burlington. Inside, authorities found additional fentanyl, a second pistol, and about a pound of pure methamphetamine. In March 2022, the U.S. Attorney’s Office adopted Hill’s case for federal prosecution. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont had successfully prosecuted Hill in an unrelated drug case in 2012. In July 2022, a federal grand jury in Burlington charged Hill, in a superseding indictment, with two counts of distributing fentanyl to the confidential source; possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, cocaine base, and large quantities of methamphetamine; and two counts of possessing firearms as a convicted felon. Hill is barred from possessing any firearms because he has several felony convictions in federal court and in state court in Georgia. “The Burlington Police Department is committed to public safety, and that includes protecting those who suffer from substance use disorder,” said Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad. “We do not tolerate trafficking poisonous substances into our community, particularly by traffickers who target vulnerable people. This case shows our resolve to hold these individuals accountable. The BPD’s team, including Drug Unit Sergeant Phil Tremblay, want to acknowledge the fantastic work at trial by Assistant United States Attorneys Stendig and Waples, and their legal team. We would also like to thank the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for their efforts in this investigation.” “DEA is committed to investigating individuals like Mr. Hill who are responsible for distributing drugs like fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine to the citizens of Vermont,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Let this conviction be a warning to those traffickers who are distributing this poison in order to profit and destroy people’s lives. DEA’s top priority is combatting the opioid epidemic by working with our local, county, state and federal partners to bring to justice anyone who distributes deadly drugs.” Hill faces up to life imprisonment, a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years, and a fine of up to $10,000,000. The actual sentence will be determined with reference to Federal Sentencing Guidelines. This case was investigated by the Burlington Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisting with firearms evidence. U.S. Attorney Nikolas Kerest stated, “The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to prosecuting those who combine illegal firearm possession with illegal drug trafficking. The prosecution of Mr. Hill is an example of our commitment and that of our partner investigative agencies. We commend the collaborative efforts of law enforcement to investigate Hill’s conduct and to bring him to justice.” At trial, Hill served as his own attorney. The prosecutors are Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory Waples and Zachary Stendig. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn .


title: Jacksonville Man Pleads Guilty To Destroying Evidence

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Christopher Raymond Joseph (19, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to destroying records with the intent to impede or obstruct a federal investigation. Joseph faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to the plea agreement, FBI was investigating a terrorism case involving a threat to conduct a violent attack against Jewish individuals and synagogues. As part of the investigation, Joseph was interviewed regarding whether he had knowledge of or involvement in this threat. During the investigation, FBI special agents specifically requested that Joseph preserve certain records of communications on his cellphone with a suspect in another district. Within moments of their departure from his residence, Joseph deleted one of the records that the FBI had discussed with him. This case was investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Joe Wheeler, III and Assistant United States Attorney Cherie Krigsman, with assistance from the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.


body_text: WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced today an agreement with Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) in Cleveland, Ohio, to resolve a federal investigation under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 into the university’s response to complaints of student-on-student and employee-on-student sexual harassment. Under the agreement, CWRU will undertake campus-wide reforms so that students can attend school and participate in Greek life programming free from sex discrimination, including sexual assault, sex-based stalking and retaliation for filing complaints of sex discrimination. “All students should be able to participate in college life without being subjected to sex discrimination. Far too often, students on our nation’s college and university campuses face stalking, harassment or sexual assault,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “When sex discrimination rears its head, universities must respond appropriately to stop the misconduct and provide support so that the student can safely participate in school activities and complete their educational pursuits. This agreement would not have been possible without the many current and former student survivors who came forward and courageously shared their stories. We hope this agreement sends a message to the higher education community about the actions that must be taken to ensure that campuses are safe for all students.” “The U.S. Attorney’s Office takes sex discrimination allegations such as these very seriously. The agreement provides not only for increased training but also for revised policies and procedures along with increased efforts at campus engagement and internal monitoring to address such matters proactively,” said U.S. Attorney Rebecca Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio. “This settlement sends a strong message that sexual harassment on college campuses will not be tolerated, and the measures in the agreement will help protect current and future students. We acknowledge and commend the students from CWRU whose efforts shined a light on this issue, and we look forward to working with CWRU to implement this important agreement.” The department’s investigation, which was conducted jointly by the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, focused on CWRU’s response to student complaints and hundreds of social media reports alleging sexual harassment on campus and a hostile environment in Greek life. One quarter of CWRU’s undergraduate population participates in the university’s 10 sororities and 16 fraternities. The department’s investigation concluded that, among other things, CWRU did not respond appropriately to a well-known climate of sexual harassment in its Greek life program. Further, CWRU employees did not report sexual harassment complaints to the office tasked with responding to such allegations and providing students with support and resources. CWRU fully cooperated during this investigation. The agreement requires CWRU to undertake extensive reforms, including: Publicizing Title IX policies and protocols and developing user-friendly materials so the CWRU community knows how to report concerns regarding sex discrimination and access resources to address it; Delivering comprehensive annual training for all students and employees; Implementing new policies, protocols and well-designed trainings to reform the university’s Greek Life programming; Providing students who experience sex discrimination with resources to prevent disruptions to their education; Funding the women’s center, Office of Greek Life and University Health and Counseling Services, as needed, to support students affected by sex discrimination; and Conducting outreach and analyzing trends to strengthen prevention and response to sex discrimination on campus. A summary of the agreement can be found here . Individuals with information related to CWRU’s compliance with Title IX are encouraged to contact the Justice Department at 1-866-432-0339 or Outreach.CWRU@usdoj.gov . Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at www.civilrights.justice.gov/report/ . Protecting students from harassment and other discrimination is a top priority of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt , and additional information about the work of the Educational Opportunities Section is available at www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section . Additional information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Northern District of Ohio is available on its website at www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh .


title: Historical Items Belonging to Alan Turing Returned to England

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces the return of historical items belonging to Alan Turing to the Sherborne School in Dorset, England. As part of a ceremony this week, several items belonging to Alan Turing were returned to his boyhood school, including the following items: Alan Turing’s PhD diploma from Princeton University, the Order of the British Empire Medal, a personal note from the King George VI of England, a number of school reports, and various photos. These items were removed from the school archives nearly 40 years ago. They were recovered in Colorado, and subject to a forfeiture action filed in U.S. District Court in the District of Colorado. According to the Second Amended Complaint, the United States learned that certain items originally belonging to Alan Turing were located in Colorado, when they were offered to be displayed at the University of Colorado in Boulder in 2018. An investigation by Homeland Security Investigations revealed that the items had been removed from the Sherborne School located in Dorset, England. Alan Turing attended the school from approximately 1926 to 1931, and the items were originally placed there by his family. In 1984, a person named Julia Schinghomes arrived at the school and took the items into her possession. She later changed her name to Julia Turing. After the United States filed the action in this case, the matter was resolved in a settlement. Pursuant to that settlement, the United States District Court for the District of Colorado entered a Final Order of Forfeiture over the items in this case in May 2021. “Together with Homeland Security Investigations, our office ensured that historical artifacts belonging to Alan Turing are now back in the place where they belong,” said U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan. “We celebrate the accomplishments of Alan Turing and are thrilled that the historical significance of these artifacts will continue to be appreciated by scholars and generations to come.” “Sir Alan Turing was named a national hero for the crucial role he played in cracking coded messages during World War II, enabling the Allies to defeat the Axis Powers,” said HSI Special Agent in Charge, Ryan L. Spradlin. “I’m very proud that HSI Denver investigators and our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s office were able to recover his effects after being missing for nearly 40 years.” Alan Turing was an English mathematician and computer scientist instrumental in codebreaking during the Second World War. The Sherborne School invited HSI Special Agent Greg Wertsch and Assistant United States Attorney Laura Hurd to attend the repatriation ceremony this week. The repatriation represents years of hard work and the dedication of HSI Agents, the Department of Justice, and local law enforcement. The event further signifies the importance of the Department of Justice’s work to return cultural property worldwide. Case Number 20-cv-00152-STV


title: Jury Convicts Ray City Man for Armed Meth Trafficking

component: USAO - Georgia, Middle

body_text: VALDOSTA, Ga. – A Ray City, Georgia, convicted felon was found guilty by a federal jury late last week of armed drug trafficking resulting from a Project Safe Neighborhoods investigation. Demetris Gervone Bellamy, 31, of Ray City, Georgia, was found guilty of one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime before U.S. District Judge Hugh Lawson on Aug. 17. Bellamy faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $10,000,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 10. There is no parole in the federal system. “Armed drug trafficking conducted by career criminals is a threat to our communities and will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “We are thankful to our local law enforcement partners for collaborating with us to keep our communities as safe as possible.” According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, a cooperating witness in a drug trafficking investigation informed law enforcement they received methamphetamine from a source named “Nitro,” who was later identified as Bellamy. Law enforcement conducted a controlled methamphetamine buy from Bellamy on Sept. 9, 2021, surveilling him exiting his Ray City residence carrying a bag and arriving at the location in Valdosta. Bellamy fled the scene after he realized that law enforcement was present, tossing a bag of nearly 500 grams of methamphetamine immediately before he was apprehended. Investigators located a firearm in his car, along with a scale, baggies, and quantities of other drugs. Post-arrest, Bellamy admitted to acquiring “30 bricks” of methamphetamine as well as the firearm found in his vehicle from another person. A recorded jail call captured Bellamy telling a friend that he was going to get out of his charges because he tossed the drugs while he was running and the firearm was found in his vehicle, as opposed to on his person. Bellamy has a lengthy criminal history, including prior drug trafficking convictions. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a gun. This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. The case was investigated by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Couch is prosecuting the case for the Government, with support from Criminal Chief Leah McEwen.


title: Man Charged with Defrauding Elderly Homeowners and COVID-19 Relief Programs

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A Freeman man had his initial appearance today on charges of wire fraud, filing a false tax return, tax evasion, and making false statements to a financial institution. According to the indictment, Howard Lee Stith Jr., 41, allegedly perpetrated a scheme to defraud elderly homeowners in the Richmond Metro area by appearing at their homes and claiming that their slate roofs needed extensive repairs, which Stith offered to provide on a price-per-foot or price-per-material basis. Thereafter, Stith purported to provide the promised services, but, in truth, Stith performed minimal work of poor quality while charging homeowners exorbitant fees. Allegedly, Stith targeted the same homeowners over months and years, returning unsolicited and claiming the homeowners’ roofs needed further repairs. To substantiate the excessive amounts he charged, Stith allegedly created false invoices and misleading receipts, which he provided to various homeowners. From at least 2015 through the present time, Stith is alleged to have fraudulently obtained at least $1.5 million from elderly homeowners in connection with this scheme. According to allegations in the indictment, Stith failed to report to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) the income he obtained from this scheme by filing a false tax return in 2018; failing to file tax returns in 2019, 2020, and 2021; and taking affirmative acts to evade the assessment of income tax between 2019 and 2021. Specifically, Stith allegedly directed homeowners to pay him by personal check and then conducted a series of transactions to convert the check into cash without making deposit records. Having thereby concealed the nature and source of his income, Stith thereafter dealt heavily in cash. After learning he was under federal investigation, Stith allegedly began directing homeowners to write personal checks to others to further conceal his receipt of such payments. Through this conduct, Stith evaded the assessment of income tax in the alleged amount of at least $575,000 for tax years 2018 through 2021. According to further allegations in the indictment, Stith also used cash from his roofing scheme to make large payments on high end cars. When applying to finance some of these vehicles with a local credit union, Stith is alleged to have prepared and provided false tax returns that reported significantly more income than he had claimed in the returns filed with the IRS for those same years. As a result, the credit union approved and funded multiple loans totaling at least $130,000. Finally, according to the allegations, after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Stith applied for and received relief funds to which he was not actually entitled. First, Stith applied for multiple Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) on behalf of various businesses, including a roofing business. These applications included materially false statements about each business’s gross income and number of employees. Based on these material misrepresentations, Stith obtained at least $112,000 in EIDL funds to which he was allegedly not entitled. Stith also applied for and received at least $13,000 in unemployment insurance benefits (UI), allegedly falsely claiming that he was not working, not self-employed, and not receiving money from any source. It is alleged that Stith received tens of thousands of dollars from elderly homeowners during the period in which he falsely claimed entitlement to unemployment. Stith is charged with wire fraud, filing a false tax return, evading the assessment of income tax, failing to file income tax returns, and making false statements to a financial institution. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Kyo Dolan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Richmond Field Office; Kareem A. Carter, IRS Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Washington D.C. Field Office; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; Troy W. Springer, Acting Special Agent in Charge, National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, Eastern Region Special Agent in Charge for the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin G. Cooke and Kashan K. Pathan are prosecuting the case. Combatting elder abuse and financial fraud targeted at seniors is a key priority of the Department of Justice. Elder abuse is an intentional or negligent act by any person that causes harm or a serious risk of harm to an older adult. It is a term used to describe five subtypes of elder abuse: physical abuse, financial fraud, scams and exploitation, caregiver neglect and abandonment, psychological abuse, and sexual abuse. Elder abuse is a serious crime against some of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens, affecting at least 10 percent of older Americans every year. Together with our federal, state, local and tribal partners, the Department of Justice is steadfastly committed to combatting all forms of elder abuse and financial exploitation through enforcement actions, training and resources, research, victim services, and public awareness. This holistic and robust response demonstrates the Department’s unwavering dedication to fighting for justice for older Americans. Anyone who believes they have been harmed by Stith’s criminal actions may contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office Victim Witness Coordinator by calling 804-819-7429. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-110. An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.


title: Braintree Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charges

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Braintree man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to child pornography charges. Michael Martin, 44, pleaded guilty on Aug. 14, 2023 to one count of possession of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography. U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for Nov. 15, 2023. Martin was initially charged by criminal complaint in May 2022 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2022. On March 9, 2021, social media platform Tumblr reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that a Tumblr user – later identified as Martin – had suspected child pornography on their account. A subsequent search of Martin’s Braintree residence resulted in the seizure of various electronic devices storing child pornography. Additionally, a search of Martin’s Tumblr account determined that Martin has posted and received child pornography over the social media site. The child pornography included images of children believed to be between four and eight years old. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of distribution of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Braintree Police Chief Tim Cohoon made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney David G. Tobin of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .