title: U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar Charged with Bribery and Acting as a Foreign Agent

component: Criminal Division

body_text: An indictment was unsealed today in the Southern District of Texas charging U.S. Congressman Enrique Roberto “Henry” Cuellar, 68, and his wife, Imelda Cuellar, 67, both of Laredo, Texas, with participating in two schemes involving bribery, unlawful foreign influence, and money laundering. Congressman Cuellar and Imelda Cuellar made their initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Palermo in Houston. According to court documents, beginning in at least December 2014 and continuing through at least November 2021, Congressman Cuellar and Imelda Cuellar allegedly accepted approximately $600,000 in bribes from two foreign entities: an oil and gas company wholly owned and controlled by the Government of Azerbaijan, and a bank headquartered in Mexico City. The bribe payments were allegedly laundered, pursuant to sham consulting contracts, through a series of front companies and middlemen into shell companies owned by Imelda Cuellar, who performed little to no legitimate work under the contracts. In exchange for the bribes paid by the Azerbaijani oil and gas company, Congressman Cuellar allegedly agreed to use his office to influence U.S. foreign policy in favor of Azerbaijan. In exchange for the bribes paid by the Mexican bank, Congressman Cuellar allegedly agreed to influence legislative activity and to advise and pressure high-ranking U.S. Executive Branch officials regarding measures beneficial to the bank. Congressman Cuellar and Imelda Cuellar are each charged with the following offenses, and if convicted, face maximum penalties as indicated: two counts of conspiracy to commit bribery of a federal official and to have a public official act as an agent of a foreign principal required to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), five years imprisonment on each count; two counts of bribery of a federal official, 15 years imprisonment on each count; two counts of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, 20 years imprisonment on each count; two counts of violating the ban on public officials acting as agents of a foreign principal required to register under FARA, two years imprisonment on each count; one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, 20 years imprisonment; and five counts of money laundering, 20 years imprisonment on each count. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; and Deputy Assistant Inspector General Jason Loeffler and Special Agent in Charge Chris Hileman of the Department of State Office of Inspector General (DOS-OIG) made the announcement. The FBI and DOS-OIG investigated the case. Acting Deputy Chief Marco A. Palmieri, Acting Deputy Chief Rosaleen O’Gara, and Trial Attorney Celia Choy of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Trial Attorney Garrett Coyle of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control 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: U.S. Attorney's Office Joins in Recognizing Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day and Announces Appointment of Regional MMIP Coordinator

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon joins its partners across the federal government, as well as people throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities, in recognizing May 5, 2024, as National Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Day. The office also announced today the appointment of an MMIP Regional Coordinator based in the District of Oregon. Cedar Wilkie Gillette, who since June 2020 has served as the District of Oregon MMIP Coordinator, will now serve as regional coordinator for the Northwest Region under the Justice Department’s MMIP Regional Outreach Program. The Northwest Region includes the states of California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Ms. Wilkie Gillette will work alongside Ms. Bree R. Black Horse who was appointed in February 2024 in the Eastern District of Washington to serve as the MMIP Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northwest Region. “We are delighted that Cedar Wilkie Gillette will serve as northwest regional coordinator for the Justice Department’s MMIP Regional Outreach Program. This program is a critical next step in the department’s ongoing effort to address this crisis, which has affected tribes and communities across our region and country. Cedar is abundantly qualified for this position and we are eager for her to expand the great work she has done here in Oregon throughout the Northwest Region,” said Natalie Wight, U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. “There is still so much more to do in the face of persistently high levels of violence that Tribal communities have endured for generations, and that women and girls, particularly, have endured,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “In carrying out our work, we seek to honor those who are still missing, those who were stolen from their communities, and their loved ones who are left with unimaginable pain. Tribal communities deserve safety, and they deserve justice. This day challenges all of us at the Justice Department to double down on our efforts, and to be true partners with Tribal communities as we seek to end this crisis.” Launched in July 2023, the MMIP Regional Outreach Program permanently places 10 attorneys and coordinators in five designated regions across the United States to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered indigenous people. This support includes assisting in the investigation of unresolved MMIP cases and related crimes, and promoting communication, coordination, and collaboration among federal, tribal, local, and state law enforcement and non-governmental partners on MMIP issues. The regional outreach program program prioritizes MMIP cases consistent with the Deputy Attorney General’s July 2022 directive to U.S. Attorney’s Offices promoting public safety in Indian Country and fulfills the Justice Department’s promise to dedicate new personnel to MMIP consistent with Executive Order 14053, Improving Public Safety and Criminal Justice for Native Americans and Addressing the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People , and the department’s Federal Law Enforcement Strategy to Prevent and respond to Violence Against American Indians and Alaska Natives, Including to Address Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons issued in July 2022. The Department’s work to respond to the MMIP crisis is a whole-of-department effort. In March, the Departments of Justice and the Interior released their joint response to the Not Invisible Act Commission’s recommendations on how to combat the missing or murdered indigenous peoples and human trafficking crisis. Over the past year, the Department awarded $268 million in grants to help enhance Tribal justice systems and strengthen law enforcement responses. These awards have also gone toward improving the handling of child abuse cases, combating domestic and sexual violence, supporting Tribal youth programs, and strengthening victim services in Tribal communities. For additional information about the Department of Justice’s efforts to address the MMIP crisis, please visit the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons section of the Tribal Safety and Justice website . Click here for more information about reporting or identifying missing persons. In early 2022, the District of Oregon established an MMIP Working Group to increase multi-agency communication and collaboration in support of and response to Oregon-connected MMIP cases. The working group includes representatives from each of the nine federally recognized Tribes in Oregon, the FBI, Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of Interior Regional Solicitor’s Office, U.S. Marshals Service, Oregon Department of Justice, Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office, and Oregon State Police. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 2020, Ms. Wilkie Gillette served as a law fellow for Earthjustice, a nonprofit environmental law organization. She has a juris doctorate from the Vermont Law School and a bachelor’s degree in applied social justice and human rights activism from the University of Minnesota. Ms. Wilkie Gillette is an enrolled member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation and a direct descendant of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. She has conducted extensive research on indigenous human rights and environmental justice issues.


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

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – The Justice Department joins its partners across the federal government, as well as people throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities, in recognizing May 5 as National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Day. In recognition of MMIP Awareness Day, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced ongoing efforts to tackle the MMIP and human trafficking crisis in American Indian and Alaska Native communities, and other pressing public safety challenges such as the fentanyl crisis in Tribal communities. “There is still so much more to do in the face of persistently high levels of violence that Tribal communities have endured for generations, and that women and girls, particularly, have endured,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “In carrying out our work, we seek to honor those who are still missing, those who were stolen from their communities, and their loved ones who are left with unimaginable pain. Tribal communities deserve safety, and they deserve justice. This day challenges all of us at the Justice Department to double down on our efforts, and to be true partners with Tribal communities as we seek to end this crisis.” “As I meet with each of our 25 Tribes, safety in our indigenous communities is always top of mind. At every visit we hear how fentanyl is impacting tribal communities and the need to prosecute outsiders dealing drugs that put tribal members at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. “We are working to stop the flow of fentanyl and are working to build the law enforcement relationships that are critical if a tribal member goes missing. This outreach to our sovereign tribal partners is one of the most critical and rewarding parts of my job as U.S. Attorney.” Justice Department Prioritization of MMIP Cases Last July, the Justice Department announced the creation of the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program , which permanently places 10 attorneys and coordinators in five designated regions across the United States to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people. The five regions include the Northwest, Southwest, Great Plains, Great Lakes, and Southeast Regions. In the Northwest Region, Cedar Wilkie Gillette will serve as the MMIP coordinator working out of the District of Oregon. Wilkie Gillette is expanding her work from Oregon to the Northwest region. Wilkie Gillette will gather reliable data to identify MMIP cases connected to Northwest tribes; conduct outreach with tribal communities to assist in the creation and implementation of community action plans; coordinate with tribal, local, state, and federal law enforcement in the development of protocols and procedures for responding to and addressing MMIP cases; and promote improved data collection and analyses throughout the Northwest. Adding to the Northwest MMIP team, Assistant United States Attorney Bree R. Black Horse was sworn in May 2, 2024, as the MMIP AUSA to lead regional efforts in addressing MMIP. Western Washington Tribal Liaisons J. Tate London and Michael Harder attended the ceremony on the Yakama Nation. AUSA Black Horse will work out of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Yakima. The MMIP regional program prioritizes MMIP cases consistent with the Deputy Attorney General’s July 2022 directive to U.S. Attorneys’ offices promoting public safety in Indian country. The program fulfills the Justice Department’s promise to dedicate new personnel to MMIP consistent with Executive Order 14053, Improving Public Safety and Criminal Justice for Native Americans and Addressing the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People , and the Department’s Federal Law Enforcement Strategy to Prevent and respond to Violence Against American Indians and Alaska Natives, Including to Address Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons issued in July 2022. Addressing Violent Crime and the Fentanyl Crisis in Indian Country As noted in the joint response to the NIAC, research suggests that certain public safety challenges faced by many American Indian and Alaska Native communities—including disproportionate violence against women, families, and children; substance abuse; drug trafficking; and labor and sex trafficking—can influence the rates of missing AI/AN persons. Further, fentanyl poisoning and overdose deaths are the leading cause of opioid deaths throughout the United States, including Indian county, where drug-related overdose death rates for Native Americans exceeds the national rate. Therefore, federal law enforcement components are ramping up efforts to forge stronger partnerships with federal and Tribal law enforcement partners to address violent crime and the fentanyl crisis, which exposes already vulnerable communities to greater harm. In the Western District of Washington federal, tribal, and state law enforcement worked together to arrest and prosecute drug dealers impacting tribal communities: A Monroe man dealing heroin and fentanyl ; A Bellingham man dealing fentanyl while armed ; and a Maple Falls man was sentenced to six years in prison . Accessing Department of Justice Resources Over the past year, the Department awarded $268 million in grants to help enhance Tribal justice systems and strengthen law enforcement responses. These awards have also gone toward improving the handling of child abuse cases, combating domestic and sexual violence, supporting Tribal youth programs, and strengthening victim services in Tribal communities. For additional information about the Department of Justice’s efforts to address the MMIP crisis, please visit the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons section of the Tribal Safety and Justice website . Click here for more information about reporting or identifying missing persons.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office staff lend support to incarcerated citizens prior to their release

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – Approximately 100 incarcerated citizens recently attended an Institutional Re-Entry Seminar at the South Florida Reception Center, South Unit Correctional Institution in Doral, Florida, and U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) staff was there to help those scheduled to leave prison reintegrate more seamlessly. The seminar, a collaboration with the South Florida Reentry Task Force, featured 15 agencies, to include social workers, probation officers and re-entry specialists. A guest speaker—formerly incarcerated himself—gave a portion of his life story, telling the soon-to-be returning citizens how he turned his life around and motivating them to do the same. “These men need to be ready for the challenges they will face when reintegrating,” said Community Outreach Specialist Corey Mackay, Law Enforcement Coordination/Community Outreach Section (LEC/COS), USAO. “They need to use every available resource, and if they do that, they can be successful.” USAO staff provided resource materials with hundreds of community stakeholder contacts to assist with housing, health care, legal assistance and jobs. The worst thing society can do is fail to support returning citizens when they rejoin their communities. That is when they need support the most. “These events are one of the most important that we participate in,” said Mackay. “These men still have a lot to offer. We absolutely need to support them during their transition. We want them to succeed. If they are living in your neighborhood, would you rather they succeed or reoffend?” “That statistic needs to change,” said LEC/COS Chief and former Police Supervisor J.D. Smith. “I always say that when our returning citizens do well, our communities do well. We need to make their success a priority, and these seminars are a step in the right direction. But we can do more, especially with housing and helping them find jobs.” Supportive non-profit re-entry organizations offer job readiness training, vocational training, and in some cases job placement. Many of these organizations also are able to help with housing through donations, beginning with transitional housing and hopefully leading to long-term housing. “Stability is key,” said Smith. “Imagine trying to reintegrate into a community and you don’t have stable housing. Being homeless is the wrong answer. They need to feel a sense of independence to fully embrace re-entry. And a job and a roof over their heads will give them a better chance to prosper.” ###


title: Settlement Reached with Nail Salon for Violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act

component: USAO - North Carolina, Middle

body_text: GREENSBORO - The U.S. Attorney’s Office has reached a settlement with a Raeford, North Carolina nail salon to resolve allegations that the salon violated the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”) by refusing to provide pedicure services to a customer unless she transferred from her wheelchair to a pedicure chair, announced U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Hairston. Pursuant to the settlement, Modern Nails agreed to adopt and conspicuously post a non-discrimination policy, to ensure that its staff understand the policy, and to pay $500 to the complainant in this case. The Department of Justice’s enforcement efforts under the ADA seek equal opportunity and dignity in all aspects of life, including access to public accommodations such as nail salons. This settlement agreement is the eighth agreement that the Department of Justice has reached with a nail salon through its U.S. Attorney Program for ADA Enforcement, and the second in the Middle District of North Carolina. In June 2021, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina entered a settlement agreement resolving an allegation that a nail salon in Durham, North Carolina, refused to provide services to an individual with HIV. In June 2022, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana reached a settlement agreement with a nail salon in Harahan, Louisiana, to resolve an allegation that an individual was refused services because of the inability to transfer out of their wheelchair. In February 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey entered a settlement agreement with a nail salon in Ocean County, New Jersey, to resolve allegations that the salon discriminates against individuals with mobility impairments. In June 2023, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona reached a settlement agreement with a nail salon in San Tan Valley, Arizona, to resolve allegations that the nail salon discriminated against a customer with paraplegia because she uses a wheelchair and does not have complete hand function. In October 2023, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Kansas entered a settlement agreement with a nail salon in Kansas City, Kansas, to resolve allegations that the salon refused nail services to a woman with cerebral palsy who used a motorized wheelchair. In February 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York reached a settlement agreement with a nail salon in Williamsville, New York, to resolve allegations that the salon refused to allow a customer with a service animal enter the salon. In March 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona reached a settlement agreement with a nail salon in Chandler, Arizona to resolve allegations that the salon refused equal services to those using a wheelchair. Additional information about the ADA, including information on how to file a complaint, can be found at www.ada.gov . ###


title: U.S. Attorney Thompson and Law Enforcement Officials to Provide Update Regarding Largest Methamphetamine Seizure in West Virginia History

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – United States Attorney Will Thompson will join with law enforcement officials on Monday, May 6, 2024, at 11 a.m. to provide an update regarding the ongoing major drug trafficking prosecution involving the largest methamphetamine seizure in West Virginia history. WHAT: Update regarding major drug trafficking prosecution (“Operation Smoke & Mirrors”) WHEN: Monday, May 6, 2024, at 11 a.m. WHERE: Fifth floor, Robert C. Byrd United States Courthouse, Charleston A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. ###


title: Former Postal Employee Sentenced To 15 Months In Federal Prison For Conspiracy To Commit Bank Fraud And Wire Fraud

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Greenbelt , Maryland – On May 2, 2024, U.S. District Judge Lydia K. Griggsby sentenced Alexus Paige Tyson, age 28, a resident of Hyattsville, Maryland, to 15 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for participation in a conspiracy whereby she used her position as a United States Postal Service (“USPS”) mail carrier to wrongfully access checks, money orders, and personal mail put into the mail by victims. That information was then used by a co-conspirator, Travis Nnamani, to create counterfeit checks to take money from victims’ bank accounts. In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Griggsby ordered Tyson to pay restitution of $129,967.22 to her victims. According to her plea agreement, between August 2019 and October, 2020, Tyson assisted Nnamani to create fraudulent checks using victims’ personal information that Tyson and others at the United States Postal Service took from checks and other documents that victims placed into the mail system. In many instances, checks or other documents mailed by victims were photographed by Tyson or other USPS employees and then the documents were put back into the mail with the victims not knowing their information had been stolen. That information would then be used by Nnamani to create false checks using that information to access funds in victims’ bank accounts. Tyson also played a role as a recruiter of other employees at the USPS to engage in similar conduct, including selling federal stimulus checks they took from the mail. Tyson was the last of three defendants, including Nnamani and another USPS postal worker, Breanna Cartledge, to be sentenced in this case. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the United States Postal Inspection Service for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Darren S. Gardner, who prosecuted the federal case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Justice Department Strengthens Efforts, Builds Partnerships to Address Violent Crime in Indian Country

component: USAO - Wyoming

body_text: The Justice Department joins its partners across the federal government, as well as people throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities, in recognizing May 5 as National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Day. In recognition of MMIP Awareness Day, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced stepped up and continued efforts to tackle violent crime and other pressing public safety challenges, like the fentanyl crisis, which have negatively affected Native Americans, exacerbating violence and addiction in already vulnerable communities. “There is still so much more to do in the face of persistently high levels of violence that Tribal communities have endured for generations, and that women and girls, particularly, have endured,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “In carrying out our work, we seek to honor those who are still missing, those who were stolen from their communities, and their loved ones who are left with unimaginable pain. Tribal communities deserve safety, and they deserve justice. This day challenges all of us at the Justice Department to double down on our efforts, and to be true partners with Tribal communities as we seek to end this crisis.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to maintaining and improving public safety on the Wind River Indian Reservation by assisting in investigations and prosecuting crimes committed there, including crimes involving missing and murdered Indigenous persons. Since 1995, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has maintained a branch office in Lander, Wyoming, to serve the Reservation. The staff of the Lander office, consisting of three experienced federal prosecutors and a paralegal, is focused on prosecuting violent crimes and drug trafficking crimes committed on the Reservation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office recently moved one of those three prosecutors from Cheyenne to Lander and it also added a fourth prosecutor, located in Cheyenne, to its Indian Country Prosecution Team. One of the prosecutors in Lander also serves as the office’s Tribal Liaison. In that role, she continually engages with Tribal and law enforcement officials, and other stakeholders, on the Reservation. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office works closely with our federal, Tribal, state, and local law enforcement partners in and around the Reservation,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas Vassallo. “We could not be effective without these partnerships.” Like the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI maintains an office in Lander to investigate crimes committed on the Reservation. In addition, the Bureau of Indian Affairs operates the Wind River Police Department and employs special agents on the Reservation. Justice Department Prioritization of MMIP Cases Last July, the Justice Department announced the creation of the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program , which permanently places 10 attorneys and coordinators in five designated regions across the United States to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people. The five regions include the Northwest, Southwest, Great Plains, Great Lakes, and Southeast Regions. The MMIP regional program prioritizes MMIP cases consistent with the Deputy Attorney General’s July 2022 directive to U.S. Attorneys’ offices promoting public safety in Indian country. The program fulfills the Justice Department’s promise to dedicate new personnel to MMIP consistent with Executive Order 14053, Improving Public Safety and Criminal Justice for Native Americans and Addressing the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People , and the Department’s Federal Law Enforcement Strategy to Prevent and respond to Violence Against American Indians and Alaska Natives, Including to Address Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons issued in July 2022. In Wyoming, the FBI is currently engaged in a data collection project to further refine its understanding of the MMIP situation in the state and determine what additional resources the FBI can bring to address the problem. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office fully supports the FBI’s MMIP project,” said U.S. Attorney Vassallo, “and we encourage the public to report what they know about any missing or murdered Indigenous persons.” The FBI has set up a designated email account, wymmip@fbi.gov, to collect information from citizens across Wyoming who might have information about unsolved cases involving missing tribal members or Native Americans whose murders have not been solved. Whether these cases were never reported, were never properly investigated, or new information is available, the FBI wants to hear about it. People can also leave a message at 307-433-3221. All callers who leave a name and phone number will receive a return call. Not Invisible Act Commission Response In March, the Departments of Justice and the Interior released their joint response to the Not Invisible Act Commission’s recommendations on how to combat violent crime in Indian Country, including missing or murdered Indigenous persons cases and human trafficking cases. The NIAC response, announced by Attorney General Garland during a visit to the Crow Nation, recognizes that more must be done across the federal government to help resolve this longstanding issue and support healing from the generational traumas that Indigenous peoples have endured throughout the history of the United States. Addressing Violent Crime and the Fentanyl Crisis in Indian Country As noted in the joint response to the NIAC, research suggests that certain public safety challenges faced by many American Indian and Alaska Native communities—including violence against women, families, and children; substance abuse; drug trafficking; and labor and sex trafficking—increase the number of missing and murdered Indigenous persons. Further, fentanyl poisoning and overdose deaths are the leading cause of opioid deaths throughout the United States, including Indian County. In response, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and its law enforcement partners have ramped up efforts to address the fentanyl crisis and related violent crime. In Wyoming, the FBI leads the Safe Trails Task Force, which investigates drug trafficking on the Wind River Indian Reservation, and in surrounding communities, with an emphasis on stopping the distribution of fentanyl. In addition to the FBI, task force members include the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, the Wyoming Highway Patrol, the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, the Riverton Police Department, and the Lander Police Department. Accessing Department of Justice Resources Over the past year, the Department awarded $268 million in grants to help enhance Tribal justice systems and strengthen law enforcement responses. These awards have also gone toward improving the handling of child abuse cases, combating domestic and sexual violence, supporting Tribal youth programs, and strengthening victim services in Tribal communities. For additional information about the Department of Justice’s efforts to address the MMIP problem, please visit the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons section of the Tribal Safety and Justice website at https://www.justice.gov/tribal/mmip. For information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming and the cases we prosecute, please visit the News section of the office’s website at https://www.justice.gov/usaowy/pr. For more information about reporting or identifying missing persons, please visit the Justice Department’s Report and Identify Missing Persons website at https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-and-identify-missing-persons.


title: Convicted Felon Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Prison for Possessing a Firearm and Ammunition while on Federal Supervised Release

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, specifically a loaded Taurus 9mm pistol with an obliterated serial number. At the time of the offense, the defendant was on supervised release after serving a federal prison sentence for firearm and drug convictions. Tevin Abercrombie, 29, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to 78 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. In January 2024, Abercrombie was convicted by a federal jury of one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. In April 2020, while responding to shorts fired, officers stopped a vehicle that was of interest. During that stop, Abercrombie was found to be in possession of a black Taurus 9mm pistol with an obliterated serial number loaded with one round in the chamber and an additional seven rounds of 9mm ammunition in the magazine. In 2016, Abercrombie was convicted in federal court of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and conspiracy to distribute cocaine base, cocaine and heroin and sentenced to 60 months in prison. Abercrombie was on federal supervised release at the time of this offense. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Dawley and Fred M. Wyshak, III of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit 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: Baton Rouge Woman Sentenced to Three Years in Federal Prison for Defrauding COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Programs

component: USAO - Louisiana, Middle

body_text: United States Attorney Ronald C. Gathe, Jr. announced that Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick sentenced Linda Gurvin, age 56, a resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to 36 months in federal prison following her convictions for wire fraud and unlawful monetary transactions. Following her release from federal prison, she will be required to serve three years supervised release. The Court further sentenced Gurvin to pay $496,673.78 in restitution to the United States Small Business Administration and ordered her to forfeit an additional $447,600 in proceeds from her offenses. Previously in this investigation, the United States seized a 2020 Range Rover that Gurvin purchased with fraudulent proceeds, and at today’s sentencing, the Court ordered her interest in the vehicle forfeited. According to admissions made as part of her guilty pleas, Gurvn submitted six fraudulent applications seeking more than $1 million in federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), funds that were designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who were suffering from the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Gurvin filed several applications in the names of businesses that she had formed prior to the pandemic but which had had closed years earlier. She then filed two fraudulent applications in the names of new entities she formed after the start of the pandemic, solely for the purposes of her scheme—a purported non-profit entity that she called Gurvin’s Marine & Air Force Guardian Angels Foundation, and an entity she called Heaven’s Paradise Church of All Nations. Throughout the applications, Gurvin made false representations regarding the businesses and their operations, and she submitted fraudulent documents intended to bolster the applications, such as fraudulent documents that purported to be the businesses’ federal tax filings. Based on the false representations, Gurvin attempted to obtain more than $1 million in COVID-19 relief funds and actually received more than $440,000. Meanwhile, as Gurvin received proceeds from the applications, she made frequent transactions to move the funds among numerous bank accounts that she controlled at the time, before spending the funds on personal expenses and purchases, such as by making large down payments on a 2020 Land Rover Range Rover and a 2021 Volkswagen Atlas. This case was investigated by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Small Business Administration - Office of Inspector General. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Alan A. Stevens, who also serves as Senior Litigation Counsel, and J. Brad Casey.


title: Informational: Federal Court arraignments

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt: Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on May 2 was: James Vernon Day, Jr., 55, of Thompson Falls, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and possession of an unregistered firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Day faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Day was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Sanders County Sheriff’s Office and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-23. Appearing on April 29 was: Edward Wayne Brock, 66, and Jane Ami McGovern, 55, both of Missoula, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Brock and McGovern face a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Brock and McGovern were detained pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Missoula County Sheriff’s Office and Montana Highway Patrol investigated the case. PACER case reference. 24-6. Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on April 30 was: Dalton Michael Williams, 22, of Billings, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Williams faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Williams was released pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Sweet Grass County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-153. Isaac James Cardona, 45, of Belgrade, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. If convicted of the most serious crime, Cardona faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Cardona was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Belgrade Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 24-11. Appearing on a criminal complaint was: Oscar Enrique Ruiz Rojas, 25, of Gallatin Gateway, on charges of alien in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Rojas faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Rojas was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. PACER case reference. 24-24. Appearing on April 29 and pleading not guilty was: John Michael Hadler, 37, of Billings, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. If convicted of the most serious crime, Hadler faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Hadler was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-53. The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html . To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl . XXX


component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, joins the Department of Justice and our partners across the federal government, as well as people throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities, in recognizing May 5 as National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Day. In recognition of MMIP Awareness Day, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced stepped up efforts to tackle the MMIP and human trafficking crisis in American Indian and Alaska Native communities, and other pressing public safety challenges like the fentanyl crisis which have had a disproportionate impact on Native Americans, exacerbating violence and addiction in already vulnerable communities. “There is still so much more to do in the face of persistently high levels of violence that Tribal communities have endured for generations, and that women and girls, particularly, have endured,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “In carrying out our work, we seek to honor those who are still missing, those who were stolen from their communities, and their loved ones who are left with unimaginable pain. Tribal communities deserve safety, and they deserve justice. This day challenges all of us at the Justice Department to double down on our efforts, and to be true partners with Tribal communities as we seek to end this crisis.” “The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin is proud to work with all of our partners – federal, state, local, and tribal governments and non-governmental organizations – to do everything possible to prevent and respond to cases of missing or murdered Indigenous people,” said U.S. Attorney Haanstad. “We are committed to pursuing justice for and providing support to victims and their loved ones.” “The FBI remains unwavering in our pledge to work with our law enforcement partners to address the violence that has disproportionately harmed Tribal communities and families,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “We will continue to prioritize our support of victims and will steadfastly pursue investigations into the crime impacting American Indian and Alaska Native communities.” “DEA’s top priority is protecting all communities from deadly drugs, like fentanyl, and drug related violent crime,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “We know that no community has been spared from these deadly threats and we are committed to keeping Tribal communities safe.” Justice Department Prioritization of MMIP Cases Last July, the Justice Department announced the creation of the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program , which permanently places 10 attorneys and coordinators in five designated regions across the United States to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people. The five regions include the Northwest, Southwest, Great Plains, Great Lakes, and Southeast Regions. The MMIP regional program prioritizes MMIP cases consistent with the Deputy Attorney General’s July 2022 directive to U.S. Attorneys’ offices promoting public safety in Indian country. The program fulfills the Justice Department’s promise to dedicate new personnel to MMIP consistent with Executive Order 14053, Improving Public Safety and Criminal Justice for Native Americans and Addressing the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People , and the Department’s Federal Law Enforcement Strategy to Prevent and respond to Violence Against American Indians and Alaska Natives, Including to Address Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons issued in July 2022. There are five federally recognized tribes in the Eastern District of Wisconsin, each of which has a unique, vibrant, and rich culture. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has resources, including a Tribal Liaison, dedicated to promoting safety and security on tribal lands and in tribal communities. Information on charged cases can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edwi/pr . Not Invisible Act Commission Response The Department’s work to respond to the MMIP crisis is a whole-of-department effort. In March, the Departments of Justice and the Interior released their joint response to the Not Invisible Act Commission’s recommendations on how to combat the MMIP and human trafficking crisis. The NIAC response, announced by Attorney General Garland during a visit to the Crow Nation, recognizes that more must be done across the federal government to resolve this longstanding crisis and support healing from the generational traumas that Indigenous peoples have endured throughout the history of the United States. Addressing Violent Crime and the Fentanyl Crisis in Indian Country As noted in the joint response to the NIAC, research suggests that certain public safety challenges faced by many American Indian and Alaska Native communities—including disproportionate violence against women, families, and children; substance abuse; drug trafficking; and labor and sex trafficking—can influence the rates of missing AI/AN persons. Further, fentanyl poisoning and overdose deaths are the leading cause of opioid deaths throughout the United States, including Indian county, where drug-related overdose death rates for Native Americans exceeds the national rate. Therefore, federal law enforcement components are ramping up efforts to forge stronger partnerships with federal and Tribal law enforcement partners to address violent crime and the fentanyl crisis, which exposes already vulnerable communities to greater harm. Accessing Department of Justice Resources Over the past year, the Department awarded $268 million in grants to help enhance Tribal justice systems and strengthen law enforcement responses. These awards have also gone toward improving the handling of child abuse cases, combating domestic and sexual violence, supporting Tribal youth programs, and strengthening victim services in Tribal communities. For additional information about the Department of Justice’s efforts to address the MMIP crisis, please visit the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons section of the Tribal Safety and Justice website . Click here for more information about reporting or identifying missing persons. # # # For further information contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov (414) 297-1700 Follow us on Twitter


title: Ghanaian National Sentenced to 48 Months’ Imprisonment for Receiving Money Stolen from Romance Scam Victims

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Emmanuel Quamey, a Ghanaian national, was sentenced by United States District Judge Carol Bagley Amon to 48 months in prison for his role in receiving and laundering stolen money which was obtained through romance scams that defrauded over a dozen vulnerable and/or elderly victims in the United States. As part of his sentence, Quamey was ordered to pay $3.3 million in forfeiture and restitution to the victims in the amount of approximately $3.8 million. Quamey pleaded guilty in October 2023 to conspiring to receive stolen money for his role in the romance scams. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Ivan J. Arvelo, Special Agent-in-Charge, Homeland Security Investigations, New York (HSI), announced the sentence. “Romance scams are callous crimes in which perpetrators steal money from vulnerable and elderly victims by taking advantage of the victims’ trust and desire to form human connections,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This sentence serves as a warning to individuals like the defendant that there are real consequences to participating in these cruel scams. This Office and our law enforcement partners are committed to bringing these fraudsters to justice and getting the victims’ money back.” Mr. Peace thanked the Special Agents of Homeland Security Investigations New York for their exemplary work on the case. As set forth in court filings, between September 2019 and March 2023, Quamey and a network of co-conspirators received over $3.8 million in fraud proceeds that were stolen from several vulnerable and elderly U.S. victims of romance scams. A “romance scam” is a type of online financial fraud that occurs when an individual user of social media or an internet dating website is targeted for fraud by a scammer posing as a potential romantic partner. The scammers use a fake persona to express strong romantic interest in the targeted victim in order to trick them into sending money to the scammer under false pretenses. The specific stories that the scammers use to induce romance scam victims to send money vary, but as part of the fraud, the victims are directed to wire their money to one or more bank accounts to purportedly help their romantic partners. The victims would then be defrauded of the money. Quamey was responsible for receiving and laundering the victims’ money. He personally received approximately $3.3 million of the victims’ money that was wired into bank accounts he directly controlled. Using more than a dozen bank accounts in the United States and Ghana, Quamey and his co-conspirators would then transfer the victims’ money overseas to Ghana. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Shannon C. Jones and Genny Ngai are in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Jacob Menz. Assistant United States Attorney Claire Kedeshian of the Office’s Asset Recovery Section is handling forfeiture matters in the case. The Defendant : EMMANUEL QUAMEY Age: 36 Accra, Ghana E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-226 (CBA)


title: Milwaukee Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Pharmacy Robberies and Firearms Offenses

body_text: Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on May 2, 2024, four defendants have been sentenced by United States District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller to federal prison terms for their involvement in armed robberies of pharmacies in Milwaukee and other offenses. According to public court filings, Robert K. Love (age 30) and Theodore D. Smith (age 31) carried out an armed robbery of a pharmacy in Milwaukee on November 3, 2021. Days later, on November 7, 2021, Love, Smith, and Alex M. Rollins (age 31) robbed a second pharmacy in the area. Both robberies involved the brandishing of a handgun, which was used to intimidate, threaten, and physically assault pharmacy staff. The robbers stole significant quantities of controlled substances and then sought to distribute those drugs. A federal grand jury returned indictments against Love, Smith, and Rollins, who all later pleaded guilty. Smith was sentenced on February 29, 2024, to a 15-year federal prison term. At the time he participated in the November 2021 robberies, Smith was on supervised release following an earlier federal prison term imposed for similar crimes in 2015. Rollins was sentenced on September 7, 2023, to a 6-year federal prison term. Love was sentenced on May 2, 2024, to a 14-year prison term, followed by a term of supervised release. In addition to the November 2021 robberies, Love had also carried out thefts of three handguns from federal firearms licensees in October 2021 and had made false statements to law enforcement in November 2022. Love’s co-actor in the handgun thefts, Kenta D. Tittle (age 23), was sentenced to a 22-month prison term. In announcing each of these defendants’ sentences, Judge Stadtmueller emphasized the seriousness of these crimes and their effect on individual victims and the community at large. “Pharmcy robberies cause multiple layers of harm, placing the physical safety of others at risk, traumatizing victims, and introducing controlled substances into the community,” said U.S. Attorney Haanstad. “In addition, individuals who are willing to steal firearms and get them into the hands of others through uncontrolled sales similarly pose an unacceptable risk to the safety of the neighborhoods in which we all live and work. I commend everyone who played a role in pursuing justice in these matters.” “Wisconsin residents should not be forced to live in fear of being a victim of violent crime,” said FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Hensle. “The dedicated women and men of the FBI go to great lengths to apprehend those responsible, and their efforts increase the safety of our citizens in their communities. The FBI will continue to work with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to bring individuals like these to justice,” said Hensle. “ATF stands alongside our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners, committed to investigating and prosecuting these important cases,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon of the Chicago Field Division. “These sentences send a strong message that we will use every resource at our disposal to hold those accountable for the violence in our community.” The robbery investigation was handled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Milwaukee Police Department, working as part of the FBI’s Milwaukee Area Violent Crime Task Force. Love and Tittle’s handgun thefts and related firearms offenses were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from the Germantown Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Farris Martini and Margaret B. Honrath. # # # For further information contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov (414) 297-1700 Follow us on Twitter


title: West Virginia Ambulance Services Business Owner Convicted of Tax Crimes

component: Tax Division

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – After four days of trial, a federal jury convicted Christopher Jason Smyth, 48, of Pineville, on Thursday, May 2, 2024, for failing to pay the taxes withheld from employees’ wages at an ambulance service he operated and for obstructing the IRS. According to evidence presented at trial, from 2012 through part of 2017, Smyth operated Stat EMS, LLC, an ambulance service located in Pineville, West Virginia. Smyth created Stat EMS after a previous ambulance business Smyth operated accrued millions of dollars of employment tax liabilities and filed for bankruptcy. Smyth caused Stat EMS to be founded in the name of a nominee owner but continued operating the business in the same manner as before. At Stat EMS, Smyth was responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare, and income taxes from employees’ wages and paying them to the IRS. For two quarters in 2016, Smyth, however, did not fully pay the taxes to the IRS. Instead, he paid various personal expenses and transferred funds to businesses held by his friends and family. The IRS determined that Stat EMS accrued approximately $3.3 million in unpaid taxes. Eventually, the IRS assessed the unpaid taxes against Smyth personally and attempted to collect those from him. When interviewed by an IRS revenue officer attempting to collect Smyth’s unpaid tax debts, Smyth stated that he had no personal bank accounts and denied that he used anyone else’s. In reality, however, he regularly deposited his paychecks into an account in a relative’s name. He also attempted to mislead the revenue officer by representing that he had nothing to do with several other businesses, even though he had signature authority over their bank accounts. The jury found Smyth guilty of two counts of failing to pay over taxes for two quarters in 2016 and one count of obstructing the IRS related to its efforts to collect the unpaid taxes from Smyth. It found Smyth not guilty on the failure to pay over taxes counts related to two quarters in 2017. Smyth is scheduled to be sentenced on September 4 and faces up to up to five years in prison for each failure to pay taxes count and three years in prison for obstructing the IRS. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Will Thompson for the Southern District of West Virginia made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Assistant Chief David Zisserson, and Trial Attorneys Kavitha Bondada and Andrew Ascencio of the Tax Division, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Erik Goes of the Southern District of West Virginia, prosecuted the case. United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the jury trial. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-182. ###


title: Man Indicted and Arrested for Conspiracy to Kill Persons in a Foreign Country and Firearms Violations

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On April 25, 2024, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging Aldrin Manuel Lara-Martínez with conspiracy to kill persons in a foreign country and the discharging of firearms in furtherance of a crime of violence, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney of the District of Puerto Rico. According to court documents, the government alleges that on August 16, 2023, Lara-Martínez arranged to rent a car in the Dominican Republic. On August 18, 2023, Lara-Martínez flew from Logan International Airport, in Massachusetts to Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic. On August 20, 2023, in the early morning hours, two men and one woman left a night club located on Fabio Herrera Venue and went to the fast-food place called “El Campa Berguer Meat.” While they were stopped at a traffic light, the car that Lara-Martínez had rented pulled up and Lara-Martínez opened fire into their vehicle. Two victims died as the result of gunshot wounds, and one individual suffered gunshot wounds. On August 22, 2023, the Office of the Judicial Services in the Dominican Republic issued an arrest warrant for Lara-Martínez. The Arrest Warrant sought to bring Lara-Martínez before a court in the Dominican Republic for the murder of two individuals in the Dominican Republic. As part of the search for Lara-Martínez in the Dominican Republic—Dominican Republic law enforcement created a wanted poster with Lara-Martínez’ photograph that was distributed in an effort to apprehend Lara-Martínez. In addition, to the wanted posters, Dominican Republic law enforcement conducted a large-scale manhunt for Lara-Martínez. Not only was this a law enforcement effort but multiple news outlets picked up the story of Lara-Martínez arrest warrant for murder and his status as a fugitive. Shortly after the alleged murder and the issuing of the arrest warrant—Lara-Martínez took extreme measures and an irregular means of transportation to enter the United States—and traveled on a yola type vessel with undocumented migrants in an attempt to enter the United States at a place other than a designated port of entry—where he would have not have to pass through customs and passport control. On September 29, 2023, Lara-Martínez was arrested by U.S. Coast Guard personnel after he jumped off the yola type vessel that was transporting Lara-Martínez and others to Puerto Rico. Lara-Martínez was then charged with federal offenses relating to the failure to comply with the orders of the Coast Guard. Following Lara-Martínez’ indictment with this case, the United States dismissed those other pending charges. The defendant had his detention hearing today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Héctor Ramos Vega of the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico and has been ordered detained pending trial. If convicted of Count Two alone, the Defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten-years imprisonment with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. If convicted of Count One Lara-Martínez faces a statutory maximum penalty of life imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The US Coast Guard Investigative Services is investigating the case, with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Max Pérez-Bouret, Ryan McCabe, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Helena B. Daniel from the Transnational Organized Crime Unit are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Nampa Man Sentenced for Trafficking Fentanyl Pills  Linked to an Overdose Death

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Jaycob Tyler Gonzales, age 29, of Nampa, Idaho, was sentenced after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute 40 Grams or More of Fentanyl. United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice imposed a sentence of 108 months imprisonment to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, in March of 2022, officers responded to a 911 call for an unconscious male at a home in Lewiston, Idaho. Upon arriving, officers found a man deceased from a fentanyl overdose. There was a piece of tinfoil with a fentanyl pill next to the body. Officers examined the man’s phone and found the last text messages. The messages described a drug transaction and were sent from a phone that belonged to Gonzales. In April of 2022, Investigators arranged controlled buys of fentanyl pills from Gonzales’s residence in Clarkston, Washington. On May 22, 2022, a traffic stop was conducted on a vehicle Gonzales was driving. Two young children were in the backseat. Investigators searched the trunk and located a small safe, disguised as dictionary, with more than 1,400 fentanyl pills inside. Gonzales told detectives he was returning home after a trip to Spokane to purchase 1,000 fentanyl pills from his supplier. Gonzales also told detectives he had been selling fentanyl for about two months and made regular trips to Spokane to re-supply. Gonzales admitted selling drugs to the man who died of a fentanyl overdose. “Fentanyl continues to have a devastating impact on the community, and in this case resulted in the tragic overdose death of a young man. This case is a tragic and stark reminder of the destruction the opioid epidemic has inflicted,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “Mr. Gonzales also had children with him when he was arrested with more than a thousand fentanyl pills, further increasing the risk that others would be harmed by the deadly drugs Mr. Gonzales was trafficking. My office, together with our federal and local partners, will continue to work tirelessly to prosecute those who contribute to this deadly crisis.” “While in prison, Gonzales will no longer be able to contribute to the opioid epidemic that has devastated so many lives,” said Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners are working together to identify and disrupt traffickers who peddle poison in our communities.” This case was investigated by the North Idaho Violent Crimes Task Force and the Quad Cities Drug Task Force. The Quad Cities Drug Task Force is a multi-jurisdiction task force involving the numerous law enforcement agencies in Asotin County, Garfield County, and Whitman County, Washington, and Latah County and Nez Perce County, Idaho. The North Idaho Violent Crimes Task Force is an FBI led Task Force involving the Idaho State Police, Lewiston Police Department, Nez Perce Tribal Police Department, and Grangeville Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Ellis.


title: Delta Junction man sentenced for “Bud and Breakfast” fraud scheme

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: FAIRBANKS, Alaska – A Delta Junction man was sentenced today to two years in prison and is required to pay over $580,000 in restitution for running a years’ long scheme to defraud nearly two-dozen investors out of over $600,000. According to court documents, from January 2017 to January 2020, Brian Corty, 53, was the organizer and manager of a conspiracy to use false and fraudulent claims to gain investments for a potential business and use the investments for personal gain. As part of the scheme, Corty sold investors units in Ice Fog Holdings LLC to raise capital for a “Bud and Breakfast” which was described as a marijuana theme park, where they would grow, cultivate and sell marijuana, and allow customers to use marijuana on site. Corty purchased a building on the Richardson Highway near Salcha, Alaska, as the proposed location of the business. Corty falsely told investors that they were already growing marijuana and generating income and that the business would make millions of dollars in annual sales. Based on these misrepresentations, at least 22 people invested over $600,000 into the fraudulent scheme and the defendant used the money for personal gain, including to refinance his home and pay off debt. Corty pleaded guilty in January to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Corty is also required to serve three years’ supervised release as part of his sentence. “Mr. Corty manipulated unknowing investors by promising millions in proceeds and used their money for his personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “Ensuring that white collar criminals, like Mr. Corty, are held accountable is a priority for my office. No one is above the law. We will continue work with our law enforcement partners to pursue prosecutions against individuals who choose to exploit unknowing victims through fraudulent means.” “Mr. Corty lured investors with promises of prosperity and guaranteed returns, when in truth, he diverted the investor money to fund his own lifestyle,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “Those who engage in fraudulent schemes at the expense of others will be investigated and held accountable.” The FBI Anchorage Field Office, Fairbanks Resident Agency, with assistance from the Alaska Department of Law, investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tom Bradley and Ryan Tansey prosecuted the case.


component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – The Justice Department joins its partners across the federal government, as well as people throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities, in recognizing May 5 as National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Day. In recognition of MMIP Awareness Day, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland highlighted ongoing efforts to tackle the MMIP and human trafficking crises in American Indian and Alaska Native communities, and other pressing public safety challenges, like the fentanyl crisis, in Tribal communities. “There is still so much more to do in the face of persistently high levels of violence that Tribal communities have endured for generations, and that women and girls, particularly, have endured,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “In carrying out our work, we seek to honor those who are still missing, those who were stolen from their communities, and their loved ones who are left with unimaginable pain. Tribal communities deserve safety, and they deserve justice. This day challenges all of us at the Justice Department to double down on our efforts, and to be true partners with Tribal communities as we seek to end this crisis.” “MMIP Awareness Day is a time to honor and remember victims of violence. It is also a time to reaffirm our commitment to supporting the needs of our Tribal communities,” said U.S. Attorney Luger. “Here in the District of Minnesota, we are fortunate to have an MMIP Assistant U.S. Attorney who is focused on strengthening partnerships and advancing public safety and engagement with Tribal communities across Minnesota and the Great Lakes Region.” “The FBI remains unwavering in our pledge to work with our law enforcement partners to address the violence that has disproportionately harmed Tribal communities and families,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “We will continue to prioritize our support of victims and will steadfastly pursue investigations into the crime impacting American Indian and Alaska Native communities.” “DEA’s top priority is protecting all communities from deadly drugs, like fentanyl, and drug related violent crime,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “We know that no community has been spared from these deadly threats and we are committed to keeping Tribal communities safe.” Justice Department Prioritization of MMIP Cases Last July, the Justice Department announced the creation of the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program , which permanently places 10 attorneys and coordinators in five designated regions across the United States to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people. The five regions include the Northwest, Southwest, Great Plains, Great Lakes, and Southeast Regions. Last year, Laura M. Provinzino was appointed to serve as the MMIP Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Great Lakes Region. The MMIP Regional Outreach Program prioritizes MMIP cases consistent with the Deputy Attorney General’s July 2022 directive to U.S. Attorneys’ offices promoting public safety in Indian country. The program fulfills the Justice Department’s promise to dedicate new personnel to MMIP consistent with Executive Order 14053, Improving Public Safety and Criminal Justice for Native Americans and Addressing the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People , and the Department’s Federal Law Enforcement Strategy to Prevent and respond to Violence Against American Indians and Alaska Natives, Including to Address Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons issued in July 2022. Not Invisible Act Commission Response The Department’s work to respond to the MMIP crisis is a whole-of-department effort. In March, the Departments of Justice and the Interior released their joint response to the Not Invisible Act Commission’s recommendations on how to combat the missing or murdered Indigenous peoples (MMIP) and human trafficking crisis. The NIAC response, announced by Attorney General Garland during a visit to the Crow Nation, recognizes that more must be done across the federal government to resolve this longstanding crisis and support healing from the generational traumas that Indigenous peoples have endured throughout the history of the United States. Addressing Violent Crime and the Fentanyl Crisis in Indian Country As noted in the joint response to the NIAC, research suggests that certain public safety challenges faced by many American Indian and Alaska Native communities—including disproportionate violence against women, families, and children; substance abuse; drug trafficking; and labor and sex trafficking—can influence the rates of missing AI/AN persons. Further, fentanyl poisoning and overdose deaths are the leading cause of opioid deaths throughout the United States, including Indian county, where drug-related overdose death rates for Native Americans exceeds the national rate. Therefore, federal law enforcement components are ramping up efforts to forge stronger partnerships with federal and Tribal law enforcement partners to address violent crime and the fentanyl crisis, which exposes already vulnerable communities to greater harm. Accessing Department of Justice Resources Over the past year, the Department awarded $268 million in grants to help enhance Tribal justice systems and strengthen law enforcement responses. These awards have also gone toward improving the handling of child abuse cases, combating domestic and sexual violence, supporting Tribal youth programs, and strengthening victim services in Tribal communities. For additional information about the Department of Justice’s efforts to address the MMIP crisis, please visit the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons section of the Tribal Safety and Justice website . Click here for more information about reporting or identifying missing persons.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Collection and Enforcement Efforts Exceed $65 Million in Fiscal Year 2023

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky. – United States Attorney Carlton S. Shier, IV announced today that, in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky collected more than $42 million for crime victims and taxpayers, and obtained civil settlements totaling more than $23 million through its affirmative civil enforcement efforts. “Our office remains dedicated to pursuing restitution for victims of crime, recovering illegally obtained funds, and protecting taxpayer dollars from fraud, waste, and abuse,” said United States Attorney Shier. “These collection and enforcement numbers demonstrate that commitment. I want to commend the dedicated personnel in our Office, for their persistent efforts to protect our citizens and safeguard the public fisc.” In fiscal year 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office collected $29,691,324 through its Financial Litigation Program. This Program is responsible for collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the United States, and criminal restitution debts owed to federal crime victims who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While criminal restitution is paid to victims, criminal fines and assessments are paid to the Department of Justice’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs. Additionally, due to successful asset forfeitures in fiscal year 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office secured $10,755,308 for federal law enforcement efforts, shared $2,140,829 with state and local law enforcement agencies, and restored $1,129,515 to crime victims. In asset forfeiture actions, the United States seizes money and property that were proceeds of crime or used in furtherance of a crime. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Fund are used for a variety of law enforcement purposes. Funds shared with state and local agencies reflect the degree of their participation in law enforcement efforts resulting in forfeiture. When money or property is forfeited by a defendant who also owes restitution, the Office can ask that the value of the forfeited property be paid to the victim to make him or her whole. The Office’s Civil Division also protects the interests of the United States in cases involving property on which the government holds a lien. In fiscal year 2023, the Office collected $1,185,624 on behalf of taxpayers in such cases. Finally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement program obtained civil settlements valued at $23,460,815. Over $4.4 million of this amount represents civil penalties paid by healthcare providers who violated the Controlled Substances Act, a federal law that aims to protect the public’s health and safety from dangers posed by highly addictive or dangerous controlled substances that are diverted into the illicit market. The remainder of these settlements – exceeding $19 million – were obtained through enforcement of the False Claims Act, which is a federal law that imposes treble damages and penalties on those who knowingly and falsely claim money from the United States. The False Claims Act thus serves to safeguard government programs that provide health insurance, support American businesses and workers, offer disaster and other emergency relief, and provide many other critical services and benefits. The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s False Claims Act recoveries contributed to a record-breaking year for the Department of Justice , which had its highest number of False Claims Act settlements and judgments in a single year, exceeding $2.68 billion. – END –


title: Justice Department, United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota Strengthen Efforts and Build Partnerships to Address the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons

component: USAO - North Dakota

body_text: WASHINGTON – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota joins the broader Justice Department, its partners across the federal government, and people throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities in recognizing May 5 as National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Day. In recognition of MMIP Awareness Day, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland highlighted ongoing efforts to tackle the MMIP and human trafficking crises in American Indian and Alaska Native communities, and other pressing public safety challenges, like the fentanyl crisis, in Tribal communities. “There is still so much more to do in the face of persistently high levels of violence that Tribal communities have endured for generations, and that women and girls, particularly, have endured,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “In carrying out our work, we seek to honor those who are still missing, those who were stolen from their communities, and their loved ones who are left with unimaginable pain. Tribal communities deserve safety, and they deserve justice. This day challenges all of us at the Justice Department to double down on our efforts, and to be true partners with Tribal communities as we seek to end this crisis.” Attorney General Garland’s remarks recognizing Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day can be viewed here . “The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota eagerly embraces its role in preventing and responding to MMIP cases,” Schneider said. “As we continue to work with our partners to carry out Savanna’s Act and address this crisis, we know that one missing person case is too many. Those who are missing from their communities and their families are top of mind on MMIP Awareness Day and every day as we work together to increase public safety in Indian country.” Justice Department Prioritization of MMIP Cases Last July, the Justice Department announced the creation of the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Regional Outreach Program , which permanently places 10 attorneys and coordinators in five designated regions across the United States to aid in the prevention and response to missing or murdered Indigenous people. The five regions include the Northwest, Southwest, Great Plains, Great Lakes, and Southeast Regions. The MMIP regional program prioritizes MMIP cases consistent with the Deputy Attorney General’s July 2022 directive to U.S. Attorneys’ offices promoting public safety in Indian country. The program fulfills the Justice Department’s promise to dedicate new personnel to MMIP consistent with Executive Order 14053, Improving Public Safety and Criminal Justice for Native Americans and Addressing the Crisis of Missing or Murdered Indigenous People , and the Department’s Federal Law Enforcement Strategy to Prevent and respond to Violence Against American Indians and Alaska Natives, Including to Address Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons issued in July 2022. In the District of North Dakota, the United States Attorney’s Office is planning its third annual Savanna’s Act meetings with state, local, and tribal officials to reinforce partnerships in responses to recently reported missing and murdered indigenous persons. These meetings will occur in June on each of the four major reservations in North Dakota. As part of the partnerships set up at previous Savanna’s Act meetings, the office’s Law Enforcement Coordinator has worked closely with tribal, state and local law enforcement to request resources such as air support from the United States Air Force and other air, maritime and land-based resources to aid and assist in searches for missing persons. In 2023, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota provided resource assistance in 46 missing person cases, 45 of which were resolved. The office has also partnered on efforts with its regional MMIP coordinator, Assistant United States Attorney Troy Morley of the District of South Dakota. Additional outreach on the development of Tribal Community Response Plans is anticipated in the coming months. Not Invisible Act Commission Response The Department’s work to respond to the MMIP crisis is a whole-of-department effort. In March, the Departments of Justice and the Interior released their joint response to the Not Invisible Act Commission’s recommendations on how to combat the missing or murdered Indigenous peoples (MMIP) and human trafficking crisis. The NIAC response, announced by Attorney General Garland during a visit to the Crow Nation, recognizes that more must be done across the federal government to resolve this longstanding crisis and support healing from the generational traumas that Indigenous peoples have endured throughout the history of the United States. Addressing Violent Crime and the Fentanyl Crisis in Indian Country As noted in the joint response to the NIAC, research suggests that certain public safety challenges faced by many American Indian and Alaska Native communities—including disproportionate violence against women, families, and children; substance abuse; drug trafficking; and labor and sex trafficking—can influence the rates of missing AI/AN persons. Further, fentanyl poisoning and overdose deaths are the leading cause of opioid deaths throughout the United States, including Indian county, where drug-related overdose death rates for Native Americans exceeds the national rate. Therefore, federal law enforcement components are ramping up efforts to forge stronger partnerships with federal and Tribal law enforcement partners to address violent crime and the fentanyl crisis, which exposes already vulnerable communities to greater harm. In February, for instance, a Detroit, Michigan native was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison for his leadership role in a drug trafficking organization targeting the Fort Berthold and Spirit Lake reservations in North Dakota. Combating organized criminal groups who traffic dangerous drugs onto North Dakota’s reservations continues to be a top priority for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota. Accessing Department of Justice Resources Over the past year, the Department awarded $268 million in grants to help enhance Tribal justice systems and strengthen law enforcement responses. These awards have also gone toward improving the handling of child abuse cases, combating domestic and sexual violence, supporting Tribal youth programs, and strengthening victim services in Tribal communities. For additional information about the Department of Justice’s efforts to address the MMIP crisis, please visit the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons section of the Tribal Safety and Justice website . Click here for more information about reporting or identifying missing persons. # # #


title: Indictment Charges Brothers with Trafficking Narcotic Pills

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging KYLE PETERSEN, 38, of Newington, and ERIK PETERSEN, also known as “Peach,” 43, of New Britain, with conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, controlled substances. The indictment was returned on April 15, 2024, and each defendant appeared in Hartford federal court earlier this week and entered a plea of not guilty. They have been detained since April 3, 2024. As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, in May 2023, members of the DEA New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad began investigating suspicious packages that were being delivered to Kyle Petersen’s Newington residence. At the time, Petersen was on federal supervised release following a federal conviction in 2017 involving the trafficking of fentanyl and prescription pills. During the investigation, a court-authorized search of a package mailed to Petersen contained more than 400 grams of pills containing Protonitazene, a synthetic opioid typically more potent than fentanyl. The investigation revealed that Petersen had received approximately 34 similar package mailed from the same source in Michigan, and also received approximately 46 packages from California and Oregon suspected to contain multiple pounds of marijuana. Investigators also made controlled purchases of counterfeit Percocet pills containing fentanyl from Kyle Petersen’s brother, Erik Peterson. Kyle and Erik Petersen were arrested on federal criminal complaints on April 3, 2024. On that date, a search of Kyle Petersen’s residence revealed more than a kilogram of counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine, counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, counterfeit Xanax pills, a large quantity of Protonitazene approximately 40 grams of cocaine, and $76,650 in cash. If convicted of the charge in the indictment, based on the type and quantities of controlled substances attributed to each defendant, Kyle Petersen faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of imprisonment of life, and Erik Petersen faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. The indictment also seeks the forfeiture of the cash seized from Kyle Petersen’s apartment, an additional $57,530 in cash seized from a bank account, and Kyle Petersen’s 2014 Porsche Cayenne. Kyle Petersen faces additional penalties if he is found to have violated the conditions of his supervised release. U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This matter is being investigated by the DEA New Haven Tactical Diversion Squad, which is composed of personnel from the DEA and the Bristol, East Windsor, Hamden, New Britain, West Haven, Newington, Manchester, Glastonbury, and Watertown Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan Keefe.


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

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – U.S. Attorney Dena J. King and the U.S. Attorney’s Office join the Department of Justice, partners across the federal government, and people throughout American Indian and Alaska Native communities in recognizing May 5 as National Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Awareness Day. “There is still so much more to do in the face of persistently high levels of violence that Tribal communities have endured for generations, and that women and girls, particularly, have endured,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “In carrying out our work, we seek to honor those who are still missing, those who were stolen from their communities, and their loved ones who are left with unimaginable pain. Tribal communities deserve safety, and they deserve justice. This day challenges all of us at the Justice Department to double down on our efforts, and to be true partners with Tribal communities as we seek to end this crisis.” “Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day is a time to stand with our Tribal communities in honoring and remembering the loved ones who were lost to violence or remain missing,” said U.S. Attorney King. “It is also a moment to reaffirm our commitment to continue to collaborate with our Tribal partners to enhance public safety, address the root causes of violence that disproportionately harm Tribal communities, and support crime victims, survivors, and their families.” In recognition of MMIP Awareness Day, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland highlighted the Justice Department’s ongoing efforts to tackle the MMIP and trafficking crises in American Indian and Alaska Native communities, and other pressing public safety challenges, like the fentanyl crisis, in Tribal communities. To commemorate MMIP Awareness Day, U.S. Attorney’s Office personnel will participate in the 5 th Annual Walk and Vigil for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives on Sunday, May 5, at Oconaluftee Island Park, in Cherokee. For additional information about the Department of Justice’s efforts to address the MMIP crisis, please visit the Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons section of the Tribal Safety and Justice website . Click here for more information about reporting or identifying missing persons.


title: Tampa Man Guilty Of Wire Fraud, Money Laundering In Misuse Of $500,000 COVID-19 Small Business Loan

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Barrett Purvis (54, Tampa) guilty of wire fraud and money laundering. Purvis faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the wire fraud offense and up to 10 years’ imprisonment for the money laundering offense. Sentencing is scheduled for August 12, 2024. Purvis was indicted on March 30, 2023. According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Purvis applied for and received a $500,000 Economic Injury Disaster Loan from the Small Business Administration during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2021. Although he applied on behalf of a legitimate small business he owned and operated, Purvis never intended to use any of the loan proceeds on working capital as required by the terms of the loan agreement. Instead, Purvis spent approximately half of the proceeds on gambling debt and the rest on other personal debt, including debt incurred on his girlfriend’s three credit cards. Within two weeks of receiving the loan, Purvis had used nearly all the proceeds on personal expenses, unrelated to any legitimate business. This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Candace Garcia Rich. In May 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.


title: Man Gets 25-Year Prison Sentence for Murder Committed in November 2023

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON - Andre Hicks, 40, of Capitol Heights, Maryland, was sentenced today for the murder of Daniel Adams in November 2023 in Northeast Washington, D.C. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo sentenced Hicks to 25 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. According to the government’s evidence, around 9:10 p.m. on November 25, 2023, Hicks approached 1705 Benning Road Northeast, Washington, D.C., on foot. Several people were standing inside and immediately out front of that address. The victim, Daniel Adams, was one of the people standing out front. After walking up to the address and going up its front stairs, the defendant stood for a moment by the front door, looking back in the direction of Mr. Adams. The defendant then pulled a gun out of his pants and held it to his side, away from and out of view of the victim. With the gun out, the defendant started to slowly walk back down the steps in front of that building toward where the victim was standing. Once the defendant had come within a few feet of the victim, he drew his gun up, pointed it at the victim, and started firing repeatedly. Hicks continued to fire at Mr. Adams as Mr. Adams ran away. Hicks then fled the scene. Mr. Adams was taken to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his gunshot wounds and died the next day. In announcing the sentence U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Homicide Branch of the Metropolitan Police Department. They also commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Alec Levy.