title: Carmichael Man Indicted for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor and Child Pornography Offenses

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Sam Moss Kerfoot, 27, of Carmichael, charging him with sexual exploitation of a minor, distribution of child pornography, and possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, in April and May 2022, Kerfoot sexually abused a minor and produced visual depictions of the minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In addition, Kerfoot is alleged to have distributed child pornography in April 2022 and possessed child pornography in June 2023. This case is the product of an investigation by the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force Internet Crimes Against Children unit including the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Sauvageau and Alstyn Bennett are prosecuting the case. If convicted of the charges as alleged, Kerfoot faces a minimum statutory penalty of 25 years in prison, a maximum of 50 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine for sexual exploitation of a minor; a minimum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison, a maximum of 40 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine for distribution of child pornography; and a minimum of 10 years in prison, a maximum of 20 years in prison, and a $250,000 fine for possession of child pornography. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet-safety education.


title: Brothers Admit to Conspiracy to Traffic Firearms They Believed Were Bound for Mexico

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – October 19, 2023 SAN DIEGO – Homero Cervantes Rosales and Mauricio Cervantes Rosales – brothers from Perris, California - pleaded guilty in federal court today to conspiring to traffic firearms they believed were bound for Mexico and dealing firearms without a license. They entered their guilty pleas before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen S. Crawford. The defendants admitted that they and others exchanged marijuana with co-conspirators in Texas for firearms, which they sold to individuals they believed were drug traffickers. The defendants also used other sources to obtain firearms for the conspiracy. According to the plea agreements, from February through April of this year, Homero and Mauricio Cervantes Rosales sold more than 30 firearms, including many Privately Made Firearms, also known as ghost guns; short-barrel rifles; silencers; and machine guns, for an estimated value of $60,000, to a cooperating individual and undercover agents who were posing as international drug traffickers. During one sale, Homero Cervantes Rosales said that with advance notice, he could get any kind of firearms or ammunition. According to plea agreements, undercover agents told the defendants the “firearms were destined for Mexico.” “Trafficking guns into Mexico arms criminal organizations which then funnel drugs back into the United States,” said U.S. Attorney Tara K. McGrath. “In this case, ATF was able to seize an arsenal. And, without their intervention those guns would have put lives at risk on both sides of the border.” “This is an excellent example of the use of new criminal firearms trafficking offense, 18 U.S.C. § 933,” said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge of Los Angeles Field Division Christopher Bombardiere. “Firearms traffickers are responsible for the violence committed with those guns. As a society we have to make firearms trafficking as socially reprehensible as the crimes committed with those guns. These defendants were well aware these guns were destined for Mexico but kept making the firearm sales.” This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Brehm. DEFENDANTS Case Number 23cr0956-JO Homero Cervantes Rosales Age: 38 Perris, CA Mauricio Cervantes Rosales Age: 28 Perris, CA SUMMARY OF CHARGES Conspiracy to Traffic Firearms – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 933(a) Maximum penalty: Fifteen years in prison and $250,000 fine Dealing Firearms Without a License - Title 18, U.S.C., Section 922(a)(1)(A) Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and $250,000 fine AGENCY Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives *The charges and allegations contained in an indictment or complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Fresno Hairstylist Pleads Guilty to Committing Multimillion-Dollar Caregiver Fraud Against Malibu Doctor Suffering from Mental Illness

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: PLEA AGREEMENT LOS ANGELES – A Fresno hairstylist pleaded guilty today to nine felonies for defrauding a vulnerable physician out of more than $2.7 million before his death and then attempting to defraud his estate out of an additional amount exceeding $20 million. Anthony David Flores, 47, a.k.a. “Anton David,” pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, two counts of wire fraud, two counts of mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to engage in money laundering, two counts of money laundering, and one count of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity. His co-defendant and former girlfriend, Anna Rene Moore, 40, an actress and former yoga studio owner who resided in Monterrey, Mexico at the time of her January 31 arrest at a Houston airport, pleaded guilty on August 28 to seven felonies in this case: one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, two counts of mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to engage in money laundering, two counts of money laundering, and one count of engaging in monetary transaction in property derived from specified unlawful activity. Flores and Moore have been in federal custody since January of this year. According to Flores’ plea agreement, beginning in June 2017, Flores used false promises and representations to befriend the victim — a physician and successful investor worth more than $60 million, but who suffered from a mental illness and lost the ability to care for himself after multiple hospitalizations. Within days of meeting the victim, Flores and Moore moved into the victim’s beachfront Malibu home – rent free – and slowly took control of his life by pretending to be his new “best friends” and caregivers. In September 2017, after the victim suffered a severe mental breakdown resulting in his arrest and detention in Los Angeles County jail, Flores fraudulently induced the victim to sign powers of attorney granting Flores control over the victim’s finances. Flores represented that he would only use these powers to access the victim’s finances to post bail for release, and that the victim could immediately rescind them once the victim was free from jail. But after the victim was released from custody, the powers of attorney were never rescinded. Within days, Flores used these powers to open bank accounts in the victim’s name with Flores listed as the power of attorney, giving himself and Moore access to the victim’s wealth. From September 2017 to May 2018, Flores and Moore lived with the victim, diverted the victim’s funds to their own bank accounts, isolated the victim from his family and longtime friends, and provided the victim with drugs, including marijuana and LSD. In the final days of the victim’s life in May 2018, Flores and Moore gave the victim LSD, which caused his mental state to severely deteriorate. While the victim was under the influence of LSD, Flores caused the two-step authentication feature on the victim’s $60-million online brokerage account to be changed after previously having changed the phone number listed on the account from the victim’s phone number to his own phone number. Then, while the victim was still under the influence of LSD that Flores had provided to him and without the victim’s knowledge or consent, Flores initiated two $1-million wires from the victim’s brokerage account to the power-of-attorney accounts that Flores controlled, then to Flores’ personal bank account. Flores and Moore then left the victim, who by this time was in mental distress. From a luxury hotel paid with the victim’s funds, Flores and Moore remotely watched the victim’s deteriorating mental condition on the video cameras installed throughout the Malibu beach house and directed staff they had hired to work at the house to watch the victim. In May 2018, the victim died in his Malibu home at the age of 57 years old. Following the victim’s death, Flores and Moore moved back into the victim’s Malibu beachfront home and withdrew large sums of money from his accounts. They also concealed information about the victim’s finances from his mother and sister, both of whom resided in Florida. This prompted the victim’s family to file a lawsuit, which resulted in the fraud being uncovered. In the ensuing lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court, Flores and Moore violated multiple court orders ordering them to return the funds stolen from the victim. They attempted to launder the fraudulent proceeds by funneling the money through multiple different accounts to thwart the victim’s estate and court-appointed receiver from recouping the money. Six months after the victim’s death, Flores and Moore then came forward and falsely claimed that the victim had “promised” them one-third of his estate – amounting to $20 million – and his Malibu beach house, and that the victim was on the verge of his changing his will to name both Flores and Moore in his will before the victim’s untimely death. Flores and Moore filed false creditor’s claims against the victim’s estate, fraudulently claiming they were entitled to $20 million and the beach house, and falsely listing incidents when the victim supposedly promised Flores and Moore $20 million and his beach house, despite knowing that these claims were untrue. After extensive litigation with the victim’s estate, the lawsuit was settled with Flores and Moore withdrawing their false creditor’s claims and agreeing to repay the victim’s estate $1 million, which they have so far failed to do. United States District Judge Percy Anderson scheduled a February 26, 2024 sentencing hearing, at which time Flores will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each fraud count, up to 20 years on the conspiracy to commit money laundering and laundering of monetary instruments counts, and up to 10 years on transactional money laundering count. Moore’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 22, 2024. The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew M. Roach of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section is prosecuting this case. Assistant United States Attorney James E. Dochterman of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section is handling asset forfeiture matters in this case.


title: National Constitutional Militia Member Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Guns

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBANY, Ga. – A Mississippi convicted felon and member of an anti-government extremist group who took part in discussions to kidnap and attack federal officials on Thanksgiving Day 2022 pleaded guilty this week to illegally possessing firearms during a trip to Georgia. Joshua Colston, 50, of Corinth, Mississippi, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon before U.S. District Judge Leslie Gardner on Oct. 18. Colston faces a maximum sentence of fifteen years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date will be determined by the Court. Colston is not eligible for parole. “Extremist convicted felons who choose to illegally arm themselves will be held federally accountable when they are caught with guns in the Middle District of Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “I want to thank the dedicated FBI agents involved in this case for their tireless efforts to protect our nation and bring this defendant to justice.” “Thanks to the hard work and collaboration of our law enforcement partners, Colston will spend significant time behind bars where he will not be able to carry out any of his extremist plans to harm members of our community,” said Rich Bilson, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent of FBI Atlanta’s Albany office. “This plea should send the message that the FBI is determined to hold violent felons accountable with lengthy prison sentences and no opportunity for parole.” According to court documents, the FBI investigation revealed that Colston and others participated in discussions on a Zello chat channel entitled “NCM Leadership.” Zello is an encrypted push-to-talk application used on cellular phones. “NCM” is an abbreviation for the National Constitutional Militia, an anti-government extremist organization. Colston and other NCM members discussed a plan to kidnap or attack elected federal officials on Thanksgiving Day 2022. Ultimately, the Thanksgiving Day plan never developed due to the group’s lack of resources and poor health of the members. FBI agents took Colston into custody on Dec. 14, 2022, in Fitzgerald, Georgia, where Colston had travelled to purchase horses. Colston told agents he planned to travel horseback across the country for several years and that he was preparing to go “off the grid.” The FBI believed that Colston had training in explosives and knew him to be a convicted felon. Colston was in possession of five firearms: a 9mm semiautomatic pistol, a .40 semiautomatic pistol, a .22 semiautomatic rifle, a semiautomatic shotgun and a .44 lever-action rifle. The semiautomatic rifle was reported stolen in Alcorn County, Mississippi. In addition to the firearms, Colston had a bulletproof vest and a significant amount of ammunition, including armor piercing rounds in his vehicle. Colston has prior convictions in Texas for third degree felony theft and a state jail felony for criminal mischief. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess firearms. This case was investigated by FBI and the Ben Hill County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Criminal Chief Will Keyes is prosecuting the case for the Government with assistance from the Counterterrorism Section of the National Security Division.


title: Thirty-Seven Gang Members Plead Guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy

body_text: The 37th and final defendant charged as part of the case against members and associates of the Simon City Royals gang – a gang aligned with the Gangster Disciples – pleaded guilty today to racketeering (RICO) conspiracy. “The Simon City Royals terrorized Mississippi prisons and communities for far too long,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These convictions underscore the Justice Department’s dedication to disrupting and dismantling violent criminal enterprises, regardless of where they operate.” “Our communities have every right to expect that violent criminal gangs will be held to account and incarcerated for their crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner for the Northern District of Mississippi. “Thanks to the extraordinary work of our law enforcement partners and career federal prosecutors led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Stringfellow, 37 members of the Simon City Royals, a violent gang acting outside as well as inside our prisons as a criminal enterprise, have been arrested, incarcerated, or are currently awaiting sentencing. There will be no compromise in protecting our citizens, and every criminal gang operating in the Northern District of Mississippi can consider itself to be on notice.” According to court documents, the Simon City Royals were a violent prison gang operating primarily in the Mississippi Department of Corrections, but with members and associates acting on their behalf outside of prison throughout Mississippi, Louisiana, and elsewhere. Through an alliance with the violent Gangster Disciples gang and with a sophisticated structure, the Simon City Royals engaged in a host of criminal activities, including murder, attempted murder, assault, kidnapping, robbery, extortion, witness tampering, money laundering, interstate travel in aid of racketeering, large-scale drug trafficking, and fraud. “These convictions mean that the Simon City Royals’ time is over,” said Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) New Orleans. “Protecting the safety of our communities is one of the cornerstones of what our agency seeks to accomplish every day. To anyone damaging our streets with gun violence and drugs – law enforcement is here. No matter how long it takes, no matter if you are on the streets or in prison, we will bring the full weight of the federal government down on the violent gangs terrorizing our communities, neighborhoods, and institutions.” “This investigation demonstrates the significant impact multiple agencies can achieve when they work together,” said Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New Orleans Division. “We are committed to continuing our collaboration with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who threaten our communities through criminal activities. This final conviction should send a clear message to others engaged in organized crime that this type of activity will not be tolerated.” The Simon City Royals were responsible for the brutal murder of a prison inmate in 2018, when a Simon City Royals leader issued a “kill on sight” order, directing any gang member who encountered the targeted inmate to murder him. In January 2018, Dillon Heffker and Robert Williams acted on the order, stabbing the victim dozens of times with improvised prison knives. Leaders of the Simon City Royals rewarded Heffker and Williams for the murder by arranging for hundreds of dollars to be directed to their prison commissary accounts. “The U.S. Marshals Service, along with our federal, state, and local partners, strive daily to protect our communities from violent criminal organizations such as the Simon City Royals,” said U.S. Marshal Daniel R. McKittrick for the Northern District of Mississippi. “The final guilty plea ended a reign of terror for 37 career criminals, who were responsible for a tremendous amount of criminal activity in our local communities.” “The Secret Service is committed to investigating and pursuing those who aim to exploit our nation’s financial systems in order to further a criminal enterprise,” said Resident Agent in Charge Kyle Smith of the U.S. Secret Service’s Jackson Resident Office. “Thanks to the hard work of our law enforcement partners, a violent gang was dismantled and the individuals involved can now be held responsible for their crimes.” Simon City Royals were also responsible for the savage kidnapping and torture of a former member for perceived violations of the gang’s code of conduct. In 2015, a member of the Simon City Royals kidnapped the victim at knifepoint and forced him into a hotel room. There, Simon City Royals members and associates tied the victim to a chair, interrogated him, tortured him, and burned off his Simon City Royals tattoo. "These convictions demonstrate the steadfast commitment of the FBI and our law enforcement partners to protecting the public from violent gangs that terrorize and poison our communities,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “As a result of our collective efforts, this destructive criminal enterprise has been dismantled and the members who have been operating both in and out of the prison system are being held accountable.” In addition, the Simon City Royals engaged in widespread drug trafficking, including smuggling large quantities of methamphetamine, marijuana and synthetic marijuana, heroin, and benzodiazepines into dozens of Mississippi state prison facilities. The gang distributed these dangerous substances, including nearly 100% pure crystal methamphetamine, to inmates throughout the prison system. Below are the defendants and the charges to which they pleaded guilty: Allen Posey, 48, of Jackson, Mississippi, racketeering conspiracy; Jonathan Davis, 39, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, racketeering conspiracy; Jeremy Holcombe, 43, of Meridian, Mississippi, racketeering conspiracy; Jonathan Burnett, 39, of Birmingham, Alabama, racketeering conspiracy; Hank Chapman, 38, of Riply, Mississippi, racketeering conspiracy; Jason Hayden, 42, of Picayune, Mississippi, racketeering conspiracy; Joshua Miller, 41, of Jackson, racketeering conspiracy; Gavin Pierson, 33, of San Diego, racketeering conspiracy; Justin Shaw, 36, of Holly Springs, Mississippi, racketeering conspiracy; Bobby Brumfield, 44, of New Orleans, racketeering conspiracy; Jordan Deakles, 31, of Gulfport, Mississippi, racketeering conspiracy; Bryce Francis, 43, of Columbus, Ohio, racketeering conspiracy; Anthony Murphy, 30, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, racketeering conspiracy; Chancy Bilbo, 31, of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, racketeering conspiracy; Dillon Heffker, 32, of Bay St. Louis, racketeering conspiracy; Douglas Jones, 34, of Jackson, racketeering conspiracy; Cody Woodall, 31, of Gulfport, racketeering conspiracy; Michael Muscolino, 43, of Phoenix, racketeering conspiracy; Valerie Madden, 54, of Chicago, drug conspiracy; Samuel Conwill, 45, of Tupelo, Mississippi, money laundering conspiracy; Jason Collins, 40, of Loraine, Ohio, money laundering conspiracy; Justin Leake, 43, of Meridian, racketeering conspiracy; Michael Dossett, 42, of Carriere, Mississippi, felon in possession of a firearm; Angel Labauve, 43, of Picayune, Mississippi, drug conspiracy; Bruce Floyd, 42, of Senatobia, Mississippi, drug conspiracy; Jacquelyn Harmon, 33, of Senatobia, drug conspiracy; Cody Myrick, 33, of Grenada, Mississippi, unlawful transport of firearms; Craig Thomas, 36, of Grenada, unlawful transport of firearms; Arvis Tolbert, 43, of Hurley, Mississippi, violent crime in support of racketeering activity; Preston Edwards, 36, of Jackson, drug conspiracy; Catherine Perry, 41, of Tupelo, interstate transportation in aid of racketeering; John Brooks, 37, of Greenwood, Mississippi, drug conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy; Alana Dickey, 21, of Holly Springs, interstate transportation in aid of racketeering; Austin Ruby, 35, of Holly Springs, drug conspiracy; Chris Vincent, 20, of Gulfport, drug conspiracy; Trevor Overby, 45, of Jackson, drug conspiracy; Anthony Rouse, 33, of Picayune, drug conspiracy. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Secret Service, FBI Jackson Field Office, Mississippi Department of Corrections, and dozens of local law enforcement agencies across multiple states investigated the cases. The Tupelo Police Department, Marshall County Sheriff's Department, Benton County Sheriff's Department, and Tippah County Sheriff’s Department provided valuable assistance. Trial Attorney Ben Tonkin of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stringfellow for the Northern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the cases, with valuable assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Annette Williams for the Southern District of Mississippi.


title: Drug Trafficker Found Guilty of Conspiracy and Attempted Possession of Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Hawaii

body_text: HONOLULU – After a four-day jury trial before Senior United States District Judge Susan Oki Mollway, a federal jury yesterday found Luis Miguel Castro Alavez, 31, of Mexico, guilty of conspiracy and attempted possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Sentencing is scheduled for February 7, 2024. According to the evidence presented at trial, during at least June 15, 2023 to June 28, 2023, Castro Alavez conspired with persons in Hawaii, California, and Mexico to distribute methamphetamine in Hawaii. Castro Alavez flew from California to Hilo, stayed in a vacation rental, and waited for a shipment of methamphetamine to arrive in the mail from his co-conspirators in California. On June 28, the landlord of the vacation rental, upon partially opening the parcel after its arrival, discovered suspected drugs and contacted Hawaii County Police, who arrested Castro Alavez later that day. Prior to the arrival of the parcel, Castro Alavez wired payments from Hilo to his co-conspirators in Mexico and mailed cash packed into chocolate boxes to his co-conspirators in California. Both counts carry a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and a maximum of life in prison. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. This conviction is the result of an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Hawaii County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael F. Albanese and Gregg Paris Yates prosecuted the case.


title: Dallas brothers sentenced for fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas

body_text: PLANO, Texas – Two Dallas brothers have been sentenced for federal violations related to a fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. Thomas Hughes Page, 47 and Jon Phillip Page, Jr., 55, were convicted at trial of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering and sentenced on Oct. 18, 2023, by U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan. Thomas Page was sentenced to 71 months in federal prison and Phillip Page was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison. The defendants were ordered to pay restitution of $3.2 million. According to information presented at trial, between 2010 and 2017, the defendants used their company, Page Capital Group, to obtain multiple loans from PlainsCapital Bank (PCB), representing that the loans would be secured by a brokerage account worth at least $2 million. However, neither Thomas Page nor Phillip Page had access to such funds, as the brokerage account was never actually funded. Thomas Page and Phillip Page directed and paid a third individual, Clayton Wertz, to create and submit to PCB fraudulent brokerage statements for the brokerage account reflecting significant value. Once Thomas Page and Phillip Page received the money from PCB, they used the funds on various business and personal expenses. In addition, Thomas Page and Phillip Page took affirmative steps, such as providing occasional payments on the loan, to conceal and disguise their activity. As a result of the fraudulent conduct, the bank loaned Page Capital approximately $3.6 million and eventually lost approximately $3.25 million over the course of the scheme. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office takes bank fraud seriously,” said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. “This type of crime can affect the security and soundness of FDIC-insured banks, and we all pay the price when banks lose money due to fraud. Along with the FBI, this office will investigate and prosecute bank fraud and related crimes to protect the financial system and prevent losses to our banking institutions.” “Financial Institution Fraud is not a victimless crime. It hurts lending institutions and negatively impacts borrowers who are seeking genuine loans for their businesses,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Chad Yarbrough. “The defendants used their ill-gotten gains for their personal benefit without regard for the consequences. Today’s sentence demonstrates that the FBI will pursue anyone that attempts to defraud financial institutions, investors, or the public.” This case was investigated by the FBI – Frisco Resident Agency and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the Plano office. ###


title: Jackson Gang Member Admits to Conspiracy to Traffic Unique Form of Fentanyl

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT –Lansing resident and member of the violent Jackson street gang the “Thorough Bred Family,” Dominque Faulkner, 32, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today. Ison was joined in the announcement by James Deir, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Detroit Field Division, Colonel James F. Grady, II, Michigan State Police, Director Elmer J. Hitt, Jackson Police and Fire Services, and Sheriff Gary Schuette, Jackson County Sheriff’s Department. In his plea, Faulkner admitted that he and his co-conspirators distributed large amounts of fentanyl in Jackson. According to court documents, the fentanyl sold by the gang had a unique texture and coloring. Unlike most fentanyl, typically sold in powder form, TBF’s fentanyl was sold in a rock-like crystalline form, and was often colored yellow, purple, or blue, rather than the usual white. Court records also show that Faulkner and his fellow gang members possessed firearms in furtherance of the fentanyl trafficking conspiracy. Following a coordinated crackdown on violent crime and fentanyl trafficking in Jackson County, including the investigation, arrest, incarceration, and prosecution of many TBF gang members and associates, Jackson County saw an approximately 48% reduction in non-fatal shootings, 43% reduction in fatal shootings, and 50% reduction in overdose deaths. Four other co-conspirators have already pleaded guilty and/or been sentenced as follows: Zaire Faulkner, age 24 of Jackson was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. Tommy Owens, age 32 of Jackson: was sentenced to 7 years and 3 months in federal prison. Mario Murguia, age 23 of Jackson: was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison. Demarquan Smith, age 21 of Jackson will be sentenced on January 30, 2023, and faces a 10-year mandatory/minimum prison term. Charges remain pending against other co-conspirators, including Tamarious Faulkner, age 27 of Houston, Texas; Demond Johns, age 26 of Jackson; Brittany Bartkowiak, age 30 of Jackson; and Heather Dolan, age 37 of Jackson. They are set for jury trial on March 5, 2024. An indictment is only a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. “The intersection of drugs and gangs almost inevitably results in violence in our communities. My office, in coordination with our federal, state, and local partners, will aggressively investigate and prosecute individuals or groups who sell poison to our communities .” U.S. Attorney Ison said. “The Thorough Bred gang and Dominque Faulkner have terrorized the Jackson community for some time selling poison to the most vulnerable and through acts of gun violence,” said James Deir ATF Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Division. “Two things are certain from this case: First, Jackson is a much safer community without Mr. Faulkner in it. Second, Dominique is better off in prison where he can reflect and seek redemption for all the lives he ruined.” “We know it is a small number of individuals that wreak havoc in our community. Through our continued strong partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, it is a priority to identify these individuals and build solid criminal cases should they choose to engage in continued reckless and violent behavior,” said Director Hitt. “Our community is a safer place today because of all the dedicated law enforcement professionals who worked together to address the violence and drug dealing of the “Thorough Bread Family” street gang. The positive outcome of the case of Dominque Faulkner underscores the value of strong partnerships between local, state and federal agencies. I applaud the courage and resilience of the Jackson Community, and pledge to maintain our relentless pursuit of safety and justice for all,” stated Sheriff Gary R. Schuette, Jackson County Sheriff. Dominque Faulkner is scheduled to be sentenced on February 1, 2024, before Judge Stephen J. Murphy, III. Faulkner faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the Michigan State Police, Jackson Police Department, and the Jackson County Sheriff's Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew R. Picek, Matthew Roth and Craig Welkener.


title: Florida Woman’s 10-year Sentence Ends Drug Conspiracy Case

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: HARRISONBURG, Va. – A Florida woman, the ninth and final defendant to be sentenced as part of a large methamphetamine conspiracy, was sentenced this week to 10 years in federal prison. Jacqueline Tatiana Cuellar, 53, of Orlando, Florida, was convicted along with three other co-defendants by a Harrisonburg jury of conspiring to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine or 500 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture. In addition to Cuellar, Stephen “City” Purks, 36, of King George, Virginia, Carlos “C-Lo” Bariola, 35, of Hialeah, Florida, and Natassia “Prima” Kimble, 32, of Hialeah, Florida, were tried by jury and convicted. In July 2023, Bariola, Purks, and Kimble were sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy: Bariola was sentenced to 27 years, Purks to 25 years, and Kimble to 10 years. Co-defendants Jessica Grote, 37, of Jacksonville, Florida, Ashlyn Gates, 35, of Baker, West Virginia, Stephanie Butler, 28, of Winchester, Virginia, April Mosley, 43, of Jacksonville, Florida, and Catherine Rec, 48, of Newport News, Virginia, all pleaded guilty for their roles in the conspiracy. According to court documents and evidence presented during the trial, both Purks and Bariola are career criminals who were serving time in state prison in Florida. During the life of the conspiracy, Purks and Bariola, organized and led the methamphetamine conspiracy from inside the Florida Department of Corrections using women they had recruited from outside the jail. The two men ran the operation using contraband cellphones, one of which was located in Purk’s anal cavity. The methamphetamine was eventually trafficked and sold into the greater Winchester area. United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Washington Division Jared Forget, and Damon Wood, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Washington Division, made the announcement. The Drug Enforcement Administration - Winchester Resident Office, the United States Postal Inspection Service - Office of the Inspector General, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Northwest Virginia Regional Drug and Gang Task Force (which is comprised of Special Agents, Investigators, and Detectives from the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office, the Shenandoah County Sheriff’s Office, the Page County Sheriff’s Office, the Winchester Police Department, the Front Royal Police Department, the Strasburg Police Department, the Luray Police Department, and the Virginia State Police) investigated the case. The Drug Enforcement Administration in Jacksonville, Florida, Miami, Florida, Orlando, Florida, and the Florida Department of Corrections also contributed substantially to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly McGann and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather L. Carlton prosecuted the case.


title: Former Oregon Corrections Nurse Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Sexually Assaulting Nine Female Inmates

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: A former Oregon Department of Corrections employee was sentenced yesterday for sexually assaulting nine female inmates while serving as a nurse at the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, Oregon’s only women’s prison. Tony Daniel Klein, 38, of Clackamas County, Oregon, was sentenced to 30 years in prison and five years of supervised release. A restitution hearing will be held at a later date. “The sentence in this case should send a significant message to any official working inside jails and prisons across our country, including those who provide medical care, that they will be held accountable when they sexually assault women inmates in their custody,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Women detained inside jails and prisons should be able to turn to medical providers for care and not subjected to exploitation by those bent on abusing their power and position. We will listen to and investigate credible allegations put forward by people who are sexually assaulted and, where appropriate, bring federal prosecutions. The Justice Department stands ready to hold accountable those who abuse their authority by sexual assaulting people in their custody and under their care.” “Today’s sentence sends a clear message that using a position of authority to prey on individuals in custody will never be tolerated by the Justice Department,” said U.S. Attorney Natalie Wight for the District of Oregon. “Holding Tony Klein accountable for his crimes would not have been possible without the courage and resolve of the women he abused and the dedication of our partners at the FBI and Civil Rights Division.” “We know this prison sentence cannot undo the trauma Tony Klein inflicted on numerous victims, but we hope this brings them one step closer to healing,” said Special Agent in Charge Kieran L. Ramsey of the FBI Portland Field Office. “As a state prison nurse, Klein abused his position and abused multiple women, violating the public’s trust, while doing everything he could to avoid being caught. The investigators and prosecutors should be applauded for their efforts to hold Klein accountable, but we recognize this lengthy sentence is also because of a group of brave women who came forward and helped ensure that Klein was held accountable for being a sexual predator within Coffee Creek Correctional Facility.” According to court documents, from 2010 until January 2018, Klein served as a nurse at the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville, Oregon. In his position, Klein interacted with female inmates who either sought medical treatment or worked as orderlies in the prison’s medical unit. Aided by his access to the women and his position of power as a corrections employee, Klein sexually assaulted or engaged in nonconsensual sexual conduct with many female inmates entrusted to his care. By virtue of his position as a medical provider, Klein was often alone with his victims and assaulted many before, during or after medical treatment. For women who worked in the medical unit, Klein manufactured reasons to get them alone in secluded areas such as medical rooms, janitor’s closets or behind privacy curtains. Klein made it clear to his victims that he was in a position of power over them, and that they would not be believed if they tried reporting his abuse. Fearing punishment if they fought back against or reported his misconduct, most of Klein’s victims submitted to his unwanted advances or endured his assaults. On March 8, 2022, a federal grand jury in Portland returned an indictment charging Klein with depriving his victims of their constitutional right not to be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment by sexual assault. The indictment also charged Klein with perjury. On July 25, a federal jury in Portland found Klein guilty of 17 counts of depriving his victims of their constitutional right not to be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment by sexual assault and four counts of perjury. The FBI Portland Field Office investigated the case. Trial Attorney Cameron A. Bell of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gavin W. Bruce for the District of Oregon prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Horsley for the District of Oregon assisted the trial team.


title: Two Lakeland Men Plead Guilty To Federal Charges In  Connection With Drive-By Shooting Of 11 Men In Lakeland

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Nicholas Quinton Hanson (31, Lakeland) and Marcus Dewonn Mobley, Jr. (23, Lakeland) have pleaded guilty to possessing ammunition, and possessing a firearm and ammunition, respectively, as convicted felons. Each faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. Sentencing dates have not yet been set. According to the plea agreements, on January 30, 2023, 11 individuals were shot in a drive-by shooting carried out from a blue Nissan Altima near Iowa Avenue and Plum Street in Lakeland. Mobley owned a blue Nissan Altima. Evidence collected from Hanson and Mobley’s cellphones showed they communicated prior to, and after, the shooting. Hanson and Mobley’s DNA was recovered from spent shell casings found at the scene of the shooting. At the time, Hanson and Mobley both had prior felony convictions and therefore prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Strategic Pattern Armed Robbery Technical Apprehension (SPARTA) unit of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Lakeland Police Department, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and the State Attorney’s Office for Florida’s 10th Judicial Circuit. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christopher F. Murray. 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: New Haven Man Who Possessed Ghost Gun Sentenced to 54 Months in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that NIQUELLE LANDELIUS, 27, of New Haven, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 54 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for firearm and narcotics offenses. According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 22, 2022, New Haven Police arrested Landelius after a court-authorized search of his Chatham Street residence revealed a loaded privately made 9mm semi-automatic pistol, which had no serial number or manufacturer information (“ghost gun”), and distribution quantities of crack cocaine and heroin. Landelius’ criminal history includes state convictions for felony narcotics offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce. Investigators subsequently submitted to the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) test-fired shell casings from the seized handgun. Analysis of the shell casings revealed that it matched shell casings that were recovered at two shooting incidents that occurred in New Haven on February 13, 2022. Landelius has been detained since his arrest. On March 8, 2023, he pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon. This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the New Haven Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie T. Levick. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.


title: Bookkeeper Pleads Guilty To Wire Fraud For $1.6 Million Embezzlement Scheme

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Marc Weiss, 48, of Charlotte, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler today and pleaded guilty to wire fraud, for embezzling approximately $1.6 million from two companies, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Jason Byrne, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Charlotte Field Office and Sheriff Darren Campbell of the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. According to filed court documents and today’s plea hearing, 2016 to 2022, Weiss engaged in a scheme to defraud two Mooresville, N.C. companies, where he was employed as a bookkeeper. Over the course of the scheme, Weiss abused his position and access to the companies’ financial accounts to make more than 120 fraudulent transfers totaling $1.6 million from the companies’ accounts into bank accounts under Weiss’s control. To disguise the fraud, Weiss created fake entries in the victim companies’ books and records, categorizing the fraudulent transfers as payments to existing vendors for software development, and advertising and marketing expenses. As Weiss admitted in court today, he generally used the embezzled funds to pay for personal expenses, including to pay for a luxury apartment in Charlotte, to make payments for high-end vehicles, and to pay for travel and vacations. Weiss was released on bond following today’s plea hearing. The wire fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A sentencing date for Weiss has not been set. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the U.S. Secret Service and the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny G. Sugar of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.


title: Second Passaic County Man Charged with Conspiring to Commit Seven Armed Robberies of Several Pharmacies

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Passaic County, New Jersey man arrested in connection with seven armed robberies of pharmacies made his initial appearance today in Newark federal court, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Onijee Burgess, 26, of Paterson, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery. Burgess made his initial appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Edward S. Kiel in Newark federal court and was detained]. According to the complaint and statements made in court: From November 2022 through April 5, 2023, Burgess conspired with Antonio Rivera and others to commit seven separate armed robberies of five different pharmacies in Paterson and Passaic, New Jersey to steal prescription medication. Rivera was previously charged by complaint for two of these robberies. During those robberies, Rivera fired a gun and pointed it at numerous victims. The charges against him are merely accusations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a potential $250,000 fine. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited members of the FBI’s New Jersey field office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Denney, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked members of the Paterson Police Department, under the leadership of Officer in Charge Isa M. Abbassi; members of the Passaic Police Department, under the leadership of Police Chief Luis Guzman; members of the Passaic County Sheriff's Office, under the leadership of Sheriff Richard H. Berdnik; members of the Clifton Police Department, under the leadership of Police Chief Thomas Rinaldi; members of the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office, under the leadership of Chief Jason Love; and members of the Cedar Grove Police Department, under the leadership of Police Chief John J. Kennedy; with their help in the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sophie Kaiser of the General Crimes Unit in Newark. The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. burgess.complaint.pdf


title: Charlotte Woman Pleads Guilty To Producing Fake Documents

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Chaiya Maley-Jackson, 23, of Charlotte, pleaded guilty today to unlawful production of a false identification document, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. According to information to which Maley-Jackson pleaded guilty, other documents filed in this case and statements made in court, as early as January 2020, Maley-Jackson was the owner and operator of Diva Documents/CPN Services (Diva Documents). Diva Documents advertised the sale of false and fraudulent documents on Facebook as well as two websites, divadocuments.com and divadocuments.onuniverse.com. Court documents show that Maley-Jackson used her personal Facebook page under the name Yaya Flowers to advertise the types of documents she could produce and a pricelist for the fake documents. The documents listed on the document pricelist that Maley-Jackson could produce and transfer included paystubs, lease agreements, COVID-19 hardship letters, bank statements, W2 forms, Social Security Cards, and driver’s licenses, both digital and hard copies, among others. The prices for the fake documents ranged from $15 to edit a paystub to $150 for a hard copy of a driver’s license. Maley-Jackson required customers to pay half of the payment upfront and the balance upon completion of the fabricated documents. According to court documents, Maley-Jackson was aware that she was producing and transferring fake documents and knew that customers would use the fake documents for PPP loan applications, car loan applications, and apartment rentals, among others. Maley-Jackson admitted that between January 2020 and August 2022, she created at least 400 Social Security Cards, eight driver’s licenses, and six COVID vaccine cards, and earned more than $320,000 in fees from producing, selling and transferring false documents. Maley-Jackson was released on bond after her plea hearing. The maximum statutory penalty for the charge of unlawful production of a false identification document is 15 years in prison. A sentencing date has not been set. The FBI in Charlotte investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn Finley is in charge of the prosecution. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit 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 www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Hobbs Act Robbery Charges

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on October 13, 2023, QUINCY JONES, a/k/a “Luck,” pled guilty to robbery in Counts 10 and 11 of the superseding indictment pending against him before the U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo. Count 10 charges JONES with conspiring to interfere with commerce through robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951. Count 11 charges JONES with Hobbs Act Robbery, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951. As to Counts 10 and 11, JONES faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000.00, and up to three years of supervised release. JONES also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. His sentencing is scheduled for January 10, 2024. According to public documents, in 2019, the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated a group for committing various violent crimes and illegal drug trafficking, primarily in New Orleans East and the Ninth Ward. Thereafter, JONES, along with nine others, were indicted, for conspiring to possess firearms, traffic drugs and commit armed robberies of drug dealers. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Orleans Police Department, and the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Maurice Landrieu of the Narcotics Unit and Elizabeth Privitera, Chief of the Violent Crime Unit, are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Xavier Zamora Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison for the 2019 Murder of U.S. Letter Carrier

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Dominique Giroux, Acting Inspector in Charge of the Phoenix Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Xavier Zamora was sentenced to 22 years in prison for the murder of U.S. Postal Service Letter Carrier José Hernandez in 2019. Zamora, 21, of Albuquerque, pled guilty on June 8, 2022, to second degree murder of an employee of the United States and using a firearm during a crime of violence resulting in death. According to court records, on April 22, 2019, Hernandez was delivering mail to a community mailbox on Terracotta Place SW in Albuquerque when he was caught up in a dispute between Zamora and his mother outside her home. The quarrel between mother and son escalated and, when Hernandez attempted to intervene, Zamora became belligerent and attempted to instigate a fight with Hernandez, striking him and pushing him down before running back to the house when Hernandez advanced towards him. Inside the house, Zamora retrieved a handgun from the home and returned outside where he followed Hernandez back to his postal unit. When Hernandez turned to face Zamora, Zamora shot Hernandez in the stomach from a distance, and Hernandez collapsed near his vehicle. Zamora then retreated back to the house before fleeing through the backyard. Neighbors quickly moved to render aid to Hernandez while first responders from the Albuquerque Police Department, who were unaware Zamora had fled, did their best to assist and protect bystanders from the imminent threat of gunfire from inside the home. Despite the heroic efforts of civilians, law enforcement officers and emergency personnel, Hernandez died from extensive internal bleeding 20 minutes after being shot by Zamora. Police found Zamora hiding out a few days later in a home about five minutes from where Hernandez was shot. The firearm used in the murder has never been located. Hernandez was a husband, a father of four, a son, and a United States Army combat veteran who served his country honorably and sought to live his life as a positive member of the community. Other Letter Carriers described Hernandez as someone with an outgoing personality, who liked to joke, had a loud laugh, one who did not talk negatively about others, and who loved to listen to music. In his public life, he was known as a Disk Jockey (“DJ”); a Hot Wheels, Avengers and DC Comic collector; and a superhero movie and Star Wars fan. In his private life, Hernandez believed in the sanctity of family, and the respect one must show to others. On his phone, he kept pictures of his family and friends, and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints resource materials to support his personal and family scripture studies. “José Hernandez died protecting someone he did not know because he believed that every member of our community deserves to live in safety,” said U.S. Attorney Alexander Uballez. “Today, we pay homage to his sacrifice, and the daily service of our Postal Carriers. In honor of José, we will know no strangers, we will tolerate no bullies, and we will work together to bring safety to our community.” “U.S. Postal Service letter carriers are public servants, bringing American citizens their mail each day,” said Acting Inspector in Charge Dominique Giroux. “With violent crime increasing across the country, rest assured the U.S. Postal Inspection Service remains committed to investigating and bringing to justice every person who harms our employees. This significant sentence takes violent offender Xavier Zamora off the street and hopefully provides some peace to the Hernandez family. We are grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners who assisted on this case.” "Far too many of us have felt this loss within our agencies," said FBI Albuquerque Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda. “The impact and pain extend beyond the agency and the family; it extends to the community. Even more so when the individual is part of the fabric of the nation making a difference in every community across this country. On behalf of the Hernandez family and others suffering from the loss of a family member to violent crime, the FBI will continue to work in partnership with local, state, tribal and federal partners to ensure offenders like Xavier Zamora are brought to justice.” The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated this case with assistance from the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, Albuquerque Police Department and New Mexico State Police. Assistant United States Attorneys Niki Tapia-Brito and Eva M. Fontanez are prosecuting the case. # # # 23-248


title: Felon Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison for the Illegal Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A Vermont man was sentenced today in federal court in Concord for the unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces. Brian Woodburn, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Samantha D. Elliott to 48 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On May 11, 2023, Woodburn pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. “The defendant’s previous felony conviction took away his right to own a gun,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. McCormack. “Our office will continue to enforce the laws that keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of those who are prohibited from having them.” “Today’s sentence makes it clear that criminals who repeatedly break the law and continue to possess illegal firearms and ammunition, will be held accountable,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Our Major Offender Task Force and our law enforcement partners are hard at work every day, sharing resources and intelligence with the goal of making our communities safer.” Woodburn was found passed out in the driver’s seat of a car on a campground in Lancaster, New Hampshire. He consented to a search of his car, and law enforcement recovered a 9 mm pistol, ammunition, brass knuckles, and drug paraphernalia, including substances that tested positive for suboxone, buprenorphine, and fentanyl. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Lancaster Police Department led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. ###


title: Winter Garden Man Sentenced To 40 Years In Federal Prison For Production And Receipt Of Child Sex Abuse Material

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Carlos E. Mendoza has sentenced Michael Remaley (22, Winter Garden) to 40 years in federal prison for the production and receipt of child sex abuse material. Remaley had pleaded guilty on July 18, 2023. According to court documents, over the course of a two-week span, Remaley used the application Snapchat to entice a 14-year-old girl to send him sexually explicit videos of herself. Remaley also shared with a second Snapchat user several media files depicting child sex abuse material, including a video of a female child between the ages of five and eight years old being sexually abused. “Removing predators like Remaley from society and away from victimizing young children will always be a focus of our HSI special agents,” said HSI Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. “This significant sentence is a testament to our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. Together, we’ll continue to protect our most vulnerable from becoming lifetime victims.” This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie A. McNeff. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana Observes Domestic Violence Awareness Month

component: USAO - Louisiana, Middle

body_text: October marks the observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. joins the U.S. Department of Justice in commemorating DVAM, paying tribute to victims and survivors, and saluting the dedication of advocates, service providers, justice professionals, law enforcement officers, and first responders who tirelessly work in support of survivors. Domestic violence, dating violence, and intimate partner violence can have long-lasting impacts and consequences. Approximately one in four women and one in seven men will experience severe domestic violence in their lifetimes; however, rates are disproportionately higher for American Indian and Alaska Native populations, women of Color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and two-spirit people, and people with disabilities. DVAM provides an opportunity to spread awareness about domestic violence and encourage everyone to play a role in ending gender-based violence. “We want our community to know that we are here to support victims and survivors in the Middle District of Louisiana – not just in October, but every month,” said U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. “And we who serve as federal prosecutors for the Middle District of Louisiana have a duty to use all the tools at our disposal—and leverage our partnerships with local law enforcement and prosecutors—to ensure victims have a viable path to safety and justice.”


title: Brooklyn Gang Member Sentenced for Multiple Armed Carjackings

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Dieuverson Caille, a/k/a “Savage,” was sentenced today by Second Circuit Judge Denny Chin, sitting by designation, in Brooklyn to 36 months plus an additional 21 years to run consecutively for committing multiple armed carjackings during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Caille was convicted in March where it was established that between August 28, 2020 and June 20, 2021, Caille, together with his co-conspirator gang members, carjacked four victims at gunpoint, kidnapped one of them, pistol whipped another, and stole their iPhones and money. Evidence at trial also showed that the defendant was a member of the Eight Tray Gangster Crip and Haitian Loc gangs when he committed these crimes. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Bryan DiGirolamo, Acting ATF NY Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Edward A. Caban, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the verdict. “The defendant terrorized Brooklyn by committing a string of violent crimes against random, innocent people during the height of the COVID pandemic,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “The city is a safer place because of today’s sentence and underscores that this Office will vigorously prosecute defendants who commit violent crimes.” “The men and women of ATF NY and the NYPD successfully disrupted this senseless violent string of armed carjackings. Due to the hard work of law enforcement, a reckless individual is effectively removed from terrorizing more innocent people," stated Acting ATF NY Special Agent in Charge Bryan DiGirolamo. "No one should live in fear simply driving down the street. I am thankful for the collaboration of the men and women of ATF NY’s Strategic Pattern Armed Robbery Technical Apprehension group, NYPD’s Brooklyn Robbery Squad & the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. ATF NY will continue to work with our partners to aggressively pursue investigations to remove violent criminals from our communities. Working together is vital to our Violent Crime Reduction Strategy here and throughout NY State.” “Today’s sentence appropriately punishes a brazen criminal who tormented unsuspecting New Yorkers at the peak of the pandemic, and amid a citywide and nationwide spike in motor vehicle thefts,” stated NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban. “Mr. Caille has now been held fully accountable for his actions. And I thank all of the talented NYPD and ATF investigators, and everyone involved from the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, for their dedication to ending his particular reign of terror.” As proven at trial, Caille was involved in a series of violent and armed carjackings. On August 28, 2020, Caille carjacked a victim in Flatbush at gunpoint. Caille and two of his gang members forced the victim into the backseat of his own car, drove the victim to a drive-through ATM fifteen minutes away and attempted to force the victim to withdraw money. The victim escaped by jumping out of the car’s window because he thought if he stayed in the car he could be shot. On September 3, 2020, Caille and several accomplices carjacked a Chevrolet Malibu at gunpoint in Canarsie and attacked an occupant of the car by pistol whipping him. On November 15, 2020, Caille, acting alone, carjacked at gunpoint the driver of a BMW who was working as a rideshare driver in Flatbush. Finally, on June 20, 2021, the defendant, together with at least one other accomplice, carjacked at gunpoint the driver of a Porsche in East New York. The defendant posted pictures of the same make and model Porsche to his Instagram account “cali2savage” three days later. During the course of the conspiracy, the defendant texted his fellow gang member “I need money” or “I need a V,” which was code for committing robberies or carjackings. The defendant instructed his co-conspirator to text in Creole to evade law enforcement. 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime. Assistant United States Attorneys Sara K. Winik, Ellen H. Sise, and Antoinette N. Rangel are in charge of the prosecution with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Magdalena St. Surin. The Defendant : DIEUVERSON CAILLE Age: 22 Brooklyn, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 20-CR-547 (DC)


title: Missouri Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Daniel Phillip Beckman, 46, of Watson, Missouri, pleaded guilty yesterday to receipt of child pornography. According to court documents and statements made in court, on or about November 27, 2022, Beckman began communicating while at his Missouri residence with a minor female living within the Southern District of West Virginia through the Snapchat multimedia instant messaging application. During these Snapchat communications, Beckman offered to pay the minor female in exchange for her sending him nude images and videos of herself. Beckman admitted that he paid the minor female approximately $625 through the CashApp mobile payment service in exchange for numerous images and videos that the minor female sent him using Snapchat. Some of these images showed the minor female’s vaginal area or depicted her masturbating. Beckman admitted that he believed the female to be a minor when he received her photos and videos, and that he saved several of the images to his phone. On or about December 6, 2022, the minor female introduced Beckman to her friend, also a minor female. Beckman admitted that he began communicating with the other minor female on Snapchat and paid her through CashApp for several images and videos that depicted her nude pubic area. Beckman further admitted that he believed her to be a minor when he received the images, and that he specifically described to her how he wanted her to pose. Beckman is scheduled to be sentenced on February 6, 2024, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Beckman must also register as a sex offender. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the West Virginia State Police. Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald is prosecuting the case. This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative of the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-158. ###


title: VIP Healthcare Solutions, Inc. and Two Company Officials Plead Guilty

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Ivelisse Rivera-Padilla, Carla Carrillo-Torres, and VIP Healthcare Solutions, Inc. (“VIP Healthcare”) pleaded guilty before United States District Court Chief Judge Raul M. Arias Marxuach. VIP Healthcare pleaded guilty to making a false statement in connection with a Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan application, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1014. As admitted in Court by VIP Healthcare’s secretary, Carla Carrillo-Torres, the company falsely certified the accuracy of their April 7, 2020, PPP loan application for $249,755.35 and failed to identify additional owners of VIP Healthcare that owned more than 20% of the company. Carla Carrillo-Torres separately pleaded guilty to violating 15 U.S.C. § 645(c) and admitted to submitting the fraudulent PPP loan application on behalf of VIP Healthcare. Additionally, Carla Carrillo-Torres admitted to answering “no” when required to disclose if any owner of VIP Healthcare was presently involved in any bankruptcy proceeding. At the time, Carla Carrillo-Torres knew that her partner, Ivelisse Rivera-Padilla, owned more than 20% of VIP Healthcare and was involved in a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy proceeding. The pending bankruptcy would have precluded VIP Healthcare from obtaining the PPP loan if disclosed to the United States Small Business Administration. Ivelisse Rivera-Padilla, the President of VIP Healthcare and a licensed attorney, pleaded guilty to 14 counts of bankruptcy fraud for making materially false representations in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 157. Ivelisse Rivera-Padilla concealed property and income and failed to disclose all of the bankruptcy estate during the course of her bankruptcy proceedings, including, but not limited to, the creation, operation, ownership, and control of VIP Healthcare, which operated the “Job Andujar” Diagnostic and Treatment Center in the Municipality of Cataño until approximately March 25, 2023. Ivelisse Rivera-Padilla also concealed the purchase of an apartment located at Condominium Golf & Playa, Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, for $270,000, and a 2,159.5152 square-meter plot of land located at Rainforest and Sea View Resort in Luquillo, Puerto Rico, for $275,000. Rivera-Padilla further concealed her interest in another corporate entity known as Farmacia Libertad, as well as income from a rental property business through AirBnB. The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on January 17, 2024. Both Carla Carrillo-Torres and Ivelisse Rivera-Padilla have agreed to forfeit any interest in the two concealed properties as a part of their plea agreement, in additional to the sentence to be imposed by United States District Court Chief Judge Raul M. Arias Marxuach. U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow of the District of Puerto Rico; Mary Ida Townson, U.S. Trustee for Georgia, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands (Region 21); and Joseph González, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Trustee Program are investigating the case. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney José Capó Iriarte and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney José C. Díaz Vega from the Office of the U.S. Trustee are prosecuting the case. ###


title: Billings woman sentenced to more than two years in prison for drunken driving crash that injured passenger on Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation

body_text: BILLINGS — A Billings woman was sentenced today to two years and three months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for a drunken driving crash that seriously injured her passenger, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Jamie Nicole Selage, 27, pleaded guilty in June to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The government alleged in court documents that on Jan. 16, 2022, Selage was driving drunk and had a blood-alcohol concentration of .316 percent when she swerved into the wrong lane on U.S. Highway 212, ran off the road and crashed in a ditch as she approached Lame Deer, on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. Both Selage and her passenger had to be extricated from the vehicle. The passenger suffered serious injuries and required hospitalization. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek prosecuted the case. The FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs conducted the investigation. XXX


title: U.S. Department of Justice awards more than $11 million for anti-violence programs in Washington State

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice programs is awarding more than $11 million in grant funding to entities in Washington State to combat community violence, especially youth violence, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. The two largest grants of $4 million each are going to the state and a King County non-profit for distribution to smaller community-based organizations. “These federal dollars will help identify and support local programs that are working to reduce violence in our community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Gorman. “I am particularly pleased to see the focus on youth violence and stopping gun crime. The epidemic of gun violence in our neighborhoods requires a sustained response from both law enforcement and community.” The Washington State Department of Commerce was awarded $4 million to implement a Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative to expand programs that address community violence across the state. The money is targeted towards underserved communities. As part of this work the grant will fund a statewide summit to share tools and knowledge about what is working to decrease community violence. Similarly, a $4 million grant to Seattle’s Children & Youth Justice Center will provide support, training, and technical assistance to up to five community-based organizations who are serving youth in King County to prevent community violence. Additionally, the King County Department of Community and Human Services, Children Youth and Adult Division was awarded $1 million to implement policies aimed at reducing recidivism and enhancing community partnerships to reform the youth justice system. Both the Eastern District of Washington and the Western District of Washington were awarded Project Safe Neighborhood grants aimed at combatting gun violence. For western Washington $285,039 will go towards projects that prevent gun violence in the South Sound, Clark County, and Snohomish County regions. In eastern Washington $110,648 will support gang and gun violence intervention in Yakima and Kennewick. Additionally, Tacoma Police were awarded $800,000 to improve their investigation of gun crime. The grant is to fund implementation and evaluation of ShotSpotter technology to identify precise locations of gunshots. The money will also fund additional fingerprint technology and equipment to improve the collection of evidence at crime scenes. Finally, Educational Service District 112 in Clark County was awarded $1 million to implement an innovative school-based mental health treatment and case coordination program for students who are involved with the juvenile justice system or have been identified through the Student Threat Assessment process. The money will fund three therapist who will serve students in schools in the nine districts that make up the Service District.


title: United States Issues Advisory to Industry on Iran Ballistic Missile Procurement

component: National Security Division (NSD)

body_text: The Departments of Justice, Commerce, State and Treasury today issued an advisory to alert the international community, private sector and public to the threat posed by Iran’s ballistic missile procurement activities. The advisory informs private industry of deceptive practices used by Iranian ballistic missile procurement networks, Iran’s ballistic missile-related activities, key goods sought by Iran’s missile program and relevant U.S. sanctions and export control authorities. In addition, the advisory provides and overview on minimizing sanctions and export control risk, including discussion of enforcement efforts by the Justice Department and other agencies. Today’s announcement complements ongoing work by the Justice Department, including its the Disruptive Technology Strike Force. The Justice Department and Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) in February created the Disruptive Technology Strike Force, an interagency effort focused on investigating and prosecuting the illicit transfer of sensitive technologies to foreign state adversaries, including Iran. The announcement further complements recent work by the National Security Division regarding corporate compliance. To encourage corporate disclosures of potential criminal violations of national security laws, including sanctions and export laws, the National Security Division updated its voluntary self-disclosure policy this past March. The Justice Department has also announced the hiring of 25 new prosecutors in the National Security Division to investigate and prosecute sanctions evasion, export control violations and similar economic crimes. Companies should be aware that Iran relies on foreign input to crease the lethality and accuracy of its ballistic missile systems. Private industry is on the front lines of detecting and denying Iran’s procurement efforts, and it is critical that companies be familiar with the techniques, entities, goods and technologies involved in Iran’s ballistic missile procurement efforts. The advisory is available here.


title: Owners of timeshare resale company sentenced to federal prison for defrauding over 8,000 victims out of $18 million

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA – Jess Kinmont and John P. Wenz, Jr. have been sentenced for operating a timeshare resale scam business that affected more than 8,000 victims nationwide, many of them elderly. The victims lost more than $18 million based on the defendants’ false promises that they could help timeshare owners sell or rent their timeshare properties. “The defendants monetized their clients’ trust to commit a multi-state fraud scheme that enabled them to steal millions of dollars from more than 8,000 victims, including many seniors who were particularly misled by the defendants’ false promises,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Kinmont and Wenz solicited hefty up-front fees based on fraudulent representations that they would sell and rent the victims’ timeshare properties. Their sentences demonstrate that federal law enforcement will not cease to prosecute those who commit fraud of this type.” “For years, Kinmont and Wentz ran the scam without once selling a timeshare interest, only a series of lies,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Exploitation like this has a crippling effect on victims. The FBI and our partners will continue to pursue financial fraudsters who exploit anyone for personal and financial gain.” “Kinmont and Wenz deserve their time in federal prison for deceiving elderly Americans trying to get out of timeshares” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Kinmont and Wenz lined their pockets by scamming thousands of victims, and we’ll continue to target fraudsters who prey on the American public with the help of our law enforcement partners.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Between January 2012 through December 2016, Kinmont and Wenz operated Pro Timeshare Resales, a timeshare resale business. The defendants hired callers and developed scripts for those callers to use in targeting timeshare property owners to defraud. Using the scripts, the defendants and others acting at their direction called timeshare owners and falsely claimed that Pro Timeshare Resales had a buyer or renter ready and willing to buy or rent their properties for a specific price. The defendants also falsely promised to sell the timeshares quickly, sometimes within a specific time period. But Kinmont and Wenz’s representations and promises were false. In reality, they never sold a single timeshare interest during the five years of the scheme’s operation. Kinmont and Wenz charged timeshare property owners up to $2,500 in advance while lying and failing to deliver on their promises. Even after the timeshare owners paid the advance fee, Kinmont and Wenz strung some timeshare owners along with additional false claims. For instance, the defendants assured owners that they would soon receive the proceeds from a sale or rental, and often convinced the owners to pay additional purported closing costs or other fees as a part of these fake transactions. Consumers’ requests for refunds were typically denied or ignored. Together, Kinmont and Wenz defrauded at least 8,000 victims of more than $18 million. The district court judge noted at sentencing that the defendants’ fraud scheme was “breathtaking” in scope. On October 12, 2023, Jess Kinmont, 57, of Port Orange, Florida, was sentenced by Chief Judge Timothy C. Batten, Sr. to seven years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $11,699,376.60. The sentence was imposed following Kinmont’s guilty plea to wire fraud conspiracy on April 5, 2023. On October 12, 2023, John P. Wenz Jr., 43, of Palm Coast, Florida, was sentenced by Chief Judge Timothy C. Batten to three years, 10 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,845,425.88. The sentence was imposed following Wenz’s guilty plea to wire fraud conspiracy on April 1, 2021. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with valuable assistance from the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC previously prosecuted a civil fraud case against the defendants in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bernita B. Malloy and Jesika W. French prosecuted the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Texarkana-Area Drug Dealer Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Arkansas, Western

body_text: TEXARKANA, ARKANSAS – A Texas man was sentenced yesterday to 120 months in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine in Texarkana, Arkansas. The Honorable Judge Susan O. Hickey, Chief United States District Judge, presided over the case. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, Antonio Griffin, 40, of Wake Village, Texas, pleaded guilty in February 2023 to selling almost four ounces of pure methamphetamine to a confidential informant operating under the supervision of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bi-State Narcotics Task Force, in Texarkana, Arkansas. U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes, of the Western District of Arkansas, made the announcement. The Bi-State Narcotics Task Force, the Texarkana, Arkansas, Police Department, and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Jones prosecuted the case for the United States. Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov


title: Social Security employee pleads guilty to stealing government benefits

body_text: ATLANTA – Latonja Goodrum, a former Social Security employee who used her position to steal benefits from disabled Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries, has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of theft of government funds. “Disabled and low-income citizens rely on the safety net afforded by the Social Security Administration,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Goodrum abused her position at the agency to unlawfully access and use sensitive and personal information to steal thousands of dollars from individuals in critical need of these funds.” “Former SSA employee, Goodrum, admitted to inappropriately using information in SSA records to steal money from SSI recipients, seemingly without regard for their needs. Her actions were selfish and criminal,” said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for the Social Security Administration. “She misused her position of public trust with SSA and knowingly took money from individuals who rely on SSA employees for assistance in critical times. My office will continue to investigate those who violate SSA programs and operations. I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane C. Schulman for prosecuting this case.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: From approximately June through August 2022, Goodrum, a claims specialist at the Social Security Administration’s field office in Decatur, Georgia, illegally accessed the records of six SSI beneficiaries. Goodrum then used the personal identifying information of these individuals to divert one-time lump sum payments they were due to her own PayPal account. Once the funds were deposited into her PayPal account, Goodrum transferred the money to a personal bank account. To conceal her scheme, Goodrum, once the deposits arrived in her PayPal account, re-accessed the beneficiaries’ Social Security records to restore their true direct deposit banking information. Goodrum stole more than $15,000 in this way. A supervisor eventually detected the fraud and contacted the Social Security Administration – Office of the Inspector General, which launched an investigation. Goodrum admitted her crime when confronted by law enforcement and has since been terminated from her position. Sentencing for Goodrum, 55, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, is scheduled for January 22, 2024, at 10:00 am before U.S. District Judge Steven D. Grimberg. This case is being investigated by the Social Security Administration - Office of the Inspector General. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane C. Schulman is prosecuting the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Tampa Felon Sentenced To 2 Years In Federal Prison For Possessing Firearm And Ammunition

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven has sentenced Carvia Harris (35, Tampa) to two years in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Harris had pleaded guilty on May 9, 2023. According to court documents, Harris, a multi-time convicted felon, fled from a traffic stop involving a stolen car in Hillsborough County. The vehicle was driven by a known fentanyl trafficker, Randell Love, who later pleaded guilty to federal armed fentanyl trafficking charges arising from a separate incident. Deputies from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office recovered a loaded .40 caliber pistol with an obliterated serial number from a bag inside the car. A crime scene technician processed the firearm and magazine for fingerprints. A print on the magazine was comparable and came back as a match to Harris. As a convicted felon, Harris is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Christopher F. Murray. 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: Amherst Man Arrested for Child Pornography Offenses

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – An Amherst man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Springfield for allegedly distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Bradley Driscoll, 25, was indicted on one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Driscoll was arrested this morning and will appear in federal court in Springfield later today. According to the indictment, in August 2022, Driscoll possessed CSAM in the form of videos and knowingly distributed CSAM that depicted a minor victim under 12 years old. The charge of distribution of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Mazur of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.