title: Mexican Man Convicted of Transporting 20 Kilograms of Cocaine Into Massachusetts for Drug Cartel

body_text: BOSTON – A Mexican man was found guilty yesterday by a federal jury in Boston for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy from which 20 kilograms of cocaine was seized during a traffic stop in Littleton in March 2023. Erasmo Lira-Mendez, 39, was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine (both offenses involving five kilograms or more). U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Sept. 4, 2024. Lira-Mendez was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2023 along with his co-defendant, Cornelio Hernandez. “This case is a stark reminder of the profound dangers posed by illicit narcotics circulating in the shadows of our communities. While driving without a license in a small, quiet Massachusetts suburb, Mr. Lira-Mendez was found in possession of 20 kilograms of cocaine intended for distribution, hidden inside a duffle bag,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “This conviction reaffirms our office's unwavering commitment to hold accountable those who seek to profit from the devastation wrought by drug trafficking. We will continue to work tirelessly with our federal, state and local partners to ensure the safety and well-being of Massachusetts residents.” “DEA is committed to investigating drug traffickers who are distributing cocaine to the citizens of Massachusetts,” said Stephen P. Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division. “Illegal drug distribution ravages the very foundations of our families and communities so every time we take these poisons off the streets, lives are saved. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative local, state and federal law enforcement efforts and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.” On March 29, 2023, in Littleton, Lira-Mendez was observed driving a car with a temporary Texas license plate that was drifting across a double yellow line. During an ensuing traffic stop, 20 kilograms of cocaine was found inside a duffle bag on the back seat of the vehicle. A subsequent investigation revealed that a private tracking device had been installed in the vehicle by the Mexican drug cartel, Cártel del Noreste. GPS data obtained from the device revealed that the two men had traveled at least 32 hours from Texas to Massachusetts – with the cocaine concealed inside the vehicle’s doors – to distribute the narcotics in Lawrence. Hernandez pleaded guilty on April 18, 2024 and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 23, 2024. Both charges provide for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The defendant will be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes that govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and DEA Acting SAC Belleau made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Littleton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Samuel R. Feldman and K. Nathaniel Yeager of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.


title: Second Benton Harbor Man Sentenced For Illegal Gun Possession After Shootout At Apartment Complex

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Terrence Terrial Izear Turner, 29, of Benton Harbor, was sentenced to 165 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou also imposed a period of 3 years of federal supervised release. “Mr. Turner’s careless acts of violence put innocent lives at risk and today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of his crime,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten . “My office is committed to identifying and federally prosecuting the individuals driving gun violence in our communities. There is no acceptable level of violent crime. In this case and others, we are working with local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to ensure that dangerous members of the community are brought to justice.” Photograph of Mr. Turner Posing with a Firearm and an Extended Magazine Investigators identified Mr. Turner as a suspect in a shootout on July 9, 2023, which occurred in a parking lot at the River Terrace Apartments in Benton Harbor. During the shootout, which involved multiple shooters, an apartment across the parking lot was struck five times by gunfire. One bullet entered a bedroom where an occupant was, and there was also a young child in the apartment. Turner was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm following an investigation that culminated in a search warrant at a residence where Turner was staying with a gun. As a convicted felon, Turner was prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms. Turner previously pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm on January 10, 2024. Shamonte Buchanan, another shooter at the River Terrace Apartments, was previously sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Jarbou to 71 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. “Illegal possession of firearms poses a severe threat to the well-being of our citizens. Gun violence continues to plague our society and impact our way of life. More and more felons are possessing illegal firearms, and this is a very dangerous reality for our community,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Michigan . “The sentencing of Mr. Turner demonstrates the diligent efforts of our law enforcement partners and our firm commitment to removing violent offenders from our communities.” This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide initiative to reduce violent crime. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor’s offices, and federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement work closely together to identify and prosecute individuals responsible for driving violent crime in our communities in order to make neighborhoods safer for everyone. Individuals with information or concerns about violent crime or firearms offenses should contact local law enforcement. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, visit: https://www.justice.gov/psn . This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Michigan State Police (MSP), Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety, Benton Township Police Department, Berrien County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Assistant United States Attorney Lauren F. Biksacky prosecuted the case. ###


title: Washington woman sentenced to three years in prison for role in multi-state meth trafficking ring centered on Crow Indian Reservation

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: BILLINGS — A Washington woman who admitted to working as a translator and helping a co-defendant sell meth in a large trafficking scheme based on the Crow Indian Reservation was sentenced today to three years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. The defendant, Mariana Tyler Wallace, 23, of Okanogan, Washington, pleaded guilty in December 2023 to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. In court documents, the government alleged that federal law enforcement, in a collaborative effort with local and tribal law enforcement, engaged in a large-scale, multiple-state, narcotics trafficking investigation centered on multiple properties on the Crow Indian Reservation. The properties, including one referred to as Spear Siding, were a source of supply of methamphetamine for both Crow and the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservations. Wallace is one of the individuals affiliated with that investigation. The investigation determined that Wallace and co-conspirator 1 were involved in selling meth and fentanyl from a property known as the Bloodman residence, which was near the Spear Siding property. Co-conspirators from Washington lived at the Bloodman house to distribute and protect the meth. These co-conspirators spoke Spanish and required others to translate to communicate with customers. Wallace came to Montana in February/March 2023 and worked as a translator for co-conspirator 1 to sell meth to multiple individuals who visited the residence. Wallace also sold meth. Wallace was considered to be in the lower to mid-level of the conspiracy. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Drug Enforcement Administration 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: Pottsville Man Sentenced To 96 Months’ Imprisonment For Methamphetamine Trafficking

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: SCRANTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Allateef Alkamil Ali-White (“White”), age 43, of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, was sentenced on May 7, 2024, by United States District Judge Malachy E. Mannion, to 96 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a 3-year period of supervised release, for methamphetamine trafficking. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, during July 2022, in Schuylkill County, and elsewhere, White conspired to distribute over five pounds (2,336 grams) of a substance containing methamphetamine, which he was to receive through the United States mail from a supply source in California. The package containing the narcotics was intercepted by law enforcement prior to its final delivery to a location in Pottsville near White’s residence. This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP). Assistant United States Attorney Jeffery St John 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: Monroe County Woman Pleads Guilty To Conspiracy To Make Straw Purchases Of Firearms

body_text: SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Yesenia Ramos, age 44, of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on May 5, 2024, before United States District Court Judge Julia K. Munley, to 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, Ramos admitted to conspiring with Windall Mitchell, age 34, of East Stroudsburg, to provide false information to federally licensed firearms dealers regarding the purchases of fifteen 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. Windall Mitchell previously entered a guilty plea to the charge of conspiracy to make false statements in connection with the purchases of multiple firearms from federally licensed firearms dealers. On April 30, 2024, Judge Munley sentenced Mitchell to serve 30 months’ imprisonment. 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 is prosecuting 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. The maximum penalty under federal law for conspiring to make false statements to firearms dealers is five years’ 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: Statement Of U.S. Attorney Damian Williams On The Conviction Of Darius Paduch

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As a unanimous jury has just found, Darius A. Paduch leveraged his position of trust as a medical doctor for his own perverse gratification. For years, patients seeking needed medical care, many of them children, left his office as victims. I commend the career prosecutors of this Office for bringing this important case to a just conclusion.”


title: Harrisburg Drug Trafficker Convicted Of Hiring Gunmen To Protect Thousands Of Pounds Of Marijuana Through The U.S. Mail

body_text: HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that on May 6, 2024, Christopher Texidor, age 36, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was convicted following a jury trial of trafficking over 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) of marijuana and hiring gunmen to protect his illegal activities. The trial, held before United States District Judge Jennifer P. Wilson, spanned six days, and the jury deliberated for approximately four hours before returning its verdict. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, between October 2018 and May 2020, Texidor and his codefendants operated a marijuana smuggling operation out of Fastlane Auto Sales, a used car lot located on Paxton Street in Harrisburg. Texidor and his codefendants arranged to have his drug source in California mail hundreds of parcels full of marijuana to Harrisburg through the U.S. Mail. In the same way, they regularly mailed tens of thousands of dollars in cash back to the California source. Texidor and his codefendants used a sophisticated system of GPS tracking devices, which they placed in their parcels, to keep track of their drugs and money. Through this the scheme, over 9,000 thousand pounds of suspected marijuana parcels, worth millions of dollars, were brought to the Harrisburg area. Texidor and his codefendants used guns, robbery, and kidnapping as tools to keep their criminal operation running. At the trial, the jury heard evidence of the violence Texidor and his codefendants used to try and stop a thief from stealing their marijuana. In late 2019, a thief began stealing their marijuana from parcels shipped to them. By using tracking devices in their parcels and attaching tracking devices to vehicles, they identified the person that they suspected was stealing their marijuana. Texidor and his codefendants then hired gunmen to stop the thefts. From December 2019 to February 2020, the gunmen went after the suspected thief. In December the gunmen shot up a truck in Harrisburg connected to the suspected thief; they shot into an occupied home in Susquehanna Township where the suspected thief was sleeping; and they shot into an occupied home in Steelton that they guessed was connected to the suspected thief. In February 2020, they robbed the suspected thief at gunpoint in Highspire. The jury convicted Texidor of conspiracy to traffic more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, conspiracy to use a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, use of a means in interstate communication to commit a crime of violence, and drug trafficking. Sentencing has not been scheduled. Texidor’s codefendants, William Kuduk, Jonathan Cobaugh, Justin Laboy, Jose Laboy, and Julio Arellano have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Codefendant Jamie Valenzuela pleaded guilty to being the marijuana source from California. He was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment. The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office, and the Susquehanna Township Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael A. Consiglio and Scott Ford prosecuted the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses are life 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. 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: Member of Southeast DC Crew Sentenced to 90 Months for Distributing Fentanyl and Possessing a Machine Gun

body_text: WASHINGTON – Earl Isaac III, of Washington D.C., was sentenced today to 90 months in prison in connection with possessing a Glock firearm with a machine gun conversion device, narcotics trafficking, and related counts, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves, Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Washington Field Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Isaac, 21, also known as “Frontline,” pleaded guilty on January 9, 2024, before U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly to four counts: (1) unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon; (2) unlawful possession with intent to distribute marijuana; (3) unlawful possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; and (4) using, carrying, and possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking offense. In addition to the prison term, Judge Kollar-Kotelly ordered Isaac to serve five years of supervised release. According to the government’s evidence, police executed a search warrant at a residence on Stanton Road SE on June 1, 2023. Under a bathroom sink, police found a .40 caliber Glock firearm, outfitted with a machine gun conversion device, and loaded with a high-capacity magazine that contained 21 rounds of ammunition. Police also found more than 100 small, round, blue pills inscribed with “M30” throughout the premises that were determined to contain fentanyl; 2.68 kilos of marijuana; and $2,020 in cash in the front left pocket of Isaac’s jeans. Isaac previously was convicted in 2022 for carrying a pistol without a license and sentenced to a 14-month suspended prison term under the Youth Rehabilitation Act with a one-year probationary term in D.C. Superior Court, which was later revoked. Isaac’s social media account showed that Isaac advertised marijuana for sale, sold marijuana and fentanyl, and posed with marijuana and the money he had earned from drug sales. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) with valuable assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being handled by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Coley and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Sellinger. Valuable assistance was provided by former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Leiter and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sitara Witanachchi.


title: Grant Man Charged With Transporting Explosive And Possessing A Destructive Device

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS , MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Luke Isaac Terpstra, a 30-year-old resident of Grant, Michigan, has been charged with transporting an explosive with the intent to kill, injure, or intimidate individuals or to unlawfully damage or destroy a building. Terpstra also faces a separate charge that he illegally possessed a destructive device. The indictment charges that Terpstra built several devices that he characterized as “bombs” and then transported those devices, along with multiple firearms and ammunition, from Michigan to the site of The Satanic Temple (TST) in Massachusetts in September 2023. “The charges announced today demonstrate my office’s continued commitment to protecting our citizens from dangerous threats,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten . “Building explosive devices and transporting them with the intent to injure civilians and damage property puts us all at risk and those who commit such crimes will be held accountable.” The indictment further alleges that, in December 2023, Terpstra stated to others that he possessed the “bombs” because he wanted to “blow up” TST. As recently as January 2024, Terpstra was found in possession of items that can be used to make improvised explosive devices, including a plastic container with coins attached to it and a piece of cannon fuse coming out of the lid; numerous metal carbon dioxide (CO2) cartridges; PVC pipe; ammonium nitrate; and hobby fuses. If convicted, Terpstra faces a maximum 10-year term in prison on each charge and a fine of up to $250,000. He will also be required to pay restitution to any victims of his alleged crimes. “Today's indictment is a sobering reminder of the threats we face as a society and a true testament to the FBI's mission of protecting the American people,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan . “We stand united with our partners to combat all forms of violence and will take all necessary measures to ensure the public's safety.” The charges in an indictment are merely accusations. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Grant Police Department, Kent County Sheriff’s Office, and Michigan State Police are investigating the case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Carowan with the assistance of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. # # #


title: Norwalk Resident Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking Offense

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that JOSE DE JESUS VEGA-CERVANTES, 45, a citizen of Mexico last residing in Norwalk, pleaded guilty yesterday in Bridgeport federal court to a fentanyl trafficking offense. According to court documents and statements made in court, in July and August 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Norwalk Police Department made controlled purchases of fentanyl from Vega-Cervantes. Vega-Cervantes was arrested on August 22, 2023, after he attempted to sell a kilogram of fentanyl to an individual working with law enforcement. Vega-Cervantes pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years. A sentencing date is not scheduled. Vega-Cervantes has been detained since his arrest. This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Norwalk Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren C. Clark.


title: Man Sentenced to Five and a Half Years in Prison for Unlawfully Dealing Firearms in Chicago Area

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

body_text: CHICAGO — A federal judge has sentenced a firearms trafficker to five and a half years in prison for unlawfully dealing guns in Chicago. From April to June of last year, JESUS SANCHEZ sold seven firearms to an undercover law enforcement agent. Authorities later conducted a court-authorized search of Sanchez’s residence and discovered, among other things, ten firearm magazines and three boxes of .22-caliber ammunition. When agents arrived to conduct the search, Sanchez ran from the residence and tossed a firearm into a neighbor’s backyard. Sanchez had previously been convicted of a gun-related felony and was not lawfully allowed to possess a firearm. Sanchez, 23, of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to federal firearm offenses. U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly imposed the 66-month prison sentence during a hearing Tuesday in federal court in Chicago. The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Christopher Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Larry Snelling, Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. “Gun trafficking perpetuates the cycle of violence in this city, which is overwhelmed with gun violence,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret A. Steindorf argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “Defendant’s conduct in this case demonstrated not only a complete disregard for the law, but also had the potential to endanger the community.” Disrupting illegal firearms trafficking is the focus of the Department of Justice’s Firearms Trafficking Strike Force . As part of the strike force, the U.S. Attorney’s Office collaborates with ATF, CPD, and other federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in the Northern District of Illinois and across the country to help stem the supply of illegally trafficked firearms and identify patterns, leads, and potential suspects in violent gun crimes. Holding firearm offenders accountable through federal prosecution is also a centerpiece of Project Safe Neighborhoods , a nationwide initiative that brings together law enforcement officials, prosecutors, community leaders, and other stakeholders to develop comprehensive solutions to the most pressing violent crime problems in a community. In the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has deployed the PSN program to attack a broad range of violent crime issues facing the district, particularly firearm offenses.


title: Man Who Trafficked Guns into Bridgeport Sentenced to Federal Prison

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that BRANNON WINSTON, 24, of Bridgeport, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 40 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for firearm trafficking and possession offenses. According to court documents and statements made in court, Winston purchased firearms in Georgia, where he resided at times, and provided them to customers in Connecticut. Winston personally purchased at least 18 firearms in Georgia, and he had others purchase additional firearms on his behalf. The investigation, which included gun recoveries after shooting incidents in Bridgeport, revealed that some of the firearms were provided to members of the East End and PT Barnum gangs in Bridgeport. On March 16, 2022, a federal grand jury in Bridgeport returned an indictment charging Winston with firearms trafficking offenses. During his arraignment on March 29, 2022, Winston was informed that he could be required to serve a consecutive term of imprisonment of up to 10 years if he committed a federal felony while on pretrial release. Winston was released on a $100,000 bond on that date. On December 21, 2022, Winston was arrested by Bridgeport Police for possessing a .357 caliber handgun with a loaded high capacity magazine. The handgun had been purchased in Jonesboro, Georgia, on November 11, 2022, and ballistics analysis revealed that it had been used in a shooting in Bridgeport’s East Side the day before Winston’s arrest. Winston has been detained in federal custody since January 3, 2023. On September 22, 2023, he pleaded guilty to one count of crossing state lines with the intent to engage unlicensed dealing of firearms, and one count of receipt of a firearm by a person under indictment. This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Bridgeport Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rahul Kale through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.


title: Three men sentenced for attempting to smuggle over 1,500 kilograms of cocaine

body_text: NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Colombian man was sentenced today to two years and six months in prison for cocaine trafficking, the final defendant sentenced in this case According to court documents, Yunier Renteria-Renteria, 28, was part of a group attempting to move more than two tons of cocaine into the United States. On Jan. 3, Renteria pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine on board a vessel. On March 17, 2023, a maritime patrol aircraft spotted a go-fast boat, which are frequently used to transport large quantities of cocaine from the Colombian coast to larger transfer vessels en route to the United States. When the crew of the boat became aware of the presence of law enforcement, they began to jettison their cargo, which the U.S. Coast Guard recovered. The cargo included 1,504 kilograms of cocaine. The crew of the go-fast boat transporting the cocaine included Renteria, Luis Valencia-Renteria, 27, of Colombia, and Cesar Rodriguez, 30, of Ecuador. Valencia pled guilty on Aug. 3, 2023, and Rodriguez pled guilty on Aug. 14, 2023. On Jan. 9, Valencia and Rodriguez were sentenced to two years and six months in prison. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division; and Derek W. Gordon, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Jamar K. Walker. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric M. Hurt prosecuted the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. 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. 4:23-cr-36.


title: Orange County Man Agrees to Plead Guilty to Illegally Transferring Nearly $17 Million from MLB Star’s Account and Signing False Tax Return

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: PLEA AGREEMENT INFORMATION LOS ANGELES – A Japanese-language interpreter has agreed to plead guilty to federal criminal charges for illegally transferring almost $17 million from a Major League Baseball (MLB) player’s bank account – without the player’s knowledge or permission – to pay off his own substantial gambling debts incurred with an illegal bookmaking operation and for signing a false tax return, the Justice Department announced today. Ippei Mizuhara, 39, of Newport Beach, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of bank fraud, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison, and one count of subscribing to a false tax return, which carries a sentence of up to three years in federal prison. Mizuhara, who is charged in a two-count information filed today, is expected to enter a plea of guilty to the charges in United States District Court in the coming weeks. His arraignment is scheduled for May 14. “The extent of this defendant’s deception and theft is massive,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “He took advantage of his position of trust to take advantage of Mr. Ohtani and fuel a dangerous gambling habit. My office is committed to vindicating victims throughout our community and ensuring that wrongdoers face justice.” “Our joint investigation with Homeland Security Investigations clearly showed Mr. Mizuhara not only stole from Mr. Ohtani, but also that he lied to the IRS about his income, “said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office. “Mr. Mizuhara exploited his relationship with Mr. Ohtani to bankroll his own irresponsibility. In cases where we are able to identify them, we make every effort to make things right for victims, and this is one of those cases.” “This investigation into Mr. Mizuhara and subsequent plea highlight the threat posed by financial crimes in the Los Angeles-area,” said HSI Los Angeles Special Agent Eddy Wang. “The HSI-led El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force is dedicated to protecting all victims of financial fraud from all walks of life.” According to his plea agreement also filed today, Mizuhara was the translator and de facto manager of a professional baseball player identified in court documents as “Victim A,” but who in fact was MLB star Shohei Ohtani. As part of his job duties, Mizuhara regularly interacted with Ohtani’s sports agents and financial advisors – who did not speak Japanese – on behalf of Ohtani, who did not speak English. Although Mizuhara was an employee of the Los Angeles Angels MLB team, for whom Ohtani played from 2018 to 2023, and, later, the Los Angeles Dodgers, for whom Ohtani has played since 2024, Ohtani paid him separately for the additional work of driving him to meetings and interpreting for non-baseball-related activities. In March 2018, Mizuhara accompanied Ohtani to a bank in Phoenix to help him open a bank account to deposit his MLB salary. Inside the bank branch, Mizuhara interpreted for Ohtani when the bank employee provided Ohtani the login information for this bank account. Beginning in September 2021, Mizuhara began placing sports bets with an illegal bookmaker. Shortly thereafter, Mizuhara began to lose bets and quickly became indebted to the bookmaker. Unable to pay his gambling debts, Mizuhara orchestrated a scheme to deceive and cheat the bank to fraudulently obtain money from the account. From no later than November 2021 to March 2024, Mizuhara used Ohtani’s password to successfully sign into the bank account and then changed the account’s security protocols without Ohtani’s knowledge or permission. Specifically, Mizuhara changed the registered email address and telephone number on the account so bank employees would call him – not Ohtani – when attempting to verify wire transfers from the account. In furtherance of the scheme, Mizuhara impersonated Ohtani and used Ohtani’s personal identifying information to deceive the bank’s employees into authorizing wire transfers from the bank account. In total, Mizuhara called the bank and impersonated Ohtani on approximately 24 occasions. During this time, Mizuhara regularly logged into Ohtani’s bank account and initiated wire transfers from the account to the bookmaker and his associates as payments for gambling debts. For example, on June 20, 2023, Mizuhara accessed the account without Ohtani’s permission and transferred $500,000 to one of the bookmaker’s associates. In addition, in September 2023, Mizuhara needed $60,000 worth of dental work and Ohtani agreed to pay for it via a check drawn on a business account at a different bank. However, Mizuhara provided his dentist Ohtani’s debit card number for the bank account Ohtani had opened in Phoenix, charged $60,000 to that account, then deposited the $60,000 check into Mizuhara’s personal bank account. From January 2024 to March 2024, Mizuhara purchased approximately $325,000 worth of baseball cards from online resellers such as eBay from Ohtani’s bank account with the intent to resell them later and for his own personal benefit. When Ohtani’s sports agent and financial advisors asked Mizuhara for access to the bank account, Mizuhara lied and said Ohtani did not want them to access the account because it was private. In fact, Mizuhara did not want them to know that he had been stealing from Ohtani and had fraudulently obtained more than $16,975,010 from him. Mizuhara also admitted in his plea agreement that in February 2024 he willfully made and subscribed to a false individual federal income tax return for the tax year 2022. On that tax return, Mizuhara falsely claimed that his total taxable income for that year was $136,865 when in fact he knew the amount was substantially higher and he knowingly failed to report additional income of $4.1 million. The source of the unreported income was from his scheme to defraud the bank. Mizuhara, under penalty of perjury, signed the false income tax return and admitted in his plea agreement that he owes approximately $1,149,400 in additional taxes for the tax year 2022, plus additional interest and penalties. IRS Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys Jeff Mitchell of the Major Frauds Section and Dan Boyle of the Environmental Crimes and Consumer Protection Section, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Rachel N. Agress are prosecuting this case.


title: Springfield Man Sentenced for Heroin Conspiracy

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: SPRINGFIFELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute heroin in Greene County, Mo. James D. Elbert, 42, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 10 years in federal prison without parole. On July 5, 2023, Elbert pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin. Elbert admitted that he participated in a conspiracy to distribute at least 100 grams of heroin in Greene County from Oct. 2, 2015, to Nov. 13, 2017. Elbert admitted that, on three separate occasions, he sold a total of 6.86 grams of heroin to a law enforcement undercover informant in Springfield. Elbert is the ninth and final defendant to be sentenced in this case. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randall D. Eggert and Cameron A. Beaver. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the Ozark, Mo., Police Department.


title: Lexington Doctor Sentenced for Kickback Conspiracy

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington doctor, Dr. Amr Mohamed, 55, was sentenced on Tuesday, by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell, to 2 years in prison, for a kickback conspiracy. Mohamed was a licensed physician with a specialty in nephrology practicing in Lexington and working for various telemedicine companies that arranged for physicians to prescribe a variety of medical equipment, topical creams, and genetic testing for Medicare beneficiaries. According to his plea agreement, from March 2018 and April 2019, Mohamed entered into an agreement with RediDoc, to provide the telehealth services, and to order medically unnecessary medical equipment, topical creams, and genetic testing, for which he received $20, on average, per beneficiary from RediDoc. The orders were unnecessary because Mohamed did not have a physician-patient relationship with the beneficiaries, did not use the results of the testing in his treatment, and because he was receiving a kickback for each beneficiary. Between March 2018 and April 2019, Mohamed received $261,054 in kickbacks from RediDoc for ordering unnecessary medical equipment and services for more than seven thousand Medicare beneficiaries, and caused Medicare to pay $14,150,764.60 for medically unnecessary items. Mohamed was also ordered to pay $14,150,764.60 in restitution. Under federal law, Mohamed must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years. Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Michael E. Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly announced the sentencing. The investigation was conducted by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Smith is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. — END —


title: Man Who Used COVID-19 Relief Funds to Purchase a Personal RV Sentenced to Prison

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that Jason Carnell O’Daffer, formerly of Wenatchee, Washington, was sentenced for fraudulently obtaining more than $117,000 in COVID relief funding. United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice imposed a sentence of 12 months and one day imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act provided a number of programs through which eligible small businesses could request and obtain relief funding intended to mitigate the economic impacts of the pandemic for small and local businesses. One such program, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), provided forgivable loans to eligible small businesses to retain jobs and maintain payroll during the pandemic. Another program, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, provided low-interest bridge funding for small businesses placed at risk during the pandemic. According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, O’Daffer admitted to fraudulently obtaining $117,400 in EIDL funding for his purported home appraisal business, Chelan Douglas Appraisal Services. When O’Daffer submitted his EIDL application, he was not licensed as an appraiser, and his business was no longer engaging in home appraisals. Rather, O’Daffer spent the loan proceeds on non-business expenses including more than $39,000 for the purchase of a personal RV. In December of 2022, O’Daffer was arrested in San Francisco. Following his initial appearance, O’Daffer absconded from his pretrial release and remained at large until March of 2023, when he was arrested again. “Mr. O’Daffer fraudulently obtained funds, set aside to help struggling small and local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. O’Daffer spent the funds on a recreational vehicle and a cross-country road trip. Then, while on pretrial release following his arrest, Mr. O’Daffer disappeared until he was arrested again a few months later,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “I am grateful for the excellent investigative work of the Secret Service and the COVID-19 Strike Force to hold Mr. O’Daffer accountable. My office’s White-Collar team will continue to vigorously prosecute those who abuse and misuse COVID-19 funding.” This case was investigated by the Eastern District of Washington COVID-19 Fraud Strike Force, the U.S. Secret Service, Spokane Resident Office and San Francisco Field Office, and the SBA OIG. Assistant United States Attorneys Jeremy Kelly and Tyler H.L. Tornabene prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.


title: Lodge Grass woman admits to role in large methamphetamine trafficking ring centered on Crow Indian Reservation

body_text: BILLINGS — A Lodge Grass woman accused of trafficking methamphetamine as part of large-scale, multi-state conspiracy that was based on the Crow Indian Reservation admitted to a drug crime on Tuesday, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today. Sayra Longfox, 26, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute meth. Longfox faces a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Aug. 29. Longfox was released pending further proceedings. In court documents, the government alleged that in a collaborative effort with local and tribal law enforcement, federal law enforcement conducted a large-scale, multi-state narcotics trafficking investigation centered on multiple properties on the Crow Indian Reservation. The properties, including one referred to as Spear Siding, were a source of supply for both the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Indian reservations. Longfox is one of the individuals affiliated with the investigation. The government further alleged that several co-conspirators identified Longfox as selling meth on the Northern Cheyenne, Crow, Fort Belknap and Rocky Boy’s Indian reservations. After her arrest, Longfox told investigators that family members asked her to sell drugs beginning in the summer of 2022 and that she sold from her home at Spear Siding and on the Fort Belknap and Rocky Boy’s reservations. She admitted to getting meth and cocaine from a codefendant, who obtained it from the Washington source of supply, and to obtaining meth and cocaine from the Washington source. Longfox also admitted to carrying a 9mm handgun for protection. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, Drug Enforcement Administration 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: Plymouth Woman Arrested for Paycheck Protection Program Fraud

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Plymouth woman has been arrested and charged with wire fraud for submitting fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications on behalf of herself and her father. Katherine Reynolds, 65, was charged with two counts of wire fraud. Reynolds was released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston earlier today. According to the charging documents, Reynolds submitted two fraudulent loan applications seeking loans for herself and her father pursuant to the PPP. It is alleged that the loan applications falsely claimed that Reynolds and her then 86-year-old father earned over $100,000 per year providing massage services out of their home. It is further alleged that the loan applications also included fraudulent tax forms that were not filed with the IRS. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. The Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General provided valuable assistance in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Sullivan of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus and https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus/combatingfraud . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form . The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Justice Department Secures Relief from Hyundai Capital America to Compensate Servicemembers Whose Federal Civil Rights Were Violated

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that Hyundai Capital America has agreed to pay $333,941 to resolve allegations that it violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by illegally repossessing 26 vehicles owned by servicemembers. “Members of our Armed Forces should not have to worry about having their cars repossessed while they are in military service,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department remains steadfast in its commitment to enforcing laws that safeguard the rights of our servicemembers so that they can devote their full energy and attention to the defense of our country.” “We are fully committed to protecting the rights of servicemembers, who give so much to protecting our country,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California. “Something as simple as a vehicle repossession can have a significant impact on a servicemember’s peace of mind as he or she deploys in defense of the United States. We will continue to enforce the rights of servicemembers so that they can perform their duties without having to worry about unlawful actions at home.” The SCRA is a federal law that provides legal and financial protections for servicemembers and their families. The law prevents an auto finance or leasing company from repossessing a servicemember’s vehicle without first obtaining a court order, as long as the servicemember made at least one payment on the vehicle before entering military service. In a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, the department alleges that in June 2015, Navy Airman Jessica Johnson faxed Hyundai her enlistment orders with a statement that her vehicle could not be repossessed without a court order while she was on active duty service. On July 27, 2017, she told a Hyundai customer service agent that she was still in the military. Nevertheless, on or about July 30, 2017, Hyundai repossessed her 2014 Hyundai Elantra without a court order. In October 2017, Hyundai sold the car for $7,400. At the time, Navy Airman Johnson still owed $13,796 on the auto loan. The complaint also alleges that between April 15, 2015, and May 21, 2023, Hyundai unlawfully repossessed 25 additional motor vehicles owned or leased by SCRA-protected servicemembers. Under the consent order, Hyundai has agreed to pay $10,000 plus any lost equity to each servicemember whose vehicle was repossessed and a $74,941 payment to the United States. The consent order also requires Hyundai to repair the servicemembers’ credit, provide SCRA training to its employees and implement policies and procedures that comply with the SCRA. Hyundai Capital America is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyundai Motor America and Kia America and one of the top10 captive auto-finance companies in the United States, providing indirect vehicle financing for retail and lease customers of Hyundai, Genesis and Kia dealerships nationwide. The Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California jointly handled this case. Since 2011, the Justice Department has obtained over $481 million in monetary relief for over 147,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. For more information about the department’s SCRA enforcement efforts, please visit www.servicemembers.gov . Servicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations can be found at www.legalassistance.law.af.mil .


title: Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for Possession of Child Pornography

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of Child Pornography. The sentencing took place on May 6, 2024. Marc Jones, age 30, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. Jones must register as a sex offender upon his release from federal prison. Jones was indicted by a federal grand jury in May of 2023. He pleaded guilty on February 23, 2024. The conviction stemmed from an incident on March 23, 2023, when Jones possessed images of child pornography on his cell phone. The images were taken of minor females exiting a shower. The minors were unaware of the photographs being taken. Jones was previously convicted in 2014 of 4th Degree Rape in South Dakota. This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted the case. Jones was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Federal Prison Employee Sentenced for Accepting Payments From Inmate Under His Care

body_text: BOSTON – A Correctional Counselor for the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) assigned to Federal Medical Center Devens (FMC Devens) in Massachusetts was sentenced today for accepting payments from an inmate under his care, in violation of his duties as a public official. The defendant was also sentenced for lying to a bank about a loan he received from the inmate’s business associate and forging the associate’s signature to support this false claim. William S. Tidwell, 50, of Keene, N.H., was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to two years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Tidwell was also ordered to forfeit $90,058 and pay a $10,000 fine. In September 2023 , Tidwell pleaded guilty to receiving payments as a public official in violation of his official duties, making false statements to a bank, and committing identity theft to support the false statements. “William Tidwell ignored federal ethics and conflicts of interest laws, and his greed led him to abuse his position of authority,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “His corruption goes against BOP’s core mission of assisting offenders to become law-abiding citizens. Tidwell’s repeated violations showed his complete disregard for his profession, the dedicated professionals at BOP, and those he was entrusted to protect and guide.” “William Tidwell is a longtime public servant, who fully embraced and handsomely benefitted from this illicit agreement with an inmate under his care,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Mr. Tidwell abused his authority and abandoned his duty, and in the end, this corruption cost him, landing him a stay in federal prison.” “Tidwell developed a personal relationship with an inmate, accepted payments from the inmate, and lied to a bank about a loan he received from the inmate’s business associate. Tidwell’s conduct was a far cry from the integrity that we expect from federal Correctional Officers. Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that this kind of conduct will not be tolerated,” said Ryan T. Geach, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General Northeast Region. Tidwell had been employed by the BOP since 2000 and had been working at FMC Devens since 2008. He was removed from federal service in October 2023 after pleading guilty in this case. Given BOP’s mission to provide for the care and custody of federal inmates, the BOP has numerous rules and regulations that govern the duties and conduct of its employees. Among other things, employees may not receive any payments, gifts, or personal favors from inmates, give preferential treatment to any inmate in the performance of their duties, or engage in outside employment that conflicts with their duties. In approximately 2014, Tidwell began working as a Correctional Counselor at FMC Devens, a position that give him significant levels of contact with, and authority over, inmates. Among other things, Tidwell was responsible for monitoring inmate work assignments, assigning inmate housing assignments, arranging inmate legal calls, and coordinating prison visits for inmates. One of the inmates for whom Tidwell served as a Correctional Counselor at FMC Devens was Individual 1 – an ultra-high net worth individual who had been convicted on federal charges in another jurisdiction. Starting in approximately 2018, Individual 1 caused a stream of benefits to be paid to Tidwell. In November 2018, while Tidwell was supervising Individual 1, the inmate directed a close friend and business associate (Individual 2) to wire $25,000 to Tidwell’s close family member. Thereafter, starting in 2019, Tidwell and Individual 1 entered into an agreement pursuant to which Tidwell received thousands of dollars as part of a property management agreement. Individual 2, the inmate’s associate, made the payments to Tidwell. In total, between 2019 and 2020, Tidwell received over $65,000 in benefits as part of this property management agreement with Individuals 1 and 2. Tidwell’s receipt of payments and his employment relationship with an inmate or a close associate of an inmate violated multiple official duties as a BOP employee. Separately, in 2020, Tidwell sought to purchase a home. In connection with seeking financing for the home purchase, Tidwell received a $50,000 loan from Individual 2. Tidwell made multiple false statements to the bank in connection with his loan application, falsely telling the bank that the $50,000 was a gift from his employer. When the bank asked for written proof of this purported gift, Tidwell forged documents to support his earlier claim, including by unlawfully using Individual 2’s name and address, and forging Individual 2’s signature. Acting U.S. Attorney Levy; FBI SAC Cohen; and OIG SAC Geach made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kunal Pasricha and Mark Grady of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.


title: Rosebud Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Rosebud, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on May 6, 2024. Jesse Leader Charge, age 29, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Leader Charge was indicted for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender by a federal grand jury in December of 2023. He pleaded guilty on February 5, 2024. On October 7, 2019, Leader Charge was convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact in U.S. District Court, District of South Dakota. As a result of this conviction, Leader Charge must comply with the requirements of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. Leader Charge was released from a prison term on September 11, 2023, and began his term of supervised release residing in Rosebud. Leader Charge failed to update his registration upon release from prison and did not update his registration until he was arrested in December of 2023. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler prosecuted the case. Leader Charge was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Prohibited Possession of a Firearm

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man, convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on May 6, 2024, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Uver Revolorio-Hernandez, age 50, was sentenced to seven years and three months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay $100 as a statutorily required special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Revolorio-Hernandez was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in September 2023. He pleaded guilty to on January 23, 2024. On July 31, 2023, Uver Revolorio-Hernandez was arrested after threatening and shooting at a neighbor and the neighbor’s six-year-old child. Revolorio-Hernandez shot at them four times from his vehicle while he drove away from the scene. Law enforcement located two spent 9mm shell casings outside of the victim’s residence and one bullet inside the victim’s residence, which had penetrated three walls of the home. When law enforcement officers encountered Revolorio-Hernandez in his vehicle, he was intoxicated and in possession of a loaded Hi-Point 9mm handgun with an obliterated serial number and two spent 9mm casings. Revolorio-Hernandez is prohibited from possessing a firearm because he is an illegal alien and because he is a convicted felon; specifically, Revolorio-Hernandez was convicted of Assault – 2nd Degree Dangerous Weapon (Felony) on March 17, 2008, in Scott County, Minnesota. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. This case was investigated by the City of Sioux Falls Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Elizabeth Ebert prosecuted the case. Revolorio-Hernandez was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to continue serving his sentence.


title: Woodbridge man pleads guilty to selling fentanyl and machineguns

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Woodbridge man pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and possession of firearms during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents, around June 2023, Fernando Alexis Orellana Banegas, 24, came to the attention of agents investigating drug trafficking and firearms sales in the Woodbridge area. Orellana was using the Telegram app to sell drugs and firearms under the username, “Boofpak Exotics.” Through this username, Orellana advertised various illicit narcotics, including counterfeit oxycodone pills, and firearms for sale. From July 12, 2023, to Nov. 15, 2023, the FBI conducted six controlled purchases from Orellana. Over those six transactions, Orellana sold approximately 495 grams of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, three firearms, and two machine gun conversion devices. On two occasions Orellana sold fentanyl pills and firearms in the same transaction, and on another occasion he sold fentanyl pills along with machinegun conversion devices. Orellana is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 29. He faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison for drug trafficking and an additional mandatory minimum of five consecutive years in prison for the firearms charge. 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 David J. Scott, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edgardo Rodriguez and Catherine Rosenberg are 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. 1:24-cr-92.


title: Gregory County Man Sentenced for Assault

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Gregory County, South Dakota, man convicted of two counts of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The sentencing took place on May 6, 2024. Dillon Yellow Hawk, age 27, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Yellow Hawk was indicted by a federal grand jury in June of 2023. He pleaded guilty on February 5, 2024. In April of 2023, Yellow Hawk was living at his grandmother’s residence in rural Gregory County, South Dakota on property that is part of the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. Yellow Hawk’s aunt and adult cousin, as well as Yellow Hawk’s three young children, also lived at the residence. On the evening of April 24, 2023, into the early morning hours of April 25, 2023, Yellow Hawk, his cousin, his aunt, and others were consuming alcohol. As the night progressed, an argument began between Yellow Hawk and his cousin, which included physical contact by both parties. The fight between the two escalated, culminating with Yellow Hawk grabbing his shotgun. Yellow Hawk fired the gun at his cousin, striking his cousin in the abdomen. Yellow Hawk maintained possession of the firearm and entered his grandmother’s bedroom where his aunt was also. To prevent another shot, Yellow Hawk’s aunt attempted to grab the gun. Her arm was near the muzzle when Yellow Hawk fired a second shot. Both victims were transported to Sioux Falls for medical treatment and required surgery for their injuries. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court. This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, the Gregory County Sheriff’s Office, the Burke Police Department, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abby Roesler prosecuted the case. Yellow Hawk was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Justice Department Secures Relief from Hyundai Capital America to Compensate Servicemembers Whose Civil Rights Were Violated

body_text: LOS ANGELES – The Justice Department announced today that Hyundai Capital America has agreed to pay $333,941 to resolve allegations that it violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by illegally repossessing 26 vehicles owned by servicemembers. “We are fully committed to protecting the rights of servicemembers, who give so much to protecting our country,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California. “Something as simple as a vehicle repossession can have a significant impact on a servicemember’s peace of mind as he or she deploys in defense of the United States. We will continue to enforce the rights of servicemembers so that they can perform their duties without having to worry about unlawful actions at home.” “Members of our Armed Forces should not have to worry about having their cars repossessed while they are in military service,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department remains steadfast in its commitment to enforcing laws that safeguard the rights of our servicemembers so that they can devote their full energy and attention to the defense of our country.” The SCRA is a federal law that provides legal and financial protections for servicemembers and their families. The law prevents an auto finance or leasing company from repossessing a servicemember’s vehicle without first obtaining a court order, as long as the servicemember made at least one payment on the vehicle before entering military service. In a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, the department alleges that in June 2015, Navy Airman Jessica Johnson faxed Hyundai her enlistment orders with a statement that her vehicle could not be repossessed without a court order while she was on active duty service. On July 27, 2017, she told a Hyundai customer service agent that she was still in the military. Nevertheless, on or about July 30, 2017, Hyundai repossessed her 2014 Hyundai Elantra without a court order. In October 2017, Hyundai sold the car for $7,400. At the time, Navy Airman Johnson still owed $13,796 on the auto loan. The complaint also alleges that between April 15, 2015, and May 21, 2023, Hyundai unlawfully repossessed 25 additional motor vehicles owned or leased by SCRA-protected servicemembers. Under the consent order, Hyundai has agreed to pay $10,000 plus any lost equity to each servicemember whose vehicle was repossessed and a $74,941 payment to the United States. The consent order also requires Hyundai to repair the servicemembers’ credit, provide SCRA training to its employees and implement policies and procedures that comply with the SCRA. Hyundai Capital America is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyundai Motor America and Kia America and one of the top10 captive auto-finance companies in the United States, providing indirect vehicle financing for retail and lease customers of Hyundai, Genesis and Kia dealerships nationwide. Assistant United States Attorney Katherine Hikida of the Civil Division’s Civil Rights Section and attorneys from the Housing and Civil Enforcement Section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division handled this matter. Since 2011, the Justice Department has obtained over $481 million in monetary relief for over 147,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. For more information about the department’s SCRA enforcement efforts, please visit www.servicemembers.gov . Servicemembers and their dependents who believe that their rights under the SCRA have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations can be found at legalassistance.law.af.mil .


title: New York Man Admits Possessing Cocaine and Fentanyl with Intent to Distibute

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – – A New Jersey man pleaded guilty today to possession of cocaine and fentanyl with intent to distribute, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Kedwin Ramon Then Gutierrez, 35, of Bronx, New York, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Christine P. O’Hearn in Camden federal court to an information charging him with one count of possession of cocaine and fentanyl with intent to distribute. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: On May 1, 2023, Gutierrez travelled from his home in New York to a rest station in Burlington County, New Jersey, where he gave a box containing over $200,000 to Mauricio Silva Jr. In return, Silva gave Gutierrez a black duffel bag containing approximately 27 kilograms of cocaine and nine kilograms of fentanyl. Silva is charged by complaint and those charges remain pending. The count to which Gutierrez pleaded guilty is punishable by a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 10, 2024. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Field Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph McFarlane of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden. The charges and allegations in the complaint against Silva are merely accusations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. gutierrez.information.pdf


title: Lansing Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Illegal Gun Possession

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that Tyrone Lekese Hooper, 25, of Lansing, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. Hooper pled guilty to one count of felon in possession of firearms and one count of felon in possession of ammunition. “Mr. Hooper is a serial offender who has brazenly defied the law,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten . “He has been caught with guns in his possession multiple times despite being a felon and prohibited from having them. Furthermore, his lawlessness put the lives of two young children in danger. My office will continue our efforts to keep guns out of the hands of felons, focused on those who drive violence in our communities.” In June 2022, a two-year-old child found a gun in Hooper’s apartment and accidentally shot himself in the arm. Police found the gun used by the child, and two additional guns, in Hooper’s car. Five months later, in November 2022, a different two-year-old child found a different gun in Hooper’s apartment and accidentally shot himself. Both children survived. In addition, police pulled over Hooper’s car in February 2023 and, after arresting him on an open warrant, found a pistol in the glove compartment and a pistol with a drum magazine (pictured above) in Hooper’s backpack in the backseat. Three months later, police pulled over Hooper’s car and found another gun in the glove compartment. “I applaud U.S. Attorney Mark Totten and his team for their diligence in addressing these criminals who believe they can live a criminal life with no consequences,” said Lansing Police Chief Ellery Sosebee . “This is just one of many examples that hopefully show that criminals will be held accountable, and that Lansing is working hard with our federal partners to make the city a safer place.” “It is deeply troubling to see the flagrant disregard for the law exhibited by habitual firearms offender Tyrone Hooper,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan . “The consequences of such recklessness are evident in the tragic incidents where two young children have suffered due to the irresponsible actions of an individual who should not have possessed a firearm in the first place. I want to thank the East Lansing Police Department for their outstanding partnership. This investigation highlights the critical importance of law enforcement working together to enforce firearms regulations to prevent such senseless tragedies from recurring in our community.” This case was investigated by the Lansing Police Department, the East Lansing Police Department, the Michigan State University Police Department, the Michigan State Police, and the FBI, and prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Pulda. ###


title: Johnstown Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Trafficking Large Quantities of Fentanyl, Heroin, Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Crack

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – A resident of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, was sentenced in federal court to 144 months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, on his convictions of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. United States Senior District Judge Kim R. Gibson imposed the sentence on Dwight Logan, 44. According to information presented to the Court, from in and around April 2019 to in and around July 2021, in the Western District of Pennsylvania, Logan conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base in the form commonly known as crack, and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin. Further, in and around July 2021, Logan possessed with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine and methamphetamine. Logan was intercepted on a federal wiretap obtaining quantities of the drugs that he distributed to others. Assistant United States Attorney Maureen Sheehan-Balchon prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Olshan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Laurel Highlands Resident Agency and Homeland Security Investigations for the investigation that led to the successful prosecution of Logan. Additional agencies participating in the investigation included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, Cambria County District Attorney’s Office, Indiana County District Attorney’s Office, Cambria County Sheriff’s Office, Cambria Township Police Department, Indiana Borough Police Department, Johnstown Police Department, Upper Yoder Township Police Department, Richland Police Department, Ferndale Police Department, and other local law enforcement agencies. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Seven members and associates of large-scale gas pump skimming device organization charged with racketeering and money laundering conspiracies

component: Criminal Division

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – An indictment was unsealed today in the Eastern District of Virginia charging seven men with racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations (RICO) conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy in connection with their alleged participation in a large-scale gas pump skimming device organization. According to court documents, the defendants, led by Eduardo Rodriguez, also known as Ogbe Bara, 40, of Fort Myers, Florida, allegedly installed skimming devices on gas pumps throughout the United States to fraudulently collect credit and debit card information from customers. From 2014 to April 2024, they allegedly used the stolen card data to create fraudulent credit and debit cards, which they used to purchase items including gift cards and electronics, to make ATM withdrawals, and to make cashback purchases from retail stores. Members and associates of the organization also used “fences” to sell the illegally obtained items for cash. The defendants also allegedly engaged in acts involving access device fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, interstate transportation of stolen goods, and the sale and receipt of stolen goods. In addition to Eduardo Rodriguez, the following defendants have been charged in the indictment: Idalberto Rivero, also known as El Monstro, El Mostro, and Monster, 53, of Miami Anyelo Jesus Muino Ayala, also known as Justin Bieber, 26, of Miami Pedro Raul Zequeira Alvarez, also known as Yery Yery, 33, of Miami Raul Ferrao Pons, also known as Rauli and Ninja, 32, of Miami Jorge Enrique Fonseca Vazquez, also known as Ogberoso, 32, of Miami Luis Gustavo Diaz, also known as Ogberdi, 39, of Miami The defendants are charged with one count of RICO conspiracy and one count of money laundering conspiracy. If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia; Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Special Agent in Charge Brian Dugan of the FBI Norfolk Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Norfolk, Miami, Tampa, New York, and Albany Field Offices and Ft. Myers Resident Agency; U.S. Secret Service; Virginia State Police; Northampton County (Virginia) Sheriff’s Office; Norfolk Police Department; and Mooresville (North Carolina) Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen S. Taylor and Clayton D. LaForge for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney Ben Tonkin of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case, with assistance from the Southern District of Florida, the Middle District of Florida, the District of New Jersey, and the Southern District of New York. 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-28. An indictment is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.


title: Two Former Florida Residents Indicted for Defrauding Rental Property Investors

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Two former residents of Hudson, Florida, now living in Panama, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Johnstown on fraud charges, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. The two-count Indictment named Paul Andrew Gulbronson, 58, and Kelly Jurado Bonilla, 35. According to the Indictment, from in and around May 2017 until in and around June 2019, Gulbronson and Bonilla conspired to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, and committed wire fraud. Gulbronson and Bonilla owned and operated Citrona Homes LLC, which had offices in Holiday, Florida, and in Johnstown, and solicited investments. The purported business plan of Citrona, as represented to some of the investors, was to purchase low-value, distressed, or vacant properties, renovate them, ensure they complied with applicable building codes, rent the properties, and sell the properties to investors at or under market value. The defendants told investors that Citrona would manage the properties, provide no-cost maintenance and repairs for the first two years, pay the utilities for a small monthly fee, and thus generate a stream of guaranteed passive income for the investors. The Indictment alleges that Gulbronson and Bonilla instead used Citrona as a mechanism for enriching themselves by defrauding investors into purchasing unrenovated properties at prices far above the fair market value of the properties through a series of false pretenses, representations, and promises. These included, among others, false claims of offering “fully renovated, fully vetted and rented Section 8 and Subsidized Housing” when properties were often not fully renovated at the time of the sale or within the specified period after the sale; providing fictitious invoices to investors as evidence that property renovations were completed; the use of fake names to help conceal Gulbronson’s identity; and the payment of a local real estate broker to display the broker’s license on the wall of Citrona’s management office in Johnstown as their own. The defendants also made payments to investors purported to be rental income when the money actually came from the sale of other Citrona properties, and informed investors that property repairs and rentals were being made when no efforts were being made to remedy those issues. According to the Indictment, Citrona contracted with at least 70 investors on the purchase of $5.3 million in properties in the Johnstown area during the two-year period, which the defendants originally purchased for $1.2 million. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 60 years in prison, a fine of up to $2 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, if any, of the defendants. Assistant United States Attorneys Brendan T. Conway and Maureen Sheehan-Balchon are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Delaware County Man Currently Incarcerated for Murder, Robbery, and Firearm Crimes Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Methylfentanyl and Cocaine Violations

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A resident of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 60 months in prison on his conviction of possessing trans-3-methylfentanyl, cis-3-methylfentanyl, and cocaine with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. United States District Judge Robert J. Colville imposed the sentence on Jamir Hughes, 23. According to information presented to the Court, on May 27, 2020, Hughes possessed 17 grams of a mixture of trans-3-methylfentanyl and cis-3-methylfentanyl and 115 grams of cocaine in a vehicle that was traveling on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Hughes was on his way from the Philadelphia area to Butler, where he intended to distribute the controlled substances, when Pennsylvania State Police stopped the vehicle in Somerset County and seized the controlled substances. In 2023, Hughes was convicted in two prosecutions in Pennsylvania state courts—the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas and the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas— of committing third-degree murder, robbery, and firearm crimes. He was sentenced in Delaware County to 25-60 years in prison, and in Philadelphia County to 3.5-7 years in prison. Judge Colville directed that 12 months of Hughes’s 60-month federal prison sentence in this case be served consecutive to the Philadelphia County and Delaware County sentences, with the remaining 48 months of the federal sentence to be served concurrently. Judge Colville also directed that Hughes serve four years of supervised release following his federal prison sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States. United States Attorney Olshan commended the Pennsylvania State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Butler County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Hughes.


title: Former Memphis Police Officer Charged with Federal Civil Rights, Kidnapping and Weapons Offenses Related to Fatal Shooting

body_text: A federal grand jury in Memphis, Tennessee, returned an eight-count indictment today charging former Memphis Police Officer Patric J. Ferguson with federal civil rights, kidnapping and weapons offenses in connection with the fatal shooting of a victim identified as R.H. The indictment also charges Ferguson and a civilian, Joshua M. Rogers, with federal offenses for conspiring to cover up the fatal shooting and destroying evidence of the crimes. The indictment further charges Rogers with accessory after the fact for helping Ferguson cover up his crimes. The indictment alleges that, on or about Jan. 5, 2021, Ferguson, while on duty as a Memphis Police Department officer, kidnapped and shot R.H. in the head, resulting in R.H.’s death. Ferguson then allegedly conspired with Rogers to cover up the fatal shooting by disposing of R.H.’s body in the Wolf River in Memphis. The indictment further alleges that Rogers disposed of the car used to transport R.H.’s body by selling the car at a scrap metal dealership. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee and Special Agent in Charge Douglas DePodesta of the FBI Memphis Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Memphis Field Office's Tarnished Badge Task Force and Memphis Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Pritchard for the Western District of Tennessee and Trial Attorneys Maura White and Tenette Smith of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section 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.


title: Seven Members and Associates of Large-Scale Gas Pump Skimming Device Organization Charged with Racketeering and Money Laundering Conspiracies

body_text: An indictment was unsealed today in the Eastern District of Virginia charging seven men with racketeer influenced and corrupt organizations (RICO) conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy in connection with their alleged participation in a large-scale gas pump skimming device organization. According to court documents, the defendants, led by Eduardo Rodriguez, also known as Ogbe Bara, 40, of Fort Myers, Florida, allegedly installed skimming devices on gas pumps throughout the United States to fraudulently collect credit and debit card information from customers. From 2014 to April 2024, they allegedly used the stolen card data to create fraudulent credit and debit cards, which they used to purchase items including gift cards and electronics, to make ATM withdrawals, and to make cashback purchases from retail stores. Members and associates of the organization also used “fences” to sell the illegally obtained items for cash. The defendants also allegedly engaged in acts involving access device fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud, interstate transportation of stolen goods, and the sale and receipt of stolen goods. In addition to Eduardo Rodriguez, the following defendants have been charged in the indictment: Idalberto Rivero, also known as El Monstro, El Mostro, and Monster, 53, of Miami Anyelo Jesus Muino Ayala, also known as Justin Bieber, 26, of Miami Pedro Raul Zequeira Alvarez, also known as Yery Yery, 33, of Miami Raul Ferrao Pons, also known as Rauli and Ninja, 32, of Miami Jorge Enrique Fonseca Vazquez, also known as Ogberoso, 32, of Miami Luis Gustavo Diaz, also known as Ogberdi, 39, of Miami The defendants are charged with one count of RICO conspiracy and one count of money laundering conspiracy. If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. 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; and Special Agent in Charge Brian Dugan of the FBI Norfolk Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Norfolk, Miami, Tampa, New York, and Albany Field Offices and Ft. Myers Resident Agency; U.S. Secret Service; Virginia State Police; Northampton County (Virginia) Sheriff’s Office; Norfolk Police Department; and Mooresville (North Carolina) Police Department are investigating the case. Trial Attorney Ben Tonkin of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen S. Taylor and Clayton D. LaForge for the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case, with assistance from the Southern District of Florida, the Middle District of Florida, the District of New Jersey, and the Southern District of New York. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Uintah County Man Charged in Death Resulting Drug Crime

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: Salt Lake City, Utah – A Utah man was ordered to remain in custody by a U.S. Magistrate Judge for his alleged involvement in a death resulting drug case from Uintah County, Utah. On April 17, 2024, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging the defendant with supplying fentanyl to a victim that killed her. According to court documents, Jerod Arthur Young, 48, of Fort Duchesne, Utah, intentionally distributed fentanyl to the victim on November 15, 2023, which resulted in her death. During the investigation, law enforcement determined from the victim’s phone that she communicated with Young and engaged in a financial transaction with him around her time of death. The fentanyl pill near her body when she was found deceased tested positive for fentanyl, and a medical examiner determined that the cause of the victim’s death was fentanyl toxicity, and that the amount of fentanyl in the victim’s system was toxic and lethal. Young is charged with distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. His initial court appearance on the indictment was May 1, 2024, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. A three day trial is scheduled for July 9, 2024. U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office’s Vernal Resident Agency. Assistant United States Attorney Sam Pead of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting 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. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.