title: Former Grade School Teacher Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Asking Minors for Explicit Images on Snapchat

component: USAO - Illinois, Southern

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A district judge sentenced a former elementary school teacher to 10 years’ imprisonment after he admitted to soliciting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from minors. Jonathan C. Villmer, Jr., 26, of New Baden, Illinois, was charged by criminal complaint in August of 2023. Villmer will be required to register as a sex offender and serve an additional 7 years on supervised release upon his release from prison. Prior to his indictment, Villmer taught first grade at New Baden Elementary School and coached both girls and boys’ junior high sports teams. “As a teacher and coach, the defendant was entrusted to educate and mentor youth, yet instead he preyed on and exploited his young victims’ vulnerabilities,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “His predatory behaviors expressed a complete disregard for protecting children but rather abusing them. I’m thankful to the law enforcement agencies who worked to put this dangerous offender in federal prison.” The case was initiated by an otherwise unrelated investigation by the Carmi Police Department regarding the distribution of CSAM. The investigation led law enforcement officers to a Snapchat account soliciting sexually explicit images and videos from minors that was connected to Villmer. According to court documents, after obtaining a search warrant for Villmer’s Snapchat account, police discovered explicit conversations with a 13-year-old minor. Villmer asked the minor for the “sexiest images,” discussed having sex and taking the minor’s virginity, offered the minor marijuana, and requested photographs of her genitals. Law enforcement identified other occurrences of sexually explicit conversations and requests for images with other minors within Villmer’s Snapchat account. His victims were generally 13-14 year old females. “This sentence sends an important message to all predators: HSI will not allow crimes against children to go unpunished. We will continue to identify and investigate those who pose a threat to our communities,” said Sean Fitzgerald, special agent in charge for HSI Chicago. “Working with our law enforcement partners, our commitment to aggressively protect children from offenders like Villmer will remain steadfast.” Based upon IP address records associated with the Snapchat account, law enforcement connected the account to Villmer. On August 18, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Villmer’s New Baden residence and seized two cell phones and other electronic devices. Villmer was arrested on scene. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with support from the New Baden and Carmi Police Departments, and the Jefferson County and Clinton County Sheriffs’ Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ali Burns prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood , a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.


title: U.S. Department of Justice Announces Dillard University’s Completion of ADA Compliance Measures

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana and Dillard University jointly announce the successful conclusion of a multi-year process to implement a number of improvements that create an accessible environment in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In 2018, the United States Attorney’s Office and Dillard cooperatively entered into a renewal and extension of an original ADA settlement agreement signed in 2002. A thorough ADA survey of the entire campus noted several non-accessible campus features, ranging from the lack of handicap parking and wheelchair ramps to the need for signage for low vision/blind persons outside of classrooms and more. Dillard completed its ADA-compliance measures earlier this year with modifications to its website. Dr. Rochelle L. Ford, Dillard University’s eighth president, identified inclusion and accessibility on campus as vital components of the University’s commitment to healthy, safe, and innovative communities. She commented: “In the coming months, the University will open the doors of a new living, learning, and serving community building. In this space, accessibility is a top priority for the team leading design and construction. As the University continues to grow, it will double down on its commitment to being a welcoming and inclusive place for students and the wider community.” Duane A. Evans, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana, remarked: “We appreciate Dillard’s cooperation and commitment to bring its campus into full compliance with the ADA, a hallmark of our nation’s federal civil-rights legislation. Ensuring accessible educational settings for the disabled now, creates greater professional and economic opportunities for them in the future. This joint endeavor is an across-the-board win for Dillard, its current and prospective students, and our region.” AUSA Glenn Schreiber of the Civil Division handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TDD 800-514-0383) or visit www.ada.gov. ADA complaints may be filed online at www.ada.gov/complaint .


title: Registered Sex Offender Pleads Guilty to 14 Charges for Producing, Transporting and Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A West Gardiner man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Bangor to 14 charges relating to the production, transportation and distribution of child sexual abuse material, as well as failing to register as a sex offender. According to court records, on August 29, 2022, Maine State Police executed a search warrant in West Gardiner on the person of Jon A. Hall , 30. In the search, they seized an iPhone belonging to Hall, and child sexual abuse material was recovered from that phone. Some of the images and video files depicted Hall sexually abusing a young child while earlier living in another state. The phone also included messages with a person in Maine while Hall was out of state. In many of those messages, Hall sent child sexual abuse material to the user in Maine. On September 11, 2022, Hall was arrested for a sex offender registry violation. At the time, he was in possession of another phone, which also contained images of victims under 12 that Hall had downloaded from online storage, and images Hall had solicited and received directly from a 12‑year-old child using the internet. Hall was required to register as a sex offender following a conviction for possessing sexually explicit material depicting a child under 12. Although Hall was aware of his requirement to notify the registry of changes in residence, he failed to update his registry information after he moved back to Maine from out of state in August 20222. Hall faces: Transportation of child pornography charge (2 counts): Minimum of 15 and maximum of 40 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,00, followed by up to three years of supervised release. Receipt of child pornography (1 count): Minimum of 15 and maximum of 40 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, followed by five years to life of supervised release. Possession of child pornography (2 counts): Minimum of 10 and maximum of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, followed by up to three years of supervised release. Distribution of child pornography (8 counts): Minimum of 15 and maximum of 40 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, followed by five years to life of supervised release. Failure to register as a sex offender (1 count): Up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, followed by five years to life of supervised release. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Homeland Security Investigations and the Maine State Police investigated the case. To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer revictimization every time the images are viewed. File a report with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at https://report.cybertip.org or 1-800-843-5678 . If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741 . Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc . ###


title: Gary Woman Sentenced to 300 Months in Prison

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

body_text: HAMMOND- Briana White, age 29, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to armed bank robbery and murder resulting from the discharge of a firearm during the bank robbery, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. White was sentenced to 300 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, White’s convictions stem from a June 11, 2021, bank robbery in Gary, Indiana. White, along with, Hailey Gist-Holden, and two other co-defendants formulated a plan to rob the bank. White was involved in the planning stages and her role included facilitating a three-way call between herself, Gist-Holden and the getaway driver during the robbery and getaway. She also listened to a police scanner during the robbery to advise her co-defendants about police response. On his way to entering the bank, Gist-Holden, at point blank range, shot and killed the bank’s security guard who was outside the bank at the time. Approximately $9,000 was taken during the armed bank robbery. Previously, co-defendant Gist-Holden was found guilty by a jury of armed bank robbery and murder resulting from the discharge of a firearm during the robbery. For his role in the offense, Gist-Holden was sentenced to imprisonment for two life sentences. White is the last of the defendants to be sentenced for this crime. This investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Gang Response Investigative Team with the assistance of the Lake County Sheriff’s Department; the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office; the Indiana State Police; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the Gary Police Department. Additional investigative assistance was provided by the FBI Chicago, FBI Miami, and FBI Atlanta along with the Georgia State Police, the Atlanta Police Department, and the Lowndes County (GA) Sheriff’s Department. In addition, the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Northern District of Georgia, Middle District of Georgia, and Middle District of Florida were involved in this cooperative effort. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Caitlin M. Padula and Michael J. Toth. This case is also 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: Previously Convicted Clinton Resident Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A former resident of Clinton, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of possessing material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Roderick T. Long, 59, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on March 9, 2020, Long—who had previously served a 121-month federal sentence of imprisonment for receiving material depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor—was found in possession of more than 500 videos and still images in computer graphics and digital files depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, many of whom had not attained the age of 12 years. The Pennsylvania State Police had obtained a search warrant for Long’s home, where they found the sexually exploitive material saved in his laptop computer and cellular telephone. Judge Ranjan scheduled sentencing for August 8, 2024. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Pending sentencing, the Court ordered that Long remain in custody. Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Long.


title: La Crosse Man Sentenced to 2 ½ Years for Possessing Stolen Firearm as a Felon

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Briante Banks, 31, La Crosse, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 2 ½ years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon. Banks pleaded guilty to this charge on February 6, 2024. He was also ordered to serve a three-year term of supervised release. On May 2, 2023, Banks was arrested for violating the conditions of his state probation. During a post-arrest search, Banks was found to be in possession of a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun. Law enforcement determined that the handgun had previously been stolen from a La Crosse area gun shop. Banks is legally prohibited from possessing firearms because he has prior felony convictions for drug trafficking. At sentencing, Judge Conley noted that Banks has been under state supervision since 2014 and has largely failed to comply. Judge Conley told Banks that he had so far failed to learn any lessons from his past and unless he made good use of his time in prison and engaged with his supervising probation officer after release, he would likely end up back in prison. The charge against Banks was the result of an investigation conducted by the La Crosse Police Department; La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan prosecuted this case. This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.


title: Mount Vernon Mother And Daughter Sentenced To Prison For $1.7 Million COVID-19 Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ALICIA AYERS and ANDREA AYERS were sentenced today to two years in prison followed by six months of home confinement and 42 months in prison, respectively, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and making false statements in connection with a scheme to defraud the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”), resulting in a loss to the SBA of approximately $1.7 million. ALICIA AYERS and ANDREA AYERS previously pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Nelson S. Román, who imposed today’s sentences. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “These defendants stole from a taxpayer-funded program intended to help small businesses that were in desperate need of assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. As their convictions and sentences reflect, my Office is determined to continue to work to bring to justice those who exploit and defraud government programs during a national emergency. I thank the FBI and the career prosecutors of this Office for their outstanding work investigating and prosecuting this scheme.” According to the Indictment, other public filings, and statements made in court: The SBA is a federal agency of the Executive Branch that administers assistance to American small businesses. This assistance includes making direct loans to applicants through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) Program. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress expanded the SBA’s EIDL Program to provide small businesses with low-interest loans of up to $2 million prior to in or about May 2020 and up to $150,000 beginning in or about May 2020 in order to provide vital economic support to help overcome the loss of revenue small businesses were experiencing due to COVID-19. Applicants seeking a loan under the EIDL program were also permitted to request and receive an advance of approximately $1,000 per employee, for an amount up to $10,000, which the SBA generally provided while the loan application was pending. In June and July 2020, ALICIA AYERS and her mother, ANDREA AYERS, a former Code Enforcement Officer for the City of Mount Vernon Police Department, used the identities of approximately 300 other individuals (the “Applicants”) to submit approximately 315 online applications to the SBA, seeking over $3 million of funds through the SBA’s EIDL Program (the “EIDL Applications”). In connection with the EIDL Applications, ALICIA AYERS and ANDREA AYERS falsely represented to the SBA that the applicants were the owners of businesses with 10 or more employees. However, that was a lie – as ALICIA AYERS and ANDREA AYERS knew, the applicants did not employ the number of people reported, and the majority of the applicants did not own businesses or have any employees. Based on the fraudulent EIDL Applications, the SBA made advance payments of approximately $1,690,000 to the applicants, who then kicked back a portion of the advance payments to ALICIA AYERS and ANDREA AYERS. * * * In addition to the prison terms, ALICIA AYERS, 37, and ANDREA AYERS, 57, both of Mount Vernon, New York, were each sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay forfeiture in the amount of $1,690,000 and to pay restitution to the SBA in the amount of $1,690,000. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey C. Coffman and Courtney L. Heavey are in charge of the prosecution.


title: District Man Sentenced to 28 Months in Prison for Robbery and Firearms Related Charges

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Ralph Butler, 19, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 28 months in prison for robbery and assault with a deadly weapon (felony) of two men on September 22, 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Butler pleaded guilty on February 7, 2024, to robbery and assault with a dangerous weapon in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia before the Honorable Lynn Leibovitz. According to the government’s evidence, with which Butler agreed, on September 22, 2023, at around 5:45 a.m., Butler and another individual approached two men in the 2200 block of Shannon Place SE, produced handguns, and robbed them of their phones, car keys, currency, and, ultimately, their vehicles, which were parked nearby. Butler drove off in one victim’s car, while his accomplice drove off in the other victim’s SUV. Both vehicles were later recovered in Butler’s neighborhood in Southeast Washington D.C. Surveillance footage captured both Butler and his accomplice in the area surrounding the crime scene, as well as Butler and his accomplice each driving the stolen vehicles. MPD officers arrested Butler on October 19, 2023. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief. Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those working on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney John Parron.


title: CFO Of Two New Jersey Companies Charged With Participating In Multi-Million-Dollar Kickback Scheme To Defraud Williams Sonoma, Inc.

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: OAKLAND – Domenick Nardone appeared in federal court in Oakland this week to face conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering, and related charges for his alleged role in a kickback scheme that defrauded Williams Sonoma, Inc. (WSI) of millions of dollars, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Mosley of the Oakland Field Office. According to a superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury on March 12, 2024, Nardone, 66, of Port St. Lucie, Florida, conspired with others to pay millions of dollars in kickbacks to Eric Marsiglia, a former WSI executive and co-defendant in the case, to ensure Marsiglia would direct additional business to two New Jersey companies controlled in part by Nardone as Chief Financial Officer and minority owner. Nardone was arrested in Florida on March 29, 2024, and made an appearance in federal court there shortly thereafter. He was released on a $250,000 bond. “Williams Sonoma is a Bay Area institution, and the defendants charged in this case are accused of taking advantage of their positions to defraud that venerable company out of millions of dollars over several years,” said United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey. “As National Crime Victims’ Rights Week comes to an end, I am proud to say this Office is committed to vindicating the rights of all victims, including companies like Williams Sonoma that call our district home.” “Greed can easily overtake one’s ability to be content. Mr. Nardone abused his position as the Chief Financial Officer and conspired with others to secure favorable contracts only to end up in court,” said IRS Criminal Investigation Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Mosley. “IRS Criminal Investigation will continue to unravel the truth and bring these selfish acts to light. We value our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office Northern District of California as we press forward with charging those who entangled themselves in this multimillion-dollar kickback scheme.” WSI is a home-goods retailer that operates brands Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, West Elm, and others. As alleged in the superseding indictment, Marsiglia was WSI’s Vice President of Engineering, Projects, Planning, Facilities, and Real Estate, and, as such, was responsible for identifying commercial real estate opportunities for the company. In his position, Marsiglia allegedly solicited and received millions of dollars from the two New Jersey companies—one a forklift company, the other a warehouse racking and logistics company—in part owned and controlled by Nardone and Michael Podhurst, a Vice President at the two companies who was also charged for his role in the offense and pleaded guilty in June 2023 . In exchange, Marsiglia allegedly directed contracts for WSI’s business to those companies. The superseding indictment alleges that, from 2018 to 2020, WSI awarded companies connected to Nardone and/or Podhurst more than $48 million in contracts for work done at warehouses around the country, and that Marsiglia, Nardone, and Podhurst arranged for more than $12 million in kickbacks to be paid to Marsiglia’s shell company, REM Group LLC, which Marsiglia allegedly set up for the sole purpose of receiving and hiding kickback payments. The superseding indictment also alleges that Marsiglia engaged in a second scheme to defraud WSI. In his role at WSI, Marsiglia was responsible for negotiating real estate contracts on behalf of WSI that required third parties to pay millions of dollars in brokerage fee rebates to WSI. According to the superseding indictment, rather than ensure that WSI received the brokerage fee rebates, Marsiglia conspired with others to have the rebates paid to his shell company, REM Group LLC. The superseding indictment charges Marsiglia and others with diverting and misappropriating approximately $5.9 million in broker commission rebates owed to WSI. In total, the superseding indictment alleges that, from 2018–2022, Marsiglia fraudulently received nearly $20 million through his shell company, REM Group LLC, all of which was in the form of stolen broker rebate payments or kickbacks received for awarding business to entities connected to Nardone and/or Podhurst. Marsiglia, 49, of Olive Branch, Mississippi, first appeared on the superseding indictment in federal court in San Francisco on April 23, 2024, although he had previously appeared in federal court in both Mississippi and San Francisco on an indictment issued in April 2023 . Both Marsiglia and Nardone are next scheduled to appear in federal court in San Francisco on June 11, 2024, before the Honorable Richard Seeborg, Chief United States District Judge. The defendants have each pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Nardone and Marsiglia each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000, plus restitution, if appropriate, for each violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343, 1346, and 1349, as well as a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $500,000, plus restitution, if appropriate, for each violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h). The court also may order an additional term of supervised release to begin after any prison term as part of the sentence for either or both defendants. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christiaan Highsmith is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Aarian Beiti. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by CI.


title: Mason City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: Thomas Alan Newman, from Mason City, Iowa, who received, distributed, and possessed images of child pornography was sentenced on April 25, 2024, to 6 years in federal prison. Newman, age 60, from Swaledale, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 18, 2023, guilty plea to Possession of Child Pornography. Evidence at the hearing showed that in May 2021, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a report from Facebook of a user trafficking in child pornography. Pursuant to a search warrant, the content of Newman’s account was provided to law enforcement. The content included several chats of a sexual nature where Newman solicited child pornography from others. Newman and another individual proposed they create a group on Facebook in order to share and trade child pornography. When interviewed by agents, Newman admitted to the activity associated with the NCMEC CyperTip report as well as sharing and receiving child pornography that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct or the sexual abuse and exploitation of an infant or toddler. Newman admitted he shared approximately 50 videos of child pornography. Newman was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Newman was sentenced to 72 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay a total of $30,000 in fines and assessments. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term and register as a sex offender. There is no parole in the federal system. Newman is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.” The case is being was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-CR-3016. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Man Who Downloaded Child Pornography After Previous Conviction for Child Pornography Offense Pleads Guilty

body_text: A man who received child pornography over the internet while in a residential facility for a prior child pornography charge pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Brady David Salow, age 27, from Vinton, Iowa, was convicted of one count of receiving child pornography. In a plea agreement, Salow admitted that he was convicted of four counts of possession of a depiction of a minor in a sex act in Dubuque County in 2019. As a condition of his sentence in that case, in 2023 he was residing at a residential facility in Vinton. Per the rules of the facility, Salow was not permitted to have access to a phone or a computer. Beginning in the summer of 2023, however, Salow repeatedly persuaded an employee at the facility to loan him her cellular phone under the pretense that he was going to use it for either looking up photos of celebrities or to listen to music. By at least August 2023, Salow began receiving and downloading child pornography to the employee’s phone without the employee’s knowledge, saving downloaded images to a hidden folder on the phone. In October 2023 a fellow resident alerted staff that Salow had been using a phone, and the staff member turned over her phone for examination. A forensic examination of the phone revealed child pornography, and Salow admitted that he had downloaded child pornography to the phone. Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Salow remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Salow faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and lifetime term of supervised release following any imprisonment. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dan Chatham. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23‑CR‑00089. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Cascade Man Sentenced to Federal Prison  for Rolling Back Odometers

body_text: A man who was responsible for forty-seven cars that had lower, false odometers was sentenced to federal prison on April 8, 2024. Randolph Forrest, age 69, from Cascade, Iowa, received the prison term after a January 17, 2023 guilty plea to one count of wire fraud. Information from sentencing showed that from June 2012 through July 2021 Forrest conspired with others to roll back odometers on used cars to sell them for more money. Forrest and others involved in the scheme tampered with the odometers of at least forty-seven cars by having the odometers fraudulently altered to reflect lower mileages. They then sold the cars to unsuspecting buyers at higher sales prices than the buyers would have paid had the true mileage been disclosed. As part of the fraud, Forrest mailed forms to a repair business requesting that odometers be changed to reflect lower mileages. Forrest advertised the cars with the lower, false mileages on Facebook and Craigslist. Forrest was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Forrest was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and six months’ home confinement. He was ordered to make $140,178.55 in restitution to forty-seven victims of his offense. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that odometer fraud in the United States results in consumer losses of more than $1 billion annually and has established a special hotline to handle odometer fraud complaints. Individuals with information relating to odometer tampering should call (800) 424-9393 or send an email to odometerfraud@dot.gov . More information on odometer fraud is available on the NHTSA website https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle-safety/odometer-fraud and tips on detecting and avoiding odometer fraud are available at this page: www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/nvs/pdf/811284.pdf . Forrest was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the United States Marshal on May 6, 2024. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kyndra Lundquist and investigated by the United States Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Iowa Department of Transportation, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 22-CR-1016. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: New Orleans Man Indicted for Federal Gun and Drug Charges

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – DWINE HARDY (“HARDY”) , age 32, a resident of New Orleans, was charged by a federal grand jury in a three-count indictment. Count One charges him with being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). Count Two charges him with possession of a machinegun, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(o) and 924(a)(2). Count Three charges him with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C). Count Four charges him with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i). If convicted, HARDY faces up to 15 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release for Count One; up to 10 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release for Count Two; up to 20 years of imprisonment, up to a $1,000,000 fine, and at least 3 years of supervised release for Count Three, and a mandatory minimum 5-year term up to life imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to 5 years of supervised release for Count Four. As to all four counts, HARDY also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. According to court documents, on December 23, 2023, Kenner police officers arrested HARDY for being a felon in possession of 15 rounds of .40 caliber ammunition and a stolen Glock Model 23, .40 caliber pistol equipped with a machinegun conversion device and an extended twenty-two round capacity magazine. HARDY was also charged with possession with the intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride and possessing the above-described firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. 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. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The case was investigated by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Kenner Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Troy Bell of the Violent Crimes Unit.


title: Doctor Convicted for $5.4M Medicare Fraud Scheme

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A federal jury convicted a New Jersey doctor today for causing the submission of over $5.4 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare for orthotic braces ordered through a telemarketing scheme. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Adarsh Gupta, M.D., 51, of Sewell, signed thousands of prescriptions for orthotic braces for over 2,900 Medicare beneficiaries whom he was connected with by telemarketers who convinced the beneficiaries to accept unnecessary braces. After briefly speaking to the beneficiaries over the telephone, Gupta prescribed orthotic braces for them. For instance, Gupta prescribed a back brace, shoulder brace, wrist brace, and knee brace for an undercover agent after speaking with the agent for just over a minute on the telephone. In another instance, Gupta prescribed a knee brace for a Medicare beneficiary whose legs had previously been amputated. The evidence presented at trial showed that Gupta could not possibly have diagnosed the beneficiaries or determined that the braces were medically necessary during his brief telephonic encounters with them. Nonetheless, Gupta signed prescriptions for braces that falsely represented that the braces were medically necessary and that he diagnosed the beneficiaries, had a care plan for them, and recommended that they receive certain additional treatment. Gupta’s false prescriptions were used by brace supply companies to bill Medicare more than $5.4 million. The jury convicted Gupta of three counts of health care fraud and two counts of false statements relating to health care matters. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 8, 2024 and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each of the health care fraud counts and five years in prison on each of the false statements relating to health care matters counts. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; and Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement. The FBI and HHS-OIG investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Darren C. Halverson and Sarah E. Edwards of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly M. Lyons for the District of New Jersey. Trial Attorney Steven Michaels of the Special Matters Unit of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section assisted with filter matters. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


title: Plaquemines Parish Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl, Heroin and Cocaine Distribution Conspiracy

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – CHRISTOPHER GLASS (“GLASS”) , age 46, a resident of Plaquemines Parish, La., pleaded guilty on April 18, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Eldon E. Fallon to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute quantities of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to court documents, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) agents started investigating GLASS in June 2020 as a narcotics distributor in the New Orleans metropolitan area. The investigation involved use of physical and electronic surveillance, confidential sources, and controlled purchases of narcotics, all of which led to a court authorized wiretap. During the investigation, agents discovered GLASS was conspiring with conspiring wirh others to distribute cocaine and pills containing heroin and fentanyl. GLASS faces up to twenty years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, at least three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. This case was investigated by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney J. Benjamin Myers of the Financial Crimes Unit.


title: San Gabriel Valley Woman Pleads Guilty to Counterfeit Postage Fraud that Caused More Than $150 Million in Losses to U.S. Postal Service

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A San Gabriel Valley woman pleaded guilty today to defrauding the United States Postal Service (USPS) out of more than $150 million by using counterfeit postage to ship tens of millions of parcels. Lijuan “Angela” Chen, 51, of Walnut, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and one count of use of counterfeit postage. Chen has been in federal custody since her arrest in May 2023. “This defendant participated in a fraud scheme that caused massive losses to our nation’s postal service,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “My office will continue to focus on holding fraudsters accountable and bringing justice to victims everywhere.” According to her plea agreement, from at least November 2019 to May 2023, Chen and her co-defendant, Chuanhua “Hugh” Hu, 51, owned and operated a package shipping business located in the City of Industry. This company provided shipping services, including the shipping of packages via U.S. Mail, for China-based logistics businesses. To avoid the cost of postage, Hu began creating false and counterfeit postage to ship packages by printing duplicate and counterfeit Netstamps – stamps that may be purchased online from third-party vendors and printed onto adhesive paper. In November 2019, knowing that law enforcement was investigating his use of counterfeit postage, Hu fled the United States and moved to China. After fleeing to China, Hu developed ways to make counterfeit postage and avoid detection, such as a computer program for fabricating counterfeit postage shipping labels. Chen remained in the United States and managed the warehouses that she and Hu used to ship mail bearing counterfeit postage. Starting in 2020, Chen and Hu began affixing counterfeit postage to mail they presented to USPS for delivery. Chen and Hu received parcels from the China-based vendors and others, applied shipping labels showing postage purportedly paid and then arranged for the parcels to be transferred to USPS facilities to be shipped across the nation. The shipping labels were fraudulent and frequently included, among other red flags, “intelligent barcode data” recycled from previously mailed packages, according to court documents. Intelligent barcode data is used in some postage shipping labels to evidence the payment of required postage for the shipped item. For example, on October 25, 2022, Chen and Hu caused to be transported to USPS a delivery of approximately 4,779 packages to be shipped via U.S. Mail. This delivery included multiple packages bearing counterfeit USPS Priority Mail postage meter stamps. From January 2020 to May 2023, Chen and Hu knowingly mailed and caused to be mailed more than 34 million parcels containing counterfeit postage shipping labels, which caused more than $150 million in losses to USPS. As part of her plea agreement, Chen has agreed to forfeit funds that law enforcement seized from her bank accounts, insurance policies, and real estate in Walnut, Chino, Chino Hills, South El Monte, Diamond Bar, and West Covina. “The Postal Service and the Postal Inspection Service will continue to implement expanded measures to preserve the level of security Postal Service customers expect and deserve,” said Inspector in Charge Carroll Harris, Los Angeles Division of the Postal Inspection Service. “Engaging in counterfeit postage fraud causes monetary losses to customers and the Postal Service alike. Fraudsters beware, the Postal Inspection Service will continue to exhaust all its efforts to disrupt your scheme, find you, and bring you to justice.” “Ms. Chen has admitted today that she conspired with Mr. Hu to defraud the United States Government willfully and knowingly,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office. “IRS:CI will work tirelessly with our partners to protect taxpayer interests in the postal service and other government agencies.” United States District Judge Josephine L. Staton scheduled an August 2 sentencing hearing, at which time Chen will face a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each count. Hu, who is believed to be a fugitive residing in China, is charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, three counts of passing and possessing counterfeit obligations of the United States, and one count of forging and counterfeiting postage stamps. An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The United States Postal Inspection Service and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter. Assistant United States Attorneys James C. Hughes and Richard E. Robinson of the Major Frauds Section are prosecuting this case.


title: Former Mexican judicial officer convicted for hiring drivers to transport drug loads

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A federal jury has returned a guilty verdict against a Mexican citizen residing in the Brownsville area for conspiracy with intent to deliver cocaine, heroin and fentanyl, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. The jury deliberated for approximately three hours before finding Gilberto Almaraz-Muniz, 55, guilty on one count of conspiracy and three counts of possession with intent to distribute various controlled substances following a five-day trial. Law enforcement conducted a narcotics seizure in Klegberg County on March 10, 2022. At that time, authorities arrested co-conspirator Pedro Venegas Jr., 24, Brownsville. Once law enforcement noticed tampering within the engine, they took his truck to a secure location to remove the engine’s manifold and other components. The exposed internal workings of the engine revealed 23 bundles of heroin, cocaine and fentanyl. The truck’s 6-cylinder engine had modifications to appear as an 8-cylinder to keep the drugs hidden within those areas. Further evidence showed co-conspirator Jetzrael Saldana, 25, Brownsville, recruited Venegas as driver on behalf of Almaraz-Muniz who was a law enforcement official in Mexico and operated as the drug supplier. At trial, witnesses testified that Almaraz-Muniz would ask Saldana to recruit drivers to take drug loads past the immigration checkpoint for distribution in Houston and other areas. Almaraz would then arrange for the vehicles to be titled in the drivers’ names and have them do “dry runs” crossing the port of entry several times before hiding drugs within the vehicle. The jury also heard evidence on two other drug seizures where Almaraz-Muniz hired drivers to deliver narcotics. The seizures included 83 kilograms of liquid meth at the Gateway International bridge in Brownsville on July 17, 2022, and a 24-kilogram seizure of black tar heroin in Robstown Sept. 26, 2022. “This case removed over 100 kilograms off our streets,” said Hamdani. “My office will continue to prosecute not only those individuals caught transporting dangerous drugs but also those that provide and involve others in the illicit drug trade.” Venegas and Saldana pleaded guilty June 1, 2022, and July 26, 2023, respectively, and their sentencing hearings are set for May 1 and May 8. U.S. District Judge Rolando Olvera presided over the trial and has set sentencing for July 17 for Almaraz-Muniz. At that time, he faces up to life imprisonment and a possible fine of up to $10 million. Almaraz-Muniz has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of the South Texas Narcotics Task Force in Kingsville and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistants U.S. Attorneys Oscar Ponce and Victoria Aranda are prosecuting the case.


title: New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin Distribution Conspiracy

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – KEVIN JOHNSON (“JOHNSON”), age 33, a New Orleans resident, pleaded guilty on April 24, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to court documents, the Federal Bureau Investigation New Orleans Gang Task Force and the New Orleans Police Department investigated JOHNSON for his involvement in a drug distribution operation in April 2021. The investigation revealed that JOHNSON conspired with AL VERNON BROWN, CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON, DONALD MYLES, and others to distribute heroin. On June 22, 2021, agents seized a package containing 485 grams of heroin that was mailed by AL VERNON BROWN from California to New Orleans and intended for JOHNSON . JOHNSON faces up to twenty years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000, at least three years of supervised release following any term of imprisonment, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation New Orleans Gang Task Force, with the assistance of the New Orleans Police Department, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Gretna Major Crimes Task Force, led the investigation. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney J. Benjamin Myers of the Financial Crimes Unit.


title: Anchorage man sentenced to over 17 years for child pornography charges

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An Anchorage man was sentenced to 17 and a half years in prison and will serve the rest of his life on supervised release for possessing and distributing child sexual abuse materials. According to court documents, Australian law enforcement discovered Michael Whitmore, 31, was distributing child sexual abuse images on an encrypted social media application. Australian law enforcement referred the case to the FBI and Anchorage Police Department. U.S. law enforcement determined that Whitmore had also been the unidentified subject of National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) Cybertips related to distribution of images depicting violent child sexual exploitation. In March 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Whitmore’s residence and discovered over 4,100 images and 2,200 videos on his devices, with some visuals depicting prepubescent minors. The investigation determined that Whitmore was an active member of at least 82 messaging groups used to exchange child sexual abuse materials on various applications. Whitmore was arrested in March 2021 and pleaded guilty in August 2022. In imposing the sentence, Chief U.S. District Court Judge Sharon L. Gleason noted the sadistic nature of the images and videos, sophisticated computer use and active participation of the defendant, and noted that she hopes this case deters other individuals who have no criminal history from partaking in possessing or distributing child sexual abuse materials. “Mr. Whitmore contributed to the plague of revictimization that possessing and distributing child sexual abuse materials causes to innocent victims across the country and the world,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “My office remains steadfast in our commitment to work with our law enforcement partners to protect our most vulnerable community members and ensure that perpetrators who choose to victimize children are brought to justice.” “Mr. Whitmore callously collected and shared child exploitation material depicting the horrific abuse of very young children,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “The FBI and our local and international law enforcement partners will continue to identify and hold accountable those who contribute to these online crimes against children.” “Committing a crime against a child is a horrifying act. The case against Michael Whitmore is one of the more gruesome we’ve seen due to the ages of the victims involved and the sheer volume of material in Whitmore’s possession that he not only consumed but shared with other like-minded offenders,” stated APD Chief Michael Kerle. “Every time Whitmore passed along images, he revictimized the very people whom adults are supposed to protect. We are grateful for the partnership we have with the FBI. With our combined investigative efforts, the perpetrator will be held accountable for his criminal behavior.” The FBI Anchorage Field Office and Anchorage Police Department, with assistance from Australian Law Enforcement, investigated the case as part of the FBI’s Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Alexander prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Former Army Reservist Sentenced for Theft of Government Funds Conspiracy

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – Former United States Army reservist, LEROY DANIELS, JR. (“DANIELS”), was sentenced on April 25, 2024, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit theft of federal funds. Chief United States District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown sentenced DANIELS to 30 months of probation, 100 hours of community service, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. Pursuant to the Mandatory Victim Restitution Act, Judge Brown also ordered DANIELS to pay $l1,693.87 in restitution to the United States Department of the Army. According to court records, DANIELS stole $11,693.87 from the United States Department of the Army by claiming reimbursement for the performance of military funeral honors ceremonies that never occurred. The National Defense Authorization Act of 2000 authorizes military funeral honors (MFH) for active-duty soldiers, retirees, and veterans. At a family’s request, eligible persons can receive military funeral honors, including the folding and presenting of the United States flag and the playing of “Taps.” U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Army Criminal Investigation Command. Assistant United States Attorney Andre J. Lagarde of the Public Integrity Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: New Orleans Man Sentenced for Violating the Federal Gun Control Act

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – IVAN BALLARD (“BALLARD”), age 21, a resident of New Orleans, was sentenced on April 25, 2024 by U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier after previously pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1), announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. According to court records, New Orleans Police Department officers responded to an event in the 4700 block of Erato Street when they saw BALLARD ducking by a car to put something under the vehicle. An officer looked under the vehicle and saw a rifle. BALLARD ran and was detained by the officers. As they attempted to handcuff BALLARD , his brother took the rifle from beneath the car and threw it over a nearby fence. The officers ultimately recovered what was later determined to be an AR-15 style rifle. Record checks revealed that BALLARD had pleaded guilty to aggravated assault with a firearm only few weeks before. As a result, the officers arrested him for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The United States later adopted these state charges for federal prosecution and charged BALLARD with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Judge Barbier sentenced BALLARD to 60 months in the Bureau of Prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Barbier also ordered BALLARD to pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the New Orleans Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Haller, Senior Litigation Counsel.


title: U.S. Attorney Gorman recognizes National Crime Victims’ Rights Week with Seattle event and Victim Services Award

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – This year the theme of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is “How Would You Help: Options, Services, and Hope for Crime Survivors.” U.S. Attorney Tessa Gorman joined a panel at Seattle City Hall to discuss the work of our Victim Witness Unit to assist those who are impacted by federal crimes. “Whether it is making sure a victim of sexual assault is supported while they confront their assailant in court, or ensuring a victim of a financial crime has the opportunity to seek restitution, our victim witness staff put people first,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “They are on the front lines of law enforcement, helping victims pick-up the pieces and move forward after devastating events. It is difficult work, and I salute those who are devoted to helping others, this week, and every week.” U.S. Attorney Gorman was joined by King County Prosecutor Leesa Manion, the Supervisor of the Seattle City Attorney’s Office Domestic Violence Unit Lorna Staten-Sylvester, Washington State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Manka Dhingra, and Sexual Violence Law Center Director Riddhi Mukhopadhyay. The panelists discussed how victim services and advocacy have evolved over the last several years. U.S. Attorney Gorman highlighted efforts to get restitution for victims of crimes through our Financial Litigation Unit. Additionally, U.S. Attorney Gorman noted how our office collaborates with community-based victim support groups, the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and the City Attorney’s Office through organizations such as the anti-human trafficking group WashACT. This year, for the first time, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is making Awards of Excellence to law enforcement partners who have made great contributions to our work and our district. The Victim Witness 2024 Excellence Award is being presented to National Park Service Special Agent Susannah (Sanny) Lustig. Special Agent Lustig is credited with “revolutionizing how the National Park Service responds to victims.” In fact, Special Agent Lustig has an additional role with the National Park Service as the Victim Assistance Program Manager. She is a Child Forensic interviewer and assists other law enforcement agencies in this role. The U.S. Attorney’s Office Victim Witness Unit noted that Agent Lustig does a top-notch job of supporting victims and trains others in the National Park Service on best practices for assisting victims. The award cites two federal cases where Agent Lustig was especially effective in victim support: U.S. v. Turrey and U.S. v. Chapman . The award for Lustig and for other law enforcement officers will be presented next month.


title: California Man Sentenced for Violations of  the Federal Controlled Substances Act

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – PEDRO VAZQUEZ , age 31, of California, was sentenced on April 25, 2024, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine (Count 1) and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (Count 2), in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 846 respectively. VAZQUEZ was sentenced by Chief Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown, on each count, to 48 months imprisonment, five years of supervised release, and a $200 mandatory special assessment fee. All sentences are to run concurrently with each other. VAZQUEZ, and others known and unknown, conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. In addition, VAZQUEZ drove to Metairie, Louisiana to conduct a narcotics transaction that involved a quantity of methamphetamine. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman of the Narcotics Unit.


title: Standish Man Sentenced to 3+ Years for Attempted Transfer of Obscene Material to a Minor

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: A Standish man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for attempting to transfer obscene material to a minor. U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced John Wilson , 36, to 40 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Wilson pleaded guilty on January 30, 2023. According to court records, in March 2022, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office received reports that an individual later identified as Wilson had engaged in inappropriate conversations with at least two minor children using the internet and social media. In June 2022, Wilson engaged in sexually explicit online chats with members of a watchdog group posing as underage girls. During one sexually explicit chat, Wilson sent photographs of his penis and live-streamed a video of himself masturbating to someone he believed to be an 11-year-old girl. Homeland Security Investigations and the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Online enticement is increasing: The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) reported an alarming increase in online enticement reports between 2020 and 2022, with reports more than doubling. “Online enticement” involves an individual communicating with someone believed to be a child via the internet with the intent to commit a sexual offense or abduction. This type of victimization takes place across every platform, including social media, messaging apps, gaming platforms, etc. Learn more about online enticement, including red flags and risk factors, at https://www.missingkids.org/theissues/onlineenticement . If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741. Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc . ###


title: California man who participated in email fraud to steal more than $3 million from boatbuilding companies sentenced to 16 months in prison

body_text: Seattle – A 47-year-old Inglewood, California, man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 16 months in prison for an email compromise scheme that stole more than $3.3 million from two companies involved in manufacturing ferries and engines for those ferries, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Leslie Redd III, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez noted the severe impact that the crime had on the victim businesses and their employees, causing employees’ pay to be delayed and cut, and threatening the businesses’ viability. According to records filed in the case, including the plea agreement, in October 2018, Redd entered a scheme with a co-conspirator in Pennsylvania and others. The scheme began when a malicious link was sent to an email address of an employee at the engine-building company. The link allowed the conspirators to gain access to the company’s email system and review various emails, including those transmitting invoices. The conspirators then posed as a billing executive at the engine manufacturing company and sent the boat-building company instructions to wire the payment funds to a specific bank account. The conspirators had set up a fake company and the account at a Pennsylvania bank specifically to receive these funds. The false emails indicated the engine-building company’s usual bank account was undergoing an audit and said that the engine-building company therefore needed to use a different bank than it had previously. On October 29, 2018, the boat builder paid the invoice for $3,316,730 by wiring the funds as directed by the fraudulent emails. The co-conspirator in Pennsylvania quickly forwarded $3,074,500 to bank accounts controlled by Redd and other co-conspirators. Of the ill-gotten funds, Redd kept $857,350 in accounts he controlled. Investigators were able to seize $420,817 from those accounts. In the sentencing memo, prosecutors describe how Redd, forwarded more than $2,000,000 of the money that he had received to China to other co-conspirators – people whose names he did not even know. Judge Martinez expressed particular concern that American citizens would help foreign criminals defraud fellow Americans. Redd will be on three years of supervised release following prison. He was ordered to pay $2,802,368.24 in restitution (the amount of the outstanding loss). The case was investigated by the FBI Seattle Office Cyber Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Friedman and former Assistant United States Attorney Siddharth Velamoor.


title: Former Teacher’s Aide Sentenced for Using the Internet to Attempt to Entice a Minor to Engage in Sexual Conduct

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Danville, Ky., woman, Ellen Phillips, formerly known as Ellen Shell, 38, was sentenced on Friday, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, to 188 months in prison, for using the internet to attempt to entice a minor to engage in sexual conduct. Phillips, who at the time of her offenses was employed as a teacher’s aide, was conducting sexual relationships with numerous teenage boys in the Boyle and Garrard County areas. Phillips would communicate with the victims via Snapchat, Facebook, or text messaging; and in many instances, she would meet the victims for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity. According to Phillips’ plea, she engaged in sexual activity with multiple minors at the same time. In her plea agreement, Phillips specifically admitted that on December 20, 2022, she attempted to entice a 15-year-old minor to engage in sexual activity. In this conversation, Phillips messaged the victim using Facebook and repeatedly attempted to get the victim to sneak out of his house for sexual activity. When the victim said he could not leave, Phillips offered alcohol and oral sex to the minor and offered excuses the victim could tell his mother as to why he needed to leave his home. Under federal law, Phillips must serve 85 percent of her prison sentence. Upon her release from prison, she will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for life. Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Rana Saoud, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Phillip J. Burnett, Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police (KSP); Willie Skeens, Garrard County Sheriff; and Chief Tony Gray, Danville Police Department, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by the HSI, KSP, Garrard County Sheriff’s Office, and Danville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . — END —


body_text: LONDON, Ky. – A Lily, Ky., man, James Samuel Jones, 39, was sentenced on Thursday, by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier, to 20 years in prison, for the distribution of child pornography. According to his plea agreement, on September 13, 2022, Jones, through his Yahoo email account, distributed a video depicting two minor victims engaged in sexual activity. The video was sent to an email account believed to have child pornography and sent with the expectation of receiving child pornography in return for the distributed video. Under federal law, Jones must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 20 years. Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Robert Holman, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service; and Russell Coleman, Kentucky Attorney General, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by U.S. Secret Service and Kentucky Attorney General’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Parman is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . — END —


title: Madison County Man Sentenced for Distributing Fluorofentanyl

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Richmond, Ky., man, James A. Phelps, 42, was sentenced on Friday, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, to 220 months in prison, for distribution of fluorofentanyl. According to his plea agreement, on December 6, 2022, Phelps sold a confidential informant an ounce of suspected heroin; and when the substance was tested, it was found to be 27.919 grams of a mixture containing fluorofentanyl. Additionally, on two other occasions, November 16, 2022, and January 18, 2023, Phelps sold the confidential informant fluorofentanyl and other controlled substances. Each of those sales involved approximately 28 grams of fluorofentanyl. Phelps admitted to knowing that the substance that he distributed contained a controlled substance. Phelps has previously been convicted of a felony drug offense, distribution of cocaine. He was convicted in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky in 2011. Under federal law, Phelps must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for six years. Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Erek Davodowich, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Louisville Field Division, jointly announce the sentencing. The investigation was conducted by the DEA, with the assistance of the AHIDTA. Assistant U.S. Attorney James Chapman is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. — END —


title: FORMER HIGH SCHOOL COACH SENTENCED TO 35 YEARS ON CHILD EXPLOITATION CONVICTION

component: USAO - Virgin Islands

body_text: St. Thomas, VI – United States Attorney Delia L. Smith announced today that Chief Judge Robert A. Molloy sentenced Alfredo Bruce Smith, 53, of St. Thomas, to 35 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Upon release from prison, Smith must register as a sex offender. On September 13, 2023, Smith pleaded guilty to a 20-count indictment charging him with both federal and territorial child sexual exploitation offenses. “One of our greatest responsibilities is to protect our children, and we will continue to target child predators who sexually abuse them. This case is particularly egregious because Smith used his position of trust to victimize students over a period spanning 15 years. I am grateful to all who worked tirelessly to bring this case to justice for the minor victims who were abused by this defendant” United States Attorney Smith said. “This case is a reminder of the inherent dangers the children of our community face every day. We must all work together as a community to report individuals committing these crimes. Homeland Security Investigations is steadfast in its commitment to investigate and pursue justice for those who misuse their positions of trust to sexually abuse our children”, Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Gonzalez-Ramos said. According to court documents, Smith was employed as a hall monitor and track and field coach at the Charlotte Amalie High School in St. Thomas from 2006 to 2021. During his tenure at the school, Smith sexually assaulted and exploited multiple male students who attended the school. Smith’s crimes were revealed in 2019 after he sexually assaulted a minor male student during a track and field meet in Puerto Rico. The victim reported to law enforcement that Smith forced him and other minor male students to engage in sexual intercourse and sodomy both on and off the school campus, and that Smith used his cell phone to record himself and the minor male victims engaging in sexual acts and pornography. Court documents further revealed that Smith’s Facebook account contained a large quantity of sexually explicit material, including videos of sexual activities between Smith and the minor male victims, recorded in different locations in St. Thomas. When Smith was arrested on September 1, 2021, law enforcement seized a laptop, a camcorder and five cellular phones which contained a large quantity of videos and photographs containing child pornography. Smith used his position as hall monitor to remove minor male students from their classrooms during and after school hours to sexually abuse them in empty classrooms and offices on the school’s campus. In fact, Smith’s office, where most of the sexual abuse took place, was next door to the principal’s office. Smith also used the school’s official vehicle and camcorder to transport the minor male students and record the sexual abuse at various locations in St. Thomas. At sentencing, Chief Judge Molloy told Smith that “Charlotte Amalie High School during those 15 years was your playground to molest those children. School is supposed to be a safe haven – like their home, not a place that cases trauma and pain.” Molloy further stated that “if it were not for the courage of the children who reported these atrocities, we would not know what happened. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Everard E. Potter and Natasha Baker.


title: Jefferson County Man Sentenced to More  Seven Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A federal judge sentenced a Jefferson County man for illegal possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson. U.S. District Court Judge Madeline H. Haikala sentenced Terrell Corey McMullin, 31, of Fairfield, to 87 months in prison. In October 2023, a jury convicted McMullin of being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to evidence presented at trial, on February 1, 2022, a Pleasant Grove police officer conducted a traffic stop on McMullin. The officer attempted to make contact with McMullin, but he sped away. The chase ended when the driver lost control of the vehicle and wrecked a short distance later. McMullin got out of the vehicle and ran. The pursuit ended when McMullin crossed into the Fairfield city limits. During the search of the abandoned vehicle, the officer found a Glock 9mm pistol with an installed “Glock switch” – a device designed to illegally convert a semiautomatic Glock pistol into a fully automatic machine gun – in the driver’s seat. The Glock was later determined to be stolen. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN . The ATF investigated the case along with the Pleasant Grove Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael A. Royster and William R. McComb are prosecuting the case.


title: Omaha Man Sentenced for Firearm and Drug Trafficking Crimes

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Maen Chuol, 24, of Omaha, Nebraska was sentenced on April 24, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for distributing fentanyl and possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Chuol to 46 months’ imprisonment on the drug charge and a consecutive 60 months’ imprisonment on the firearm charge, for a total sentence of 106 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Chuol’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. On October 19, 2021, Chuol delivered fifty fentanyl pills to a confidential source with the Omaha Police Department. The transaction occurred in Omaha, Nebraska. On February 24, 2022, a federal arrest warrant for Chuol was issued by the District of Nebraska for distribution of fentanyl. Chuol was observed exiting his residence and driving away. His vehicle was stopped, and Chuol was arrested without incident. Officers immediately noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, looked into the open driver door and observed a small plastic baggie of marijuana on the center console in plain view. The Ziploc style bag contained numerous small plastic baggies commonly used to distribute narcotics. One small plastic baggie contained seventy-seven suspected fentanyl pills, one contained white powder (suspected cocaine) weighing 3 grams, and three individually packaged pills, one blue pill (suspected fentanyl) and two unknown pills. Officers secured a search warrant for Chuol’s residence and recovered fifty-six grams of blue fentanyl pills, a plastic baggie containing nine grams of cocaine, a plastic baggie containing seventeen grams of psilocybin mushrooms, and a loaded 9mm Taurus firearm loaded with live rounds, twelve in the magazine and one in the chamber. Officers also located a safe which contained eight thousand US dollars ($8,000) in various denominations. The money was determined to be drug sale proceeds and administratively forfeited to the United States. The narcotics were later confirmed via forensic laboratory analysis as 4-ANPP (a fentanyl precursor), fentanyl, and cocaine. This case was investigated by the Omaha Police Department.


title: Man Sentenced for Distributing Meth to a Minor


title: Omaha Man Sentenced for Transportation of Child Pornography

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Timothy Sousa, age 58, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on April 25, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for transportation of child pornography. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Sousa to 120 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Sousa’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. Sousa was ordered to pay $15,000 in restitution to the victims depicted in the images. On September 6, 2022, Timothy Sousa uploaded 161 images of children engaging in sexually explicit conduct to his Gmail account while using the internet. Google reported this activity, and the Nebraska State Patrol was ultimately notified. On February 7, 2023, the Nebraska State Patrol executed a search warrant at Sousa’s residence in Omaha, Nebraska. During the warrant, Sousa agreed to speak with law enforcement and stated he would view young girls in bikinis with “maybe a nipple slip or something.” Numerous devices of Sousa’s were seized during the search warrant to include hard drives, a computer, and a flash drive. A search warrant was also conducted for Sousa’s Google account. Sousa was in possession of 5,222 images and videos of child pornography. This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol.


title: Mexican Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine Conspiracy

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Juan Tapia-Torres, 44, of Guadalupe Victoria Miramar, Mexico, was sentenced April 26, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for his involvement in a methamphetamine conspiracy. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Tapia-Torres to 90 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. On March 2, 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted a controlled drug purchase of meth from Tapia-Torres in Omaha. During the controlled buy, special agents purchased approximately 437.3 grams of pure meth. The controlled buy was orchestrated by a Mexico-based source of supply that was in communication with Tapia-Torres and the special agents. On or about March 14, 2023, a search warrant was executed on Tapia-Torres’s residence in Omaha. During the search, 3,966 grams of pure meth was located in multiple packages located inside the basement ceiling. This case was investigated by the DEA.


title: Omaha Man Sentenced for COVID Fraud Conspiracy

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Ramel D. Thompson, 60, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on April 25, 2024, in federal court in Omaha for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Thompson to 70 months’ imprisonment and ordered him to pay $2,518,556.75 in restitution for the loans and grants, plus interest and processing fees, Thompson actually acquired. After Thompson’s release from prison, he will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. During 2020 and 2021, Thompson provided direction and assistance to others in preparing and submitting applications containing material misrepresentations to obtain inflated Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) loans and grants on behalf of their businesses. Those loan programs were created or expanded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, which was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thompson also submitted one fraudulent application for a loan on his own behalf, but it was not funded. Thompson assisted in inflating the amount of the loans for which his and others’ businesses would qualify by overstating on applications what the businesses had paid in past compensation or had received in revenue, and/or by understating the expenses the businesses had incurred. He also created and assisted in creating phony documents in support of applications, such as false tax documents that were not filed with the IRS. Thompson also assisted others in preparing and submitting false applications for forgiveness of PPP loans. The forgiveness applications were supported by false documents that Thompson helped prepare and falsely stated, among other things, that the PPP proceeds had been expended for proper purposes. The fraudulent applications that Thompson helped prepare and submit sought loans and grants totaling approximately $5,844,999, and co-conspirators obtained $2,442,616. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General.


title: Man Sentenced for Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Tyrece Thomas, 23, of Macy, Nebraska, was sentenced on April 26, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Chief United States District Court Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr., sentenced Thomas to 24 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Thomas’s release from prison, he will begin a 2-year term of supervised release. In May 2023, Thomas assaulted an adult male, knocking him unconscious, before then continuing to strike, kick, and stomp on the victim. Thomas’s assault resulted in serious injuries to the victim which required medical attention, including a broken jaw. When a third party attempted to help the victim, who was lying unconscious in a roadway, Thomas kicked the third party in the face, breaking that person’s nose. This case was charged in United States District Court as there is federal jurisdiction under the Major Crimes Act for felony assaults on an Indian Reservation. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.


title: Stilwell Resident Sentenced To 35 Years For Multiple Counts Of Aggravated Sexual Abuse

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Daniel Wayne Bayless, age 27, of Stilwell, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 420 months for each of four counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country. The terms of imprisonment will be served concurrently. Bayless will also be required to register as a sex offender. The charges arose from investigations by the Adair County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On July 18, 2023, Bayless was found guilty of the charges by a federal jury. During the trial, the United States presented evidence that in 2020 Bayless sexually assaulted a minor victim under the age of 12 on multiple occasions. The Government also presented evidence Bayless victimized another child ten years prior. The crimes occurred in Adair County, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation of Oklahoma, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Bayless will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole Paladino and Morgan Muzljakovich represented the United States.


title: Gore Resident Sentenced For Voluntary Manslaughter, Assault With A Dangerous Weapon

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announces that Gary Lynn Armer, Jr., age 19, of Gore, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 87 months in prison for one count of Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country, and 87 months in prison for one count of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with the Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country. The sentences are to be served concurrently. The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office. On October 19, 2022, Armer pleaded guilty to a two-count felony information. According to investigators, on March 26, 2022, Armer drove to a residence outside Gore, Oklahoma, and confronted an individual there. During the ensuing argument, Armer fatally shot the victim. Armer then fired upon a second individual sitting in a nearby vehicle, causing serious bodily injury, before fleeing the scene. Armer was arrested a short time later by investigating officers, who located Armer at his residence. The crimes occurred in Sequoyah County, which is within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation and the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the sentencing hearing. Armer will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.


title: Ada Resident Sentenced To 293 Months For Aggravated Sexual Abuse And Assault

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Ryan Christopher Dill, age 37, of Ada, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 293 months imprisonment, followed by a lifetime term of supervised release, on one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse, and 120 months on one count of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury. The terms of imprisonment will run concurrently. On September 29, 2022, Dill pleaded guilty to the charges. According to investigators, on December 25, 2021, Dill stabbed, bludgeoned, and sexually assaulted the victim at an Ada residence. The crimes occurred in Pontotoc County, within the boundaries of the Chickasaw Nation Reservation of Oklahoma and the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The charges arose from an investigation by the Ada Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Dill will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Caila M. Cleary represented the United States.


title: Henryetta Resident Sentenced For Child Abuse In Indian Country

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Zion Alexander Canard, age 25, of Henryetta, Oklahoma was sentenced to 24 months in prison, followed by a 5-year term of supervised release, for one count of Child Abuse in Indian Country. Canard was found guilty of child abuse following a federal bench trial on August 14, 2023. During the trial, the United States presented evidence that on September 12, 2022, Canard abused an infant left in his care, resulting in a brain hemorrhage, lacerations, and bruising. The crime occurred in Hughes County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The guilty verdict was the result of investigations by the Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Police, the Tulsa Police Department, the Glenpool Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Honorable Keith Starrett, Senior U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by appointment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee. Canard will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Caila M. Cleary represented the United States.


title: Seminole Resident Sentenced For Murder

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Douglas Vaughn Switch, Jr., age 47, of Seminole, Oklahoma, was sentenced to a term in prison for 168 months for one count of Second Degree Murder in Indian Country. The charges arose from investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, and the Seminole Nation Lighthorse Police Department. On September 25, 2023, Switch pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on the evening of October 23, 2022, Switch fired a single round from a .380, killing the victim instantly. Law enforcement officers responding to a 911 call discovered Switch pressing the .380 pistol to his own chin and sitting beside the body of the deceased on the front porch of a Seminole residence. The crime occurred in Seminole County, within the boundaries of the Seminole Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Keith Starrett, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Muskogee. Switch will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Erin Cornell represented the United States.