title: United States Attorney’s Office Joins in Recognizing Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day

component: Office of Tribal Justice

body_text: Spokane, Washington – U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref announced today that she will join with Federal, State, Local, and Tribal leaders in recognizing May 5, 2023, as Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day. In doing so, U.S. Attorney Waldref called on all citizens and residents in Eastern Washington to support Tribal governments and Tribal communities’ efforts to increase awareness of missing or murdered Indigenous People. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington fully supports efforts to reduce violence and bring awareness to this important issue. “Recognizing and honoring missing or murdered Indigenous people is a top priority for the Department of Justice, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington,” U.S. Attorney Waldref stated. “It remains unacceptable that Native Americans experience some of the highest rates of violence in the country, a situation that is all the more tragic in light of the generations of trauma already suffered by Indigenous people. We will continue the important work of prosecuting those who perpetrate violence on Tribal land and who victimize those who reside on our District’s four Reservations.” “The Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to address the causes and symptoms of this difficult problem.” U.S. Attorney Waldref added, “During the past several years, the Department has sought the help and input from Tribal leaders and Tribal communities to develop sustainable protocols to help our communities respond when a tribal member is reported missing. The U.S. Attorney’s Office supports these efforts, and we are fully committed to working closely with Tribal leaders, law enforcement partners, and community stakeholders to further implement these initiatives, as we strive to keep Eastern Washington communities safe and strong for everyone.” “While each case is unique, what all MMIP cases have in common is the hole left in a community when a member goes missing.” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “As the principal law enforcement agency charged with investigating violent crimes on our state’s reservations, I want to stress the importance the FBI places on bringing those who target our indigenous populations to justice.” “The Office of Justice Services, Missing and Murdered Unit is committed to confronting the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons crisis head-on. Relying on strong federal, tribal, state and local partnerships, we are more now than ever able to ensure cases are thoroughly investigated so those responsible for these horrific crimes are brought to justice,” said Justin Hooper, BIA Office of Justice Services Regional Agent in Charge, Missing and Murdered Unit. If you or someone you know has information about a missing or murdered Indigenous person, please contact the FBI Seattle Field Office by calling (206) 622-0460 or by visiting tips.fbi.gov.


title: Repeat offender sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to robbing a Savannah bank

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: SAVANNAH, GA: A man who pled guilty to a 2022 bank robbery in Savannah has been sentenced to more than 13 years federal prison. Shawn Kelley, 45, from Baton Rouge, La., was sentenced to 163 months in prison after pleading guilty to Robbery, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker ordered Kelley’s sentence to run consecutively with time remaining for his state probation violation, ordered Kelley to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term, and there is no parole in the federal system. “For most of his adult life, Shawn Kelley has committed robberies, served time in prison, and re-offended,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “A lengthy term of incarceration will keep the community safe from this serial criminal and hopefully deter others from making the same choices.” As described in court documents and testimony, Kelley walked into the Wells Fargo Bank at 136 Bull St., Savannah, on Sept. 15, 2022, and demanded cash from the teller. After leaving with a substantial amount of money, Kelley walked to the bus station where Savannah Police officers found him in the bathroom changing out of the clothes he’d worn during the robbery, still in possession of the cash. Kelley, who was on probation after being paroled from a 2015 conviction for a Gwinnett County, Ga., credit union robbery, has a total of six prior convictions for robberies dating back to a mugging conviction in 2000 in Baton Rouge, La., with subsequent bank and credit union robberies during the following two decades in Louisiana and Georgia. “This sentence makes it very clear that criminals who repeatedly break the law will be held accountable with lengthy prison terms, without the opportunity for parole,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “Our partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies make these sentencings possible, ultimately making our communities safer.” The case was investigated by the FBI and the Savannah Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Makeia R. Jonese, and by Assistant U.S. Attorney and Criminal Division Deputy Chief E. Gregory Gilluly Jr.


title: Child Predator Charged with Conspiring to Produce Child Pornography as part of an International Sex Trafficking Investigation

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – A Canton, Michigan man who texted instructions to a known sex trafficker in the Philippines detailing the type of child sexually abusive material he wanted to watch live over a webcam, was charged yesterday in a seven count indictment for conspiring to produce child pornography and related offenses, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced. Lowe is the 112th person arrested as part of an international sex trafficking investigation which has spanned nearly 10 years. Ison was joined in the announcement by Angie M. Salazar, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Detroit Field Office. Charles Calahan Lowe, age 49, exchanged over 1,600 text messages with the known sex trafficker and paid her $30 to $40 for live “shows” of young girls, some as young as three, who were abused in real time to create sexually explicit videos and images shared over Skype. Law enforcement learned of Lowe’s existence when they executed a federal search warrant on the trafficker’s Skype account and unearthed the detailed text messages. Lowe sent wire payments for the child sexually abusive material over Western Union at Rite Aid stores near his residence in order to avoid detection by his wife. The trafficker has since been arrested and charged overseas. Lowe is charged in a seven-count indictment with conspiracy to produce child pornography, production of child pornography, attempted production of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. Conspiracy to produce child pornography and production of child pornography carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years up to 30 years. Receipt of child pornography carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years up to 20 years. Possession of child pornography involving a prepubescent minor victim or a minor who has not reached the age of 12 carries a maximum sentence of 20 years. “The live sexual abuse of children over the internet is a heinous crime. We will continue to prosecute those who perpetrate these crimes against the most innocent and vulnerable members of society, wherever it is produced, to the fullest extent of the law,” U.S. Attorney Ison said. “The work to hold these predators accountable requires international cooperation at multiple levels as well as with our U.S. law enforcement partners,” said HSI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Angie M. Salazar. “HSI is committed to identify and investigate U.S. citizens who seek to exploit children in the United States or abroad and will work with partners to ensure they face the consequences of their actions.” 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. This case was investigated by HSI Portland, Maine, HSI Detroit, and the Michigan State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rosemary Wummel Gardey and Cassie Resposo.


title: Connecticut Psychologist Pays $658K to Settle Allegations She Received Payments from Medicare and Medicaid for Services Not Provided

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and William Tong, Connecticut Attorney General, today announced that Dr. EVELYN LLEWELLYN has entered into a civil settlement agreement with the federal and state governments in which she will pay $658,294 to settle allegations that she received payments from the Medicare and Medicaid programs for psychology services that were not provided. Llewellyn is a psychologist licensed by the State of Connecticut. She is married to Dr. Michael Lonski, PhD, who is also a psychologist licensed by the State of Connecticut. Llewellyn and Lonski maintained separate medical practices in psychology operated out of their home offices in Greenwich. Lonski was responsible for submitting claims for reimbursement to insurance programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, for the psychology services allegedly performed by Lewellyn and Lonski. The government alleges that Llewellyn received payment for claims submitted by Lonski to the Medicare and Medicaid programs for psychology services allegedly provided by Llewellyn to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries that were, in fact, not provided. To resolve the governments’ allegations, Llewellyn has agreed to pay $658,294, which covers the time-period from November 11, 2014, through and including February 5, 2020. On December 12, 2022, Lonski pleaded guilty in Hartford federal court to health care fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 12. This matter was investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard M. Molot and Susan L. Wines, and by Assistant Attorney General Joshua Jackson of the Connecticut Office of the Attorney General. People who suspect health care fraud are encouraged to report it by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS.


title: U.S. Attorney's Office Commemorates Missing Or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office joined the Department of Justice, partners across the federal government, and people throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities, in recognizing May 5, 2023 as National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day (MMIP). “Today, we honor and remember Native Americans who have fallen victims to violence or remain missing and pledge our commitment to their loved ones to solve missing or murdered Indigenous persons cases,” said U.S. Attorney Dena J. King. “We will also continue to work with our Tribal partners to increase public safety in Tribal communities and address the underlying causes of violence that disproportionately harm Native American women and children.” The Department of Justice’s work to respond to the MMIP crisis is a whole-of-department effort that takes many forms. One year ago today, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco joined Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to launch the Not Invisible Act Commission , a joint Commission established by the Not Invisible Act with an essential mission — to reduce violence against American Indians and Alaska Natives. In February, they welcomed the first in-person plenary meeting of the Not Invisible Act Commission. Since then, the department’s representatives on the Commission—who are department leaders and subject matter experts—have participated in the Commission’s field hearings , which will continue through the summer. Later this year, the Commission will deliver recommendations for addressing the MMIP crisis to the Attorney General and the Secretary. In addition to supporting the Not Invisible Act Commission, the department remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing the MMIP crisis. “The Justice Department is marshalling the full strength of its resources to confront the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons, which has devastated the lives of victims, their families, and entire Tribal communities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Addressing this crisis requires a whole-of-government approach, and we are grateful for the partnership of Tribal and other law enforcement agencies across the nation that are working alongside the Justice Department to help reduce crime and support victims in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.” “Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day calls on our nation to pause and honor the loved ones who have gone missing or who have been the victims of violent crime,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Acknowledging the many American Indian and Alaska Native people who have suffered, and continue to suffer, from the pain of a missing loved one or of violent crime serves as an important reminder of the urgency and importance of the department’s work to respond to the crisis of missing or murdered indigenous persons. The Justice Department—including our dedicated agents, analysts, and prosecutors—remains steadfast in our pledge to work as partners with Tribal governments in preventing and responding to the violence that has disproportionately harmed Tribal communities.” “The Justice Department is committed to using every resource at its disposal to combat the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Crisis,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “In addition to our core law-enforcement work, we are providing grant funding and guidance to help Tribes develop response plans for missing-persons cases, partner effectively with local law enforcement, and provide resources for victims of crime.” For additional information about the Department of Justice’s efforts to address the MMIP crisis, please visit the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons section of the Tribal Safety and Justice website . Click here for more information about reporting or identifying missing persons.


title: Salem Man Involved in Lynchburg Shootout Pleads Guilty

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: LYNCHBURG, Va. – A Salem, Virginia man who was involved in a shootout in Lynchburg during a methamphetamine deal in November 2021, pleaded guilty this week in U.S. District Court to a pair of federal charges. Jeriwon Lee Taylor, 42, pled guilty this week to one count of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and one count of discharging and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. “This case is a direct result of the United States Attorney’s Office’s public commitment to prosecute federal crimes involving a discharged firearm. We will continue to vigilantly enforce our nation’s gun laws to hold accountable those individuals who commit violent acts in our community,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “I am grateful we have collaborative partnerships with agencies like the Lynchburg Police Department, DEA, and ATF to help us continue this important work in helping make our communities safer.” “It is clear that drug traffickers have no respect for human lives and conduct criminal business in the open public, disregarding the damage they can cause to human life or property. Thanks to the combined efforts of our local law enforcement partners, subsequent search warrants were executed at locations associated with Taylor’s Drug Trafficking Organization that resulted in the seizure of fentanyl, heroin, fake pills, methamphetamine and the retrieval of the firearm used in the shooting. We will continue our efforts aimed at disrupting and stopping these illegal endeavors,” said Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Washington Division. “There is no place for this type of behavior in Lynchburg. This case sends a very clear message that the illegal use of firearms and related drug activity will not be tolerated,” Lynchburg Police Chief Ryan Zuidema said today. “We will continue to work with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to aggressively investigate and prosecute those responsible for the distribution of illegal narcotics and those who choose to commit violent acts in our community, to the fullest extent of the law.” “When we as law enforcement professionals collaborate effectively, our communities see tangible results such as this,” ATF Washington Field Division Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Weddel said. “We will continue to work alongside our partners to disrupt the illegal possession of firearms, distribution of narcotics and other acts of violence that negatively impact public safety.” According to court documents, on November 21, 2021, Taylor arranged to meet an individual in a Walmart parking lot in Lynchburg, Virginia to sell methamphetamine. When the buyer, Kendall Simonton arrived, he got into Taylor’s vehicle, pointed a gun at Taylor’s face and took the drugs from him. After the robbery, Simonton left Taylor’s vehicle and began walking away. However, Taylor also got out of his vehicle with a firearm, and the two men began shooting at each other. Both Taylor and Simonton fired multiple shots at each other, ducking behind various cars in the parking lot. Eventually, Simonton ran out of the parking lot and Taylor drove away. Simonton pled guilty last month to related charges and will be sentenced June 8, 2023. At sentencing, Taylor faces a minimum sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Lynchburg Police Department, with assistance from the Virginia State Police, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Jones is prosecuting the case.


title: Jicarilla Woman Pleads Guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Laurice Montoya pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. Montoya, 38, of Dulce, will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. According to the plea agreement and other court documents, on Jan. 19, 2022, Montoya and the victim, John Doe, got into an argument in her home on the Jicarilla Apache Reservation. During the argument, Montoya hit Doe on the head two times with a snow shovel, causing him to fall and have a seizure. Montoya stayed with Doe but could not call for help. About four hours later, a friend showed up at the residence and called 911. Emergency Medical Services of the Jicarilla Apache Tribe transported John Doe to the San Juan Regional Medical Center where he later died. Doctors found that John Doe had sustained traumatic brain injury, a rib fracture, severe bruising on his upper body and two cuts on his scalp. By the terms of the plea agreement, Montoya can be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison followed by up to 3 years of supervised release. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Jicarilla Apache Police and the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Robert James Booth II is prosecuting the case. # # # 23-99


title: Four Members of Anderson and Indianapolis Drug Trafficking Conspiracy, Sentenced to a Total of Over 58 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Indiana, Southern

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- The final of four defendants has been sentenced to federal prison for his part in a multi-state drug trafficking scheme. Charles House, 40, of Anderson, Indiana was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after a federal jury found him guilty as charged on twelve counts, including attempting to traffic methamphetamine, trafficking in over 100 kilograms of marijuana, and illegally possessing twelve firearms. According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, in October 2018, the Madison County Drug Task Force initiated an investigation into Charles House’s drug trafficking organization. House traveled to California to purchase narcotics and then mailed the narcotics to multiple addresses in Anderson, Indiana. The marijuana was then redistributed by co-conspirators Sean Brown and Marcus Hayes-Patterson in Anderson. Tommy Compton was House’s Indianapolis source of supply for marijuana. All told, House procured over 8 kilograms of pure methamphetamine and over 450 kilograms of marijuana. Defendants facilitated their drug trafficking activities through the use of cellular phones and often used code words to try to conceal their illegal activities. In addition to his drug trafficking crimes, House was convicted two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, after law enforcement officers seized his firearms during execution of lawful searches. House is prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law, following a prior felony conviction for Dealing Marijuana and Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. In total, House, and his three co-conspirators were sentenced as follows: DEFENDANT CHARGE(S) SENTENCE Charles House, 40, Anderson, Indiana Drug Trafficking Conspiracy; Methamphetamine Trafficking; Unlawful Use of a Cell Phone to Facilitate Drug Trafficking; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon 30 years in prison 5 years of supervised release $500 fine Sean Brown, 28, Anderson, Indiana Drug Trafficking Conspiracy; Two Counts of Methamphetamine Trafficking 15 years in prison 5 years of supervised release Tommy Compton, 42, Indianapolis Drug Trafficking Conspiracy; Cocaine Base Trafficking; Unlawful Use of a Cell Phone to Facilitate Drug Trafficking 10 years in prison 5 years of supervised release Marcus Hayes-Patterson, 37, Indianapolis Drug Trafficking Conspiracy; Unlawful Use of a Cell Phone to Facilitate Drug Trafficking 41 months in prison U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers, Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office, Justin Campbell, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office, Rodney Hopkins, Postal Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Detroit Division, Delaware County Sheriff Tony Skinner, and Madison County Sheriff made the announcement This investigation was led by the FBI, Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, Madison County Drug Task Force, IRS Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Evans Barker. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Lindsay Karwoski and Barry D. Glickman, who prosecuted this case. This prosecution is part of “Operation Glass Box,” an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. See previous press release here ###


title: WALKER MAN SENTENCED TO 36 MONTHS IN FEDERAL PRISON  FOR COUNTERFEIT MANUFACTURING

component: USAO - Louisiana, Middle

body_text: United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that Judge John W. deGravelles sentenced Thor Teal, age 32, of Walker, Louisiana, to 36 months in federal prison following his convictions for manufacturing and possessing counterfeit Federal Reserve Notes. The Court further sentenced Teal to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment and ordered all instrumentalities used in the commission of this crime to be forfeited. According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, Teal made and possessed over 48 counterfeit Federal Reserve Notes (FRNs) in the Middle District of Louisiana. Specifically, on October 27, 2021, while investigating a burglary, law enforcement recovered from his vehicle and home over $4,800 in counterfeit $100 FRNs, and items used to manufacture counterfeit FRNs including six sheets of counterfeit security strips (found in $100 FRNs), two printers (one with marks to assist with making FRNs), boxes of linen paper, several printer cartridges, a paper cutter, and spray starch. When questioned about the contraband, Teal admitted to law enforcement he had been making the counterfeit FRNs for several months and went on to describe how he made it. This matter was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jessica M.P. Thornhill.


title: Justice Department Strengthens Efforts to Address the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: May 5th is MMIP Awareness Day “The Justice Department is marshalling the full strength of its resources to confront the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons, which has devastated the lives of victims, their families, and entire Tribal communities. Addressing this crisis requires a whole-of-government approach, and we are grateful for the partnership of Tribal and other law enforcement agencies across the nation that are working alongside the Justice Department to help reduce crime and support victims in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.” – Attorney General Merrick B. Garland “Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day calls on our nation to pause and honor the loved ones who have gone missing or who have been the victims of violent crime. Acknowledging the many American Indian and Alaska Native people who have suffered, and continue to suffer, from the pain of a missing loved one or of violent crime serves as an important reminder of the urgency and importance of the department’s work to respond to the crisis of missing or murdered indigenous persons. The Justice Department—including our dedicated agents, analysts, and prosecutors—remains steadfast in our pledge to work as partners with Tribal governments in preventing and responding to the violence that has disproportionately harmed Tribal communities.” – Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco “The Justice Department is committed to using every resource at its disposal to combat the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Crisis. In addition to our core law-enforcement work, we are providing grant funding and guidance to help Tribes develop response plans for missing-persons cases, partner effectively with local law enforcement, and provide resources for victims of crime.” – Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta The Justice Department joins its partners across the federal government, as well as people throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities, in recognizing May 5 as National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day . Responding to the unacceptable levels of violence that have led to the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) is a priority of the Department of Justice every day. The Department’s work to respond to the MMIP crisis is a whole-of-department effort that takes many forms. One year ago today, Deputy Attorney General Monaco joined Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to launch the Not Invisible Act Commission , a joint Commission established by the Not Invisible Act with an essential mission — to reduce violence against American Indians and Alaska Natives. In February, they welcomed the first in-person plenary meeting of the Not Invisible Act Commission. Since then, the Department’s representatives on the commission — who are Department leaders and subject matter experts — have participated in the Commission’s field hearings , which will continue through the summer. Later this year, the Commission will deliver recommendations for addressing the MMIP crisis to the Attorney General and the Secretary. In addition to supporting the Not Invisible Act Commission, the Department remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing the MMIP crisis. Department Prioritization of MMIP Cases In July 2022, Deputy Attorney General Monaco issued a memorandum reiterating that it is a priority of the Department of Justice to address the disproportionately high rates of violence experienced by American Indians and Alaska Natives, and relatedly, the high rates of indigenous persons reported missing. The memorandum directed each U.S. Attorney with Indian country jurisdiction — along with their law enforcement partners at the Justice Department — to update and develop new plans for addressing public safety in Indian country. Publication of Updated Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance In October 2022, Attorney General Garland issued revised Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance. The revised guidelines , which was updated for the first time in a decade, address when and how Department employees work with victims and witnesses of crime to ensure that their voices are heard and that they are protected during criminal justice proceedings. For the first time the guidelines include cultural and linguistic considerations for victims from American Indian and Alaska Native communities. National Native American Outreach Services Liaison Last year, the Department announced the creation of a new National Native American Outreach Services Liaison. Since that announcement, the Liaison has begun to help amplify the voice of crime victims in Indian country and their families across the Department as they navigate the federal criminal justice system. In the coming months, the Liaison will meet with survivors and family members of MMIP to learn more about the current challenges in MMIP cases and to make recommendations about the Department’s continued response. Federal Law Enforcement Strategy to Prevent and Respond to the MMIP Crisis In July 2022, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior submitted a report pursuant to Sections 2 and 4(a) of Executive Order 14053, which called for “coordinated and comprehensive Federal law enforcement strategy to prevent and respond to violence against Native Americans, including to address missing or murdered indigenous people where the federal government has jurisdiction.” The report was published late last year and is available on the department website here . Guide for Tribal Community Response Plans for Missing Persons Cases In December 2022, the Department published a Guide to Developing a Tribal Community Response Plan for Missing Persons Cases . This Guide is a resource for Tribes interested in developing a plan to respond to missing person cases that is tailored to the specific needs, resources, and culture of Tribal communities. Launch of the COPS Office Tribal MOU/MOA Resource Library On Monday of this week, the Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) published its Tribal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)/Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Sample Resource Library. This library provides users with the resources to research and successfully draft agreements that will help agencies develop and solidify partnerships to address missing or murdered Indigenous persons cases. Expanded Scope of the Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Grant Program The department’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) expanded the scope of allowable activities under its Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside (TVSSA) grant program to permit Tribal communities to pay for costs related to generating awareness of individual missing persons cases involving American Indians and Alaska Native persons, supporting private search efforts for missing American Indians and Alaska Native persons in certain circumstances, and supporting efforts to coordinate the Tribal, state, and federal response to MMIP cases. Government-to-Government Tribal Consultation on Violence Against Women In September 2022, the Department’s Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) held the 17th Annual OVW Government-to Government Tribal Consultation on Violence Against Women in Anchorage, Alaska. OVW is responsible for conducting annual government-to-government consultations with the leaders of all federally recognized Indian Tribal governments on behalf of the Attorney General. The 2022 Tribal consultation report is available here. National Institute of Justice Study of MMIP Cases in New Mexico Last year, the Department’s National Institute of Justice (NIJ) funded a study that will provide vital information regarding the prevalence and context of cases of MMIP in New Mexico and, importantly, will inform long-term data collection, analysis, and reporting strategies on MMIP cases. These improvements will support data-driven decision-making regarding MMIP in New Mexico moving forward. Additional Department of Justice Resources For additional information about the Department of Justice’s efforts to address the MMIP crisis, please visit the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons section of the Tribal Safety and Justice website . Click here for more information about reporting or identifying missing persons.


component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: United States Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad of the Eastern District of Wisconsin and the Justice Department join its partners across the federal government, as well as people throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities, in recognizing May 5, 2023, as National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day. Responding to the unacceptable levels of violence that have led to the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) is a priority of the Department of Justice every day. The Department’s work to respond to the MMIP crisis is a whole-of-department effort that takes many forms. One year ago today, Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco joined Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to launch the Not Invisible Act Commission, a joint Commission established by the Not Invisible Act with an essential mission — to reduce violence against American Indians and Alaska Natives. In February, they welcomed the first in-person plenary meeting of the Not Invisible Act Commission. Since then, the Justice Department’s representatives on the commission—who are department leaders and subject matter experts—have participated in the Commission’s field hearings, which will continue through the summer. Later this year, the Commission will deliver recommendations for addressing the MMIP crisis to the Attorney General and the Secretary. In addition to supporting the Not Invisible Act Commission, the Justice Department remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing the MMIP crisis “The Justice Department is marshalling the full strength of its resources to confront the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons, which has devastated the lives of victims, their families, and entire Tribal communities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Addressing this crisis requires a whole-of-government approach, and we are grateful for the partnership of Tribal and other law enforcement agencies across the nation that are working alongside the Justice Department to help reduce crime and support victims in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.” “Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day calls on our nation to pause and honor the loved ones who have gone missing or who have been the victims of violent crime,” said Deputy Attorney General Monaco. “Acknowledging the many American Indian and Alaska Native people who have suffered, and continue to suffer, from the pain of a missing loved one or of violent crime serves as an important reminder of the urgency and importance of the department’s work to respond to the crisis of missing or murdered indigenous persons. The Justice Department—including our dedicated agents, analysts, and prosecutors—remains steadfast in our pledge to work as partners with Tribal governments in preventing and responding to the violence that has disproportionately harmed Tribal communities.” “The Justice Department is committed to using every resource at its disposal to combat the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Crisis,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “In addition to our core law-enforcement work, we are providing grant funding and guidance to help Tribes develop response plans for missing-persons cases, partner effectively with local law enforcement, and provide resources for victims of crime.” ”Like our colleagues across the country, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with all of our federal, state, local, and tribal partners to make all of our communities safer places in which to live and work,” said U.S. Attorney Haanstad. “Our office is proud to support efforts to prevent, investigate, and prosecute these heartbreaking cases and to support and pursue justice for victims, their families, and all impacted by these offenses.” Department Prioritization of MMIP Cases In July 2022, Deputy Attorney General Monaco issued a memorandum reiterating that it is a priority of the Department of Justice to address the disproportionately high rates of violence experienced by American Indians and Alaska Natives, and relatedly, the high rates of indigenous persons reported missing. The memorandum directed each United States Attorney with Indian country jurisdiction — along with their law enforcement partners at DOJ — to update and develop new plans for addressing public safety in Indian country. Publication of Updated Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance In October 2022, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland issued revised Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance. The revised guidelines , which were updated for the first time in a decade, address when and how department employees work with victims and witnesses of crime to ensure that their voices are heard and that they are protected during criminal justice proceedings. For the first time the guidelines include cultural and linguistic considerations for victims from American Indian and Alaska Native communities. National Native American Outreach Services Liaison Last year, the department announced the creation of a new National Native American Outreach Services Liaison. Since that announcement, the Liaison has begun to help amplify the voice of crime victims in Indian country and their families across the department as they navigate the federal criminal justice system. In the coming months, the Liaison will meet with survivors and family members of MMIP to learn more about the current challenges in MMIP cases and to make recommendations about the department’s continued response. Federal Law Enforcement Strategy to Prevent and Respond to the MMIP Crisis In July 2022, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior submitted a report pursuant to Sections 2 and 4(a) of Executive Order 14053, which called for “coordinated and comprehensive Federal law enforcement strategy to prevent and respond to violence against Native Americans, including to address missing or murdered indigenous people where the federal government has jurisdiction.” The report was published late last year and is available on the department website here . Guide for Tribal Community Response Plans for Missing Persons Cases In December 2022, the department published a Guide to Developing a Tribal Community Response Plan for Missing Persons Cases . This Guide is a resource for Tribes interested in developing a plan to respond to missing person cases that is tailored to the specific needs, resources, and culture of Tribal communities. Launch of the COPS Office Tribal MOU/MOA Resource Library On Monday of this week, the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) published its Tribal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)/Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Sample Resource Library. This library provides users with the resources to research and successfully draft agreements that will help agencies develop and solidify partnerships to address missing or murdered Indigenous persons cases. Expanded Scope of the Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Grant Program The department’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) expanded the scope of allowable activities under its Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside (TVSSA) grant program to permit Tribal communities to pay for costs related to generating awareness of individual missing persons cases involving American Indians and Alaska Native persons, supporting private search efforts for missing American Indians and Alaska Native persons in certain circumstances, and supporting efforts to coordinate the Tribal, state, and federal response to MMIP cases. Government-to-Government Tribal Consultation on Violence Against Women In September 2022, the department’s Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) held the 17th Annual OVW Government-to Government Tribal Consultation on Violence Against Women in Anchorage, Alaska. OVW is responsible for conducting annual government-to-government consultations with the leaders of all Federally recognized Indian Tribal governments on behalf of the Attorney General. The 2022 Tribal consultation report is available here. National Institute of Justice Study of MMIP Cases in New Mexico Last year, the department’s National Institute of Justice (NIJ) funded a study that will provide vital information regarding the prevalence and context of cases of MMIP in New Mexico and, importantly, will inform long-term data collection, analysis, and reporting strategies on MMIP cases. These improvements will support data-driven decision-making regarding MMIP in New Mexico moving forward. Additional Department of Justice Resources For additional information about the Department of Justice’s efforts to address the MMIP crisis, please visit the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons section of the Tribal Safety and Justice website . Click here for more information about reporting or identifying missing persons. # # # For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov 414-297-1700 Follow us on Twitter


title: Baton Rouge Man Sentenced to 82 Months in Federal Prison for Gun and Drug Possession

body_text: United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr., announced that U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles sentenced Travis Odale Henderson, age 39, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to 82 months in federal prison following his convictions for possession of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The Court further ordered Henderson to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment, pay a $5,000 fine, and forfeit the firearm involved. According to admissions made as part of his guilty plea, on October 15, 2021, East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s deputies responded to a citizen complaint involving Henderson. When the deputies contacted Henderson and conducted a pat down for officer safety, they discovered pills containing methamphetamine and a loaded .38 caliber revolver in his possession. Henderson had previously been convicted in Franklin Parish of distribution of cocaine (2008) and distribution of methamphetamine (2017). This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the Louisiana State Police Crime Laboratory. This case was prosecuted by Lyman E. Thornton III, Assistant United States Attorney.


title: Former Scranton Police Sergeant Sentenced To Imprisonment For Federal Program Fraud

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Jeffrey J. Vaughn, age 50, a former patrol sergeant in the Scranton Police Department, was sentenced on May 4, 2023, to 6 months’ imprisonment and a 2-year term of supervised release by United States District Court Judge Robert D. Mariani for theft concerning programs receiving federal funds. According to the United States Attorney’s Office, from approximately July 30, 2021, to April 22, 2022, Vaughn knowingly obtained by fraud over $5,000.00 in compensation that was paid to him for certain extra duty patrol shifts at local, Scranton-area, lower-income housing complexes that Vaughn claimed to work but did not in fact work. In all, the investigation found a total of 266 hours that Vaughn claimed to work patrolling the complexes but that he did not actually work. Additionally, Vaughn also failed to work several DUI roving patrol shifts (another category of overtime shifts available to Scranton Police Officers) for which he was likewise paid. Judge Mariani also ordered Vaughn to pay restitution in the amount of $11,243.00 and to pay a fine of $2,000.00. He was also ordered to complete 50 hours of community service as a condition of his supervised release. This case was investigated by the Scranton Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Public Corruption Task Force, which consists of members of the Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, and federal agents from the FBI and Internal Revenue Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Jeffery St John and Phillip J. Caraballo prosecuted the case. # # #


title: Newark, New Jersey Man Imprisoned for Possessing Firearm as a Convicted Felon

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: The United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that Christian Torruellas, 30, of Newark, New Jersey, was sentenced today in United States District Court in Burlington to 41 months of imprisonment following his guilty plea to a charge that he possessed a firearm as a convicted felon. Chief U.S. District Judge Geoffrey Crawford also ordered that Torruellas serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison. Torruellas has been detained since his arrest in February 2021. According to court records, on October 6, 2020, a federal arrest warrant issued for Torruellas for supervised release violations. On February 10, 2021, members of the United States Marshal Service arrested Torruellas while he was driving in Brattleboro, Vermont. Officers recovered a .38 caliber pistol from the floor of Torruellas’ car. Torruellas is prohibited from possessing firearms because he has a 2016 felony conviction in federal court in New Jersey for possessing firearms as a prohibited person. Torruellas is represented by Karen Shingler, Esq. The prosecutors are Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Stendig and Gregory Waples. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn


title: Meth trafficking sends Great Falls man to prison for eight years

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: MISSOULA — A Great Falls man convicted of trafficking methamphetamine while on supervision for a federal felony conviction was sentenced today to eight years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Rand Michael Emineth, 31, pleaded guilty in January to possession with intent to distribute meth. U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. The government alleged in court documents that in Missoula County in August 2021, law enforcement with the Montana Highway Patrol, Missoula County Sheriff’s Office and Bureau of Land Management conducted a traffic stop of Emineth’s vehicle for erratic driving. A parole-approved search of his vehicle resulted in the recovery of meth, a scale, and drug paraphernalia. Emineth later admitted to recent drug use, and a search of his cell phone indicated he had been distributing meth. Emineth was trafficking meth while he was on supervised release for a federal conviction for possession of stolen explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara J. Elliott prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI’s Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force and Montana Probation and Parole. 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. XXX


title: National Missing and Murdered Indigenous Person’s Awareness Day

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota joins its partners across the federal government, as well as people throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities, in recognizing May 5, 2023, as National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day . The department’s work to respond to the MMIP crisis is a whole-of-department effort that takes many forms. One year ago today, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco joined Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to launch the Not Invisible Act Commission , a joint Commission established by the Not Invisible Act with an essential mission — to reduce violence against American Indians and Alaska Natives. In February, they welcomed the first in-person plenary meeting of the Not Invisible Act Commission. Since then, the department’s representatives on the commission — who are department leaders and subject matter experts — have participated in the Commission’s field hearings , which will continue through the summer. Later this year, the Commission will deliver recommendations for addressing the MMIP crisis to the Attorney General and the Secretary. In July 2022, Deputy Attorney General Monaco issued a memorandum reiterating that it is a priority of the Department of Justice to address the disproportionately high rates of violence experienced by American Indians and Alaska Natives, and relatedly, the high rates of indigenous persons reported missing. The memorandum directed each United States Attorney with Indian country jurisdiction—along with their law enforcement partners at DOJ—to update and develop new plans for addressing public safety in Indian country. In October 2022, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland issued revised Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance. The revised guidelines , which were updated for the first time in a decade, address when and how department employees work with victims and witnesses of crime to ensure that their voices are heard and that they are protected during criminal justice proceedings. For the first time the guidelines include cultural and linguistic considerations for victims from American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Today and every day, we recognize, support, and stand with the disproportionate number of Native women in South Dakota who suffer violence in their communities and elsewhere in our state. Federal, Tribal, and State authorities are committed to ending this unacceptable scourge of violence and bringing to justice its perpetrators. If you are aware of a person being victimized in any way, we urge you to call 911 and report it so that authorities can respond appropriately.


body_text: BILLINGS — The Justice Department joins its partners across the federal government, as well as people throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities, in recognizing May 5, 2023 as National Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day. Responding to the unacceptable levels of violence that have led to the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) is a priority of the Department of Justice every day. The department’s work to respond to the MMIP crisis is a whole-of-department effort that takes many forms. One year ago today, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco joined Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to launch the Not Invisible Act Commission , a joint Commission established by the Not Invisible Act with an essential mission — to reduce violence against American Indians and Alaska Natives. In February, they welcomed the first in-person plenary meeting of the Not Invisible Act Commission. Since then, the department’s representatives on the commission—who are department leaders and subject matter experts—have participated in the Commission’s field hearings , which will continue through the summer. Later this year, the Commission will deliver recommendations for addressing the MMIP crisis to the Attorney General and the Secretary. In addition to supporting the Not Invisible Act Commission, the department remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing the MMIP crisis. “The Justice Department is marshalling the full strength of its resources to confront the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons, which has devastated the lives of victims, their families, and entire Tribal communities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Addressing this crisis requires a whole-of-government approach, and we are grateful for the partnership of Tribal and other law enforcement agencies across the nation that are working alongside the Justice Department to help reduce crime and support victims in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.” “Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day calls on our nation to pause and honor the loved ones who have gone missing or who have been the victims of violent crime,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Acknowledging the many American Indian and Alaska Native people who have suffered, and continue to suffer, from the pain of a missing loved one or of violent crime serves as an important reminder of the urgency and importance of the department’s work to respond to the crisis of missing or murdered indigenous persons. The Justice Department—including our dedicated agents, analysts, and prosecutors—remains steadfast in our pledge to work as partners with Tribal governments in preventing and responding to the violence that has disproportionately harmed Tribal communities.” “The Justice Department is committed to using every resource at its disposal to combat the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Crisis,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “In addition to our core law-enforcement work, we are providing grant funding and guidance to help Tribes develop response plans for missing-persons cases, partner effectively with local law enforcement, and provide resources for victims of crime.” “Today, we honor and remember American Indian and Alaska Native persons who have disappeared or have been murdered and know that their families and communities continue to suffer from the loss of loved ones,” said U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich, for the District of Montana. “The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons crisis affects women, men and children, and Montana has experienced tragic cases involving all three. We also recognize that indigenous women and children face disproportionally higher rates of violence and sexual abuse. We renew our unwavering commitment to do everything we can to find the missing and to hold killers accountable. Our office will continue to work with all of our federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement partners to search for those who have gone missing and to seek justice for the missing and murdered. We have made progress in Montana to address this crisis by working collaboratively with tribes to develop community response plans and participating on the Montana Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force, but more work needs to be done. We are determined to do that work as we also seek to reduce violence and improve public safety for all indigenous persons.” Department Prioritization of MMIP Cases In July 2022, Deputy Attorney General Monaco issued a memorandum reiterating that it is a priority of the Department of Justice to address the disproportionately high rates of violence experienced by American Indians and Alaska Natives, and relatedly, the high rates of indigenous persons reported missing. The memorandum directed each United States Attorney with Indian country jurisdiction — along with their law enforcement partners at DOJ — to update and develop new plans for addressing public safety in Indian country. Publication of Updated Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance In October 2022, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland issued revised Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance. The revised guidelines , which was updated for the first time in a decade, address when and how department employees work with victims and witnesses of crime to ensure that their voices are heard and that they are protected during criminal justice proceedings. For the first time the guidelines include cultural and linguistic considerations for victims from American Indian and Alaska Native communities. National Native American Outreach Services Liaison Last year, the department announced the creation of a new National Native American Outreach Services Liaison. Since that announcement, the Liaison has begun to help amplify the voice of crime victims in Indian country and their families across the department as they navigate the federal criminal justice system. In the coming months, the Liaison will meet with survivors and family members of MMIP to learn more about the current challenges in MMIP cases and to make recommendations about the department’s continued response. Federal Law Enforcement Strategy to Prevent and Respond to the MMIP Crisis In July 2022, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior submitted a report pursuant to Sections 2 and 4(a) of Executive Order 14053, which called for “coordinated and comprehensive Federal law enforcement strategy to prevent and respond to violence against Native Americans, including to address missing or murdered indigenous people where the federal government has jurisdiction.” The report was published late last year and is available on the department website here . Guide for Tribal Community Response Plans for Missing Persons Cases In December 2022, the department published a Guide to Developing a Tribal Community Response Plan for Missing Persons Cases . This Guide is a resource for Tribes interested in developing a plan to respond to missing person cases that is tailored to the specific needs, resources, and culture of Tribal communities. Launch of the COPS Office Tribal MOU/MOA Resource Library On Monday of this week, the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) published its Tribal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)/Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Sample Resource Library. This library provides users with the resources to research and successfully draft agreements that will help agencies develop and solidify partnerships to address missing or murdered Indigenous persons cases. Expanded Scope of the Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Grant Program The department’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) expanded the scope of allowable activities under its Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside (TVSSA) grant program to permit Tribal communities to pay for costs related to generating awareness of individual missing persons cases involving American Indians and Alaska Native persons, supporting private search efforts for missing American Indians and Alaska Native persons in certain circumstances, and supporting efforts to coordinate the Tribal, state, and federal response to MMIP cases. Government-to-Government Tribal Consultation on Violence Against Women In September 2022, the department’s Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) held the 17th Annual OVW Government-to Government Tribal Consultation on Violence Against Women in Anchorage, Alaska. OVW is responsible for conducting annual government-to-government consultations with the leaders of all Federally recognized Indian Tribal governments on behalf of the Attorney General. National Institute of Justice Study of MMIP Cases in New Mexico Last year, the department’s National Institute of Justice (NIJ) funded a study that will provide vital information regarding the prevalence and context of cases of MMIP in New Mexico and, importantly, will inform long-term data collection, analysis, and reporting strategies on MMIP cases. These improvements will support data-driven decision-making regarding MMIP in New Mexico moving forward. Additional Department of Justice Resources For additional information about the Department of Justice’s efforts to address the MMIP crisis, please visit the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons section of the Tribal Safety and Justice website. Click here for more information about reporting or identifying missing persons. XXX


title: U.S. Attorney's Office Joins in Recognizing Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day, May 5, 2023

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.— The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon joins its partners across the federal government, as well as people throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities, in recognizing May 5, 2023, as National Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day . Responding to unacceptable levels of violence that have caused a crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) is a priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice. “The Justice Department is marshalling the full strength of its resources to confront the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons, which has devastated the lives of victims, their families, and entire Tribal communities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Addressing this crisis requires a whole-of-government approach, and we are grateful for the partnership of Tribal and other law enforcement agencies across the nation that are working alongside the Justice Department to help reduce crime and support victims in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.” The department’s response to the MMIP crisis is a whole-of-department effort taking many forms. One year ago today, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco joined Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to launch the Not Invisible Act Commission with the mission of reducing violence against American Indians and Alaska Natives. Later this year, the commission will deliver recommendations for addressing the MMIP crisis to the Attorney General and Secretary Haaland. “Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day calls on our nation to pause and honor the loved ones who have gone missing or who have been the victims of violent crime,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Acknowledging the many American Indian and Alaska Native people who have suffered, and continue to suffer, from the pain of a missing loved one or of violent crime serves as an important reminder of the urgency and importance of the department’s work to respond to the crisis of missing or murdered indigenous persons. The Justice Department—including our dedicated agents, analysts, and prosecutors—remains steadfast in our pledge to work as partners with Tribal governments in preventing and responding to the violence that has disproportionately harmed Tribal communities.” “The Justice Department is committed to using every resource at its disposal to combat the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Crisis,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “In addition to our core law-enforcement work, we are providing grant funding and guidance to help Tribes develop response plans for missing-persons cases, partner effectively with local law enforcement, and provide resources for victims of crime.” In July 2022, Deputy Attorney General Monaco issued a memorandum reaffirming the department’s commitment to addressing the disproportionately high rates of violence experienced by American Indians and Alaska Natives and the high rates of indigenous persons reported missing. For more information about the Justice Department’s efforts to address the MMIP crisis, please visit the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons section of the Tribal Safety and Justice website . In early 2022, the District of Oregon established an MMIP Working Group to increase multi-agency communication and collaboration in support of and response to Oregon-connected MMIP cases. The working group includes at least one representative from each of the nine federally recognized Tribes in Oregon, the FBI, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of Interior Regional Solicitor’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service, Oregon Department of Justice, Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office, and Oregon State Police. If you have questions about the U.S. Attorney’s Office MMIP program, please contact MMIP program coordinator Cedar Wilkie Gillette by emailing Cedar.Wilkie.Gillette@usdoj.gov or by calling (503) 727-1000.


title: Federal Jury Convicts St. Louis County Man of Dealing Fatal Dose of Heroin and Fentanyl

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A jury in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on Thursday found a man guilty of selling the heroin and fentanyl that killed a Florissant, Missouri man in 2018. The jury found Wyland Kinney, 43, of St. Louis County, guilty of four felony counts: distribution of a controlled substance that resulted in death, two counts of distributing fentanyl and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. In closing arguments Thursday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Bateman said the victim’s phone contained a series of texts and calls to Kinney on August 15 and 16 of 2018 in which the victim arranged to buy opiates from Kinney. Kinney sold heroin and fentanyl to the victim at 2:30 p.m. on August 16, 2018. The victim was living with his grandmother, who found him dead at about 8 p.m., 30 minutes after she’d last heard from him. An autopsy and toxicology results showed that the quantity of heroin and fentanyl individually was enough to kill him, Bateman said. Together they killed him quickly. The victim had been battling heroin addiction and had just been in the hospital for treatment. During the subsequent investigation, officers discovered the victim’s calls and texts to Kinney and learned Kinney’s name, then had a confidential informant purchase a mix of fentanyl and ketamine twice from Kinney, on October 11 and 12. A court-approved search of Kinney’s home found two handguns, a shotgun, ammunition and $6,443 in cash in the basement and four handguns, four shotguns, two rifles an AK-style pistol and more ammunition inside a gun safe on the main floor. They also found text messages regarding drug sales on his phone. At Kinney’s sentencing, he faces life in prison for the distribution resulting in death charge, up to 20 years on the other drug charges and up to 10 years on the gun charge. The case was investigated by the Florissant Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle Bateman and Tiffany Becker are prosecuting the case.


title: Leader of a Major Drug Trafficking Organization Operating in Jefferson County Indicted on Drug and Gun Charges

body_text: Birmingham, Ala. – A federal indictment unsealed on Monday charges the leader of a major drug trafficking organization and one of his lieutenants on drug and gun charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples. A ten-count indictment filed in the U.S. District Court charges Lumon Andre Layton, aka “Loom” , 49 , of Birmingham, and Cedric Lamar Nelson, aka as “ Ced” , 36 , of Midfield, with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, and distribution of fentanyl between March 2022 and January 2023. Layton is also charged with five counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, two counts of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to drug trafficking crimes, and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Layton was convicted of Manslaughter on May 2, 2000, in the Circuit Court of Talladega County, Alabama, as well as several drug crimes in Jefferson County, Alabama, prior to 2000. According to the indictment, on January 6, 2023, Jefferson County Sherriff deputies executed four search warrants on properties involved in the conspiracy. The deputies seized $1,088,000 from these properties, in addition to five firearms seized during the investigation. The penalty for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute or distribution of a controlled substance is a minimum mandatory penalty of ten years to life in prison. The maximum penalty for possession with intent to distribute or distribution of heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine is life in prison. The penalty for using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime is a minimum mandatory term of five years in prison up to life to run consecutive to any other count. The maximum penalty for being a felon in possession of a firearm is 15 years in prison. The FBI and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Cross is prosecuting the case. An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty


title: Justice Department Strengthens Efforts To Address The Crisis Of Missing Or Murdered Indigenous Persons

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA -- The Justice Department joins its partners across the federal government, as well as people throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities, in recognizing May 5, 2023 as National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day . Responding to the unacceptable levels of violence that have led to the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) is a priority of the Department of Justice every day. The department’s work to respond to the MMIP crisis is a whole-of-department effort that takes many forms. One year ago today, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco joined Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to launch the Not Invisible Act Commission , a joint Commission established by the Not Invisible Act with an essential mission — to reduce violence against American Indians and Alaska Natives. In February, they welcomed the first in-person plenary meeting of the Not Invisible Act Commission. Since then, the department’s representatives on the commission—who are department leaders and subject matter experts—have participated in the Commission’s field hearings , which will continue through the summer. Later this year, the Commission will deliver recommendations for addressing the MMIP crisis to the Attorney General and the Secretary. In addition to supporting the Not Invisible Act Commission, the department remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing the MMIP crisis. “The Justice Department is marshalling the full strength of its resources to confront the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons, which has devastated the lives of victims, their families, and entire Tribal communities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Addressing this crisis requires a whole-of-government approach, and we are grateful for the partnership of Tribal and other law enforcement agencies across the nation that are working alongside the Justice Department to help reduce crime and support victims in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.” “Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day calls on our nation to pause and honor the loved ones who have gone missing or who have been the victims of violent crime,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Acknowledging the many American Indian and Alaska Native people who have suffered, and continue to suffer, from the pain of a missing loved one or of violent crime serves as an important reminder of the urgency and importance of the department’s work to respond to the crisis of missing or murdered indigenous persons. The Justice Department—including our dedicated agents, analysts, and prosecutors—remains steadfast in our pledge to work as partners with Tribal governments in preventing and responding to the violence that has disproportionately harmed Tribal communities.” “The Justice Department is committed to using every resource at its disposal to combat the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Crisis,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “In addition to our core law-enforcement work, we are providing grant funding and guidance to help Tribes develop response plans for missing-persons cases, partner effectively with local law enforcement, and provide resources for victims of crime.” “Addressing the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons is a priority of the Department of Justice and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Recently, in coordination with our sister districts in Oklahoma, my office developed and distributed guidelines for law enforcement response to MMIP cases within the Eastern District. In April, I had the privilege to attend the first field hearing of the Not Invisible Act Commission and to meet with members of the Commission. These sessions reinforced the need for federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to work cooperatively to confront violent crime within Indian Country. We remain committed to that goal.” Department Prioritization of MMIP Cases In July 2022, Deputy Attorney General Monaco issued a memorandum reiterating that it is a priority of the Department of Justice to address the disproportionately high rates of violence experienced by American Indians and Alaska Natives, and relatedly, the high rates of indigenous persons reported missing. The memorandum directed each United States Attorney with Indian country jurisdiction — along with their law enforcement partners at DOJ — to update and develop new plans for addressing public safety in Indian country. Publication of Updated Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance In October 2022, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland issued revised Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance. The revised guidelines , which was updated for the first time in a decade, address when and how department employees work with victims and witnesses of crime to ensure that their voices are heard and that they are protected during criminal justice proceedings. For the first time the guidelines include cultural and linguistic considerations for victims from American Indian and Alaska Native communities. National Native American Outreach Services Liaison Last year, the department announced the creation of a new National Native American Outreach Services Liaison. Since that announcement, the Liaison has begun to help amplify the voice of crime victims in Indian country and their families across the department as they navigate the federal criminal justice system. In the coming months, the Liaison will meet with survivors and family members of MMIP to learn more about the current challenges in MMIP cases and to make recommendations about the department’s continued response. Federal Law Enforcement Strategy to Prevent and Respond to the MMIP Crisis In July 2022, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior submitted a report pursuant to Sections 2 and 4(a) of Executive Order 14053, which called for “coordinated and comprehensive Federal law enforcement strategy to prevent and respond to violence against Native Americans, including to address missing or murdered indigenous people where the federal government has jurisdiction.” The report was published late last year and is available on the department website here . Guide for Tribal Community Response Plans for Missing Persons Cases In December 2022, the department published a Guide to Developing a Tribal Community Response Plan for Missing Persons Cases . This Guide is a resource for Tribes interested in developing a plan to respond to missing person cases that is tailored to the specific needs, resources, and culture of Tribal communities. Launch of the COPS Office Tribal MOU/MOA Resource Library On Monday of this week, the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) published its Tribal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)/Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Sample Resource Library. This library provides users with the resources to research and successfully draft agreements that will help agencies develop and solidify partnerships to address missing or murdered Indigenous persons cases. Expanded Scope of the Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Grant Program The department’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) expanded the scope of allowable activities under its Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside (TVSSA) grant program to permit Tribal communities to pay for costs related to generating awareness of individual missing persons cases involving American Indians and Alaska Native persons, supporting private search efforts for missing American Indians and Alaska Native persons in certain circumstances, and supporting efforts to coordinate the Tribal, state, and federal response to MMIP cases. Government-to-Government Tribal Consultation on Violence Against Women In September 2022, the department’s Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) held the 17th Annual OVW Government-to Government Tribal Consultation on Violence Against Women in Anchorage, Alaska. OVW is responsible for conducting annual government-to-government consultations with the leaders of all Federally recognized Indian Tribal governments on behalf of the Attorney General. The 2022 Tribal consultation report is available here . National Institute of Justice Study of MMIP Cases in New Mexico Last year, the department’s National Institute of Justice (NIJ) funded a study that will provide vital information regarding the prevalence and context of cases of MMIP in New Mexico and, importantly, will inform long-term data collection, analysis, and reporting strategies on MMIP cases. These improvements will support data-driven decision-making regarding MMIP in New Mexico moving forward. Additional Department of Justice Resources For additional information about the Department of Justice’s efforts to address the MMIP crisis, please visit the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons section of the Tribal Safety and Justice website . Click here for more information about reporting or identifying missing persons.


title: Nine Members of Jefferson County Ring Affiliated with Jalisco New Generation Cartel Charged with Fentanyl Trafficking and Money Laundering Offenses

body_text: BIRMINGHAM – A federal indictment unsealed on Wednesday charges nine defendants in a fentanyl trafficking and money laundering conspiracy based in Jefferson County, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley, and Homeland Security Investigations Acting Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard. A seven-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Juan Francisco Castaneda , aka Pariente, 40, Karol Carlota Del Castillo-Cardozo , aka Guerra, 40, of Wilsonville, Bryant Lamar Reynolds , aka Bear, 37, Preston Omar Chatman , aka Peno, 41, of Birmingham, Jose Lopez Flores , 44, of Birmingham, Cheryl Johnson, 57, of Pinson, and Francisco Del Castillo , aka Paco, 26, with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl between March 2022 and March 2023. The indictment further charges Castaneda , Castillo-Cardozo , Blanca Iris Ozuna , aka Flaca, 35, of Birmingham, and Juan Fidencio Lerma Gomez , 40, with conspiracy to commit money laundering of drug trafficking proceeds between March 2022 and March 2023. The indictment includes special findings of the grand jury regarding the amount of fentanyl attributable to various defendants as part of the drug-trafficking conspiracy. Castaneda, Flores, and Johnson are charged with conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. This charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. Castillo-Cardozo, Chatman, Reynolds, and Castillo is charged with conspiring to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. This charge carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. Castaneda, Castillo-Cardozo, Reynolds, Chatman, Castillo, Flores, and Johnson are also charged with distribution of fentanyl. Castaneda and Reynolds were already in custody serving state prison sentences. Castaneda is serving multiple life sentences for Murder in Bullock Correctional Facility. According to public records, Castaneda pleaded guilty to a multi-homicide in Shelby County in 2008, in which five individuals were murdered over a cartel debt. Reynolds is serving multiple life sentences for Murder in St. Clair Correctional Facility. The indictment also seeks a money judgment in the amount of $700,000. The maximum penalty for conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance is life in prison. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to commit money laundering is 20 years in prison. “The indictment represents a collaborative effort between multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to combat the scourge of fentanyl trafficking and organized crime in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona. “The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force remains committed to stopping the flow of dangerous drugs into our neighborhoods by disrupting and dismantling criminal enterprises.” “The DEA is committed to defeating the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and bringing to justice those members responsible for the trafficking of fentanyl and other dangerous illicit drugs” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Towanda Thorne-James. “DEA along with our federal, state, and local partners will continue to pursue all avenues to deny drug traffickers and money launderers the one thing they value the most – their profit.” “This indictment sends a clear message to those that attempt to turn a profit by distributing poison in our communities that they will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “Our community is a much safer place thanks to the tireless efforts of all our federal, state and local partners.” The DEA and HSI investigated the case, along with assistance from the Internal Revenue Service, United States Marshals Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, Hoover Police Department, Birmingham Police Department, Bessemer Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Alabama Department of Corrections, and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Allison Garnett and Blake Milner are prosecuting the case. This investigation is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), Operation “Wildcard.” OCDETF is an independent component of the U.S. Department of Justice. Established in 1982, OCDETF is the centerpiece of the Attorney General’s strategy to combat transnational-organized-crime and to reduce the availability of illicit narcotics in the nation by using a prosecutor-led, multi-agency approach to enforcement. OCDETF leverages the resources and expertise of its partners in concentrated, coordinated, long-term enterprise investigations of transnational organized crime, money laundering, and major drug trafficking networks. An indictment contains only charges. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Justice Department strengthens efforts to address the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – The Justice Department joins its partners across the federal government, as well as people throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities, in recognizing May 5, 2023 as National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day . Responding to the unacceptable levels of violence that have led to the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) is a priority of the Department of Justice every day. The department’s work to respond to the MMIP crisis is a whole-of-department effort that takes many forms. One year ago today, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco joined Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to launch the Not Invisible Act Commission , a joint Commission established by the Not Invisible Act with an essential mission — to reduce violence against American Indians and Alaska Natives. In February, they welcomed the first in-person plenary meeting of the Not Invisible Act Commission. Since then, the department’s representatives on the commission—who are department leaders and subject matter experts—have participated in the Commission’s field hearings , which will continue through the summer. Later this year, the Commission will deliver recommendations for addressing the MMIP crisis to the Attorney General and the Secretary. In addition to supporting the Not Invisible Act Commission, the department remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing the MMIP crisis. “The Justice Department is marshalling the full strength of its resources to confront the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons, which has devastated the lives of victims, their families, and entire Tribal communities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Addressing this crisis requires a whole-of-government approach, and we are grateful for the partnership of Tribal and other law enforcement agencies across the nation that are working alongside the Justice Department to help reduce crime and support victims in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.” “Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day calls on our nation to pause and honor the loved ones who have gone missing or who have been the victims of violent crime,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Acknowledging the many American Indian and Alaska Native people who have suffered, and continue to suffer, from the pain of a missing loved one or of violent crime serves as an important reminder of the urgency and importance of the department’s work to respond to the crisis of missing or murdered indigenous persons. The Justice Department—including our dedicated agents, analysts, and prosecutors—remains steadfast in our pledge to work as partners with Tribal governments in preventing and responding to the violence that has disproportionately harmed Tribal communities.” “The Justice Department is committed to using every resource at its disposal to combat the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Crisis,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “In addition to our core law-enforcement work, we are providing grant funding and guidance to help Tribes develop response plans for missing-persons cases, partner effectively with local law enforcement, and provide resources for victims of crime.” “Tribal Nations in the Western District of Washington are working on their response plans to be ready to act if a tribal member is reported missing. The Tulalip Tribes is the first to adopt and implement their plan, and we celebrate that milestone,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “The Washington State Patrol data notes 142 Indigenous persons in Washington are missing and we must keep them front and center as we undertake this important work.” There are various activities planned throughout Western Washington. Today, several tribes are having walks and healing circles to honor the missing. This evening, the Tulalip Tribes and the Muckleshoot Tribe will gather for ceremonial observances. Tomorrow the community is invited to join the 3 rd Annual MMIP Families March from Westlake Park in Seattle to Seattle Center. The march begins at 10:00 AM, and the public is encouraged to wear red in honor of the Murdered and Missing. The Washington State Coalition against Domestic Violence has a list of events on its website. Attached to this release is a fact sheet on DOJ resources doj_mmip_resources.pdf regarding Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons and the latest information from the Washington State Patrol regarding MMIP in our state. missing_list_for_public_release_050123_002.pdf


component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – The Justice Department joins its partners across the federal government, as well as people throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities, in recognizing May 5, 2023 as National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day . Responding to the unacceptable levels of violence that have led to the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) is a priority of the Department of Justice every day. The department’s work to respond to the MMIP crisis is a whole-of-department effort that takes many forms. One year ago today, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco joined Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to launch the Not Invisible Act Commission , a joint Commission established by the Not Invisible Act with an essential mission — to reduce violence against American Indians and Alaska Natives. In February, they welcomed the first in-person plenary meeting of the Not Invisible Act Commission. Since then, the department’s representatives on the commission—who are department leaders and subject matter experts—have participated in the Commission’s field hearings , which will continue through the summer. Later this year, the Commission will deliver recommendations for addressing the MMIP crisis to the Attorney General and the Secretary. In addition to supporting the Not Invisible Act Commission, the department remains steadfast in its commitment to addressing the MMIP crisis. “The Justice Department is marshalling the full strength of its resources to confront the crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons, which has devastated the lives of victims, their families, and entire Tribal communities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Addressing this crisis requires a whole-of-government approach, and we are grateful for the partnership of Tribal and other law enforcement agencies across the nation that are working alongside the Justice Department to help reduce crime and support victims in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.” “Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day calls on our nation to pause and honor the loved ones who have gone missing or who have been the victims of violent crime,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Acknowledging the many American Indian and Alaska Native people who have suffered, and continue to suffer, from the pain of a missing loved one or of violent crime serves as an important reminder of the urgency and importance of the department’s work to respond to the crisis of missing or murdered indigenous persons. The Justice Department—including our dedicated agents, analysts, and prosecutors—remains steadfast in our pledge to work as partners with Tribal governments in preventing and responding to the violence that has disproportionately harmed Tribal communities.” “The Justice Department is committed to using every resource at its disposal to combat the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Crisis,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “In addition to our core law-enforcement work, we are providing grant funding and guidance to help Tribes develop response plans for missing-persons cases, partner effectively with local law enforcement, and provide resources for victims of crime.” Department Prioritization of MMIP Cases In July 2022, Deputy Attorney General Monaco issued a memorandum reiterating that it is a priority of the Department of Justice to address the disproportionately high rates of violence experienced by American Indians and Alaska Natives, and relatedly, the high rates of indigenous persons reported missing. The memorandum directed each United States Attorney with Indian country jurisdiction — along with their law enforcement partners at DOJ — to update and develop new plans for addressing public safety in Indian country. Publication of Updated Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance In October 2022, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland issued revised Attorney General Guidelines for Victim and Witness Assistance. The revised guidelines , which was updated for the first time in a decade, address when and how department employees work with victims and witnesses of crime to ensure that their voices are heard and that they are protected during criminal justice proceedings. For the first time the guidelines include cultural and linguistic considerations for victims from American Indian and Alaska Native communities. National Native American Outreach Services Liaison Last year, the department announced the creation of a new National Native American Outreach Services Liaison. Since that announcement, the Liaison has begun to help amplify the voice of crime victims in Indian country and their families across the department as they navigate the federal criminal justice system. In the coming months, the Liaison will meet with survivors and family members of MMIP to learn more about the current challenges in MMIP cases and to make recommendations about the department’s continued response. Federal Law Enforcement Strategy to Prevent and Respond to the MMIP Crisis In July 2022, the Department of Justice and the Department of the Interior submitted a report pursuant to Sections 2 and 4(a) of Executive Order 14053, which called for “coordinated and comprehensive Federal law enforcement strategy to prevent and respond to violence against Native Americans, including to address missing or murdered indigenous people where the federal government has jurisdiction.” The report was published late last year and is available on the department website here . Guide for Tribal Community Response Plans for Missing Persons Cases In December 2022, the department published a Guide to Developing a Tribal Community Response Plan for Missing Persons Cases . This Guide is a resource for Tribes interested in developing a plan to respond to missing person cases that is tailored to the specific needs, resources, and culture of Tribal communities. Launch of the COPS Office Tribal MOU/MOA Resource Library On Monday of this week, the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) published its Tribal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)/Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Sample Resource Library. This library provides users with the resources to research and successfully draft agreements that will help agencies develop and solidify partnerships to address missing or murdered Indigenous persons cases. Expanded Scope of the Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Grant Program The department’s Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) expanded the scope of allowable activities under its Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside (TVSSA) grant program to permit Tribal communities to pay for costs related to generating awareness of individual missing persons cases involving American Indians and Alaska Native persons, supporting private search efforts for missing American Indians and Alaska Native persons in certain circumstances, and supporting efforts to coordinate the Tribal, state, and federal response to MMIP cases. Government-to-Government Tribal Consultation on Violence Against Women In September 2022, the department’s Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) held the 17th Annual OVW Government-to Government Tribal Consultation on Violence Against Women in Anchorage, Alaska. OVW is responsible for conducting annual government-to-government consultations with the leaders of all Federally recognized Indian Tribal governments on behalf of the Attorney General. The 2022 Tribal consultation report is available here. National Institute of Justice Study of MMIP Cases in New Mexico Last year, the department’s National Institute of Justice (NIJ) funded a study that will provide vital information regarding the prevalence and context of cases of MMIP in New Mexico and, importantly, will inform long-term data collection, analysis, and reporting strategies on MMIP cases. These improvements will support data-driven decision-making regarding MMIP in New Mexico moving forward. Additional Department of Justice Resources For additional information about the Department of Justice’s efforts to address the MMIP crisis, please visit the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons section of the Tribal Safety and Justice website . Click here for more information about reporting or identifying missing persons. ###


title: Hudson County Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Possessing Heroin, Cocaine, and Loaded Firearm

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Hudson County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 240 months in prison for possessing a loaded firearm, and possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances on three different occasions. Clarence Gaffney, 36, of Jersey City, was convicted on Oct. 26, 2022, following a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton in Newark federal court on three counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and one count of possession of firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.