title: Early Bitcoin Investor Charged with Tax Fraud

body_text: An indictment was unsealed yesterday charging Roger Ver, an early investor in bitcoins, with mail fraud, tax evasion and filing false tax returns. Ver was arrested this weekend in Spain based on the U.S. criminal charges. The United States will seek Ver’s extradition to stand trial in the United States. According to the indictment, Ver formerly of Santa Clara, California, owned MemoryDealers.com Inc. and Agilestar.com Inc., two companies that sold computer and networking equipment. Starting in 2011, Ver allegedly began acquiring bitcoins for himself and his companies. He also allegedly avidly promoted bitcoins, even obtaining the moniker “Bitcoin Jesus.” On Feb. 4, 2014, Ver allegedly obtained citizenship in St. Kitts and Nevis and shortly thereafter renounced his U.S. citizenship in a process known as expatriation. As a result of his expatriation, Ver allegedly was required under U.S. law to file tax returns that reported capital gains from the constructive sale of his world-wide assets, including the bitcoins, and to report the fair market value of his assets. He was also allegedly required to pay a tax – referred to as an “exit tax” – on those capital gains. By Feb. 4, 2014, Ver and his companies allegedly owned approximately 131,000 bitcoins that traded on several large exchanges for around $871 each. MemoryDealers and Agilestar allegedly held approximately 73,000 of those bitcoins. Ver allegedly hired a law firm to assist him with his expatriation and to prepare his expatriation-related tax returns. Ver also allegedly hired an appraiser to value his two companies. Ver allegedly provided or caused to be provided false or misleading information to the law firm and appraiser that concealed the true number of bitcoins he and his companies owned. As a result, the law firm allegedly prepared and filed false tax returns that substantially undervalued the two companies and their 73,000 bitcoins and did not report that Ver owned any bitcoins personally. The indictment further alleges that by June 2017, Ver’s two companies continued to own approximately 70,000 bitcoins. Around that time, Ver allegedly took possession of those bitcoins and in November 2017 sold tens of thousands of them on cryptocurrency exchanges for approximately $240 million in cash. Even though Ver was not then a U.S. citizen, he was still legally required to report to the IRS and pay tax on certain distributions such as dividends from MemoryDealers and Agilestar, which were U.S. corporations. Ver allegedly concealed from his accountant that he had received and sold MemoryDealers’ and Agilestar’s bitcoins that year. As a result, Ver’s 2017 individual income tax return did not report any gain or pay any tax related to the distribution of MemoryDealers’ and Agilestar’s bitcoins to him. In total, Ver is alleged to have caused a loss to the IRS of at least $48 million. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation's cybercrimes unit is investigating the case. Assistant Chief Matthew J. Kluge and Trial Attorney Peter J. Anthony of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney James. C. Hughes for the Central District of California are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Ver Indictment.pdf


title: East Stroudsburg Man Sentenced To 30 Months’ Imprisonment For Conspiracy To Make Straw Purchases Of Firearms

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Windall Mitchell, age 34, of East Stroudsburg, Monroe County, was sentenced on April 30, 2024, by U.S. District Court Judge Julia K. Munley, to 30 months’ imprisonment on the charge of conspiracy to make false statements in connection with the purchases of multiple firearms from federally licensed firearms dealers. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Mitchell previously pleaded guilty and admitted to conspiring with his co-defendant, Yesenia Ramos, age 43, of Stroudsburg, to provide false information to federally licensed firearms dealers regarding the purchases of ten firearms between May 15, 2021, and June 14, 2022, in Monroe County. The firearms were purchased from various federally licensed firearms dealers in Monroe County. The investigation began after one of the purchased firearms was recovered from another individual by police in New York City. The charges against Ramos are still pending. The charge against the defendants resulted from an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. O’Hara prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. # # #


title: California Man Pleads Guilty to Employment Tax Violations

component: Tax Division

body_text: A California man pleaded guilty today to failing to pay over employment taxes withheld from the wages of his company’s employees. According to court documents and statements made in court, Shane Brightpath Mike owned and was the president and chief operating officer of Excel Behavioral Services Inc., a business located in Campbell, California, that provided home care to persons with disabilities. Mike was responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare and income taxes from his employees’ wages and paying those funds to the IRS. For the fourth quarter of 2014 through the third quarter of 2015, Mike did not pay any of the withheld taxes to the IRS. And for the third quarter of 2014, Mike only paid part of the funds withheld. In total, Mike did not pay more than $1 million in taxes to the IRS during these five quarters. During the same time, Mike used Excel’s funds to pay his personal expenses. Mike also filed false personal income tax returns for tax years 2014 and 2015. On those returns, Mike falsely claimed credit for federal tax withholdings from wages he received from Excel, knowing that such had not been paid over to the IRS. In total, Mike caused a tax loss to the IRS of $1,177,947. Mike is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 24 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey for the Northern District of California made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Assistant Chief Matthew J. Kluge of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Griswold for the Northern District of California are prosecuting the case.


title: Atlantic County Resident Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Laundering Proceeds of COVID-19 Small Business Relief Program Fraud

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – An Atlantic County, New Jersey, man was sentenced to 30 months in prison for laundering the proceeds of fraudulently obtained Paycheck Protection Program loans, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Jeremy Earley, 42, of Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, and Lilburn, Georgia, pleaded guilty on June 1, 2023, before U.S. District Judge Karen M. Williams to an information charging him with one count of engaging in a monetary transaction in criminally derived property. Judge Williams imposed the sentence on April 29, 2024, in Camden federal court. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: In 2020 and 2021, two companies owned by Earley received loans totaling more than $1.3 million from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a federal program that provided forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses. The loans were approved based on fraudulent applications submitted by another individual stating that the companies had dozens of employees and monthly payrolls of $145,000 and $382,400, respectively. The applications also contained forged tax forms. In fact, Earley’s businesses had no employees other than himself and paid minimal to no wages. After receiving the PPP loan proceeds, Earley wrote checks totaling nearly $400,000 to the individual who submitted the loan applications to compensate her for her role in submitting the fraudulent loan applications. Earley also wired $85,000 of the proceeds out of a bank account he controlled after being advised by federal agents not to spend the money because it constituted proceeds of bank fraud. In addition to the prison term, Judge Williams sentenced Earley to three years of supervised release. Rhonda Thomas previously pleaded guilty to bank fraud conspiracy and money laundering and was sentenced to five years in prison. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Patricia Tarasca, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Regional Office; special agents of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Boston-New York Field Division, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Bradley Parker; special agents of the FBI’s South Jersey Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs in Philadelphia; and special agents of the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General, New York Region, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone, with the investigation leading to the sentencing. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel A. Friedman and Attorney-In-Charge Jason M. Richardson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Camden.


title: Miccosukee tribal member charged with assault with intent to murder

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – On April 29, a Miccosukee tribal member was charged in federal court with, among other related charges, assault with intent to commit murder. According to the allegations in the complaint affidavit, on April 26, Sutanga Rex Cypress, 42, was arguing with the victim when Cypress brandished a firearm. Cypress then pointed the gun at the victim and shot the victim in the abdomen. The victim was airlifted to the hospital due to the severity of the injuries sustained by the gunshot. On April 29, Cypress made his initial appearance in Fort Lauderdale. If convicted, Cypress faces up to 20 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines along with other mitigating, aggravating and statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of FBI, Miami Field Office, and Chief Roland Pandolfi of the Miccosukee Police Department made the announcement. FBI Safe Trails, Miami and the Miccosukee Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Latoya Brown is prosecuting the case. A complaint contains mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 24-mj-6204. ###


title: Chesapeake man pleads guilty to producing and distributing sadistic animal torture videos

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A Chesapeake man pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to create and distribute animal crushing videos. According to court documents, from at least Nov. 4, 2021, through Aug. 5, 2022, Michael Macartney, 51, and his co-conspirators administered a private online chat group and were members of other private online chat groups on an encrypted messaging platform for the purpose of funding, viewing, distributing, and promoting videos depicting, among other things, the torture, murder, and sexually sadistic mutilation of animals, specifically, juvenile and adult monkeys. Macartney received over 300 electronic payments from coconspirators for the purposes of promoting, creating, obtaining, receiving, and distributing the torture videos. On one occasion, Macartney raised additional funds for a bonus payment to a videographer who, at the request of the co-conspirators and on short notice, created a video of a juvenal monkey being tortured with a jar of ants, leading to the monkey’s death. In March 2022, Macartney agreed to sell copies of all his animal crush videos to a co-conspirator for $100. The co-conspirator sent Macartney $75 electronically and Macartney sent the co-conspirator website links where his videos were stored. Macartney stated there were just under 2,300 videos. On Aug.5, 2022, Macartney possessed at least 500 videos depicting animal crushing. Macartney is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 4, 2024. He faces a maximum of five years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Lawrence R. Leonard accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Yusi is prosecuting the case. 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. 2:24-cr-25.


title: Wilkes-Barre Accountant Pleads Guilty To Embezzling Over $1.5 Million From Employer

body_text: SCRANTON- The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Lawrence Malachefski, age 39, of Wilkes-Barre, PA, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion, to wire fraud. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the criminal Information to which Malachefski pleaded guilty alleges that, from approximately March 2023 to June 2023, while serving as the financial Controller of a Wilkes-Barre based Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) business, Malachefski embezzled over $1.5 million from his employer, converting the funds to his own personal possession and use. Malachefski acknowledged that the monetary loss attributable to his conduct was greater than $1.5 million and that he abused a position of private trust in a manner that significantly facilitated the commission of his crime. Malachefski also agreed to make restitution to the victim-company in the amount of $1,586,557.45. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Philadelphia Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffery St John is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. # # #


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Highlights Focus on Gun Safety Efforts in Vermont

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – On April 30, 2024, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont hosted a press conference to highlight the efforts of the GunSafeVT initiative and to discuss how Vermont is promoting secure gun storage and how secure gun storage can help address the many types of gun violence in the state. U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest described the initiative’s accomplishments over the past year, which included two PSAs explaining the importance of secure storage, launch of the gunsafevt.org website, promotion of Vermont State Police’s program to have Federal Firearms Licensees serve as secure gun storage locations, and the distribution of over 4,000 free, cable gun locks around the state. U.S. Attorney Kerest also explained updates to the gunsafevt.org website, partnerships with the Howard Center and libraries around the state for effective gun lock distribution, and plans to distribute additional gun locks over the next year. Also at the press conference, Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark spoke about Vermont’s secure gun storage statute, relief from abuse orders, extreme risk protection orders, and the importance of secure gun storage in preventing domestic violence. Mark Margolis of the Howard Center and Dr. Rebecca Bell of UVM Medical Center and the Vermont Medical Society both explained how secure gun storage helps reduce the likelihood of suicide involving firearms. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Resident Agent in Charge Alex Schmidt addressed the connection between unsecured and stolen firearms and crime around Vermont. This gun safe storage initiative is the result of collaboration among many partners, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District Vermont, the UVM Medical Center, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Vermont State Police, the Vermont Attorney General’s Office, the Vermont Sheriffs’ Association, the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, Vermont’s Office of the Director of Violence Prevention, the Howard Center, the Vermont Medical Society, the Vermont Department of Children and Families, and the Vermont Library Association. U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest thanked all of the initiative partners for their important contributions and also stated, “Secure gun storage accomplishes many positive things. Secure gun storage keeps people safe in times of crisis, keeps guns out of the wrong hands, and keeps your gun safe. In short, secure gun storage is smart gun storage.” All of the relevant information related to this secure storage initiative is compiled on the website – www.gunsafevt.org .


title: Three Gang Members Convicted for Their Roles in a Murder

component: USAO - Tennessee, Western

body_text: A federal jury convicted three members of the Hoover Criminal Gang yesterday for their roles in the murder of a suspected rival gang member. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Markell Young, 32; Octavius Ferguson, 27; and Jordan Powell, 25, all of Gibson County, Tennessee, were members of a sub-set of the Hoover Criminal Gang known as the 83rd or Eight Tray. This violent criminal street gang operated throughout Tennessee, California, and elsewhere, and was engaged in racketeering activities including murder, robberies, and the trafficking of marijuana and cocaine. On Jan. 31, 2017, the defendants murdered a suspected member of the rival Gangster Disciples gang in Humboldt, Tennessee, in retaliation for a shooting against a member of the Hoover Criminal Gang. Young ordered Ferguson, Powell, and co-defendants Bakari Lenon, and Monterio Ross to commit the murder, which they carried out by going to the victim’s home and shooting several firearms indiscriminately through the open front door, killing the victim. The jury convicted Young of aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and Ferguson and Powell of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, murder in aid of racketeering, aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and causing death by use of a firearm during and relation to a crime of violence. The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 20. Young faces a maximum penalty of life in prison, and Ferguson and Powell each face a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The two additional defendants, Lenon and Ross, pleaded guilty in October 2023 for their roles in the homicide and were each sentenced to 30 years in prison. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee; and Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Division made the announcement. The FBI, ATF, West Tennessee Drug Task Force, Humboldt Police Department, and Tennessee Bureau of Investigations investigated the case. Trial Attorney César S. Rivera-Giraud of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary Parham for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.


title: Danbury Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Violating Supervised Release

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that PAUL MIGNANI, 58, of Danbury, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A Meyer in New Haven to 18 months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his federal supervised release. According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 20, 2017, Judge Meyer sentenced Mignani to 60 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing cocaine and heroin. Judge Meyer also found that Mignani had distributed narcotics involved in the overdose deaths of two women in 2016. Mignani was released from federal prison in June 2020. On September 12, 2022, while Mignani was on supervised release, a court-authorized search of his Danbury residence revealed approximately 48 grams of loose fentanyl, 79 dose bags of fentanyl, 69 grams of cocaine, various prescription pills, items used to process and package narcotics, and firearm parts and ammunition. Mignani is being prosecuted by the Danbury State’s Attorney’s Office for his new criminal conduct, and has agreed to a sentence of 15 years of incarceration, suspended after six years. Judge Meyer imposed the 18-month federal sentence to run consecutively to Mignani’s state sentence. This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Danbury Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel George.


title: Ohio Man Sentenced for Tax Fraud Conspiracy

body_text: An Ohio man was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison for conspiring to defraud the United States. According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2016 through 2022, Christopher Karasarides conspired with his father, Christos Karasarides Jr., to defraud the United States by helping his father conceal assets from the IRS. Christos Karasarides, who was convicted by a jury in January for related tax crimes, owed the IRS millions of dollars that it was trying to collect. To thwart those efforts, Christopher helped his father hide assets from the IRS by storing $239,000 of his father’s cash in a safety deposit box in Christopher’s name. Christopher also served as a nominee owner for his father’s businesses, signed and delivered false promissory notes and filed false tax returns. In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Donald C. Nugent for the Northern District of Ohio ordered Christopher Karasarides to serve three years of supervised release and pay $1.5 million in restitution to the United States. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Treasury’s Office of Inspector General, Stark County Prosecutor’s Office, Ohio Casino Control Commission and Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission-Major Crimes Task Force investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Sam Bean and Hayter Whitman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio prosecuted the case.


title: New Castle Resident Sentenced to More Than Eight Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearm Violations

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of New Castle, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 97 months in federal prison for drug trafficking and firearm crimes, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. United States Senior District Judge David Stewart Cercone imposed the sentence on Maurice Collier, 33, also ordering Collier to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Collier previously pleaded guilty in this case to distributing cocaine base on September 17, 2020, and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and cocaine base, as well as a firearm in furtherance of that drug trafficking crime, on November 4, 2020. According to information presented to the Court, between September and November 2020, the Lawrence County Drug Task Force made four controlled purchases of cocaine and heroin directly from Collier. On November 4, 2020, the Drug Task Force served a search warrant at Collier’s New Castle residence and found a loaded and stolen pistol, $5,034 in drug trafficking proceeds, and quantities of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Collier was on bond with a pending drug trafficking charge in Pennsylvania state court at the time he committed these crimes. Prior to 2020, Collier had been convicted in New Jersey state court of committing cocaine trafficking and gun crimes and was sentenced to over six years of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States. United States Attorney Olshan commended the Lawrence County Drug Task Force, New Castle Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Collier. 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 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.


title: Ohio Man Sentenced to Nearly Four Years for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Gulfport, Miss. – A Fremont, Ohio man was sentenced to 47 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Trayvion Joaquin Scott, 25, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport. According to court records, Scott previously pled guilty to his involvement in a large-scale drug trafficking organization that began operating in Picayune, MS, as far back as 2015. Scott’s primary involvement in the conspiracy was making drug payments on behalf of the drug trafficking organization to their source of supply in California via money transfers. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Anessa Daniels-McCaw of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose prosecuted the case. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. 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.


title: Providence Man to Be Sentenced in Federal Court in Rhode Island for Trafficking Fentanyl While Awaiting Trial in Nebraska for Allegedly Trafficking 10 Kilos of Cocaine

body_text: PROVIDENCE, RI – A Providence man pleaded guilty in federal court today to a charge of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. According to charging documents and information provided to the court, on March 10, 2023, during a court-authorized search of a Providence apartment, DEA Rhode Island Drug Task Force agents discovered Stanli S. Arias De La Rosa, 30, hiding in a closet as they seized 454.9 grams of fentanyl; 43 grams of cocaine; 14.5 grams of crack cocaine; and assorted items used in the packaging and distribution of drugs. At the time of his arrest, De La Rosa was the subject of an outstanding arrest warrant issued in York, Nebraska, related to his alleged failure to appear for court hearings in connection with a September 30, 2022, arrest for possession of cocaine. In that matter, it is alleged that Arias De La Rosa was driving a vehicle that was pulled over for a traffic stop and found to contain 10 kilograms of cocaine stored in the trunk. In this most recent matter in Rhode Island, Arias De La Rosa is scheduled to be sentenced on September 24, 2024. The defendant’s sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christine D. Lowell. ###


title: Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty To Distributing Fentanyl

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Timothy Neal (46, Boston, MA) has pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl. Neal faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court documents, on April 26, 2022, Neal’s co-defendant, Haley Eaton, sold two bags of fentanyl to Neal. The next day, Neal purchased an additional three bags of fentanyl from Eaton. Neal consumed the fentanyl he had purchased from Eaton, along with A.C., at his residence. On April 28, 2022, at around 2:00 a.m., Neal awoke to find A.C. unresponsive. A.C.’s minor daughter called 911 and emergency responders arrived on scene and pronounced A.C. dead. During a search of Neal and A.C.’s residence, law enforcement officers found an empty bag that had previously contained fentanyl. The bag was the same kind that Eaton had sold to Neal, and it was found on A.C.’s dresser in a plastic container. Neal confirmed it was the same bag he had purchased earlier from Eaton, which he had used with A.C. A laboratory analysis confirmed that the bag contained fentanyl residue. Eaton previously pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 25, 2024. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David W.A. Chee.


title: Former Federal Attorney Sentenced for Sexually Exploiting Numerous Children

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A former Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) attorney was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for conspiring to sexually exploit numerous children. According to court documents, from January 2018 to October 2021, Mark Black, 50, of Arlington, Virginia, was a member of two online groups dedicated to locating prepubescent girls online and convincing the girls to livestream themselves engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Black and his co-conspirators covertly recorded these livestreams and shared the videos with each other. In July 2019, Black induced a prepubescent minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct on a live-streaming application while screen-recording that activity. That same month, Black and a co-conspirator also groomed another prepubescent minor to engage in sexually explicit acts on a photo- and video-sharing application. The co-conspirator surreptitiously hacked into that girl’s live-video feed and recorded the sexual acts before sending them to Black. Between July 2019 and March 2022, Black and the same co-conspirator were members of two additional groups dedicated to the sexual exploitation of children and the sharing of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). In January 2021, Black sent CSAM of a minor to one of the groups. Black’s electronic devices were found to contain approximately 172,707 images of suspected CSAM. Of those files, over 1,300 depicted identified victims of his conduct. Black was formerly the Arlington Aquatic Club (AAC) board president. Black pleaded guilty in January to conspiracy to produce child pornography and coercion and enticement of a minor. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia; Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; and Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Shimon Richmond of the FDIC Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG) made the announcement. The FBI Washington Field Office and FDIC-OIG investigated the case. Trial Attorneys McKenzie Hightower, Kaylynn Foulon, and James E. Burke IV of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Halper for the Eastern District of Virginia prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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 .


title: Newberry Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal Prison for Sex Trafficking Conspiracy, Firearm Possession and Witness Tampering

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — Eric Rashun Jones, 31, of Newberry, was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to human trafficking conspiracy, felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and witness tampering. Evidence presented in court showed that from August 2018 through November 2022, Jones violently exploited women in the commercial sex trade for his financial gain. He did so by means of physical violence and force, including beating victims with a pistol and other objects and hitting victims with closed fists causing victims multiple surgeries, hospitalizations, broken bones and teeth, permanent injuries, and scarring. He also directed and recorded on his phone the assault of many victims, preventing victims from trusting others involved in the Jones conspiracy. He also used sexual violence, including compelling women to engage in sex acts against their will. He abducted two of his victims and restrained them for multiple days. He introduced drugs to some victims, promoted the drug addictions of others, including fentanyl, and exploited withdrawal symptoms to coerce commercial sex. He used fear and threats of violence and death of victims spoke with the police. He used fraud, including recruiting victims under false pretenses, and high levels of control, including controlling how many victims worked, ate, showered, travelled, spent money, who they spoke to, and access to phones. He isolated his victims from others, and tattooed many with his name, which victims described as Jones signifying ownership. After initially splitting commercial sex proceeds, Jones commonly confiscated proceeds for his financial gain. Evidence presented indicated 19 women were connected to the conspiracy he led, many of whom were identified as victims in the case. Victims described fearing Jones would kill them, feeling trapped, and feeling like they had no option to leave. He also tampered and interfered with the investigation by directing victims to not speak with agents and threatening to harm their families if they did. “Our office will continue to bring every resource to bear to vindicate victims’ rights and hold traffickers like Jones accountable,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “The cruelty, violence, and exploitation Jones showed his victims has no place in our society, and we are grateful for the accountably he’s received. I want to particularly acknowledge the courage and resilience of the victims and the hard work of law enforcement to see this case through.” “Jones’ crimes revealed the depth of human depravity and outright evil he casually and continuously imposed upon his victims,” said Steve Jensen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “His heinous crimes yielded lifelong trauma that will be hard to reverse. This stiff sentence of justice removes him from the innocent victims’ lives and places him where he will no longer be able to inflict harm. The FBI is grateful for our local law enforcement partners for conducting this joint comprehensive investigation to hold this violent offender accountable. We also recognize the diligent work of the Victim Specialists who supported and continue to support the victims with valuable resources.” United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Jones to 40 years imprisonment, to be followed by a lifetime term of court-ordered supervision, no contact with victims, and $65,000 in restitution payable to eight victims. There is no parole in the federal system. Jones’ co-defendant, Brittany Cromer, previously pleaded guilty to human trafficking conspiracy, and was sentenced to five years earlier this month. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, with assistance from the Simpsonville Police Department, Greenville Police Department, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, Newberry County Sheriff’s Office, Newberry Police Department, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Carolina Department of Corrections. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels and Elle E. Klein prosecuted the case. ###


title: Tenderloin Fentanyl Dealer Sentenced To Five Years In Prison

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – Miguel Ramos was sentenced today to five years in prison for crimes including possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine base, cocaine, and heroin, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), San Francisco Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Brian M. Clark. The sentence was handed down by the Hon. Richard Seeborg, Chief United States District Judge. Ramos, 25, a citizen of Honduras, pleaded guilty in January 2024 to one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A)(vi), and four counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine base, cocaine, and heroin, all in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). According to court filings, Ramos was arrested in October 2022 in possession of approximately 3,530 grams (around 7.7 pounds) of fentanyl in various colors located in several different baggies. He also possessed approximately 54 grams of methamphetamine, 18 grams of cocaine base, 12 grams of cocaine salt, 26 grams of heroin, a large amount of cash, and a digital scale at the time of his arrest. All weights are gross weights. “Fentanyl is wreaking havoc in our communities, particularly in the Tenderloin,” said United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey. “Miguel Ramos cavalierly possessed more than seven pounds of this highly lethal substance for sale. This Office will ensure that dealers like Mr. Ramos face Justice and long prison sentences.” “Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat our communities have ever faced. The staggering amount of this poison seized from Ramos equates to several thousand potential deadly doses,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian M. Clark. “DEA will continue to respond to this unprecedented threat in San Francisco with unprecedented action. Our sustained efforts in the Tenderloin will continue as we work tirelessly to save lives.” In addition to sentencing Ramos to prison, Judge Seeborg ordered the defendant to serve three years of supervised release to begin after his prison term is completed. Ramos was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 13, 2022, and was immediately remanded into custody following his sentencing today. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Hageman is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Helen Yee. The prosecution is the result of a months-long investigation by the DEA and the San Francisco Police Department. One Pill Can Kill: Beware of pills bought on the street. Fentanyl, a Schedule II controlled substance, is a highly potent opiate that can be diluted with cutting agents to create counterfeit pills that purport to mimic the effects of Oxycodone, Percocet, and other drugs, but can be obtained at a lower cost. However, very small variations in the amount or quality of fentanyl create huge effects on the potency of the counterfeit pills and can easily cause death. Fentanyl has now become the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Counterfeit, fentanyl-laced pills are usually shaped and colored to resemble pills that are sold legitimately at pharmacies.


title: Former Office Manager Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Over $223,000 from the Dartmouth College Student Newspaper

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A Florida woman and former resident of Springfield, Vermont, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Concord to embezzling over $223,000 from The Dartmouth (“The D”), which is the daily student newspaper at Dartmouth College, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Nicole Chambers, 40, pleaded guilty to wire fraud. U.S. District Court Landya B. McCafferty scheduled sentencing for August 12, 2024. Chambers was the office manager for The D between 2012 and 2021. In her role, Chambers had full access to The D’s finances, including its bank account, PayPal and Venmo accounts, and debit card. From April 2017 - September 2021, Chambers stole money from The D. She primarily used her access to The D’s PayPal accounts to make unauthorized transfers to accounts she controlled. She also made unauthorized transfers from The D’s Venmo account and made unauthorized purchases on the newspaper’s debit card. In total, Chambers stole $223,372.51 from The D. She misused the funds on personal expenses, including over $20,000 on personal trips. Chambers also misspent approximately $2,000 of The D’s money to pay fees associated with her husband’s court case in Newport (Rhode Island) County Superior Court. The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. The Hanover Police Department and Grafton County Attorney’s Office provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Lebanon County Man Sentenced To 18 Months In Prison For Online Extortion

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that John Anthony Zayas, age 35, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment by U.S. District Court Judge Sylvia H. Rambo following his conviction for extortion by interstate communication. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, Zayas previously pleaded guilty to this offense, which involved Zayas’s efforts in the fall of 2022 to coerce a victim to pay $150,000 under the threat that Zayas would publicize intimate photos and images of the victim if they did not comply. In a sentencing memorandum, Zayas asked Judge Rambo to sentence him to house arrest in lieu of prison, but Judge Rambo rejected that request and ordered that Zayas report to prison in June 2024 to begin serving his sentence. Judge Rambo also ordered Zayas to pay $850 in fines and assessments and to serve one year of supervised release after he completes his prison sentence. The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian T. Haugsby. # # #


title: Former Defense Contractor Pleads Guilty to Attempted Espionage

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: John Murray Rowe Jr., 65, of Lead, South Dakota, pleaded guilty today to one count of attempted delivery of national defense information to a foreign government and three counts of willful communication of national defense information. According to court documents, Rowe, who is originally from Massachusetts, was employed for nearly 40 years as a test engineer for multiple cleared defense contractors. In connection with his employment, Rowe held various national security clearances from SECRET to TOP SECRET//SCI (Sensitive Compartmented Information) and worked on matters relating to U.S. Air Force electronic warfare technology, among other things. After committing a number of security violations and revealing a devout interest in Russian affairs, Rowe was identified as a potential insider threat and terminated from employment. In March 2020, he met with an undercover FBI agent who was posing as an agent of the Russian government. During this meeting, Rowe disclosed national defense information classified as SECRET that concerned specific operating details of the electronic countermeasure systems used by U.S. military fighter jets, among other things. Over the course of the next eight months, Rowe exchanged over 300 emails with the purported Russian agent, confirming his willingness to work for the Russian government and discussing his knowledge of classified information relating to U.S. national security. In one email, Rowe explained, “If I can’t get a job here then I’ll go work for the other team.” In another email, Rowe disclosed classified national defense information concerning the U.S. Air Force. In September 2020, Rowe had a second in-person meeting with the undercover FBI agent. During this meeting, Rowe again disclosed classified national defense information. Rowe was arrested on Dec. 15, 2021, and was ordered detained pending trial. During his pretrial detention at the Philadelphia Federal Detention Center, Rowe made at least three unauthorized disclosures of the same classified national defense information concerning the U.S. Air Force to individuals not authorized to receive it – namely, his brother, son and realtor, which were captured on recorded prison calls. Sentencing is set for Aug. 22, and Rowe faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI's Philadelphia Field Office is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wolfe for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Trial Attorney Scott Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Section are prosecuting the case. Additional assistance was provided by the Lead (SD) Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota, the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, and the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office and Rapid City (SD) Resident Agency.


title: Former FDIC attorney sentenced after sexually exploiting children for years

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A former Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) attorney was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for conspiring to sexually exploit numerous children. According to court documents, from January 2018 to October 2021, Mark Black, 50, of Arlington, Virginia, was a member of two online groups dedicated to locating prepubescent girls online and convincing the girls to livestream themselves engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Black and his co-conspirators covertly recorded these livestreams and share the videos with each other. In July 2019, Black induced a prepubescent minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct on a live-streaming application while screen-recording that activity. That same month, Black and a co-conspirator also groomed another prepubescent minor to engage in sexually explicit acts on a photo and video-sharing application. The co-conspirator surreptitiously shared access to girl’s live-video feed and recorded the sexual acts before sending them to Black. Between July 2019 and March 2022, Black and the same co-conspirator were members of two additional groups dedicated to the sexual exploitation of children and the sharing of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). In January 2021, Black sent CSAM of a minor to one of the groups. Black’s electronic devices were found to contain approximately 172,707 images of suspected CSAM. Of those files, over 1,300 depicted identified victims of his conduct. Black was formerly the Arlington Aquatic Club (AAC) board president. Black pleaded guilty in January to conspiracy to produce child pornography and coercion and enticement of a minor. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; and Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Shimon Richmond of the FDIC Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG) made the announcement. The FBI Washington Field Office and FDIC-OIG investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Halper for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorneys McKenzie Hightower, Kaylynn Foulon, and James E. Burke IV of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, 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. 1:23-cr-146. Any individuals who believe they or someone they know may have been victimized by Black are encouraged to contact the FBI at 202-278-2000 and ask to speak to the Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.


title: Boston Man Sentenced for Unlawful Trafficking of Machinegun Conversion Devices

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for illegally selling a dozen machinegun conversion devices. Michael Wilkerson, 23, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to 20 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release. In February 2024, Wilkerson pleaded guilty to one count of engaging in the business as a manufacturer or dealer in firearms. Wilkerson was initially arrested and charged along with co-defendant Elijah Navarro in February 2023. Wilkerson and Navarro were involved with the manufacturing and trafficking of “machinegun conversion devices,” these devices convert certain firearms from semi-automatic to fully automatic, rendering the firearm capable of firing multiple shots by a single function of the trigger. In January 2023, Navarro agreed to sell 12 machinegun conversion devices to an individual in exchange for $1,700. Following a series of communications, Navarro met the individual twice at a pre-arranged location. On Jan. 19, 2023, Navarro sold the first two machinegun conversion devices for $400 and later, on Jan. 25, 2023, Navarro sold the remaining 10 devices for an additional $1,300 out of Wilkerson’s residence. During a search of Wilkerson’s residence in February 2023, two 3-D printers, 3-D printing material, machinegun conversion devices, a ballistic vest as well as firearms, ammunition and magazines were seized. Neither Navarro nor Wilkerson possess licenses to import, manufacture, deal or possess firearms. Navarro pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy in December 2023 and is currently awaiting sentencing. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael A. Cox made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Dawley of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.


title: Georgetown Woman Found Guilty of Paycheck Protection Program Fraud

component: USAO - Texas, Western

body_text: AUSTIN, Texas – A federal jury convicted a Georgetown woman for one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Tiffany Fullerton, 47, along with her husband and two other co-conspirators, used dormant and expired business names to submit five fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications for a total exceeding $3 million. Four of those applications were funded, allowing the defendants to receive approximately $2.4 million in PPP funds. The funds were used in an attempt to start a business in Oklahoma consisting of a marijuana grow and dispensary, a bar and grill, and an auto/boat repair shop. Additionally, the funds were used to purchase a motor home, luxury watches, a boat, and other personal expenditures. The three other defendants in the case, Michael Fullerton, David Scott Starkes and Joseph Robles, have all pleaded guilty and await their sentencing hearings. U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas made the announcement. The IRS Criminal Investigation and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Keith Henneke and G. Karthik Srinivasan prosecuted the case. ###


title: Elkhart Man Sentenced to 140 Months in Prison

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

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Kenneth Thomas, 43 years old, of Elkhart, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to distribution of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Thomas was sentenced to 140 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, in February and March 2023, Thomas sold methamphetamine multiple times in the South Bend area. During the approximate two week period, Thomas distributed a total of two pounds of methamphetamine. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration including the North Central Laboratory with assistance from the Elkhart County Interdiction and Covert Enforcement Unit and the South Bend Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Katelan McKenzie Doyle.


title: Montgomery County Woman Charged for Defrauding FEMA of  Over $1.5 Million of Hurricane Ida Disaster Benefits

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Jasmine Williams, 33, of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, was arrested today after being charged by indictment with one count of fraud related to a major disaster declaration, 24 counts of wire fraud, and seven counts of mail fraud related to a scheme to defraud the Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”) in the wake of Hurricane Ida. The indictment recounts that in September 2021, President Joseph R. Biden issued a major disaster declaration for much of the eastern part of Pennsylvania, after the remnants of Hurricane Ida struck the Commonwealth. This declaration authorized FEMA to provide financial assistance to residents whose homes and properties were damaged by the hurricane. The indictment alleges that after the emergency declaration, Williams recruited others over social media, advertising that she could assist them in applying for FEMA benefits. Williams then submitted fraudulent documents to FEMA on behalf of dozens of others, including fraudulent leases, letters from landlords, utility bills, earning statements, and home repair estimates. In exchange, Williams collected half of the payout for herself. In total, FEMA paid over $1,500,000 in assistance based on false representations made by Williams. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 960 years of imprisonment. The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General with assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency – Fraud Prevention and Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ruth Mandelbaum and S. Chandler Harris. An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Vaughn man who distributed meth from home near school sentenced to more than three years in prison

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A Vaughn man was sentenced today to three years and eight months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, after he admitted to distributing methamphetamine from his home near an elementary school and having firearms, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. The defendant, Donnovan Orville Horton, 52, pleaded guilty in January to possession with intent to distribute meth and to drug user in possession of firearms. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. In court documents, the government alleged that in December 2022, officers with the Russell Country Drug Task Force learned that an individual was obtaining meth from Horton. Law enforcement then made a series of purchases of meth from Horton, once in a parking lot in Great Falls and three times from his home in Vaughn. Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Horton’s residence, which is less than 200 feet and across the street from an elementary school. Officers located meth, drug paraphernalia, equipment for making hash oil and four firearms. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey K. Starnes prosecuted the case. The Russell Country Drug Task Force and FBI 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. XXX


title: Nigerian Citizen Sentenced in Connection with International Ring of Online Romance Scams

body_text: Memphis, TN – A Nigerian citizen residing in Georgia has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy that perpetuated a series of romance and investment scams against victims across the United States, including in Western Tennessee. Efe Egbowawa , 40, was convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering as part of a scheme that used false identities and email accounts on internet dating sites to trick people into wiring or mailing money to shell companies and fictitious agents. Kevin G. Ritz, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee announced the sentencing today. A federal grand jury in the Western District of Tennessee indicted Egbowawa and the following individuals on June 29, 2023 with conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering: Igocha Mac-Okor , 40, a Nigerian citizen residing in the Atlanta area, and Kay Ozegbe , 44, a naturalized U.S. citizen residing in Atlanta. Evidence presented in court revealed that from 2017 to approximately November 2021, conspiracy members assumed false identities on email, social media, gaming applications, networking websites, dating websites, and other internet-based platforms in a scheme to trick victims into entering friendships and romantic relationships. The defendants then played various roles in exploiting those connections to convince their victims to send them money via wire, check, U.S. mail, and package delivery services. As part of the conspiracy, romance scammers or “handlers” posed as potential friends or romantic partners and entered online relationships with unwitting victims. The relationships usually developed quickly through social media contact, text messages, email, and phone calls. Once the victim was clearly engaged in the scam, the scammer would begin to ask for emergency financial assistance. If the victim sent money, the scammer would ask for increasingly larger amounts of financial assistance. Members of the conspiracy played different roles. Some functioned as the scammers, disguising their identities with online aliases, and luring unsuspecting victims into relationships. Others functioned as “money mules,” that is, individuals who moved the financial proceeds of the scams through several layers of bank accounts and shell companies to hide the sources of the money and make it difficult to trace. On April 17, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Egbowawa to 60 months in federal prison. Ozegbe pled guilty on January 29 to conspiracy to commit money laundering and will be sentenced on May 24, 2024. Mac-Okor is scheduled for trial on August 5, 2024. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Memphis Field Office and the United States Postal Investigation Service. United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Smith, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners for their role in the investigation.


title: Malvern Woman Sentenced to 6 Months in Federal Prison for Bank Embezzlement Charge

body_text: COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – A Malvern, IA woman was sentenced on April 25, 2024, to 6 months in federal prison for Embezzlement by a Bank Employee. According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Mackenzie Ann Meggison, 37, was employed as a mortgage loan officer at Malvern Bank and was also the treasurer for the Malvern Area Betterment Association (MABA) who maintained their accounts at Malvern Bank. Using her position at the bank, from July – October, 2020, Meggison conducted 57 unauthorized transactions on four separate MABA accounts totaling at least $66,175.42. After completing her term of imprisonment, Meggison will be required to serve 3 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Meggison was also ordered to pay $66,175.42 in restitution. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation.


title: Former Bank Employee Charged With Stealing and Selling Customer Account and Identity Information

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Kalien Frazier, 29, of Oakland, California, was charged today by indictment with six counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft for a bank insider scheme, in which he used his position as a bank employee to access, misappropriate, and sell bank customer account and identity information. As alleged in the indictment, from on or about March 30, 2022, until on or about August 30, 2023, Frazier used his position as a customer service representative at a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)-insured bank to obtain the account details, debit card details, card verification value (CVV), and personal identifying information of customers. Frazier would ask for this information from customers, even if not required to complete the customer service request, while on recorded customer service calls. After Frazier had obtained this information, he advertised in group chats that he had bank account information for sale due to his position at a financial institution. When advertising the information for sale, Frazier warned potential customers that they would have to stay under certain monetary thresholds to avoid detection. As alleged in the indictment, Frazier sold or transferred information on hundreds of bank accounts to third parties. As a result of Frazier’s scheme, unauthorized electronic payments and transfers were made from hundreds of bank accounts. If convicted on all counts, Frazier faces a possible maximum sentence of 120 years in prison for the wire fraud, plus a mandatory minimum sentence of two years for aggravated identity theft. This case was investigated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) – Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Lanni. An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Early Bitcoin Investor Known as ‘Bitcoin Jesus’ Indicted for Allegedly Committing Tax Fraud and Causing $48 Million Loss to IRS

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A federal grand jury has indicted an early bitcoin investor and promoter, who obtained the moniker “Bitcoin Jesus,” on fraud and criminal tax charges, the Justice Department announced today. Roger Keith Ver, 45, a former California resident whose most recent residence was in Tokyo, Japan, was arrested this weekend in Spain based on the U.S. criminal charges. The United States will seek Ver’s extradition to stand trial in the United States. Ver is charged with three counts of mail fraud, two counts of tax evasion, and three counts of subscription to a false tax return. According to the eight-count indictment returned on February 15 and unsealed Monday, Ver, formerly of Santa Clara, California, owned MemoryDealers.com Inc. and Agilestar.com Inc., two companies that sold computer and networking equipment. Starting in 2011, Ver allegedly began acquiring bitcoins for himself and his companies. He also allegedly avidly promoted bitcoins, even obtaining the moniker “Bitcoin Jesus.” On February 4, 2014, Ver allegedly obtained citizenship in St. Kitts and Nevis and shortly thereafter renounced his U.S. citizenship in a process known as expatriation. As a result of his expatriation, Ver allegedly was required under U.S. law to file tax returns that reported capital gains from the constructive sale of his world-wide assets, including the bitcoins, and to report the fair market value of his assets. He was also allegedly required to pay a tax – referred to as an “exit tax” – on those capital gains. By February 4, 2014, Ver and his companies allegedly owned approximately 131,000 bitcoins that traded on several large exchanges for around $871 each. MemoryDealers and Agilestar allegedly held approximately 73,000 of those bitcoins. Ver allegedly hired a law firm to assist him with his expatriation and to prepare his expatriation-related tax returns. Ver also allegedly hired an appraiser to value his two companies. Ver allegedly provided or caused to be provided false or misleading information to the law firm and appraiser that concealed the true number of bitcoins he and his companies owned. As a result, the law firm allegedly prepared and filed false tax returns that substantially undervalued the two companies and their 73,000 bitcoins and did not report that Ver owned any bitcoins personally. The indictment further alleges that by June 2017, Ver’s two companies continued to own approximately 70,000 bitcoins. Around that time, Ver allegedly took possession of those bitcoins and in November 2017 sold tens of thousands of them on cryptocurrency exchanges for approximately $240 million in cash. Even though Ver was not then a U.S. citizen, he was still legally required to report to the IRS and pay tax on certain distributions such as dividends from MemoryDealers and Agilestar, which were U.S. corporations. Ver allegedly concealed from his accountant that he had received and sold MemoryDealers’ and Agilestar’s bitcoins that year. As a result, Ver’s 2017 individual income tax return did not report any gain or pay any tax related to the distribution of MemoryDealers’ and Agilestar’s bitcoins to him. In total, Ver is alleged to have caused a loss to the IRS of at least $48 million. An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If convicted of all charges, Ver would face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for each mail fraud count, up to five years in federal prison for each tax evasion count, and up to three years in federal prison for each count of subscribing to a false tax return. IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney James C. Hughes of the Major Frauds Section and Assistant Chief Matthew J. Kluge and Trial Attorney Peter J. Anthony of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are prosecuting this case.


title: Two Men Sentenced for Setting Inmate on Fire in  Ottawa County Jail

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – This week, U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Justin Randall Gering, 30, of Fairland, and Tyler Levi Tavis, 23, of Miami for Arson of Property of an Institution and Organization Receiving Federal Financial Assistance. Judge Frizzell ordered both men to serve 60 months of imprisonment, followed by 1 year of supervised release. According to court records, in Dec. 2022 Tavis and Gering were in Ottawa County Jail. They were caught on video surveillance wrapping a sleeping inmate in toilet paper and setting it on fire. The sleeping inmate was covered by a county issued fire-retardant blanket, which kept him from being severely burned. Other inmates at the jail responded quickly to put the fire out, keeping it from spreading further within the jail. Gering and Tavis will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Jiang prosecuted the case.


title: Illinois Man Sentenced to 92 Months in Prison

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Martin Devalois, 40 years old, of Romeoville, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after being found guilty of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm following a 2-day jury trial in December of 2023, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Devalois was sentenced to 92 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, in March 2021, Devalois led police on a 30-minute car chase throughout LaPorte County, at one time reaching 90 miles per hour while driving through the city of LaPorte. The chase ended when Devalois crashed into a snowbank, and police recovered a loaded handgun from the center console. Devalois has multiple prior felony convictions, any one of which prohibit him from possessing the firearm in this case. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jerome W. McKeever and Joel L. Mathur. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Former Oregon State Employee Sentenced for Sexually Assaulting a Woman with Disabilities

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: A former Oregon Department of Human Services caregiver, Zakary Glover, 30, was sentenced today to 25 years in prison and five years of supervised release for violating the civil rights of a woman with developmental disabilities who was in his care by sexually assaulting her. “This defendant engaged in deplorable acts of sexual misconduct and targeted a victim with severe developmental disabilities who was entrusted to his care and could not defend herself,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The defendant breached the public's trust and violated the most basic standards of decency. The significant sentence imposed should send a strong message that the Justice Department will do all it can to hold accountable those who abuse their authority by sexual assaulting people in their custody and under their care.” “Glover’s crimes profoundly betrayed the trust placed in him as a state health care support specialist,” said U.S. Attorney Natalie Wight for the District of Oregon. “We thank our partners at the FBI, Oregon State Police, and Civil Rights Division for their commitment to this victim and the safety of all Oregonians.” “The defendant sexually assaulted a woman with disabilities — an egregious abuse of his authority as her caregiver,” said Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Protecting the civil rights of people in the United States is one of the FBI’s most solemn responsibilities, and as such, we will continue to investigate those who violate an individual’s constitutional right to bodily integrity.” According to court documents, Glover worked as a direct support crisis specialist for the Office of Developmental Disabilities Stabilization and Crisis Unit and was responsible for the care of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. On Nov. 2, 2021, Glover transported an adult female with severe autism, epilepsy, cognitive delays and very limited verbal ability on an outing in Salem, Oregon. Rather than return the victim to her home after the outing, Glover took her down a dead-end road in Aumsville, Oregon. Glover parked the van and then, using force, attempted to and did cause the victim to engage in a sexual act without her consent. After doing so, Glover forcefully grabbed her by the ankles and attempted to force her into another, non-consensual sexual act. The victim did not consent to any of the sexual conduct, and Glover’s conduct included attempted aggravated sexual abuse. The FBI Portland Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gavin W. Bruce for the District of Oregon and Trial Attorney Daniel E. Grunert of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.


title: Brothers sentenced to prison for shooting at law enforcement officers

body_text: KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A pair of Kansas brothers will serve time in prison for opening fire on law enforcement officers as the officers were investigating an earlier, related shooting. According to court documents, G’Ante Butler, 24, and Zarion Butler, 26, of Kansas City, Kansas, were both sentenced to 190 months’ imprisonment. In December 2023, a federal jury found G’Ante Butler guilty of one count of forcible assault on a federal law enforcement officer and one count of use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Zarion Butler subsequently pleaded guilty to one count of forcible assault of a federal law enforcement officer and one count of use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Co-defendants Nadarius Barnes, 24, Chase Lewis, 23, and Donnell L. Hall, 28, all of Kansas City, Kansas, each pleaded guilty to one count of forcible assault on a federal law enforcement officer and one count of use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Barnes was sentenced to 156 months’ imprisonment, Lewis (a driver who did not shoot at officers) was sentenced to 42 months’ imprisonment, and Hall is awaiting sentencing. On August 3, 2020, Kansas City, Kansas police officers responded to a “shots fired” call at a house where the Butler brothers’ parents lived on Farrow Avenue. In response to the investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Special Agents and federally deputized Task Force Officers (TFOs) went to North Allis Street and arrested a suspect in the Farrow Avenue shooting. As the officers were returning to their vehicles, multiple shooters began firing at them. The officers tried to immediately take cover, however, not before an officer and a civilian bystander were struck by gunfire. The Butlers, Barnes, and Hall shot at the North Allis Street house in retaliation for the earlier shooting on Farrow Avenue. Officers later recovered numerous spent shell casings (including 9mm, .40 caliber, .45 caliber, 5.56 caliber, and 7.62 caliber casings) from an alley west of the targeted North Allis Street home. “Numerous brave Law Enforcement Officers started their day in August of 2020 doing their job by executing a lawful search warrant when they were ambushed by four individuals. No one can be allowed to shoot at law enforcement. This sentence sends a clear warning to anyone who thinks they can shoot at Law Enforcement and get away with it – they cannot. If they try, we will tirelessly work with the United States Attorney’s Office and our federal, state, and local partners to investigate and prosecute them to the fullest extent provided by law,” stated Bernard G. Hansen, Special Agent in Charge, Kansas City Field Division. “The actions of the ATF Special Agents and officers from our partner agencies that day are truly commendable as they acted with high regard not only for their safety but those of the surrounding community. I am both grateful for, and inspired by, the professionalism shown by the ATF agents who risked their lives that morning.” The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Faiza Alhambra and Trent Krug are prosecuting the case. OCDETF Strike Force Cases This prosecution is part of an 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. This 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 OCDETF Kansas City Metro Strike Force is to disrupt and dismantle major criminal organizations and subsidiary organizations, including criminal gangs, transnational drug cartels, racketeering organizations, and other groups engaged in illicit activities that present a threat to public safety and national security and are related to the illegal smuggling and trafficking of narcotics or other controlled substances, weapons, humans, or the illegal concealment or transfer of proceeds derived from such illicit activities in the Western District of Missouri and District of Kansas. The OCDETF Kansas City Metro Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Kansas City, Missouri, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the United States Marshal Service (USMS), the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Missouri (USAO-WDMO), the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas (USAO-KS), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Internal Revenue Service/Criminal Investigation Division (IRS/CID), the United States Secret Service (USSS), and the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Kansas. ###


title: Clairton Man with Prior Conviction Indicted for Possession of Firearm and Narcotics

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Clairton, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of violating federal firearms and narcotics laws, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. The two-count Indictment named Bradley Dawkins, 34, as the sole defendant. According to the Indictment, on or about June 28, 2023, Dawkins possessed a firearm as a convicted felon. Federal law prohibits an individual who has been convicted of a felony from possessing a firearm or ammunition. The Indictment also alleges that, on the same day, Dawkins possessed with intent to distribute quantities of fentanyl, crack cocaine, and powder cocaine, all of which are Schedule II controlled substances. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of not more than $1 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin C. Dobkin is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment. 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. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Two Men Charged in Multimillion-Dollar Pump and Dump Securities Fraud Scheme

body_text: An indictment was unsealed today in the Central District of California charging two California men with conspiring to defraud investors in a multi-year scheme involving the acquisition and sale of Airborne Wireless Network securities (stock ticker ABWN). According to court documents, Kalistratos “Kelly” Kabilafkas, 48, of Moorpark, and Jack E. Daniels, 74, of Agoura Hills, allegedly conspired to secretly acquire the freely tradeable shares of a publicly traded shell company that they subsequently rebranded as Airborne. To acquire the company, Kabilafkas allegedly misappropriated a $474,500 sham charitable donation and used the funds to secretly buy the shell company’s stock. Following the acquisition, together with Kabilafkas, Daniels—Airborne’s president and sole director—allegedly filed false reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission to conceal from investors that Kabilafkas secretly held all of Airborne’s stock. Without disclosing Kabilafkas’s acquisition of Airborne’s shares, Kabilafkas and Daniels allegedly used investors’ funds to orchestrate a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign designed to inflate Airborne’s stock price. During the advertising campaign, Airborne’s share price increased significantly for short periods of time, and Kabilafkas allegedly capitalized on the stock price spikes to sell millions of shares of Airborne stock and reap millions of dollars in ill-gotten gains. Kabilafkas and Daniels are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and one count of securities fraud. If convicted, Kabilafkas and Daniels each face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiracy and 20 years in prison for securities fraud. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California; Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group; Acting Assistant Director in Charge Mehtab Syed of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Los Angeles Field Office made the announcement. USPIS, the FBI, and IRS-CI are investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Theodore M. Kneller and Matt Kahn of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney James Hughes for the Central District of California are prosecuting the case. If you believe you are a victim in this case, please contact the Fraud Section’s Victim Witness Unit toll-free at (888) 549-3945 or by email at victimassistance.fraud@usdoj.gov . To learn more about victims’ rights, please visit www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-vns/victim-rights-derechos-de-las-v-ctimas . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: One Detroit Violence Reduction Partnership Observes Second Chance Month by Hosting Community Roundtable

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT - April is Second Chance month, a time to raise awareness of and find solutions to the barriers that exist for individuals who are returning from incarceration. The One Detroit Violence Reduction Partnership is committed to helping those with criminal convictions successfully rejoin the community, and our strategy is straightforward. First, to identify the justice-impacted residents who are at most risk of re-offending and second, engage with this population to meet their most pressing needs. The One Detroit Partnership has combined government and community resources to help encourage successful reentry for justice-impacted citizens. “Second Chances are not limited to the month of April. There are opportunities available year- round for individuals returning to their communities who are ready to take full advantage of their second chance,” said Dawn N. Ison, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, “We understand that every person who successfully reintegrates into the community helps make our community safer." United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison For nearly a year, the One Detroit Partnership has been engaging with justice-impacted residents through community roundtables. The roundtables are made up of people who are currently on supervised release or probation who have been identified by the United States Probation Department and the Michigan Department of Corrections as being at moderate or severe risk of committing violent crimes. So far, we have served over 160 justice-impacted individuals along with family members in seven community roundtables. The first six roundtables all took place in Detroit’s 8 th and 9 th Police Precincts, which have also been the focus of One Detroit’s enforcement and prevention efforts. Last week, we expanded with our first community roundtable in the 2 nd Precinct. Plans are currently underway for a community roundtable in Flint. The roundtables consist of a cohort of roughly 20-30 parolees or probationers along with accompanying family members. The roundtable begins with the cohort hearing from a panel of justice-impacted individuals who provide motivation and insight about how to take advantage of a second chance after a criminal conviction. The panel is organized by returning citizens with messages crafted to reach the cohort and offer examples of successful reintegration into the community. At the conclusion of the panel, the justice-impacted citizens and their family members are invited to participate in breakout sessions facilitated by staff from Black Family Development and Goodwill Industries to discuss any barriers that might be preventing successful reintegration to society. Darryl Woods, CEO of Fighting the Good Fight is one of the organizers of the community roundtables. “The roundtables serve as a safe place for those who really want a second chance. They are filled with lifesaving information and resources,” stated Woods. Darryl Woods, CEO of Fighting the Good Fight speaks with a group of justice-impacted residents.


title: Former Defense Contractor Pleads Guilty to Attempted Espionage

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that John Murray Rowe, Jr., 65, of Lead, South Dakota, pleaded guilty in federal court today before U.S. District Judge John Gallagher to one count of attempted delivery of national defense information to a foreign government, and three counts of willful communication of national defense information. According to court documents, Rowe, who is originally from Massachusetts, was employed for nearly 40 years as a test engineer for multiple Cleared Defense Contractors. In connection with his employment, Rowe held various national security clearances from SECRET to TOP SECRET//SCI (Sensitive Compartmented Information) and worked on matters relating to U.S. Air Force electronic warfare technology, among other things. After committing a number of security violations and revealing a devout interest in Russian affairs, Rowe was identified as a potential insider threat and terminated from employment. In March of 2020, he met with an undercover FBI agent who was posing as an agent of the Russian government. During this meeting, Rowe disclosed national defense information classified as SECRET that concerned specific operating details of the electronic countermeasure systems used by U.S. military fighter jets, among other things. Over the course of the next eight months, Rowe exchanged over 300 emails with the purported Russian agent, confirming his willingness to work for the Russian government and discussing his knowledge of classified information relating to U.S. national security. In one email, Rowe explained, “If I can’t get a job here then I’ll go work for the other team.” In another email, Rowe disclosed classified national defense information concerning the U.S. Air Force. In September 2020, Rowe had a second in-person meeting with the undercover FBI agent. During this meeting, Rowe again disclosed classified national defense information. Rowe was arrested on December 15, 2021, and was ordered detained pending trial. During his pretrial detention at the Philadelphia Federal Detention Center, Rowe made at least three unauthorized disclosures of the same classified national defense information concerning the U.S. Air Force to individuals not authorized to receive it – namely, his brother, son and realtor, which were captured on recorded prison calls. “It’s abhorrent that Rowe would try to betray his own country for the benefit of a foreign adversary,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Safeguarding the U.S. government’s sensitive defense information is critical to ensuring our national security, and anyone seeking to compromise that should expect to be brought to justice by my office and our law enforcement partners.” “After nearly 40 years working in the defense industry and being entrusted with our country's military secrets, today, John Murray Rowe Jr. admitted to unlawfully disclosing classified national defense information,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “Furthermore, his intent to provide this information to a foreign adversary potentially endangered our national security. The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain committed to bringing to justice those who choose to threaten our nation’s security by disseminating classified information.” Sentencing is set for August 22, 2024. The defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment. The case was investigated by the FBI’s Philadelphia Field Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Wolfe and DOJ Trial Attorney Scott Claffee of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Section. Additional assistance was provided by the Lead (SD) Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota, the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, and the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office and Rapid City (SD) Resident Agency.


title: Sentences handed to “Cobra” human smuggling members responsible for fatality and sexual assault

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – The leader of a smuggling organization and five others have been sentenced for conspiring to smuggle undocumented individuals, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Saul Torres-Martinez aka Cobra, 42, Houston; Ernesto Mata Pioquinto, 32, Mexico; Marcelino Navarro Sanchez, 31, Mexico; Robert Hernandez, 26, Fresno; Noemi Silva, 39, Wimauma, Florida; and Luis Esteban Martinez, 41, Alamo, pleaded guilty July 6, 2021. Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane found Torres-Martinez to be a leader or organizer of the smuggling operation and imposed a 110-month sentence. Pioquinto and Sanchez received 52 months, while Hernandez, Silva and Martinez received 39, 87 and 87 months in federal prison, respectively. Hernandez, Silva, and Martinez will serve three years of supervised release following their terms of imprisonment. Not U.S. citizens, Torres-Martinez, Pioquinto and Sanchez are expected to face removal proceedings following the completion of their respective sentences. In handing down the sentence, Judge Crane noted the seriousness of the offense and expressed concern regarding the harm Torres-Martinez caused to the community. “Human smuggling organizations simply don’t care,” said Hamdani. “They do not see the migrants they transport as human beings but rather as currency. As a result, when you put yourselves in these criminals’ hands you risk exposing yourself to extreme danger or even death.” As a part of an approximately two-year investigation into human smuggling in the Rio Grande Valley, law enforcement identified and apprehended six members of the “Cobra” human smuggling organization. According to law enforcement, the smuggling network was responsible for more 100 undocumented individuals from the Mexican border to Houston from 2018 to 2019. During the investigation, further evidence revealed that members of the human smuggling organization were responsible for a smuggling fatality as well as an alleged sexual assault of another smuggled individual. Homeland Security Investigations and Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Phelps prosecuted the case.