title: China-Based Chemical Manufacturing Companies and Employees Indicted for Alleged Fentanyl Manufacturing and Distribution

body_text: WASHINGTON – Today, the Justice Department announced the unsealing of indictments against eight China-based chemical companies and eight employees charging federal crimes, including attempted distribution of synthetic opioids and precursor chemicals used in the production of fentanyl, and money laundering. The indictments were filed under seal in the Middle District of Florida over the past year. “Today, the Justice Department announced charges against eight China-based companies and eight individuals we allege are responsible for trafficking precursor chemicals that cartels use to manufacture lethal fentanyl,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The global fentanyl supply chain, which ends with the deaths of Americans, often starts with chemical companies based in China. In order to break this critical link in the fentanyl supply chain, the Justice Department has aggressively investigated and prosecuted these companies. We will continue to target every organization and individual that fuels the deadly drug trade.” As described in the unsealed indictments, the defendants openly advertised their ability to thwart border officials and deliver the synthetic opioids or the chemicals used to make fentanyl to the Middle District of Florida and elsewhere in the United States. The defendants deliberately engaged in evasive activities, such as mislabeling the contents of shipments to ensure the illicit chemicals and controlled substances went undetected. As a result, these companies were able to sell a stable supply of precursor chemicals to clients in Mexico and the United States for years. One of the companies even represented that every month it sends “more than 20 kilograms to the United States, Africa, Canada, and other countries.” “Today’s indictments against eight China-based chemical companies and eight Chinese nationals are further evidence of DEA’s unwavering commitment to disrupt every aspect of the global fentanyl supply chain,” said Administrator Anne Milgram of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “For the third time in over a year, DEA investigations have resulted in charges against chemical companies and individuals in China who we allege are supplying chemicals to the cartels to make deadly fentanyl. While they may go to great lengths to try to evade our detection, DEA will use every tool and authority we have to save American lives.” The indictments target the evolving tactics of drug traffickers, who often adapt to tightening restrictions on the production and sale of fentanyl. For example, when China banned the production of fentanyl in 2019, China-based companies began producing and selling fentanyl precursors, the ingredients needed to manufacture the drug. These China-based companies distribute fentanyl precursors throughout the world, including to the United States and to Mexico, where drug cartels such as the Sinaloa Cartel and Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación combine the chemicals into fentanyl and other synthetic opioids that they then distribute throughout the United States and the rest of the world. “These indictments are part of our continuing commitment to the protection of our country from the deadly scourge of fentanyl,” said U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida. “Along with our partners at the Drug Enforcement Administration, we will be relentless in our pursuit of China-based chemical companies and their employees who are knowingly manufacturing and exporting fentanyl precursors that cause thousands of deaths every year in the United States.” The Justice Department acknowledges the efforts of the People’s Republic of China, Ministry of Public Security. The following indicted companies are now out of operation: Jiangsu Jiyi Chemical, Tianjin Furuntongda Tech Co. Ltd, Wuhan Jinshang Import & Export Trading Co. Ltd., Hubei Shanglin Trading Co., and Wuhan Mingyue Information Technology. In addition, the People’s Republic of China has recently scheduled three key chemicals, which in turn provides additional tools for the People’s Republic of China to regulate the chemicals’ production and distribution. DEA Administrator Milgram said, “I would also like to recognize the work done by the People’s Republic of China’s Ministry of Public Security in taking action to schedule protonitazene, piperidone, and 1-BOC-4-AP, which were not scheduled at the time of these investigations, but have now been scheduled.” The DEA investigated the cases. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Chee, David Pardo, Lauren Stoia, and Adam McCall and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Haynes for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the cases. These cases are part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF . Case Summaries In January, Guangzhou Tengyue Chemical Co. Ltd., based in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China, was charged with attempted importation of protonitazene, along with Chinese national Xiaojun Huang, who allegedly maintained a Bitcoin wallet for the remittance of payments for illicit synthetic opioids on the company’s behalf. In January, Hubei Shanglin Trading Co., based in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, was charged with attempted international money laundering, along with Chinese national Zhihan Wang, who was the alleged registered owner of a Bitcoin wallet associated with the company utilized to complete the sale of fentanyl precursors. In November 2023, Jiangsu Jiyi Chemical, based in Beijing, Hebei Province, China, was charged with attempted importation of protonitazene, along with Ji Zhaohui, a Chinese national, who was the alleged holder of the Bitcoin wallet associated with the company. In January, Tianjin Furuntongda Tech Co. Ltd, based in Tianjin, Hebei Province, China, was charged with attempted importation of fentanyl precursors, along with Wenxing Gao, a Chinese national, who was the alleged registered agent of Tianjin Furuntongda and the owner of a cryptocurrency wallet associated with the company. In November 2023, Wuhan Jinshang Import & Export Trading Co. Ltd., based in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, was charged with attempted importation of protonitazene, attempted importation of a fentanyl precursor, and attempted international money laundering, along with Wenying Nie, a Chinese national, who was the alleged holder of a Bitcoin wallet associated with the company. In January, Wuhan Mingyue Information Technology, based in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, was charged with attempted importation of fentanyl precursors and attempted international money laundering, along with Chinese national Huanhuan Song, who was the alleged recipient of funds via Western Union on the company’s behalf and the alleged holder of a cryptocurrency wallet associated with the company. In June, Henan Oumeng Trade Co. Ltd., based in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China, was charged with attempted importation of protonitazene and attempted international money laundering, along with Yinxia Zhao, a Chinese national, who was the alleged holder of the Bitcoin wallet associated with the company. In June, Shanghai Senria New Materials Co. Ltd., doing business as Shanghai Senria Biotechnology Co. Ltd., based in the Fengxian District of Shanghai, China, was charged with attempted importation of protonitazene and attempted international money laundering, along with Zhenbo Han, a Chinese national, who was the alleged holder of the Bitcoin wallet associated with the company. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Sacramento Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficker Sentenced to over 19 Years in Prison

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Michael Valentino Lovato, 35, of Sacramento, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley to 19 years and 10 months in prison and for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, after previously being convicted of drug trafficking, Lovato engaged in a conspiracy to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl and over 500 grams of methamphetamine in Sacramento in April 2022. During the conspiracy, Lovato sold fentanyl pills to an undercover source on multiple separate occasions and also sold methamphetamine to the source. This case was the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Sacramento Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily G. Sauvageau and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew De Moura prosecuted the case. Charges are pending against co-defendant Gilbert Ramirez, of Sacramento. The charges against him are only allegations, and he is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. 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 U.S. Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This prosecution is also part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. The Sacramento Strike Force is a co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. The specific mission of the Sacramento Strike Force is to identify, investigate, disrupt, and dismantle the most significant drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) shipping narcotics, firearms, and money through the Eastern District of California, thereby reducing the flow of these criminal resources in California and the rest of the United States. The Sacramento Strike Force leads intelligence-driven investigations targeting the leadership and support elements of these DTOs and TCOs operating within the Eastern District of California, regardless of their geographic base of operations.


title: Parkersburg Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Charles Ray Mackey, 42, of Parkersburg, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 16, 2023, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Mackey in Parkersburg. Officers searched the vehicle following the traffic stop and found a German Sports Guns model Firefly .22-caliber semiautomatic handgun. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Mackey knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for non-aggravated robbery, assault during the commission of a felony upon a person 65 years of age or older, and conspiracy to commit non-aggravated robbery in Wood County Circuit Court on June 12, 2001. Mackey is scheduled to be sentenced on February 3, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Parkersburg Police Department. United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Lesley C. Shamblin and former Assistant United States Attorney Bill Longwell have prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-128. ###


title: Possession of stolen firearm sends Reed Point man to prison for more than eight years

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

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Reed Point man who admitted to possessing a stolen firearm found in a stolen vehicle that crashed near Helena following a pursuit was sentenced today to eight years and eight months years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today. The defendant, Jarred Lane Saunders, 26, pleaded guilty in June to prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court also ordered $18,252.98 restitution. “Stolen firearms and drugs are a dangerous combination. Here, Saunders likely stole 23 guns from a vehicle parked at a Billings hotel, then was arrested in Helena after a pursuit and found in possession of fentanyl and one of the stolen guns. Saunders’ criminal conduct posed a serious threat to public safety, and we remain united with our law enforcement partners in getting these offenders off our streets,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said. The government alleged in court documents that on Oct. 12, 2022, Billings police officers responded to a report of 23 firearms that had been stolen from a vehicle parked in a hotel parking lot. Saunders likely stole the 23 firearms because his fingerprints were found at the scene and then brought stolen firearms and fentanyl in a stolen car to Helena. On Oct. 15, 2022, the Montana Highway Patrol pursued a stolen Mercedes, which had been taken in Billings on Oct. 11, 2022. The Mercedes eventually crashed in a private driveway, and Saunders was arrested by Helena police officers. At his arrest, Saunders complained that he ingested 15 to 20 fentanyl pills. A search warrant was executed on the Mercedes, and officers found approximately 300 fentanyl pills, a small amount of methamphetamine and a .22-caliber pistol that had been stolen from the vehicle in Billings. A witness told Billings police of seeing Saunders with three duffle bags full of guns. That person received three of the firearms knowing they were stolen. At the time Saunders possessed the firearms, he was an unlawful user of controlled substances. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Billings Police Department, Montana Highway Patrol, Butte-Silver Bow Law Enforcement, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation and Helena Police Department conducted the investigation. 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 Justice.gov/PSN. XXX


title: Couple Indicted on Federal Charges for Fraud Scheme Involving Counterfeit iPads

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Richland, Washington - On September 19, 2024, a federal grand jury for the Eastern District of Washington returned an indictment charging Zhangbo Liang, age 24 and Linda You, age 20, with ten criminal counts for fraud as well as trafficking and transporting stolen and counterfeit items. Liang made his first appearance in federal court in the Western District of Washington on September 30, 2024. You made her first appearance in federal court in the Eastern District of Washington on October 24, 2024. The indictment alleges beginning no later than January of 2024, Liang and You were involved in a scheme where they would purchase authentic iPads from Target stores in the Eastern District of Washington and elsewhere, remove them from their boxes, place counterfeit iPads in the boxes, then reseal the boxes. Liang and You would then return the counterfeit iPads and receive a refund on a Target gift card. Liang and You would use the gift cards to allegedly purchase additional items from Target, including more iPads they would replace with counterfeit goods for subsequent returns. According to the indictment, between January 2024 and June 2024, Liang and You returned at least 140 iPads to Target stores and fraudulently obtained a net refund amount of at least $163,000. “Fraudulent schemes that involve stolen and counterfeit items harm businesses and lead to increased prices for everyone. Our fraud prosecutors, working closely with our law enforcement partners, will continue to aggressively target fraudsters who attempt to scam businesses and individuals to line their own pockets,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref. The case was referred for federal investigation by the Washington Attorney General’s Office Organized Retail Crime Task Force and the Skagit County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, highlighting the important and successful partnership between federal and state law enforcement agencies to address organized retail crimes. This case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy J. Kelley. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 4:24-cr-06024-SAB


title: Retired Boston Police Captain Sentenced to Federal Prison for Overtime Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A retired Captain of the Boston Police Department was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for participating in a long-running overtime fraud scheme at the Boston Police Department (BPD) that cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent overtime payments. Richard Evans, 65, of Hanover, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to one year and a day in federal prison, two years of supervised release, restitution of $154,249.20 and a fine of $15,000. In March 2024, a federal jury convicted Evans of conspiracy to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, theft concerning programs receiving federal finds, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. Evans was arrested and charged in March 2021 after a lengthy investigation into the overtime practices of Evans and other BPD officers proved that officers had been lying on their overtime slips so that they could get paid for countless hours that they did not work. “Members of law enforcement are expected to uphold the law, not violate it,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Mr. Evans abused the public trust and violated his oath, and his greed corrupted others in the department. His actions do not reflect the selfless, outstanding work done every day by thousands of Boston Police Department officers and police officers across the Commonwealth. To anyone who may be tempted to follow a similar path, today’s sentence should send a strong message that police officers who steal taxpayer money by fraudulently trying to get paid for hours they do not work will be held accountable and face significant penalties.” “After 37 years on the force, Richard Evans should know that crime doesn’t pay. Nonetheless, he orchestrated this long-running overtime fraud scheme, ensnared his former officers, and ignored all ethical boundaries in order to make a buck," said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “The public’s trust is critical for our justice system to function properly, which is why the FBI will do everything in its power to bring officers whose criminal actions undermine that trust to justice. We thank the Boston Police Department for its help in rooting out this egregious fraud.” “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that public servants who cheat and steal will be held accountable. Evans participated in and orchestrated a scheme to defraud taxpayers by submitting and certifying fraudulent overtime for himself and subordinate officers. This is not a victimless crime. His illicit gains were at the expense of the taxpayers,” said Timothy C. Edmiston, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General Mid-Atlantic Region. Evans, who retired from the BPD shortly after he was charged in this case, was a 42-year veteran of the BPD and one of the highest-ranking officers in the department. From May 2012 to March 2016, Evans was the commander of BPD’s Evidence and Supply Management Division, where he was responsible for, among other things, overseeing the Evidence Control Unit (ECU) that stored and managed all the evidence for the BPD. The investigation revealed that that when BPD’s evidence warehouse started overflowing with evidence, the department authorized an overtime program to “purge” old and unneeded evidence to make room for new evidence. As part of this purge overtime program, officers in the ECU were authorized to work up to four hours a day, after their regular day shift, to help purge old evidence. For virtually the entirety of the time that Evans was in charge of the ECU, Evans and those under his command abused the purge overtime program to unjustly enrich themselves. For the purge program, it was contemplated that officers would work up to four hours of overtime in a day, typically from 4:00 to 8:00 from Mondays to Thursdays. The evidence showed that officers rarely worked the hours they were supposed to work, often working only an hour or two of overtime but claiming they worked four hours. Given that overtime was paid at 1.5 times the regular pay rate, this meant that officers could get six hours of pay for claiming four hours of overtime, even though in reality they were only working for an hour or two. As part of this scheme, for multiple years, officers falsely claimed on BPD pay forms that they worked four hours of overtime when they routinely did not. The BPD’s policies and protocols required that officers, after every shift, submit overtime slips certifying the “actual hours worked” during any shift. On countless occasions over multiple years, Evans and other officers in his unit submitted slips overstating their actual hours worked. The BPD’s evidence warehouse, where the ECU is based, is secured and alarmed when officers are not working in it. Alarm records from the evidence warehouse were introduced to show that the building was not even open during hundreds of hours when Evans and other officers had falsely claimed that they were inside the building purging old evidence. Evans submitted slips for hundreds of overtime hours he did not work. As a supervisor, Evans also approved the overtime slips of officers under his command who falsely claimed payment for hundreds of overtime hours they did not work. Evans also misled his superior officers about the purge overtime scheme to cover up the fact that officers were inflating their overtime hours and routinely not working even half the number of hours they were claiming. On top of his base salary, Evans received over $120,000 in overtime payments during his nearly four years as commander of the ECU, including over $17,000 in overtime payments for hours that the evidence warehouse was not even open during the hours Evans claimed he was working. The overtime pay received by Evans allowed his total pay to exceed $200,000 for each of the years between 2013 and 2016 when he led that unit. Acting U.S. Attorney Levy; SAC Cohen; DOJ-OIG SAC Edmiston; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kunal Pasricha and Elysa Wan of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case at trial.


title: Great Falls meth, fentanyl trafficker sentenced to more than 13 years in federal prison

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A federal judge today sentenced a Great Falls man to 13 years and eight months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl pills in the community, U.S. Attorney Laslovich said. The defendant, John Meade Ogburn, 45, pleaded guilty in June to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute meth and fentanyl. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. “Repeat federal felons will be pursued aggressively, especially drug traffickers. After previously serving federal time, Ogburn resumed his criminal lifestyle, trafficked large quantities of fentanyl pills and meth in Montana and has earned a stiffer federal prison sentence. We remain undeterred in holding repeat drug dealers, like Ogburn, accountable," U.S. Attorney Laslovich said. The government alleged in court documents that drug task force officers learned in the fall of 2023 that Ogburn was a source of supply of meth and fentanyl. In November 2023, law enforcement intercepted a package that was found to contain approximately 1,757 fentanyl pills and determined that Ogburn was responsible for arranging the shipment. The investigation led to a traffic stop in early February 2024 of two vehicles, one driven by Ogburn and another driven by his girlfriend, as the vehicles traveled back to Montana from Washington. In a search of the vehicles, law enforcement found approximately two pounds of meth wired under the vehicle driven by Ogburn’s girlfriend. Ogburn admitted in a recorded jail call that he was responsible for placing the meth under the vehicle and that his girlfriend did not know it was there. At the time, Ogburn was on supervised release for a previous federal drug offense in which he served more than a decade in prison. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Russell Country Drug Task Force, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Great Falls Police Department and Montana Highway Patrol conducted the investigation. 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 Justice.gov/PSN . XXX


title: Businessman Charged with Conspiring to Own Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A businessman and former resident of Utah has been charged with illegally operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Christopher James Scanlon, 43, originally from Utah and now living in Florida, is indicted on one count of conspiring to control and own an unlicensed money transmitting business. Scanlon was arrested at Miami International Airport on Oct. 10, 2024, and made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on Oct. 11, 2024. He was arraigned today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lede Dunn Wettre in Newark federal court and pleaded not guilty. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Scanlon is the founder and chief executive officer of businesses Aurae Lifestyle and Club Swan. From as early as 2015 through 2019, Scanlon controlled a series of legal entities – PMA Media Group Inc.; AU Card LLC; AU Card Ltd., and Nvayo Ltd., (collectively, the “AU Entities”) – that he operated as a money transmitting business to provide fiat and cryptocurrency financial services to customers of Aurae Lifestyle. Scanlon served as a customer service representative for several high-net-worth Aurae Lifestyle customers. Scanlon operated Aurae Lifestyle during this time period without appropriately registering as a money transmitting business with FinCEN. At times, Scanlon agreed to conduct transactions on behalf of customers through other customers’ accounts and performed at least one “off the books” transaction for a customer who was later indicted for operating a large-scale cryptocurrency mining scheme. Scanlon exchanged messages with the customer, who requested that the transaction be kept off of the customer’s account ledger as a “Ghost” transaction. Scanlon agreed, and upon completing the transaction, the customer asked Scanlon to confirm that the transaction was not posted on the ledger of his Aurae Lifestyle account, asking Scanlon: “Ghost, right?,” to which Scanlon confirmed: “Boo.” The conspiracy count carries a maximum term of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the pecuniary gain to the defendant or loss to the victims, whatever is greatest. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of IRS - Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jennifer L. Piovesan, with the investigation. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan Linares of the Cybercrime Unit, and Aaron Webman of the Economic Crimes Unit, in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. scanlon.indictment.pdf


title: Springfield Man Sentenced to 54 months in Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a Felon

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Springfield, Illinois, man, Alvin D. Billups, age 36, was sentenced on October 23, 2024, to 54 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release, for possessing a firearm as a felon. At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Colleen R. Lawless, the government established that in June 2023 Springfield Police Officers were on foot patrol in an area where numerous people were having a large block party. The officers approached a car containing an open bottle of alcohol. Billups was in the driver’s seat. During a subsequent search, Billups, a felon, was found in possession of a Taurus G2 9mm pistol. During the hearing, Judge Lawless noted that Billups had a significant history of firearms offenses, which included multiple prior state firearms convictions. Billups remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, where he has been since his federal arrest on August 23, 2023. He pleaded guilty to the one-count indictment in the case on May 9, 2024. The statutory penalties for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person are up to 15 years’ imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a $250,000 fine. The Springfield Police Department investigated the firearms case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case against Billups is part of a committed effort to combat gun violence in Sangamon County, Illinois, by law enforcement including the Springfield Police Department, Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Seberger represented the government in the prosecution. The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Arizona Doctor Sentenced to Prison for Health Care Fraud

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Linh Cao Nguyen, M.D., 51, of Peoria, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge John C. Hinderaker to 24 months in prison. Nguyen pleaded guilty to Health Care Fraud on March 19, 2024. Over the course of several years, Nguyen engaged in a scheme to defraud various health care benefit programs, including Medicare, TRICARE, AHCCCS, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and UnitedHealthcare. As part of his scheme, Nguyen knowingly caused the submission of thousands of false billing claims. Nguyen also falsely created patient records to conceal and avoid detection of his fraudulent scheme. The fraudulent claims identified a medical doctor as the treating provider when, in fact, another provider such as a nurse practitioner, social worker, unlicensed psychology intern, or wound care nurse provided the service independently. By billing the medical service as if it were provided by a physician, Nguyen falsely inflated the amount his company was to be paid for the service. The total loss to the insurance companies from Nguyen’s scheme was approximately $3.7 million. As part of his sentence, Nguyen was ordered to pay over $1.1 million in restitution to the private insurance companies. Nguyen also was required to pay over $2.5 million to the government in a separate civil agreement. The United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-21-02716-TUC-JCH RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-144_Nguyen # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Peoria Felon Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine, Heroin, Cocaine, and Firearm Offenses

component: Department of Justice

body_text: PEORIA, Ill. – A Peoria, Illinois, man, Johnathan S. Sargent, 35, of the 800 block of West Crestwood Drive, was sentenced today to 132 months in federal prison for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine, and possessing a firearm as a felon. Sargent was also ordered to serve a four-year term of supervised release upon completion of his term of confinement. At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Michael M. Mihm, the government summarized the evidence from the investigation of Sargent’s drug trafficking in late 2023 and early 2024. In February 2024, law enforcement officers obtained a search warrant for Sargent’s person, his vehicle, and two residences. At that time, Sargent was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his three prior felony convictions, including a prior state conviction in 2009 for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance for which he was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections. During the search of his apartment on Crestwood Drive in Peoria on February 21, 2024, agents located a loaded handgun, 415 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine, 87 grams of heroin, 77 grams of cocaine, and over $5,000 cash. Agents also located packaging materials and several scales commonly used in illegal drug sales. Also at the hearing, Judge Mihm found that Sargent’s conduct was not an isolated incident of drug distribution, but rather a business that Sargent was operating over a period of time. The Court stated that Sargent’s apartment was a “one stop shop” for three types of extremely dangerous and addictive drugs that have devastating effects on the community, often destroying the life of addicts and all of those around them. A criminal complaint was filed against Sargent in February 2024, followed by a four-count indictment in March 2024. He entered into a written plea agreement in June 2024, pleading guilty to all four counts. Sargent has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals service since his arrest. The statutory penalties for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (Count 1) are ten years to life imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release, with a possible $10 million dollar fine. The penalties for possession with intent to distribute heroin (Count 2) and cocaine (Count 3) are not more than 20 years imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release and a possible $1 million dollar fine. The possession of a firearm by a prohibited person charge (Count 4) carries penalties of not more than 15 years imprisonment, supervised release of 3 years and a possible fine of $250,000. Sargent has previous felony convictions for theft and drug charges. The case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Peoria Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration – Springfield Resident Office. Ronald L. Hanna represented the United States in the prosecution. The case against Sargent is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Mexican National Admits Role in Smuggling and Labor Trafficking Scheme

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MARIA DEL CARMEN SANCHEZ POTRERO, also known as Maria Carmela Sanchez, 73, a citizen of Mexico last residing in Hartford, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to a charge stemming from her involvement in a scheme to smuggle aliens into the U.S., harbor them at Hartford area residences, force them to work, and threaten to harm them in various ways if they failed to pay exorbitant fees, interest, and other living expenses. According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in September 2022, the FBI and Hartford Police interviewed several Mexican nationals who disclosed that they were smuggled from Mexico into the U.S. and transported to Hartford. The investigation revealed that victims typically arranged with Sanchez, her co-conspirators in Connecticut, and associates in Mexico to cross the border into the U.S. in exchange for a fee of between $15,000 and $20,000 that each would need to pay once they were in the U.S. In most cases, the victims were required to turn over a property deed as collateral before leaving Mexico. They were then smuggled across the border and transported to Hartford area residences, including Sanchez’s residence on Madison Street in Hartford, often at a substantial risk of bodily injury or death. After the victims arrived in Connecticut, they were told that they would have to pay $30,000, with interest, and that they would have to pay Sanchez and her co-coconspirators for rent, food, gas and utilities. Sanchez and her co-conspirators created false documents for the victims, including Permanent Residence cards and Social Security cards, and helped the victims find employment in the Hartford area. In addition to their own jobs, some victims were required to perform housework and yardwork without compensation and without having their debt reduced. Victims were rarely provided with an accounting of their debt. If victims failed to make regular payments, or in amounts that Sanchez and her co-conspirators expected, they were sometimes threatened, including with threats to harm family members in Mexico, to take property in Mexico that had been secured as collateral, to reveal victims’ immigration status to U.S. authorities, and to raise their interest payments. To date, investigators have identified 18 victims of this scheme. Sanchez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to encourage and induce, bring in, transport, and harbor aliens, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. Judge Dooley scheduled sentencing for January 16, 2025. As part of her plea agreement, Sanchez has agreed to a restitution order of $494,608. Sanchez has been detained since her arrest on March 1, 2023. This investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Hartford Police Department, U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Angel Krull and Shan Patel.


title: Return To Nature Funeral Home Owners Plead Guilty In Federal Court

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Jon Hallford, 44, and Carie Hallford, 47, pleaded guilty today to one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. According to the plea agreements for each, the Hallfords were the co-owners of Return to Nature Funeral Home, which operated both in the Colorado Springs area and in Penrose, Colorado. In October 2023, residents in the Penrose area reported a foul odor emanating from the Return to Nature facility. After obtaining a search warrant, FBI, CBI, and local law enforcement investigators found the remains of approximately 190 deceased persons inside the building in various states of decomposition. Some of the remains discovered had dates of death as far back as 2019. As part of their fraud scheme, the Hallfords misled customers of the funeral home into believing that the remains of their loved ones would be buried or cremated per their wishes and the terms of the parties’ contracts. As part of their plea agreements, the Hallfords also admitted that they conspired together to defraud the U.S. Small Business Administration of over $800,000 in COVID-19 pandemic relief funds, which they obtained under the government’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. Sentencing will be held at a later date. Each defendant faces up to twenty years in federal prison. United States District Court Judge Nina Y. Wang presided over the hearing. The FBI Denver Field Office and The United States Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Several other state and local law enforcement agencies including the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the Colorado Springs Police Department, the El Paso County Coroner’s Office, the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, and the Fremont County Coroner’s Office have made significant contributions to this case. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Tim Neff and Craig Fansler.


title: Eastern Jackson County Men Indicted for Fentanyl Trafficking

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Two Eastern Jackson County men have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, with one of the men also charged with possessing six machine gun conversion devices. Kal J. Nay, 21, of Oak Grove, Mo., and Robert J. Turnage, 20, of Blue Springs, Mo., were charged in a five-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury on Oct. 15, 2024. Nay was arrested yesterday and had his initial court appearance today. Turnage has not yet been arrested. The federal indictment charges Nay and Turnage with participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. They are also charged together in one count of distributing fentanyl from May 2 to June 11, 2024. Additionally, Nay is charged with two counts of distributing fentanyl and one count of possessing machine guns. The indictment alleges that Nay was in possession of six machine gun conversion devices, commonly referred to as “switches,” on June 18, 2024. The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence. This case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Jennings. It was investigated by the Jackson County Drug Task Force.


title: Chesapeake man sentenced to 29 years in prison for preying on family’s economic vulnerability to abuse 11-year-old girl

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A Chesapeake man was sentenced today to 29 years in prison for coercion and enticement of a minor. According to court documents, after befriending an economically vulnerable woman in 2020, Christopher Digges, 41, moved in with the woman and her child in 2021 after offering to help them by paying rent. On numerous occasions, Digges engaged in sexual conduct with the child and directed her to perform sexual acts to produce Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). Digges bought a residence in Chesapeake on October 18, 2021, and moved the mother and child into it. Digges made clear to the child that he purchased the residence for her and used it to manipulate her when she wasn’t available to him. Digges struck the child in addition to sexually abusing her, and threatened to take away her possessions if she did not comply with his requests or demands. Digges continued coercing and abusing the child until 2023 when she was 14 years old. In July 2023, the mother provided information to law enforcement that Digges had engaged in sexually explicit conduct with the child and had produced and received CSAM. The government recovered $169,462.62 from the sale of the Chesapeake residence. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Mark G. Solesky, Chief of Chesapeake Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Clayton D. LaForge and Kevin P. Hudson prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-140.


title: U.S. Attorney Announces District Election Officer For 2024 General Election

component: USAO - Nevada

body_text: LAS VEGAS – United States Attorney Jason M. Frierson announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Daniel R. Schiess will lead the efforts for the District of Nevada in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. AUSA Schiess has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the District of Nevada, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington. United States Attorney Frierson said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.” The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations. Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English). United States Attorney Frierson stated that: “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO Schiess will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at the following telephone numbers: 702-388-6336.” In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 702-385-1281. Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931. United States Attorney Frierson said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.” Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency. ###


title: Two Inland Empire Women Arrested on Indictment Alleging $3.5 Million Scheme to Defraud COVID-19 Business Loan Program

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: RIVERSIDE, California – Two Riverside County women were arrested today on a 23-count federal grand jury indictment alleging they and two men schemed to defraud a COVID-19 pandemic-relief program out of more than $3 million by helping others fraudulently obtain COVID business loans in exchange for a cut of the illicit proceeds. Vanessa M. Williams, 35, of Corona,and Denise Mata, 34, of Moreno Valley, were arrested this morning and are scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon in United States District Court in Riverside. Williams and Mata are charged with nine and 10 counts of wire fraud, respectively. Mata is charged with an additional count of aggravated identity theft. Also charged in the indictment are Daryl D. Knighten Jr., 32, and Mikhail G. Hoalim, 33, who face seven and nine counts of wire fraud, respectively. Law enforcement continue to search for both men. According to the indictment that a grand jury returned on August 14, from March 2021 to August 2021, the defendants submitted and caused to be submitted fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for themselves, family members, close associates, and individuals they recruited. Congress created the program in 2020 to assist businesses dealing with COVID-19’s severe economic impact. The defendants made false statements to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and banks in connection with the fraudulent PPP loan applications. Each application falsely stated that the PPP loan applicant was self-employed and falsely certified that each loan would be used for permissible business purposes. Each loan application also contained fraudulent tax forms to deceive the SBA and PPP participating lenders into disbursing loan funds. Lenders approved PPP loans for the defendants and more than 100 co-schemers. The lenders then disbursed the PPP loan funds into bank accounts belonging to the defendants and their co-schemers. Co-schemers paid kickbacks to the defendants within days of receiving the fraudulently obtained PPP loan funds. The defendants and their co-schemers used the illicitly obtained money for their own personal benefit and not for expenses allowable under the PPP. The defendants also submitted fraudulent documents to the SBA and lenders to obtain loan forgiveness for the illegally obtained PPP loans. In March 2021, Mata allegedly used the Social Security numbers belonging to another person – without that person’s permission – in connection with the scheme to defraud the PPP. Law enforcement believes the losses caused by this scheme are approximately $3.5 million. An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court. If convicted, each defendant would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each wire fraud count. Mata would face an additional mandatory two-year prison sentence consecutive to any other prison term if convicted of aggravated identity theft. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . On September 15, 2022, the Attorney General selected the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Central and Eastern Districts of California to jointly head one of three national COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force Teams. The Department of Justice established the Strike Force to enhance existing efforts to combat and prevent COVID-19 related financial fraud. The Strike Force combines law enforcement and prosecutorial resources and focuses on large-scale, multistate pandemic relief fraud perpetrated by criminal organizations and transnational actors, as well as those who committed multiple instances of pandemic relief fraud. The Strike Force uses prosecutor-led and data analyst-driven teams to identify and bring to justice those who stole pandemic relief funds. Additional information regarding the Strike Force may be found at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-covid-19-fraud-strike-force-teams . As part of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) Task Force, this investigation was conducted by Amtrak Office of Inspector General with support from Homeland Security Investigations. The PRAC was established to promote transparency and facilitate coordinated oversight of the federal government’s COVID-19 pandemic response. This case was also supported by the PRAC’s Pandemic Analytics Center of Excellence, which applies the latest advances in analytic and forensic technologies to help OIGs and law enforcement pursue data-driven pandemic relief fraud investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Max A. Shapiro of the General Crimes Section, along with Senior Litigation Counsel Gary Bell and Trial Attorney Ambris Saravanan from the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division are prosecuting this case. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at (866) 720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Duo sentenced on drug trafficking charges

component: USAO - Wyoming

body_text: The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming announced today that a drug trafficking case involving two people was recently closed with both parties being sentenced. Dusty Harris, 42, of Casper, Wyoming, was sentenced to 142 months’ imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Harris’s co-conspirator, Thelma Faber, 45, of Greeley, Colorado, was sentenced to 57 months for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. According to court documents, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), while investigating drug trafficking in Fremont County, learned Harris sold controlled substances to enrolled members of the Eastern Shoshone and/or Northern Arapaho tribes on or around the Wind River Indian Reservation. In November 2023, agents learned that Harris was transporting drugs from Colorado to Fremont County. Fremont County Sheriff’s Office deputies then stopped a vehicle driven by Harris near Shoshoni. Faber was his passenger. A search of the vehicle yielded a seizure of 94 grams of methamphetamine, 34 grams of fentanyl, a scale, and other drug paraphernalia. A search of the pair’s cell phones revealed a multitude of texts and social media messages being exchanged in late October 2023 through early November 2023 between Harris, Faber, and others regarding the distribution of controlled substances. Harris and Faber were indicted on January 10 and pleaded guilty on May 9. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl sentenced Harris on July 31 and Faber on October 21. This crime was investigated by DCI and Fremont County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Gist. Case No. 24-CR-00020


title: Former Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office Correctional Lieutenant Sentenced to Four Months’ Imprisonment

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: United States Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad announced that on October 24, 2024, Johanna Grace (age: 34) was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment, followed by one year of supervised release, after providing marijuana and a cellular telephone to an inmate of the Waukesha County Jail, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2(a), 1791(a)(1), 1791(b)(3), and 1791(b)(4). Publicly filed documents reflect that when Grace committed this offense, she was serving as a Correctional Lieutenant with the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office. On multiple occasions, Grace coordinated with associates outside the Waukesha County Jail to bring contraband inside the facility. When a tipster outside the jail alerted authorities to Grace’s misconduct, Grace shared internal law enforcement reports with her associates, who then confronted the tipster. Grace acknowledged that as part of her offense of conviction, she obstructed justice. Before imposing sentence, United States District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller found that this was a “deadly serious matter.” Judge Stadtmueller explained that as a supervisor at the Waukesha County Jail, Grace was entrusted to preserve the rule of law. Judge Stadtmueller further noted that a sentence of imprisonment was required to deter others. Judge Stadtmueller also explained that the defendant’s request for a probationary sentence was not appropriate, because a non-custodial sentence would do “no service to the rule of law.” “Today’s sentence is the direct result of an individual abusing her authority and violating the trust of the residents she was entrusted to serve and protect,” said U.S. Attorney Haanstad. “I commend the courage of the tipster to come forward and the collaborative efforts of all involved in pursuing this investigation and prosecution.” “It’s incomprehensible that Ms. Grace used her position to smuggle contraband into the jail," said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Hensle. “Today’s sentence reinforces the FBI’s commitment along with our local, state and federal partners to keep Wisconsin’s county jail system safe and secure while holding those accountable who work within the criminal justice system.” “Correctional officers are not above the law, and this sentence illustrates the importance of investigating corrupt officials who compromise the safety within our jails,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon of the Chicago Field Division. “Working in coordination with our local and federal law enforcement partners ensures these cases are investigated and prosecuted as appropriate.” This matter was investigated by the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Katherine Halopka-Ivery and Kevin Knight. # # # For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov 414-297-1700 Follow us on Twitter


title: Alleged Bay Area Fentanyl Distributor Extradited From Honduras

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: OAKLAND – The government of Honduras extradited Javier Marin-Gonzales, a Honduran national, to the United States this week to appear on charges stemming from his alleged involvement in the distribution of fentanyl in the San Francisco Bay Area. The extradition marks the fifth extradition of an alleged drug distributor from Honduras to the Northern District of California this year. On Aug. 2, 2023, a federal grand jury indicted Marin-Gonzales, 25, at the time a resident of Oakland, in connection with the alleged distribution of fentanyl on three separate occasions. The investigation in this case led to charges against multiple East Bay-based defendants who allegedly traveled into the Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco to engage in drug dealing. According to court documents, at the time of the indictment, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) learned that Marin-Gonzales had traveled back to Honduras. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with Honduran authorities, the FBI, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to secure the arrest and extradition of Marin-Gonzales. Marin-Gonzales arrived back in the United States on Oct. 23, 2024. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore today for arraignment on the indictment and further proceedings. A detention hearing for Marin-Gonzales is scheduled for Oct. 30, 2024. “We appreciate our law enforcement partners’ efforts, here and abroad, to bring to justice those who are charged with peddling deadly drugs in our communities,” said United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey. “This arrest and extradition marks a significant step in our ongoing fight against the distribution of dangerous drugs like fentanyl,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp. “By bringing Marin-Gonzales to face justice in the United States, we are sending a clear message: those who profit from the trafficking of deadly substances will be held accountable, no matter where they operate. The FBI remains committed to working with our domestic and international partners to disrupt drug networks that threaten the safety and well-being of our communities.” “We remain steadfast in our commitment to hold accountable drug traffickers operating in the Tenderloin,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Bob P. Beris. “The extradition of Marin-Gonzales is another example of how strong global partnerships keep our communities safe.” The indictment charges Marin-Gonzales with the distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(B)(vi). An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Defendant faces a maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a fine of $5,000,000, a lifetime of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by a court only after considerations of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey, FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp, and DEA Special Agent in Charge Bob P. Beris. This prosecution is part of 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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Bisesto is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Sara Slattery and Andy Ding. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI SAFE Streets Task Force, DEA, and the Concord Police Department.


title: California man pleads guilty to sex trafficking and illegal firearms possession

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A California man pleaded guilty today to two federal felonies related to his sex trafficking of adult female victims, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Winston Cornell Burt aka “Dice Capone,” 32 of Hemet, California, was arrested November 6, 2022, after he allegedly brutally assaulted a 20-year-old woman and engaged in a rolling gun battle as she fled in a van driven by a man who picked her up from the roadway. Burt pleaded guilty to Sex Trafficking through Force, Fraud, and Coercion and Unlawful Possession of Firearms. Burt is scheduled for sentencing by U.S. District Judge John H. Chun on February 3, 2025. According to records filed in the case, Burt self-identifies as a “pimp” who led a sex trafficking enterprise through California, Arizona, and Washington. The young women in the case were required to provide all the money they earned in prostitution to Burt. Three women had his name tattooed on their faces – an apparent sign of “ownership.” On November 2, 2022, Burt assaulted the 20-year-old victim in this case by kicking her, punching her, and pistol whipping her after she indicated she wanted to stop working for Burt. The assault occurred at an Airbnb in south Seattle. Three days later, on November 5, 2022, Burt assaulted the victim again and forced her to strip to her underwear. The victim tried to escape from the rental home by jumping out a third story window. The defendant and two women working for him forced her into a car and drove towards a motel on north Aurora Avenue. Burt was armed with a gun, but the victim was able to get out of the car and ran into traffic on Aurora wearing only her underwear. Burt and his female assistants tried to force the victim back into their car, but the victim stayed in the middle of the roadway until finally picked up by a driver who saw her in distress. Even after the victim was driven away in a van, Burt gave chase on Aurora Avenue and fired shots at the van with the victim inside. The driver was eventually able to evade Burt and called the Washington State Patrol for assistance. Ultimately law enforcement responded to the scene and got the victim to Harborview Medical Center for treatment. Burt was arrested on November 6, 2022, as he was attempting to leave the Airbnb in south Seattle. As part of the plea agreement, Burt also agrees to plead guilty to charges in King County Superior Court: three counts of Assault 2; Drive-by Shooting; Unlawful Imprisonment; and Assault-3 The plea agreement calls for the forfeiture of both firearms and more than $72,000 in cash. Sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion is punishable by a mandatory minimum 15 years in prison and up to life in prison and illegal possession of a firearm is punishable by ten years in prison. Both the prosecution and defense have agreed to recommend 15 years in prison to run concurrent with any sentence imposed in state court. The case was investigated by the FBI, Seattle Police Department with assistance from the Washington State Patrol (WSP). FBI Phoenix also assisted. Senior Deputy King County Prosecutor Alexandra Voorhees worked closely with the FBI, Seattle Police Department and Assistant United States Attorney Kate Crisham on this case.


title: Allegany County man charged by criminal complaint with multiple child pornography charges

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Andrew Klos, 19, of Belfast, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with production, receipt, and possession of child pornography, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and a maximum of 60 years. Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Rudroff, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, on July 25, 2024, the FBI National Threat Operations Center received an online tip regarding Klos. Subsequent investigation determined that Klos, using the online app “YesIChat,” was in an online relationship with Victim 1, a 13 year old living in Texas, for approximately six months. During those six months, Klos sent sexually explicit videos and photographs, multiple times a week. Klos also asked Victim 1 to produce sexual content with a younger girl, and with animals. The victim produced numerous sexually explicit images of herself at Klos’ direction, and sent them to Klos using the YesIChat platform. Klos made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy and was detained. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Whittier Man Pleads Guilty to Operating Illegal Firearms Business and Arranging the Armed Robbery of Confidential Informant

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A Whittier man pleaded guilty today to arranging the armed robbery of a confidential federal informant and running an unlicensed firearm dealing business that, in part, sold so-called “ghost guns,” or guns lacking serial numbers. Salvador Lopez, 24, a.k.a. “Chava,” pleaded guilty to one count of armed robbery of money of the United States using a dangerous weapon and one count of engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license. “This defendant not only sold guns illegally, putting firearms on the streets where they could be used to hurt others, but he also directed a minor to engage in violent crime,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Now, this defendant will be held accountable. Those who would engage in violent gun crime should be aware that my office is laser focused on protecting our community by bringing violent criminals to justice.” According to his plea agreement, Lopez conspired with his codefendants to conduct firearms transactions. Lopez both sold firearms himself, sent pictures of firearms for sale to others who sold the firearms, and directed associates to sell firearms for him. In total, Lopez sold or helped to sell a total of 15 firearms to law enforcement agents and those working for them. Neither defendant Lopez nor his co-defendants are federal firearms licensees. Later, Lopez agreed to sell firearms to a confidential informant working for federal law enforcement. Instead of following through with the transaction, Lopez messaged a minor with instructions to rob the informant at gun point. The minor and his coconspirators not only robbed the informant of $5,000, but they also robbed the informant’s personal cellphone and vehicle. Lopez then received a share of the robbery proceeds. As part of the plea agreement, Lopez admitted that he instructed minor to threaten the informant with a firearm during the robbery. United States District Judge Percy Anderson scheduled a January 6, 2025, sentencing hearing, at which time Lopez will face a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years imprisonment. Ivan Quintos, 27, of Azusa, another defendant charged in this case, also pleaded guilty today to one count of firearms trafficking. He will face up to 15 years in federal prison at his February 3, 2025, sentencing hearing. The two remaining defendants charged in this case – Mark Perez, 22, of Henderson, Nevada; and Zachary Dry, 23, also of Henderson, Nevada – are scheduled to plead guilty to criminal charges in this case on October 25 and October 30, respectively. Operation Safe Cities establishes strategic enforcement priorities with an emphasis on prosecuting the most significant drivers of violent crime. Across this region, the most damaging and horrific crimes are committed by a relatively small number of particularly violent individuals. This strategic enforcement approach is expected to increase the number of arrests, prosecutions and convictions of recidivists engaged in the most dangerous conduct. It is designed to improve public safety across the region by targeting crimes involving illicit guns, prohibited persons possessing firearms, or robbery crews that cause havoc and extensive losses to retail establishments. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Baldwin Park Police Department; and the Los Angeles Police Department investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorney William M. Larsen of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.


title: New Orleans Men Indicted For Federal Drug Offenses

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

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that BRIAN PICQUET , age 38 and FURDRELL HANKTON, age 48, of Orleans Parish, were charged in a recently unsealed four-count indictment by a federal grand jury on October 10, 2024 for violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act. According to the indictment, PICQUET and HANKTON were indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846; and Distribution of Fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). Beginning on a date unknown but at least by March 14, March 22, and March 27, 2024 it is alleged that PICQUET and HANKTON engaged in a conspiracy to distribute and possess to distribute fentanyl and distribute fentanyl within the Eastern District of Louisiana. If convicted the defendants face a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, at least three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charging document and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Briana Williams of the Narcotics Unit.


title: 17 People Indicted for Conspiring to Steal More Than $2.4 Million in SNAP Benefits

component: Office of the Inspector General

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—17 people are facing federal charges for conspiring to defraud the United States of more than $2.4 million in fraudulent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) purchases, announced the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon. A coordinated, multi-agency law enforcement operation was conducted Tuesday to dismantle the interstate fraud organization that used skimming devices and stolen Electric Benefits Transfer (EBT) accounts to purchase SNAP-eligible products for resale on the black market. “This group targeted a program that ensures access to healthy and affordable groceries for low-income and food insecure individuals and families,” said Natalie Wight, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “We thank all our partners for their commitment to protecting the integrity of vital public programs like SNAP.” “The USDA OIG is working relentlessly with our law enforcement partners to dismantle organized skimming operations targeted at stealing EBT card information from victims relying on such benefits to feed their families. These conspirators used skimmed accounts to fraudulently purchase retail goods such as infant formula and energy drinks, and later resold the stolen goods for illicit gain. We thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon, Homeland Security Investigations, Portland Police Bureau, Oregon Department of Justice, and Orange County District Attorney’s Office for our joint effort in pursuing and holding these conspirators accountable for defrauding American families and the Federal Government,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Shawn Dionida, U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General (USDA OIG). “This kind of fraud cheats a system that is designed to help families and children who need assistance the most,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in the Pacific Northwest. “Every dollar stolen is a dollar that could have fed a child in need. I’m appreciative of our partnerships with federal and local law enforcement, as it is through investigations like this that we will be able to protect resources for those that rely on them, while making sure those who commit these abuses are held accountable.” “Our role in this case started with the initiative and extensive follow-up by one of our detectives,” said Portland Police Bureau Chief Bob Day. “He then reached out to our federal partners, and as the investigation grew, more resources were brought in to assist. It soon became very apparent how many people were criminally involved and the wide scope of this investigation. This indictment ultimately was the result of an exhaustive amount of investigative work by our detective and federal authorities and I commend everyone involved for their dedication to this important case.” The following individuals have been arrested and charged with conspiring to defraud the United States, for their roles in the fraud organization: Ramirez Dumitru, 25; Giovanni Spirea, 28; Santa-Madalina Costache, 25; Florin Mareata, 25; Anita Vaduva, 36; Ion Paul Miclescu, 19; Nicolas Barbosu, 25; Alberto Tomescu, 27; Oana Aura Cristina Caldararu, 23; Roberta Elena Sardaru, 27; Salvis Foro Dunca, 26; Ana Patricia Escalante, 57; Jessica Gonzalez, 27; Edwin Lionel Santizo-Ralon, 54; Cristina Yesenia Escalante, 33; Edgar Basilio Hernandez, 33; and Marta Hernandez de Estrada, 53. According to court documents, from August 2023 to October 2024, Ramirez Dumitru and his co-conspirators are alleged to have possessed skimming devices and stolen EBT accounts to illegally purchase items with stolen SNAP benefits. Dumitru shared information with other members of the organization who, along with him, used the stolen EBT accounts to purchase large quantities of infant formula, energy drinks, and other SNAP-eligible nonperishable food items from grocery stores in Oregon, Washington, and California, and through websites associated with grocery stores offering curb-side pickup. Over the course of the conspiracy, the group purchased more than 120,000 pounds of goods and stored them at residential properties and storage units in Oregon and Washington until they were packaged and transported to California in private vehicles or via commercial carriers. The fraudulent goods, obtained with more than $2.4 million in stolen SNAP benefits, were then sold on the black market. All seventeen members of the organization were arrested on Tuesday without incident and made their initial appearances in federal court this week before U.S. Magistrate Judges in Oregon, Washington and California. All have been arraigned and are pending a trial in the District of Oregon. The case was investigated by USDA OIG, HSI, U.S. Marshals Service, Portland Police Bureau, Oregon Department of Justice, Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Vancouver Police Department, San Bernardino Sheriff’s Office, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Gresham Police Department, and the Redmond, Washington Police Department Financial Fraud and Identification Theft Task Force. It is being prosecuted by Geoffrey A. Barrow and Nicholas D. Meyers, Assistant U.S. Attorneys for the District of Oregon, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Western District of Washington and Central District of California. An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: U.S. Reaches Settlement For Over $100m In Civil Lawsuit  Against Owner And Operator Of The Vessel That  Destroyed The Francis Scott Key Bridge

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Washington – The Justice Department announced today that Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Private Limited, the Singaporean corporations that owned and operated the Motor Vessel DALI, have agreed to pay $101,980,000 to resolve a civil claim brought by the United States for costs borne in responding to the catastrophic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The settlement resolves the United States’ claims for civil damages for $103,078,056 under the Rivers and Harbors Act, Oil Pollution Act, and general maritime law. The settlement monies will go to the U.S. Treasury and to the budgets of several federal agencies directly affected by the allision or involved in the response. “Nearly seven months after one of the worst transportation disasters in recent memory, which claimed six lives and caused untold damage, we have reached an important milestone with today’s settlement,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “Thanks to the hard work of the Justice Department attorneys since day one of this disaster, we were able to secure this early settlement of our claim, just over one month into litigation. This resolution ensures that the costs of the federal government’s cleanup efforts in the Fort McHenry Channel are borne by Grace Ocean and Synergy and not the American taxpayer.” “This is a tremendous outcome that fully compensates the United States for the costs it incurred in responding to this disaster and holds the owner and operator of the DALI accountable,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The prompt resolution of this matter also avoids the expense associated with litigating this complex case for potentially years.” In the early morning hours of March 26, the Motor Vessel DALI left the Port of Baltimore bound for Sri Lanka. While navigating through the Fort McHenry Channel, the vessel lost power, regained power, and then lost power again before striking the bridge. The bridge collapsed and plunged into the water below, tragically killing six people. In addition to this heartbreaking loss of life, the wreck of the DALI and the remains of the bridge were left to obstruct the navigable channel, bringing all shipping into and out of the Port of Baltimore to a standstill. The loss of the bridge also severed a critical highway in the transportation infrastructure and blocked a key artery for local commuters. The United States led the response efforts of dozens of federal, state, and local agencies to remove about 50,000 tons of steel, concrete, and asphalt from the channel and from the DALI itself. While removal operations were underway, the United States set up temporary channels to start relieving the bottleneck at the port and mitigate some of the economic devastation caused by the DALI. The Fort McHenry Channel was cleared by June 10, and the Port of Baltimore was once again open for commercial navigation. On Sept. 18, the Justice Department filed a civil lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, seeking over $100 million in damages from Grace Ocean and Synergy. The Department’s claim was part of a legal action that the vessel companies filed shortly after the tragedy, in which they seek exoneration or limitation of their liability to approximately $43.7 million. Today’s settlement is in addition to $97,294 recently paid by Grace Ocean to the Coast Guard National Pollution Fund Center for costs incurred to abate the threat of oil pollution arising from the incident. The settlement does not include any damages for the reconstruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The State of Maryland built, owned, maintained, and operated the bridge, and attorneys on the state’s behalf filed their own claim for those damages. Pursuant to the governing regulation, funds recovered by the State of Maryland for reconstruction of the bridge will be used to reduce the project costs paid for in the first instance by federal tax dollars. The resolution of the civil matter was handled by attorneys from the Civil Division’s Aviation, Space & Admiralty Litigation Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, Baltimore Division. # # #


title: Prior felon charged with gun and drug charges

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Derrel Austin, 46, of Niagara Falls, NY, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $5,000,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Donna M. Duncan, who is handling the case, stated that according to the complaint, in October 1995 and October 2009, Austin was convicted of multiple felony charges in Erie County Court, including kidnapping and manslaughter. On February 17, 2022, New York State Parole and Niagara Falls Police officers went to Austin’s residence to conduct a home visit. Officers knocked and announced for several minutes. During this time, an individual, later determined to be Austin, was seen exiting the residence onto the fire escape carrying several bags, which were left on the fire escape. A short time later, Austin went back inside the residence and opened his apartment door for officers. Wearing a bathrobe, Austin claimed that it took him so long to answer the door because he was in the shower. During the execution of the parole search, officers recovered the bags from the fire escape, which contained suspected cocaine, suspected fentanyl, suspected Suboxone, and drug paraphernalia, a handgun, and multiple rounds of ammunition. Investigators also noted that the shower in the residence was dry. The complaint is the result of an investigation by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III, the Niagara Falls Police Department, under the direction of Superintendent Nicholas Ligammari, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # #


title: Buffalo man pleads guilty to selling methamphetamine

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Chemere Barclay, 32, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to possession with intent to distribute, and to distribute, methamphetamine, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Donna M. Duncan, who is handling the case, stated that between August 17, 2023, and January 5, 2024, investigators with the New York State Police and the Lackawanna Police Department conducted seven controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Barclay. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Lackawanna Police Department, under the direction of Chief Mark Packard, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Stanley Edwards, and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan. Sentencing is scheduled for March 20, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. before Judge Arcara. # # # #


title: New Orleans Man Sentenced for Federal Gun and Drug Offenses

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JUAN MATTHEWS (“MATTHEWS”) , a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on October 16, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo, after previously pleading guilty to Counts 3 through 5 of an indictment charging him with possession with the intent to distribute marijuana and tapentadol, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C) (Count 3); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(C)(1)(a)(i) (Count 4); and possession of a machine gun, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(o) and 924(a)(2) (Count 5). MATTHEWS was sentenced to 72 months imprisonment consisting of 12 months imprisonment as to Counts 3 and 5 to run concurrently and 60 months imprisonment as to Count 4 to run consecutively to the term imposed in Counts 3 and 5. Judge Milazzo also ordered that MATTHEWS be placed on supervised release for 4 years and pay a $300 mandatory special assessment fee. According to court documents, on May 18, 2023, members of the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) observed a black Audi sport utility vehicle matching a description of a vehicle used in a shooting. After the vehicle fled to the intersection of Bullard Road and Dwyer Road, in New Orleans, officers saw three black males, including MATTHEWS, abandon the SUV and flee on foot. Officers then saw MATTHEWS throw a firearm in the front yard of a nearby residence before they successfully apprehended him. Later, officers retraced MATTHEWS’s flight path and located the weapon, a Glock Model 23, .40 caliber handgun with an extended magazine and a Glock switch. MATTHEWS had also discarded a pink backpack, containing 16 individually wrapped baggies of marijuana, blister packs containing 118 tapentadol tablets, and a scale. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the New Orleans Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Dawkins of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Buffalo man pleads guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Henry Ford, 37, of Buffalo, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Donna M. Duncan, who is handling the case, stated that in April 2024, a search warrant was executed on Ford’s person and at Ford’s Erb Street residence. Investigators recovered a loaded handgun from Ford’s pocket. Subsequent investigation revealed the handgun was reported stolen from Georgia in September 2019. During the search of Erb’s residence, investigators recovered a second firearm and ammunition. That firearm was reported stolen in the City of Buffalo in March 2024. In October 2008, Ford was convicted of a felony in Erie County Court and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan Miller, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia. Sentencing is scheduled for February 29, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. before Judge Sinatra. # # # #


title: Buffalo man going to prison on cocaine charge

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Tremaine Jacobs a/k/a Teeter a/k/a T, 51, of Buffalo, NY, who was convicted of attempt to possess, with intent to distribute, cocaine, was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler, who handled the case, stated that on May 16, 2020, law enforcement learned that a package containing $7,000 worth of cocaine had been sent to Jacobs. That same day, the Drug Enforcement Administration seized a package addressed to 542 Goodyear Avenue, a residence associated with Jacobs. The package contained 248 grams of cocaine. On May 30, 2020, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Buffalo Police Department Intelligence Unit executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence at 533 Goodyear Avenue, where investigators recovered approximately 16 ounces of suspected marijuana, approximately $10,507 in US currency, and jewelry. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, New York Field Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan Miller, New York Field Division, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia. # # # #