title: Omaha Woman Sentenced for Drug Conspiracy

body_text: United States Attorney Steven A. Russell announced that Victoria Bindas, 43, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced on April 6, 2023, by United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Bindas received a sentence of 121 months’ imprisonment with a five-year term of supervised release to follow. There is no parole in the federal system. Beginning in mid-2018, a Drug Enforcement Administration task force started investigating the methamphetamine distribution operation of David Duane Short, based out of the Omaha, Nebraska, metro area. This investigation included a court ordered Title III interception of phone calls and text messages, allowing agents to identify the scope of the conspiracy and its’ members. Bindas was intercepted on numerous occasions contacting Short and was obtaining mutli-ounce quantities of methamphetamine. These deals between Short and Bindas were monitored by law enforcement. Bindas was ultimately held responsible for her in buying at least 1200 grams of methamphetamine from Short to distribute. In addition to Bindas, several members of this multi-state drug trafficking organization have now been sentenced. Edward Glen Summers (Council Bluffs) was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment, Kaden Henry (Wisner, Nebraska) was sentenced to 168 months’ imprisonment, Rose Ellen Points (Council Bluffs) was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment, Chelsea Leigh Short (Omaha) was sentenced to 132 months’ imprisonment, Christian Gonzalez-Gardea (El Paso, Texas) was sentenced to 135 months’ imprisonment, Rex Lee Kmiecik (Omaha) was sentenced to 132 months’ imprisonment, Robert Root (Council Bluffs) was sentenced to 144 months’ imprisonment, and David Duane Short (Omaha) was sentenced to 210 months’ imprisonment. This effort was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Omaha Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, IRS’s Criminal Investigations, and the Pottawattamie County (Iowa) Sheriff’s Office.


title: Santa Rosa Doctor Sentenced To Two-And-A-Half Years In Prison For Unlawfully Prescribing Controlled Substances

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – Thomas Keller, formerly a pain management doctor in Santa Rosa, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for distributing Schedule II and IV controlled substances outside the scope of his professional practice and without a legitimate medical need, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Special Agent in Charge Bob P. Beris, FBI San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Robert K. Tripp, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Special Agent in Charge Steven J. Ryan, and the California Department of Justice Division of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse (DMFEA). The sentence was handed down by the Hon. Vince Chhabria, United States District Judge, after a jury found Keller was guilty of the crimes at trial in November 2022. Keller, 75, was a Santa Rosa resident and a licensed physician who ran a pain management practice in Santa Rosa when he was indicted on September 27, 2018. At trial, the evidence demonstrated that Keller repeatedly prescribed the opioid oxycodone and other strong, addictive drugs to his patient, A.M., in dosages and combinations that far exceeded the usual course of professional practice and were for no legitimate medical need. A.M. was 17-years old and was struggling with mental health issues when she first came to Keller seeking help. Trial evidence established that these facts made the drugs that Keller prescribed more dangerous. On December 22, 2016, Keller prescribed high dosage levels of oxycodone to A.M., along with two other controlled substances, Carisoprodol (also known as Soma), and Diazepam (also known as Valium); the combination magnified the potential health risks for the patient. Further, evidence showed that on January 20, 2017, Keller distributed Diazepam to A.M., and on February 16, 2017, Keller distributed Oxycodone to A.M., again knowing the distribution of both was outside the scope of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. Keller also distributed Carisoprodol, a muscle relaxant often referred to as “Soma,” to A.M. on July 10, 2017. Approximately two weeks later, A.M. died of an overdose of Oxycodone and other drugs. On November 3, 2022, a jury convicted Keller on four counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). The jury was unable to reach a verdict on six additional counts. Court documents filed in connection with Keller’s sentencing describe the dangerousness of the drug combinations prescribed by the defendant as well as Keller’s understanding that the drug prescriptions were unsafe. For example, trial evidence established that the combination of an opioid, a benzodiazepine, and Soma together – colloquially known as “the Holy Trinity” – is an extremely dangerous combination of drugs; nevertheless, Keller prescribed this combination of drugs to A.M repeatedly for more than two years. Further, the government argued that evidence submitted at trial – in the form of trainings that Keller had received and Keller’s own journal entries – demonstrated that Keller prescribed the drugs even though (1) he knew the dangerousness and addictiveness of opioids, (2) he knew medical professionals promulgated guidelines and recommendations that aim to decrease the amounts of opioids that clinicians prescribe, and (3) he knew that his prescriptions to A.M. were outside the normal course of medical practice. In addition to the prison term, Judge Chhabria ordered a three-year term of supervised release upon release from prison. Judge Chhabria ordered the defendant to surrender on or before September 8, 2023, to begin serving his prison term. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristina Green and Ross E. Weingarten are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Pat Mahoney. This case was investigated and prosecuted by member agencies of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force, a focused multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force investigating and prosecuting the most significant drug trafficking organizations throughout the United States by leveraging the combined expertise of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. This prosecution is the result of investigations by the DEA, FBI, HHS-OIG, and the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse.


title: Waterville Man Faces Up to 15 Years for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to Terrorists

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A Waterville man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Bangor today to conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists. According to court records, beginning in November 2021, Xavier Pelkey , 19, conspired with two minors, one located in Chicago and one in Canada, to conduct a mass shooting at a Shia mosque in the Chicago area. Pelkey and his coconspirators were subscribers to a radical form of Sunni Islam and supporters of the foreign terrorist organization the Islamic State, also known as ISIS. Pelkey planned to contribute firearms, ammunition and explosives to be used in the attack. In February 2022, the FBI executed a search warrant at Pelkey’s Waterville residence and discovered three handmade explosive devices. Investigators observed a hand-painted version of the flag used by ISIS on the wall of Pelkey’s bedroom and recovered written statements intended to be released just prior to the planned attack claiming the attack in the name of ISIS. Pelkey faces up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine followed by up to a lifetime of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI investigated the case. ###


title: Second Mexican National Sentenced for Meth Conspiracy

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A second Mexican national has been sentenced in federal court after a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper found more than 88 pounds (40 kilograms) of methamphetamine and a firearm during a car stop on Interstate 70 in Saline County, Mo. Gustavo Renteria-Rojas, 39, a citizen of Mexico residing in Evanston, Ill., was sentenced by U.S. District Chief Judge Beth Phillips on Thursday, April 6, to 11 years and six months in federal prison without parole. His brother and co-defendant, Jose Alfredo Renteria-Rojas, 34, a citizen of Mexico residing in Des Plaines, Illinois, was sentenced on Monday, April 3, to 11 years and six months in federal prison without parole. Both Gustavo and Jose Renteria-Rojas have pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of using a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Gustavo Renteria-Rojas was driving a white 2011 Volkswagen Jetta SE on April 5, 2021, and Jose Renteria-Rojas was a passenger in the vehicle, which was stopped by a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper on eastbound I-70 in Saline County, Mo. The trooper could smell the odor of burnt and raw marijuana emanating from the vehicle as he stood outside the front passenger-side window. He also noticed a marijuana blunt in the center console. When Gustavo Renteria-Rojas opened the glove box to retrieve the requested paperwork, a bag of marijuana was visible in plain view. Gustavo Renteria-Rojas was placed in the trooper’s patrol car. The trooper requested Jose Renteria-Rojas, in the rear passenger seat, to exit the vehicle for a vehicle search. As Jose Renteria-Rojas did so, air fresheners fell from the car. Jose Renteria-Rojas then collected them and put them in the door pocket, which also contained a loaded Smith & Wesson .380-caliber handgun with a magazine, as well as an extra magazine. The trooper searched the vehicle and found four white cardboard boxes in the trunk that contained 36 packages with a total of 88.7 pounds of methamphetamine. The trooper also found a methamphetamine smoking pipe concealed within a roll of toilet paper on the driver’s seat where Gustavo Renteria-Rojas had been sitting. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Rhoades. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.


title: Informational: Federal Court arraignments

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty: Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on April 4 was: Jicarilla Juan Tiznado, 23, of Farmington, New Mexico, on charges of cyberstalking. If convicted of the most serious crime, Tiznado faces a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Tiznado was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Fort Peck Law Enforcement investigated the case. PACER case reference. 22-81. Brittany Alice Bradley, 25, of Harlem, and Daniel Francis First Raised, 32, of Harlem, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, distribution of methamphetamine, distribution of controlled substances and distribution of fentanyl. If convicted of the most serious crime, Bradley and First Raised face a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Bradley was released pending further proceedings, while First Raised was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Tri Agency Task Force investigated the case. PACER case reference. 22-18. Wilbur Joseph Nagel, 52, of Box Elder, on charges of distribution of controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime, Nagel faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and three years of supervised release. Nagel was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Rocky Boy’s Police Department and Montana Highway Patrol investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-21. Jesse Nunez-Ibarra, 22, of Great Falls, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, distribution of meth and distribution of heroin. If convicted of the most serious crime, Nunez-Ibarra faces a mandatory minimum five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release. Nunez-Ibarra was released pending further proceedings. The Great Falls Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the case. PACER case reference. 22-102. Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on April 5 was: Anthony Holcomb, 29, April Jean Timberman, 41, and Bonita Hammons, 33, all of Miles City, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime, the defendants face a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. All defendants were detained pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Postal Service and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-32. Appearing on April 3 was: Jamie Nicole Selage, 26, of Crow Agency, on charges of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. If convicted of the most serious crime, Selage faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Selage was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. PACER case reference. 22-137. Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on April 6 was: Shanetwann Clayton Waldon, 45, of Fort Worth, Texas, on charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud. If convicted of the most serious crime, Waldon faces a maximum of 30 years in prison, a $1 million fine and five years of supervised release. Waldon was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Missoula Police Department, Chubbock, Idaho, Police Department, Pocatello, Idaho, Police Department and Bannock County, Idaho, Sheriff’s Office, investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-13. The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html . To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl . XXX


title: DeKalb Man Sentenced for Robbery of Jimmy John’s and Heartland Bank

body_text: ROCKFORD — A DeKalb man was sentenced on Thursday for the robbery of a Jimmy John’s in DeKalb and Heartland Bank and Trust in Sycamore. U.S. District Judge Iain D. Johnston sentenced KEVIN HAGEMEIER, 26, to almost eight and a half years in prison. Hagemeier pleaded guilty in December of 2022 to two counts of Hobbs Act Robbery. According to the guilty plea, Hagemeier entered the Jimmy John’s and presented a note to the employee that stated “This Is A Robbery I have a gun in my waist Don’t make me use it and You’ll be able to go home. Give me all the money in the drawer or else some bad thing may happen.” After receiving the money in the register, Hagemeier entered a car driven by an accomplice and left the scene of the robbery. A couple days later, Hagemeier entered Heartland Bank with a similar note stating “I have a weapon. Get $1,400 out of your drawer and give it to me. If I think you told someone or pushed a button, people will get hurt.” Hagemeier received the money and left with the same accomplice from the Jimmy John’s robbery. The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; and Robert W. Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The DeKalb Police Department assisted in the investigation. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert S. Ladd.


title: Chicago Man Receives Two Sentences Totaling Over Eight Years for Possession of a Firearm and Switch Device While on Supervised Release

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

body_text: CHICAGO — Two federal judges have sentenced DESHAWN DANZELR, 28, of Chicago to a combined eight years in federal prison for possessing a handgun with an extended magazine and a “switch” that converted the firearm into a fully automatic machinegun. Less than six months after his discharge from prison on supervised release for a federal contempt conviction, Chicago Police Officers stopped Danzler while driving in the Auburn-Gresham neighborhood of Chicago. Danzler, who had a handgun hidden in his crotch, attempted to flee and struggled with the officers for over two minutes before the officers recovered the firearm. Danzler pled guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon in October 2022. At the time of his sentencing, Danzler had four previous felonies, including the contempt of court conviction. In 2015, a rival gang member shot Danzler in the head, wrist, and thigh, and killed Danzler’s neighbor. Danzler could identify the shooter but did not cooperate in the police investigation. Four years later, Danzler refused to testify about the shooting in a federal grand jury investigation and was convicted of criminal contempt of court in proceedings before U.S. District Court Judge Ronald A. Guzman. A sentence of 62-months was imposed by U.S. District Court Thomas M. Durkin on February 24, 2023 for the firearms charge. On April 6, 2023 Danzler was back in court before Judge Guzman for sentencing on his supervised release violation. Judge Guzman sentenced Danzler to 37-months to run consecutive to the sentence given by Judge Durkin, for a total of eight years and three months of imprisonment. The sentences are announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Christopher Amon, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and Eric Carter, Acting Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Mulaney and Albert Berry III. “Although he was a victim in the 2015 shooting, that is no longer a basis for lenience” argued Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Mulaney in the government’s sentencing memo. “Rather than find other ways to protect himself, defendant squandered the ‘last chance’ that Judge Guzman gave to him. By carrying a machinegun on supervised release, and resisting the officers’ efforts to recover it safely, defendant demonstrated that he is a danger to the community.”


title: U.S. Attorney Leary Announces New Leadership Team Members

component: USAO - Georgia, Middle

body_text: MACON, Ga. – Three Assistant U.S. Attorneys have been promoted to leadership positions within the Middle District of Georgia, completing the executive team assembled under U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bowen Reichert Shoemaker is the new Civil Division Chief, making her the first female non-interim Civil Division Chief in the Office’s history; Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Keyes is now the Deputy Criminal Chief; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth “Beth” Howard is the new Senior Litigation Counsel (SLC) for the Criminal Division. These three attorneys join First Assistant U.S. Attorney Shanelle Booker, Criminal Chief Leah McEwen, Columbus Branch Chief Amy Helmick, Appellate Chief Mikki Schieber, and Civil Division SLC Lance Simon to comprise the legal leadership in the office. The team includes many historic firsts for the Middle District of Georgia, including FAUSA Booker who is the first black woman and first female to hold the highest non-appointed position in the office; SLC Simon who is the first openly LGBTQ+ person to command a leadership role in the District; and the greatest number of women attorneys to hold leadership positions. “It is crucial to assemble a team of top-tier and diverse attorneys to pursue vigorous justice on behalf of the citizens now and in the years to come,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Alongside the many dedicated and skilled attorneys and staff in the office, these dynamic leaders will help to ensure a strong future of equal justice for all in the Middle District of Georgia.” Civil Division Chief Bowen Reichert Shoemaker joined the U.S. Attorney’s office in 2018. Since then, she has specialized in high-exposure tort claims and cases brought under the False Claims Act on behalf of the citizens. Prior to joining the office, Civil Chief Shoemaker was a trial attorney for an Atlanta law firm handling multi-district litigation and complex commercial cases. Born and raised in Georgia, she graduated magna cum laude from both the Mercer University School of Law and the University of Georgia, and clerked for the Honorable Hugh Lawson, U.S. District Judge. Civil Chief Shoemaker is highly involved in the Macon community, and currently serves on the board of trustees for Historic Macon, Macon Arts Alliance, Stratford Academy and is a member of the Macon Rotary Club. She has also served as an adjunct professor at Mercer Law. In 2021, she was named a “40 Under 40” by the UGA Alumni Association in 2021. Deputy Criminal Chief Will Keyes joined the office in 2018. He has prosecuted a broad range of federal criminal cases, to include drug trafficking organizations, violent crime and offenses related to terrorism. He has served as the Project Safe Neighborhood Coordinator, National Security Cyber Specialist, District Election Officer and Deputy Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council. Before joining the office, he was on active duty in the U.S. Army prosecuting members of Al-Qaeda in military commissions in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. From 2016-2017 he deployed to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, in support of Operation Inherent Resolve where he served as legal advisor to a battalion of over 800 soldiers operating throughout Kuwait and Iraq. He began his career at a law firm in Atlanta and holds four degrees from the University of Georgia, which include his law degree, a master’s degree and two undergraduate degrees. In addition to his duties with the office, he serves in the U.S. Army Reserves, Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command as a judge advocate. Recently, he became qualified as a paratrooper upon graduation from the U.S. Army Airborne School. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth “Beth” Howard is the new Senior Litigation Counsel (SLC) for the Criminal Division. SLC Howard joined the office as a criminal prosecutor in 2014, and she has prosecuted a broad range of crimes, to include complex white collar fraud and public corruption, child exploitation, human trafficking, violent crime, and wiretap prosecutions. Among other duties, she currently serves as the office’s Financial Fraud Coordinator, and she previously coordinated the office’s law clerk program. Prior to joining our office, SLC Howard worked as an Assistant Solicitor General in Macon, focusing on domestic violence prosecutions. She earned both her undergraduate and law degrees from Mercer University; while in law school, she twice worked as a law clerk for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Middle District. Born and raised in Florida, SLC Howard has resided in the Middle District of Georgia for 18 years. The Middle District of Georgia encompasses 70 of Georgia’s 159 counties, and includes Albany, Athens, Columbus, Macon and Valdosta with a population of approximately 2,045,000 people. The office is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes in the District, including crimes related to terrorism, public corruption, child exploitation, fraud, firearms, illegal gangs and narcotics. The office also defends the United States in civil cases and collects debts owed to the United States.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Settles Lawsuit Against Virginia Towing Company for Unlawfully Auctioning Off Servicemembers’ Vehicles

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Steve’s Towing, Inc., located in Virginia Beach, has agreed to pay $90,000 to settle a complaint that alleged that the company violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) by failing to obtain court orders before auctioning off vehicles belonging to at least seven SCRA-protected servicemembers, including two vehicles belonging to a member of a Navy SEAL team who was deployed overseas. The complaint further alleged that the company engaged in a pattern or practice of violating the SCRA and had no policies, practices, or procedures in place to ensure SCRA compliance. The U.S. Attorney’s Office launched its investigation after a Navy legal assistance attorney reported that Steve’s Towing, Inc., had towed two vehicles from a military base that belonged to a deployed Navy SEAL and then sold the vehicles without first obtaining court orders. One of the vehicles, a 1992 Toyota Land Cruiser HZJ73, contained evidence of the Navy SEAL’s military service, including a duffel bag of military uniforms and a Naval Special Warfare Development Group Sniper challenge coin. Under the SCRA, towing companies must determine whether a vehicle in their possession belongs to a servicemember; if that vehicle belongs to a servicemember, the towing company must obtain a court order prior to selling the vehicle. “Servicemembers often rely heavily on their personal vehicles to commute to work and care for their families. A servicemember’s loss of a vehicle, therefore, can affect the military’s readiness,” said Jessica D. Aber, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “EDVA is dedicated to holding accountable businesses who do not uphold the right of servicemembers under the SCRA.” “This case began with a member of a Navy SEAL team who returned home from an overseas deployment, only to find that a towing company had auctioned off two vehicles that he had parked at a military base,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This resolution will compensate all of the servicemembers whose vehicles were illegally taken from them while they were serving their country.” Under the proposed consent order, which still must be approved by the Court, Steve’s Towing will pay $67,500 to the seven SCRA-protected servicemembers mentioned in the United States’ complaint, and will pay up to $12,500 to compensate additional SCRA-protected servicemembers whose vehicles Steve’s Towing may have sold without first obtaining court orders. The order also requires Steve’s Towing, Inc., to pay a $10,000 civil penalty to provide SCRA training to its employees, and to develop new policies and procedures consistent with the SCRA. The resolutions obtained in this matter were the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section. The matter was investigated by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Deirdre G. Brou and Sean D. Jansen. The civil claims settled by this Servicemembers Civil Relief Act agreement are allegations only; there has been no determination of civil liability. Servicemembers and their dependents who believe their SCRA rights have been violated should contact the nearest Armed Forces Legal Assistance Program Office. Office locations may be found at http://legalassistance.law.af.mil/ . The department’s enforcement of the SCRA is conducted by the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section and U.S. Attorney’s Offices throughout the country. Since 2011, the department has obtained over $481 million in monetary relief for over 147,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. Additional information on the Justice Department’s enforcement of the SCRA and other laws protecting servicemembers is available at www.servicemembers.gov . A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia .


title: Darknet Vendor Sentenced for Distribution of Fentanyl-Laced Pills

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Scottsdale, Arizona, man was sentenced today to 78 months in prison for distributing fentanyl on the darknet. According to court documents, from August 2021 through May 2022, John McKernan, 32, ran the darknet moniker “KingofKeys” on a darknet market. On this market, he advertised and sold pressed pills that he marketed as oxycodone, but that in fact contained fentanyl. In his profile on the market, McKernan told customers that the pressed pills tested negative for fentanyl. He also advertised pressed Xanax, Cialis, and MDMA. In addition to his distribution on the darknet, McKernan sold fentanyl-laced pills via encrypted messaging applications. Between May 2022 and July 2022, law enforcement made controlled purchases from the defendant, which included over 450 counterfeit pills that the defendant purported to be oxycodone. The defendant received payment for the controlled substances in Bitcoin. Once received, law enforcement tested the pills, and all came back positive for the presence of fentanyl. The darknet, also called the darkweb, is a portion of the Internet that hosts darknet markets or hidden commercial websites. A darknet market operates as a black market, selling or brokering transactions involving legal products as well as drugs, weapons, counterfeit currency, stolen credit card details, forged documents, unlicensed pharmaceuticals, steroids, and other illicit goods. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division; and Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the USPIS Washington Division, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge T. S. Ellis, III. The FBI Phoenix Division, USPIS Phoenix Division, and Scottsdale Police Department provided valuable assistance in this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Call prosecuted the case. This investigation was conducted by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Hi-Tech Opioid Task Force, which is composed of FBI agents and task force partners, including special agents and officers of the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations, DEA, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and detectives from local assisting police agencies. The task force is charged with identifying and investigating the most egregious darknet markets, and the vendors operating on the marketplaces who are engaged in the illegal acquisition and distribution of controlled substances, to include fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other opioids. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:22-cr-234.


title: Two Defendants in Separate Cases Sentenced to  Federal Prison for Child Pornography and  Illegal Possession of Firearm Crimes

body_text: LAFAYETTE, La. - United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced the resolution of two cases in the Lafayette Division of the Western District of Louisiana. United States District Judge Robert R. Summerhays sentenced the following individuals yesterday: Charles Dirk Lafleur , 56, of Ville Platte, Louisiana , was sentenced to 78 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for possession of child pornography. The charges in this case stem from an investigation by an agent with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation Cyber Crimes Unit after a Cyber Tip Line Report was received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The report identified the upload of an image containing child pornography to a Microsoft OneDrive account and identified the unique user information associated with that account. Their investigation revealed that the image did in fact contain child pornography and a search warrant was obtained for the Microsoft OneDrive account. The search warrant identified the account user as Lafleur. After further investigation, another search warrant was obtained for Lafleur’s residence and was executed by law enforcement agents on November 7, 2018. Agents recovered eight of Lafleur’s electronic devices, which were analyzed and found to contain images and videos depicting child pornography, including depictions of pornography involving prepubescent minors under 12 years of age. Lafleur was charged and pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography on October 12, 2022. The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation Cyber Crimes Unit and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Bordelon. In a separate and unrelated case, Nathan Zenon, Jr., 39, of Youngsville, was sentenced by to 68 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for illegal possession of a firearm. On May 10, 2017, deputies with the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office observed Zenon enter a residence in Youngsville and attempted to serve him with an outstanding arrest warrant at the residence. After his arrest, Zenon admitted to deputies that he had marijuana in his vehicle and gave consent to search. Deputies recovered two small bags of marijuana, a digital scale, and a magazine for a .45 caliber firearm loaded with six rounds of ammunition. A search warrant was obtained to search the residence and inside deputies found a loaded Springfield 9mm pistol in the bedroom. A DNA analysis confirmed that Zenon could not be excluded as a contributor to the firearm. In addition, an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) tested the firearm and found it to be functional and manufactured in Croatia and imported via Illinois, thus having been transported in interstate commerce. Zenon has prior felony convictions for possession of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana (2006), and knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition. He pleaded guilty to the charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon on November 7, 2022. The case was investigated by the ATF and Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig R. Bordelon. # # #


title: Dealing Drugs and Buying Stolen Firearms While on Supervised Release Sends Man Back to Federal Prison

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who was selling drugs and bought stolen firearms while he was on supervised release from a 2020 firearm conviction was sentenced on April 6, 2023, to more than seven years in federal prison. Timothy Rabineau, age 48, from Oxford Junction, Iowa, received the prison term after a November 1, 2022 guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession of a firearm by a felon. Information from the sentencing hearing showed that on July 1, 2022, law enforcement officers searched Rabineau’s residence and found a drug ledger that showed Rabineau was distributing marijuana, THC vape cartridges, Xanax, Valium, and acid. Officers also found two mason jars that held approximately thirty-five baggies containing 78.8 grams of marijuana. Six days later, officers searched Rabineau’s residence again after receiving information that he had bought two handguns that were stolen from Theisen’s in Maquoketa by another individual on July 3, 2022. Officers recovered a case containing the two stolen firearms and an additional firearm. Rabineau admitted he bought the two stolen firearms. At the time, Rabineau was still on supervised release from his 2020 conviction for possession of a firearm by a felon. Rabineau was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Rabineau was sentenced to a total of 88 months’ imprisonment comprised of 64 months’ imprisonment for the new crimes and a consecutive sentence of 24 months’ imprisonment for the supervised release violations. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Rabineau is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. These cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kyndra Lundquist and Lisa Williams and investigated by the Jones County Sheriff’s Office and the Maquoketa Police Department. 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 numbers are 22-CR-0069 and 19-CR-0102. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Tampa Man Sentenced To Prison For Unlawful Possession Of Guns, Grenades, And Classified Information

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Susan C. Bucklew today sentenced Jeremy Brown (48, Tampa) to seven years and three months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of unregistered short-barrel firearms, possession of unregistered explosive grenades, improper storage of explosive grenades, and retention of classified information. In addition, he was ordered to forfeit the unregistered devices traceable to the offense, pay child support arrears and a special assessment in the amount of $525. Brown was found guilty after a jury trial on December 12, 2022. According to evidence presented at trial, on Sept. 30, 2021, the FBI executed an arrest and search warrant at Brown’s residence in Tampa. During the search, agents found an unregistered AR-15-style rifle, modified to have a 10” barrel, in Brown’s bedroom. Agents also found a sawed-off shotgun, also unregistered, on a couch inside of Brown’s recreational vehicle (RV), which was parked near his home. Inside a briefcase next to the shotgun, agents found a classified Trip Report that Brown had authored shortly before he retired from the U.S. Special Forces. Inside the bedroom of that same RV, agents found an ammunition vest containing two M-67 fragmentation grenades hidden in the pockets. U.S. Army records confirmed that the grenades had originally been in the possession of the U.S. Army. Trial evidence also established that Brown had served as a weapons sergeant in the Special Forces, which would have given him access to M-67 fragmentation grenades. Finally, the evidence established that the classified Trip Report contained highly sensitive information about U.S. Department of Defense intelligence – gathering tactics, techniques, and procedures, including information about a human source that, if released, could have caused the source to be arrested, tortured, or killed. “The communities we serve can be assured by investigations such as this that the FBI and its law enforcement partners are working diligently and tirelessly to support the mission of protecting the American people and upholding the United States Constitution,” said FBI Tampa Special Agent in Charge David Walker. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Daniel J. Marcet and Risha Asokan, and by National Security Division, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section Trial Attorney Menno Goedman.


title: McCall Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegal Timber Harvesting  and Banned from All National Forest Lands

component: USAO - Idaho

body_text: BOISE – Richard Russell Kersten, 36, of McCall, Idaho, was sentenced to one month in federal prison for illegally harvesting timber from national forest lands, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. In addition, Kersten was ordered to pay the government $8,000 in restitution and banned from entering all National Forest System lands for a period of three years. According to court records, beginning in late 2018, U.S. Forest Service officers received information about a group of individuals who were causing extensive natural resource damage in the Payette National Forest near McCall. These individuals were cutting and removing timber illegally and then selling it as firewood in the local communities. Through numerous investigative methods, officers learned that Kersten was acting as a “watchdog” for the group and was illegally removing trees and creating unauthorized roads and campsites in the forest. The investigation later expanded to include the Nez Perce and Boise National Forests. The forests each have a fuelwood permit system that allows members of the community to lawfully cut a designated number of cords of firewood each year. The evidence showed, however, that Kersten was manipulating the fuel wood permit program and taking more than his permit allowed. This resulted in extensive natural resource damage to the forest. “National forest lands are an Idaho treasure and provide recreation and resources for thousands of people each year,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “Through close collaboration with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, we will protect these public lands so they can continue to be enjoyed by future generations.” U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill also sentenced Kersten to three years of supervised release, which will commence upon completion of his prison sentence. Kersten pleaded guilty to the crime on December 5, 2022, and was sentenced on April 3, 2023. U.S. Attorney Josh D. Hurwit, of the District of Idaho, commended the cooperative efforts of the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Idaho State Police, Adams County Sheriff’s Office, Valley County Sheriff’s Office, Idaho County Sheriff’s Office, and the McCall Police Department, which led to charges. ###


title: 28 Year Old Sentenced on Drug and Firearm Charges

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: United States Attorney Steven A. Russell announced that Eduardo Marquez, 28, was sentenced April 6, 2023, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and as an addict in possession of a firearm. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter Jr. sentenced Marquez to 84 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his release from prison, he will begin a 4-year term of supervised release. On April 27, 2021, the Drug Enforcement Administration arranged to purchase 1,000 fentanyl pills from a Mexico-based source of supply using a confidential source. The source of supply provided the confidential source with Marquez’s phone number. The confidential source, under the direction of law enforcement, successfully purchased the fentanyl from Marquez. Following the purchase, DEA Agents searched Marquez’s residence and recovered 573 grams of cocaine, 139 grams of fentanyl, an AK-47 rifle and a .45 caliber handgun. Marquez was arrested at the residence. He admitted selling cocaine and possessing the .45 caliber handgun. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.


title: Vinalhaven Man Faces Up to 10 Years Following Guilty Plea for Illegal Possession of a Firearm

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A Vinalhaven man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Bangor today to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court records, in June 2022, investigators arrested an individual on a federal arrest warrant at the Fairfield Inn in Bangor. When the individual asked if he could get money from his room, agents entered the room in the individual’s presence to retrieve the money with his consent. Investigators found John Dinius , 56, in the room, and observed a magazine for a gun on the bathroom counter. When investigators asked Dinius where the guns were located, he directed them to a bag containing a loaded .45 caliber pistol and a .38 caliber revolver. He admitted he had hidden the bag to get the guns out of sight. A 2004 conviction in Massachusetts precluded Dinius from possessing a firearm. Dinius faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. He also faces up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. ###


title: Davenport Man Found Guilty of Drug Charges Related to Fentanyl Overdose of Child

component: USAO - Iowa, Southern

body_text: DAVENPORT, IA – A federal jury convicted a Davenport man on Wednesday following a two-day trial on drug charges stemming from a fentanyl overdose of an 18-month-old child. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in 2021 Davenport Police Department investigated an influx of pressed fentanyl pills into the area, which resulted in numerous overdoses. On October 30, 2021, emergency personnel were dispatched to a residence on 4th Street in Davenport, for a child ingesting pills. When first responders arrived, they found the child unresponsive, with shallow breathing. The child eventually stopped breathing. First responders performed CPR on the child and administered Narcan. The child was revived and transported to Genesis Medical Center. While at Genesis, the child required additional doses of Narcan, and was eventually transferred to the University of Iowa pediatric intensive care unit for further care. Toxicology testing revealed fentanyl in the child’s system. During the investigation of the child’s overdose, officers learned that Kathan Daniel Wiley, 23, had been distributing fentanyl. The fentanyl had been pressed into pills resembling prescription Percocet pills—blue pills stamped with “M30”—which the child had ingested and caused the overdose. Officers located evidence that Wiley had been obtaining and distributing the fake Percocet pills in the Quad Cities area, along with other individuals. Wiley was charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, along with co-conspirators Linder Kai Divos (a.k.a. Lindo), Jordan Thomas Hopper, Austen Michael Thomas (a.k.a. Waynski, a.k.a. Mitch), and Marshall Matthew James Carver. On April 5, 2023, the jury found Wiley guilty of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, as well as possession with intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury, relating to the overdose of the child on October 30, 2021. Wiley faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 20 years with a maximum of life in prison for the possession with intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury charge. Wiley faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for the conspiracy charge. There is no parole in the federal system. Wiley’s sentencing is scheduled for September 27, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. The other charged co-conspirators have pled guilty and are pending sentencing. Linder Kai Divos pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and being a felon in possession of a firearm. On February 21, 2023, Divos was sentenced to 14-and-a-half years in federal prison. Jordan Thomas Hopper pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, distribution of fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury, relating to an April 2021 overdose which occurred in Bettendorf, and distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, relating to a June 2021 overdose which occurred in Davenport. Hopper faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 20 years with a maximum of life in prison for each of the overdose charges, and a mandatory minimum prison sentence of five years with a maximum of 40 years in prison for the conspiracy charge. Hopper’s sentencing is scheduled for September 26, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. Austen Michael Thomas pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and felon in possession of a firearm. Thomas faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of five years with a maximum of 40 years in prison for the conspiracy charge, and a maximum of 10 years in prison for the firearm charge. Thomas’ sentencing is scheduled for September 26, 2023, at 2:30 p.m. Marshall Matthew James Carver pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and distribution of fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury, relating to an April 2021 overdose which occurred in Bettendorf. Carver faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 20 years with a maximum of life in prison for the distribution resulting in serious bodily injury charge, and a maximum of 20 years in prison for the conspiracy charge. Carver’s sentencing is scheduled for September 26, 2023, at 12:30 p.m. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Davenport Police Department investigated this case.


title: Owner of Brighton-Based Physical Therapy Clinic Pleads Guilty to Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Boston woman pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to her role in a scheme to defraud an insurance provider for physical therapy services that were not provided to patients. Gyulnara Bayryshova, 57, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for July 13, 2023. Bayryshova was indicted in February 2021 along with co-defendants Anna Barenboym, Slava Pride and Raya Bagardi. Bayryshova was the owner of Brighton Physical Therapy (BPT), a Brighton-based physical therapy clinic. From October 2018 through June 2020, Bayryshova and her co-defendants conspired to cause an insurance company to reimburse them for physical therapy services that were not actually provided and/or were not medically necessary and, in some cases, were provided by individuals not licensed to provide the services. Specifically, Bayryshova and her co-defendants falsely billed for services purportedly rendered to patients injured in automobile accidents when the services were not actually provided. BPT also paid patients for referrals and referred patients to attorneys to assist with patients’ insurance settlements. Bayryshova is the last remaining defendant to plead guilty in the case. Barenboym, Pride and Bagardi previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy and are scheduled to be sentenced on May 10, 2023, May 24, 2023 and July 11, 2023, respectively. The charge of conspiracy to commit mail fraud provides a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Anthony DiPaolo, Chief of Investigations of the Insurance Fraud Bureau of Massachusetts; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; and Quincy Police Chief Paul Keenan made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura J. Kaplan of Rollins’ Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.


title: Orlando Man Sentenced To 40 Years In Federal Prison For Producing Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Preston Percyville Cresser (22, Orlando) to 40 years in federal prison for production and possession of child sexual abuse material, to by followed by a lifetime of supervised release. The court also ordered Cresser to forfeit the electronic device utilized in the commission of the offense and to register as a sex offender. Cresser had pleaded guilty on December 7, 2022. According to court documents, Cresser engaged in a “sextortion” scheme where he would engage minor females on various social media platforms and coerce them to create and send him child sexual abuse material. Cresser would demand additional sexual images or videos, and if the victim did not want to comply, would threaten to send the previous images to the victim’s family or post them to social media. Cresser would often demand that the minor video-call him, and he would surreptitiously record the minor performing the requested sexual acts. “This investigation demonstrates the FBI and its law enforcement partners’ vigilance in rescuing young victims of sextortion and ensuring justice for their abusers,” said FBI Tampa Division Special Agent in Charge David Walker. “We’ve seen an alarming increase in sextortion schemes and encourage parents and caregivers to talk to their children about it. You can find information at www.fbi.gov/stopsextortion .” This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Apopka Police Department, and the Orlando Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shannon Laurie. 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 United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), 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: Boston Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

body_text: BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty today to his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. London Lee, 29, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for July 13, 2023. Lee was arrested and charged along with co-defendant Josiah Watkins in April 2021. In February 2021, an investigation began into drug trafficking activities conducted by Lee and Watkins. The investigation revealed that Lee and Watkins were actively selling cocaine and fentanyl in the Boston area. Between February and April 2021, Watkins sold or arranged the sale of fentanyl and cocaine in at least 10 separate controlled purchases. On Nov. 28, 2022 , Watkins pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 28, 2023. The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and cocaine provides for a sentence of a mandatory minimum term of five years and up to 40 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Dawley, Jr. of Rollins’ Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Ferndale, Washington woman sentenced to six months for trafficking hundreds of “knock-off” designer goods

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 42-year-old Ferndale, Washington woman was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to three months in prison and three months home confinement for trafficking in counterfeit goods, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Kara Suneva Allen, aka Kara Suneva Mitchell, pleaded guilty in October 2022. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones said, “We cannot tolerate a robin hood mentality in the community…even though you thought you were helping other mothers afford luxury goods, you were actually helping them participate in criminal activity.” According to records filed in the case, Allen operated a business named ‘Keepin Up With Kara’ LLC. The business was located in a warehouse space in Ferndale, Washington. As of March 2022, a website associated with the business advertised 467 different items for sale that appeared to be products made by Adidas, Burberry, Cartier, Chanel, Christian Dior, Fendi, Gucci, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, MCM, Nike, Prada, Saint Laurent, Tiffany & Co., Tory Burch, and UGG. All the products were priced substantially below the suggested retail price for the genuine items. An investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office revealed that in August and September 2021, three shipments destined for Allen and her company were seized from the mail in Oakland, California. The shipments, which originated in China and Hong Kong, contained a wide variety of counterfeit goods, including handbags, wallets, and jewelry. Allen was notified of these seizures, but never petitioned to have the goods in the shipments released. An analysis of shipping records revealed that between September 2021 and March 2022, approximately 46 shipments from China and Hong Kong had been sent to the Ferndale warehouse where ‘Keepin Up With Kara’ operated. To document Allen’s sale of counterfeit goods, an undercover agent made online purchases from the company’s website. In one instance, the agent made an undercover purchase of a Louis Vuitton-branded handbag for $110. The suggested retail price for that specific authentic Louis Vuitton handbag is $1,690.00. A Louis Vuitton representative confirmed the handbag purchased from the website was counterfeit. On May 2, 2022, law enforcement executed search and seizure warrants at Allen’s place of business, home, and vehicle. Over 1,800 items of suspected counterfeit merchandise were seized, including purses, scarves, belts, luggage tags, sunglasses, tumblers, and other accessories. In total, between June 2021 and May 2022, Allen acquired, attempted to acquire, or sold more than 1,900 counterfeit items with an estimated retail value of $185,842. Her profit over that time was approximately $43,430. As noted in the government’s sentencing memorandum, before the search warrant was executed, Allen was told more than once that what she was doing was illegal. Allen “received several letters from CBP and Louis Vuitton’s counsel putting her on notice that her business activities were unlawful. It is an aggravating factor that, despite these numerous opportunities to cease … operations, Allen nonetheless persisted in obtaining and selling counterfeit merchandise, and even instructed an employee to describe that merchandise using coded language to avoid detection,” Special Assistant United States Attorney Jessica M. Ly wrote in her sentencing memorandum. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Ferndale Police Department, and the National Intellectual Property Rights Center. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Jessica M. Ly.


title: Beckley Woman Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Kamaria J. Mitchell, 33, of Beckley, was sentenced today to four years and seven months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distributing 5 grams or more of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, Mitchell admitted to selling more than 5 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant outside of her Beckley residence on November 16, 2020. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Mid-Atlantic Laboratory confirmed the methamphetamine weighed 27.9 grams and was 98 percent pure. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, which is composed of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Beckley Police Department, and the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department. United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess prosecuted 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. 5:22-cr-49. ###


title: 18-Year-Old Sentenced to Prison for Flight from Immigration Checkpoint

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. –Derek Ira Pablo Jr., 18, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced on Tuesday by United States District Judge John C. Hinderaker to 10 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release. Pablo pleaded guilty to one count of High-Speed Flight from Immigration Checkpoint. On November 3, 2022, Pablo drove his vehicle through a United States Border Patrol checkpoint on Arizona State Route 86 near Robles Junction, Arizona. He did not slow down or stop as directed by the speed bumps and signage. Pablo accelerated and operated his vehicle at speeds up to 100 mph in a 45 mile per hour zone during the chase, but would not stop as agents pursued him. He finally stopped his vehicle because of a flat tire and then tried to flee on foot, but was apprehended and arrested. Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Brandon M. Bolling, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-22-2593-TUC-JCH AS (BGM) RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-051_Pablo # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Former county attorney for Starr County indicted for public corruption

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 49-year-old Rio Grande City man has been arrested for Travel Act violations, federal programs theft and Hobbs Act extortion under color of official right, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Victor Canales was the former county attorney for Starr County. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nadia S. Medrano at 9 a.m. Monday, April 10. A federal grand jury returned the nine count indictment April 5, which was unsealed today upon his arrest. According to the indictment, from on or about Jan. 1, 2005, until on or about April 20, 2022, Canales was the elected county attorney. In that role, he had the authority to collect fines and fees and to choose whether or not to prosecute certain offenses, according to the charges. The indictment also alleges that Starr County had received more than $10,000 in federal benefits each year between 2018-2021. During that time, Canales allegedly embezzled property worth at least $5,000 in each of those years. Further, Canales knowingly obstructed and affected commerce by extortion by obtaining property not due to him on four separate occasions in 2021, according to the indictment. Canales also allegedly knowingly and willfully used a facility in interstate and foreign commerce to carry on unlawful activity between 2017 and 2021. Canales is charged with one count of the Travel Act violations which carries a possible sentence of up to five years in federal prison, upon conviction. He also faces a maximum of 10 years on each of four counts of federal programs theft and up to another 20 years on each conviction of Hobbs Act extortion under color of official right. All charges also carry a possible $ 250,000 maximum fine. The FBI worked in partnership with the Texas Office of the Attorney General to conduct the Border Corruption Task Force (BCTF) investigation with the assistance of OCDETF Operation Ice River agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration, Texas Department of Public Safety – Texas Rangers and Homeland Security Investigations. The BCTF is comprised of multiple state and federal agencies that serve to disrupt and dismantle corrupt domestic public officials that operate along the southwest border. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Cook Profit is prosecuting the case. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Beckley Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Crime

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Travis John Miller, 40, of Beckley, was sentenced today to seven years and three months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for distributing 5 grams or more of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, Miller admitted to selling approximately 26.94 grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant at his Beckley residence on October 19, 2021. Miller further admitted to selling quantities of methamphetamine to a confidential informant on October 20 and October 27, 2021. On October 29, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Miller’s residence and found methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and a Hi-Point .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit. The Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, and the Beckley Police Department. United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell prosecuted 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. 5:22-cr-107. ###


title: Former U.S. Navy Ship Department Head Pleads Guilty to  Attempted Production of Child Pornography

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A Chesapeake man pleaded guilty today to attempted production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). According to court documents, around October 2022, Christopher Paul Hetherington, 33, initiated sexually explicit conversation over the Internet with who he believed to be a 14-year-old girl, but who was actually an undercover law enforcement officer. Hetherington used a screen name of “sw0daddy” in his communications with the girl, referencing his then-employment as a Surface Warfare Officer for the U.S. Navy. Hetherington repeatedly asked the girl to send him sexually explicit photos of her and asked for reassurance that she was not affiliated with law enforcement. Over the phone, Hetherington detailed the sexual acts he wished to perform on and with her. After the call concluded, Hetherington encouraged the girl to show him her genitals over the Internet. In December 2022, Hetherington made plans to meet with the girl for sex. Instead, Hetherington was arrested at his home on December 21, 2022. Hetherington is scheduled to be sentenced on August 9, 2023. He faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Mack Hickman, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert J. Krask accepted the plea. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Victoria Liu is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . In 2021, EDVA launched “UnMasked,” a community-based educational outreach and prevention program in Virginia dedicated to raising awareness and educating the community about the prevalence of online sexual exploitation involving children and young adults. UnMasked is a multi-disciplinary partnership of local, state, federal, and non-profit stakeholders. The core curriculum is provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) NetSmartz program. To report an incident involving online sexual exploitation, call 1-800-843-5678 or submit a report at report.cybertip.org . To request an UnMasked event at your school or organization, please contact EDVA’s Community Outreach Coordinator at USAVAE-UnMasked@usdoj.gov . 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-26.


title: Florida Man Faces 15-30 Years for Production, Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material After Exploiting Child He Met on Instagram

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A Florida man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Bangor today to one count of sexually exploiting a child and two counts of distributing child pornography. According to court records, in August 2020, Wesley Deal, 42, began communicating with an 11-year-old child on Instagram. He sent multiple messages requesting sexually explicit images, and the victim responded by sending multiple sexually explicit photos and videos to Deal. Deal threatened to post the images on the internet if the victim did not provide him with additional images. He sent the victim screenshots of the images that child had previously sent to prove that he had the ability to carry out his threats. Deal faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison for the sexual exploitation count and a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 20 years for each of the distribution of child pornography counts. He also faces a $250,000 fine and up to a lifetime of supervised release on each count. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Homeland Security Investigations, the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office, the Bangor Police Department and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office in Florida investigated the case. To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer re-victimization every time the images are viewed. File a report with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at https://report.cybertip.org/ or 1-800-843-5678 . If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741 . Project Safe Childhood: This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc . # # #


title: Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Check Theft and Forgery Scheme

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Hanover, Maryland, man pleaded guilty today to his role in a check theft and forgery scheme involving at least 10 victims and nearly half a million dollars in loss. According to court documents, Akinbobola Komolafe, 27, and other individuals stole checks from the U.S. mail, many of which had been mailed from the area around Glen Echo, Maryland. Komolafe and his co-conspirators then altered the checks to change the payment amount and the payee’s name. For example, Komolafe and his conspirators altered a check originally written for $43.20 to a medical practice to instead pay $40,000 to a co-conspirator. Another check involved in the conspiracy, originally written for $140.00 to a physician, was altered to pay $30,000 to a co-conspirator. Komolafe was captured on surveillance footage at Wells Fargo bank branches in Falls Church and Arlington, depositing the fraudulent checks into the accounts of recruited co-conspirators. Komolafe was identified as the depositor of the checks by his distinct clothing, which matched that which he was wearing in posts on his social media accounts. Once the fraudulent proceeds were deposited, Komolafe and others divided the proceeds among themselves and transferred the proceeds into other accounts to conceal the source of the proceeds. The conspiracy caused no less than approximately $486,716 in loss, and Komolafe personally obtained or shared in no less than $100,000 of that loss. Komolafe is scheduled to be sentenced on July 28, 2023. He faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge T. S. Ellis III, accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Ray and Katherine Rumbaugh are prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:23-cr-14.


title: Beckley Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Steven Marvin Lawson Jr., 29, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, Lawson admitted to possessing a Springfield Armory model XD .45-caliber pistol at a Beagle Club Road residence in Jumping Branch, Summers County, on September 28, 2020. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Lawson was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for two counts of theft by receiving stolen property in Gwinnett County, Georgia, Superior Court on May 13, 2016. Lawson is scheduled to be sentenced on July 28, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. 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), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (AFT), and the West Virginia State Police-Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorneys Kathleen Robeson and Kristin F. Scott are 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. 5:22-cr-217. ###


title: Worcester Man Sentenced for Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy

body_text: BOSTON – A Worcester man has been sentenced in federal court in Worcester for conspiring to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine. Angel Cordova, 39, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to five years in prison and four years of supervised release. In December 2021, Cordova pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. In March 2019, intercepted communications determined Cordova was conspiring with a least five others – including Junior Melendez Juan Rodriguez, Antoine Mack, Kevin Jean, and Carlos Richards – to buy significant quantities of powder cocaine, convert some of that powder cocaine into crack cocaine and distribute powder and crack cocaine in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. From March 2019 through June 2019, investigators identified over four kilograms of cocaine that Melendez either purchased or sold, including over 300 grams of cocaine that was seized in New Hampshire on May 25, 2019. Juan Rodriguez and Kevin Jean were convicted after a jury trial and sentenced to 52 months and 40 months in prison, respectively. Antoine Mack pleaded guilty and was sentenced 54 months in prison. Melendez pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 156 months in prison. Carlos Richards remains a fugitive. United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Worcester Police Chief Steven M. Sargent made the announcement today. Valuable was provided by Massachusetts State Police, New Hampshire State Police, Shrewsbury Police and the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Greg A. Friedholm, Kristen M. Noto and Lauren A. Graber of Rollins’ Criminal Division prosecuted the cases. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Crime

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Kristopher D. Thomas, also known as “Rio,” 22, of Detroit Michigan, pleaded guilty today to distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents and statements made in court, on Oct. 14, 2021, Thomas sold a quantity of fentanyl to a confidential informant at an Amigo residence where Thomas was staying in Raleigh County, West Virginia. Thomas admitted to that transaction and further admitted to selling fentanyl to a confidential informant in Daniels, Raleigh County, on April 12 and April 22, 2021. The West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory confirmed the controlled substances from all three transactions contained fentanyl. Thomas is scheduled to be sentenced on July 28, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit. The Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit consists of officers from the West Virginia State Police, the Raleigh County Sheriff’s Department, and the Beckley Police Department. United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell is prosecuting the case. The case is a result of “Operation Wolverine Carousel,” a months-long investigation into the widespread distribution of heroin and fentanyl in Raleigh and Fayette counties. The investigation was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The program was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and is the keystone of the Department of Justice’s drug reduction strategy. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking organizations, transnational criminal organizations and money laundering organizations that present a significant threat to the public safety, economic, or national security of the United States. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-28. ###


title: Eleven Washington and California Residents Plead Guilty  in Connection with Staged Automobile Accident Scheme

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington – Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that eleven Washington and California residents have pleaded guilty for their participation in a staged automobile accident scheme to defraud insurance companies, or for obstructing official proceedings. Defendants have pleaded guilty as follows: Ali Abed Yaser, age 52 of Kennewick, Washington - conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, conspiracy to commit health care fraud, conspiracy to obstruct official proceedings, making a false statement to the FBI, and two counts of mail fraud; Hussein A. Yasir, age 41 of Kennewick, Washington - conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, conspiracy to commit health care fraud, five counts of wire fraud, and five counts of mail fraud; Maria Elena Sanchez, age 42 of Kennewick, Washington - conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, conspiracy to commit health care fraud, seven counts of wire fraud, and three counts of mail fraud; Jesus George Sanchez, age 57 of Pasco, Washington - conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, conspiracy to commit health care fraud, two counts of mail fraud, and one count of wire fraud; Ali F. Al-Himrani, age 41 of Temecula, California - conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, conspiracy to commit health care fraud; Mohammed F. Al-Himrani, age 34 of Kennewick, Washington - conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, conspiracy to commit health care fraud; Khalil Abdul-Razaq, age 40 of Kennewick, Washington - conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, conspiracy to commit health care fraud; Ameer R. Mohammed, age 46 of Kennewick, Washington - conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, conspiracy to commit health care fraud; Sinan Akrawi, age 44 of La Mesa, California - conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud; Mohammed Naji Al-Jibory, age 55 of Kennewick, Washington – conspiracy to obstruct official proceedings; Noor Tahseen Al-Maarej, age 33 of El Cajon, California – misprision (concealment) of a felony. These eleven defendants face the following possible maximum statutory sentences: 20 years for each count of mail fraud and wire fraud, each count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, and each count of conspiracy to obstruct official proceedings; 10 years for conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud; 5 years for making a false statement to the FBI; and 3 years for misprision of a felony. United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke will determine sentences for each defendant after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. “Staged accidents make our streets dangerous and distract police from responding to legitimate distress calls,” said Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. “Moreover, efforts to hinder federal criminal proceedings will not be tolerated. We will continue to work closely with our federal and state law enforcement, and private industry, partners to investigate fraud schemes.” “The number of people and the amount of planning involved in this fraudulent scheme make this crime even more shocking and unacceptable,” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle Field Office. “Deliberate, staged accidents increase the risk to the public, increase rates for drivers with legitimate claims, and we are committed to holding these subjects accountable for their actions, including their fabricated stories against FBI agents.” According to court documents, between approximately July 2017 and April 2020, members of the conspiracy staged automobile accidents and thereafter caused the submission of false insurance claims for property damage, wage loss and personal injury. In some of the staged accidents, Maria Elena Sanchez, who worked as a case manager at a personal injury law firm in Washington, used her position to help members of the conspiracy submit their fraudulent insurance claims and collect settlement payments totaling approximately $657,812. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, with the assistance of the National Insurance Crime Bureau. This case is being prosecuted by George J.C. Jacobs, III, Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington. Other defendants have been named in an Indictment and are awaiting trial. An Indictment is merely an allegation and all remaining defendants who have not entered into guilty pleas are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 4:21-CR-6042-MKD-1 4:21-CR-6042-MKD-2 4:21-CR-6042-MKD-9 4:21-CR-6042-MKD-10 4:21-CR-6042-MKD-13 4:21-CR-6042-MKD-14 4:21-CR-6042-MKD-15 4:21-CR-6042-MKD-20 4:21-CR-6042-MKD-21 4:21-CR-6042-MKD-22 4:21-CR-6042-MKD-23


title: South Burlington Man Sentenced to Federal Prison in Connection with Cocaine Distribution Resulting in a Non-Fatal Overdose

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Bruce Erdmann, 63, of South Burlington, Vermont, was sentenced today, to three months of incarceration and three months of home detention following his guilty plea to a charge of distribution of cocaine. Chief U.S. District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford also ordered Erdmann to pay a $4,000 fine and serve three years of federal supervised release. The sentence imposed by Judge Crawford was determined with reference to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. According to court records, Erdmann’s conviction stemmed from a March of 2021 incident in which he distributed cocaine to an individual within his residence, resulting in a non-fatal overdose. Special Agent in Charge Fernando P. McMillan, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations New York Field Office, stated, “We commend the United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners as we work together to protect the public health.” U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest thanked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the South Burlington Police Department for their investigatory work on this case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kimberly Ang and Nate Burris. Erdmann was represented by Attorney Ian Carleton, Esq.


title: Former Reserve Deputy Sheriff Sentenced a Dozen Years in Federal Prison for Receiving Child Pornography

body_text: A man who spent over 20 years as a reserve deputy sheriff who amassed a large collection of child pornography over seven years was sentenced today to 12 years in federal prison. Gordon Grabau, age 51, from Marion, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 17, 2022 guilty plea to receiving child pornography. Information from a plea agreement and information disclosed at sentencing showed Grabau collected child pornography using peer-to-peer software from 2014 to 2021. In July 2021, law enforcement agencies searched Grabau’s home, seizing numerous electronic devices such as computers and hard drives. While examining those devices, law enforcement found 168,780 files containing child pornography. The files included both still images and videos. The files depicted children as young as infants and included prepubescent children involved in sadistic and masochistic conduct, some involving an adult. Grabau had no prior criminal history. He had previously served as a volunteer reserve deputy sheriff for Linn County beginning in 2000. The Linn County Sheriff terminated his ability to serve as a reserve deputy on the same day law enforcement searched Grabau’s home. Grabau was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Grabau was sentenced to 144 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.” Grabau 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 Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Marion Police Department, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 22-CR-53. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Convicted Felon Who Unlawfully Possessed Five Firearms Sentenced to Six Years in Prison

body_text: A convicted felon who possessed five firearms, including two that were stolen, was sentenced today to six years in federal prison. Jordan Johnson, age 24, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a December 20, 2022 guilty plea to felon in possession of firearms. Information from the case showed that on September 22, 2020, Johnson was on probation following a conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm in state court. Officers of the High Risk Unit from the Sixth Judicial District’s Department of Correctional Service visited Johnson at his apartment. The officers believed Johnson was hiding something and Johnson eventually left the apartment while the officers were looking around. After Johnson left, the Cedar Rapids Police Department responded and conducted a search of the apartment. They found four handguns hidden in a clothes’ hamper in a child’s bedroom. They also found a rifle in another part of the apartment. One of the handguns and the rifle had previously been reported stolen. One of the handguns also had a serial number that someone had attempted to scratch off. Johnson has multiple prior criminal convictions, including convictions involving violence and firearms. He had also previously been convicted in state court of carrying weapons and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Johnson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Johnson was sentenced to 72 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. 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. Johnson 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 Anthony Morfitt and investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, and Sixth Judicial District’s Department of Correctional Service’s High Risk Unit. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 22-CR-97. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.