title: Bergen County Man Indicted for Multimillion-Dollar Fraud Scheme

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Bergen County, New Jersey, man who collected millions of dollars in fees from victims seeking funding for their commercial projects that he misappropriated in part for his personal benefit while failing to secure the promised financing was indicted, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Jeffrey Kahn, 55, of Ridgewood, New Jersey, is charged with six counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. Kahn was previously charged by complaint with two counts of wire fraud for the same scheme in November 2021. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From March 2018 through March 2020, Kahn devised a plan to defraud multiple victims of millions of dollars that were paid at Kahn’s direction to various accounts – including bank accounts in the name of Kahn’s financial advisory firm, Kahn Advisors, LLC – and characterized by Kahn as insurance premium payments, advance fees or taxes, in exchange for a promise of financing, including through an individual and a lender. To induce victims to pay money to Kahn, Kahn misrepresented to certain victims that he had conducted multiple successful financial transactions through the individual and the lender. Kahn continued to vouch for the individual, even after Kahn received information that there was a strong likelihood that the individual, who claimed to have an office in Teaneck, New Jersey, but who is instead believed to reside abroad and to have used an alias in his dealings with Kahn – was not a legitimate lender. Kahn also caused others to make misrepresentations to certain victims regarding their purported successful financing deals with Kahn and/or the individual. In reality, Kahn never obtained any financing from the individual or the lender for the victims. Kahn further misrepresented to certain victims that the money they sent to Kahn and Kahn Advisors would continue to be held upon receipt until the victims provided their consent to the release of the funds. Instead, Kahn caused the victims’ funds to be transferred to other accounts, including bank accounts that Kahn controlled, without the victims’ prior consent, and then used portions of those amounts to pay for Kahn’s personal expenses and to pay back other victims. As a result of the scheme, Kahn caused the victims to transfer more than $5 million in funds to accounts controlled by Kahn or provided to Kahn by the individual. Kahn misappropriated approximately $800,000 of those funds for his own personal benefit, and used an additional portion of those funds – approximately $447,000 – to pay back other victims of the scheme. Each wire fraud count is punishable by a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross amount of gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater. The count of money laundering carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain to the defendant or gross loss to the victim, whichever is greatest. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the indictment. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer S. Kozar of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. kahn.indictment.pdf


title: Mescalero Man Pleads Guilty to Domestic Assault

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced today that Ashton Louis Apachito pleaded guilty in federal court to assault of an intimate partner by strangling. Apachito, 19, of Mescalero and an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. According to publicly available court documents, on July 19, 2023, Apachito assaulted his girlfriend, Jane Doe, at his mother’s house. Following the incident, Jane Doe left the residence to stay with her mother. Over the next several days, Apachito harassed Jane Doe by phone and threatened to throw all of her belongings in the road. On July 29, Jane Doe returned to the residence to collect her belongings, at which time Apachito attacked Jane Doe, pushing her to the ground, kicking her in the stomach multiple times and choking her. The next morning, Jane Doe called her mother and asked her to pick her up. Jane Doe’s mother reported the domestic violence to BIA and Jane Doe was transported to the Lincoln County Medica Center for treatment. At sentencing, Apachito faces up to 10 years imprisonment. The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eliot Neal is prosecuting the case. # # # 24-82


title: Own Every Dollar Gang Member Pleads Guilty To 2022 Murder

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the guilty plea today of MAYOVANEX RODRIGUEZ, a/k/a “Menorcito,” in connection with his criminal activities as a member of the violent gang Own Every Dollar (“OED”), including the 2022 murder of Anthony Savarese. RODRIGUEZ pled guilty today to several charges, including murder through use of a firearm, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer E. Willis. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “On February 7, 2022, Mayovanex Rodriguez shot and killed Anthony Savarese in the head at point-blank range in the Bronx. That murder is just one of the many acts of violence that members and associates of OED have committed that have terrorized Washington Heights and surrounding communities. This plea is a reminder that this Office will relentlessly pursue any gangs who threaten the safety of New Yorkers and that gang members who commit violent crimes will be apprehended and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” As alleged in the Indictment and statements made in public filings and public court proceedings: RODRIGUEZ is a member of the violent gang OED, a subset of the Trinitarios gang based in and around the Washington Heights area of Manhattan. The indictments in this case charge 24 members and associates of OED with numerous violent crimes, including five murders and 15 attempted murders. On February 7, 2022, shortly after midnight, RODRIGUEZ attempted to commit a gunpoint robbery of 41-year-old Anthony Savarese on Andrews Avenue between West 183rd Street and West Fordham Road in the Bronx. During the attempted robbery, RODRIGUEZ shot Savarese in the head from point-blank range, killing him. Nine other defendants previously pled guilty in the case. * * * RODRIGUEZ, 29, of the Bronx, New York, pled guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of murder through the use of a firearm, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; and one count of narcotics conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. RODRIGUEZ is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken on May 30, 2024. The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the New York City Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. This case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah L. Kushner, Kevin Mead, and Ashley C. Nicolas are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Quincy, Illinois Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Distributing Methamphetamine

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Quincy, Illinois man, Henry Speirs, 35, of the 700 block of Harrison Street, has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough to 60 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual). After he completes his prison sentence, he will serve four years of supervised release. Speirs was indicted in November 2020 and pleaded guilty in July of 2023. He has been detained in the custody of the United States Marshals Service since his arrest in 2020. Two co-defendants were previously sentenced, Brent Garner received a ten-year sentence and Brandy Friday received a five-year sentence. In total, Speirs was held accountable for 1,191.19 grams of methamphetamine. The statutory penalties for possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) are not less than 5 years and up to 40 years in prison, not more than a $5,000,000 fine, and not less than 4 years of supervised release. The Federal Bureau of Investigation Springfield Field Office, Illinois State Police West Central Illinois Task Force, and Quincy Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Z. Weir represented the government in the prosecution. The case against Speirs was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide program that brings 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.


title: Mississippi Man Indicted On Firearm And Counterfeiting Charges

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Bryan Lyndell Chapman (26, Mississippi) with one count of manufacturing counterfeit Federal Reserve notes, one count of passing counterfeit Federal Reserve notes, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted, Chapman faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each of the counterfeiting offenses, up to 15 years in federal prison on the firearm offense, and payment of restitution to the victims he allegedly defrauded. The indictment also notifies Chapman that the United States intends to forfeit a Bushmaster Firearms pistol, ammunition, and a printer traceable to the offenses. Chapman was arrested on February 26, 2024, and ordered detained. According to the indictment and public records, from 2023 into 2024, Chapman manufactured counterfeit Federal Reserve notes. He then defrauded businesses by passing the counterfeit currency. At the time of his arrest, Chapman was out on bond for a pending felony firearm charge in the state of Mississippi. He also was previously convicted of a felony in state court in Tennessee. As a convicted felon, Chapman is prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – Jacksonville Office, and the United States Secret Service – Jacksonville Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin C. Frein. 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: Cedar Rapids Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A felon and drug user who possessed a firearm pled guilty on February 26, 2024, in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Christopher King, age 52, of Cedar Rapids, was convicted of one count of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. At the plea hearing, King admitted that, in February 2023, he possessed a Glock pistol after having been convicted of two felonies and while being an unlawful drug user. Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. King remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. King faces a possible maximum sentence of fifteen years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release following any imprisonment. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Tremmel and was investigated by the High Risk Unit of the Sixth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services, the Cedar Rapids Police Department, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Court file information is available at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is CR 23-62. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Felon Pleads to Unlawful Possession of a Short-Barreled Rifle That Was Discovered in His Car Along with PCP and Cocaine Base

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

body_text: WASHINGTON – Clarence Faulkner, 42, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to federal firearms and drug charges, announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Faulkner pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and possession with intent to distribute (phencyclidine) before U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia. Sentencing is set for May 31, 2024. According to court documents, on November 4, 2023, MPD officers were patrolling on the 300 block of 61 st Street, NE. They spotted a running unoccupied red sedan parked on the side of the street. Officers got out of their patrol car to investigate. They were able to contact the owner and advise him not to leave his vehicle running and unattended. Parked in front of the red sedan was a gray Acura. Officers approached the Acura to make sure it had not been tampered with. In plain view, on the rear passenger floorboard, officers saw a clear plastic bag filled with a green leafy substance that officers recognized was a large quantity of marijuana. Officers then opened and searched the vehicle. Inside they recovered more than two pounds of marijuana, 108 grams of cocaine base, six fluid ounces of liquid phencyclidine (PCP), and a loaded Glock semi-automatic pistol that had been modified into a short-barreled rifle. The short-barreled rifle was loaded with 28 rounds in a 31-capacity feeding device. Officers also found $38,891 in cash, a wallet with an ID for Clarence Faulkner, mail addressed to Faulkner, and Faulkner’s vehicle registration for the gray Acura in the vehicle. Police stopped and arrested Faulkner, who had been standing on a sidewalk nearby. Federal law prohibits Faulkner from possessing a firearm because he has multiple prior felony convictions, to include prior convictions for unlawful possession of a firearm. Faulkner faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and up to a $1 million fine. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentence imposed in this case will be determined by the court after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Faulkner has been held since his arrest. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and ATF’s Washington Field Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron Tepfer and Special U.S. Attorney Katherine Toth. -30-


title: Anchorage man charged with multiple firearms crimes

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging an Anchorage man with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Court documents allege that on Sept. 7, 2023, Christopher Nickalaskey, 32, possessed multiple firearms and ammunition. According to court documents and a press release from the Anchorage Police Department, on Oct. 1, 2023, Nickalaskey possessed a firearm during an encounter with police. The release alleges Nickalaskey was contacted by police and began to fight officers. During the altercation, Nickalaskey allegedly reached for a gun in his waistband and pulled the trigger, striking himself and an officer in the lower body. At the time of both alleged events, Nickalaskey was a convicted felon. Nickalaskey was convicted of a drug crime in the Anchorage Superior Court in 2014 and of being a felon in possession of a firearm in the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska in 2021. Nickalaskey is charged with two counts of felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. The defendant will make his initial court appearance on a later date before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska, Acting Special Agent in Charge Kevin Vorndran of the FBI Anchorage Field Office and Chief Michael Kerle of the Anchorage Police Department made the announcement. The FBI Anchorage Field Office and Anchorage Police Department are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Ivers is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: San Antonio Man Sentenced to Over 13 Years in Prison for Supporting Terrorists

body_text: SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio to 160 months in prison and lifetime supervised release for conspiring to murder overseas and provide material support to terrorists. According to court documents, Imad Eddin Wadi, 67, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Damascus, Syria, conspired to commit murder with terrorist groups and funnel funds to members and affiliates of U.S. designated foreign terrorist organizations, including al-Nusrah Front, a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. On May 25, 2023, after a nine-day trial, Wadi was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of conspiracy to murder and maim in a foreign country, one count of conspiracy to provide material support to designated foreign terrorist groups, and one count of conspiracy to provide material support or resources to terrorists. “By his own admissions, this defendant has been knowingly supporting this jihadi terrorist group for years,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “American citizens may never provide support to terrorist organizations, financial or otherwise, nor decide whose lives to target overseas. Thanks to the dedication and investigative skill by our partners in the FBI JTTF, Wadi’s financial support of terrorists has ceased, and he will spend the rest of his life under our watch.” “The FBI’s top priority is to protect the United States from a terrorist attack. This sentencing highlights the FBI’s unyielding commitment to stop those who fund or assist foreign terrorist organizations or their affiliates,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron G. Tapp for the FBI San Antonio Division. “We are profoundly grateful for our partners on the San Antonio Joint Terrorism Task Force who work with us every day to protect the American people and who did exceptional work on this case.” The FBI JTTF investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Roomberg and William Harris prosecuted the case. ###


title: U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit Releases Information on Efforts to Protect Voting Rights and to Secure Elections

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: BOISE – Today, in advance of this year’s federal election cycle, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit is providing information about his Office’s efforts to ensure that all qualified voters have the opportunity to vote free of violence, intimidation, discrimination, and other criminal activity in the election process. Consistent with Department of Justice (DOJ) practices across the country, multiple Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) from around Idaho have been appointed to lead the efforts of his Office to ensure a safe, free, and fair election. DOJ has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. DOJ will address these violations wherever they occur. “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.” Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English). Federal law also requires that people with disabilities have a full and equal opportunity to vote, and DOJ’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Checklist for Polling Places ( www.ada.gov/votingchecklist.htm ) provides guidance to election officials for determining whether a polling place already has the basic accessibility features needed by most voters with disabilities or can be made accessible using temporary solutions. Additionally, DOJ has published Solutions for Five Common ADA Access Problems at Polling Places, available at this link: ( https://www.ada.gov/resources/solutions-voting-problems/ ). Additional information is available on DOJ’s website ( https://www.ada.gov/topics/voting/ ). “The right to vote is the cornerstone of American democracy,” U.S. Attorney Hurwit stated. “We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. We will be prepared to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election cycle.” The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho can be reached at (208) 334-1211. The FBI will also have special agents available in throughout the country to receive allegations of threats of violence and other election abuses related to voting. The Salt Lake City FBI field office, which covers Idaho, can be reached by the public at (801) 579-1400. In addition, complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at (800) 253-3931 or by complaint form on DOJ’s website ( https://civilrights.justice.gov/report/ ). Finally, individuals with questions or complaints related to the ADA may call DOJ’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 or 833-610-1264 (TTY), or submit a complaint through a link on DOJ’s ADA website ( https://www.ada.gov/file-a-complaint/ ). U.S. Attorney Hurwit said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud report it to the Department of Justice.” Please note, however, that complaints related to violence, threats of violence, or intimidation should always be reported immediately to local authorities by calling 911. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency. ###


title: Quincy, Illinois Man Found Guilty of Distributing Methamphetamine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – On February 23, 2024, Glenn Wooden, 39, of Quincy was found guilty by a federal jury of three counts of distributing methamphetamine and one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. Over two days of trial before U.S. District Judge Colleen Lawless, the United States presented evidence establishing the three controlled buys and the search of the defendant’s residence leading to the seizure of the drugs forming the basis of count four. Besides law enforcement agents, a DEA laboratory scientist testified as to the purity and weight of the methamphetamine. In total, the methamphetamine weighed 327 grams. Sentencing for Wooden has been scheduled for July 2, 2024, at the U.S. Courthouse in Springfield, Illinois. At sentencing, Wooden faces a potential prison sentence of not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, not less than 5 years and up to life of supervised release and a maximum $10,000,000 fine. The Illinois State Police West Central Illinois Task Force, and Quincy Police Department investigated the case with assistance from Adams County States Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Z. Weir and Sarah E. Seberger represented the government at trial.


title: Fifth Defendant Sentenced for Laundering Proceeds of Scams Targeting Elderly U.S. Citizens

body_text: PROVIDENCE, RI – The fifth and final foreign national convicted for laundering proceeds of a multi-faceted conspiracy, run out of Nigeria, that defrauded elderly U.S. citizens of more than $1.7 million through online scams has been sentenced to federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. Dotun Olawale Alonge, 47, of Providence, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to 18 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of federal supervised release. He pleaded guilty on September 12, 2023, to a charge of money laundering conspiracy. Elderly individuals in several states, including Rhode Island, were befriended by scammers feigning romantic intentions through online social media platforms and dating sites. Scammers then used the relationships and trust they built to convince victims to provide them with money to assist with business ventures or personal debt. Other victims were falsely told they had won a sweepstakes, but that upfront cash payments were required to release the funds to the winner; yet other victims were scammed by paying rent to individuals who purported to own property they in fact did not own or control. “Foreign nationals who believe that Rhode Island seniors are easy prey for fraud schemes should think again,” said U.S. Attorney Cunha. “Preying on the emotions of vulnerable victims to gain access to their hard-earned savings is as despicable as it is devastating, and we and our law enforcement partners will work tirelessly to make sure that those responsible face justice.” “These con men had no compunction about swindling elderly victims all over the country out of their hard-earned money and playing on their emotions to do so. What they did wasn’t just cowardly, it was cruel,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “There is no way we can make the victims of these schemes, many who have lost their life savings, whole again. Hopefully, they can find some solace in knowing these fraudsters are now spending time behind bars for their selfish, and disgraceful conduct. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will never stop working to shut down elder fraud schemes like this, to protect older folks from those who want take advantage of them. If you or someone you know has been victimized, please reach out to us.” According to charging documents and information presented to the court, victims were instructed by scammers in Nigeria to wire cash to bank accounts or to mail payments in the form of cash or money orders to various mailing addresses in Rhode Island controlled by the defendant. To conceal the source and location of the funds, members of the conspiracy moved the money through multiple banks and businesses in Rhode Island, Idaho, and elsewhere. The majority of the proceeds were eventually sent on to Nigeria. Members of the conspiracy also used some of the money to purchase vehicles that were shipped to Nigeria. Olabode Shaba, 36, formerly of North Providence; Dotun Olawale Oladipupu Shodipo, 44, of Providence; Samson Ikotun, 36, formerly of East Providence; and Oluwaseyi Akintola, 38, formerly of Moscow, Idaho, were previously convicted and sentenced to terms of incarceration in federal prison that range between time served (dating back to their arrest and detention) to 42 months. Each defendant has been ordered to pay approximately $455,750 in restitution joint and several with each other to individuals identified by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to be victims of the scams and who have requested repayment of their losses. Several of the defendants are facing deportation proceedings after completion of their terms of incarceration. An arrest warrant has been issued for a sixth defendant, Adetunji Abudu, 38, who is a fugitive from justice. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John P. McAdams and Denise M. Barton. The matter was investigated by the FBI and the United States Postal Inspection Service. United States Attorney Cunha thanks United States Customs and Border Patrol; United States Secret Service; Rhode Island State Police; Providence, North Providence, East Providence, and Johnston, RI, Police Departments; Seekonk, Newton, Norfolk, and Hull, MA, Police Departments; New York State Police; Murphysboro, IL, Police Department; Greybull, WY, Police Department; Grand Island, NE, Police Department; Boca Raton, FL, Police Department; Lake County, FL, Sheriff’s Office; Brecknock Township, PA, Police Department; East Ridge, TN, Police Department; and San Angelo, TX, Police Department for their assistance in this investigation. ###


title: Marijuana User Who Possessed Firearms Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

body_text: A Dubuque man who possessed multiple firearms, including one with a device to convert it into a fully automatic weapon was sentenced February 26, 2024, to three years in federal prison. Jacqusyn Zechariah Grubb, age 21, from Dubuque, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 29, 2023 guilty plea to possessing a firearm as a marijuana user. Evidence in the case showed that Grubb possessed multiple firearms, including one that had a conversion device attached making it a fully automatic weapon, and high-capacity magazines. Grubb also possessed a personally made firearm, also known as a “ghost gun.” The court also found Grubb possessed a firearm in connection with the offense of possession for marijuana with intent to deliver. Grubb was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Grubb was sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. Grubb is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Emily K. Nydle and investigated by the Dubuque Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-cr-1014. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Second Degree Murder for a Fatal Shooting in Northeast D.C. in November 2023

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON - Andre Hicks, 40, of Capitol Heights, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to second degree murder while armed for the fatal shooting of Daniel Adams, 34, of Southeast Washington, D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department. Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo scheduled a sentencing hearing for May 3, 2024. According to the government’s evidence, around 9:10 p.m. on November 25, 2023, Hicks approached 1705 Benning Road Northeast, Washington, D.C., on foot. Several people were standing inside and immediately out front of that address. The victim, Daniel Adams, was one of the people standing out front. After walking up to the address and going up its front stairs, the defendant stood for a moment by the front door, looking back in the direction of Mr. Adams. The defendant then pulled a gun out of his pants and held it to his side, away from and out of view of the victim. With the gun out, the defendant started to slowly walk back down the steps in front of that building toward where the victim was standing. Once the defendant had come within a few feet of the victim, he drew his gun up, pointed it at the victim, and started firing repeatedly. Hicks continued to fire at Mr. Adams as Mr. Adams ran away. Hicks then fled the scene. Mr. Adams was taken to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his gunshot wounds and died the next day. This case was investigated by the Homicide Branch of the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alec Levy.


title: Two Defendants Charged with Stealing or Misusing $20 Million in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, an indictment was unsealed charging Dawood Kassim and Dia Alqalisi with trafficking and stealing millions of dollars in benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program. To carry out the fraud, the defendants allegedly engaged in thousands of SNAP transactions out of a bodega in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood in Brooklyn which Kassim owned. The defendants were arrested this morning and are scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Cheryl L. Pollak. One defendant charged in the indictment remains at large. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Erin Keegan, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Charmeka Parker, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge, United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region (USDA-OIG), announced the charges. “As alleged, the defendants trafficked and stole a massive amount of SNAP benefits from thousands of victims, illegally profiting from federally funded benefits intended for those in need of nutritious meals—which is especially vital in these times of high food costs,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “The arrests today should be a wakeup call to those who think government programs are a piggy bank they can pillage without fear of consequences.” “The defendants are accused of robbing the food stamps program of millions of dollars intended to assist the well-meaning public in feeding their families. Through this Brooklyn corner store, they allegedly defrauded unsuspecting food stamp recipients in several states across the country, and to the tune of $20 million," said HSI New York Acting Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan. "I commend HSI New York’s El Dorado Task Force and our law enforcement partners for their outstanding coordination in ensuring these vital benefits go to those who truly need them.” According to the indictment and court filings, SNAP is administered by the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service and utilizes federal tax dollars to subsidize low-income households, affording such households the opportunity to achieve a more nutritious diet by increasing their food purchasing power. Individuals who receive SNAP benefits no longer redeem their benefits using paper food stamp coupons but use what is known as an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card. Using EBT cards, recipients can make authorized purchases, and the total amount of the purchase is electronically deducted from the recipient’s card balance. The same amount of the transaction is electronically transferred to the retailer’s designated bank account, using federal funds that originate from the USDA. From April 2022 through December 2022, the defendants allegedly conducted fraudulent SNAP transactions out of Throop Farm Market, a bodega located at the corner of Throop and Greene Avenues in Bedford-Stuyvesant. First, the defendants engaged in trafficking SNAP benefits by allowing SNAP recipients to exchange SNAP benefits for cash or non-SNAP eligible goods, such as beer, with the defendants keeping a portion of the benefits for themselves as payment. Second, Kassim stole SNAP benefits from unsuspecting victims by using counterfeit and stolen SNAP EBT cards at Throop Farm Market. The victims of the defendants’ crimes included recipients of SNAP benefits residing in Tennessee, Virginia and California, among other states. Through these transactions, the defendants received over $20 million dollars in federally funded SNAP benefits, including over $7 million dollars’ worth of SNAP benefits from accounts of recipients living outside of New York. The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Assistant United States Attorney Irisa Chen is in charge of the prosecution. The investigation is being conducted by HSI’s El Dorado Task Force in New York together with the USDA-OIG. Law enforcement agents have identified numerous recipients of SNAP benefits whose benefits were stolen by the defendants. If any SNAP benefit recipients believe their benefits were stolen and used at Throop Farm Market or other businesses, they should contact the USDA-OIG at https://usdaoig.oversight.gov/resources/hotline-information or 1-800-424-9121. The Defendants : DAWOOD KASSIM (also known as “Badr al din Kassim”) Age: 31 Brooklyn, New York DIA ALQALISI (also known as “Diaaldeen Alqalisi”) Age: 26 Brooklyn, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-67 (KAM)


title: Charlotte Man Pleads Guilty To $300K Wire Fraud Scheme Involving Stolen Checks

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – John Calvin Davis, III, 27, of Charlotte, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan C. Rodriguez today and pleaded guilty to wire fraud for executing a scheme involving stolen checks, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Tommy D. Coke, Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which oversees Charlotte, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) join U.S. King in making today’s announcement. According to filed plea documents and court proceedings, from August 2022 to January 2023, Davis obtained approximately 50 checks that were stolen from mailboxes in Charlotte. Davis then fraudulently endorsed the stolen checks, deposited the checks into accounts he controlled, and then withdrew the funds before the victims or the bank had an opportunity to determine that the checks were stolen. Through this scheme, Davis fraudulently obtained $304,355.56 in fraudulent proceeds. Davis was released on bond following the guilty plea. The wire fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date has not been set. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the USPIS and CMPD for their investigation of the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassye Cole of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Connellsville Resident Indicted for Creating and Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Connellsville, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of producing and distributing child sexual abuse material, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. The two-count Indictment named James Paul Schwarz, 37, as the sole defendant in this case. According to the Indictment, from in and around October 2022 to in and around September 2023, Schwarz took videos and photos of a minor victim engaged in sexual conduct, then distributed those materials to others. The law provides for a maximum sentence of not less than 15 years and up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, 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, if any, of the defendant. Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey R. Bengel is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Department of Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case. 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 (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 . An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Manhattan Man Convicted At Trial Of Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, And Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Erin Keegan, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced the conviction of NELSON OLIVO on charges of narcotics trafficking conspiracy. The defendant was found guilty yesterday following a one-week trial before U.S. District Judge Valerie E. Caproni. OLIVO will be sentenced on June 27, 2024, by Judge Caproni. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Yesterday, a unanimous jury found that Nelson Olivo agreed with others to sell large amounts of deadly drugs, including fentanyl, in New York City. Olivo posed a danger to the community through his involvement in the distribution of dangerous narcotics, including fentanyl—the deadliest drug our nation has ever encountered. Together with our law enforcement partners, this Office will continue to be hyper-focused on combatting the fentanyl crisis by holding narcotics traffickers, such as Nelson Olivo, responsible for their actions.” HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan said: “Nelson Olivo’s conviction signals the public’s understanding not only of the brazen severity of his crimes, but also of the continued, deadly impacts of the drug epidemic, especially fentanyl, on our country. HSI, in conjunction with our law enforcement partners, seized over 5,500 pounds of fentanyl in the first two months of fiscal year 2024 – with more than 3,000 pounds seized in November alone. I commend HSI New York and our law enforcement partners within the El Dorado Task Force for their continued efforts toward securing justice and, in turn, saving lives.” According to the Indictment, public filings, and evidence presented at trial: From about July 2022 to about October 12, 2022, OLIVO operated a stash house in the Bronx where he worked with co-conspirators to distribute wholesale and retail quantities of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine, as well as powder cocaine, crack cocaine, and other narcotics. On October 12, 2022, a search warrant was executed on OLIVO’s Bronx stash house after he and his co-conspirators were seen attempting to empty the house of evidence of their drug conspiracy. The search of the house and cars outside it recovered approximately one kilogram of pills containing methamphetamine; fentanyl in pill and powder form, including fentanyl mixed with the dangerous animal tranquilizer xylazine; additional narcotics; two kilo presses and a kilo stamp; and other narcotics paraphernalia and ammunition. At trial, text messages, photographs, video evidence, and wiretap recordings of the defendant’s phone, established that the defendant had returned to the U.S. in June 2022 to set up the stash house after having spent the prior 18 months in Colombia, where he participated in manufacturing large amounts of cocaine in a jungle laboratory. Below are photographs of some of the evidence recovered in this case. * * * OLIVO, 46, of New York, New York, was convicted by a jury of one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl. The charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. The minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the El Dorado Task Force, which is comprised of law enforcement officers from HSI, the New York State Police, the Inspector General for the New York City Housing Authority, the Nassau County Sherriff’s Department, and the Fort Lee Police Department. The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jane Y. Chong and Matthew R. Shahabian are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Owen Foley and Jayda Foote.


title: Pryor Man Sentenced for Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – In June 2023, a federal jury found White guilty on two counts of Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor Under 12 years of Age in Indian Country and one count of Abusive Sexual Contact with a Minor in Indian Country. Today, U.S. District Judge R. Brooke Jackson sentenced Ricky Leroy White, 33, to 135 months imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release. Upon release, White will be required to register as a sex offender. “Ricky White repeatedly preyed upon two children who should’ve been able to trust him. Both victims were courageous and testified in federal court exposing the abuse,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “My office will not slow down our relentless pursuit to hold accountable perpetrators of child sexual abuse.” According to court documents, from June 2010 through June 2017, White sexually abused two children who lived with him. Prosecutors argued that White has shown no remorse for his actions and that he did not suffer from a solitary lapse in judgment. White was calculated and deliberate with his sexual abuse and would take advantage of the two children while they were sleeping. White is a member of the Cherokee Nation. He will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility. The FBI and Mayes County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Nassar, Leah Paisner, and Ashley Robert prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC .


title: Defendant Sentenced for Violent Assault of FBI Special Agent and Distribution of Methamphetamine

body_text: ATLANTA - Cedrick Hill, 31, of Marietta, Ga., has been sentenced to 26 years of imprisonment for the violent assault of an FBI special agent and the sale of multiple kilos of methamphetamine. While trying to evade arrest, Hill drove a vehicle at high speed while the agent was trapped in the driver’s side door of the defendant’s truck, resulting in the agent’s hospitalization for two weeks and a lengthy recovery. “Determined to escape at all costs, this defendant gravely injured an FBI special agent in the line of duty,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “No sentence can remedy the physical and emotional harm suffered by the agent because of Hill’s conduct, but hopefully this sentence will cause others to think twice before risking harm to law enforcement officers during the performance of their duties. This case is also an important reminder to the community of the risks faced by law enforcement officers daily and the respect and admiration they earn through exceptional acts of bravery taken to protect the public.” “Anyone who assaults a law enforcement officer is dangerous and an extreme threat to public safety. Hill showed absolutely no regard for the life of our agent and caused him extreme harm. We are thankful that the agent has recovered, and Hill is finally being held accountable for his crimes,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “This case is an important reminder of the risks that our law enforcement officers face every day to keep our communities safe and the length we will go to remove violent offenders from our streets.” According to United States Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court: On October 12, 2017, Cedrick Hill was indicted by a federal grand jury in a 30-defendant indictment alleging various gang-related and drug offenses. Hill was specifically charged with supplying gang members with approximately six kilograms of methamphetamine over the course of two drug transactions. Hill initially avoided arrest by going into hiding, traveling to multiple states via bus and rental cars. Later, after determining Hill’s location in the early morning hours of January 4, 2018, an FBI special agent encountered Hill in the foyer of a hotel in Sandy Springs, Georgia, and attempted to arrest him. Hill initially complied with the agents’ instructions to put his arms behind his back, but then suddenly began resisting as the agent began to handcuff him. Hill then ran through the lobby of the hotel, jumped over a counter, and bolted from the hotel with the agent in pursuit. As Hill ran to his truck and climbed into the driver’s seat, the agent followed and became lodged in the driver’s side door. With the agent caught in the door, Hill drove through the parking lot at a high rate of speed, dragging the agent, crushing him at various points of impact in an attempt to shake the agent loose, and breaking the agent’s arm and femur. With his free hand, the agent managed to discharge his service weapon, striking Hill twice. But Hill continued to drive at a high rate of speed, exited the hotel parking lot, crossed Interstate 285, and turned down an access road. Eventually Hill stopped the vehicle, opened the door, and released the seriously injured agent onto the side of the road. The agent managed to call 911 and request medical care for Hill and himself. The agent’s injuries were extensive, requiring two weeks of hospitalization, multiple surgeries, and 18 months of rehabilitation. He suffered permanent nerve damage in his arm, among other lasting injuries. U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg sentenced Hill to 26 years in prison, to be followed by 60 months of supervised release. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6280. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Former Grantham Man Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Almost $240,000 from a Charity and Gambling the Funds Away

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A former Grantham man and current resident of Holly Springs, North Carolina, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Concord to embezzling almost $240,000 from LISTEN Community Services (LISTEN), an Upper Valley charity that offers multiple services for vulnerable individuals, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Kyle Fisher, 43, pleaded guilty to wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Paul J. Barbadoro scheduled sentencing for June 11, 2024. Fisher was charged on May 10, 2023. Fisher was the Executive Director of LISTEN from approximately August 2016 through October 2022. As Executive Director, Fisher had full access to LISTEN’s finances, including its PayPal account, which it used to collect donations, and its bank account. The defendant made unauthorized transfers from LISTEN’s PayPal and bank accounts to accounts he controlled. He also wrote eight unauthorized checks payable to himself. Fisher then spent the stolen funds on personal expenses, primarily gambling at a casino in Massachusetts. For example, on January 24, 2022, Fisher withdrew $4,787 from LISTEN’s PayPal account and transferred the funds to his personal bank account. Later that same day, Fisher made multiple withdrawals from his bank account, including at ATMs at the casino. He then deposited a substantial amount of cash into his personal casino account that day. The casino records showed that Fisher continuously gambled on January 24, 2022 and January 25, 2022, and lost a net of $6,719 across those two days. Fisher also took steps to conceal his embezzlement from LISTEN. For example, he created a fake PayPal statement that showed over $94,000 in payments to Dell. Fisher also provided fraudulent invoices to LISTEN. The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. 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. The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lebanon Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case. ###


title: The U.S. Attorney’s Office For The Northern District Of Florida Collects Over Three And A Half Million Dollars In Civil And Criminal Actions In Fiscal Year 2023

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida announced today that the Northern District of Florida collected $3,654,556.70 related to local criminal and civil matters in Fiscal Year 2023. Of this amount, $3,078,183.32 was collected in criminal actions and $576,373.38 was collected in civil actions. “These impressive numbers are the result of the hard work by our office’s civil and criminal divisions, and strong coordination with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “This office will always seek to recover every dollar possible from those who engage in illegal activities so that those funds can be restored to the federal treasury, and help victims recover from crimes perpetrated against them.” The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs. The Northern District of Florida’s Civil Division recovered a total of $8,337,055 in affirmative civil enforcement cases during the last fiscal year. This amount has two components. In addition to its efforts in local civil cases which led to collections totaling $576,373.38, the District’s Civil Division also joins forces with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and with the Department of Justice Civil Frauds Section to address illicit conduct. The Northern District’s Civil Division recovered an additional $7,760,682 in these jointly handled cases. Additionally, the Northern District of Florida’s Asset Forfeiture Unit, working with partner law enforcement agencies, forfeited $3,801,719 through criminal and civil asset forfeiture proceedings in fiscal year 2023. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes. For more information about the Crime Victims Fund, please visit https://ovc.ojp.gov/about/crime-victims-fund . The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Trucker convicted for trafficking several aliens into South Texas

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A federal jury has returned a guilty verdict against a 51-year-old man for unlawfully transporting undocumented aliens, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. The jury deliberated for approximately 45 minutes before finding Andrew Rafael Martinez-Peralta, Newark, New Jersey, guilty following a two-day trial. On July 5, 2023, Martinez-Peralta drove a tractor-trailer to the Sarita Border Patrol checkpoint. During a search, a K-9 alerted to the sleeper area where authorities subsequently discovered seven illegal aliens concealed within the bed compartment of the tractor, in a toolbox under the bed and inside a closet. The jury heard how authorities found the aliens’ cell phones directly above Martinez-Peralta’s head. Testimony revealed he had collected the phones while transporting them to the checkpoint. A witness also stated that he had agreed to pay $25,000 to be smuggled into the United States from Brazil with a final destination in Massachusetts. At the trial, Martinez-Peralta testified and argued he had no knowledge of the illegal aliens’ presence in his vehicle despite checking the bed compartment before traveling to the checkpoint. The jury ultimately did not believe those claims and found him guilty as charged. “Martinez-Peralta claimed he didn’t know that there were seven migrants in the sleeper area of his tractor-trailer, a claim so incredible that it took the jury less than an hour to find him guilty,” said Hamdani. “The smuggling of migrants across Texas’s southern border is a pernicious problem made worse by human smugglers, like Martinez-Peralta, who use their tractor-trailers and the cover of legitimate commercial activities to mask illegal and harmful activities.” U.S. District Judge David S. Morales presided over the trial and set sentencing for May 22. At that time, Martinez-Peralta faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Martinez-Peralta was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing. Customs and Border Protection conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Marck and Tyler Foster prosecuted the case.


title: Texas Man Sentenced To Over 7 Years In Federal Prison For Honest Services Fraud

body_text: Orlando, FL – U.S. District Judge Gregory A. Presnell today sentenced Michael Shirley (40, Austin, TX) to seven years and three months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and honest services fraud. As part of his sentence, the court also entered an order of forfeiture in the amount of $536,402.33, which are the proceeds of the offenses. Shirley was found guilty following a jury trial on July 27, 2023. According to the evidence presented at trial, Shirley served as a campaign consultant for former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg in 2016. After Greenberg was elected, Greenberg and Shirley, through Shirley’s company Praetorian Integrated Services LLC, entered into a lucrative contract that provided Shirley with $12,500 each month for the performance of consulting services to the Tax Collector’s office. In that capacity, the evidence established that Shirley did little to no work. Additionally, Shirley began submitting grossly inflated invoices to the Tax collector’s office for printing services. On September 25, 2017, Shirley, through Joseph Ellicott, paid Greenberg a $6,000 cash kickback and bribe. Ellicott was sentenced for his role in this scheme in 2022 and testified during the trial. As a result of the kickback and bribe, Shirley was allowed to continue billing the Seminole County Tax Collector’s office into September 2019. The evidence established that between October 2017 and September 2019, Shirley performed almost no work for the Tax Collector’s office. As a result of the kickback and bribery scheme, Shirley defrauded the taxpayers of Seminole County out of more than $634,000. This case was investigated by United States Secret Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Amanda Daniels and Chauncey Bratt.


title: Retired sergeant imprisoned for sending child pornography via online chat group

body_text: GALVESTON, Texas – A 50-year-old Texas City resident has been sentenced for distribution of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Ryan N. Curving pleaded guilty Aug. 22, 2023. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey V. Brown has now ordered him to serve 120 months in federal prison. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence as to how Curving, a retired police sergeant from the Paterson, New Jersey, Police Department, sent child pornography videos to five other individuals through Kik Messenger. In handing down the prison term, the court noted that Curving’s actions of distributing those videos perpetuates the harm caused to the victims that are being sexually abused in the videos. Curving was further ordered to pay a $5,000 assessment to the Justice for Victims Trafficking Act and a $5,000 assessment to the Amy, Vicky and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act. He will also serve 10 years on supervised release following completion of his prison term, during which time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Curving will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. “Curving hid behind a computer and watched helpless minor children being raped and abused,” said Hamdani. “It is deplorable that someone who worked as an officer for 25 years and took an oath to serve and protect the public, did just the opposite. This sentence demonstrates our dedication to holding anyone – regardless of their background – accountable for their part in the exchange of images that do nothing more than harm innocent lives.” Curving had joined an online chat group on Kik that is known for the trading of child pornography and pictures of relatives as well as discussions and fantasies of familial sexual abuse. Curving came to the attention of law enforcement after utilizing his Kik account to distribute child pornography. On Dec. 6, 2022, authorities executed a search warrant at his residence. At that time, he admitted to downloading and sending child pornography to other Kik users and had been curious about child pornography for two years. Additionally, he admitted to creating a second Kik account in order to continue his conduct following the termination of his first one after administrators found child pornography in it. Curving was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Homeland Security Investigations-Galveston conducted the investigation with the assistance of police departments in Pearland and Galveston and the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children task force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Ann Leo prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page . For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources tab on that page .


title: Attempted sex trafficking of minor in Billings sends Virginia man to prison for 10 years

body_text: MISSOULA — A Virginia man convicted in a jury trial of attempting to trafficking a minor while in Billings was sentenced today to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. A federal jury convicted Mark Samuel Baker, 57, of Gore, Virginia, of attempted sex trafficking of a minor as charged in an indictment on Sept. 19, 2023, following a two-day trial in Missoula. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. In court documents and during trial, the government alleged that from July 11, 2022 to July 13, 2022, Baker knowingly attempted to recruit and solicit a minor to engage in commercial sex. During the investigation, an undercover officer used the internet to post an advertisement purporting to be a female escort who was the minimum allowed posting age of 18. About six hours later, the undercover agent received a message in response to the ad from a phone number later identified to be Baker’s. Law enforcement responded on July 12, 2022 asking if Baker wanted “a date.” Law enforcement and Baker communicated over the next two days. One of the exchanges included: Law enforcement asks, “Are u ok if I’m not 18.” Baker responds, “Yes as long as you are ok I’m 49.” Law enforcement writes, “I’m almost 16 if ur cool w that.” Baker and the undercover discussed how much time $80 would buy, and Baker said he wanted sex with the undercover officer. Baker also sent pictures of the cash he would use and of himself. They then made plans to meet in Billings and go to Baker’s hotel. Law enforcement arrested Baker on July 13, 2022 when he showed up at the designated time. A call was then placed to the phone number law enforcement had been texting, and a smartphone in Baker’s vehicle lit up with the undercover’s number. Law enforcement found $375 in cash, a hotel passkey and four condoms on Baker’s person. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation and Billings Police Department conducted the investigation. 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 U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the 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.justice.gov/psc. XXX


title: Man Pleads Guilty to Making Threat to Michigan Election Worker

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: WASHINGTON – An Indiana man pleaded guilty today to sending a communication that included a threat of violence to an election worker in Michigan. “Andrew Nickels threatened that he and millions of so-called ‘patriots’ would kill an election worker in Michigan. Among other threats, he said the local public official deserved a ‘throat to the knife’ for saying that there were no irregularities in the election,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Election officials and workers play a critical role in safeguarding free and fair elections. The Criminal Division will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute individuals who seek to undermine this core tenet of our democracy by threatening election officials with violence.” According to court documents, on or about Nov. 10, 2020, Andrew Nickels, 37, of Carmel, called the clerk of a local municipality and left a voicemail threatening to kill the local official. As part of the message, Nickels stated, in part, “We’re watching your…mouth talk about how you think that there’s no irregularities…[Y]ou frauded out America of a real election.” Nickels then told the clerk that “you’re gonna pay for it,” and described how “ten million plus patriots will surround you when you least expect it.” He continued, in relevant part: “[W]e’ll [expletive] kill you…[Y]ou will [expletive] pay for your [expletive] lying ass remarks…We will [expletive] take you out. [Expletive] your family, [expletive] your life, and you deserve a [expletive] throat to the knife…Watch your [expletive] back…watch your [expletive] back.” “No public official should face the violent threats that the victim in this case did, just for doing their job of ensuring the fairness and integrity our federal, state, and local elections,” said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan. “Today’s guilty plea should send a clear message that those who engage in this egregious conduct will be held accountable.” “Those who work to ensure the integrity of our democratic process should be able to continue without fear of intimidation or violence,” said Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “The FBI will not tolerate threats against any local, state, or federal elections workers and will continue working with our law enforcement partners to mitigate such threats.” Nickels pleaded guilty to one count of making a threatening interstate communication. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 9 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI Detroit Field Office is investigating the case. Trial Attorney Tanya Senanayake of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Frances Lee Carlson for the Eastern District of Michigan are prosecuting the case. This case is part of the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force. Announced by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and launched by Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco in June 2021, the task force has led the department’s efforts to address threats of violence against election workers, and to ensure that all election workers – whether elected, appointed, or volunteer – are able to do their jobs free from threats and intimidation. The task force engages with the election community and state and local law enforcement to assess allegations and reports of threats against election workers, and has investigated and prosecuted these matters where appropriate, in partnership with FBI Field Offices and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. A year after its formation, the task force is continuing this work and supporting the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and FBI Field Offices nationwide as they carry on the critical work that the task force has begun. Under the leadership of Deputy Attorney General Monaco, the task force is led by the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and includes several other entities within the Justice Department, including the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Civil Rights Division, National Security Division, and FBI, as well as key interagency partners, such as the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. For more information regarding the Justice Department’s efforts to combat threats against election workers, read the Deputy Attorney General’s memo . To report suspected threats or violent acts, contact your local FBI office and request to speak with the Election Crimes Coordinator. Contact information for every FBI field office may be found at www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/ . You may also contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or file an online complaint at www.tips.fbi.gov . Complaints submitted will be reviewed by the task force and referred for investigation or response accordingly. If someone is in imminent danger or risk of harm, contact 911 or your local police immediately.


component: Criminal Division

body_text: An Indiana man pleaded guilty today to sending a communication that included a threat of violence to an election worker in Michigan. “Andrew Nickels threatened that he and millions of so-called ‘patriots’ would kill an election worker in Michigan. Among other threats, he said the local public official deserved a ‘throat to the knife’ for saying that there were no irregularities in the election,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Election officials and workers play a critical role in safeguarding free and fair elections. The Criminal Division will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute individuals who seek to undermine this core tenet of our democracy by threatening election officials with violence.” According to court documents, on or about Nov. 10, 2020, Andrew Nickels, 37, of Carmel, called the clerk of a local municipality and left a voicemail threatening to kill the local official. As part of the message, Nickels stated, in part, “We’re watching your…mouth talk about how you think that there’s no irregularities…[Y]ou frauded out America of a real election.” Nickels then told the clerk that “you’re gonna pay for it,” and described how “ten million plus patriots will surround you when you least expect it.” He continued, in relevant part: “[W]e’ll [expletive] kill you…[Y]ou will [expletive] pay for your [expletive] lying ass remarks…We will [expletive] take you out. [Expletive] your family, [expletive] your life, and you deserve a [expletive] throat to the knife…Watch your [expletive] back…watch your [expletive] back.” “No public official should face the violent threats that the victim in this case did, just for doing their job of ensuring the fairness and integrity our federal, state, and local elections,” said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan. “Today’s guilty plea should send a clear message that those who engage in this egregious conduct will be held accountable.” “Those who work to ensure the integrity of our democratic process should be able to continue without fear of intimidation or violence,” said Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “The FBI will not tolerate threats against any local, state, or federal elections workers and will continue working with our law enforcement partners to mitigate such threats.” Nickels pleaded guilty to one count of making a threatening interstate communication. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 9 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI Detroit Field Office is investigating the case. Trial Attorney Tanya Senanayake of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Frances Lee Carlson for the Eastern District of Michigan are prosecuting the case. This case is part of the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force. Announced by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and launched by Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco in June 2021, the task force has led the department’s efforts to address threats of violence against election workers, and to ensure that all election workers – whether elected, appointed, or volunteer – are able to do their jobs free from threats and intimidation. The task force engages with the election community and state and local law enforcement to assess allegations and reports of threats against election workers, and has investigated and prosecuted these matters where appropriate, in partnership with FBI Field Offices and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout the country. Over two years after its formation, the task force is continuing this work and supporting the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and FBI Field Offices nationwide as they carry on the critical work that the task force has begun. Under the leadership of Deputy Attorney General Monaco, the task force is led by the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and includes several other entities within the Justice Department, including the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Civil Rights Division, National Security Division, and FBI, as well as key interagency partners, such as the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. For more information regarding the Justice Department’s efforts to combat threats against election workers, read the Deputy Attorney General’s memo . To report suspected threats or violent acts, contact your local FBI office and request to speak with the Election Crimes Coordinator. Contact information for every FBI field office may be found at www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/ . You may also contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or file an online complaint at www.tips.fbi.gov . Complaints submitted will be reviewed by the task force and referred for investigation or response accordingly. If someone is in imminent danger or risk of harm, contact 911 or your local police immediately.


title: Texas Man Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison for Fraudulently Obtaining Economic Impact Disaster Loans (EIDL)

component: USAO - Mississippi, Southern

body_text: Jackson, Miss. – A Texas man was sentenced to six years in prison and ordered to pay restitution for illegally obtaining more than $400,000 in government benefits. According to court documents, Ganiyu Abayomi Jimoh, 30, a Nigerian national with dual United States citizenship, conspired with others to commit wire fraud by opening numerous bank accounts in Hinds, Madison, and Rankin Counties using other individuals’ personal identifying information, then fraudulently applying for multiple Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) through the Small Business Administration (SBA). In August and September 2020, Jimoh received four direct deposits from the SBA totaling $439,500. At the time of the instant offense, Jimoh was on federal bond out of the Southern District of Texas. Although Jimoh lived in Houston, Texas, he traveled to Mississippi on multiple occasions to visit different banks. Jimoh pleaded guilty in November 2023 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. His sentence will be served consecutively to an undischarged term of imprisonment on federal offenses committed in the Southern District of Texas. “The United States Secret Service is committed to investigating and pursuing those who aim to take advantage of victims while trying to exploit our nation’s financial infrastructure,” said Kyle Smith, Resident Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Jackson Resident Office. “Thanks to the hard work of our law enforcement partners, this individual will be held responsible for these crimes.” U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis made the announcement. The United States Secret Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie prosecuted the case. The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization that expands states’ ability to provide unemployment insurance for many workers impacted by COVID-19, including for workers who are not ordinarily eligible for unemployment insurance benefits. Anyone with information about attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866‑720‑5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Justice Department Sues to Shut Down Miami-Based Return Preparer

component: Tax Division

body_text: The Justice Department filed a complaint today seeking to bar a Miami-area return preparer from owning or operating a tax return preparation business and preparing tax returns for others. The civil complaint against Aniel Saint-Hilaire was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The complaint alleges that Saint-Hilaire, through his numerous business entities, prepares federal income tax returns for Miami-area taxpayers on which he claims fraudulent deductions and credits to purposely underreport the tax his customers owe and claim refunds they are not entitled to receive. Specifically, the complaint alleges that Saint-Hilaire prepared returns with false or inflated deductions, business expenses and business losses, as well as false claims for residential energy credits, fuel tax credits and other credits. The complaint also alleges that Saint-Hilaire hides his tax preparation activity by failing to properly identify himself on the tax returns that he prepares. The government further alleges that Saint-Hilaire files thousands of tax returns each year, with approximately 99% of the returns he prepares claiming a refund. By repeatedly understating his customers’ tax liabilities, the complaint alleges that the United States has been harmed by Saint-Hilaire’s conduct, resulting in the significant loss in tax revenue of an estimated $16.5 million each year. According to the complaint, in addition to seeking an injunction against Saint-Hilaire, the government requested an order of disgorgement to prevent Saint-Hilaire from profiting from his violation of the internal revenue laws. Deputy Assistant Attorney General David A. Hubbert of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. Taxpayers seeking a return preparer should remain vigilant against unscrupulous tax preparers. The IRS has information on its website for choosing a tax return preparer and has launched a free directory of federal tax preparers. The IRS also offers guidance on the credentials and qualifications that taxpayers should seek from their return preparer. In the past decade, the Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department’s website . An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page . If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.


title: Norwell Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Charge

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Norwell man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to felony narcotics charges. Frederick Dechristoforo, 57, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for June 6, 2024. Dechristoforo was arrested in November 2022 and indicted in December 2022. In December 2021, a search was conducted at Dechristoforo’s residence in Norwell where several hundred counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl were recovered in the kitchen. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Tolkoff and John Reynolds of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.


title: After Jury Is Seated, Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty in $2.6 Million Fraud

component: USAO - Texas, Northern

body_text: Shortly after a jury was seated in his case, a Kennedale, Texas tax preparer pleaded guilty to a $2.6 million tax fraud, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. Anthony “Tony” Floyd, 51, was charged in June 2023 with ten counts of aiding in the preparation and presentation of false tax returns. On the morning of his trial, shortly after a jury was seated, Mr. Floyd pleaded guilty to all 10 charges. According to court documents, Mr. Floyd filed approximately 400 fraudulent tax returns that included false information designed to increase the amount of refund owed to the taxpayer. He recruited victim “clients” outside big box stores and through other clients. He obtained their personal information, such as income and deduction information, via text or cell phone conversations, rarely meeting clients in person. Mr. Floyd purposely submitted the returns without reviewing with the taxpayer, then diverted all or most of the refund to his own account. The resultant tax loss to the United States exceeded $2.6 million. The tax filings included falsified W2s – filed on behalf of individuals purportedly working in catering, lawn care, event planning, interior décor, and other professions -- and included nonexistent charitable deductions, nonexistent college attendance, and even fictitious relatives. “Mr. Floyd’s guilty plea shows that tax fraud is not a victimless crime,” said Christopher J. Altemus Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation’s Dallas Field Office. “Mr. Floyd took advantage of his neighbors by preparing fraudulent tax returns and trying to steal over $2 million from the U.S. government. Mr. Floyd’s case should remind all tax practitioners to adhere to professional standards and follow the law.” “Everyone must ensure what is submitted is true and accurate when filing their taxes, even if they are prepared by a professional,” Altemus added. Mr. Floyd now faces up to three years per count, for a total of 30 years in federal prison. IRS – Criminal Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys P.J. Meitl, Nancy Larson, and Mark Nicols (fmr) prosecuted the case.


title: St. Louis County Man Admits Shooting at Police

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A St. Louis County, Missouri man on Tuesday admitted shooting at police and federal task force officers in 2021. Derek D. Brown, 50, of Jennings, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of assault on a federal officer and two counts of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. Brown admitted that early on the morning of March 18, 2021, he went to his wife’s daughter’s house in St. Louis County to confront his wife. While there, Brown took his daughter’s .45-caliber pistol. Responding officers learned about the gun and that Brown had an outstanding warrant for a parole violation. Relatives told police that he would probably go to his sister’s house. Police officers, including those who had been deputized as federal task force officers, went to the sister’s home. Brown came out of the house, and when officers told him that he was under arrest, he began shooting. He fired multiple times, including at the federal task force officers, and continued to fire through the home’s screen door and then through the closed front door. Brown eventually surrendered. Brown is scheduled to be sentenced May 28. The assault charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. Each discharge of a firearm charge carries a penalty of at least 10 years in prison, consecutive to any other charges. The case was investigated by the St. Louis County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Boyce is prosecuting the case.


title: South Carolina Man Pleads  Guilty to Carjacking

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that, on February 20, 2024, ONIS WASHINGTON , age 25, a resident of South Carolina, pled guilty to committing a carjacking, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2119, before U.S. District Court Judge Jay C. Zainey. WASHINGTON faces a maximum sentence of 15 years of imprisonment, a fine up to $250,000, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment of $100.00. WASHINGTON’s sentencing is scheduled for May 28, 2024. On January 2, 2022, in the 1000 block of Carondelet Street, WASHINGTON and his co-defendant forcefully stole a car from the victim and fled in the stolen vehicle. Louisiana State Police and the New Orleans Police Department tracked and located the vehicle, but it refused to stop. Following a chase, WASHINGTON and his co-defendant hit several vehicles and crashed the stolen vehicle, before fleeing on foot. WASHINGTON was later arrested in South Carolina. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Louisiana State Police, and the New Orleans Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Nogales Man Indicted for Trafficking in Firearms

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: Firearms Trafficker Found with Multiple Rifles, Pistols, and Magazines TUCSON, Ariz. – On February 21, 2024, a federal grand jury indicted Jose Rene Murrieta, 30, of Nogales, on one count of Smuggling Goods from the United States, Felony Receipt of a Firearm, and Conspiracy to Smuggle Firearms Out of the United States to Promote a Felony. The complaint alleges that on January 23, 2024, Murrieta attempted to exit the United States and enter the Republic of Mexico through the DeConcini Port of Entry. After a search of Murrieta’s vehicle, United States Customs and Border Protection Officers located multiple rifles, pistols, and magazines. During an interview, Murietta admitted he was smuggling the items to Mexico in exchange for money. Smuggling Goods from the United States carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Felony Receipt of a Firearm and Conspiracy to Smuggle Firearms Out of the United States to Promote a Felony carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is being prosecuted under criminal provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress enacted and the President signed in June 2022. The Act is the first federal statute specifically designed to target the unlawful trafficking and straw-purchasing of firearms. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Nathaniel Walters, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-24-00786-SHR-AMM RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-022_Murrieta # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.