title: Michigan City Man Sentenced to 58 Months in Prison

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Andre Anderson-Dawson, 41 years old, of Michigan City, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay. Anderson-Dawson was sentenced to 58 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. According to case documents, in December 2019, Anderson-Dawson violated a protective order while armed with a stolen firearm. Police recovered the 9-millimeter firearm. Anderson-Dawson, previously convicted of a felony, was prohibited from possessing the firearm in this case. He pled guilty to the federal charge in October 2023, but while on releasee pending sentencing, was allegedly involved in conduct resulting in 3 state court felony domestic battery charges. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Michigan City Police Department and the LaPorte County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Molly E. Donnelly. 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: Gainesville Man Pleads Guilty To Attempted Online Enticement Of A Minor To Engage In Sexual Activity

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Alberto Christian Quiroz (32, Gainesville) has pleaded guilty to attempted enticement of a minor to commit sexual acts. Quiroz faces a minimum sentence of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court documents, Quiroz was an employee of a care agency that was contracted with the Florida Department of Children and Families to provide services for children. On July 26 and 27, 2024, Quiroz used an online messaging service to communicate with an undercover detective portraying a 14-year-old girl. Quiroz arranged to meet the undercover detective at an Ocala restaurant for sexual activity. Agents arrested Quiroz when he arrived at that location. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Ocala Police Department, and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Hamilton. 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: Lexington Man Sentenced for Fentanyl Trafficking and Conspiracy to Launder Drug Proceeds

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON Ky. – A Lexington man, Jamele Mundy, 35, was sentenced on Monday, to 156 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell, for possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, conspiracy to commit money laundering offenses, and concealment money laundering. According to his guilty plea agreements and other Court records, Mundy participated in a multi-jurisdictional, international money laundering and drug trafficking organization. In doing so, Mundy received kilogram quantities of fentanyl and cocaine base (“crack” cocaine) for distribution in Lexington. In May 2023, DEA executed a search warrant at a stash house being operated by Mundy. There, they seized 3.132 kilograms of fentanyl, 2.314 kilograms of cocaine base, and $67,315 in cash. The residence also contained plastic blenders with drug residue, a metal kilogram press, heat sealing machines, and a digital scale. Mundy would process these narcotics for further distribution, using the kilogram press and heat-sealing machine at the residence. He would then collect the money from the sale of these drugs and contact his source of supply, to return the proceeds. Mundy participated in this money laundering of drug proceeds by delivering bulk cash to others, who were responsible for converting it to cryptocurrency and sending those proceeds to members of the drug trafficking organization. In February 2023, Mundy delivered $147,540 in drug proceeds for laundering. Under federal law, Mundy must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years. Mundy was also required to forfeit the $67,315 that was seized from his residence. Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by the DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Bradbury is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . – END –


title: Plum Resident with More Than a Dozen Felony Convictions Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Multitude of Drugs and Possessing Firearm

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A former resident of Plum, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to violations of federal drug trafficking and firearms laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Solomon Givens, 55, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Robert J. Colville to possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of a mixture of para-fluorofentanyl and fentanyl, 100 grams or more of para-fluorofentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, 500 grams or more of cocaine, and 28 grams or more of crack cocaine. Givens also pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, on October 12, 2021, members of the DEA and Allegheny County District Attorney Narcotics Enforcement Team (DANET) executed a search warrant on an apartment used by Givens, who has 13 prior felony convictions. During the search, investigators recovered 1.5 kilograms of a mixture of para-fluorofentanyl and fentanyl, 399 grams of para-fluorofentanyl, 770 grams of methamphetamine, 746 grams of cocaine, 71 grams of crack cocaine, and drug packaging materials. Investigators also recovered eight firearms from the residence. Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon. Judge Colville scheduled sentencing for May 29, 2025. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Pending sentencing, the court ordered that the defendant remain in custody. Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Ball is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Allegheny County DANET unit conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Givens.


title: Drug Trafficker Pleads Guilty to Possessing a Massive Amount of Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA - Gilberto Contreras has pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute nearly 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine. “Contreras distributed massive quantities of dangerous drugs that posed a significant threat to the health and safety of our communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. “Our office is grateful for the diligent work of our federal and local law enforcement partners who work tirelessly to remove these poisons from our streets and to hold accountable those who peddle them.” “This case represents the continued commitment of the DEA to identify and hold accountable those who engage in the distribution of dangerous drugs, such as methamphetamine,” said Jae Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. According to Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie, the charges and other information presented in court: On July 2, 2024, DEA special agents received information about a local methamphetamine trafficker with multiple kilograms of methamphetamine for sale. The investigation led agents to a parking lot in Clayton County, Georgia, where the agents encountered Contreras. Law enforcement stopped Contreras’s vehicle a short time later and located a black trash bag containing approximately 44 pounds of methamphetamine. Agents then searched Contreras’s residence and backyard in Ellenwood, Georgia and located approximately 915 pounds of methamphetamine and $40,000 in cash. Gilberto Contreras, 54, of Ellenwood, Georgia, is scheduled to be sentenced on May 13, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr. This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with valuable assistance provided by the Clayton County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwayne A. Brown, Jr. is prosecuting the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Atlanta recommends parents and children learn about the dangers of drugs at the following web site: www.justthinktwice.gov . For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Waterford Woman Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for Stealing from Addiction and Mental Health Services Nonprofit

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHELE DEVINE, 51, of Waterford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 24 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for embezzling from the Southeastern Regional Action Council on Substance Abuse, Inc. (“SERAC”), where she was employed as its executive director. Judge Underhill also ordered Devine to pay a $2,000 fine and perform 300 hours of community service while on supervised release. According to court documents and statements made in court, SERAC, headquartered in Norwich, is a 501(c)(3) organization that serves 41 towns in southeastern and northeastern Connecticut with substance abuse, problem gambling, and mental health related services. SERAC is primarily funded through hundreds of thousands of dollars in state and federal grants from the State of Connecticut’s Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Devine was the executive director of SERAC until July 2022. Beginning in approximately 2008, Devine spent thousands of dollars on purchases that did not relate SERAC but instead were personal expenses for Devine and her family, including thousands of dollars spent on home appliances; travel; timeshare fees at a Connecticut resort; stays at the Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires, Massachusetts; and private school donations. Judge Underhill ordered Devine to pay $397,064.93 in restitution. Devine was arrested on August 3, 2023. On October 21, 2024, she pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Devine, who is released on a $25,000 bond, is required to report to prison on March 12. This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, with the assistance of the New London State’s Attorney’s Office and the State of Connecticut Office of the Attorney General. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Miller.


title: Tennessee Man Sentenced to 270 Months for Sex Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – CHARLES CUNIGAN (“CUNIGAN”) , a resident of Tennessee, was sentenced on January 14, 2025, for conspiring to commit sex trafficking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1594(c). According to court documents, CUNIGAN, age 31, and his girlfriend Latesha Gardner, age 31, forced a seventeen-year-old victim to engage in commercial sex acts in New Orleans for three months to generate money so CUNIGAN could purchase a vehicle. The defendants advertised the minor victim for commercial sex on the internet and used physical abuse and other means to force her to comply. CUNIGAN carried a firearm and pistol whipped the minor victim on one occasion. CUNIGAN kept all of the money the minor victim made from commercial sex transactions and required her to meet a minimum daily dollar threshold from these sex acts. He conditioned the victim’s ability to eat on whether she earned enough money. CUNIGAN also tracked the geolocation data on the victim’s phone and threatened to kill her if she left. U.S. District Court Judge Jay C. Zainey sentenced CUNIGAN to 270 months’ imprisonment, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. CUNIGAN was ordered to pay $48,750 in restitution to the minor victim and to participate in the sex offender registration and notification program. In addition, Judge Zainey imposed a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. In September 2024, CUNIGAN’s co-defendant, Gardner, was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment for her role in this conspiracy. 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.” U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans and Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, made the announcement. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Orlando, Florida Metropolitan Bureau of Investigations. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Maria M. Carboni and Trial Attorney Melissa E. Bücher of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section.


title: Tren De Aragua Fugitive Charged In Federal Court With Possession Of A Firearm And Ammunition

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Danielle R. Sassoon, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; William Walker, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”); and Jessica S. Tisch, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced that ANDERSON ZAMBRANO-PACHECO was arrested on January 28, 2025, and charged via a criminal Complaint filed in Manhattan federal court with being a fugitive from justice in possession of a firearm. ZAMBRANO-PACHECO was presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis, who ordered that ZAMBRANO-PACHECO be detained. U.S. Attorney Danielle R. Sassoon said: “As alleged, the defendant—a member of the violent Venezuelan transnational gang known as Tren de Aragua—went on the lam for several months after committing an armed home invasion and other crimes in Colorado. When he was located and arrested in New York City, he was found with a gun and ammunition. This Office is committed to addressing the threat of Tren de Aragua head-on. Thanks to the work of the career prosecutors of this Office and our law enforcement partners, the defendant is now apprehended and members of Tren de Aragua are being brought to justice.” HSI Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker said: “Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco is an alleged dangerous fugitive affiliated with Tren de Aragua, a violent transnational criminal organization known for terrorizing the American public as seen in horrifying videos from Colorado. HSI’s operation yesterday is proof that collaboration between federal, state and law enforcement partners is essential to combat emerging threats and trends to our communities wherever we encounter them. We are committed to leading multijurisdictional and international investigations that target gang leaders, members and associates in the United States and abroad to maintain public safety.” As alleged in the Complaint filed today: [1] Law enforcement officers have been conducting an investigation of suspected members and affiliates of the violent transnational gang Tren de Aragua (“TDA”), including ZAMBRANO-PACHECO. TDA originated in Venezuela and has established a substantial foothold in the U.S., including in New York City. There are substantial intra-gang conflicts within TDA, and, in some cases, TDA members have disavowed the gang and described themselves as “Anti-Tren.” TDA members have engaged in numerous shootings and murders, and much of this violence is driven by hostilities between TDA and “Anti-Tren” members. On August 18, 2024, police officers in Aurora, Colorado, responded to the report of a shooting that left one person dead. Surveillance footage from a nearby apartment building showed six armed men—including a person later identified to be ZAMBRANO-PACHECO—entering two apartment units while armed with handguns and an assault rifle. A warrant was issued for ZAMBRANO-PACHECO’s arrest in Colorado on or about September 17, 2024, based on an arrest affidavit seeking to charge ZAMBRANO-PACHECO with burglary and menacing. On or about October 22, 2024, a separate warrant was issued for ZAMBRANO-PACHECO’s arrest relating to other charges, including kidnapping, criminal extortion, and menacing. On January 28, 2025, law enforcement tracked ZAMBRANO-PACHECO to an apartment in the Bronx, New York. Law enforcement officers found ZAMBRANO-PACHECO and his girlfriend in one of the bedrooms. In the course of securing ZAMBRANO-PACHECO, law enforcement saw a Smith and Wesson 9mm Pro Series pistol in a dresser drawer near ZAMBRANO-PACHECO. The gun was loaded with nine rounds of ammunition. * * * ZAMBRANO-PACHECO, 26, of Venezuela, is charged with being a fugitive in possession of a firearm and ammunition, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. The maximum potential penalty is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge. Ms. Sassoon praised the outstanding investigative efforts of HSI New York, HSI Denver, the Aurora Police Department, the Arapahoe County District Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Border Patrol’s Intelligence Unit, and the NYPD. She added that the investigation is ongoing. The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jun Xiang, Kathryn Wheelock, and Timothy Ly are in charge of the prosecution. The charge contained in the Complaint is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the descriptions of the Complaint set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: Dominican Republic Native Sentenced To 63 Months In Prison For Fentanyl Distribution And Illegal Reentry

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Jose Ricardo Pena, age 58, a native and citizen of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced to 63 months’ imprisonment by U.S. District Court Judge Jennifer P. Wilson for distribution of fentanyl and illegal reentry by a previously deported alien. Following his term of imprisonment, Ricardo-Pena will face deportation for a third time. According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, Ricardo-Pena was arrested in Boston, Massachusetts in 2011, and deported to the Dominican Republic on or about August 31, 2011. At some point after deportation, he illegally re-entered the United States and was arrested in Dauphin County on October 16, 2015, for drug trafficking charges. He was ultimately convicted in the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas of conspiracy and possession with intent to deliver heroin and was sentenced to concurrent terms of 7-14 months imprisonment. Following that conviction, he was arrested by ICE and charged in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania with illegally re-entering the United States. On February 8, 2017, he was convicted of that charge, sentenced to time served and on May 7, 2017, he was deported for a second time to the Dominican Republic. At some point after that deportation, Pena again illegally re-entered the United States. On four separate occasions in 2023, Pena distributed fentanyl outside an apartment complex located in Harrisburg. On August 23, 2023, he sold 22 grams of fentanyl; on September 5, 2023, he sold 40 grams of fentanyl; on September 14, 2023, he sold 53 grams of fentanyl; and on October 10, 2023, he sold 40 grams of fentanyl. In total, this equates to more than 4,700 individual doses of fentanyl. “Fentanyl is a deadly poison that devastates communities and shatters families. The arrest and sentencing of Jose Ricardo Pena, a criminal illegal alien who was previously removed, are a testament to our unwavering commitment to combating the devastation that it causes,” said Special Agent in Charge of HSI Philadelphia Edward V. Owens. “The diligent work by our investigative team and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania in uncovering and stopping the distribution networks of this lethal drug have saved lives and strengthened our communities. Pena will be deported after serving his prison sentence.” This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Pennsylvania State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Scott Ford prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. # # #


title: Son and Mom Sentenced for Their Role in Shooting a Victim and Conspiring to Tamper with Witnesses

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – The U.S. District Judge Sara E. Hill sentenced Marco Dionte Atkins and his mother, Sidney Brook Mayfield, after a jury found them guilty in September. “Atkins acted recklessly and violently when he shot at someone outside of an occupied business, where children were present,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “After being arrested, Atkins and his mother relentlessly campaigned against witnesses, trying to evade being held accountable for their actions. I commend law enforcement for their hard work in pursuing justice.” In Nov. 2023, Sidney Mayfield pulled into a convenience store directly across the street from a high school. Five teenagers were in the car, including Marco Atkins, Mayfield’s then 18-year-old son. The teens, Mayfield and Atkins, were seen entering the store on video surveillance. After a few minutes inside the store, a verbal altercation began between the teens and the victim. The teens, Mayfield and Atkins, left the store. The teens continued to argue with the victim outside. The video shows Atkins inside the vehicle, firing multiple rounds toward the victim, eventually hitting him in the stomach. Mayfield then sped off. Shortly after Atkins was arrested in January 2024, Mayfield and Atkins began tampering with witnesses, obstructing the investigation, and commenting publicly about retaliation. Atkins’ original trial was set to begin in June of 2024 but was forced to be continued due to their obstruction and witness tampering. After the trial was continued in June, evidence showed Mayfield ranting on social media about a witness being a “snitch,” announcing the witness's full name and where the family resided. In the video played for the jury, Mayfield stated that she would “kill anybody” that went against her or her son and that she would “ride with Marco until the [explicit] wheels fell off.” Shortly after she posted that video, Mayfield was indicted and arrested, and Atkins was charged with additional counts. Atkins , 19, was sentenced to 180 months, followed by five years of supervised release. He was found guilty of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian Country; and Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Mayfield , 39, was sentenced to 70 months, followed by three years of supervised release. She was found guilty of Retaliating Against a Witness, Victim, and Informant; Corruptly Tampering with a Witness, Victim, and Informant; and False Declaration Before a Grand Jury. They were both found guilty of Conspiracy to Tamper with a Witness, Victim, and Informant by Corrupt Persuasion and Corruptly Obstructing the Due Administration of Justice. Atkins and Mayfield are citizens of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. They will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Tulsa Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John W. Dowdell and Kenneth Elmore prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about PSN, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Former federal prosecutor named U.S. Attorney for Southern District

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – Acting Attorney General James McHenry has named Nicholas J. Ganjei as U.S. Attorney of the Southern District of Texas (SDTX). “I am humbled by the honor and am excited to lead the SDTX,” said Ganjei. “This opportunity to once again serve the American people is both a tremendous responsibility and a great privilege. This office will play a critical role in ensuring our border is secure and the American people are kept safe. I look forward to working alongside some great prosecutors, staff and law enforcement partners.” U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton swore in Ganjei just after 12 p.m. before SDTX staff, several federal judges and court personnel. Ganjei is a former longtime federal prosecutor who previously served as acting U.S. Attorney and First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas. He joined the Department of Justice in 2008 as an Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) on the U.S. – Mexico border. As an AUSA, Ganjei prosecuted organized crime, immigration, narcotics and human trafficking cases, as well as fraud, public corruption and white collar matters. As U.S. Attorney, Ganjei will be the chief law enforcement officer for one of the largest districts in the United States. The SDTX typically prosecutes more cases against more defendants than most other USAOs nationwide, representing 43 counties and nine million people and covering 44,000 square miles. This district currently comprises seven U.S. District Court divisions with federal district courts in Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo. The U.S. Attorney's office, headquartered in Houston, has branch offices in all seven divisions. Before joining the Department, Ganjei clerked for the Honorable Richard Allen Griffin and Ralph R. Erickson of the Sixth and Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, respectively. Ganjei has also taught on the subjects of civil, criminal and constitutional law at both the collegiate and law school level. Most recently, Ganjei was chief counsel to U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution, where he oversaw all legal matters related to criminal justice, border security, judicial nominations, antitrust, intellectual property and religious liberty.


title: Two Dorchester Men Charged as Felons in Possession of Firearms

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – Two Dorchester men were charged yesterday with unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition following the execution of a federal search warrant in Dorchester. Rickey Simmons, 46, and Robert Campbell, 35, were each charged by criminal complaint with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. According to the charging documents, two loaded firearms were allegedly recovered from the first floor living area occupied by Simmons. Campbell was allegedly found in possession of a key to a safe in in his bedroom that was found to contain thousands of dollars along with a loaded Glock firearm. The room also contained a small amount of what is believed to be cocaine. Additionally, just outside the door of the bedroom, a bag containing three additional Glock firearms was located, including one that was equipped with a machine gun conversion device, allowing it to fire fully automatically. In the same bag, a loaded, extended magazine that fit the converted machine gun was recovered. According to court records, Campbell has prior convictions for assaulting police officers and resisting arrest. The charge of being a felon in possession provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement today. Assistant United States Attorneys Mark Grady and Allegra Flamm of the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Lowell Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

body_text: BOSTON – A Lowell man pleaded guilty yesterday to his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy with the Asian Boyz street gang. Erickson Dao, a/k/a “Silent,” 32, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine, and one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for May 13, 2025. Dao was a drug supplier in an extensive trafficking network involving Asian Boyz gang member, Bill Phim. Between February 2022 and April 2022, Dao delivered counterfeit pills made to resemble the pharmaceutical product, Adderall, to Phim on at least five occasions. Phim then sold the pills to an undercover federal agent for more than $11,000. Chemical testing confirmed that the pills were not actually Adderall but a dangerous compound of methamphetamine and caffeine, instead. When investigators searched Dao’s residence, they discovered hundreds more counterfeit “Adderall” pills and large quantities of cocaine. The charges of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of cocaine, each provide for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years and up to life 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. Phim has pleaded not guilty and is pending trial. U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley, Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division and Superintendent Greg Hudon of the Lowell Police Department made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Billerica, Haverhill, North Andover and Salem Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak, III of the 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. This case is also 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 . The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants in the case are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Former U.S. Senator Robert Menendez Sentenced To 11 Years In Prison For Bribery, Foreign Agent, And Obstruction Offenses

body_text: Danielle R. Sassoon, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that former U.S. Senator ROBERT MENENDEZ, WAEL HANA, a/k/a “Will Hana,” and FRED DAIBES, were sentenced to 11 years, more than eight years, and seven years in prison, respectively, for bribery, foreign agent, and obstruction of justice offenses. MENENDEZ, HANA, and DAIBES were convicted on July 16, 2024, following a nine-week jury trial before U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein, who imposed today’s sentences. U.S. Attorney Danielle R. Sassoon said: “The sentences imposed today result from an egregious abuse of power at the highest levels of the Legislative Branch of the federal government. Robert Menendez was trusted to represent the United States and the State of New Jersey, but instead he used his position to help his co-conspirators and a foreign government, in exchange for bribes like cash, gold, and a luxury car. The sentences imposed today send a clear message that attempts at any level of government to corrupt the nation’s foreign policy and the rule of law will be met with just punishment.” According to the Superseding Indictment (“Indictment”), the evidence at trial, and public filings: [1] MENENDEZ, at the time the Indictment was unsealed, was the senior U.S. Senator from New Jersey and the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (“SFRC”). Shortly after MENENDEZ began dating his now-wife Nadine Menendez, then known as Nadine Arslanian (“Nadine Menendez”), in 2018, Nadine introduced MENENDEZ to her long-time friend HANA, who is originally from Egypt. HANA lived in New Jersey, and maintained close connections with Egyptian officials. HANA was also a business associate of DAIBES, a New Jersey real estate developer and long-time donor to MENENDEZ, and Jose Uribe, who worked in the New Jersey insurance and trucking business. Between 2018 and 2022, MENENDEZ and Nadine Menendez agreed to and did accept hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of bribes from HANA, DAIBES, and Uribe. These bribes included gold, cash, a luxury convertible, payments toward Nadine Menendez’s home mortgage, compensation for a low-or-no-show job for Nadine Menendez, home furnishings, and other things of value. In June 2022, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) executed a court-authorized search warrant at the New Jersey home of MENENDEZ and Nadine Menendez. During that search, the FBI found many of the fruits of this bribery scheme. Over $480,000 in cash — much of it stuffed into envelopes and hidden in clothing, closets, and a safe — was discovered in the home. Some of the envelopes contained the fingerprints of MENENDEZ or DAIBES. Agents also found home furnishings provided by HANA and DAIBES, the luxury vehicle paid for by Uribe parked in the garage, as well as over one hundred thousand dollars’ worth of gold bars in the home, which were provided by either HANA or DAIBES. In exchange for these and other things of value, MENENDEZ agreed and promised to use his power and influence as a Senator to seek to protect HANA’s, Uribe’s, and DAIBES’s interests and to benefit foreign countries. Through this corrupt relationship, MENENDEZ agreed to take a series of official acts. First, MENENDEZ took actions to benefit the Government of Egypt and HANA, including by improperly seeking to pressure an official at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) in an attempt to protect a business monopoly granted to HANA by Egypt, and by secretly representing the interests of Egypt by, among other things, ghostwriting a letter for Egypt to be provided to his own Senate colleagues and providing non-public information and assistance to Egypt. Second, MENENDEZ took actions seeking to disrupt a criminal investigation undertaken by the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General (“NJAG”) related to Uribe and his associates. Third, MENENDEZ recommended that the President nominate a U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey whom MENENDEZ believed he could influence to disrupt a federal criminal prosecution undertaken by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey (“USAO-DNJ”) of DAIBES, and took actions to assist DAIBES by acting for the benefit of the Government of Qatar. Finally, MENENDEZ conspired and endeavored to obstruct justice in connection with the federal investigation into this scheme. Promised Actions to Benefit Egypt and Pressure the USDA Shortly after she began dating MENENDEZ in 2018, Nadine Menendez worked with HANA to introduce Egyptian government officials to MENENDEZ. Those introductions helped establish a corrupt agreement in which HANA, with assistance from DAIBES, provided bribes to MENENDEZ and Nadine Menendez in exchange for MENENDEZ’s agreed and promised actions to benefit Egypt and HANA, among others. As part of the scheme, MENENDEZ, among other things, provided sensitive, non-public U.S. government information to Egyptian officials and otherwise took steps to secretly aid the Government of Egypt. For example, in or about May 2018, MENENDEZ provided Egyptian officials with non-public information regarding the number and nationality of persons then serving at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt. Although this information was not classified, it was deemed highly sensitive because it could pose significant operational security concerns if disclosed to a foreign government or made public. Without telling his professional staff or the State Department that he was doing so, on or about May 7, 2018, MENENDEZ texted that sensitive, non-public embassy information to his then-girlfriend Nadine Menendez, who forwarded the message to HANA, who forwarded it to an Egyptian government official. Later that same month, MENENDEZ ghost-wrote a letter on behalf of Egypt to other U.S. Senators advocating for them to release a hold on $300 million in aid to Egypt. MENENDEZ sent this ghost-written letter to Nadine Menendez, who forwarded it to HANA, who sent it to Egyptian officials. At various times between 2018 and 2022, MENENDEZ also conveyed to Egyptian officials, through Nadine Menendez, HANA, and/or DAIBES, that he would approve or remove holds on foreign military financing and sales of military equipment to Egypt in connection with his leadership role on the SFRC. For example, in or about July 2018, following meetings between MENENDEZ and Egyptian officials, which were arranged and attended by Nadine Menendez and HANA, MENENDEZ texted Nadine Menendez that she should tell HANA that MENENDEZ was going to sign off on an almost hundred-million-dollar weapons sale to Egypt. Nadine Menendez forwarded this text to HANA, who forwarded it to two Egyptian officials, one of whom replied with a “thumbs up” emoji. In exchange for MENENDEZ’s agreement to take these and other actions, HANA promised Nadine Menendez payments, including from IS EG Halal Certified, Inc. (“IS EG Halal”), a New Jersey company that HANA operated with financial support and backing from DAIBES. IS EG Halal had no revenue until the spring of 2019, when the Government of Egypt granted IS EG Halal a monopoly on the certification of U.S. food exports to Egypt as compliant with halal standards, despite the fact that neither HANA nor his company had any experience with halal certification. The monopoly generated revenue for HANA, through which he paid Nadine Menendez as promised. Because the monopoly harmed U.S. interests, including revoking the ability of multiple U.S. companies to certify meat and resulting in increased costs for U.S. meat suppliers, in or about April and May 2019, the USDA and the U.S. Embassy in Cairo contacted the Government of Egypt and sought reconsideration of its grant of monopoly rights to IS EG Halal. After being briefed on the USDA’s objections to IS EG Halal’s monopoly by HANA and Nadine Menendez, on May 23, 2019, MENENDEZ called a high-level USDA official, the Undersecretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs (“Official-1”), and insisted that the USDA stop opposing IS EG Halal’s status as the sole halal certifier. When Official-1 attempted to explain why the monopoly was detrimental to U.S. interests, MENENDEZ reiterated his demand that the USDA stop interfering with IS EG Halal’s monopoly. Official-1 did not accede to MENENDEZ’s demand, and sought to reassure his staff against the pressure MENENDEZ attempted to apply, but IS EG Halal nevertheless kept its monopoly. After financially benefitting from IS EG Halal’s monopoly, HANA, at times with the assistance of DAIBES, provided payments and other things of value in furtherance of the scheme. For example, in or about July 2019, after the mortgage company for the residence of Nadine Menendez initiated foreclosure proceedings, HANA caused IS EG Halal to pay approximately $23,000 to bring the mortgage current. HANA did so after a series of discussions with Nadine Menendez, as well as Uribe and DAIBES, about various options for bringing the mortgage current. Later in 2019, HANA and DAIBES caused IS EG Halal to issue three $10,000 checks to a “consulting” company MENENDEZ helped Nadine Menendez create as supposed payment for a low-or-no-show job. As the scheme continued, including through the additional actions described below, MENENDEZ and Nadine Menendez received additional bribes, including gold and cash. Promised Actions Seeking to Disrupt the NJAG Criminal Case Also in 2019, HANA and Uribe offered to help buy a new Mercedes-Benz C-300 convertible worth more than $60,000 for MENENDEZ and Nadine Menendez. In exchange, MENENDEZ agreed and sought to interfere in the NJAG’s criminal insurance fraud prosecution of an associate of Uribe and a related investigation involving an employee of Uribe. On multiple occasions in 2019, Uribe, HANA, and/or Nadine Menendez briefed MENENDEZ regarding the NJAG’s insurance fraud prosecution and investigation. Following those briefings, and in exchange for the promise of the luxury convertible, MENENDEZ contacted the then-New Jersey Attorney General (“Official-2”) at least twice. During those communications, MENENDEZ attempted to pressure Official-2 to resolve the prosecution more favorably to Uribe’s associate. Official-2 considered MENENDEZ’s actions inappropriate, did not agree to intervene, and did not pass on that MENENDEZ had contacted him in order to insulate his staff against any outside influence from MENENDEZ. Ultimately, in the regular course, the prosecution was resolved with a plea allowing for no jail time for Uribe’s associate and the investigation never resulted in any charges against Uribe’s employee. In exchange for MENENDEZ’s agreed and promised actions, Uribe provided Nadine Menendez with $15,000 cash for the down payment on the luxury convertible in April 2019. Thereafter, Uribe made monthly payments to Mercedes-Benz for the convertible between 2019 and June 2022. Uribe only stopped making those monthly payments after the FBI approached MENENDEZ, Nadine Menendez, and Uribe in connection with this investigation. Promised Actions Seeking to Disrupt the USAO-DNJ Criminal Case and to Benefit DAIBES and the Government of Qatar In October 2018, the USAO-DNJ charged DAIBES with federal criminal charges for obtaining loans under false pretenses from a New Jersey-based bank he founded. Between December 2020 and 2022, MENENDEZ agreed and promised to attempt to influence the pending federal prosecution of DAIBES in exchange for cash, furniture, and gold bars that DAIBES provided to MENENDEZ and Nadine Menendez. In furtherance of this aspect of the scheme, MENENDEZ recommended that the then-President nominate an individual (“Official-3”) as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey whom MENENDEZ believed he could influence with respect to DAIBES’s case. MENENDEZ requested a political advisor contact Official-3 in an attempt to influence the outcome of DAIBES’s case. MENENDEZ’s political advisor did not contact Official-3 regarding DAIBES’s case, and USAO-DNJ did not treat the case any differently as a result of MENENDEZ’s actions. The parties to DAIBES’s case agreed to resolve the case with a plea agreement that provided for a probationary sentence. In exchange for MENENDEZ’s participation in the bribery scheme, DAIBES provided MENENDEZ and Nadine Menendez with multiple things of value, including two one-kilogram gold bars. In addition, in exchange for some of the gold and other things of value from DAIBES, MENENDEZ knew that DAIBES also expected MENENDEZ to take action to benefit the Government of Qatar, and thereby benefit DAIBES, who was seeking millions of dollars in investment from a fund with ties to the Government of Qatar. Among other things, MENENDEZ made multiple public statements supporting the Government of Qatar and provided DAIBES with these statements so that DAIBES could share them with Qataris officials connected to an investment fund with which DAIBES was looking to do business. For example, on or about August 20, 2021, MENENDEZ used an encrypted messaging application to send DAIBES the text of a press release in which MENENDEZ praised the Government of Qatar, and several minutes later texted DAIBES, “You might want to send to them. I am just about to release.” Obstruction of Justice and Attempts to Cover-Up the Scheme In or about 2022, following service of subpoenas issued by a federal grand jury sitting in the Southern District of New York on MENENDEZ, Nadine Menendez, Uribe, and IS EG Halal, Nadine Menendez met with Uribe. At that meeting, Nadine Menendez and Uribe agreed that if law enforcement asked about the payments Uribe had made for the Mercedes-Benz convertible, they would falsely say those payments had been a loan. Later, in or about December 2022, MENENDEZ and Nadine Menendez sought to return both the bribe money that HANA had caused IS EG Halal to pay to the mortgage company in July 2019 to avoid foreclosure on Nadine Menendez’s home and the payments Uribe made for the convertible, and, in doing so, MENENDEZ and Nadine Menendez falsely characterized the return of the bribe money as repayments for loans in documents that were produced to the grand jury. The next year, in September 2023, in an attempt to avoid charges being brought, MENENDEZ caused his then-counsel to give a presentation at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York in Manhattan falsely stating that MENENDEZ had been unaware of the mortgage and car payments until receipt of the subpoenas in 2022, and that these payments from HANA and Uribe were loans, even though MENENDEZ knew such statements to be false. * * * A chart containing the names of the defendants, the charges they were convicted of, and the sentences they received is set forth below. Uribe, 57, of Clifton, New Jersey, previously pled guilty pursuant to a cooperation agreement to conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, honest services wire fraud, conspiracy to commit obstruction of justice, obstruction of justice, tax evasion, and wire fraud. Sentencing for Uribe is scheduled for April 24, 2025. Charges remain pending against Nadine Menendez, who is presumed innocent and is scheduled to go to trial on March 18, 2025. Ms. Sassoon praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI. Ms. Sassoon also thanked the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation for its invaluable assistance on the investigation and the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section for its support of the case. This case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eli J. Mark, Paul M. Monteleoni, Lara Pomerantz, Daniel C. Richenthal, and Catherine Ghosh, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Christina Clark, are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Arjun Ahuja, Jayda Foote, and Braden Florczyk, and former Paralegal Specialists Connor Hamill and Rachel Wechsler. Defendant Age Convictions Sentence ROBERT MENENDEZ 71 Conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right, two counts of conspiracy to obstruct justice, two counts of bribery, three counts of honest services wire fraud, three counts of extortion under color of official right, conspiracy for a public official to act as a foreign agent, public official acting as foreign agent, and obstruction of justice. [2] 11 years; $922,188.10 forfeiture WAEL HANA, a/k/a “Will Hana” 41 Conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, bribery, two counts of honest services wire fraud, and conspiracy for a public official to act as a foreign agent. [3] 97 months in prison; $1,250,000 fine; $125,000 forfeiture FRED DAIBES 67 Conspiracy to commit bribery while released on bail, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud while released on bail, conspiracy to obstruct justice, two counts of bribery while released on bail, two counts of honest services wire fraud while released on bail. 7 years in prison; $1,750,000 fine [1] With respect to Nadine Menendez, against whom charges remain pending, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact should be treated as an allegation. [2] The Court ruled that MENENDEZ’s conspiracy for a public official to act as a foreign agent charge was subsumed by the bribery conspiracy count, and did not impose a separate sentence for it. [3] As with MENENDEZ, the Court ruled that HANA’s conspiracy for a public official to act as a foreign agent charge was subsumed by the bribery conspiracy count, and did not impose a separate sentence for it.


title: U.S. Attorney Charges Española Man with Multiple Felony Counts Related to Domestic Assault

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – An Española man has been charged with multiple felony counts of domestic assault, including strangulation and causing serious bodily injury. According to court records, Isiah James Gutierrez-Arquero , 29, an enrolled member of the Santa Clara Pueblo, is accused of three counts of assaulting Jane Doe on September 21, 2023. Specifically, Gutierrez-Arquero is charged with assault resulting in serious bodily injury, assault resulting in substantial bodily injury to a dating partner and assaulting a dating partner by strangulation. Gutierrez-Arquero will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted, Gutierrez-Arquero faces up to 10 years in prison. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today. The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Jones is prosecuting the case. View the Indictment (Guiterrez-Arquero).pdf An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. # # #


title: Youngsville Man Sentenced for Possession of Materials Involving Sexual Exploitation of Minors

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that COY DAVID MILLER (“MILLER”) , age 49, of Youngsville, LA, was sentenced on January 15, 2025, for Possession of Materials Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(4)(B) and (b)(2). According to court documents, on October 17, 2023, MILLER was searched by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and special agents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, at the Louis Armstrong International Airport upon his return from Cancun, Mexico. Federal agents found MILLER in possession of images and videos of pre-pubescent child pornography. Senior United States District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle sentenced MILLER to 46 months imprisonment, 10 years of supervised released, a $10,000 fine and registration as a sex offender. 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 United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . The U.S. Attorney’s Office would also like to acknowledge the assistance of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. Klebba, Chief of the Financial Crimes Unit.


title: Two More Defendants Sentenced to Prison for Roles in Puerto Rico-to-Western Pennsylvania Cocaine Trafficking Operation

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of New Castle, Pennsylvania, and a resident of Florida, Puerto Rico, were sentenced in federal court for their convictions of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and related charges, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. The defendants were among 17 individuals from Lawrence County, Pennsylvania; Puerto Rico; and Youngstown, Ohio, indicted in March 2024 for violating federal narcotics, firearms, and racketeering laws by conspiring to distribute cocaine throughout Western Pennsylvania and Youngstown (read the Indictment news release here ). Senior United States District Judge Arthur J. Schwab imposed the sentences on Jean Sanchez Tulla, 38, of Puerto Rico, and Glenn Samuels, 33, of New Castle, sentencing Tulla to nine years of imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and interstate travel or transmission in aid of racketeering, and Samuels to 37 months of prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine. According to information presented to the Court, Tulla was a leading member of the organized drug trafficking group that shipped kilogram quantities of cocaine from Puerto Rico, often mailing drug parcels through the U.S. Postal Service to co-conspirators responsible for selling the cocaine in Western Pennsylvania; Youngstown, Ohio; and elsewhere. Specifically, Tulla was responsible for possessing with intent to distribute and distributing between five and 15 kilograms of cocaine on behalf of and during the course of the conspiracy. He also traveled from Puerto Rico to Pennsylvania—including at least 15 trips to Pittsburgh from 2023 to 2024—and elsewhere to facilitate and promote the drug trafficking enterprise, including to receive drug proceeds from other members of the organization. Upon receipt of the shipped cocaine, leaders of the drug trafficking organization in Western Pennsylvania would distribute smaller quantities of the drugs to multiple co-conspirators, including Samuels, in order to maximize profits. Those co-conspirators then distributed the cocaine in New Castle, Ellwood City, and elsewhere in Lawrence County. At least 100 grams of cocaine was attributable to Samuels, who was found during the investigation to frequent the New Castle residence of the drug trafficking organization’s local leader for short durations, often multiple times a day. Assistant United States Attorney Carl J. Spindler prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, Lawrence County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Drug Task Force, and United States Postal Inspection Service, as well as the New Castle Police Department, Ellwood City Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, and United States Department of Agriculture for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Tulla and Samuels. Lawrence County is one of six Western Pennsylvania counties officially designated as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area by the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy. The county received its HIDTA designation in July 2022, allowing it to receive dedicated federal resources to coordinate federal, state, and local governments in fighting drug trafficking and abuse. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Project Safe Childhood Sentencings in Columbus

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ga. – A Harris County, Georgia, resident who engaged in criminal sexual activity with a middle schooler and a former contractor at Fort Moore guilty of possessing hundreds of files of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on his phone were both sentenced to federal prison this week resulting from Project Safe Childhood investigations. Patrick John Irvine, 22, of Shiloh, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison to be followed by ten years of supervised release on Jan. 28. Irvine previously pleaded guilty to one count of transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity on Oct. 15, 2024. Terric Taylor, 28, of Fortson, Georgia, was sentenced to serve 97 months in prison to be followed by ten years of supervised release on Jan. 28. Taylor previously pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child pornography on Oct. 15, 2024. Both defendants will have to register as a sex offender upon release from prison. U.S. District Judge Clay Land presided over the cases. There is no parole in the federal system. “Our office has zero tolerance for people who prey on children, and we will use every resource at our disposal to investigate and prosecute Project Safe Childhood cases,” said Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker. “Both cases demonstrate how law enforcement and community partners are helping us hold child sex offenders accountable.” “With a victim-centered approach, the FBI will continue working with our law enforcement partners to hold those who choose to prey on our most vulnerable citizens accountable,” said FBI Atlanta Acting Special Agent in Charge Sean Burke. “These cases show how local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies are working together to fight for the safety of our children,” said Harris County Sheriff Mike Jolley. According to court documents and statements referenced in court in the Irvine case, sometime in mid-March 2024, Irvine met 12-year-old Jane Doe on Snapchat, and they continued to communicate through Snapchat, Facetime and text messages over the next several weeks. Irvine made plans with Jane Doe to travel approximately four hours from his home in Harris County to a meeting place near her home in Alabama. They met on the night of March 23, 2024, and on March 24, 2024, Irvine texted Jane Doe to, “start packing, I’ll get you next weekend.” Irvine returned to Jane Doe’s Alabama residence on the evening of Friday, March 29, 2024, and drove her to Georgia. Jane Doe’s family members reported her missing the next day. Jane Doe’s mother acquired her daughter’s cell phone records from AT&T and discovered a high frequency of calls between the victim and a number she did not recognize, which was Irvine’s phone number. She attempted to call and text Irvine’s number, and finally got a response: • Defendant: “Sorry, I’m at work. Is everything okay?” • Mom: “No I need to talk to you now. I’m [the victim’s] mother. Please answer.” • Defendant: “[victim’s first name] who?” • Mom: “Why is a 12-year-old calling the number multiple times late at night if you are old enough to be working? It’s all over my call AT&T call logs.” • Defendant: “We were going to hang out then I found out how old she was, and I haven’t talked to her since. Is everything okay?” • Mom: “You need to call me. The police will be calling soon.” • Defendant: “Sorry I’m at work and I can’t call right now.” After identifying the subscriber of this number as Irvine, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office was notified and dispatched to Irvine’s residence. Upon arrival, Irvine emerged shirtless from the house and initially denied Jane Doe was in the house, but then stated that she had just gotten out of the shower. Jane Doe escaped out of a window and was found hiding in the woods. According to court documents and statements referenced in court in the Taylor case, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) received a Cybertip on July 17, 2022, from the social media platform X concerning user “strayBreeders04” who had uploaded a file of child pornography on the platform. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) discovered Taylor was the user and was employed as a contractor at Fort Moore. Working with Fort Moore’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID), Taylor was located, and he admitted to agents that he uploaded images of child pornography to X. Agents found several files of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on his phone. Taylor estimated he had approximately 50 videos of children engaging in sexual acts on his device. These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . The Irvine case was investigated bythe FBI, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and the Walker County, Alabama, Sheriff’s Office. The Taylor case was investigated by the FBI, GBI and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Assistant U.S. Attorney Crawford Seals prosecuted the cases for the Government


title: Former Federal Correctional Officer Charged With Attempting to Smuggle Contraband into Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, a complaint was unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn charging former federal correctional officer Najee Jackson with attempting to smuggle contraband into the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn (MDC-Brooklyn). Jackson was arrested this morning and is scheduled for an initial appearance this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon. John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Ryan T. Geach, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General (DOJ-OIG), announced the arrest. “As alleged, Najee Jackson violated his duty and abused his position of trust as a correctional officer by attempting to smuggle contraband into the very institution he was sworn to protect,” stated United States Attorney Durham. “The smuggling of contraband into a jail endangers correctional officers and inmates. Disrupting corruption in any form at MDC-Brooklyn will continue to be a priority of my Office, working in tandem with our federal law enforcement partners.” “Jackson’s alleged attempt to smuggle contraband into the Brooklyn prison compromised the safety and security of the institution,” stated DOJ-OIG Geach, “The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General is committed to bringing to justice any Federal Bureau of Prisons employee who abuses their authority and attempts to smuggle illegal contraband into federal prisons.” As alleged in the complaint, Jackson became a correctional officer at MDC-Brooklyn in November 2023. On January 21, 2025, Jackson arrived at the jail around 12:15 a.m. to begin working a night shift. Before entering MDC-Brooklyn, staff members are required to pass through a screening area consisting of a metal detector and a conveyor belt that passes through an x-ray machine. Staff members entering the facility are also required to place their personal belongings on the conveyor belt to pass through the x-ray machine, and to walk through the metal detector. Jackson placed various personal belongings into a bin on the conveyor belt, and then walked through the metal detector, triggering the alarm. After making several failed attempts to clear the metal detector, Jackson removed his Bureau of Prisons-issued protective vest, which was found to contain vacuum‑sealed bags of marijuana, cigarettes, two lighters and rolling papers. Two days later, Jackson resigned from the Bureau of Prisons. The charges in the complaint are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Jackson faces a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant United States Attorney Russell Noble is in charge of the prosecution. The Defendant : NAJEE JACKSON Age: 32 Brooklyn, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-MJ-18 (VMS)


title: Missouri Man Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison for Trying to Persuade Minors to Engage in Sex Acts Online

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Wednesday sentenced a man who tried to persuade minors into engaging in sex acts online to 14 years in prison. Judge Autrey also ordered Jason Michael Enke to pay a special assessment of $5,300 that will go to victims of child sexual abuse material. Once released from prison, he will be on supervised release for life. From August to October of 2023, Enke sent a series of sexually explicit messages during online chat sessions and via social media to five people who identified themselves online as minors. He tried to persuade the minors to engage in sexual conduct and shared a video of himself and a 16-year-old engaging in sex acts. In November of 2023, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) notified the FBI’s St. Louis office that Enke had sent a video containing child pornography to an Instagram user who listed their age as 15. FBI agents performed a court-approved search of Enke’s home near Bourbon, Missouri and found videos containing child sexual abuse material on his electronic devices. “We thank the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for sharing tips in this case and others,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Chris Crocker of the FBI St. Louis Division. “As a result, FBI St. Louis, the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri have taken another predator off the streets so he can no longer prey on children.” Enke, 45, of Crawford County, Missouri, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of receipt of child pornography, one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of coercion and enticement of a minor. The FBI and the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jillian Anderson prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division'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, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Mexican Man Guilty of Illegal Re-entry by Removed Alien

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JESUS MALDONADO-LOPEZ (“MALDONADO-LOPEZ”) , age 38, a citizen of Mexico, pled guilty on January 16, 2025, to reentry of removed alien, in violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(b)(1). According to court documents, MALDONADO-LOPEZ , an illegal alien with a prior felony conviction for transporting illegal aliens within the United States, was found in the New Orleans area on or around July 29, 2024. He had previously been deported to Mexico on May 29, 2008. MALDONADO-LOPEZ faces a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey has set the sentencing for April 15, 2025. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations, in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.


title: Mexican National Sentenced for Passport Fraud and Illegal Reentry

component: USAO - Mississippi, Northern

body_text: Aberdeen, Mississippi – Joaquin Lineares-Rodriguez, a Mexican national, was sentenced Tuesday following his guilty plea to passport fraud and Illegal Reentry of a Removed Alien. This was Lineares-Rodriguez’s third conviction for Illegal Reentry into the United States. According to court documents, Lineares-Rodriguez was charged with passport fraud following an attempt to gain a U.S. passport. The defendant made numerous false statements in his passport application. These false statements led to an investigation by agents with the Diplomatic Security Service, who investigate visa and passport fraud as a part of the Department of State. During the course of their investigation, agents learned that Lineares-Rodriguez had multiple prior deportations. Agents with Homeland Security assisted in the investigation. Lineares-Rodriguez was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock to 18 months incarceration. Following his sentence, DHS and ICE will be notified and Lineares-Rodriguez will be taken into ICE custody pending removal proceedings. Following the sentencing, U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner noted the importance of this prosecution, stating, “Illegal reentry into the United States, and using fraudulent passports to do so, will never be rewarded; these crimes will instead be met will the full prosecutorial powers of the Department of Justice and this office. The joint efforts by AUSA John Herzog, and the Departments of State and Homeland Security are to be commended and will serve as a template for success moving forward. Hopefully, a prison sentence will deter yet another illegal re-entry by this defendant.” This case was investigated by Diplomatic Security Service of the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security. The case was prosecuted by AUSA John Herzog Jr.


title: Foreign operator of bulk carrier convicted for concealment of pollution and falsification of records

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI – A Greek shipping company has pleaded guilty and was sentenced for violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) and falsification of records, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Eurobulk Ltd. admitted to violating APPS in April 2023 during a port call by the Good Heart in the port of Corpus Christi as well as falsification of records during that same port call. U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos has now ordered the company to pay a criminal fine of $1.125 million. The company must also serve a four-year-term of probation during which it will be subject to an environmental compliance plan with a monitorship to ensure future compliance. “It is crucial that we strive to eliminate threats to our waters through holding overseas corporations accountable,” said Ganjei. “Our office will continue to seek justice when foreign vessels fail to comply with the APPS and then seek to cover it up. The environmental harm inflicted and falsification of records merit the sentence imposed today.” “This outcome directly reflects our dedication to holding those who violate laws designed to prevent pollution of the marine environment accountable," said Rear Admiral David Barata, commander of the USGC’s Eighth District. “The Coast Guard and our partners remain resolute in our mission to protect our waters, and we encourage the public to continue reporting any suspicious activities as every report is essential in our ongoing effort to preserve the health of our marine ecosystems.” The charges arose out of a United States port call in which a crew member of the Liberia-flagged Motor Vessel Good Heart presented false records to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to conceal illegal transfers and discharges of oily bilge water from the vessel. The Good Heart’s former chief engineer, Greek national Christos Charitos, 72, previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced for an APPS charge for failing to record discharges in the vessel’s Oil Record Book (ORB). Christos was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine. According to court documents and statements made in court, the Good Heart is an ocean-going bulk carrier registered in Liberia that Eurobulk operated. On at least two occasions in April 2023, Charitos ordered lower ranking engine personnel to discharge the contents of the duct keel (a pipe tunnel that begins in the engine room and runs forward under the cargo holds) directly into the sea without using the Oily Water Separator (OWS). The discharges contained oil. Also in April 2023, Charitos ordered the second engineer to make a fresh water connection to the OWS. By making such a connection, the oil content meter on the OWS was “tricked” so that the OCM could not verify the actual oil content of the discharge from the OWS. All of these discharges should have been recorded in the ORB. However, no entries were made. The USCG’s Investigative Service (CGIS) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Marck and Liesel Roscher and Senior Trial Attorney Kenneth E. Nelson of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section of the Department of Justice prosecuted the case.


title: Second Defendant Admits His Role in ATM Skimming Bank Fraud Conspiracy

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – A second Romanian national has admitted to a federal judge in Rhode Island that he participated in a conspiracy that installed card skimming devices on bank ATMs in at least six states, including Rhode Island, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. Mario Demarco, a/k/a Marius Lupu a/k/a David Ademec, until recently residing in Queens, New York, pleaded guilty today to a charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. A co-defendant, Stefano Garioli, a/k/a Dumitru Bogdan Pancu a/k/a Leon Vutkus, also of Queens, New York, pleaded guilty on December 11, 2024, to the same charge. According to information presented to the court, for more than two years, beginning in May 2022, the two men conspired together and with others to commit bank fraud by placing skimming devices on ATM machines in order to steal customer bank account information and PINs. The stolen information was used to clone counterfeit bank cards that were then used to fraudulently withdraw money from the bank accounts of unsuspecting customers. The ATM skimmer conspiracy first came to the attention law enforcement on July 5, 2024, when a bank branch manager notified the Warwick Police Department that bank surveillance video had captured two men, later identified as the defendants, placing a skimming device inside a drive-up ATM. Nearby security video also captured images of the two men’s vehicle. The same vehicle was also identified as having been present two days earlier when a skimming device was placed inside an ATM at a North Kingstown bank branch. On July 6, 2024, Cranston Police reported that a vehicle matching the one recorded by bank security cameras had been captured on a Flock camera in their city. Warwick Police responded to the area of the camera and located the vehicle. Demarco was detained as he walked away from a nearby ATM; Garioli was located sitting in the vehicle. Further investigation determined that the two men had worked together and with others for more than two years placing skimmer devices on ATMs in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. DeMarco and Garioli are scheduled to be sentenced on May 6, 2025. The defendants’ sentences will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ly T. Chin. The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Warwick, RI Police Department, Cranston, RI Police Department, East Greenwich, RI Police Department, North Kingstown, RI Police Department, East Providence, RI Police Department, Boston, MA Police Department, New York City Police Department, and the Stratford, CT Police Department. ###


title: Jacksonville Man Sentenced To Four Years In Prison For Possessing A Firearm As A Convicted Felon

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Brian J. Davis has sentenced Christopher O’Neal Houser (44, Jacksonville) to four years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Houser entered a guilty plea on October 15, 2024. According to court documents, on February 2, 2024, Houser sold a sawed-off shotgun to another felon. At the time that he possessed and sold the shotgun, Houser had prior felony convictions for possession of methamphetamine and grand theft, which prohibited him from legally possessing firearms. He also had convictions for sexually assaulting multiple women in 2002, and for misdemeanor battery in 2019. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brenna Falzetta. 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 safe 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: Multi-Convicted Felon Sentenced To Eight Years In Prison For Distributing Cocaine

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger has sentenced James Matthew Doyle (38, Fleming Island) to eight years in federal prison for distributing cocaine. Doyle entered a guilty plea on May 31, 2024. According to court records, in January and February 2023 Doyle sold cocaine on two different occasions to a confidential source working for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as well as to an undercover agent. Doyle has several prior felony convictions, including the sale of marijuana and ecstasy, possession of cocaine and methamphetamine, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, grand theft auto, and forging title information. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Brenna Falzetta.


title: One Defendant Pleads Guilty And Two Others Charged With Fraudulently Obtaining $59 Million In Public Benefits And Laundering Proceeds To China

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Bruce Jin, age 60, pleaded guilty before United States District Court Judge Jennifer P. Wilson to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments in the amount of approximately $59 million. The United States Attorney’s Office also announced that Jin was charged with those offenses in August 2023, along with Brian R. Cleland, age 71, and Carlos A. Grijalva, age 59. All three defendants are residents of the Los Angeles, California area. The indictment also contains additional wire fraud charges against Cleland and Jin individually. According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that Cleland, Jin, and Grijalva, along with other unnamed coconspirators, conspired to obtain state unemployment compensation funds, and other public funds, through fraudulent means. The indictment alleges that the defendants and others entered into a series of agreements to make it appear as if they were operating legitimate businesses selling masks and other COVID19 personal protective equipment. In reality, the funds that the defendants obtained and laundered through their companies were derived from fraudulently obtained state unemployment compensation (“UC”) benefits. The indictment alleges that Economic Impact Payments, or “stimulus payments,” were also obtained through fraudulent means. According to the indictment, unnamed members of the conspiracy, including some believed to be located in China, established thousands of accounts at banks across the United States using the personal identifying information (“PII”) of identity theft victims. From there, fraudulent UC claims were generated and paid to these accounts, including accounts in the names of people residing in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. The indictment alleges that these fraudulent UC claims were also generated by fraudsters based in China. As a result of this fraudulent activity, millions of dollars in fraudulent UC payments were made by Pennsylvania, Virginia, Florida, and other states. After UC funds were paid out, they were then transferred from identity theft victims’ accounts to companies controlled by Cleland, Jin, and Grijalva. For instance, Jin, through companies that he controlled known as Ample International and Jin Commerce, allegedly received over $12 million in UC funds from the accounts of identity theft victims. In addition, the defendants are alleged to have used ACH processing—a type of electronic bank-to-bank transfer—to obtain over $45 million in fraudulent funds from the accounts of identity theft victims. This money mostly went from the accounts of identity theft victims to companies controlled by Cleland and Grijalva, including MexUS Service, Group Mex USA, CCB Group, GC Accounting, and CLECO. After that, Cleland and Grijalva transferred over $30 million to Jin’s companies and over $6 million to a company controlled by an associate of Jin who is referred to in the indictment as COCONSPIRATOR 1. That associate’s company is known in the indictment as COMPANY 1. After Jin received the fraudulent funds, either from identity theft victims’ accounts or from Cleland and Grijalva through ACH processing, he then made international wire transfers totaling over $35 million to a bank account in China associated with a company known in the indictment as COMPANY 2. COMPANY 2 is controlled by an individual known in the indictment as COCONSPIRATOR 2, who, like COMPANY 2, is allegedly located in China. Jin also transferred over $2 million directly to COCONSPIRATOR 2. The indictment also contains forfeiture allegations seeking over $59 million in US currency, as well as the contents of three bank accounts belonging to COMPANY 1 and a property in Honolulu, Hawaii that was purchased by COCONSPIRATOR 1 using funds connected to the charged offenses. During his guilty plea, Bruce Jin admitted to the conduct that he is alleged to have engaged in with Cleland, Grijalva, and COCONSPIRATOR 2, as described above. Jin has been detained since his arrest in August 2023. Cleland and Grijalva have been released pending trial on conditions. Cleland and Grijalva have both pleaded not guilty to the charged offenses and are scheduled for trial in May 2025. “The Department of Justice is committed to identifying and punishing those who defrauded pandemic-era benefits programs, regardless of where they are located,” said Mandy Riedel, Director, COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement. “I commend the hard work of the prosecutors and investigators in the Middle District of Pennsylvania who doggedly pursued these organized overseas criminals to seek justice and the return of stolen tax payer funds.” "Bruce Jin and his co-defendants engaged in an unemployment insurance (UI) fraud scheme that targeted multiple state workforce agencies, including the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry,” stated Syreeta Scott, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Mid-Atlantic Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. “Jin conspired to file fraudulent UI claims in the names of identity theft victims who were not entitled to such benefits. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of the UI system from those who seek to exploit this critical benefit program." “The millions of dollars fraudulently obtained in this case were meant to support struggling Americans, not to be funneled overseas,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “The FBI is grateful for the ongoing collaboration of our partners as we work to hold accountable those who commit such egregious and complex financial crimes.” The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ravi Romel Sharma is prosecuting the case. The U.S. Attorney General has established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . The maximum penalty under federal law for wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud is 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to commit money laundering is also 20 years of imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Jacksonville Man Pleads Guilty To Possession And Transfer Of A Destructive Device

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Shane Allen Gibson (45, Jacksonville) today pleaded guilty to possession of a destructive device and transfer of a destructive device to a convicted felon. Gibson faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison for the possession charge and up to 15 years in federal prison for the transfer charge. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to the plea agreement, on April 20, 2023, Gibson possessed and transferred an improvised explosive bomb, a destructive device under federal law, to an individual who he knew to be a convicted felon. The destructive device was one of three homemade explosive devices given by Gibson to the convicted felon. Laboratory testing revealed that the device contained explosive powder and numerous screws and fasteners within an aerial shell and pyrotechnic fuse. An examiner from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives concluded that igniting the fuse would, after a short delay, cause blast, thermal, and fragmentation effects capable of causing damage, injury, and death to persons nearby. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Lasry.


title: Leader of Drug Trafficking Organization Pleads Guilty to Numerous Drug Distribution Charges

body_text: BOSTON – One of the leaders of a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy operating in and around the South Shore area of Massachusetts has pleaded guilty to multiple federal drug offenses in federal court in Boston. Giovanni Pina, 27, of Brockton, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing with intent to distribute and distributing 500 grams and more of methamphetamine; one count of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine on a premises where a minor was present and/or resided; and one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 100 grams or more of a fentanyl analogue and 500 grams or more of cocaine. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for April 30, 2025. Pina was charged by complaint in February 2023 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2023. Beginning in at least January 2021 through at least November 2021, Pina served as one of the leaders of a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy that distributed fentanyl, fentanyl analogue and cocaine in and around the South Shore area – including in the Brockton, Quincy and Weymouth communities. Part of that conspiracy involved a Weymouth “stash house.” During a search of the stash house location in January 2021, two kilo presses; extensive drug paraphernalia, including blenders, digital scales and packaging equipment; more than 10 kilograms of fentanyl, fentanyl analogue and cocaine; three firearms; ammunition; two high-capacity magazines; and a speed loader were recovered. Additionally, Pina participated in a number of recorded drug deals with a cooperating witness in January and February 2023. One recorded drug deal occurred on or about Jan. 12, 2023, at a residence in Brockton, during which the deal and in the presence of a minor, Pina provided the witness with a box containing orange pills in exchange for cash. Subsequent lab testing confirmed that the pills consisted of over 2,000 grams of a mixture and substance of methamphetamine. On or about Jan. 25, 2023, Pina participated in another recorded drug deal with the cooperating witness in a vehicle in Taunton. During the deal, Pina provided the witness with a box that contained a large amount of orange pills in exchange for cash. Subsequent lab testing confirmed that the pills consisted of over 2,500 grams of a mixture and substance of methamphetamine. The charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 100 grams or more of a fentanyl analogue and 500 grams or more of cocaine provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance of methamphetamine provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine on premises where a minor was present and/or resided provides for an additional consecutive term of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Quincy Police Chief Mark Kennedy made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department; and the Quincy, Weymouth, Braintree, Randolph, Brockton, East Bridgewater and Bridgewater Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin R. O’Donnell of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF