title: HSI Investigation Leads to Indictment of Chinese National Circumventing Antidumping and Countervailing Duties in Puerto Rico

component: USAO - Puerto Rico

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On April 26, 2023 a federal Grand Jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging Shuyi Mo, a citizen and resident of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), with thirty-one counts of wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343, one count of a wire fraud conspiracy in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349, and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. Mo was arrested on Saturday April 29, 2023, by HSI San Juan in coordination with HSI San Francisco as he awaited to board a flight to the PRC via the San Francisco International Airport. An investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Juan Global Trade Investigations Group (GTIG), in collaboration with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), revealed an illegal transshipment scheme of merchandise from the PRC to Puerto Rico via Malaysia. According to the indictment, Shuyi Mo is the manager of PRC-based supplier Neviews Development Co. LTD (NEVIEWS) who conspired with a US importer based in Puerto Rico to transship porcelain mosaic tiles from PRC through Malaysia to circumvent anti-dumping and countervailing duties of approximately 718%. “Companies that import products made abroad must comply with the law, including paying the import duties that protect domestic manufacturers and producers from unfair competition,” said W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. “The U. S. Attorney’s Office is committed to enforcing the law against those who fail to pay the government money it is owed, just as it will enforce the law against those who falsely claim government funds.” “The misclassification of merchandise to pay lower duties to the United States Government is a duty evasion violation that will not go unpunished. One of our main missions in HSI is to protect U.S. businesses from fraudulent trade practices. We will continue our collaboration with customs and trade authorities to expose these illegal practices and bring those who engage in these practices to justice,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Rebecca González-Ramos. “CBP remains vigilant on products produced in certain countries and are transshipped through third countries to evade detection and elude duties,” stated Roberto Vaquero, Director of San Juan Field Operations. “CBP has a long history of innovation and technology to support a growing trade enforcement mission and has been successful with origin determinations in the past, whether it be through DNA analysis, pollen analysis, or other means.” Assistant United States Attorney Alexander Alum of the Financial Fraud & Public Corruption Section of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico is prosecuting this case. If you have information on potential customs fraud violations, please contact Homeland Security Investigations at 787-729-6969. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. About Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI's workforce of more than 8,700 employees is comprised of more than 6,000 special agents stationed in 237 U.S. cities and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI's international presence represents the largest DHS investigative law enforcement presence overseas and one of the largest in U.S. law enforcement. ###


title: Derry Man Indicted For Passport Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A Derry man was indicted for using another person’s identity in his application for a U.S. passport, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Andrew Mahn, 28, was indicted on one count of making a false statement in a passport application, one count of false statements, and one count of aggravated identity theft. Mahn was arrested on May 2, 2023 and is being held pending a detention hearing on May 4, 2023. According to the charging documents, on November 15, 2022, Mahn submitted a fraudulent passport application using the name and date of birth of his victim. Mahn was previously charged with hacking in the Northern District of Illinois, and he was on pretrial release when he applied for the passport. The charge of making a false statement in a passport application provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. The charge of making false statements provides for a sentence of up to 5 years in prison. The charge of aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory sentence of two years consecutive to any other sentence imposed. 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 U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander S. Chen and John J. Kennedy are 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: United States Attorney’s Office Paralegal Receives Department of Justice Award for Exceptional Service

component: USAO - Alabama, Middle

body_text: Montgomery, Alabama – This morning, during a ceremony in the Great Hall at the Robert F. Kennedy Main Justice Building in Washington, D.C., Debbie Shaw, a supervisory paralegal specialist at the United States Attorney’s Office, received the Executive Office for United States Attorneys Director’s Lifetime Exceptional Service Award, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco, and other senior Department of Justice leaders participated in the awards ceremony. Ms. Shaw has worked for the United States Attorney’s Office since 1982, serving at various times as a receptionist, criminal division legal assistant, and assistant to the United States Attorney. During that time, she has supported the work of the office and the Department of Justice in virtually every way imaginable. She has assisted in preparing and presenting nearly every significant case brought by the office over the past four decades. She has, on a near daily basis, coordinated with court personnel, law enforcement agents, and other officials, resolving every logistical issue that might arise in the office’s work. She has trained incoming legal support employees (and helped to train younger attorneys), always passing along the lessons she has learned and knowledge she has gained over the years. She has carefully read and edited attorney work product, ensuring that the work of the office is concise, professional, and persuasive. Although Ms. Shaw would likely describe her service as simply “doing her job,” the award issued today reflects the fact that Ms. Shaw is a cornerstone of the United States Attorney’s Office, the Montgomery legal community, and the Department of Justice at large. “No award or honor could ever capture all that Ms. Shaw has meant to the United States Attorney’s Office over the years,” stated United States Attorney Stewart. “Everyone who has worked at the office has benefitted from her work, her guidance, and her wisdom. I am delighted that the Department chose to recognize her and that I was able to be present as she received this award.” For almost 30 years, Ms. Shaw worked closely with Louis V. Franklin, Sr., Deputy Director of Enforcement for the Alabama Securities Commission and a former United States Attorney and Chief of the office’s Criminal Division. Mr. Franklin said, “Debbie is the office’s central nervous system, integrating information received from the public, client agencies, and the courts, then coordinating the response of the various office working components. To every employee, she offers institutional knowledge, warnings of danger, and a welcoming presence. She is the personification of support and cannot be replicated. She is so deserving of this award!” The United States Attorney’s Office congratulates Ms. Shaw on this high honor and expresses its deepest gratitude for her years of service.


title: Baltimore Man Sentenced to Almost Five Years in Federal Prison in Relation to a Counterfeit Card Encoding Scheme

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III sentenced Leroy Holmes, age 62, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 57 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for bank fraud in connection with a scheme to re-encode credit cards, debit cards and gift cards with the stolen financial information of multiple victims to make fraudulent purchases in the victims’ names and without their knowledge or permission. Holmes used the cards to purchase fuel for truckers at half price, in exchange for cash. Judge Russell also ordered that Holmes must pay restitution in the full amount of the victims’ losses, which is at least $212,000 and must forfeit electronic equipment including several cell phones, laptop computers and hard drives, as well as pay a money judgment of $106,032. The sentence was imposed on May 1, 2023. The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service - Washington Division; Special Agent in Charge Ross Luciano of the United States Secret Service - Baltimore Field Office; Acting Special Agent in Charge Troy W. Springer of the National Capital Region of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General (“DOL-OIG”); Chief Robert McCullough of the Baltimore County Police Department; and Anne Arundel County Police Chief Amal E. Awad. According to his plea agreement, from October 2019 to March 2022, Holmes defrauded financial institutions by creating and using counterfeit credit and debit cards by making unauthorized copies of the cards and reprogramming them, using the real banking information of victims, to fraudulently register as the victims’ credit or debit cards when used. Holmes then used the re-encoded cards to make fraudulent purchases without authority from cardholders or financial institutions, specifically to purchase gas for truckers at a discount at gas stations in Maryland and Pennsylvania in exchange for cash, typically half the total price of the fuel. Some of the counterfeited credit and debit cards created and used by Holmes contained unemployment insurance benefits provided to victims from the state of California and were used without each victim’s knowledge or permission. Holmes created or used at least 594 counterfeit credit and debit cards, resulting in a loss of at least $212,000 to financial institutions, businesses and cardholders. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended HSI, USPIS, the Secret Service, the DOL-OIG, the Baltimore County Police Department, and the Anne Arundel County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Evelyn L. Cusson and Joyce K. McDonald, who prosecuted the federal case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . For more information about resources available to report fraud, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud . # # #


title: Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women Publishes Regulation Governing Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction Reimbursement Program

component: Office on Violence Against Women

body_text: The Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) published a regulation governing the Special Tribal Criminal Jurisdiction (STCJ) Reimbursement Program, a new program authorized under the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022 (VAWA 2022) to reimburse Tribal governments for expenses incurred in exercising STCJ over non-Native individuals who commit certain covered crimes on Tribal lands. VAWA 2013 included a historic provision recognizing Tribes’ authority to exercise STCJ over non-Indian offenders who committed domestic violence or dating violence or violated certain protection orders in Indian country. Last year’s VAWA reauthorization built on the success of VAWA 2013 by expanding the covered crimes under STCJ, enabling Tribes to hold accountable non-Native perpetrators of sexual violence, sex trafficking, stalking, child violence, assault of Tribal justice personnel and obstruction of justice. “Tribes know best what their communities need, so I encourage tribal leaders, community members, and survivors to review this regulation for the Tribal Jurisdiction Reimbursement Program – it is critical that programs serving Tribal communities are informed by tribal voices,” said OVW Acting Director Allison Randall. “We are dedicated to removing barriers to access, and it is a victory that VAWA 2022 allows us to continue the Tribal Jurisdiction Program as well as reimburse expenses incurred as a result of implementation.” OVW published the regulation on April 11. The regulation is available at Regulations.gov and the public is able to review the rule and submit comments no later than June 12. This regulation is an interim final rule, which means that it takes effect on the day of publication. OVW will take into consideration the comments received during the 60-day comment period as well as Tribes’ reaction to the implementation of the first year of the program before issuing a final rule. Federally recognized Tribes that exercise STCJ are eligible for reimbursement funding under the STCJ Reimbursement Program. For Fiscal Year 2023, the combined appropriation for this program and the STCJ Grant Program is $11 million. Of that amount, OVW may allocate up to $4.4 million for the STCJ Reimbursement Program. Through this program, and as outlined in the interim final rule, Tribes may receive reimbursement for costs that are associated with exercising STCJ, such as law enforcement expenses, incarceration expenses, offender medical and dental expenses not otherwise covered by insurance, prosecution expenses, and defense counsel expenses. During the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2024, OVW plans to post a Notice of Reimbursement Opportunity on justice.gov/ovw with instructions on how to apply for the maximum allowable reimbursement. Later in calendar year 2024, OVW plans to provide instructions on how to apply for waivers of the annual maximum. OVW administers grant programs designed to develop the nation’s capacity to reduce sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, and stalking, and tribal entities are generally eligible to apply for any OVW grant program where a comparable non-Tribal entity is eligible. OVW’s Tribal Affairs Division manages grant programs that are specifically targeted to Native American populations and tribes including the aforementioned STCJ Grant Program, Tribal Governments Program, Tribal Coalitions Program and Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program. Recently, OVW announced that the 18th Annual Government-to-Government Violence Against Women Tribal Consultation will be held Aug. 8-10, 2023, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to solicit recommendations from Tribal leaders on: administering Tribal funds and programs; enhancing the safety of Indian women from domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, homicide, stalking, and sex trafficking; strengthening the federal response to such crimes; and improving access to local, regional, state, and federal crime information databases and criminal justice information systems. Additional information is available at www.ovwconsultation.org . A report of proceedings from last year’s consultation is available on OVW’s website .


title: Previously convicted felon sentenced to more than 5 years in prison for possessing firearm

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – Markeith Ford, 32, of Cincinnati, was sentenced in U.S. District Court to 66 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm. As a previously convicted felon, Ford is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. According to court documents, on March 4, 2022, plain clothes officers from the Crime Gun Information Center (CGIC) identified Ford at the rear of a property on Race Street. Ford was wearing a black outfit, camouflage mask and latex gloves. When a patrol vehicle arrived, Ford immediately fled on foot, carrying a firearm in his left hand. He threw the gun toward a fire escape on a building. Ford was eventually caught and placed into custody, and the firearm – which was loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition – was recovered. Ford also had a black magazine with 10 rounds of ammunition in a front pants pocket. Ford pleaded guilty in June 2022 to illegally possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony crime. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF); and Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa A. Theetge announced the sentence imposed by Senior U.S. District Court Judge Susan J. Dlott. Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Springer is representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Alaska Couple Charged in $700,000 Investment Fraud Scheme Based on Fictitious Alaska Marijuana “Bud and Breakfast”

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: FAIRBANKS – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging a husband and wife from Delta Junction, Alaska, with conspiracy and wire fraud for perpetrating a years’ long scheme that defrauded nearly two-dozen investors out of over $700,000 dollars. According to court documents, from 2017 until 2020, Brian Keith Corty, 52, and his wife Candy Corty, 47, used false and fraudulent claims to solicit investors to buy shares of stock in Ice Fog Holdings, LLC, a company purportedly established to grow, extract, develop, manufacture, and sell products in the medical and recreational marijuana markets in Alaska and other future markets. The defendants purchased the Midway Lodge along the Richardson Highway near Delta Junction, Alaska, and represented to investors that their money would be used to turn it into a “Bud and Breakfast” that would be a “marijuana theme park” and include glass ceilings so Ice Fog’s customers could lie in bed and watch the northern lights. Defendants also represented that they would grow, cultivate, and sell marijuana from the location. The defendants and their co-conspirators made numerous material misrepresentations to Ice Fog investors, including that Ice Fog was already generating income via contracts for security services, that Ice Fog would make over $3.85 million in annual sales by year one; over $13.05 million in annual sales by year two; and over $23.24 million by year three with an expected return to investors of 30 times their initial investment. The defendants also represented that inspectors from the Alaska Marijuana Control Office had performed inspections on the Midway Lodge to create the impression that their application to become a licensed marijuana grow and dispensary was in the final stages of approval. Defendants made these representations while knowing that Ice Fog had no meaningful current or prospective revenue stream and little to no prospect to obtain a license from the Alaska Marijuana Control Office. Over the course of the scheme, the defendants caused at least 22 individuals to invest in Ice Fog, and raised approximately $722,000 dollars through the sale of “shares” in Ice Fog Holdings, the majority of which the defendants misappropriated for their own personal use. U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating this case with assistance from investigators at the Alaska Department of Law. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan Tansey and Tom Bradley for the District of Alaska 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: 45 Minneapolis Gang Members and Associates Indicted on Federal Charges

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

body_text: Two indictments were unsealed today in the District of Minnesota charging 30 members and associates of two Minneapolis-based street gangs – the Highs and the Bloods – with racketeering (RICO) conspiracy involving alleged murder, attempted murder, robbery, obstruction of justice, and drug trafficking. Additional charges include the use of a firearm to commit murder and drug trafficking. In addition to these indictments, separate charging documents have been brought against an additional 15 Highs or Bloods members on drug and gun charges. “Violent gangs wreak havoc on local residents, engaging in bloody street wars and peddling dangerous drugs that devastate communities and families,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “As today’s announcement demonstrates, the Criminal Division is deploying its resources and expertise in close coordination with our partners to target the specific drivers of violent crime and hold gang members and associates accountable for their offenses.” “Today’s announcement marks a fundamental change for federal law enforcement. We are now addressing gang violence for what it is: organized criminal activity,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger for the District of Minnesota. “As alleged, these defendants engaged in an unrelenting trail of violence, resulting in today’s federal RICO charges and related charges. The aggregate nature of a RICO prosecution has a deeper impact and carries a stronger deterrence message, with the ultimate goal of reducing violence and returning peace to our communities.” “When rival gangs declare war on each other in the streets in any city, it is the innocent bystanders that suffer the greatest consequences,” said ATF Director Steven Dettelbach. “I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, the Minneapolis Police Department, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, and all of our law enforcement partners involved in bringing this case.” “Today's indictment of numerous Highs and Bloods gang members is the result of an exhaustive investigation conducted with our local, state, and federal partners,” Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of the FBI Minneapolis Field Office. “No American should be forced to live in perpetual fear of being a victim of violent crime. These arrests demonstrate our efforts are turning the tide against organized crime in the Twin Cities and the upper Midwest.” “For too long, criminal gangs have wreaked havoc on our streets, leaving in their wake tragedy and trauma that threatens to destroy families, neighborhoods, and communities. When we refrain from utilizing the full force of laws available to hold these bad actors accountable, we allow for this horrific behavior, and its impact on residents, to continue to be normalized. The behaviors of these bad actors is outrageous and entirely unacceptable,” said Chief Brian O’Hara of the Minneapolis Police Department. “The most vulnerable in our communities are often those most impacted by gun violence and criminal gang activity. Our most vulnerable residents are entitled to the same protections and safety as everyone else in society. These arrests are just the beginning. For the first time ever, we have embedded Minneapolis police officers in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and we will continue to develop future cases. Today we are standing shoulder to shoulder with all of law enforcement, and making clear that this behavior will not be tolerated. If you intend to engage in violent crimes in our city, we will find you, we will track you down, and we will bring you to justice.” Highs Enterprise Indictments Twenty members and associates of the Highs Enterprise are charged in a 12-count indictment with RICO conspiracy involving five separate murders, over 10 attempted murders, robbery, and drug trafficking. Five additional defendants are charged in this indictment with separate drug and gun charges. As alleged in this indictment, the Highs have been operating primarily in the north side of Minneapolis since approximately 2008. The Highs congregated at specific businesses and residences located at or near the West Broadway Avenue and Lyndale Avenue North intersection. Prospective Highs members proved their loyalty to the gang by “putting in work,” i.e., committing acts of violence for the benefit of the gang or offering other benefits such as introducing a source for drugs or firearms. Highs members were expelled from the gang and physically assaulted for failing to “put in work.” The Highs’ leaders, or “shot callers,” determined the quantity of drugs bought and sold and the locations where members were permitted to sell the drugs. The shot callers sometimes took the lead in obtaining and distributing firearms to other Highs members. The indictment alleges a years-long pattern of violence including murders, numerous shootings and acts of retaliation against rival gang members, dealing in fentanyl, and robberies. Between April and September 2021, Highs members are alleged to have committed five murders. Minneapolis Bloods Enterprise Indictments Five members and associates of the Minneapolis Bloods charged in a separate indictment, including two who are charged with RICO conspiracy involving two separate murders, over 10 attempted murders, robbery, and drug trafficking. The remaining three defendants are charged with separate drug and gun charges, including using a firearm in a killing for two separate murders. As alleged in this indictment, the Minneapolis Bloods chapter has been in existence for several decades, controlling and operating territory on the south side of Minneapolis. The hierarchy of the Bloods includes a head or leader of the gang, senior leaders, street-level leaders, and other members or associates. New recruits (called “YGs” or young gangsters) must fight, shoot, or make money to gain respect and increase their position in the gang. The next level in the gang is “OG” (original gangsters), who are well-respected members of the gang, and the highest level is “double OG.” All OGs are equal in rank and can direct “shots” or orders. “Enforcers” carry out the OG’s “shots” or orders by beating or assaulting the offender. Members of the Bloods often wear red clothing, display gang signs, and obtain tattoos that identify the Bloods, its members, or territory. This indictment alleges a pattern of violence, including a 2020 shootout and murder at the 200 Club in north Minneapolis. In April 2022, Bloods members physically attacked, shot at, and murdered an individual outside of William’s Pub in Uptown. The indictment also alleges other criminal acts, including numerous instances of narcotics trafficking. The following defendants are charged in the Highs indictment, with all defendants being from Minneapolis, unless otherwise noted below. Montez Brown, aka Tez Blood, 31, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession of a machinegun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Dantrell Johnson, aka Trell Moe, 30, is charged with RICO conspiracy and with using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of murder. Gregory Hamilton, aka Lil’ Lord, 27, is charged with RICO conspiracy and using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of murder. Keon Pruitt, aka KenKen, 20, is charged with RICO conspiracy and using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of murder. Jovan Knight, aka JoJo, 23, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Tyreese Giles, aka Reese, 22, is charged with RICO conspiracy. Josiah Taylor, aka Joker, 29, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Douglas Mobley, aka Nut, 35, of St. Paul, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Jarrett Robinson, aka Gator, 25, is charged with RICO conspiracy. Trevaun Robinson, aka Tricky Tre, 27, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Isaac Hodge, aka Ike, 46, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Christopher Finch, aka Twin, 22, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Tony Jelks, aka BD, 29, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Cortez Blakemore, aka Tez, 33, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Randy Tate, aka Randy, 32, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Trevoneia Felton, aka Tre, 21, of St. Paul, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Chase Robertson, aka Chase Loco, 25, of St. Paul, is charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Malcolm Samuels, aka Reggie, 24, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. William Banks, aka Bear, 33, is charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Ronald Washington, aka Black, 36, is charged with RICO conspiracy. William Johnson, aka Lil’ Will, 32, is charged with using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of murder. Dashaun Morris, aka Mush, 21, is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Ernest Boyd, aka Shaky Shawn, 42, is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Maron Bailey, aka Boonie, 25, is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Isaiah Bell, 20, of St. Paul, is charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Additionally, the following defendants are Highs members or associates who were charged in individual indictments: Montrell Shief, 23, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of a machinegun. Deon Williams, aka Ghost, 28, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Dennis Mobley, aka Diddy, 34, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. The following defendants are named in the Bloods indictment: Desean James Solomon, aka Black, 33, is charged with RICO conspiracy and two counts of using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of murder. Michael Allen Burrell, aka Skitz, 42, is charged with using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of murder. Leontawan Lentez Holt, aka Leon, aka Shotta, aka Shot Dog, 25, is charged with using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of murder. Additionally, the following defendants are Bloods members or associates who were charged separately: Theodore Harold Bobo Jr., aka Boo, 37 of St. Paul, is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, being a felon of possession of a firearm and ammunition, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Jordan Kenneth Edwards, aka J-Bird, 34, is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, being a felon of possession of a firearm and ammunition, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Isaiah Lamuel Elisha Ferguson, 26, is charged with firearm conspiracy and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Josiah Ferguson, 24, is charged with firearm conspiracy and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Demarcus Cortez Garner, 24, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Andrew Dayjon Griffin, 32, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Obuatawan Holt, aka Bone, 47, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Latoya Bea Smith, 47, is charged with knowingly transferring firearms to a felon. John Eric Solomon, aka Eastside, 33 of Minneapolis, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Traigh Sean Tillman, 29, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Nathan Walz, aka Fat Nate, aka Fat Blood, aka Fat Boy, aka White Boy Nate, 34, of Prior Lake, is charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted, the defendants face a range of penalties, including up to life in prison for racketeering conspiracy involving acts of murder, using a firearm to commit murder, and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. The ATF, FBI, Minneapolis Police Department, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and Minnesota Department of Corrections are investigating the cases, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office. The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, Dakota County Sheriff’s Office, St. Paul Police Department, and numerous other law enforcement agencies contributed to this investigation through reports or evidence control. Trial Attorneys Brian W. Lynch and S. Benjamin Tonkin of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samantha H. Bates, Justin A. Wesley, Esther Soria Mignanelli, and Joseph S. Teirab for the District of Minnesota are prosecuting the cases. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Ohio man sentenced for Wheeling traffic stop that yielded counterfeit fentanyl pills, methamphetamine

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA – A Thornville, Ohio, man was sentenced to 9 years in prison today for having a large amount of methamphetamine on Wheeling Island. Christopher W. Thomas, 33, pled guilty to a possession charge in May 2022. During a traffic stop of Thomas’s vehicle, officers found 79 grams of methamphetamine and more than 240 grams of fentanyl, some of which was in the form of counterfeit Xanax pills. Thomas also had other items to manufacture the pills, including a metal pill press with hydraulic jack, cutting agents and a portable mixer. Officers also recovered a loaded 9mm pistol, a box of ammunition, and nearly $5,000 cash. The Marshall County Drug Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative; West Virginia State Police; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Clayton Reid prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. U.S. District Judge John Preston Bailey presided.


title: Baltimore Cocaine Dealer Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal Prison

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher today sentenced Thomas Jones, age 53, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 11 years in federal prison, followed by 11 years of supervised release for conspiracy and for possession with intent to distribute five kilograms of more of cocaine. The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Washington Field Division; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department. According to his guilty plea, in April 2020, DEA investigators with the Baltimore OCDETF Strike Force began an investigation of drug trafficking in West and Northwest Baltimore. During the investigation, Jones was identified as one of the conspirators who agreed to acquire and distribute controlled substances, including cocaine and crack cocaine. As detailed in his plea agreement, law enforcement overheard calls between Jones and other conspirators discussing the distribution of cocaine and crack cocaine. Jones also met with customers and co-conspirators at his home in the 1600 block of Edmondson Avenue to engage in drug transactions and other drug trafficking activities. On April 29, 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Jones’ home and seized 143 grams of cocaine, 62 grams of crack cocaine, drug packaging material and scales, and $19,965 in cash. Investigators also recovered a .45-caliber pistol, two standard .45-caliber magazines and one extended magazine clip, and 170 rounds of .45-caliber ammunition from Jones’ home. Jones admitted that he planned to distribute the cocaine and that the cash represented proceeds of drug trafficking. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This prosecution was brought as a part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Co-located Strike Forces Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations against priority targets and their affiliate illicit financial networks. These prosecutor-led co-located Strike Forces capitalize on the synergy created through relationships forged by agents, analysts, and prosecutors who remain together over time, and they epitomize the model that has proven most effective in combating organized crime. The specific mission of the Baltimore OCDETF Strike Force is to reduce violent, drug-related, and gang crime in the Baltimore area and surrounding region. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the DEA and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys LaRai N. Everett and James T. Wallner, who are prosecuting the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Justice Department Resolves Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Massachusetts Landlord

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that it has secured a $450,000 settlement resolving allegations that Salazar Dos Santos, a Chicopee, Massachusetts, landlord, violated the Fair Housing Act by sexually harassing female tenants for at least 11 years. The settlement also resolves claims against the Trusts of Salazar Dos Santos and America Dos Santos, which held the properties where the harassment occurred. The Justice Department’s lawsuit, filed in 2019, alleged that from at least 2008, Dos Santos subjected multiple female tenants to unwelcome sexual contact, which included coercing them to engage in sex acts, physically sexually assaulting them, exposing himself and locking them in his office to sexually assault them. The lawsuit asserted that Dos Santos implicitly offered to provide relief from rental payment obligations in exchange for engaging in sexual acts with him and threatened tenants who resisted or objected to his unwelcome sexual harassment. It is further alleged that some victims were sexually harassed dozens of times for months (one tenant on more than 40 occasions), and that Dos Santos evicted some tenants after they refused his advances. “Coercing tenants to engage in sex acts and retaliating against those who resist are among the most egregious forms of sexual harassment that we see today,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department remains committed to combating sexual harassment in housing, and securing relief for those whose lives have been upended by such dehumanizing and unlawful conduct.” “Sexual harassment and the conduct alleged here is repugnant and completely unacceptable. Stable and safe housing is fundamental for positive outcomes in life. Insidiously, sexual harassment and violations in the context of housing often target vulnerable tenants who fear eviction and homelessness,” said U.S. Attorney Rachael S. Rollins for the District of Massachusetts. “Although not present in this case, there are also times that immigration status is the manipulation utilized to target and victimize vulnerable tenants. Under the Fair Housing Act, the federal government has the authority to investigate and hold to account predatory landlords and property managers who engage in this despicable conduct. The District of Massachusetts is committed to actively and aggressively investigating these types of cases. Last, but certainly not least, I want to commend the brave women who came forward in this matter.” Under the proposed consent decree agreed upon by all parties, subject to approval by the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, the defendants are required to pay a total of $425,000 to compensate individuals harmed by the harassment and a $25,000 civil penalty. The consent decree also bars future discrimination and retaliation, requires that property management responsibilities be turned over to an independent manager, mandates the implementation of a sexual harassment policy, complaint procedure, and Fair Housing Act training and requires detailed reporting regarding property management activities and compliance with the terms of the consent decree. The consent decree permanently bars Dos Santos from participating in any property management responsibilities at any residential rental property. The Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative is led by the Civil Rights Division, in coordination with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country. The goal of the department’s initiative is to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers or other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative in October 2017, the department has filed 30 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered over $10 million for victims of such harassment. The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division enforces the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination in housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and familial status. The Civil Rights Division is committed to protecting people from sexual misconduct. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at justice.gov/crt . Individuals may report sexual harassment or other forms of housing discrimination by calling the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-833-591-0291, or submitting a report online . Individuals may also report such discrimination by contacting HUD at 1-800-669-9777 or by filing a complaint online .


title: Vessel Operator, Captain and Chief Engineer Convicted of Environmental Crimes

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: Zeus Lines Management S.A. (Zeus), a vessel operating company, pleaded guilty on Monday in Providence, Rhode Island, to maintaining false and incomplete records relating to the discharge of oily bilge and for failing to report a hazardous condition on board the oil tanker Galissas . The company’s chief engineer, Roberto Cayabyab Penaflor, and Captain Jose Ervin Mahigne Porquez also pleaded guilty today for their roles in those crimes. The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 8. According to court documents, Zeus and Penaflor admitted that oily bilge water was illegally dumped from the Galissas directly into the ocean without being properly processed through required pollution prevention equipment. Oily bilge water typically contains oil contamination from the operation and cleaning of machinery on the vessel. They also admitted that these illegal discharges were not recorded in the vessel’s oil record book as required by law. Specifically, on three separate occasions between November 2021 and February 2022, Penaflor ordered crew members working for him in the engine room to discharge a total of approximately 9,544 gallons of oily bilge water from the vessel’s bilge holding tank directly into the ocean using the vessel’s emergency fire pump, bypassing the vessel’s required pollution prevention equipment. In addition, in preparation for the U.S. Coast Guard’s inspection of the Galissas, Penaflor instructed crew members on several occasions to not tell the Coast Guard about bypassing the pollution prevention equipment resulting in illegal discharges. “This prosecution demonstrates our commitment to ensuring the health and safety of the marine environment, and to safeguarding coastal communities against hazardous conditions,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to work with our partner agencies to ensure those who pollute and endanger our coastal communities are held fully accountable.” “A critical mission of this office is protecting our environment from pollution and polluters, whether they impact our neighborhoods or precious natural resources like the Narragansett Bay, one of the crown jewels of Rhode Island,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha for the District of Rhode Island. “In this case, a foreign company decided it could ignore its obligation under American law, putting our waters and coastal communities at risk. Today’s guilty pleas are a reminder that this office will enforce our environmental laws to hold violators – individuals and corporate – accountable and protect our vital natural resources and our citizenry.” “This case demonstrates the U.S. government’s resolve to ensure the safety of life at sea and protect our ports from rogue and negligent actors,” said Rear Admiral John Mauger, Commander of the First Coast Guard District. “Every day, thousands of ships safely call on U.S. ports and handle nearly 95% of U.S. trade that drives our economy and provides for our national security. By sailing into a major U.S. port with a known faulty inert gas generator, the operator, and senior officers of the Galissas endangered not only their shipmates but also the people of Rhode Island. The Coast Guard will continue to train and deploy our vessel examiners to protect mariners and our nation's ports by deterring and detecting unsafe and illegal activity. We appreciate the strong resolve from the Justice Department in holding these rogue actors accountable. In addition to the illegal discharges of oily bilge water, on Feb. 2, 2022, while the Galissas was conducting cargo operations in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, crew members became aware that the vessel’s inert gas system was inoperable. This system is necessary to ensure that oxygen levels within the vessel’s cargo tanks remain at safe levels – at or below 8% – and do not pose a hazardous condition that could lead to an explosion or fire. Rather than remaining in Rotterdam until the inert gas system could be repaired, shore side management of Zeus and Captain Porquez determined that the vessel should instead sail to the United States, where a spare part would be delivered upon the vessel’s arrival for the crew to repair the system. On Feb. 11, 2022, while the Galissas was transiting the Atlantic Ocean from the Netherlands to the United States, Porquez submitted a required notice of arrival to the U.S. Coast Guard informing the Coast Guard of, among other things, the vessel’s last port of call, planned arrival in the United States and the type of cargo onboard the vessel. In this notice of arrival, Porquez did not report that a hazardous condition existed onboard the vessel (the inoperable inert gas system). On Feb. 19, 2022, the Galissas arrived off the coast of Rhode Island and although the vessel’s crew received and installed the spare part, the inert gas system remained inoperable. The following day, the U.S. Coast Guard measured the oxygen levels within the vessel’s cargo tanks and found levels ranged between 15 and 17%, well beyond the maximum allowable 8%. The Coast Guard then ordered that the vessel be moved further offshore so as to not endanger the port of Newport, Rhode Island. Porquez had a logbook created that indicated the cargo tanks were at safe oxygen levels when the vessel left the Netherlands and remained at safe levels during the majority of the vessel’s transit of the Atlantic Ocean. In reality, the crew had not taken any readings of the oxygen levels in the cargo tanks during the vessel’s voyage. Porquez had tasked the vessel’s chief officer with creating this fraudulent logbook that was then presented to the U.S. Coast Guard during its inspection. Zeus and Penaflor each pleaded guilty to a felony violation of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships for failing to accurately maintain the oil record book for the Galissas. Zeus and Porquez also pleaded guilty to a felony violation of the Ports and Waterways Safety Act for failing to report the vessel’s hazardous condition to the U.S. Coast Guard. Under the terms of the plea agreement Zeus will pay a total monetary penalty of $2.25 million, consisting of a fine of $1,687,500 and a community service payment of $562,500. The community service payment will go to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to fund projects to benefit marine and coastal natural resources located in the State of Rhode Island. Additionally, Zeus will serve a four-year term of probation, during which any vessels operated by the company and calling on U.S. ports will be required to implement a robust environmental compliance plan. The U.S. Coast Guard Southeastern New England Sector and the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service are investigating the case. Senior Trial Attorney Stephen Da Ponte of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. McAdams for the District of Rhode Island are prosecuting the case with assistance from Lieutenant Commander Paul J. Milliken of the U.S. Coast Guard District One Legal Office.


title: Member of Conspiracy to Illegally Export Firearms, Ammunition and Military-Type Items to Assist Separatists Fighting Against The Government of Cameroon Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Godlove Nche Manchoe, age 44, of Bowie, Maryland, yesterday to 46 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for conspiracy, and for illegally exporting firearms and ammunition from the United States to Nigeria without obtaining the required licenses from the U.S. State Department. According to trial testimony and court documents, the purpose of the conspiracy was to assist separatists fighting against the government of Cameroon. The sentence was announced by Erek L. Barron, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) Baltimore; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) Baltimore Field Division; and Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (“DCIS”) - Mid-Atlantic Field Office. According to his plea agreement, from at least November 2017 until July 19, 2019, Manchoe and his co-conspirators agreed to export firearms, ammunition and other military-type items in violation of the federal smuggling statute, the Arms Export Control Act and other export laws. Manchoe participated in meetings of the conspirators, both online and in person, including in the basement of co-conspirator Tamufor St. Michael’s residence, where the conspirators, including Manchoe, also reloaded ammunition, assembled firearms, and wrapped various items for overseas shipment. Manchoe also donated and forwarded funds received from other co-conspirators to St. Michael, to be used towards the purchase of ammunition and/or weapons in furtherance of the conspiracy. As detailed in his plea agreement, in December 2018, a shipping container, with a 1989 Toyota truck inside, was delivered to the street outside St. Michael’s residence for the conspirators to use to export the firearms, ammunition and other items. St. Michael and other co-conspirators then loaded the container, secreting weapons, ammunition and other military-type items inside the truck and multiple compressors. The container was sent to the Port of Baltimore for export, departing on January 17, 2019, with a destination of Onne, Nigeria. The conspirators caused the electronic export information (“EEI”) to be filed with the Department of Commerce listing the contents of the container as one Toyota Tundra truck, one 1989 Toyota truck, and “doors and frames.” The EEI also listed the U.S. Principal Party in Interest as an individual with the initials M.A.O. and a non-existent address. The telephone number listed for M.A.O. corresponded with a pre-paid cellular telephone. Approximately one month later, the shipping container was ordered returned to the Port of Baltimore and on May 20, 2019, law enforcement personnel in Baltimore unsealed the container and examined its contents. In addition to the trucks and what appeared to be the contents of an old schoolhouse, the conspirators had concealed firearms, ammunition, rifle scopes, and other items in duffle bags placed in the trucks and in heavily wrapped packages inside sealed compressor units, in the shipping container. In all, law enforcement recovered from the shipping container 38 firearms, 28 of which had obliterated serial numbers. The guns included sniper rifles, SKS assault rifles (some with bayonets), other rifles and several handguns. There were 44 high-capacity magazines, two rifle scopes and over 35,000 rounds of ammunition, as well as military-type items, including boots, pepper spray, zip-tie style handcuffs, hydration packs, and other items. Six other members of the conspiracy pleaded guilty to their involvement in the conspiracy. In April, Judge Bennett sentenced Tse Ernst Bangarie and Edith Ngang each to 46 months of incarceration and an additional three are awaiting are awaiting sentencing. A jury convicted three other members for the conspiracy, transportation of firearms with obliterated serial numbers, and smuggling following a jury trial in May 2022. Judge Bennett has sentenced two of those individuals, Eric Fru Nji and Wilson Nuyila Tita, to 63 months of incarceration and the third, Wilson Che Fonguh, is awaiting sentencing. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended HSI, the ATF and DCIS for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron recognized the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement; the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service; the Naval Criminal Investigative Service; and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for their contributions to the investigation. U.S. Attorney Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen O. Gavin, who is prosecuting the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Statement Of U.S. Attorney Damian Williams On The Conviction Of Nathaniel Chastain

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: “Nathaniel Chastain exploited his advanced knowledge of which NFTs would be featured on OpenSea’s website to make profitable trades for himself. Although this case involved trades in novel crypto assets, there was nothing particularly innovative about his conduct — it was fraud. A jury has found that Chastain is guilty of using inside information for his own personal gain, and he now faces time in federal prison.”


title: Two Lawyers and Two Others Charged in Conspiracy that Defrauded Distressed Homeowners Looking for Help

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: Fraud Scheme Involved Multiple Law Firms WASHINGTON – An indictment was unsealed today charging four people, including two lawyers, with conspiring to defraud thousands of distressed homeowners who thought they were hiring a legal firm to help them avoid foreclosure. The defendants, some of whom were licensed to practice law in Washington, D.C., New Jersey, and Florida, allegedly reaped millions of dollars in ill-gotten gains. The indictment charges: David Maresca, 48, of Manassas, Virginia, Scott Marinelli, 51, of Mountainside, New Jersey, Sam Babbs, III, 41, of Orlando, Florida, and Terrylle Blackstone, 35, of Woodbridge, Virginia, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud for charging clients on the false and fraudulent promise to help them avoid foreclosure but never providing any of those legal services. The indictment further charges Maresca, Marinelli, and Blackstone with five counts of mail fraud; Maresca, Babbs, and Blackstone with three counts of wire fraud and two counts of mail fraud; and Maresca with five counts of monetary transactions in criminally-derived property, and two counts of falsification of bankruptcy records. Maresca was arrested today and made an initial appearance in Washington, D.C.; Marinelli was arrested today and made an initial appearance in New Jersey. The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs, of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal and Cyber Division, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”) Washington, D.C. Field Office. Maresca formed Synergy Law LLC (“Synergy”), in Washington DC, in 2016, and Themis Law PLLC (“Themis”) in 2019. Marinelli, who was licensed in New Jersey, owned 10 percent of Synergy; Babbs, who was licensed in Florida and D.C., owned his own firm – Babbs Law Firm P.L. (“Babbs”) - and 10 percent of Themis. Blackstone worked for all three firms. According to the indictment, the scheme involved marketing Synergy Law and Themis Law through telephone, television, and Internet advertising which told homeowners that attorneys could help them avoid foreclosure. The defendants, through the law firms, operated call centers, where workers used scripts during calls with homeowners falsely promising that an attorney would review the homeowner's case file; that this attorney knew their lender's “internal guidelines,” for a “mortgage resolution”; and that an assigned “legal team” would contact the homeowner’s lender to negotiate a resolution. The conspirators knew these representations were false and fraudulent. Synergy Law and Themis Law never operated a “national law firm,” and never provided legal services to homeowners. Neither Synergy Law nor Themis Law had attorneys review homeowner files, and neither Synergy Law nor Themis Law had attorneys contact a client’s lender to discuss a mortgage resolution. The homeowners signed agreements in which the law firms promised to provide “legal representation,” “attorney services” and “legal services” to the homeowner-client. Synergy Law required homeowner-clients to pay an initial retainer amount (often between $995 and $1,750), followed by a monthly recurring amount (often between $595 and $1,200), for as long as Synergy Law represented the homeowner. Once victim funds were in that account, Maresca, Marinelli, and Blackstone used the funds for their personal benefit, and continued to collect monthly payments from the clients. When the clients faced imminent foreclosure, Synergy Law provided non-legal bankruptcy petition preparation services and directed clients to file pro se bankruptcy petitions to stop foreclosure. Synergy Law directed clients not to disclose that the clients had worked with Synergy Law to prepare their bankruptcy petition. Themis Law clients, who were considering filing for bankruptcy to save their homes, were referred to Babbs Law where they signed a new retainer agreement and paid additional fees. When bankruptcy judges, Synergy Law clients, and the U.S. Trustee's Program raised concerns about Synergy Law's practices in bankruptcy matters, Blackstone attended court hearings on behalf of Synergy Law and made false statements to the court about Synergy Law's operations. When Marinelli's law license was suspended in New Jersey in 2017, and the District of Columbia in 2018, Maresca, Marinelli, and Blackstone continued to operate Synergy Law and collect monthly payments purportedly for legal services. Maresca is also charged with falsely filing for bankruptcy on behalf of Synergy Law. According to the indictment, in answering a question on the bankruptcy forms about financial affairs, which required Synergy Law LLC to list transfers of money or other property that was not in the ordinary course of business, Maresca falsely stated “None,” when he knew he had withdrawn S315,083.42 from Synergy Law accounts to purchase his personal residence. The indictment includes a notice of forfeiture for all illegally derived proceeds from the fraud scheme. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI urge anyone who did business with these law firms, and who think they were defrauded, to visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/mortgage-fraud and/or contact the Mega Victim Case Assistance Program (MCAP) at 1-844-527-5299. You can also send an email to USAEO.MCAP@usdoj.gov. This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office and the Washington, D.C. Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Borchert. 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: Former Alabama Deputy Sheriff Pleads Guilty to Sexually Assaulting Woman in His Custody

body_text: A former deputy sheriff with the Dallas County, Alabama, Sheriff’s Office pleaded guilty today in the Southern District of Alabama for sexually assaulting a woman while he was on duty. According to the superseding information and plea documents, on Jan. 30, 2020, Joshua Davidson, 32, while on duty as a Dallas County Deputy Sheriff, placed the victim in custody and drove her down a dark road to a desolate location where the victim performed oral sex on him against her will. The victim, who reported the assault immediately, was in fear that Davidson would shoot her if she did not cooperate. “Law enforcement officials who sexually assault women and those in their custody will and must be held accountable,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to take allegations of sexual assault seriously, and vigorously prosecute those who violate the civil rights of people in their custody and prey on vulnerable victims.” “The people of Dallas County and the Southern District of Alabama deserve better than to have their rights violated by someone sworn to protect them,” said U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello for the Southern District of Alabama. “Working with our federal, state and local partners, we will continue to bring to justice law enforcement officers who become criminals themselves.” “All law enforcement personnel who take an oath to protect and serve the American people must be held to a higher standard,” said Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown of the FBI Mobile Field Office. “FBI Mobile remains committed to holding those who do not meet this standard accountable for their actions, especially those who wear the badge.” Sentencing is set for Aug. 25. The FBI Mobile Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Arrington for the Southern District of Alabama and Trial Attorneys Maura White and MarLa Duncan of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.


title: Webster Man Appears in Federal Court in Connection With Two Pipe Bomb Explosions

body_text: CONCORD – Dale Stewart, 54, appeared before Magistrate Judge Andrea K. Johnstone for an initial appearance in federal court in connection with two pipe bomb explosions in Weare, New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Stewart, 54, was charged with possessing an unregistered firearm, a destructive device, and possessing a destructive device unidentified by a serial number on April 28, 2023. Stewart remains in custody on state charges. According to the charging documents, Stewart allegedly constructed and detonated two destructive devices in Weare, New Hampshire on April 26, 2023 and April 27, 2023. In response to the explosions, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Stewart’s vehicle and retrieved an additional destructive device, constructed of white PVC pipe, with glued end caps, wrapped in black electrical tape, with a green hobby fuse protruding from one of the end caps. The destructive device found in the vehicle contained more than 4 ounces of an explosive material, consistent with the manufacturing of the two recovered suspected pipe bombs from the two separate detonation scenes in Weare, New Hampshire. The charges of possessing an unregistered destructive device and possessing a destructive device unidentified by serial number provide for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, and a fine of up to $ 10,000. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Weare Police Department; and the Federal Protective Service led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the New Hampshire State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cesar Vega 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. ###


component: USAO - Alabama, Southern


title: Mexican Citizen Sentenced to 158 Months In Federal Prison For Illegal Reentry Into The United States

component: USAO - Arkansas, Eastern

body_text: LITTLE ROCK— A Mexican citizen who returned to the United States after being previously deported was sentenced to serve 13 years and 2 months in federal prison for illegal reentry. Wednesday afternoon, United States District Judge Brian S. Miller sentenced Cristobal Palomerez-Heredia, 45, of Mexico, to 158 months’ imprisonment. On March 18, 2020, officers with the Star City Police Department responded to a shots-fired call. When officers arrived, they found Palomerez-Heredia pacing back and forth, appearing aggressive and agitated. While trying to detain Palomerez-Heredia, he charged the officer, punching, scratching, and headbutting the officer multiple times causing injuries to the officer’s mouth, jaw, forearm, and hand. Palomerez-Heredia was eventually subdued and taken into custody. On September 2, 2021, Palomerez-Heredia was indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with illegal reentry. Palomerez-Heredia had been previously deported to Mexico in September 2012. On September 22, 2021, officers with the Star City Police Department again responded to a shooting call. When officers arrived at the residence, Palomerez-Heredia began shooting at them from his front door. Officers took protective positions as Palomerez-Heredia continued to fire rounds at them. After backup arrived, officers were able to take Palomerez-Heredia into custody. During the execution of a search warrant at the residence, officers located a loaded .22 caliber rifle with a scope, 24 spent .22 shell casings, and an additional loaded magazine. On that same day, agents with the Department of Homeland Security-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (DHS-ICE) positively identified Palomerez-Heredia and arrested him on a federal warrant. Palomerez-Heredia has prior federal criminal convictions for illegal alien in possession of a firearm (2006) and deported alien found in the United States (2011). Palomerez-Heredia received a 12-year sentence for attempted murder in the Circuit Court of Lincoln County, Arkansas, stemming from the shootout on September 22, 2021. In addition to the 158-month prison sentence, which Judge Miller ordered to run consecutive to Palomerez-Heredia’s 12-year sentence for attempted murder, Judge Miller sentenced Palomerez-Heredia to serve three years of supervised release following imprisonment. The only condition of Palomerez-Heredia’s supervised release is that he not return to the United States after deportation. The case was investigated by the Star City Police Department and Officer Charles Davis with DHS-ICE; the case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Crews. # # # This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at https://www.justice.gov/edar Twitter: @EDARNEWS


title: Seattle man sentenced to four years in prison for dealing fentanyl in downtown Seattle while armed with a handgun

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 37-year-old Seattle man was sentenced this week to four years in federal prison and three years of supervised release for Possession of Controlled Substances with Intent to Distribute, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Joseph Johnson was prosecuted federally as part of Seattle’s Operation New Day – a concerted effort by Seattle Police and federal partners to remove open air drug markets in key hotspots in the city of Seattle. “We are committed to prosecuting appropriate federal cases from the efforts to stop drug trafficking on Third Avenue and in the International District,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “In this case, Mr. Johnson did not learn from his first arrest in the International District and was arrested a second time, less than a month later, selling fentanyl at 3 rd and Pike. In both instances he was armed with semi-automatic pistols. Such a case is appropriate for federal sanctions.” Johnson was arrested on February 4, 2022, near 12 th and Jackson in the International District, when an undercover law enforcement officer approached him and purchased fentanyl pills. At the time of the arrest Johnson had additional pills, $165 cash, and a semi-automatic 9 mm pistol. Johnson was released from custody. Before charges were filed on that arrest, Johnson was contacted again by law enforcement – this time at 3 rd and Pike. On March 2, 2022, law enforcement officers saw Johnson engage in hand-to-hand sales of fentanyl pills. Johnson had 184 fentanyl pills in his pocket as well as nearly $1,100 in cash drug proceeds. He also had a loaded Polymer80 semi-automatic pistol. In imposing the four-year prison sentence and the three years of supervised release to follow, Judge John C. Coughenour said “the involvement of the firearms and the significant amount of fentanyl is very troubling for the court.” Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson noted the case was slated for federal prosecution, because of Johnson’s quick return to dealing after the first arrest. “The rapid rate of recidivism the defendant demonstrated by engaging in the very same conduct weeks later leaves little question about the threat he poses to community safety. Fentanyl is highly addictive and incredibly lethal. Packing firearms while dealing fentanyl adds another layer of dangerousness and increases the risk of violence occurring when addicted consumers and unruly rivals are factored into the mix,” AUSA Gregson wrote in her sentencing memo. The case was investigated by the Seattle Police Department with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cecelia Gregson.


title: Final Defendant in Multi-State Dog Fighting, Drug Conspiracy Case Pleads Guilty

body_text: MACON, Ga. – The 13 th and final defendant involved in a multi-state dog fighting and drug distribution conspiracy based out of Middle Georgia pleaded guilty to his crimes on Friday. Armard Davis aka “Black Jack,” 43, of Fort Valley, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to participate in an animal fighting venture before U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self III on April 28. Davis faces a mandatory minimum of five years to a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and a $5,000,000 fine for the drug conspiracy charge and a maximum sentence of five years and a $250,000 fine for the animal fighting conspiracy charge. Sentencing is scheduled for July 10. “Shutting down this criminal organization, which was engaged in drug distribution and barbaric dog fighting, is the direct result of a lengthy and coordinated investigation involving many law enforcement agencies at the local, state and federal level,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Their combined efforts have made our communities safer.” According to court documents, law enforcement investigated a criminal organization involved in both cocaine distribution and organized dog fighting based out of Roberta, Georgia, which extended into North Georgia, Florida and Alabama from May 2019 until February 2020. Davis was regularly communicating about all elements of dog fighting including its planning, scheduling and attending dog fights; the weight of dogs engaged in fights; the amount of money bet on dog fights, as well as sponsoring dogs in fights; and selling, breeding, training and transporting dogs for the purpose of fights. On Feb. 24, 2020, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Davis’s property at 407 Vienna Street in Fort Valley, Georgia, where agents found nine pit-bull type dogs. Many of the dogs had scarring and visible injuries such as broken legs and open bleeding wounds, all consistent with dog fighting. Agents also seized a hanging scale, medical supplies consistent with dog fighting and miscellaneous pedigrees. For more information about this case, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/12th-defendant-sentenced-dog-fighting-drug-distribution-ring . On Jan. 4, 2021, DEA agents learned that a drug transaction would be taking place between Davis and another person, at the direction of Antoine Riley, 46, of Butler, Georgia, a convicted defendant in a separate case who will be sentenced on May 3. The next day, agents observed Davis sell methamphetamine. Under surveillance, Davis was pulled over in Peach County, Georgia, and was arrested in possession of approximately 468 grams of suspected methamphetamine and $3,890 in cash. For information about the Riley case, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdga/pr/nine-federally-charged-arrested-middle-ga-drug-trafficking-investigation . This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . The dog-fighting and drug conspiracy case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture - Office of the Inspector General, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, the Merriweather County Sheriff’s Office, the Peach County Sheriff’s Office, the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, the Webster County Sheriff’s Office, the Byron Police Department and the Fort Valley Police Department. Deputy Criminal Chief Will Keyes with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia and Senior Trial Attorney Banu Rangarajan with the Department of Justice’s Environmental Crimes Section prosecuted the case. The methamphetamine distribution case was investigated by the DEA, FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the United States Marshals Service, the Monroe County Sherriff’s Office, the Bibb County Sherriff’s Office and the Warner Robins Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Kalim is prosecuting the case.


title: Camden County Woman Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining 30 Loans Meant to Help Small Businesses During COVID-19 Pandemic

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – A Camden County, New Jersey, woman was sentenced on May 1, 2023, to 60 months in prison, five years of supervised release and ordered to pay $3.18 million in restitution and forfeit $1.03 million for conspiring to fraudulently obtain 30 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) totaling more than $3 million, and to laundering the proceeds. Rhonda Thomas, 38, of Sicklerville, New Jersey, pleaded guilty by videoconference on June 28, 2022, before U.S. District Judge Karen M. Williams to an information charging her with one count of bank fraud conspiracy and one count of money laundering.


title: Tampa Area Siblings Sentenced To 15 Years For Series Of Convenience Store Robberies

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, FL – U.S. District Judge Mary Scriven has sentenced Christopher Alvarez (19, Tampa) and Dyonnie Alvarez (22, Tampa) to 15 years in federal prison for four Hobbs Act robberies, conspiracy to commit those robberies, and two counts of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence during the commission of the robberies. Dyonnie Alvarez was also sentenced for an additional attempted Hobbs Act robbery. Both had previously pleaded guilty. According to court documents, on May 5, 2022, Christopher and Dyonnie Alvarez and their codefendant, Enrique Marquez, robbed two convenience stores in the Tampa area. During the robberies, Marquez brandished a firearm. The next morning, the three individuals robbed two more Tampa area convenience stores in the same manner. Also, on May 1, 2022, Marquez and Dyonnie Alvarez attempted to rob an individual in an attempt to obtain narcotics. Marquez previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced on March 28, 2023, to 17 years and 11 months in federal prison. This case was investigated by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samantha Newman. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky. 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: Lutz Man Pleads Guilty To Illegally Possessing A Firearm

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Toney Dewayne Salter (31, Lutz) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Salter faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Salter has also agreed to forfeit the firearm traceable to the offense. According to court documents, on February 21, 2022, officers from the Tampa Police Department encountered Salter when they pulled over a car for a traffic infraction. After detecting an odor of marijuana and observing a firearm in the driver’s possession, the officers searched the vehicle and located a handgun under Salter’s seat. They also located quantities of cocaine and marijuana during the search of the vehicle. At the time of his arrest, Salter had multiple felony convictions, including convictions for delivery of cocaine and delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a church. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David P. Sullivan. The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne C. Nebesky. 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: Maryland Resident Charged with Preparing and Submitting Numerous Fraudulent Applications for Federal Cares Act Financial Assistance

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – SIEDAH ELEY, age 30, a former resident of Columbia, Maryland, was charged on May 1, 2023 in a one-count bill of information with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371 and 1343, for her role in preparing and filing false applications for loans related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to the bill of information, ELEY recruited friends and family members, primarily via word of mouth and text message, to participate in a scheme to fraudulently obtain money from Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans with her assistance. She then electronically created and submitted loan applications, falsely stating that the applicant had a sole proprietorship in the beauty industry that generated substantial income. ELEY charged some applicants up to approximately $5,000.00 once the PPP loan was funded. ELEY faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five (5) years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that a bill of information is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt For more information on the Department of Justice’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Secret Service in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit, is in charge of the prosecution.


title: U.S. Attorney Will Thompson Announces Digital Ad Campaign Targeting Romance Fraud Scams

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A convicted participant in a multimillion-dollar romance fraud scam is helping the Southern District of West Virginia sound the alarm about these schemes, said United States Attorney Will Thompson. Thompson’s office has launched a digital awareness campaign that features 15- and 30-second public service announcements as well as a long-form video alerting West Virginians to online fraud scams. The campaign focuses on how the elderly population is particularly at risk. The long-form video includes warnings from Kenneth Emeni, 30, a citizen of Nigeria who admitted to participating in a Huntington-based scheme that defrauded at least 200 victims, many of whom are elderly, of at least $2.5 million. In the video, Emeni explains how false personas were created to establish romantic, friendship or business relationships with unwitting individuals via email, text messaging, online dating websites and social media platforms. Emeni also offers examples of how victims were persuaded to send money for a variety of false and fraudulent reasons for the benefit of the false personas. “As part of his acceptance of responsibility for his crime, Mr. Emeni agreed to provide a firsthand account of how these scams identify, target and exploit their victims,” Thompson said. “We hope this awareness campaign will help West Virginians safeguard themselves and their loved ones against fraudulent schemes.” Emeni pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering, and was sentenced on December 19, 2022, to one year and one day in prison. The awareness videos also provide the number for the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who 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 staffed Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time. English, Spanish, and other languages are available. The public is also encouraged to report potential online fraud activity or scams at https://www.ic3.gov . All three awareness campaign videos are available on the YouTube Channel for the U.S. Attorney’s Office: https://www.youtube.com/@USAOSDWV . The PSA videos will appear over the next two months on YouTube and various social media platforms, apps and websites. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. ###


title: Roommates Of Three-Time Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced To Prison On Child Exploitation Offenses

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge James S. Moody has sentenced Donald Ray Shadowens (30, Clearwater) to 6 years in federal prison for receiving child sex abuse material. On April 19, 2023, Judge Moody sentenced related defendant Craigan Joyner (20, Clearwater) to 5 years and 10 months in federal prison for receiving child sex abuse material. Both Shadowens and Joyner will be required to register as sex offenders and pay restitution to their victims. Shadowens had pleaded guilty on February 8, 2023, and Joyner pleaded guilty on January 11, 2023. According to court documents, Joshua Tripp, Joyner, and Shadowens all lived together at a residence in Clearwater. On August 18, 2022, investigators executed a search warrant at the residence and discovered more than 1,000 images and videos of child sexual abuse material on the three defendants’ electronic devices. This material included children less than 12 years old and children in sado-masochistic images. Additionally, certain conversations between Tripp and Joyner indicated their desire to drug and rape children. Tripp pleaded guilty to one count of distributing child sex abuse material and one count of receiving child sex abuse material on March 28, 2023. He is scheduled for sentencing on November 8, 2023. “These predators openly discussed their desires to drug and rape children and possessed a vast collection of explicit images and videos of children,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tampa Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kristopher Pagitt. “HSI, alongside our partners in the Dickson County (Tennessee) Sheriff’s Office, the Clearwater Police Department, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, are fully committed to making our streets safe from those who sexually exploit children.” This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with substantial assistance from the Dickson County (Tennessee) Sheriff’s Office, the Clearwater Police Department, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin Claire Favorit. This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: United States Files Lawsuit Against Radnor, PA Radiologist Alleging Unnecessary Peripheral Artery Procedures

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Jacqueline C. Romero, announced today that the United States has filed a complaint in U.S. District Court under the False Claims Act against Dr. James McGuckin of Radnor, PA, an interventional radiologist, and his affiliated practices and management entities. In its complaint, the United States alleges that McGuckin and his entities billed Medicare and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program for medically unnecessary invasive peripheral artery procedures in patients’ legs between at least January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2019, and for which McGuckin and his entities were reimbursed at least $6.5 million for over 500 claims. The practice-entity defendants are: (1) Peripheral Vascular Institute of Philadelphia, LLC; (2) Main Line Vascular Institute LLC, of King of Prussia, PA; (3) Lehigh Valley Vascular Institute, LLC, of Bethlehem, PA; and (4) PA Vascular Institute, LLC, of East Stroudsburg, PA. The management-company defendants are Philadelphia Vascular Institute, LLC, and Pennsylvania Vascular Institute, P.C. “Performing medically unnecessary procedures puts patients at risk and contributes to the soaring costs of health care, especially the invasive vascular procedures alleged in this case,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “As this litigation demonstrates, we are committed to safeguarding federal health care program beneficiaries and protecting public funds.” “Medicare rules are designed to protect beneficiaries and taxpayer dollars,” said Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the Philadelphia Regional Office of the Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services. “HHS-OIG and the U.S. Attorney's Office will continue to work together to fight health care fraud and investigate allegations of co-pay and kickback violations.” SAC Dixon added: “Anyone with information about health care fraud in this or other cases should contact the HHS-OIG hotline at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) or online at https://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud.” The allegations regarding unnecessary vascular procedures are described in detail in the complaint and include unnecessary angioplasty, atherectomy, and the placement of stents, as well as the indiscriminate use of intravenous ultrasound. Each procedure requires puncturing the skin and inserting devices into and through the arteries in patients’ legs. As the relevant standards of care indicate, unnecessary invasive vascular procedures may cause harm to patients’ health, including increasing their likelihood of needing future procedures, and putting them at greater risk of leg amputations. As alleged, Dr. McGuckin and Defendants knew from prior administrative sanctioning that unnecessary procedures are contrary to standards of care and federal law. First, in 2015, pursuant to a Consent Decree, McGuckin was sanctioned by the Washington [State] Medical Quality Insurance Commission—and subsequently several other states’ medical boards and Medicaid programs, including Pennsylvania—for improperly performing unnecessary, experimental vascular procedures, including angioplasty and stenting, on hundreds of patients for the purported treatment of Multiple Sclerosis—a non-vascular disease. Second, in 2018, McGuckin signed a False Claims Act settlement as manager/owner of Vascular Access Centers, L.P. (“VAC”) and related entities, which resolved multi-million dollar qui tam lawsuits in the Southern District of New York and Eastern District of Louisiana. In the settlement, McGuckin, on behalf of his entities, admitted that his entities regularly scheduled, performed, and billed for vascular procedures “even though the patients presented without any documented evidence that they exhibited a need for therapies.” More information on those prior settlements is available here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/manhattan-us-attorney-announces-settlement-fraudulent-billing-claims-against-vascular ; https://www.justice.gov/usao-edla/pr/vascular-access-centers-pay-least-3825-million-resolve-false-claims-act-allegations . Additionally, in 2019, McGuckin caused VAC to file for bankruptcy in this District—a filing that Bankruptcy Judge Ashely M. Chan found was orchestrated in bad faith. Judge Chan found that McGuckin’s misconduct in connection with the VAC bankruptcy, including making false statements to the Court on behalf of Philadelphia Vascular Institute, LLC, subjected him to sanctions by the Court. See , e.g. , In re Vascular Access Centers, L.P. , 611 B.R. 742 (Bankr. E.D. Pa 2000), appeal pending. The current False Claims Act case is captioned United States of America ex rel. Aaron Shiloh, M.D., FSIR v. Philadelphia Vascular Institute and James McGuckin, M.D. , Case No. 18-5458 (E.D. Pa.). This lawsuit was originally filed under the qui tam , or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties (called relators) to sue on behalf of the government when they discover evidence that defendants have submitted false claims for government funds and to receive a share of any recovery. If the United States proves that a defendant has knowingly submitted false claims, it is entitled to recover three times the damage that resulted plus a penalty of $13,508 to $27,018 per claim. The False Claims Act also permits the government to intervene in such lawsuits, as it did when it filed a notice of intervention in this case on February 28, 2023. The relator, Dr. Aaron Shiloh, is an interventional radiologist who worked for and with Defendants. “We sincerely thank the relator in this case. Without people like Dr. Shiloh being willing to shed light on allegations of fraud, preserving government program funds would be far more challenging,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. The case has been investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren DeBruicker and Matthew E. K. Howatt, as well as Auditor Dawn Wiggins and Investigator Frank O’Connor. All civil claims are allegations only. There has been no determination of civil liability.