title: Two City Men Convicted in Pizza Shop Arson That Resulted in the Death of Philadelphia Firefighter Lt. Sean Williamson

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

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Al-Ashraf Khalil, 31, and Isaam Jaghama, 31, both of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were convicted today at trial in the June 18, 2022, arson fire at a Fairhill pizza shop, which resulted in the death of Philadelphia Fire Department Lieutenant Sean Williamson and injuries to five other first responders inside the building when it collapsed. A federal jury convicted the defendants on one count each of conspiracy to commit malicious damage by means of fire of a building used in interstate commerce, and one count each of malicious damage by means of fire of a building used in interstate commerce. Khalil was also found guilty of one count of wire fraud, and one count of using fire in furtherance of the commission of that wire fraud. Khalil was the owner of the property at 300 West Indiana Avenue, which housed both apartments and the pizza shop. As proven at trial, in the early hours of June 18, 2022, he and Jaghama set a fire inside the building so that Khalil could profit by filing an insurance claim related to the fire. The day of the fire, Khalil signed paperwork authorizing an insurance adjuster to file a more than $400,000 insurance claim on his behalf. At sentencing, Khalil faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 17 years in prison and a maximum possible sentence of life in prison. Jaghama faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years in prison and a maximum possible sentence of life in prison. “This fire wasn’t an accident or act of God,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “But for these defendants, it never would have started, the building would still stand, and Lt. Williamson would still be with his family — a wholly preventable tragedy, sparked by greed. While today’s convictions can never make up for such an immeasurable loss, they ensure a measure of justice for Lt. Williamson, the Williamson family, and the dedicated first responders of the Philadelphia Fire Department. They also reinforce that anyone reckless enough to commit arson will be held to account for their actions.” “Arson is a dangerous deadly crime,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Philadelphia Field Office. “In this case two families with children had to run for their lives, four responders were buried alive, and a firefighter was killed. Bringing together the resources of the ATF Philadelphia Arson & Explosives Task Force and the ATF National Response Team, the Philadelphia Fire Department, the Philadelphia Fire Marshal’s Office, the Philadelphia Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, we brought these arsonists to justice, and they now face up to life in federal prison. ATF is committed to protecting our communities from dangerous criminals and will continue to partner to prevent and prosecute crimes like this.” “The Philadelphia Fire Department will forever mourn the loss of Lieutenant Sean Williamson. We thank the United States Attorney and Justice Department for their diligence in bringing these men to justice. Our fervent hope is that this verdict will bring even a small amount of closure to Lt. Williamson’s family, both at home and in the PFD,” said Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Jeffrey Thompson. This case was investigated by ATF Philadelphia and the ATF’s National Response Team, the Philadelphia Fire Department, the Philadelphia Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Philadelphia Police Department, with significant assistance provided by the Philadelphia Department of Licenses & Inspections. Special thanks are given to the United States Marshals Service for their assistance in the international apprehension of Al-Ashraf Khalil. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Amanda R. Reinitz and Michael Miller.


title: Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison for Detonating an Explosive Device Outside the Alabama Attorney General’s Office

component: USAO - Alabama, Middle

body_text: Montgomery, Ala. – On November 21, 2024, a federal judge sentenced 27-year-old Kyle Benjamin Douglas Calvert, of Irondale, Alabama, to 108 months in prison for the malicious use of an explosive device outside of the Alabama Attorney General’s Office in Montgomery. “Kyle Calvert attacked the Alabama Attorney General’s Office with a shrapnel-filled explosive and then fled the scene, but this sentence ensures he will not escape accountability for his crime,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Acts of violence like this one against our public institutions endanger public servants and entire communities, and they must not be tolerated. I am grateful to the FBI, ATF, and our state and local law enforcement partners for ensuring accountability for this attack, and for the work they do every day to protect our communities.” “Today’s sentencing is the final step holding Kyle Calvert accountable for detonating a shrapnel-filled explosive device outside a public office in downtown Montgomery,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “This case demonstrates the FBI’s continued commitment to working with our partners to bring to justice anyone who attempts violence to injure or intimidate members of our community.” “Today’s sentencing shows that any attack on America’s justice system, and on the civil servants and public officials who serve our communities and country, will not be tolerated,” said Director Steven Dettelbach of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “The sentence handed down today reflects not only the severity of the crime, but also ATF’s commitment to working with our federal, state, and local partners to hold those who attack American institutions accountable.” “This prosecution would not have been possible if not for the coordinated efforts of numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies,” said Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson. “Working together, investigators and analysts were able to identify Calvert as a suspect and ensure he was held accountable for his attempt to intimidate public officials and create chaos.” According to the plea agreement and other court documents, during the early morning hours of February 24, 2024, Calvert placed an explosive device outside of the Alabama Attorney General's Office in downtown Montgomery. During his plea hearing, Calvert admitted to manufacturing the device and to using nails and screws as shrapnel. After positioning the explosive device near the Attorney General’s Office, Calvert lit its fuse and left the area before it exploded. No injuries were reported. Before planting and detonating the device, Calvert placed stickers with graphics advocating for various political ideologies on various downtown buildings. Some stickers included the phrase “Support your local Antifa.” As reflected in the plea agreement, Calvert claims he has no affiliation with Antifa. Law enforcement arrested Calvert on April 10, 2024. The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant United States Attorneys Russell T. Duraski and Brett J. Talley for the Middle District of Alabama prosecuted the case.


title: Two Men Sentenced for Illegally Smuggling Juvenile Eels from Puerto Rico

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: Two Dominican nationals were sentenced for smuggling juvenile American eels from Puerto Rico. On Nov. 14, U.S. District Court Judge Aida M. Delgado-Colon for the District of Puerto Rico sentenced Simon De la Cruz Paredes, 56, to 24 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. Today, Judge Delgado-Colon sentenced Saul Enrique José De la Cruz, 39, to 24 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. According to court documents, Paredes and De la Cruz spent months harvesting juvenile American eels ( Anguilla rostrata) , also known as glass eels, in the rivers around Levittown, Puerto Rico. Once they caught the eels, the defendants kept them alive with an oxygenation system while a boat was built to travel back to the Dominican Republic. On Feb. 21, both defendants left Puerto Rico bound for the Dominican Republic in a boat that contained 30 kilograms of glass eels, a handgun and 850 rounds of ammunition. Paredes and De La Cruz stated that they intended to sell the eels in the Dominican Republic, after which the fish would be shipped to Asia. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) intercepted Paredes and De la Cruz about 40 miles off the coast of Puerto Rico. The men refused to stop their boat and USCG was obligated to neutralize the vessel’s engines, after which the defendants were arrested and indicted. Paredes and De la Cruz both previously pleaded guilty to smuggling the eels in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 554 and trafficking in illegal wildlife in violation of the Lacey Act. De la Cruz also pleaded guilty to failing to heave to when ordered to stop by the Coast Guard. According to court documents, the juvenile eels were worth at least $132,000 and would be worth more than $1 million once raised to adulthood. “Eels are a highly sought-after food source, including for sushi,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Juvenile or glass eels are key to this food production. Unfortunately, they are often illegally harvested, which has already decimated their numbers in Japan and Europe, and which is also having a profound effect on the American eel population. That is why we will vigorously prosecute individuals or entities caught illegally harvesting glass eels.” “The illegal trafficking of wildlife threatens the survival of many endangered species,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office has made it a priority to protect our natural resources. The environmental protection laws protect the animals, resources, and habitats within Puerto Rico.” “American juvenile eels can be traded legally, but they are also subject to poaching and international trafficking,” said Assistant Director Edward Grace of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement. “These defendants would clearly stop at almost nothing in pursuit of their illegal activities, which harm natural resources and economies. The sentencing of these individuals highlights the effectiveness and persistence of investigators, who work tirelessly to seek justice.” “We work closely with our joint enforcement partners to detect and identify potential illegal activity related to the Lacey Act,” said Acting Assistant Director Paige Casey of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Office of Law Enforcement Southeast Division. “Through our partnerships, we are able to successfully prosecute and convict individuals, such as in this case, who illegally harvest and traffic marine wildlife that could disrupt our fair trade market.” “These two convictions highlight the collective and unwavering resolve of our Coast Guard and sister U.S. law enforcement agencies to protect the living marine resources and hold transnational smuggling organizations accountable,” said Capt. Luis J. Rodriguez, Commander of USCG’s Sector San Juan. “As one of our most sensitive missions, we must continue to generate awareness of the impacts smugglers are having in eradicating eel populations around the globe. Now, the juvenile American eel population is being targeted at home, we must remain vigilant as a service and a nation to this threat.” The American eel is a species of fish native to the Eastern United States and the Caribbean. The American eel is a “catadromous” species, meaning that it reproduces in saltwater systems and matures in fresh water (riverine) systems. American eel eggs hatch in the Atlantic Ocean’s Sargasso Sea, after which ocean currents carry the juvenile eels along the eastern American coast. Tidal fluctuations then wash the eels into freshwater river systems, including the rivers of Puerto Rico, after which they migrate upstream. Once a glass eel matures, it will return to the Sargasso Sea in order to spawn. Because American eels have not been successfully bred in captivity, the commercial market is concentrated on the juvenile glass eel stage. Once captured, glass eels are typically sold to aquaculture facilities in Asia, where they are raised into adults and sold for foods including for sushi as unagi. The fishing pressure on juvenile eels has contributed to record low population numbers. NOAA and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Offices of Law Enforcement are leading the investigation as part of the Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Environmental Crimes Task Force, along with USCG and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The Puerto Rico Police Bureau, Joint Forces of Rapid Action (FURA) and Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources also provided valuable assistance. Senior Trial Attorney Patrick M. Duggan of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney and Environmental Litigation Coordinator Seth A. Erbe for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico are prosecuting the case.


title: Atmore Man Sentenced for Fraud and Illegal Possession of a Machinegun

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – An Atmore man was sentenced to 21 months in prison for fraud in connection with emergency benefits, wire fraud, bank fraud, and illegal possession of a machinegun. According to court documents, Tyderian Deantwyne Sims, 25, committed a variety of frauds between 2021 and 2023. In March 2021, Sims fraudulently obtained federal pandemic unemployment compensation benefits by filing a certification with the Alabama Department of Labor falsely claiming that he had not worked or received wages due to COVID 19 restrictions. In May 2021, Sims obtained a fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loan. To obtain the fully forgivable loan, Sims filed a Schedule C tax form falsely claiming that he operated a lawncare business. Finally, in July 2023, Sims made a series of fraudulent transactions involving counterfeited and forged checks, which had been generated using checks stolen from the U.S. mail. In June 2024, police in Atmore arrested Sims on a federal arrest warrant relating to his fraud crimes. During the arrest, police found a .40 caliber Glock pistol in Sims’s car. The pistol had been illegally modified with a machinegun-conversion device, commonly known as a “Glock switch.” Sims admitted that he bought the illegal machinegun from someone via Instagram. Data extracted from Sims’s cell phone indicated that Sims offered to sell machinegun-conversion devices to other people. In addition to the 21-month prison term, Chief United States District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock ordered Sims to serve a three-year term of supervised release upon his release from prison, during which time he will receive mental health treatment and will be subject to credit restrictions. The court did not impose a fine, but Chief Judge Beaverstock ordered Sims to pay $32,229.59 in victim restitution and $400 in special assessments. U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement. The United States Postal Investigation Service, the Alabama Department of Labor Internal Security Division, and the Atmore Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.


title: Senior FARC Commander Sentenced to 21 Years in Prison for International Cocaine Distribution Conspiracy

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Martin Leonel Perez Castro, a senior leader within the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (the FARC), was sentenced by United States District Judge Brian M. Cogan to 252 months in prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine internationally, intending and knowing that the cocaine would be illegally imported into the United States. Perez Castro pleaded guilty to the charge in August 2023. The defendant was also ordered to forfeit $1 million in drug proceeds. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division (DEA), and Thomas M. Fattorusso, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, New York Field Office (IRS-CI), announced the sentence. “The defendant extracted millions of dollars from drug traffickers at the point of a gun, funding the FARC’s acts of terrorism and facilitating the global cocaine trade,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Today’s sentence handed down in a U.S. courtroom is fitting justice for Perez Castro, who granted drug traffickers his permission and protection to produce massive quantities of cocaine that was distributed in our country and elsewhere, causing incalculable harm. The dismantling of international drug trafficking organizations and narcoterrorism groups will always be a priority of the Department of Justice.” Mr. Peace extended his appreciation to the DEA’s office in Bogota, Colombia, the United States Department of State, the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of the Judicial Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota provided critical assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Perez Castro, the Colombian National Police and the Government of Colombia. “Today, justice has been delivered. Martin Leonel Perez Castro, who served as a former senior member and one of the highest-level drug trafficking members of the FARC, used violent tactics, which included terrorism, to help distribute shipments of cocaine from Columbia to New York City and the United States” stated Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino. “While this sentencing closes the door to Mr. Castro’s activities, the DEA and our law enforcement partners, both globally and here in the United States, remain committed to making sure those who use violent and terrorist acts as a measure for illicit drug trade face the justice they deserve.” “As a FARC senior official, Perez Castro was responsible for the distribution of more than 165,000 pounds of cocaine. He helped create a revenue stream that funded the FARC’s decades-long campaign to overthrow the Government of Colombia, a conflict that resulted in far too many casualties. Today’s sentencing is the result of the incredible investigative work of DEA and IRS-CI Special Agents and committed law enforcement partnerships globally,” stated IRS-CI New York Special Agent in Charge Fattorusso. The FARC was founded in 1964 as a left-wing paramilitary group dedicated to the violent overthrow of the Government of Colombia. Over decades of conflict, the FARC attacked Colombian government forces and used targeted killings, kidnapping and other terrorist tactics to achieve its ends. In October 1997, the U.S. Secretary of State designated the FARC as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO). After the Government of Colombia and the FARC entered into a peace accord in 2016, the FARC formally dissolved. On November 30, 2021, the U.S. Secretary of State revoked the designation of the FARC as an FTO. The defendant’s conduct occurred prior to the 2016 peace accord. Perez Castro was the Head of Finances for the FARC’s 30th Front, a group that operated in southwestern Colombia. The 30th Front extorted drug traffickers by forcing them to pay “taxes” for every kilogram of cocaine trafficked through the 30th Front’s territory. The 30th Front also sometimes produced its own cocaine or held ownership stakes in cocaine shipments produced by local traffickers. Cocaine revenues funded the FARC’s decades-long campaign to overthrow the Government of Colombia, a conflict that resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties. Perez Castro was responsible for the distribution of at least 75,000 kilograms of cocaine. He was extradited to the Eastern District of New York in June 2022. The conviction and sentencing of Perez Castro are the result of an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation led by the Office and the DEA. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Wang is in charge of the prosecution. The Defendant : MARTIN LEONEL PEREZ CASTRO Age: 53 Colombia E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 14-CR-465 (S-2) (BMC)


title: Grand Jury Returns Indictments

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. - A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments yesterday. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and a person named as defendant in an indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Bayfield Man Charged With Distributing Child Pornography Lance Andrews, 46, Bayfield, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing child pornography. The indictment alleges that on September 24, 2024, Andrews uploaded a video of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, into a Chatroom dedicated to the rape of infants and toddlers. If convicted, Andrews faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. The charge against him is the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Ashland Police Department, Bayfield County Sheriff’s Office, and the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Altman is handling the case. This investigation was a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. Three Dane County Men Charged With Illegally Possessing Firearms In separate cases, three Dane County men are charged with illegally possessing firearms as felons. Under federal law, individuals with prior felony convictions cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition. Joseph T. Harrison, 35, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with illegally possessing a Beretta .22 caliber handgun on or about April 9, 2024. Curtis White III, 21, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, is charged with illegally possessing a loaded Sarsilmaz 9mm handgun and 9mm ammunition on September 30, 2024. Bobby D. Clayton, 44, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with illegally possessing firearms and ammunition as a felon. The indictment alleges that on July 26, 2022, Clayton possessed a loaded Hi-Point C9 9mm handgun. The indictment further alleges that on June 2, 2024, Clayton possessed a loaded Taurus PT-58 .380 caliber handgun and two brands of .380 caliber ammunition. If convicted, Harrison and White each face a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. Clayton faces maximum penalties of 15 years in prison on each gun charge. The charge against Harrison is the result of an investigation conducted by the La Crosse Police Department, ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force, and the Wisconsin State Crime Lab. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Ginsberg is handling the case. The charge against White is the result of an investigation conducted by the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force and the Fitchburg Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wagner is handling the case. The ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force consists of federal agents from ATF and Task Force Officers (TFOs) from local agencies including the Dane County and Clark County Sheriff’s Offices and the Fitchburg, Madison, Sun Prairie, and La Crosse Police Departments. The charge against Clayton is the result of an investigation conducted by the Madison Police Department and the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan is handling the case. All cases involving firearms are 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. Illinois Man Charged With Distributing Fentanyl Michael Greer, 44, Loves Park, Illinois, is charged with distributing fentanyl. The indictment alleges that Greer distributed 40 grams or more of fentanyl on July 25, 2024, and August 8, 2024. If convicted, Greer faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison on each distribution charge. The charges against Greer are the result of investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Rock County Sheriff’s Office, and the Winnebago County, Illinois, Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor L. Kraus is handling the case. Price County Man Charged With Defrauding Federal Crop Insurance Program Lance G. Meier, 52, Ogema, Wisconsin, is charged with defrauding the federal crop insurance program. The indictment alleges that on September 30, 2019, Meier submitted a fraudulent Wells Fargo bank statement to the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation in connection with reinstating his crop insurance. If convicted, Meier faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. The charge against Meier is the result of an investigation conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Stelljes is handling the case. Rice Lake Man Charged with Methamphetamine Trafficking Offenses David Anderson Jr., 34, Rice Lake, Wisconsin, is charged with distributing methamphetamine, possessing methamphetamine intended for distribution, and maintaining a drug trafficking premises. The indictment alleges that Anderson distributed methamphetamine on April 8, 2024, and April 17, 2024. The indictment also alleges that Anderson possessed 50 grams or more of methamphetamine intended for distribution on April 19, 2024. The indictment finally alleges that Anderson maintained a drug trafficking residence in Rice Lake from April 8, 2024, to on or about April 19, 2024. If convicted of the charge involving 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, Anderson faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. The charges involving distribution and maintaining a drug trafficking premises each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The charges against Anderson are the result of an investigation by the Barron County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Louis Glinzak is handling the case. Madison Man Charged with Firearms Offenses and Possessing Heroin Intended for Distribution Patrick T. Bishop, 30, Madison, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing 100 grams or more of heroin intended for distribution, possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The indictment alleges that Bishop possessed the heroin on July 31, 2024, on the same day that he possessed a loaded Glock 23 .40 caliber handgun and CBC Smith and Wesson .40 caliber ammunition. The indictment further alleges that Bishop possessed the Glock handgun in furtherance of his drug trafficking crime. If convicted of the heroin charge, Bishop faces a minimum penalty of 5 years and a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. If convicted of the felon-in-possession charge, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. If convicted of the charge alleging that he possessed a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking crime, he faces a minimum penalty of 5 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life, and the sentence imposed must run consecutively to any other prison term. The charges against Bishop are the result of an investigation conducted by the ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force and the Madison Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Lennon is handling the case.


title: Inmate at Federal Bureau of Prisons Sentenced to An Additional 10 Years' Imprisonment Following Guilty Verdict for Assault Causing Serious Bodily Injury

component: USAO - Arkansas, Eastern

body_text: LITTLE ROCK—Raymond Tetzlaff, an inmate incarcerated at the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) in Forrest City, Arkansas, will spend an additional 10 years in federal prison after his current sentence is complete following his conviction for an assault causing serious bodily injury in which the victim ultimately died. Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced the sentence, which was handed down today by United States District Judge James M. Moody, Jr. Following a three-day jury trial, Tetzlaff, 41, of Great Falls, Montana, was convicted by a federal jury on June 12, 2024. The jury found Tetzlaff guilty on one count of assault causing serious bodily injury. Tetzlaff is currently serving a 216-month federal sentence for drug crimes from a 2017 case out of Montana. That sentence is expected to expire in 2032. Tetzlaff’s 120-month sentence in the assault case will begin to run when the sentence from the drug case is complete. In addition to the 10 years’ of imprisonment, Judge Moody sentenced Tetzlaff to five years of supervised release. The sentence is the maximum amount of imprisonment under law Tetzlaff could serve. There is no parole in the federal system. “It is my sincere hope that today’s sentence will bring a level of comfort and peace to the victim’s family,” said Jonathan D. Ross, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. “Prisoners should be safe while serving their term of imprisonment. The significant sentence handed down by the judge should serve as a warning to all inmates that if you cause harm to a fellow prisoner, our office will work to hold you accountable. “The defendant showed no remorse and the sentence is reflective of the defendant’s callous indifference to the loss of another man’s life.” Tetzlaff was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 1, 2023, in a two-count indictment that charged him with one count of manslaughter and one count of assault causing serious bodily injury. The jury returned a verdict of guilty on assault but did not reach a verdict on the manslaughter charge. Through an investigation, it was revealed that on October 29, 2022, at the federal prison in Forrest City, Tetzlaff punched an inmate in the face, knocking him to the floor. The victim of the assault sustained a fractured skull when he hit the floor. Three days after the assault by Tetzlaff, the victim succumbed to the injuries. It was discovered during the investigation that Tetzlaff assaulted the victim over concerns for a missing contraband cell phone. Witnesses at trial testified that Tetzlaff punched the victim when the victim was not paying attention and was turning away from him. After being punched, the victim was knocked unconscious and crashed to the floor, resulting in a fracture to his skull. Witnesses reported the victim later had a seizure and fell from his top bunk onto the floor. The victim was taken to the hospital, but never regained consciousness. In pronouncing the sentence, Judge Moody pointed out Tetzlaff’s lack of remorse and violence of the act, as well as numerous previous incidents in which he had used violence in criminal activities, as reasons for the sentence. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the BOP. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Bart Dickinson and Chris Givens. # # # Additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at https://www.justice.gov/edar X (formerly known as Twitter): @USAO_EDAR


title: Madison Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Fentanyl Trafficking

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Simmeka M. Tibbs, 37, of Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced on November 19, 2024, by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to a year and a half in federal prison for distributing fentanyl. The prison term will be followed by 4 years of supervised release. Tibbs pled guilty to this charge on August 15, 2024. Between December 2023 and February 2024, co-defendant Lildre Brown arranged to distribute fentanyl laced heroin on three separate occasions in the Madison area. On one of these occasions, Brown sent co-defendant Nicole Sanders to deliver almost 100 grams of fentanyl. On the two other occasions, Tibbs delivered the fentanyl for Brown. The investigation revealed that Tibbs regularly delivered drugs for Brown. At Tibbs’ sentencing, Judge Peterson emphasized the seriousness of Tibbs regularly distributing drugs containing fentanyl, an extremely dangerous drug. Judge Peterson also found it very concerning that on one occasion, Tibbs brought a young child with her to the drug delivery. On November 7, 2024, Brown was sentenced to 85 months in prison. Sanders is scheduled to be sentenced on January 10, 2025. The charges against Brown, Tibbs, and Sanders were the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Rock County Sheriff’s Office, Madison Police Department, and the Markham Illinois Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. Levins prosecuted this case.


title: Physician Pleads Guilty to Medicare Fraud Scheme

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A California physician pleaded guilty today in Los Angeles to criminal health care fraud, arising from her false home health certifications and related fraudulent billings to Medicare. According to court documents, Lilit Gagikovna Baltaian, 61, of Porter Ranch, was a physician licensed to practice in California and an enrolled Medicare provider. From approximately January 2012 through July 2018, Baltaian falsely certified patients to receive home health care from at least four Los Angeles area home health agencies. Baltaian’s false certifications were used by the home health agencies to fraudulently bill Medicare for the unnecessary home health care. In some instances, Baltaian pre-signed blank, undated physician certification forms knowing that the home health agencies would later falsify the forms to make it appear as if she saw the Medicare beneficiaries and made clinical findings to support the need for home health care, when she had not done either. Baltaian received cash benefits related to these referrals and also submitted claims to Medicare for signing the fraudulent certifications. Between January 2012 and July 2018, four home health agencies used Baltaian’s false certifications to submit fraudulent claims to Medicare, resulting in loss to Medicare of at least $1,449,050. Baltaian pleaded guilty to health care fraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced on April 3, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. 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 in Charge Akil Davis of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Timothy B. DeFrancesca of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG)’s Los Angeles Regional Office made the announcement. FBI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Matthew Belz and Eric Schmale of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. 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 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: Charleston Woman Pleads Guilty to Federal Securities-Related Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Deanna L. Drumm, 60, of Charleston, pleaded guilty today to aiding and abetting the sale and offer of unregistered securities. According to court documents and statements made in court, in or around 2019 or 2020, Drumm became vice president of operations for Bear Industries LLC, a West Virginia company solely owned and operated by her son, Theodore Miller. Bear Industries originally served as an umbrella entity for other related businesses including a real estate company, a real estate holding company, and a construction company. As vice president of operations, Drumm was responsible for most of the day-to-day operational tasks of the Bear Industries entities, with input and direction from her son, while he lived outside the United States from in or about June 2021 to on or about August 8, 2024. Drumm admitted that between February 2022 and August 2024, she aided and abetted the sale and offering of securities in the form of investments in two real estate-related ventures. One venture offered “direct investments” in the purported development of a dry-storage lot and residential duplexes on Bigley Avenue in Charleston. As a result of that offer, Bear Industries received $95,000 from several individuals between July and October 2022. The other venture offered investments in “Bear Lute,” a pooled real estate investment vehicle launched by Drumm’s son in May 2022. That offer resulted in Bear Industries obtaining more than $335,000 from more than 170 individuals between May 2022 and September 2024. Both the direct investments and the Bear Lute investments were securities as defined by federal law, offered through interstate commerce via the internet, and were required to be registered. Drumm admitted that no registration statement was in effect for either of these securities, and that neither was exempt from the registration requirement. Drumm further admitted that she aided and abetted the offering of these unregistered securities by processing payments by investors, assisting with the creation of the investment prospectuses, and maintaining investor lists. Drumm also admitted that she was aware of numerous false and misleading representations made in relation to both securities. Theodore Miller never possessed legal title for any of the Bigley Avenue properties that were the sites of the proposed dry-storage lot and residential duplexes. Miller defaulted on monthly payments to acquire six of the Bigley Avenue lots in the spring of 2023, losing possession of them entirely. A seventh property listed among the sites for the real estate projects, 1017 Bigley Avenue, is not a valid address. The Bear Lute investors were falsely told by Miller that Bear Industries was a large and successful real estate company, that Bear Lute generated exceptionally high and guaranteed returns, that investors would receive a minimum return of 6 percent, that the investment was secured by income-producing real estate, and that investors could request to withdraw their funds and receive them within 60 days. These representations were false. In September 2022, the West Virginia Securities Commission issued a cease-and-desist letter to Bear Industries ordering it to stop the unregistered sale and offering of securities in Bear Lute. In November 2022, the West Virginia Securities Commission issued a cease-and-desist order regarding the same. Drumm continued to help operate Bear Lute by processing investor payments, in violation of that order, after she received both the letter and the order. On August 9, 2024, law enforcement officers arrested Drumm’s son for alleged conduct related to the direct investments and Bear Lute. Drumm admitted that she drove evidence material to her son’s prosecution including, but not limited to, his laptop computer and a backpack belonging to him, from West Virginia to her parents’ home in Michigan following her son’s arrest to conceal it from law enforcement. Drumm was accompanied by her son’s wife. Drumm hid the laptop in her parents’ basement and the backpack in an upstairs closet. After entering into an agreement with the United States, Drumm arranged for the laptop and backpack to be transported back to West Virginia and voluntarily surrendered those items to the United States. The backpack was found to contain two phones and a tablet. Drumm is scheduled to be sentenced on March 13, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Drumm also owes as much as $434,501.42 in restitution. A federal grand jury returned a 15-count indictment on September 4, 2024, charging Miller, 34, of South Charleston, with wire fraud, money laundering, and obstruction. The indictment alleges that Miller induced the direct investments for the real estate projects and the investments in Bear Lute through material misrepresentations, false promises, and omissions of relevant information. The indictment further alleges that Miller created a social media persona of a successful real estate investor to further these schemes, when in reality he had poor credit, thin month-to-month financial margins, was delinquent on property taxes and bills, and had defaulted on loans. The indictment also alleges that Miller persuaded or attempted to persuade a witness to “alter, destroy, mutilate, and conceal” the backpack and a cell phone. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed a parallel civil action against Miller, Bear Industries LLC, Bear Investments and Business Consulting LLC, and Drumm in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. The lawsuit alleges that Miller has engaged in the unregistered and fraudulent offer of securities related to his real estate-related investment programs since at least 2022, among other allegations, and seeks permanent injunctive relief, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains and prejudgment interest, and civil penalties. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the West Virginia Fusion Center, the West Virginia Securities Commission, and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. United States District Judge Irene C. Berger presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Holly Wilson is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-179. ###


title: Alton resident admits to distributing 10 kilos of liquid meth

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 26-year-old man has pleaded guilty to distributing liquid methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Authorities conducted an investigation revealing Jesus David Medrano Grimaldo intended to sell approximately 10 kilograms of what he knew to be an illegal controlled substance to another individual. Medrano made this initial sale in hopes of selling more illegal controlled substances. Law enforcement observed the transaction and watched as Medrano placed a jug containing a liquid in the other individual’s vehicle. Authorities later acquired the jug and determined the liquid to contain methamphetamine. The liquid methamphetamine weighed approximately 10 kilograms. Chief U.S District Judge Randy Crane accepted the plea and set sentencing for Feb. 3, 2025. At that time, Medrano faces up to life in federal prison and a possible $10 million maximum fine. Medrano will remain in custody pending his sentencing. The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cahal P. McColgan is prosecuting the case.


title: Chowan County Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Child Pornography

component: USAO - North Carolina, Eastern

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – Kevin Lassiter, of Tyner, was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for possession of child pornography after online CyberTips led local sheriff’s deputies to search his devices. On August 5, 2024, Lassiter, 40, pled guilty to the charge. According to court documents and other information presented in court, on September 27, 2023, the Perquimans County Sheriff’s Office received 12 CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Electronic service providers submit CyberTips to NCMEC to report users who possess child sexual abuse material on their systems. A cloud-based storage provider for the Verizon network reported 12 CyberTips of a user uploading images depicting prepubescent minors engaged in sex acts between July 29 to August 25, 2023. Investigators were able to link the tips, through an associate phone number, to Lassiter, and a residential billing address in Tyner. Investigators confirmed Lassiter’s address and found that he was a registered sex offender after state convictions in 2013 for 3rd degree sexual exploitation of a minor in Carteret County. Later the same day, investigators obtained and executed a search warrant for Lassiter’s residence. During a search with Lassiter present, investigators found a Samsung Galaxy phone on the stairwell that rang when they dialed the number associated with the CyberTips. Investigators seized a computer downstairs at a desk, which Lassiter admitted was his. The computer was connected to a USB hub with four cables plugged into it, but no devices connected to those cables. Deputies then found multiple hard drives under the desk. When they picked up a 6TB Western Digital MyBook hard drive, Lassiter called out that it was a router. After a deputy responded that it was a hard drive and would be seized, Lassiter became noticeably distraught and hung his head. During a recorded interview at the sheriff’s office, Lassiter admitted the device he claimed was a router was a hard drive that contained child pornography. Lassiter explained that he would copy images from the hard drive to his phone. A forensic review of the 6TB Western Digital external hard drive revealed approximately 10,000 files of child sexual abuse material. The files included infants through teenage minors, with an estimated 90% of files depicting minors 10 years old or younger. Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Perquimans County Sherriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Jake D. Pugh prosecuted. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-0014-BO.


title: Kanawha County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun Crime

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Joseph Douglas Collier, 38, of Alum Creek, was sentenced today to eight months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 11, 2023, Collier was on the sidewalk outside of a downtown Charleston bar holding an open container of alcohol. The bar doorman asked Collier to return to the bar with the alcoholic beverage. Collier responded by lifting his sweater to reveal a pistol in his waistband. Collier brandished the firearm at the doorman, who retreated inside and closed the bar to protect patrons and employees. Responding law enforcement officers located Collier at a nearby bar and seized a Kimber model Tactical Pro II .45-caliber pistol from Collier’s possession following a pat-down search. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Collier knew he was prohibited from possession a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, cocaine, in Kanawha County Circuit Court on January 12, 2010. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Charleston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Samuel D. Marsh prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-69. ###


title: Guatemalan National Charged with Illegally Reentering U.S.

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury in New Haven has returned an indictment charging RAFAEL VINCENTE VINCENTE, also known as “Rafael Vicente Vicente,” “Vincente Carlos Vincente,” “Carlos Vincente,” “Carlos Vicente,” “Rafael A Vincente,” and “Rafael A Vicente,” 40, a citizen of Guatemala last residing in New London, with illegally reentering the United States after being deported. The indictment was returned on November 19, 2024, and Vincente was arrested today. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven, entered a plea of not guilty to the charge, and was ordered detained. As alleged in the indictment and statements made in court, Vincente was deported from the U.S. to Guatemala in July 2005 following convictions in Connecticut Superior Court for negligent homicide and evading responsibility for a motor vehicle accident resulting in death. Vincente subsequently reentered the U.S. and, on June 7, 2024, was arrested by Groton Town Police and charged with attempted commercial sexual abuse of a minor, attempted sexual assault in the second degree, and attempted risk of injury to a child. If convicted of illegal reentry, Vincente faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years. The state charges against Vincente are pending. U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This matter is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Gordon.


body_text: WASHINGTON — Two Dominican nationals were sentenced for smuggling juvenile American eels from Puerto Rico. On Nov. 14, U.S. District Court Judge Aida M. Delgado-Colón for the District of Puerto Rico sentenced Simón De la Cruz Paredes, 56, to 24 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. Today, Judge Delgado-Colón sentenced Saúl Enrique José De la Cruz, 39, to 24 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. According to court documents, Paredes and De la Cruz spent months harvesting juvenile American eels ( Anguilla rostrata) , also known as glass eels, in the rivers around Levittown, Puerto Rico. Once they caught the eels, the defendants kept them alive with an oxygenation system while a boat was built to travel back to the Dominican Republic. On Feb. 21, both defendants left Puerto Rico bound for the Dominican Republic in a boat that contained 30 kilograms of glass eels, a handgun and 850 rounds of ammunition. Paredes and De La Cruz stated that they intended to sell the eels in the Dominican Republic, after which the fish would be shipped to Asia. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) intercepted Paredes and De la Cruz about 40 miles off the coast of Puerto Rico. The men refused to stop their boat and USCG was obligated to neutralize the vessel’s engines, after which the defendants were arrested and indicted. Paredes and De la Cruz both previously pleaded guilty to smuggling the eels in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 554 and trafficking in illegal wildlife in violation of the Lacey Act. De la Cruz also pleaded guilty to failing to heave to when ordered to stop by the Coast Guard. According to court documents, the juvenile eels were worth at least $132,000 and would be worth more than $1 million once raised to adulthood. “Eels are a highly sought-after food source, including for sushi,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Juvenile or glass eels are key to this food production. Unfortunately, they are often illegally harvested, which has already decimated their numbers in Japan and Europe, and which is also having a profound effect on the American eel population. That is why we will vigorously prosecute individuals or entities caught illegally harvesting glass eels.” “The illegal trafficking of wildlife threatens the survival of many endangered species,” said U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office has made it a priority to protect our natural resources. The environmental protection laws protect the animals, resources, and habitats within Puerto Rico.” “We work closely with our joint enforcement partners to detect and identify potential illegal activity related to the Lacey Act,” said Acting Assistant Director Paige Casey of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Office of Law Enforcement Southeast Division. “Through our partnerships, we are able to successfully prosecute and convict individuals, such as in this case, who illegally harvest and traffic marine wildlife that could disrupt our fair trade market.” “These two convictions highlight the collective and unwavering resolve of our Coast Guard and sister U.S. law enforcement agencies to protect the living marine resources and hold transnational smuggling organizations accountable,” said Capt. Luis J. Rodriguez, Commander of USCG’s Sector San Juan. “As one of our most sensitive missions, we must continue to generate awareness of the impacts smugglers are having in eradicating eel populations around the globe. Now, the juvenile American eel population is being targeted at home, we must remain vigilant as a service and a nation to this threat.” The American eel is a species of fish native to the Eastern United States and the Caribbean. The American eel is a “catadromous” species, meaning that it reproduces in saltwater systems and matures in fresh water (riverine) systems. American eel eggs hatch in the Atlantic Ocean’s Sargasso Sea, after which ocean currents carry the juvenile eels along the eastern American coast. Tidal fluctuations then wash the eels into freshwater river systems, including the rivers of Puerto Rico, after which they migrate upstream. Once a glass eel matures, it will return to the Sargasso Sea in order to spawn. Because American eels have not been successfully bred in captivity, the commercial market is concentrated on the juvenile glass eel stage. Once captured, glass eels are typically sold to aquaculture facilities in Asia, where they are raised into adults and sold for foods including for sushi as unagi. The fishing pressure on juvenile eels has contributed to record low population numbers. NOAA and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Offices of Law Enforcement are leading the investigation as part of the Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands Environmental Crimes Task Force, along with USCG and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The Puerto Rico Police Bureau, Joint Forces of Rapid Action (FURA) and Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources also provided valuable assistance. Senior Trial Attorney Patrick M. Duggan of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney and Environmental Litigation Coordinator Seth A. Erbe for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico are prosecuting the case. -###-


title: Previously convicted felon returning to prison for federal firearms charges, including selling machineguns

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A Norfolk man was sentenced today to two years and three months in prison for illegally trafficking machineguns and being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on Dec. 15, 2022, while undercover, a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Agent and a Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) Detective (UCs) met with Austin Perrine, 33, at a bar in Virginia Beach. Perrine discussed dealing machinegun conversion devices (MCDs), which render semi-automatic firearms capable of automatic firing with the single pull of the trigger, as well as building machineguns, pistols and silencers and having access to cocaine. Perrine retrieved two MCDs from his clothing and showed one to the UCs. Perrine then exchanged the MCDs for $1,000 for both ($500 per MCD). On Jan. 4, 2023, ATF and VBPD searched Perrine’s residence in Norfolk. Agents recovered two handguns and various ammunition, magazines, and firearms parts. As a previously convicted felon, Perrine cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; Paul Neudigate, Chief of Virginia Beach Police; and Ramin Fatehi, Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth W. Hanes. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham M. Stolle, an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney with the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Office, prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-105.


title: 22-Year-Old Female who Purchased Firearms for Others Sentenced in Federal Court

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A female who purchased multiple firearms for others was sentenced November 20, 2024, to five years of federal probation for lying to federally licensed firearms dealers while buying firearms. Jasmin Alexandria Fox, age 22, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a June 17, 2024 guilty plea to one count of false statement during purchase of a firearm. From August 2023 through September 2023, Fox purchased multiple firearms, claiming she was buying them for herself, that were then provided to other individuals. The guns purchased by Fox were linked to two “shots-fired” incidents and one robbery in Cedar Rapids. One of the firearms purchased by Fox was recovered by Cedar Rapids Police on a felon during a struggle. Another firearm purchased by Fox was later recovered from a juvenile. Fox was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Fox was sentenced to 5 years of probation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin, and it was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. 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. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR- 00026. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Cartel-Linked Meth Trafficker Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal Prison

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: A methamphetamine trafficker with ties to the CJNG cartel was sentenced Wednesday to 40 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. Adriana Melendez-Calvillo, a 43-year-old citizen and national of Mexico illegally present in the United States, was charged via criminal complaint in February 2023 and pleaded guilty in November 2023 to a criminal information charging conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and money laundering. She was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Brantley Starr. According to court documents, in September 2022, agents intercepted a call between Ms. Melendez and a co-conspirator during which they discussed logistics for a drug transaction. Agents then followed Ms. Melendez’s vehicle to a fast food restaurant, where she met with coconspirators David Garcia and Omar Gilliam, who appeared to transfer something from Ms. Melendez’s back seat to the trunk of their vehicle. Agents then followed Mr. Gilliam’s vehicle to a gas station, where he removed a grey duffle bag from his trunk and placed it into a third vehicle. Police subsequently pulled over that vehicle for traffic violations; inside the duffel, they found plastic baggies containing 4,886 grams of methamphetamine. In plea papers, Ms. Melendez admitted that she arranged for the transfer of that meth. At Wednesday’s sentencing hearing, an agent testified that Ms. Melendez had ties to Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), a notorious transnational drug trafficking organization. Text messages introduced into evidence at sentencing suggest Ms. Melendez received shipments of meth, cocaine, and other drugs directly from sources of supply in Mexico, and prosecutors noted she electronically transferred $828,094 in proceeds to individuals in Mexico. Ms. Melendez also admitted to attempting to transfer bulk amounts of U.S. currency to Mexico, including $104,750 that was seized by law enforcement. Evidence further revealed that Ms. Melendez was involved in the trafficking at least 1,000 pounds of cocaine, 41 kilograms of methamphetamine, and 7.8 kilograms of ice methamphetamine. Mr. Garcia pleaded guilty in November 2023 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and is slated to be sentenced in January. Mr. Gilliam was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and awaits trial. Three other defendants in the case, Juan Pablo Guerra, Gerardo Campos Garcia, and Fatima Garcia, have entered guilty pleas; three more, Hilario Zamago, Ignacio Manzo-Cardenas, and Luis Manuel Abarca Torres, are also awaiting trial. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Division conducted the investigation with the Richardson Police Department, the Hickory Creek Police Department, the Dallas Police Department, the Greenville Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the U. S. Postal Inspection Service, the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, and the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations Section. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Leal is prosecuting the case. This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces ( OCDETF ) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Kanawha County Woman Sentenced for COVID-19 Relief Fraud Scheme

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jessica Nutter, 39, of St. Albans, was sentenced today to, five years of federal probation, and ordered to pay $25,830 for receipt of stolen money. Nutter admitted to a scheme to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) of $20,830 in COVID-19 relief loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). According to court documents and statements made in court, from March 27, 2021 through on or about April 20, 2021, Nutter fraudulently obtained two PPP loans, each for $10,415, from an approved PPP lender in Texas and the SBA. Nutter falsely represented on one loan application that she had a business, Nut House Wood, and that it had received $50,000 in gross income during 2019. Nutter applied for the other fraudulent loan on behalf of her husband. Nutter falsely represented that her husband received $50,000 in gross income during 2019 as an independent contractor for an online food ordering and delivery service. Businesses applying for PPP loans had to certify that the business was in operation on February 15, 2020, and were required to provide documentation showing their prior gross income from either 2019 or 2020. Nutter admitted that Nut House Wood was not a registered business entity in the State of West Virginia and had never engaged in legitimate business activity when she applied for that loan. Nutter further admitted that her husband was not engaged as an independent contractor for the online delivery service at that time. The Texas lender approved both of Nutter’s loan applications. On April 9, 2021, $10,415 was transferred to Nutter’s personal bank account from a Texas bank. Nutter admitted that she transferred $1,5573.12 of those stolen funds to a North Carolina business on April 12, 2021, to cover expenses for a family vacation later that year. On April 20, 2021, $10,415 in proceeds from the second loan was transferred from a Texas bank to the personal bank account of Nutter’s husband. Nutter admitted that she and her husband used those stolen funds for general family expenses. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office. Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney J. Parker Bazzle II prosecuted the case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, 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 . A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:24-cr-81. ###


title: Colombian National Arrested and Charged with Operating $66 Million Ponzi Scheme Disguised as a Payday Loan Company

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI - Efrain Betancourt, Jr., 36, a Colombian citizen, was arrested on Nov. 14, upon entering the United States and charged in South Florida federal court with leading a $66 million Ponzi scheme disguised as a payday loan company, Sky Group USA, LLC (Sky Group). Betancourt, Jr. was charged by indictment with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and wire fraud on Sept. 12. The indictment was unsealed in federal court on Nov. 18. According to allegations in the investment fraud indictment, Betancourt, Jr. offered promissory notes to Sky Group investors with yearly returns ranging from 24 to 120 percent. Betancourt, Jr. and others told promissory note investors their funds would be used to disburse payday loans to Sky Group clients. Interest from payday loans clients would then purportedly be used to repay promissory note investors. However, millions of dollars from promissory note investors were used to pay previous promissory note investors as part of the Ponzi scheme. Betancourt, Jr. also used over $7.5 million of investor funds for personal use, including a luxury chateau wedding in France, expensive jewelry, a Miami condominium, and family vacations. Over 600 investors invested in Sky Group, many of whom were Venezuelan. If convicted of all charges in the indictment, Betancourt, Jr. faces a maximum total penalty of 140 years’ imprisonment. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Markenzy Lapointe, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office; and Russell C. Weigel, III, Commissioner, Florida Office of Financial Regulation (OFR), made the announcement. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) had a parallel proceeding against Betancourt, Jr. related to the same investment fraud scheme alleged in the indictment. The SEC’s proceeding was resolved in July 2022. The FBI, OFR, and the FBI’s South Florida Fraud Task Force investigated this matter. SEC’s Miami Regional Office provided assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Cruz is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 24-cr-20399.


title: North Carolina Man Indicted For Civil Rights Offenses Due To Bias-Motivated Threats

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A three-count indictment was unsealed today in the Western District of North Carolina charging a North Carolina man with federal civil rights and firearms violations for threatening eight individuals with force because of their race, color, religion and national origin, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Special Agent in Charge Robert M. DeWitt of the FBI Charlotte Field Office join U.S. Attorney King in making the announcement. According to the indictment, on June 8, 2024, Maurice Hopkins, 31, threatened eight individuals with a firearm inside Zambies Pizza, a restaurant in Charlotte. Count one of the indictment charges Hopkins with threatening the eight individuals with force because of their race, color, religion and national origin and because they were enjoying the goods, services and facilities of the restaurant. Count two of the indictment charges Hopkins with threatening the eight individuals with force on account of their race, color, religion and national origin to intimidate the individuals from exercising their federally protected housing rights. Count three of the indictment charges Hopkins with carrying, using and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. If convicted, Hopkins faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each of the civil rights charges and a mandatory minimum prison sentence on the firearms charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI Charlotte Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick J. Miller for the Western District of North Carolina and Trial Attorneys Daniel Grunert and Chloe Neely of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Outlaw sentenced as career offender for federal drug and firearms charges

body_text: NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A Newport News man was sentenced today to 17 years and six months in prison for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to court documents, on Aug. 29, 2019, at a Best Western hotel in Newport News, law enforcement located and detained Jermaine Damon Outlaw, 39, who had multiple outstanding felony warrants for his arrest. Outlaw was in possession of 1.36 grams of cocaine, $855, and a loaded illegal handgun. Outlaw’s cellphone was also recovered. On the phone were several text conversations confirming Outlaw’s regular distribution of cocaine and other illicit substances. Outlaw is a career offender with at least 20 previous convictions for, among other crimes, assault and battery, possession of a firearm on school property, carrying a concealed weapon, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, unlawful wounding, destruction of property, malicious wounding, and assault and battery of a family member. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter G. Osyf prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:19-cr-91.


title: Shippenville Resident Sentenced to More Than 21 Years in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Shippenville, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 262 months of incarceration, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, on his conviction related to the sexual exploitation of a minor, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand imposed the sentence on Thomas Joseph Manno, 41. According to information presented to the Court, in June 2022, Manno communicated online with a law enforcement officer working in an undercover capacity. During Manno’s communications with the officer, Manno expressed his interest in the sexual abuse of children and sent the officer images depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, including an image produced by Manno. Assistant United States Attorney Heidi M. Grogan prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. United States Attorney Olshan commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania State Police, and Montgomery County (Texas) Constable’s Office for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Manno. 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.justice.gov/psc .


title: Mexican National Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Illegal Reentry into the United States

component: USAO - Mississippi, Southern

body_text: Jackson, Miss – A Mexican national was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison for illegally re-entering the United States after being convicted and deported for an aggravated felony. According to court documents, Luis Javier Sanchez-Zurita, 38, of Oaxaca, Mexico was found illegally present in Brandon, MS on February 21, 2024, after having been previously convicted of a crime of violence and deported from the United States in 2017. Sanchez-Zurita was stopped by a Brandon Police officer for carelessly driving, driving under the influence and endangerment of a child. Sanchez-Zurita pled guilty on August 22, 2024, to illegal reentry after being deported following a state felony conviction for gratification of lust (crime against children). U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Field Office Director Mellissa B. Harper of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) New Orleans, made the announcement. The case was investigated by ICE ERO. Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda R. Haynes prosecuted the case.


title: Former Arizona Elected Official Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement of More than $38M of County Funds

body_text: A former Santa Cruz County, Arizona, official pled guilty today to embezzlement, money laundering, and tax evasion for her role in stealing more than $38 million of Santa Cruz County funds between 2014 and 2024 and failing to pay income tax of more than $13 million while she was serving as Santa Cruz County Treasurer. According to court documents, Elizabeth Gutfahr, 62, who served as Santa Cruz County Treasurer from 2012 through 2024, embezzled and laundered approximately $38 million by wiring funds from Santa Cruz County’s Account directly to accounts in the name of companies that Gutfahr had created for purposes of stealing the county funds. Gutfahr then wired the money from these fraudulent business accounts to her personal account, where she used the money to purchase real estate, pay operating expenses for and renovate her family ranch, pay expenses for her cattle business, and purchase at least 20 vehicles. “Elizabeth Gutfahr stole $38 million from the people of Santa Cruz County, Arizona, during the 12 years she served as their County Treasurer,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “We expect public officials to serve as stewards of the government fisc — not to loot it. Today’s plea demonstrates yet again that the Justice Department remains committed to rooting out public corruption at all levels of government.” “Local property taxes fund our communities, enrich our schools and shape our futures,” said U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino for the District of Arizona. “In her plea agreement the defendant admits to defrauding her County by embezzling those taxes. We look forward to working with the Receiver appointed by the Superior Court to recoup the County’s funds.” “Today’s guilty plea is a reminder that those entrusted with public funds are not above the law,” said Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “Gutfahr deliberately calculated a scheme to embezzle taxpayer dollars and then launder those funds for her own personal use. This breach of trust not only robs taxpayers but undermines the integrity of public office. The FBI remains unwavering in its pursuit to hold accountable those who exploit their positions for selfish purposes.” “We cannot overemphasize our dedication to rooting out public corruption from our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Carissa Messick for IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI)’s Phoenix Field Office. “I am proud of the dedicated work IRS-CI special agents put into investigating this case alongside our fellow law enforcement agencies. Through her embezzlement scheme, Elizabeth Gutfahr stole from the very constituents who elected her. Let this guilty plea serve as a reminder to all who are tempted to use their positions of power to enrich themselves at the cost of the American people: IRS-CI special agents are experts at following the money, and we will continue to investigate allegations of fraud at all levels.” Court documents detailed that the scheme involved approximately 187 wire transfers, which Gutfahr completed by subverting the two-step approval process for the wire transfers by using the token of a subordinate Santa Cruz County employee so that Gutfahr could both initiate and approve the wire transfers. Additionally, to cover up the scheme, Gutfahr falsified accounting records, cash reconciliation records, and reports of the County’s investment accounts to conceal the millions of dollars that she had stolen from Santa Cruz County. Gutfahr also failed to report any of the stolen funds as income for tax purposes. Gutfahr pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement by a public official, one count of money laundering, and one count of tax evasion. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 6, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the embezzlement count, 20 years in prison for the money laundering count, and five years in prison for the tax evasion count, as well as restitution to Santa Cruz County or other identified victims for all losses. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. FBI and IRS-CI are investigating the case. Trial Attorney Nicholas W. Cannon of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jane Westby for the District of Arizona are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carson R. Gilbert, formerly for the District of Arizona, provided assistance.


title: Santa Clarita Man Charged with Distributing Opioid More Powerful than Fentanyl and Causing Victim’s Overdose Death

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A Santa Clarita man has been arraigned on an indictment alleging he distributed protonitazene – a novel synthetic opioid that is up to three times more powerful than fentanyl – which resulted in a victim’s fatal overdose this spring, the Justice Department announced today. Benjamin Anthony Collins, 21, is charged with one count of distribution of protonitazene resulting in death. This is believed to be the nation’s first death-resulting criminal case involving this narcotic. Collins was arrested on November 18, and pleaded not guilty to the charge at his arraignment on Wednesday. A trial date of January 14, 2025, was scheduled. A federal magistrate judge ordered Collins jailed without bond. According to the indictment, during the early morning hours of April 19, 2024, Collins knowingly and intentionally distributed protonitazene, which resulted in the death of the victim. In recent years, protonitazene has been sold over the internet and is believed to be several times more powerful than fentanyl, which itself is 50 times stronger than heroin. Collins allegedly sold the 22-year-old victim pills containing protonitazene and arranged to sell the victim a bulk supply of these pills in the future. The victim, a resident of Stevenson Ranch, consumed the pills soon afterward in the front seat of his car and quickly died. His mother later found him dead in the front seat parked outside her home and called 911. An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court . If convicted, Collins would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Lisa J. Lindhorst of the General Crimes Section is prosecuting this case.


title: Weslaco resident imprisoned for attempting to transport weapons and possession of child pornography

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 37-year-old man has been sentenced for straw purchasing and possessing child pornography on his cellphone, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Jose Angel Hinojosa Jr. pleaded guilty Jan. 19. Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Hinojosa to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence that cases like these are far from victimless, with many of the weapons being traced to Mexico. In handing down the sentence, the court emphasized the seriousness of these crimes, describing them as heinous and reaffirming that they have real victims and far-reaching consequences. From June 5, 2016, through May 9, 2022, Hinojosa engaged in firearms dealing by straw purchasing firearms from an online gun broker. He then arranged for the weapons to be exported into Mexico. Law enforcement was able to locate several weapons tied to Hinojosa. At the time of his plea, he admitted to attempting to smuggle more than 40 firearms. During the firearms investigation, authorities learned Hinojosa maybe linked to crimes involving child pornography. A search warrant was executed and authorities discovered several videos of minors engaging in sexual conduct on Hinojosa’s phone. Hinojosa admitted to receiving child pornography on his cellphone from various third parties. Hinojosa was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility on Jan. 7, 2025. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation in conjunction with Homeland Security Investigations - Child Exploitation Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric D. Flores prosecuted the case.


title: Greensboro Man Who Entered Elementary School with Firearm Sentenced

component: USAO - North Carolina, Middle

body_text: GREENSBORO – JONATHAN CAMERON COLEY was sentenced today to 42 months in prison after being convicted of a firearm offense, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston of the Middle District of North Carolina. COLEY, age 26, pleaded guilty on September 4, 2024, to possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance. According to evidence in the court record, on April 13, 2024, a Greensboro Police Department (GPD) officer responded to Irving Park Elementary School at approximately 6:00 a.m. in reference to a burglar alarm activation. The GPD officer found the door to the gymnasium was propped open by a basketball goal. He cleared the interior of the school and did not locate any further suspicious activity or persons inside. Subsequent review of surveillance camera footage showed a newer model, blue Dodge Challenger arriving in the area at 5:23 a.m. on April 13, 2024. The Challenger was seen parking near the front entrance of the school. A white male walked into camera view and then proceeded back to the Challenger and left. The suspect was later identified by GPD as COLEY. At 5:48 a.m. on the surveillance video, COLEY reappeared on camera on the school property, this time armed with a long gun. COLEY entered the school through a door leading to the gym. The door appeared to be unlocked or unsecured. COLEY was then captured on surveillance video walking through the gym and entering the main lobby of the school, still armed with a long gun. COLEY walked down a hallway and eventually exited the school through the kindergarten entrance doors and walked away from the school with the firearm. COLEY was arrested on state warrants for Breaking and/or Entering and Possession of a Firearm on School Grounds. During the arrest, officers detected an odor of marihuana coming from COLEY’s vehicle. A search of the vehicle produced two bags of edible THC products, multiple bags of marihuana, two marihuana cigarettes, a digital scale, marihuana grinders, and several plastic bags used to store marihuana. During interviews subsequent to his arrest, COLEY admitted to using methamphetamine two to three times a day. COLEY was sentenced today to 42 months imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release by the Honorable Catherine C. Eagles, Chief United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. The case was investigated by the Greensboro Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole R. DuPré. ###


title: Dubuque Man Who Distributed Fentanyl Resulting in an Overdose Sentenced to Federal Prison

body_text: A man who sold fentanyl pills and possessed a firearm as a prohibited person was sentenced today to more than five years in federal prison. Jonathan Luna, age 29, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a June 20, 2024 guilty plea to one count of possession of a firearm as a prohibited person and one count of distribution of a controlled substance. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that, in April 2023, Luna distributed pills that contained fentanyl to another person, which caused the person to suffer an overdose. About two weeks later, law enforcement officers searched Luna’s residence and located a stolen pistol in his bedroom. Luna is a felon and was an unlawful user of methamphetamine at the time he possessed the firearm. Luna was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Luna was sentenced to 63 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Luna is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and was also investigated as part of the Northern Iowa Heroin Initiative and the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program of the United States Department of Justice through a cooperative effort of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Dubuque Drug Task Force, comprised of the Dubuque Police Department and the Dubuque Sheriff’s Office. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-CR-1030. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Armed Career Criminal Pleads Guilty To Illegally Possessing A Firearm

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, FL – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Otis Shivers (50, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Shivers faces a minimum sentence of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court documents, in October 2021, officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office encountered Shivers outside a motel in Jacksonville where he was acting in a strange manner. The officers approached Shivers to check on his situation. When Shivers saw the officers, he immediately raised his arms. The officers observed a revolver in his waist band, took Shivers into custody, and seized the loaded revolver. A criminal record check revealed that Shivers had five prior felony convictions, including four that involved the sale of cocaine or heroin. As such, he is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Talbot. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Laurel County Man Sentenced for Methamphetamine Trafficking and Possession of Firearm by a Convicted Felon

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LONDON, Ky. – A London, Ky., man, Kenneth Dodd, 33, was sentenced to 76 months in prison on Thursday, by U.S. District Judge Robert Wier, for the distribution of methamphetamine and the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to his plea agreement, on September 14, 2023, law enforcement received information that Dodd was a source of supply for methamphetamine in Laurel County. Law enforcement utilized two confidential informants to make controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Dodd. During one of these controlled buys, Dodd also sold a firearm to the informant; the firearm was later determined to be stolen. As a convicted felon, Dodd was prohibited from possessing a firearm. He previously pleaded guilty in 2020 to making materially false statements to a federal agent and cyberstalking. Under federal law, Dodd must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years. Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; Chief Jerry Hollon, London Police Department; and Sheriff John Root, Laurel County Sheriff’s Office, announced the sentencing. The investigation was conducted by the ATF, London Police Department, and Laurel County Sheriff’s Office, as part of the Laurel County Drug Interdiction Task Force. — END —