title: Former Senior Executive and Former Sales Manager Convicted of Selling Data on Millions of U.S. Consumers to Perpetrators of Mail Fraud Schemes

component: Civil Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that a jury found a former senior executive and a former sales manager of Epsilon Data Management LLC (Epsilon) guilty of federal criminal charges related to the targeting of millions of U.S. consumers for mass-mailing fraud schemes. Robert Reger, 57, of Boulder, Colorado, and David Lytle, 64, of Leawood, Kansas, were found guilty today of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and numerous counts of substantive mail and wire fraud. According to evidence presented at the two-week trial, the defendants were key participants in a scheme that knowingly sold targeted lists of consumers and their addresses to perpetrators of fraud schemes involving the sending of false and deceptive mail to consumers over the course of 10years. The defendants committed the crimes while working at data broker Epsilon which used transactional data collected from marketing clients to predict new “responsive buyers” using computer algorithms and a database of 100 million U.S. households. The jury found the defendants knew that their scheme was providing data to fraudster clients. Evidence at trial showed that the defendants used Epsilon’s algorithms to predict new lists of consumers most likely to respond to the frauds and that the defendants’ business unit worked with dozens of clients with scam letters promising large prizes or falsely personalized astrological mailings promising wealth. As part of the scheme, the conspirators sold the names and address of millions of U.S. consumers to perpetrators of schemes engaged in fraud, knowing that their fraudster clients were targeting elderly and vulnerable people. Evidence at trial showed that the defendants sold nearly 100 lists to just one fraudster client, and that the defendants had many other fraudster clients with scam letters. At trial, elderly victims and their adult children testified about the scam letters victims received falsely promising cash prizes. Evidence showed that each of these victims were targeted for fraud by members of the conspiracy. A number of current and former Epsilon employees also testified, along with three witnesses who previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud: a list broker and two Epsilon clients who operated mail fraud schemes. “This case serves as a warning that the Justice Department Consumer Branch and its law enforcement partners will hold corporate executives accountable for fraudulent use of consumer data,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will investigate and prosecute individuals who use sophisticated technology to defraud consumers.” “Defrauding elderly and vulnerable consumers will not be tolerated in the State of Colorado,” said U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan for the District of Colorado. “This case is an example of the responsibility both executives and companies hold when it comes to gathering and selling personal data, and I hope other companies take note of the serious outcomes of this case.” “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) sees the conviction of these individuals as a significant victory in our ongoing efforts to protect older adults from fraud and exploitation,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of USPIS’ Criminal Investigations Group. “These criminals preyed on some of the most vulnerable members of our community, and today's verdict sends a clear message that such predatory behavior will not be tolerated. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure justice is served and to prevent these crimes from happening in the future.” Evidence at trial showed that Robert Reger worked at Epsilon from 2005 to 2017, where he led sales teams after building and leading the sales unit engaged in fraud, the Direct to Consumer Unit. When Reger left Epsilon, he was senior vice president overseeing the Direct to Consumer Unit. In convicting Reger, the jury found he intentionally joined in the conspiracy and had specific intent to defraud victims of the schemes. David Lytle worked at Epsilon from 2012 to 2018 as a business development manager recruiting clients for the Direct to Consumer Unit and was responsible for signing up many of the clients engaged in fraud. The jury found that Reger and Lytle were guilty of conspiracy to commit mail or wire fraud based on evidence that members of the conspiracy knew they were routinely selling consumer data to fraudsters. The jury found both Reger and Lytle guilty of seven counts of mail fraud. Evidence at trial showed that the conspirators sold lists of consumers to fraudsters, which caused victims to send checks in response to letters promising large cash prizes. The jury found also Reger guilty of six counts of wire fraud and Lytle guilty of 12 counts of wire fraud in connection with electronic shipments of names and addresses and other emails that carried out the objectives of the scheme to defraud. A sentencing hearing is scheduled on Sept. 30. Reger and Lytle both face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count. In 2018, former Epsilon Vice President Steven Fritz Kessler pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud for his participation in the fraudulent scheme. The defendants’ former employer, Epsilon resolved its criminal liability via a deferred prosecution agreement in 2021, paying $150 million in penalties and victim compensation. That victim compensation effort has returned $122 million to more than 200,000 victims of fraud schemes for which Epsilon provided data. USPIS’ Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force investigated this matter. Senior Trial Attorney Alistair Reader and Assistant Director Rachael Doud of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Weber for the District of Colorado prosecuted the case. Senior Trial Attorney Ehren Reynolds and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Hetal Doshi for the District of Colorado also assisted in the case, along with outstanding support staff from the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available. More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch . Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the Federal Trade Commission at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov .


title: Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Distribution and Money Laundering Crimes

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine and launder proceeds from trafficking drugs was sentenced May 30 to 30 years in federal prison. Albert McReynolds, age 35, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 2, 2023, jury verdict finding him guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and one count of engaging in a monetary transaction involving property derived from unlawful activity. The evidence at trial showed that McReynolds was a methamphetamine dealer in the Cedar Rapids area. Between September 2020 and November 2021, McReynolds worked with others to distribute methamphetamine. The evidence at trial showed that McReynolds and one of his coconspirators, Calvin Williams, traveled to California to meet with another person to get methamphetamine. Following the meeting, the source of supply in California sent packages containing methamphetamine through the United States Postal Service to several addresses in Cedar Rapids. McReynolds had the packages sent to other individuals’ addresses to avoid having the methamphetamine delivered directly to him. Investigators intercepted and searched three packages that were mailed from California to addresses associated with McReynolds in Cedar Rapids. In each of those packages, investigators located multiple pounds of methamphetamine. In total, investigators identified 46 packages mailed from California to the Cedar Rapids area between September 2020 and November 2021 that all shared similar characteristics to the packages that investigators intercepted and searched. These 46 packages had a combined total mailing weight of over 700 pounds. The evidence at trial showed that, between October 2020 and November 2021, McReynolds also conspired with others to commit money laundering. McReynolds and others distributed the methamphetamine McReynolds received from California. McReynolds vacuum-sealed the money that he made from selling methamphetamine, and McReynolds and Williams sent packages containing cash through the United States Postal Service to multiple different addresses associated with the methamphetamine source in California. McReynolds and Williams placed fake names and addresses on the return labels of the packages containing the cash so law enforcement would not be able to link McReynolds and others to those packages. On July 28, 2021, McReynolds mailed a package from Cedar Rapids to an address associated with his source in California. Investigators intercepted and searched that package and located $56,470 in cash. McReynolds was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. McReynolds was sentenced to 360 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a ten-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. McReynolds is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Adam J. Vander Stoep and Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force. The DEA Task Force consists of the DEA, the Linn County Sheriff's Office, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Marion Police Department, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 22-CR-91-CJW. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Trillium Capital Manager Charged With Securities Fraud Scheme Involving Getty Images

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Mashpee man has been charged, and has agreed to plead guilty, in connection with a scheme to artificially inflate the trading price of Getty Images Holdings, Inc. and attempting to cover up the alleged scheme. Robert Scott Murray, 60, has been charged and has agreed to plead guilty to one count of securities fraud. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date. Getty Images Holdings, Inc. (Getty) is a visual media company and supplier of images, videos and music, headquartered in Seattle. Getty’s stock is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GETY. Murray was a long-time investor who previously served as the Chief Executive Officer of multiple public companies, including Stream Global Services and 3Com. It is alleged that in April 2023 Murray owned approximately 300,000 GETY shares. Thereafter, Murray allegedly issued press releases and sent emails in the name of Trillium Capital LLC – a “venture investment company” located in Massachusetts of which Murray was the sole owner and manager – urging that Getty add Murray to its board of directors. Murray’s efforts to join Getty’s board of directors failed. Murray allegedly proceeded to make false and misleading statements, including through press releases and in media interviews, with the purpose of artificially inflating the GETY trading price so that Murray could sell the GETY shares he owned at the artificially inflated price. On Friday, April 21, 2023, GETY shares closed at a trading price of $5.06 per share. On Monday, April 24, 2023, prior to the market opening, Murray allegedly caused the publication of a press release in which Trillium Capital made a proposal to acquire Getty for “$10 per share.” When the market opened, GETY shares traded at $7.88 per share, nearly 56 percent above the prior closing price. According to court documents, Murray then sold all the GETY shares he owned within less than one hour for approximately $1,486,467. It is further alleged that Murray’s friend, who Murray had previously instructed to buy GETY shares, also sold shares that same morning at Murray’s direction for approximately $558,328. On or about Dec. 6, 2023, at the direction of law enforcement, Murray’s friend texted Murray, “I just got a subpoena from the SEC” and “they’re asking me for any communications with you” related to “Getty stock.” Murray allegedly responded, “just say there were none” and “you should delete all my texts.” Murray further stated that text messages are “like virginity, once you delete your virginity you ain’t getting it back.” On or about that same day, it is alleged that Murray emailed his friend a proposed response to the subpoena, which falsely stated that the friend bought Getty stock “solely based on my read of the various press releases from Trillium Capital and my knowledge that Scott Murray is a very experienced investor” and “not from any communications from Scott Murray or Trillium Capital.” It is further alleged that when approached by law enforcement in February 2024, Murray falsely denied telling his friend to buy Getty shares. The charge of securities fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. The Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil complaint against Murray alleging violations of the securities laws. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Boston Division made the announcement. The Securities and Exchange Commission provided valuable assistance with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Markham of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Thirteen defendants charged with firearms trafficking related offenses; over one hundred-forty firearms seized

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Robinson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division, and Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami, announced today that since January 2024 the Southern District of Florida has indicted 13 defendants for federal firearms trafficking related offenses, to include smuggling of firearms, dealing in firearms without a license, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and making a false statement in a firearms purchase, and seized over 140 firearms. “Traffickers who illegally engage in the business of unlicensed firearms dealing contribute to the illicit flow of firearms into the black market,” stated U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “All too often these powerful firearms then make their way into the hands of felons, gang members, and other violent offenders. Some of these weapons make their way into countries in our hemisphere, with undesirable consequences in those places as well. Our Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify targets who unlawfully traffic in and possess firearms, prosecute the offenders, and reduce gun violence. We are grateful for the men and women in law enforcement who put their lives on the line to help keep our communities safe and firearms out of the hands of unauthorized persons.” “Firearms trafficking is a crime that affects our communities in many ways and ATF and HSI Miami are in communication and collaboration with our unique jurisdictions to combat the flow of illegal weapons to those who perpetrate violent acts in a myriad of fashions to the detriment of public safety domestically and internationally,” said ATF Miami Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Robinson. “The illegal trafficking of weapons out of the United States is a top priority for HSI. These weapons are fueling the violence in our neighboring nations and continues to destabilize parts of the region,” said Anthony Salisbury, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Miami. “HSI will continue to collaborate with our domestic and international law enforcement partners to target individuals and criminal organizations that are involved in the illicit movement of firearms.” The arrests and resulting cases are a result of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) strategy. PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. This evidence-based program has proven to be effective at reducing violent crime by engaging a broad spectrum of stakeholders working together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in communities and developing comprehensive solutions that reduce crime. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses on prevention and intervention efforts through community engagement and problem-solving partnerships, strategic enforcement of the most violent offenders, and locally based re-entry programs to reduce recidivism. The following firearms trafficking related cases were charged in the Southern District of Florida since January 2024: U.S. v. Jamaal Calloway , Case No. 24-CR-20006 Jamaal Calloway, 41, of Florida City, Florida was charged in a seven-count indictment for dealing in firearms without a license, which included selling pistols, rifles, and at least seventy machine guns, unlawful transfer, and possession of machine guns, and being a convicted felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Calloway sold approximately thirty-nine machine gun conversion devices that had the capability of enabling a semi-automatic firearm to discharge more than one shot without manual reloading and with a single function of the trigger. On March 22, 2024, the defendant pleaded guilty. Sentencing is set for June 7, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Paul C. Huck. ATF Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stefan Diaz Espinosa is prosecuting the matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Klco is handling asset forfeiture. U.S. v. Ronald Zapete , Case No. 24-CR-20049 U.S. v. Amanda Roden , Case No. 24-CR-20165 Ronald Zapete, 39, and Amanda Roden, 31, of Miami, were indicted separately for smuggling firearms to the Dominican Republic. The indictments allege that Roden bought firearms in Dania Beach, Florida, and the pair, Zapete and Roden, arranged for a common or contract carrier to export three firearms – without permission - to the Dominican Republic in October 2023. HSI Miami investigated both cases with the assistance of ATF Miami. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosenfeld is prosecuting both cases. Assistant U.S. Attorney Annika M. Miranda is handling asset forfeiture. U.S. v. Trevin Roberts , Case No. 24-CR-20167 Trevin Roberts, 29, of Aventura, Florida, was charged by indictment on April 24, 2024, with smuggling firearms and ammunition from Miami to the Bahamas. On April 5, 2021, law enforcement seized eleven firearms loaded with magazines and ammunition from a freight shipping company in Opa-Locka, Florida that were to be shipped to the Bahamas at Robert’s direction. Roberts was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. ATF Miami and HSI Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey Pence Tomanelli is prosecuting it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jorge Roberto Delgado is handling asset forfeiture. U.S. v. Samuel Pierre, et al. , Case No. 24-CR-20168 Samuel Pierre, 34, of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Reginald Louis Chosson, 28, of Homestead, Florida, were charged by indictment on April 24, 2024, for participating in a conspiracy to purchase firearms by means of false statement and to smuggle firearms and ammunition from Miami to Haiti. From May 2022 through July 2022, the defendants conspired to purchase firearms and ship those firearms to Haiti. On July 12, 2022, law enforcement seized eight rifles, one belt-fed machine gun, fourteen pistols, and approximately 4,000 rounds of ammunition from a cargo shipment destined for Miargoane, Haiti. HSI Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey Pence Tomanelli is prosecuting it. U.S. v. Nathaniel Christian Guillaume , Case No. 24-CR-20175 Nathaniel Guillaume, 24, of Miami, was charged by indictment with making a false statement during a firearms purchase. The indictment alleges that the defendant purchased a firearm on behalf of another person while knowingly making a false statement on ATF Form 4473 when he represented that he was the actual buyer of the firearm. ATF Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Maultasch is prosecuting it. U.S. v. Dante Marquaze Donaldson and Jeleel Eion Gumbs , Case No. 24-CR-20177 Dante Marquaze Donaldson, 24, of Conyers, Georgia, and Jeleel Eion Gumbs, 24, of Atlanta, Georgia, were charged in a three-count indictment for conspiring to smuggle firearms and ammunition from the U.S. to Saint Martin, attempting to smuggle firearms and ammunition from the U.S. to Saint Martin, and for delivering firearms and ammunition to a common carrier without written notification. According to the allegations contained in the indictment, starting on or about Oct. 18, 2022, and continuing through on or about October 31, 2022, the defendants and their co-conspirators purchased firearms and ammunition in Georgia and thereafter concealed those items in an air tank. The defendants and their co-conspirators shipped the package with the concealed firearms and ammunition in an air tank intended for Saint Martin via Doral, Florida. Five firearms were recovered. HSI Miami, HSI Caribbean, and ATF Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Maultasch is prosecuting it. U.S. v. Sondy Dales , Case No. 24-CR-20184 Sondy Dales, 35, of Orlando, Florida, was charged in a two-count indictment for delivering three firearms and ammunition to a common carrier to be transported to a foreign country. HSI Miami investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Farina is prosecuting it. U.S. v. Hiledin Quintero Martinez, a/k/a “Mily Alvarez” , Case No. 24-CR-20197 Hiledin Quintero Martinez, a/k/a “Mily Alvarez,” 36, of Orlando, was charged in a four-count information for conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States and delivery of firearms to a common or contract carrier without written notice. According to the allegations contained in the indictment, starting in or about June 2020, and continuing through on or about Jan. 13, 2021, the defendant, using the fictitious alias “Mily Alvarez,” and her co-conspirators delivered and caused to be delivered, without notifying common or contract carriers, multiple packages containing approximately ten firearms. The packages were destined for Venezuela and Colombia. HSI Miami investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stefan Diaz Espinosa is prosecuting the matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marx Calderon is handling asset forfeiture. U.S. v. Jacoby Karmaren Smith , Case No. 24-CR-60035 Jacoby Karmaren Smith, 22, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida was charged by indictment for aiding, abetting, and willfully causing another person to make a false statement during the purchase of four firearms. HSI Miami and ATF Miami investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Farina is prosecuting it. Assistant U.S. Attorney G. Raemy Charest -Turken is handling asset forfeiture. U.S. v. Allen John Collier , Case No. 24-CR-60049 Allen John Collier, 30, of Fort Lauderdale, was charged in a six-count information for making false statements during six separate firearms purchases. Several of the firearms Collier purchased were transported to Jamaica. Pursuant to the investigation, at least thirteen firearms were seized. HSI Miami and ATF Miami investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Farina is prosecuting it. Assistant U.S. Attorney Annika M. Miranda is handling asset forfeiture. If an individual is convicted of the respectively charged offenses, the maximum statutory penalties are: 10 years for smuggling goods from the United States; 10 years for attempted smuggling goods from the United States; 10 or 15 years for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (depending on the date of the offense); 10 years for unlawful transfer and/or possession of a machine gun; 10 years for purchase of firearm by means of a false statement; 5 years for dealing in firearms without a license; 5 years for conspiracy; and 5 years for delivery of a firearm to a common carrier without written notification. An indictment, complaint, and information each contain mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov under the corresponding case numbers. ###


title: Florida Man Sentenced to 96 Months in Prison for Role in Multimillion-Dollar Health Care Kickback Scheme

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Florida man was sentenced to 96 months in prison for his role in a multimillion-dollar durable medical equipment (DME) kickback scheme, Attorney for the United States Vikas Khanna, District of New Jersey, and U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe, Southern District of Florida, announced today. Kareem Memon, 34, of Coral Springs, Florida, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Raag Singhal to an information charging him with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to violate the federal Anti-Kickback Statute. Judge Singhal imposed the sentence on May 29, 2024, in the Southern District of Florida. According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court: Memon and his conspirators owned and operated marketing call centers and telemedicine companies through which they obtained doctors’ orders for DME for Medicare beneficiaries without regard to medical necessity. Memon and his conspirators provided doctors’ orders in exchange for bribes from DME companies that provided the braces to Medicare beneficiaries. Memon and his conspirators caused losses to Medicare in excess of $11 million. On Sept. 21, 2023, Memon pleaded guilty to wire fraud, money laundering, and felon in possession charges in a separate case before Judge Singhal. Memon submitted fraudulent loan applications seeking more than $451,000 in forgivable Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and used those funds for personal gains. At the time of Memon’s arrest he was a felon and found to be unlawfully in possession of an arsenal of 12 firearms and ammunition. In addition to the prison term, Judge Singhal sentenced Memon to three years of supervised release. Attorney for the United States Khanna and U.S. Attorney Lapointe credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark and Acting Special Agent in Charge is Maged Behnam in Miami, Florida; the Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz; the U.S. Department of Defense, Office of the Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Brian J. Solecki; and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher F. Algieri with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Specht of District of New Jersey and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Waugh of the Southern District of Florida. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitchell Hyman for the Southern District of Florida is handling asset forfeiture.


title: Federal Jury Finds Belizean National Guilty of Illegal Re-Entry in Del Rio

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: DEL RIO, Texas – A federal jury convicted a Belizean national in a federal court in Del Rio for illegal re-entry into the United States. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Francis Kerr aka Francis Deon Flowers, 51, of Belmopan, Belize, was arrested Aug. 22, 2023, near Eagle Pass. He was found to have been in the U.S. illegally, after being formally deported through Houston on or about Oct. 1, 2009. Kerr had previously served a prison sentence of 17 years and four months after being convicted by a jury in Los Angeles, California for two counts of 2nd degree robbery, four counts of assault with a firearm, and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery. U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza of the Western District of Texas made the announcement. U.S. Customs and Immigration Services and the U.S. Border Patrol are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul Markovits and Joshua Garland are prosecuting the case. ###


component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The Justice Department announced today that a jury found a former senior executive and a former sales manager of Epsilon Data Management LLC (Epsilon) guilty of federal criminal charges related to the targeting of millions of U.S. consumers for mass-mailing fraud schemes. Robert Reger, 57, of Boulder, Colorado, and David Lytle, 64, of Leawood, Kansas, were found guilty today of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and numerous counts of substantive mail and wire fraud. According to evidence presented at the two-week trial, the defendants were key participants in a scheme that knowingly sold targeted lists of consumers and their addresses to perpetrators of fraud schemes involving the sending of false and deceptive mail to consumers over the course of 10years. The defendants committed the crimes while working at data broker Epsilon which used transactional data collected from marketing clients to predict new “responsive buyers” using computer algorithms and a database of 100 million U.S. households. The jury found the defendants knew that their scheme was providing data to fraudster clients. Evidence at trial showed that the defendants used Epsilon’s algorithms to predict new lists of consumers most likely to respond to the frauds and that the defendants’ business unit worked with dozens of clients with scam letters promising large prizes or falsely personalized astrological mailings promising wealth. As part of the scheme, the conspirators sold the names and address of millions of U.S. consumers to perpetrators of schemes engaged in fraud, knowing that their fraudster clients were targeting elderly and vulnerable people. Evidence at trial showed that the defendants sold nearly 100 lists to just one fraudster client, and that the defendants had many other fraudster clients with scam letters. At trial, elderly victims and their adult children testified about the scam letters victims received falsely promising cash prizes. Evidence showed that each of these victims were targeted for fraud by members of the conspiracy. A number of current and former Epsilon employees also testified, along with three witnesses who previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud: a list broker and two Epsilon clients who operated mail fraud schemes. “This case serves as a warning that the Justice Department Consumer Branch and its law enforcement partners will hold corporate executives accountable for fraudulent use of consumer data,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will investigate and prosecute individuals who use sophisticated technology to defraud consumers.” “Defrauding elderly and vulnerable consumers will not be tolerated in the State of Colorado,” said U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan for the District of Colorado. “This case is an example of the responsibility both executives and companies hold when it comes to gathering and selling personal data, and I hope other companies take note of the serious outcomes of this case.” “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) sees the conviction of these individuals as a significant victory in our ongoing efforts to protect older adults from fraud and exploitation,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of USPIS’ Criminal Investigations Group. “These criminals preyed on some of the most vulnerable members of our community, and today's verdict sends a clear message that such predatory behavior will not be tolerated. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure justice is served and to prevent these crimes from happening in the future.” Evidence at trial showed that Robert Reger worked at Epsilon from 2005 to 2017, where he led sales teams after building and leading the sales unit engaged in fraud, the Direct to Consumer Unit. When Reger left Epsilon, he was senior vice president overseeing the Direct to Consumer Unit. In convicting Reger, the jury found he intentionally joined in the conspiracy and had specific intent to defraud victims of the schemes. David Lytle worked at Epsilon from 2012 to 2018 as a business development manager recruiting clients for the Direct to Consumer Unit and was responsible for signing up many of the clients engaged in fraud. The jury found that Reger and Lytle were guilty of conspiracy to commit mail or wire fraud based on evidence that members of the conspiracy knew they were routinely selling consumer data to fraudsters. The jury found both Reger and Lytle guilty of seven counts of mail fraud. Evidence at trial showed that the conspirators sold lists of consumers to fraudsters, which caused victims to send checks in response to letters promising large cash prizes. The jury found also Reger guilty of six counts of wire fraud and Lytle guilty of 12 counts of wire fraud in connection with electronic shipments of names and addresses and other emails that carried out the objectives of the scheme to defraud. A sentencing hearing is scheduled on Sept. 30. Reger and Lytle both face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count. In 2018, former Epsilon Vice President Steven Fritz Kessler pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud for his participation in the fraudulent scheme. The defendants’ former employer, Epsilon resolved its criminal liability via a deferred prosecution agreement in 2021, paying $150 million in penalties and victim compensation. That victim compensation effort has returned $122 million to more than 200,000 victims of fraud schemes for which Epsilon provided data. USPIS’ Transnational Elder Fraud Strike Force investigated this matter. Senior Trial Attorney Alistair Reader and Assistant Director Rachael Doud of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Weber for the District of Colorado prosecuted the case. Senior Trial Attorney Ehren Reynolds and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Hetal Doshi for the District of Colorado also assisted in the case, along with outstanding support staff from the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available. More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch . Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the Federal Trade Commission at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov .


title: Retired Navy Admiral and Business Executives Arrested for Bribery Scheme

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A retired Navy Admiral and two business executives were arrested today on criminal charges related to their roles in a bribery scheme that involved a U.S. government contract. As alleged in an indictment unsealed today, from 2020 to 2022, Robert Burke, 62, of Coconut Creek, Florida, was a four-star Admiral who oversaw Naval operations in Europe, Russia, and most of Africa, and commanded thousands of civilian and military personnel. Yongchul “Charlie” Kim and Meghan Messenger, both of New York, are the co-CEOs of a company (Company A) that provided a workforce training pilot program to a small component of the Navy from August 2018 through July 2019. The Navy terminated a contract with Company A in late 2019 and directed Company A not to contact Burke. Despite the Navy’s instructions, Kim and Messenger then allegedly met with Burke in Washington, D.C., in July 2021 in an effort to reestablish Company A’s business relationship with the Navy. At the meeting, the charged defendants allegedly agreed that Burke would use his position as a Navy Admiral to steer a sole-source contract to Company A in exchange for future employment at the company. They allegedly further agreed that Burke would use his official position to influence other Navy officers to award another contract to Company A to train a large portion of the Navy with a value Kim allegedly estimated to be “triple digit millions.” In furtherance of the conspiracy, in December 2021, Burke allegedly ordered his staff to award a $355,000 contract to Company A to train personnel under Burke’s command in Italy and Spain. Company A performed the training in January 2022. Thereafter, Burke allegedly promoted Company A in a failed effort to convince a senior Navy Admiral to award another contract to Company A. To conceal the scheme, Burke allegedly made several false and misleading statements to the Navy, including by creating the false appearance that Burke played no role in issuing the contract and falsely implying that Company A’s employment discussions with Burke only began months after the contract was awarded. In October 2022, Burke began working at Company A at a yearly starting salary of $500,000 and a grant of 100,000 stock options. Burke, Kim, and Messenger are each charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and bribery. Burke is also charged with performing acts affecting a personal financial interest and concealing material facts from the United States. If convicted, Burke faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, and Kim and Messenger each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia; Deputy Director of Investigative Operations Grant A. Fleming of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS); Special Agent in Charge Stanley A. Newell of the DCIS Transnational Operations Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Economic Crimes Field Office; and Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division made the announcement. DCIS, NCIS, and the FBI are investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Trevor Wilmot and Kathryn E. Fifield of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Rothstein for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Taos Pueblo Man Charged with Multiple Counts of Sexual Abuse of Children

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Taos Pueblo man has been charged by indictment with multiple counts of sexual abuse against three minors. Ben John Martinez , 75, an enrolled member of the Taos Pueblo, appeared before a federal judge today to be informed of the eleven count federal indictment he faces. According to the indictment, between September 2001 and October 2010, Martinez engaged in sexual acts with three children whose ages ranged from five to thirteen years old at the time of the abuse. If convicted of the current charges, Martinez faces not less than 30 years in prison. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Taos Pueblo Department of Public Safety. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander Flores is prosecuting the case. The FBI continues to investigate Martinez’s involvement in crimes against other victims. If you have reason to believe you or someone you know may be a victim, please call the FBI at (505) 889-1300 or Chief Summer Mirabal of the Taos Pueblo Department of Public Safety at (575) 741-0764. View the Indictment An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. # # #


title: Statement of U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery on the Line of Duty Death of Connecticut State Police Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: “This is a sad day for law enforcement and a sad day for all of us in Connecticut, and I offer my heartfelt condolences to his wife, two young children, family, friends, and colleagues in the Connecticut State Police. Trooper Pelletier’s life and stellar career, which included service on a federal task force charged with fighting violent crime in the Hartford area, was cut way too short by this senseless event. His death provides a terrible, but necessary, reminder of the dangers that all members of law enforcement face every day. Their work to keep our communities safe, to keep our streets and roads safe, is never routine.”


title: Oklahoma Attorney and Landman Cousin to Serve More Than Six Years in Federal Prison Collectively for Scheme to Defraud Oklahoma Oil Company

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – BLAINE DYER (Blaine), 42, of Oklahoma City, and JAMES DYER (Jimmy), 39, of Edmond, have been sentenced to serve 78 months in federal prison collectively for conspiring to commit honest services wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. On December 19, 2022, a federal grand jury returned an eleven-count Superseding Indictment against Blaine and Jimmy, charging them with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and six counts of honest services wire fraud, and charging Blaine with three counts of making a false statement on a promissory note. The Superseding Indictment alleged that Blaine, an attorney who specialized in oil and gas title opinions, and his cousin, Jimmy, who worked as a landman, conspired together to commit wire fraud against Continental Resources (CLR), an oil and gas exploration company based in Oklahoma City. In November 2013, Blaine and Jimmy received CLR’s confidential drilling and leasing plans from an employee of the company. Public record reflects that with knowledge reaped through the illegally obtained CLR plans, Jimmy sought out and negotiated with landowners across Oklahoma, and purchased leases that CLR intended to acquire. To avoid detection, Blaine, Jimmy, and others, formed several shell companies to facilitate these transactions. The Superseding Indictment further alleged that in 2014, Blaine, Jimmy, and others, sold some of the leases purchased using CLR’s information back to CLR. As part of the agreement, CLR continued to make royalty payments on the leases to the defendants and others through the conspirators’ shell companies. On February 17, 2023, Blaine pleaded guilty to a one-count Superseding Information, charging him with conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud. As part of his plea, Blaine admitted to participating in the conspiracy to purchase leases using CLR’s stolen information, then selling those leases back to CLR, and accepting royalties on the leases through 2020. Jimmy pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud on February 16, 2023. At the sentencing hearings on May 30, 2024, U.S. District Judge Jodi W. Dishman sentenced Blaine to serve 60 months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release, and Jimmy to serve 18 months in federal prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release. The Court also ordered the defendants to pay $2,316,185.43 in restitution to CLR, and ordered Blaine and Jimmy to forfeit $1,661,263.42 and $230,761.74, respectively, to the United States. The defendants were ordered to self-surrender to the Bureau of Prisons to begin serving their sentences, Blaine within 30 days, and Jimmy within 60 days. “The defendants’ greed resulted in an elaborate scheme to exploit insider information and defraud Continental simply to enrich themselves,” said U.S. Attorney Troester. “The significant sentences imposed by the Court should serve as a strong deterrent to those who seek personal gain and profit by defrauding Oklahoma businesses. I commend the investigation by the FBI and the prosecution by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julia Barry and Brandon Hale in unraveling this scheme and holding these defendants accountable.” This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julia E. Barry and Brandon Hale prosecuted the case. Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Manchester Man Charged with Child Exploitation Offenses Related to Sexual Abuse Minor

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Manchester Police Chief William Darby today announced that HERNAN AYALA, 32, of Manchester, has been charged by federal criminal complaint with child exploitation offenses. Ayala appeared yesterday in Hartford federal court. He has been detained since his arrest on related state charges on March 9, 2024. As alleged in court documents, in March 2024, the Manchester Police Department received a complaint that a minor female had been sexually abused by Ayala. The minor female reported that Ayala had engaged in sexual conduct with her for more than eight years, and that Ayala had recorded his sexual abuse of her on his cellphone. On that date, investigators searched Ayala’s residence and seized several electronic devices, including his iPhone. Analysis of the seized phone revealed numerous videos and images of Ayala engaging in sexual conduct with the minor victim. The complaint charges Ayala with sexual exploitation of children, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, and with possession of child pornography, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that a criminal complaint 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 matter is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Manchester Police Department, the Glastonbury Police Department, and the Connecticut Center for Digital Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy V. Gifford. U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the State’s Attorney’s Offices for the Judicial Districts of Hartford and Tolland for their cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of this case. This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com .


title: Idaho Falls Couple Sentenced for Distributing Fentanyl and Methamphetamine in Eastern Idaho

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: POCATELLO – Richard Corey Fox, 54, and Angelina Larae Norton, 61, a couple living in Idaho Falls, were sentenced to over ten years combined for distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine in eastern Idaho, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. According to court records, detectives with the BADGES Task Force initiated an investigation in the summer of 2022 in which they identified Fox and Norton as the source of supply for fentanyl, along with other controlled substances, for other individuals in the region. The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on Fox’s vehicle on July 19, 2022. During the stop, law enforcement seized an ounce of methamphetamine and a large amount of U.S. currency. Shortly thereafter, a separate vehicle in which Norton was a passenger was stopped and three-quarters of a pound of methamphetamine was seized. Further investigation uncovered cell phone communications showing that Norton and Fox actively engaged in distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine and were in possession of firearms. On May 28, 2024, Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye sentenced Fox to 92 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. On December 22, 2023, Judge Nye sentenced Norton to 37 months, almost three years, in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. “This case exemplifies the strong partnerships between our office and law enforcement in rooting out drug distribution in Eastern Idaho,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “We will spare no effort in removing dangerous drugs from our streets and holding dealers accountable.” “We appreciate the hard work from all of the agencies that worked in conjunction on this investigation,” said Pocatello Police Chief Roger Schei. “This is a testimony of the power of relationships within law enforcement agencies and what can happen when we all work together towards one common goal.” U.S. Attorney Hurwit commended the investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Idaho State Police, the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office, the Pocatello Police Department, and the Chubbuck Police Department, which participated as part of the HIDTA BADGES Task Force. The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office also participated in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Blythe H. McLane prosecuted the case. This case was investigated through the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. HIDTA is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug gran program that coordinates with and provides funding resources to multiagency drug enforcement initiates, including the BADGE Task Force. The BADGES Task Force is a collaboration of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies that focuses primarily on drug trafficking crimes in Bannock County and throughout the region. ###


title: College Place Man Sentenced to More Than 16 Years in Federal Prison for  Drug Trafficking and Illegally Possessing Firearms

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Richland, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Rex Michael Kern Jr., 39, of College Place, Washington, was sentenced after pleading guilty to two counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Actual (Pure) Methamphetamine and two counts of being a Felon in Possession of Firearms. United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke imposed a sentence of 198 months imprisonment to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, early in the morning of February 11, 2022, the Walla Walla Police Department (WWPD) conducted a traffic stop of a white Hyundai hatchback. The Hyundai had been reported stolen out of Spokane a couple weeks earlier. Kern was driving and was the only occupant in the vehicle. Officers arrested Kern and obtained search warrants for the Hyundai. Officers recovered a .22 caliber rifle, a 9mm caliber pistol, a small amount of cocaine, a half-pound of marijuana, nearly a pound of methamphetamine, two digital scales with drug residue, and $2,700 in cash from inside the vehicle. In July of 2022, WWPD officers saw Kern going in and out of vehicles in the driveway of a residence in Walla Walla. Officers arrested Kern on an unrelated felony warrant from Walla Walla Superior Court and conducted a search. Officers located a cell phone, marijuana, methamphetamine, and brass knuckles. Officers obtained and executed a search warrant for one of the vehicles Kern was accessing before his arrest. Inside the vehicle, WWPD located a cell phone, two 9mm pistols – one of which had no serial number, ammunition, firearm magazines, $3,927 in cash, a half-pound of methamphetamine, 638 fentanyl pills and a small amount of marijuana. One of the cell phones recovered contained messages detailing drug transactions and photographs of fentanyl pills. “Drug traffickers like Mr. Kern perpetuate the cycle of substance abuse disorders and fatal overdoses by trafficking dangerous drugs into our neighborhoods,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “I am thankful to all the members of our law enforcement team who work hand in hand with my office to keep our communities safe and fight the spread of illicit narcotics.” “Felons know they’re not supposed to possess firearms,” said ATF Seattle Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais. “Not only didn’t Mr. Kern learn a lesson from his previous conviction, he exacerbated it by dealing in narcotics while possessing firearms. Hopefully this sentence will finally send a message to him that he needs to change his actions.” This case was investigated by the ATF and the Walla Walla Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brandon Pang.


title: Mexican National Sentenced for Meth Trafficking

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national has been sentenced in federal court after more than 88 pounds of methamphetamine was found in the trunk of a car in which he was traveling on Interstate 70. Juan Emilio Gomez-Padilla, 32, who was residing in Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips on Thursday, May 30, to 11 years and six months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Gomez-Padilla to forfeit to the government $5,505 that was seized by law enforcement. On Jan. 5, 2024, Gomez-Padilla pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Gomez-Padilla admitted that he was a passenger in a car that was carrying more than 88 pounds of methamphetamine in the trunk when it was stopped by a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper in Saline County, Mo., on April 5, 2021. Gomez-Padilla is the third and final defendant to be sentenced in this case. Co-defendants Jose Alfredo Renteria-Rojas, 35, and his brother, Gustavo Renteria-Rojas, 40, who are both citizens of Mexico residing in Chicago, have each been sentenced to 11 years and six months in federal prison without parole. They each pleaded guilty to their roles in the drug-trafficking conspiracy and to illegally possessing a firearm. All three of the defendants were in a white 2011 Volkswagen Jetta driven by Gustavo Renteria-Rojas on eastbound Interstate 70 that was stopped by a state trooper in Saline County. As Jose Renteria-Rojas was getting out of the vehicle, the state trooper saw a loaded Smith & Wesson .380-caliber handgun that contained a magazine as well as an extra magazine in the door pocket. The trooper found four white cardboard boxes in the trunk, which contained 36 packages of methamphetamine that weighed a total of 88.7 pounds. The trooper also found $5,505 in cash in the car. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Q. McCarther. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.


title: Columbus man sentenced to 10 years in prison for dealing meth

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus man was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 120 months in prison for trafficking methamphetamine. Jerrell E. Harrison, 23, of Columbus, was arrested in September 2023 and pleaded guilty in December 2023 to two counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Harrison is also known as “T” and “Chubbs.” According to court documents, in January and February 2023, Harrison sold hundreds of grams of methamphetamine to undercover agents. The drugs field tested at 99 percent and 100 percent purity. In recordings of Harrison, he discussed owning more than 20 firearms and offered to sell them. He also produced a loaded handgun and stated that he carried his “baby” because one his “trap houses” in the Bottoms was recently shot up, and he had to return fire. Harrison also offered to sell Glock switches – devices that turn a semi-automatic weapon into a fully automatic machineguns – to the undercover agents. Additionally, Harrison told the undercover agents he could sell them fentanyl for $1,000 an ounce and said it was the “best price in the city.” Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Noah R. Litton is representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Two Men Sentenced to Over 13 Years Each for Gunpoint Robberies of Businesses in Kensington and the Lower Northeast Philadelphia

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Angel Fayez, 19, and Kevin Antun, a.k.a. Acquah Evans, 20, both of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were each sentenced to 162 months in prison by the Honorable Juan R. Sanchez. On February 6, 2024, both men plead guilty to one count of carjacking, eight counts of Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of carrying and using a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. Fayez and Antun were charged by indictment in March 2023 with these offenses, in connection with a series of gunpoint robberies of businesses in the Kensington and the Lower Northeast sections of Philadelphia. According to the indictment, the defendants committed one carjacking and robbed a variety of small businesses, stealing approximately $3,613 total between November 22, 2022, and December 3, 2022. The incidents detailed are as follows: On November 22, 2022, Fayez and Antun carjacked a woman at the Liberty gas station located at 3949 Kensington Avenue; On November 22, 2022, Fayez and Antun robbed the Dollar General located at 1240 E. Erie Avenue; On November 22, 2022, Fayez and Antun robbed the Popeyes located at 501 Adams Avenue; On November 28, 2022, Fayez and Antun robbed the Texas Chicken and Burger located at 3960 Kensington Avenue; On November 30, 2022, Fayez and Antun robbed the Wingstop located at 3855 Aramingo Avenue; On November 30, 2022, Fayez and Antun robbed the Wingstop located at 2118 Cottman Avenue; On November 30, 2022, Fayez and Antun robbed the Domino’s Pizza located at 6391 Oxford Avenue; and On December 3, 2022, Fayez and Antun robbed the Popeyes located at 3541 Aramingo Avenue. On May 29, 2024, Judge Sanchez sentenced Fayez to 162 months’ imprisonment, a five-year period of supervised release, and a $900 special assessment. On May 30, 2024, Judge Sanchez sentenced Antun to 162 months’ imprisonment, a five-year period of supervised release, and a $900 special assessment. "Today, two Philadelphia men were sentenced to over thirteen years in prison for terrorizing businesses in Kensington and Lower Northeast Philadelphia," said U.S. Attorney Romero. "Interfering with interstate commerce by robbing a business at gunpoint is a federal crime. The U.S. Attorney’s office, along with ATF and the Philadelphia Police Department, will continue to fight violent crime to ensure the safety and sanctity of our streets prevail." “This crime spree was extremely violent, and the sentence sends a clear message that even young offenders with no criminal history will be held to account if they terrorize their community,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Philadelphia Field Division. “The Philadelphia Carjacking Task Force has again shown their value to the people of Philadelphia, making our community a bit safer again.” "I am grateful to see these dangerous individuals receive significant prison sentences for a crime spree that terrorized Philadelphians for almost two weeks," said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel. "The collaboration between the ATF, the PPD, and the U.S. Attorney's Office demonstrates the relentless dedication our agencies have in pursuing violent criminals; and the sentences handed down sends a strong message that gun violence will not be tolerated in Philadelphia. 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 Philadelphia Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Eckert and Special Assistant United States Attorney David Osborne.


title: Retired Navy Admiral and Business Executives Arrested in Connection with Alleged Bribery Scheme

body_text: WASHINGTON – Robert Burke, 62, of Coconut Creek, Florida, a retired Navy Admiral, and two business executives – Yongchul “Charlie” Kim, 50, and Meghan Messenger, 47, both of New York, – were arrested this morning on charges related to their alleged roles in a bribery scheme that involved a U.S. government contract. The charges are contained in a five-count indictment, unsealed today, and relate to an alleged scheme in which the Admiral accepted future employment at the executives’ company in exchange for awarding them a government contract. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Deputy Director of Investigative Operations Grant A. Fleming of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Special Agent in Charge Stanley A. Newell of the DCIS Transnational Operations Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Economic Crimes Field Office, and Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division made the announcement. From 2020 to 2022, Robert Burke was a four-star Admiral who oversaw Naval operations in Europe, Russia, and most of Africa, and commanded thousands of civilian and military personnel. Yongchul “Charlie” Kim and Meghan Messenger were the co-CEOs of a company (“Company A”) that provided a workforce training pilot program to a small component of the Navy from August 2018 through July 2019. The Navy terminated a contract with Company A in late 2019 and directed Company A not to contact Burke. Despite the Navy’s instructions, Kim and Messenger then allegedly met with Burke in Washington, D.C., in July 2021, in an effort to reestablish Company A’s business relationship with the Navy. At the meeting, the charged defendants allegedly agreed that Burke would use his position as a Navy Admiral to steer a sole-source contract to Company A in exchange for future employment at the company. They allegedly further agreed that Burke would use his official position to influence other Navy officers to award another contract to Company A to train a large portion of the Navy with a value Kim allegedly estimated to be “triple digit millions.” In furtherance of the conspiracy, in December 2021, Burke allegedly ordered his staff to award a $355,000 contract to Company A to train personnel under Burke’s command in Italy and Spain. Company A performed the training in January 2022. Thereafter, Burke allegedly promoted Company A in a failed effort to convince a senior Navy Admiral to award another contract to Company A. To conceal the scheme, Burke allegedly made several false and misleading statements to the Navy, including by creating the false appearance that Burke played no role in issuing the contract and falsely implying that Company A’s employment discussions with Burke only began months after the contract was awarded. In October 2022, Burke began working at Company A at a yearly starting salary of $500,000 and a grant of 100,000 stock options. “As alleged in the indictment, Admiral Burke used his public office and his four-star status for his private gain,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves. “The law does not make exceptions for admirals or CEOs. Those who pay and receive bribes must be held accountable. The urgency is at its greatest when, as here, senior government officials and senior executives are allegedly involved in the corruption.” “Today’s indictment exemplifies our unwavering commitment to eradicating fraud within the DoD,” said Deputy Director, Grant A. Fleming, Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General’s, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS). “Together with our federal partners, DCIS will persist in dismantling attempts to defraud the U.S. Government.” “NCIS takes every allegation of corruption within the Department of the Navy seriously, regardless of rank or position,” said Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the NCIS Economic Crimes Field Office. “NCIS and our partners remain committed to rooting out criminality that degrades public trust in the Department of the Navy.” “Burke allegedly steered a lucrative contract to Kim and Messenger's company in exchange for the promise of future employment and then lied to try to conceal the scheme,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott. “As a four-star admiral, Burke not only cheated U.S. taxpayers but also did a disservice to military personnel under his command. As this indictment demonstrates, the FBI and our partners remain committed to investigating and prosecuting corrupt officials regardless of their rank or title.” Burke, Kim, and Messenger are each charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and bribery. Burke is also charged with performing acts affecting a personal financial interest and concealing material facts from the United States. If convicted, Burke faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, and Kim and Messenger each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. This case is being investigated by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the FBI’s Washington Field Office. It is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Trevor Wilmot and Kathryn E. Fifield of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Rothstein for the District of Columbia are 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: Brooklyn Man Charged with Gunpoint Robbery of Postal Worker

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, a ten-count indictment was unsealed charging the defendant Alfonso Forney with robbery of a postal worker, a related firearms offense, mail theft related offenses, wire fraud, bank fraud, access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. The defendant’s initial appearance is scheduled for this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Marutollo at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Daniel Brubaker, Inspector-in-Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, New York Division (USPIS) announced the charges. “The safety of our mail carriers is essential to assuring the unobstructed flow of goods, checks and information through the United States Postal Service,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace. “The defendant’s pattern of violent behavior endeavored to turn this vital system into his own personal pipeline for theft and fraud.” USPIS Inspector-in-Charge Daniel B. Brubaker said, “Our highest priority as postal inspectors is the safety of our employees, especially our letter carriers who are out on the streets every day delivering for the American public. They deserve to be protected from violent criminals who prey on these hardworking public servants that serve our communities. Today’s arrest of this alleged armed robber and mail thief is proof of this fact: postal inspectors working alongside our law enforcement partners in the NYPD, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York, will relentlessly pursue violent criminals wherever they lurk. No matter how long it takes, no matter where they hide, we will find them and bring them to justice for their alleged crimes.” As alleged in the indictment and other court papers, the defendant engaged in both a robbery and mail theft scheme as well as an identity theft scheme. With respect to the robbery and mail theft scheme, between January 2023 and December 2023, the defendant and others committed gunpoint robberies of United States Postal Service mail carriers to obtain arrow keys, which are universal keys that allow mail carriers to access various postal boxes within a certain geographic area. The defendant and others used the keys to steal mail, including checks from the mail, which were subsequently deposited into the defendant’s bank accounts or otherwise cashed. With respect to the identity theft scheme, between January 2024 and March 2024, the defendant misrepresented himself as another individual (the “Victim”) to fraudulently gain access to the Victim’s bank accounts. He did so by changing the address on the Victim’s driver’s license to his own address, and then ordering a duplicate of that driver’s license to his residence. After gaining access to the Victim’s bank accounts, the defendant withdrew at least $245,000 and deposited a portion of the funds into his own bank accounts. The defendant also used the Victim’s identity to obtain an automobile loan for approximately $25,000, which the defendant used to purchase a vehicle in the Victim’s name. The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, the defendant faces up to 39 years’ imprisonment. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Section. Assistant United States Attorney Sean M. Sherman is in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Stephanie Heyward. The Defendant : ALFONSO FORNEY Age: 45 Brooklyn, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-220 (KAM) # # #


title: Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Illegally Possessing a Firearm; Gun was Used in Violent Assault and Armed Robbery

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Kelvin Canales, 29, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Karen S. Marston to 120 months’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment for possession of a firearm by a felon, stemming from an incident in which he violently assaulted a victim before disposing of the weapon. On April 21, 2021, Canales robbed and assaulted a victim of his cell phone on a sidewalk in North Philadelphia. After the defendant returned to his car, he reapproached the victim and shot the victim multiple times in the back. Video footage shows Canales then fleeing the area. Approximately an hour later, the defendant crashed his car in a single-car accident. When paramedics arrived and attempted to speak with the defendant, he allegedly fled the accident scene, walked behind a row of houses, and hid a loaded firearm in a trash can. Canales pleaded guilty to the felon in possession charge on November 29, 2023. "Kelvin Canales' possession of a firearm as a repeat offender with a history of violent crime was a threat to the larger community," said U.S. Attorney Romero. "Today's sentencing of Canales for possession of a firearm keeps a dangerous man off the streets. It reinforces our commitment, in cooperation with our law enforcement partners, to keep Philadelphia safe and fight violent crime." “This case is another example of ATF Philadelphia Field Division’s long history of partnership with the Philadelphia Police Department,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Philadelphia Field Division. “Violent criminals who attack randomly like Kelvin Canales did will be prosecuted vigorously to ensure justice for the victims and to make our communities safer.” 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 Philadelphia Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Eckert.


title: Former Executive Director of Tribal non-profit sentenced for embezzling federal funds

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Tacoma – The former Executive Director of the Western Washington Indian Employment Training Program (WWIETP) was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to five months in custody for embezzling from a program receiving federal funds, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Debbie Rawle, 69, formerly of Tacoma, served as Executive Director of the tribally owned non-profit job training program for several years until October 2019. The non-profit is now defunct and no longer receiving any federal funds. At the sentencing hearing, Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo said that a custodial sentence was appropriate given the seriousness of the offense, which hurt so many who were looking for assistance from the program. “As the Chairman of the Squaxin Island Tribe noted for the court, this non-profit was supposed to provide services to twenty-one member tribes, whose members “are among those in the greatest need,”’ said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “While eligible tribal members’ needs went unmet, Ms. Rawle spent lavishly on herself – installing an above ground pool, buying electronics and accessories for motorcycles.” According to records in the case, the job training non-profit received $698,153 in 2018 and $703,388 in 2019 to provide employment and training services for eligible tribal members. The U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Division of Indian and Native American Programs administers the funds. In September 2019, the Division of Indian and Native American Programs began investigating questionable expenditures using the debit card of the non-profit training organization at a Macy’s store. Rawle provided false and misleading information about the purchases, claiming they were work related. In fact, there were multiple purchases of items for Rawle’s own use including a new mattress, sunglasses, and clothing. Further investigation revealed Rawle used the organization debit card for purchases at Best Buy, Amazon, and Costco. At Costco she purchased a cedar pavilion and above ground swimming pool, while on Amazon she ordered a pool maintenance kit, and motorcycle accessories costing more than $1,000. In all, the embezzled funds amount to $99,990, which Rawle has agreed to pay in restitution. Vicki Kruger, a Squaxin Island tribal elder and former WWIETP board member, spoke at the sentencing hearing about the substantial harm caused by Rawle’s mismanagement and theft of Program funds, money that would have been used by tribal members to better their lives. According to Kruger, Rawle destroyed the program and harmed the well-being of tribal members for generations to come. “Debbie Rawle embezzled federal grant funds that were intended to provide education, job training, and employment services to Native Americans in western Washington under the Western Washington Indian Employment and Training Program (WWIETP). As the former executive director of the program, Rawle violated the trust of those she served by personally enriching herself with those funds. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively identify those who misuse U.S. Department of Labor grant funds and bring them to justice,” said Quentin Heiden, Special Agent-in-Charge, Western Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Division of Indian and Native American Programs (“DINAP”), the U.S Department of Labor Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG) and the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Tate London. Mr. London serves as a Tribal Liaison for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Washington.


title: Miami resident sentenced to prison for shooting at a U.S. Postal Service Mail Carrier

body_text: MIAMI – On May 29, Charlie Holley, 43, of Florida City, Florida, was sentenced to 192 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Rodolfo Ruiz II, after having been convicted by a federal jury of forcibly assaulting a federal employee, brandishing and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. According to evidence introduced at trial, in June 2021, the victim, a mail carrier with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), was delivering the mail on her usual route in Florida City when she arrived at Holley’s townhouse to deliver a package addressed to a name used by Holley. The victim got out of the mail truck and heard Holley speaking to her from a second-story window. The victim told Holley that she had a package for him. In response, Holley demanded that the victim open the package. The victim advised Holley that she was not permitted to open the package, which Holley responded to by shouting, “Do you think I’m f----- playing with you?,” and then lifting a 45 caliber, semi-automatic rifle and pointing it at the victim. The victim fled to her postal truck and heard a bullet hit her truck as she drove away. In response to her 911 call, officers responded to Holley’s residence, where he barricaded himself inside. After a near two-hour standoff, Holley surrendered. The black rifle was found in a bedroom with several magazines loaded with ammunition, and a bullet fragment was recovered from above the gas tank of the postal truck. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Inspector in Charge Juan A. Vargas of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Miami Division, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Robinson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division, Director Stephanie V. Daniels of the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD), and Chief Pedro W. Taylor of the Florida City Police Department made the announcement. USPIS, FBI Miami, ATF, MDPD and the Florida City Police Department investigated the case. Miami-Dade Schools Police Department and Homestead Police Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey Maultasch and Zachary A. Keller prosecuted it. Anyone with information about a crime having been committed against a postal employee, to include an assault, robbery or attempted robbery is encouraged to call 877-876-2455 or submit a tip to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at www.uspis.gov/report . The Postal Inspection Service is authorized to issue monetary rewards for the forcible assault, robbery or attempted robbery of any custodian of any mail, money, or other property of the United States under the control and jurisdiction of the Postal Service. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 21-cr-20373. ###


title: Readout of Director Rachel Rossi’s Trip to Connecticut

component: Office for Access to Justice

body_text: Director Rachel Rossi of the Justice Department’s Office for Access to Justice (ATJ) traveled to Connecticut this week as part of the office’s mission to ensure access to justice across the civil justice system, to expand access to counsel and to support innovative efforts to improve the judiciary and court administration. As part of the visit, Director Rossi met with U.S. Attorney Vanessa Avery for the District of Connecticut to applaud her leadership on access to justice issues in the state and to discuss future collaboration. Director Rossi and ATJ staff also convened members of the Connecticut Bar Foundation (CBF), Connecticut Bar Association, Connecticut Access to Justice Commission and Connecticut Judiciary. During the meeting, Director Rossi highlighted recent initiatives, including quarterly convenings of the over 40 access to justice commissions across the country; the Federal Pro Bono Program; updates on the work of the Legal Aid Interagency Roundtable; and recent efforts to support the reduced reliance on fines and fees. Attendees discussed civil justice barriers, resource needs and innovative access to justice projects. In the afternoon, Director Rossi participated in a site visit to the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center (CVLC), where she toured the Newington Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center and observed the CVLC’s medical-legal partnership model. She also met with CVLC leadership and medical and legal staff, to learn about the legal services program and implementation of the model in other VA Medical Centers across the country. Director Rossi reiterated ATJ’s commitment and highlighted efforts to expand Access to Justice for Veterans , service members and their families and ATJ’s recent launch of the first-ever medical-legal partnership within a federal prison, in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Director Rossi also met with Reginald Dwayne Betts, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Reads, a non-profit organization that uses literature, design and architecture to create transformative experiences for incarcerated individuals and to address reentry and rehabilitative needs. Director Rossi discussed various ATJ initiatives aimed at addressing barriers to reentry faced by formerly incarcerated individuals and efforts to improve access to counsel for those in custody. At the conclusion of the trip, Director Rossi delivered keynote remarks for CBF’s Annual Reception, which annually celebrates CBF’s work to fund and support programs that provide legal services for Connecticut residents who cannot afford an attorney. The reception honors CBF’s James W. Cooper Fellows and the innovative projects that forward the mission of advancing civil justice for all regardless of power or resources. In her remarks, Director Rossi emphasized the office’s mission of “engaging in the bold, transformative and systemic work necessary to ensure that all communities have access to the promises and protections of our criminal and civil legal systems.” She encouraged the fellows’ work of driving policy change and expanding program efforts for pro bono support as well as legal services. The CBF is a non-profit organization with a mission to facilitate systemic change that advances civil justice for all, regardless of power or resources, to achieve a more just and equitable society. Director Rossi and members from Connecticut Bar Foundation, Connecticut Bar Association, Connecticut Access to Justice Commission and Connecticut Judiciary. Director Rossi and members from Connecticut Bar Foundation, Connecticut Bar Association, Connecticut Access to Justice Commission and Connecticut Judiciary. Director Rossi and staff from the Connecticut Veterans Legal Center. Director Rossi speaking at the Connecticut Bar Foundation's Annual Reception.


title: Boston Man Sentenced to Over Two Years in Prison for Firearm and Ammunition Offense

body_text: BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today for unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition. Victor Florentino, 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to 30 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. In December 2023, Florentino pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. In April 2022, during a motor vehicle stop in Quincy, Florentino was found in possession of a Glock 9mm pistol and 15 rounds of ammunition. Florentino is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to a prior felony conviction in 2016 for firearms trafficking. Florentino had completed federal supervised release two months prior to being arrested in April 2022. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Quincy Police Chief Paul Keenan made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Dawley of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Erie Resident Charged with Sexual Exploitation of Children

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Erie on charges of violating federal laws relating to the sexual exploitation of children, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. The two-count Indictment named James Michael Hendricks, 44, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, from on or about May 8, 2021, to on or about May 16, 2022, Hendricks received images depicting minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Hendricks also possessed and accessed with intent to view child sexual abuse material in and around June 2022. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than five years and up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $500,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Prime Capital Ventures Owner Arrested for Fraud

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Kris Roglieri, age 44, of Queensbury, New York, was arrested today on a criminal complaint charging him with wire fraud. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. Roglieri operated Prime Capital Ventures LLC (“Prime Capital”) and Prime Commercial Lending LLC (“Prime Commercial”), among other companies, that were based in Albany. The criminal complaint alleges that Prime Capital held itself out as a commercial lending business. As part of contractual arrangements with its borrower clients situated across the country, Prime Capital obtained upfront interest payments from prospective borrowers while it sought to secure loans for those borrowers; these upfront interest payments were characterized by Prime Capital as the “Interest Credit Account Payment,” or “ICA” payment for short. ICA payments did not represent fees to Prime Capital. Instead, each borrower’s upfront ICA payment would be debited over time as the loan was funded and accrued more interest. An ICA payment would also be refundable if Prime Capital failed to secure a loan for the borrower client. The complaint alleges that Roglieri defrauded a Minnesota company in December 2023, by committing to fund, through Prime Capital, a $100 million commercial project, even though, at the time, Prime Capital had failed to fund numerous loans promised to earlier clients; failed to return tens of millions of dollars in ICA payments to earlier clients once those loans did not materialize; and had been sued multiple times by clients alleging fraud and seeking the return of ICA payments. On or about December 22, 2023, Roglieri, on behalf of Prime Commercial, signed a Deposit Agreement by which he agreed to keep the Minnesota company’s ICA payment in a “separate and distinct” bank account, and to hold it as a “trust fund.” On December 22, the Minnesota company wire transferred a $5 million ICA payment to a Prime Capital account controlled by Roglieri. The complaint alleges that Roglieri then transferred and spent these funds, including by transferring $950,000 in order to meet a financial obligation to another Prime Capital client; paying $84,000 for his purchase of a Rolex day-date 36 mm yellow gold diamond bezel watch; and paying $101,000 to a private jet services company, for round-trip, private air travel between Albany International Airport and Anguilla, for a family vacation that Roglieri took from about December 29, 2023 to January 5, 2024. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of the charge set forth in the complaint, Roglieri faces up to 20 years in prison, a maximum $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. Roglieri appeared today in Albany before United States Magistrate Judge Christian F. Hummel, and was ordered detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for Monday, June 3 at 3 p.m. The FBI is conducting this ongoing investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua R. Rosenthal and Michael Barnett are prosecuting this case.