title: Fayette County Man Sentenced to 40 Years for Distributing Fentanyl Resulting in Overdose Death

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky. — A Lexington man, Keon Lamont Lee, 32, was sentenced on Friday to 480 months in federal prison, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, for distribution of fentanyl resulting in an overdose death. According to his guilty plea, in February of 2021, Lee illegally provided fentanyl to an individual identified as F.E., who overdosed and died. Lee had obtained two bags of controlled substances from his dealer – one containing cocaine, the other fentanyl. Lee regularly sold cocaine to the victim. Intending to distribute cocaine, Lee instead distributed fentanyl to the victim, who used the drug, overdosed, and died. Text messages from both the victim’s and Lee’s phones confirmed these events, and Lee provided a full confession to law enforcement. Lee pled guilty during his jury trial, in January 2023. “This case illustrates the reasons why illicit drug trafficking remains such a threat to our community,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “It demonstrates just how dangerous fentanyl is – potentially lethal in the 2mg range – and highlights the common truth that drug users have no idea what they are buying. Whether by mistake, dangerous mixtures with other drugs, or counterfeit pills, users are often seeking one drug but receiving others, with grave results. Fortunately, this case can also illustrate that those who illegally traffic in these dangerous drugs face prosecution and real consequences for their conduct.” Under federal law, Lee must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for four years. Carlton S. Shier IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; J. Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Louisville Field Division; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Lexington Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Bradbury. -END-


title: Omaha Man Sentenced for Possession of a Stolen Firearm

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

body_text: United States Attorney Steven A. Russell announced that Bumatet G. Duop, 25, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for possessing a stolen firearm. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher, sentenced Duop to 15 months imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his federal sentence is complete, Duop will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. The defendant is presently serving a 10-year prison term in the Clarinda Iowa Department of Corrections following a conviction for intimidation with a dangerous weapon imposed in April 2022. After his release from state custody, Duop will begin serving his federal sentence. On January 26, 2022, the Omaha Police Department executed a Court authorized search warrant at Duop’s Omaha residence to look for firearms and drugs. Duop was found in a bedroom of the residence where officers also located at Taurus 9mm handgun, which had been stolen out of Lincoln, Nebraska, on September 12, 2020. This case was investigated by a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Omaha Police Department and was 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: New York City Transit Worker and New York State Court Officer Plead Guilty to Covid-19 Loan Fraud

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, Arthur Cornwall, a signal maintainer with the New York City Transit Authority, and Sean Williams, a New York State Court Officer, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud in connection with their receipt of approximately $770,000 in small business loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDLP). Today’s proceeding was held before United States Magistrate Judge Steven I. Locke. When sentenced, Cornwall and Williams each face up to 30 years in prison, as well as restitution totaling more than $770,000 and a fine of up to $1.5 million. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Daniel Brubaker, Inspector-in-Charge, United States Postal Inspection Service, New York Division (USPIS), announced the guilty pleas. “The abuse of disaster relief programs is a serious crime, and it is reprehensible that two civil servants would blatantly steal from these programs for small businesses and families struggling during the pandemic,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “The defendants are being held accountable. This case should serve as a reminder that while the worst days of the pandemic are in the past, law enforcement has a long memory for those who defrauded those relief programs.” Inspector in Charge of the New York Division Daniel B. Brubaker said: “The government response to the COVID-19 Pandemic was unprecedented in its scope to help those who desperately needed government assistance in an extraordinary time in our nation’s history. These civil servants schemed and defrauded the public, in violation of their sworn oaths, by stealing money that should have gone to support our communities and not to fund their lifestyles. Postal Inspectors and our partners in the U.S. Attorney’s Office are committed to vigorously investigating and pursuing such offenders in order to maintain the integrity of and public confidence in disaster relief programs. Today’s guilty pleas are the result of this commitment.” As set forth in court filings, between May 2020 and July 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Cornwall and Williams fraudulently applied for, and received, at least six PPP and EIDLP loans, totaling approximately $770,000, on behalf of purported corporate entities they controlled. As part of the scheme designed to mislead the SBA and a financial institution disbursing the funds, the supporting documentation submitted by the defendants contained false information, including the identity of the individual applying for the loan, the number of employees, revenue, payroll costs, and the intended use of the loan proceeds. Instead of using the funds for disaster relief, Cornwall and Williams diverted them for their personal use, including the discharge of personal credit card debt and the purchase of cryptocurrency. Congress created the PPP and EIDLP as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Enacted on March 29, 2020, the CARES Act provided emergency financial assistance in connection with economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the allocation of funds for the issuance of forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. The PPP allowed qualifying small businesses to receive unsecured loans on favorable terms, which they were required to use for specified expenses, including payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities. The PPP provided for forgiveness of the loan if the recipient businesses spent the proceeds on these specified expenses within a limited time period and used a certain percentage for payroll costs. Another source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the EIDLP, which provided low-interest financing to small businesses, renters, and homeowners in regions affected by declared disasters. Under the program, EIDLP recipients were eligible to receive advances of up to $10,000 for small businesses within three days of applying for an EIDL (EIDL Advance). The amount of an EIDL Advance was determined based on the number of employees working for the applicant. The EIDL Advance did not have to be repaid. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorney Bradley T. King is in charge of the prosecution. The Defendants : ARTHUR CORNWALL Age: 42 West Babylon, New York SEAN WILLIAMS Age: 41 Valley Stream, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-238 (JMA)


title: Hampton Roads Robbers Sentenced

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NORFOLK, Va. – A Hampton man was sentenced today to 27 years in prison, and a Virginia Beach man was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for their roles in a serial armed robbery crew. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Kareem Ross, 34 and Roshaun Griffin, 36, were members of a five-man armed robbery crew that were apprehended on March 18 after a high-speed pursuit through Virginia Beach following an attempted robbery of a Tiger Mart gas station. A pursuing Virginia Beach police cruiser’s dash camera captured the men throwing several loaded weapons from their car. Only after spike strips were deployed multiple times did the car finally come to a stop. All men were apprehended, and police recovered ski masks and gloves from inside their vehicle. The clothing and shoes each of them were wearing matched what could be seen in video surveillance from six prior armed robberies. Ross wore a NASA sweatshirt at the first two of six robberies. He was arrested wearing that same NASA sweatshirt. The rental vehicle they were arrested in was traced back to the Norfolk Airport from where it was rented. One of the co-conspirators Marvin Lockhart, 32, was caught on the airport video wearing purple shoes was caught later that night on surveillance committing an armed robbery of the Jr. Market in Norfolk wearing purple shoes. One of the co-conspirators, Harold Spencer, 32, who shot at a fleeing customer during the second of six-armed robberies, took a “selfie” on his cell phone wearing a ski mask worn in all six robberies—a ski mask, which was recovered after the high-speed pursuit and later was shown to contain his DNA. His cell phone also contained photographs of his co-conspirator holding a handgun with a drum magazine, multiple Glock firearms consistent with those thrown from the fleeing vehicle, pictures of large sums of cash, and lottery tickets. Griffin participated in one of the earlier robberies and locked the door so the victims could not escape. The armed robbery crew stole cash, cigarettes, and lottery tickets. Investigators from the Virginia Lottery received alerts from convenience stores where attempts were made by Spencer and Ross, to cash the stolen tickets. Investigators pulled the surveillance video from those attempts and identified both men. Additionally, through a shoe impression expert from the Virginia Department of Forensic Science, investigators were able to connect the shoes Spencer was arrested in with a lift of an impression made at the Arrowhead Food Mart he had robbed on March 5. Those shoes could be seen at all six armed robberies Spencer had committed. Several months before to this conduct, one of the co-conspirators Jon Morgan, 32, had completed a prior prison sentence for armed robbery. Spencer faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 31 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison when sentenced on November 2, 2023. Morgan faces up to 125 months in prison when is sentenced on a date yet to be set. Marvin Lockhart, Jr., 32, of Virginia Beach faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 16 years and a maximum penalty of life in prison when he is sentenced on a date yet to be set. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office; and Paul W. Neudigate, Chief of Police, Virginia Beach Police Department, made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Arenda Wright Allen accepted the verdict. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joe DePadilla and John F. Butler are prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:20-cr-106. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:22-cr-106.


title: Rockford Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for the Sexual Exploitation of Children

body_text: ROCKFORD — A Rockford man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting children. JAMES UMBAUGH, 57, admitted in a plea agreement that in 2018 he knowingly possessed, on his home computer, images of prepubescent minors, minors under the age of twelve, and toddlers engaged in sex acts. Umbaugh possessed more than 7,900 images and videos of child pornography, including children engaged in sexually explicit conduct that Umbaugh obtained online. Umbaugh further admitted that from 2016 to 2018 he acted as a moderator and administrator for chat rooms and websites that promoted the distribution of child abuse and child exploitation materials. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Philip G. Reinhard on Friday ordered Umbaugh to pay $18,000 in restitution to his victims. The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica S. Maveus. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Love and Attorney James Burke of the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section assisted with the investigation and prosecution.


title: Five-Time Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Wallet Gun

body_text: MACON, Ga. – A Macon resident with multiple violent felony convictions pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a wallet gun, a type of firearm that can be easily concealed and must be registered under federal law. Johnny Carl Sandefur, Jr., 52, of Macon, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm before U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on June 8. He faces a maximum of 15 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing for is scheduled for Sept. 6. There is no parole in the federal system. “Violent criminal felons caught in possession of any firearm—especially highly concealable weapons like a wallet gun—will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “In collaboration with our law enforcement partners, we are working to bring repeat violent offenders to justice.” “This case demonstrates the strong collaboration that exists between law enforcement at the local, state and federal level, as we work to hold dangerous felons accountable and make the communities we serve safer,” said Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force (SERTF) Sr. Inspector Chris Wright. “The law-abiding citizens of this community are safer because of this guilty plea which will ensure the incarceration of a dangerous criminal and contribute to the restoration of order and peace to this area,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. According to documents and other evidence admitted into court, the Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force (SERFTF) attempted to execute an arrest warrant for a person wanted for aggravated assault on a peace officer on Nov. 3, 2022, on Skipperton Rd. in Macon. SERFTF agents located the wanted person and Sandefur, who both fled. Sandefur was taken into custody in possession of a .22 magnum derringer wallet gun, two knives and methamphetamine. The wallet gun was not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record as required by federal law. Sandefur had active warrants in Bibb County and Houston County, Georgia, at the time of this incident. In addition, he has multiple prior felony convictions including aggravated assault, aggravated stalking, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, terroristic threats and theft by receiving. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm. This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, 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. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) and the Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force (SERFTF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Joy Odom is prosecuting the case for the Government.


title: Prohibited Person Charged in Connection with Firearm Recovered During a Homicide Investigation in Franklin

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – Justin Gebo will appear before Magistrate Judge Andrea K. Johnstone for an initial appearance in federal court today for being a prohibited person in possession of firearms, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. According to the charging documents, one of the alleged firearms was recovered during a homicide investigation on June 3, 2023 in Franklin, New Hampshire. Gebo, 28, was charged with three counts of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, including (1) being in possession of a firearm while under indictment; (2) being a felon in possession of a firearm; and (3) being a user of illegal drugs in possession of a firearm. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Beckley Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Crime

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Angelo Johnson, 27, of Beckley, pleaded guilty today to aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 13, 2022, Johnson sold a quantity of methamphetamine to a confidential informant, while aided and abetted by another, at a Ewart Avenue residence in Beckley. Johnson admitted to that transaction and further admitted to selling a quantity of methamphetamine to the confidential informant in Daniels on October 31, 2022. Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced on September 29, 2023, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit (BRCDVCU). United States District Judge Frank W. Volk presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Isabell is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:23-cr-13. ###


title: Rebecca C. Lutzko Sworn in as interim United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio

component: USAO - Ohio, Northern

body_text: CLEVELAND – Rebecca C. Lutzko was sworn in today as the interim United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio by United States District Judge Patricia Anne Gaughan at the federal courthouse in Cleveland. “As a career federal prosecutor, I am honored to be selected to lead our dedicated team as we continue working toward making the Northern District a safer and better place to live, and carrying out the mission of the Department of Justice,” said interim United States Attorney Lutzko. “I want to thank President Biden for my nomination, Senators Brown and Vance for their support, and the District Judges of our court for their vote of confidence in me as the confirmation process proceeds through the Senate.” Lutzko was nominated by President Joseph R. Biden on June 7, 2023, and was installed by the United States District Judges in the Northern District of Ohio pending her Senate confirmation. As the interim United States Attorney, Lutzko will supervise the prosecution of federal crimes in the district, including crimes related to public corruption, civil rights violations, white collar crime, child exploitation, terrorism, firearms offenses, narcotics offenses, and more. The office also defends the United States in civil cases and collects debts owed to the United States. The office covers Ohio’s northern 40 counties, which includes Cleveland, Toledo, Akron and Youngstown, and has a staff of approximately 166 employees. Lutzko has served the district as an Assistant United States Attorney since 2005. In this capacity, she has held several leadership and line assistant positions in the office, serving as Chief of the Appeals Unit since 2017 and previously serving as Deputy Chief of the Major Fraud and Corruption Unit from 2010 to 2011. Before becoming an Assistant United States Attorney, Lutzko was an associate at BakerHostetler in Cleveland from 1998 to 2005. She also served as a law clerk for Judge Alice M. Batchelder of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit from 1997 to 1998. Lutzko received her J.D., cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center in 1997 and her B.A., magna cum laude, from Boston University in 1993.


title: U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor Addresses Latin American Judges at Justice Department’s Judicial Studies Institute

component: Department of Justice

body_text: WASHINGTON - Yesterday at the Judicial Studies Institute (JSI) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor virtually addressed 22 judges from Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, and Peru as part of a Department of Justice training program for the judiciaries of the Western Hemisphere. Justice Sotomayor stressed the importance of their contribution to the rule of law in the hemisphere and lauded them for their role in the transformation of Latin American justice. JSI Program Manager Vivian Durieux Rodriguez (third row, far right, standing), Dean of Interamerican University School of Law Julio Fontanet (third row, first on the far left), and JSI Program Analyst Suzette Escamilla Morales (second row, far right, standing) with the 22 participant judges during the special session. With the support of Justice Sotomayor, and in partnership with the Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, the Justice Department’s Office of Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) launched JSI in 2012 as a response to the wave of justice sector reforms in Latin America that saw many countries transition from an inquisitorial to an adversarial system of justice. Through Spanish instruction, practical exercises, and observations of courtroom proceedings, participating judges learned about evidentiary guidelines, the role of judges, courtroom management in an adversarial justice system, human smuggling, and judging without gender bias, among other important topics. This capacity building is critical to the region as there are significant differences between the two judicial system models. For example, in an inquisitorial system, judges investigate charges and determine guilt through written deliberations behind closed doors. In an adversarial system, the judge acts as an impartial referee responsible for weighing evidence and guaranteeing the rights of both the victim and the accused in an open courtroom setting. JSI offers judges practical skills, and JSI alumni become agents of change within their judiciary. Many have been able to impart what they have learned through trainings within their own judiciary system and at OPDAT-sponsored events. Since establishing JSI in 2012, OPDAT and its partners at the University of Puerto Rico and Inter-American University law schools, the Puerto Rico State Judiciary, and the U.S. Federal Judiciary have trained over 1,114 Latin American judges. Please visit www.justice.gov/criminal-opdat for more information about OPDAT’s capacity building efforts around the world. ###


title: Beckley Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Drug Crime

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Kishaun Andre Jones, 23, of Beckley, was sentenced today to three years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for distribution of methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 20, 2021, Jones sold a substance containing methamphetamine to a confidential informant near South Kanawha Street in Beckley. Jones admitted to the transaction and further admitted to selling methamphetamine to the confidential informant on two other occasions in Raleigh County. On February 23, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Jones’ Beckley residence and found quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin as well as three firearms and $6,445. Jones admitted that intended to distribute the controlled substances. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit. United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-64. ###


title: Plaquemines Parish Woman Sentenced for Violating the Federal Controlled Substances Act

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – CALLEIGH AMOS , age 30, a resident of Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, was sentenced on June 8, 2023, to 6 months imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee by U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. AMOS previously pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 846. According to court documents, a Drug Enforcement Administration investigation revealed that AMOS was involved in a narcotics distribution conspiracy with several other co-conspirators between June 8, 2020, and June 5, 2021. As part of the conspiracy, AMOS regularly distributed quantities of methamphetamine. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney J. Benjamin Myers of the Narcotics Unit.


title: Raleigh County Man Sentenced to More than 12 Years in Prison for Federal Drug Crime

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Larry Wayne Meadows, 71, of Shady Spring, was sentenced today to 12 years and seven months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 21, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Meadows’ residence and found approximately 28 grams of methamphetamine, several grams of a heroin and fentanyl mixture, and a large assortment of prescription pills. Meadows admitted that he possessed these drugs with the intent to distribute them. Meadows further admitted to possessing four firearms that officers also found inside his residence. Meadows told officers that he had been distributing about 1 ounce of methamphetamine and 1 ounce of heroin each week for about a year. Meadows’ criminal record includes two prior federal felony convictions for controlled substance offenses. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit (BRCDVCU). United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy D. Boggess and former Assistant United States Attorney Alex Hamner prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-99. ###


title: Greenbrier County Man Sentenced to Prison for Violating Federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act

body_text: BECKLEY, W.Va. – Justin Charles Baker, 35, of Smoot, was sentenced today to one year and one month in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, for failure to provide information related to interstate travel as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). According to court documents and statements made in court, Baker was required to comply with the provisions of SORNA because of his conviction for sexual battery in Cleveland County, North Carolina, Superior Court on July 19, 2021. The conviction involved sexually inappropriate behavior with a 13-year-old relative. Baker was aware of SORNA’s registration requirements. Within two years of his conviction, Baker failed to comply with those requirements in three different states. Baker failed to update his registration in North Carolina before moving to Virginia in August 2021. Baker also failed to update his registration in Virginia before moving from Covington, Virginia, to the area of Smoot, West Virginia, in August 2022. Baker resided and worked in West Virginia from August 2022 until November 29, 2022, and failed to register as a sex offender in West Virginia in violation of the requirements of SORNA. United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the United States Marshals Service (USMS). United States District Judge Frank W. Volk imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald prosecuted the case. SORNA is part of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 and provides a comprehensive set of minimum standards for sex offender registration and notification in the United States. SORNA seeks to strengthen the nationwide network of sex offender registration and notification programs, in part by requiring registered sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction in which they reside, work, or go to school. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:22-cr-226. ###


title: Orange County Doctor Sentenced to More Than 12½ Years in Prison for Prescribing Opioids to ‘Patients’ Whom He Knew Were Addicts

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – An Orange County physician was sentenced today to 151 months in federal prison for illegally distributing opioids and other powerful narcotics by writing prescriptions for “patients” without a legitimate medical purpose. Dr. Dzung Ahn Pham, 61, of Tustin, was sentenced by United States District Judge Josephine L. Staton, who also fined him $35,000, and ordered him immediately remanded into federal custody. Pham pleaded guilty in October 2022 to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Pham owned Irvine Village Urgent Care and conspired with licensed pharmacist Jennifer Thaoyen Nguyen, 52, of Irvine, who operated the Irvine-based Bristol Pharmacy, to illegally distribute narcotics, including opioids. Pham knowingly prescribed oxycodone, hydrocodone, amphetamine salts, and other controlled substances to people while acting outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose, including to people he knew were drug addicts. Because Pham knew that many pharmacies would not fill his prescriptions, he would direct his “patients” to Nguyen, who would fill them. Pham and Nguyen also took steps to attempt to conceal their criminal conspiracy by agreeing to have Pham write prescriptions for non-controlled substances to avoid red flags to the DEA and Nguyen’s wholesaler based on the amount of controlled substances Pham was prescribing and Nguyen was dispensing. In November 2017, Pham wrote prescriptions to a patient, identified in court documents as “S.C.” and whom Pham knew was a drug addict, for more than 700 pills of 30mg oxycodone. To provide more narcotics to S.C., in August 2018, Pham wrote prescriptions for 75 pills of 30mg oxycodone in the name of a person labeled in court documents as “R.C.,” who was S.C.’s wife and who had never seen Pham for any medical appointment. R.C. was unaware that Pham issued the prescription in her name for S.C. As part of the conspiracy, Pham admitted from January 2013 to December 2018, he wrote prescriptions to 18 different “patients” for a total of approximately 53,693 pills of oxycodone, approximately 68,795 pills of hydrocodone, and approximately 29,286 pills of amphetamine salts. According to court documents, Pham abused his trust and authority as a physician to fuel the addiction of drug users in exchange for financial gain. Pham generated large amounts of cash from the operation of Irvine Village Urgent Care by charging between $100 and $150 per office visit, including many times collecting office visit fees in which Pham wrote prescriptions for the “patients” even though they did not even have an office visit. “[Pham], a licensed physician trusted by society and the patients that went to him, stopped treating patients and, plain and simple, became a drug dealer,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum “He turned ‘patients’ into addicts and/or fueled the addictions of drug abusers.” Nguyen pleaded guilty in October 2022 to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. On March 17, Judge Staton sentenced Nguyen to 33 months in federal prison and fined her $10,000. The Drug Enforcement Administration, the California Department of Health Care Services, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the Irvine Police Department investigated this matter. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . Assistant United States Attorneys Brett A. Sagel and Gregory W. Staples of the Santa Ana Branch Office prosecuted this case.


title: Oglala Man Indicted for Aggravated Sexual Abuse and Kidnapping

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted an Oglala, South Dakota, man for three counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse and Kidnapping. Drace Dreaming Bear, age 21, was indicted in March of 2023. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta L. Wollmann on June 7, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction for each charge is life in prison and/or a $250,000 fine, a mandatory minimum of five years up to life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each count of conviction. Restitution may also be ordered. The charges relate to Dreaming Bear kidnapping, confining, and sexually abusing a female at Oglala between December 3 and 4, 2022. The charges are merely accusations and Dreaming Bear is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The investigation is being conducted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen is prosecuting the case. Dreaming Bear was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has been set for August 15, 2023.


title: Tea Woman Charged with Tampering with Consumer Products and Obtaining Controlled Substances by Fraud

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a federal grand jury has indicted a Tea, South Dakota, woman for Tampering with Consumer Products and Obtaining Controlled Substances by Misrepresentation, Fraud, Forgery, Deception, and Subterfuge. Brittany Enstad, age 39, was indicted in June of 2023. She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on June 7, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and up to $800 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered. The Indictment alleges that between on or about July 1, 2022, and December 30, 2022, Enstad, who was employed as a licensed registered nurse at a medical facility, tampered with blister packs containing OxyContin, Hydrocodone Bitartrate, Oxycodone Hydrochloride, and Oxycodone and Acetaminophen, by removing the medications from their blister packs and replacing them with different medications. The Indictment also alleges that during the same period of time, Enstad knowingly and intentionally acquired and obtained OxyContin, Hydrocodone Bitartrate, Oxycodone Hydrochloride, and Oxycodone and Acetaminophen, which are all Schedule II controlled substances. The charges are merely accusations and Enstad is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The investigation is being conducted by the FDA, DEA, HHS-OIG, and Canton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman is prosecuting the case. Enstad was released on bond pending trial, which has not been set.


title: Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Over Five Years in Federal Prison for Bank Robbery

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man, convicted of Bank Robbery. The sentencing took place on June 5, 2023 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Ayub Ibrahim Mohamed, age 23, was sentenced to five years and three months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay $100 as a statutorily required special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Mohamed was indicted for Bank Robbery by a federal grand jury in September of 2022. He pleaded guilty on March 1, 2023. According to court documents, on August 23, 2022, Mohamed entered a Wells Fargo Bank in Sioux Falls, and demanded $200,000 from the tellers. Bank employees complied with Mohamed’s demands, providing $200,000. Mohamed took the bank’s money. Law enforcement responded in short order. Mohamed was apprehended outside of the bank and the money was recovered. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuted the case. Mohamed was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to continue serving his sentence.


title: Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Over Three Years for Felon in Possession of a Firearm

body_text: SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on June 6, 2023, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Richard Paul Olson, age 33, was sentenced to three years and one month in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay $100 as a statutorily required special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and forfeiture of the firearm was ordered by the Court. Olson was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in September of 2022. He pleaded guilty on May 10, 2023. According to court documents, during the execution of a warrant at Olson’s residence on April 21, 2022, law enforcement located a firearm loaded with a round in the chamber and four rounds in the magazine in his residence. Olson was in possession of that firearm, storing it in his nightstand. Olson is prohibited from possessing firearms due to previous felony convictions. This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service, SD Highway Patrol, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuted the case. Olson was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to continue serving his sentence.


title: Four Harrisburg Men Indicted For Trafficking Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, And Firearms Charges

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: HARRISBURG - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Devonte Betts, 29; Rodney McMillian, 41; Lamarr Waters, 34; and Tyreese Nealy, 23 of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, were indicted in a seventeen-count indictment on June 7, 2023, by a federal grand jury on drug trafficking and firearms charges. According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, the indictment alleges that beginning on August 3, 2022, and continuing through May 10, 2023, the four men conspired to distribute and did distribute a significant amount of methamphetamine and fentanyl. The indictment also alleges that Betts, Waters and McMillian trafficked firearms, selling at least seven firearms between October 20, 2022, and February 18, 2023. On the morning of June 8, 2023, in a joint operation among federal, state, and local authorities, each of the defendants were taken into custody based on arrest warrants that had been issued. Authorities also executed numerous search warrants during the operation, and seized eight additional firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, 420 fentanyl pills, cocaine, several pounds of marijuana and materials used to process and traffic narcotics. The four men were arraigned in federal court and their detention was ordered pending further hearings that will take place on June 12, 2023. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, Pennsylvania State Police and the Harrisburg Police Bureau. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul J. Miovas, Jr. is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was also brought in part as a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses. The aggregate maximum penalty under federal law for these offenses is life imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Baltimore Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for the Robbery and Murder of a Drug Dealer

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III today sentenced George Fields, a/k/a “Chin,” age 49, of Baltimore, Maryland, to 25 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit a Hobbs Act robbery and for using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a weapon during and in relation to a crime of violence. The sentence was announced by Erek L. Barron, United States Attorney for the District of Maryland; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department. According to their plea agreements, on September 29, 2020, Fields and co-defendants Joseph Williams and Deron Johnson conspired to rob a 16-year-old of drugs and drug proceeds. Specifically, at approximately 4:24 a.m., Johnson and the victim pulled into the parking lot of a hotel in the 6500 block of Frankford Avenue in Baltimore, where Williams had been staying for several months, selling drugs under a fictitious name. Johnson was working as a “hack” driver and gave the victim a ride to the hotel on the ruse that the victim would be selling drugs to Fields and Williams. As detailed in the plea agreements, Fields and Williams approached Johnson’s van and Fields held out money as though he was ready to make a purchase. Fields and Williams then began robbing the victim while Johnson walked to the rear of the van and smoked. Fields admitted that he pinned the victim down in the front passenger seat of the van and went through his pockets. The victim struggled, flailing his arms and legs. Williams admitted that he then pulled out a handgun and fired a single shot into the victim’s chest at close range. The victim stumbled away from the van and collapsed on the ground. Johnson, Fields, and Williams then got into the van and drove away. A hotel surveillance camera captured the entire incident. The victim died later that day after being taken to the hospital. No drugs, money, or cell phone were recovered from the victim’s personal effects. Later that morning, the conspirators returned to the hotel in Johnson’s van, while police were still processing the scene. Fields, Williams, and Johnson entered the hotel together. Police recognized the van from the hotel surveillance footage and towed the van and detained Johnson. A search warrant was executed on the van and law enforcement recovered a single bullet from the front row carpet. On October 1, 2020, Johnson’s phone was searched and was found to contain evidence of the plan to rob the victim, including text messages between Johnson and Williams, a record of phone calls between Johnson and the victim, a photograph of Johnson with Fields and Williams, and Fields’ contact information was in Johnson’s contacts. Joseph Williams, a/k/a “Blue,” age 33, of Baltimore, previously pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and up to life in prison for using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for the robbery conspiracy. Judge Russell has scheduled sentencing for Williams on July 7, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. On May 24, 2023, co-defendant Deron Johnson, a/k/a “DJ,” age 52, of Baltimore, pleaded guilty to the conspiracy and to committing the robbery. Johnson and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea agreement, Johnson will be sentenced to at between 15 and 20 years in federal prison. Judge Russell has scheduled sentencing for Johnson on September 6, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. 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. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI and the Baltimore Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim Y. Oldham, who is prosecuting the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Former soldier sentenced to 30 years in prison for sexual abuse of young children on military bases including Joint Base Lewis-McChord

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Tacoma – A 40-year-old former soldier was sentenced Thursday, June 8, 2023, to thirty years in prison for raping two young children, announced U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Lewis Patrick Thompson was arrested in July 2020 and pleaded guilty in October 2022. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Bryan ordered Thompson to be on lifetime supervised release following the prison term. According to records filed in the case, the sexual assaults on the young children occurred on military bases overseas and in the U.S. The assaults occurred when Thompson was serving as a caregiver for the children. The children disclosed the abuse to trusted adults when they were 11 years old. Both the Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) and the FBI moved quickly to investigate the matter. Thompson has been incarcerated at the Federal Detention Center at SeaTac, Washington since the arrest. At a future hearing, Judge Bryan will determine the amount of restitution Thompson must pay to the victims for the counseling and care they require due to the abuse. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Matt Hampton.


title: Belligerent Passenger Charged With Interfering With Flight Crew

body_text: A Houston man who menaced a flight crew was charged with a federal crime, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. Marcus Huff, 45, was indicted on April 25 for interference with a flight crew. He was arrested in Houston on Wednesday and made his initial appearance there on Thursday. He will return to the Northern District of Texas for his eventual arraignment. According to court documents, Mr. Huff’s actions forced a Southwest Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Houston to divert to Dallas Love Field. Mr. Huff allegedly threw a drink at one flight attendant, yelled profanities at the entire flight crew, and refused to remain seated during the flight. An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Mr. Huff is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas and Houston Field Offices conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dimitri Rocha is prosecuting the case.


title: San Mateo Company To Pay More Than $1,000,000 For Improperly Seeking And Obtaining Paycheck Protection Program Loans

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – Fujisoft America, Inc., a San Mateo-based subsidiary of Fujisoft Inc., has agreed to pay $1,050,000 to resolve allegations that it knowingly violated the False Claims Act when it applied for, received, and retained two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling $400,000 in violation of PPP rules, announced United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey and Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA OIG) Western Region Acting Special Agent in Charge Keven Standley. “PPP loans were intended as economic lifelines for small businesses during the pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Ramsey. “It is unacceptable for large companies to claim a portion of this limited pool of PPP funds, which was meant for small businesses, in order to enrich themselves at the expense of the American taxpayer. This Office will continue to pursue businesses that misused the program by obtaining PPP loans for which they were not eligible.” “Those who violate the False Claim Act by fraudulently receiving and retaining SBA program funds meant for eligible small businesses will be held accountable,” said SBA OIG’s Western Region Acting Special Agent in Charge Keven Standley. “This settlement sends a strong message that those responsible will be brought to justice. I want to thank the Department of Justice and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and pursuit of justice.” Congress created the PPP in March 2020 as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide emergency financial support to the millions of Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act authorized billions of dollars in forgivable loans to small businesses struggling to pay employees and other business expenses. PPP loan applicants were required to certify that they were in fact small businesses in order to be eligible for PPP loans. Among other things, PPP loan applicants generally were required to certify that they and their affiliates had no more than 500 employees to be eligible for a “first-draw” loan and had no more than 300 employees to be eligible for an additional “second-draw” loan. PPP loan applicants were also required to certify that they had a decrease in revenue of at least 25% from 2019 to 2020 to be eligible for a second-draw loan. Pursuant to the settlement announced today, Fujisoft America acknowledged that it sought and obtained PPP loans in violation of these rules. Fujisoft America’s parent company, Fujisoft Inc, is a publicly-traded company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange; together with its various subsidiaries, Fujisoft Inc. has over 15,000 employees and its earnings have increased steadily between 2019 and 2021—its revenue in 2019 before the pandemic was over $1.6 billion and during the pandemic grew to over $1.7 billion in 2020 and then $1.8 billion in 2021. Fujisoft America nevertheless sought and obtained loans intended for small businesses. As part of the settlement, Fujisoft America, Inc. admitted, among other things, that: • Fujisoft America, Inc. knew that it was not eligible for PPP loans because, with its affiliates, it had more than 500 employees. • In 2020, Fujisoft America, Inc. applied for and received a $250,000 PPP first-draw loan, and subsequently obtained loan forgiveness and retained that $250,000, by falsely certifying that it met the company size restrictions necessary to be eligible for a PPP first-draw loan. • In 2021, Fujisoft America, Inc. applied for and received a $150,000 PPP second-draw loan, and subsequently obtained loan forgiveness and retained that $150,000, by falsely certifying that it met the company size restrictions necessary to be eligible for a PPP second-draw loan. Fujisoft America, Inc. also falsely certified that it had a decrease in revenue in excess of 25% from 2019 to 2020 when, with its affiliates, its revenue from 2019 to 2020 had increased. • As a result of its false claims and false statements, Fujisoft America, Inc. received and retained $400,000 in PPP funds to which it was not entitled. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shiwon Choe handled this matter for the government. The investigation and settlement resulted from a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California and SBA OIG. fsai_settlement_agreement.pdf


title: Three Men Face Federal Charges After Portland Overdose Death

component: USAO - Oregon

body_text: PORTLAND, Ore.—Three Honduran nationals are facing federal drug trafficking charges today after their supply of illicit fentanyl was linked to a fatal overdose in Portland. Manuel Velasquez-Estrejo, 38, Jorge Rivera-Nunez, 27, and Dennis Palma-Hurbina, 23, have been charged by federal criminal complaint with conspiring to possess and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court documents, on the morning of June 7, 2023, a sheriff deputy from the Washington Interagency Narcotics Team (WIN) responded to the scene of a fatal overdose on West Burnside Street in Portland where a deceased victim had been found by her adult son. The victim’s son told investigators that he and his mother had recently purchased around 100 fentanyl pills for $200 from a person later determined to be Velasquez-Estrejo. Later the same day, law enforcement arrested Velasquez-Estrejo in possession of approximately 1,000 multicolored fentanyl pills and two ounces of powdered fentanyl. They also located a motel room key on Velasquez-Estrejo’s person. Further investigation revealed that Velasquez-Estrejo was staying at a motel on Northeast 82 nd Avenue in Portland with two associates identified as Rivera-Nunez and Palma-Hurbina. Investigators surveilled the motel property and arrested Rivera-Nunez and Palma-Hurbina as they were leaving their room. A search of the room returned more than six pounds of powdered fentanyl, 11,295 multicolored counterfeit Oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, and half a pound of methamphetamine. All three defendants made their first appearances in federal court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Youlee Yim You. They were detained pending further court proceedings. This case was jointly investigated by WIN, the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Interdiction Task Force (HIT), Portland Police Bureau, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott M. Kerin and Certified Law Student Kara Blatt for the District of Oregon WIN includes representatives from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Beaverton and Hillsboro Police Departments, Oregon National Guard Counter Drug Program, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and HSI. A criminal complaint is only an accusation of a crime, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: New Jersey Man Sentenced for Transporting Aliens

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Francisco Vidals-Escamilla, age 34, of Garfield, New Jersey, was sentenced today to time served (approximately 221 days in jail) for unlawfully transporting aliens, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Chief Patrol Agent Robert N. Garcia, United States Border Patrol, Swanton Sector. As part of his earlier guilty plea, Vidals-Escamilla admitted that, on or about October 31, 2022, someone offered to pay Vidals-Escamilla $1,100 to pick up four people and bring them to New York City. Vidals-Escamilla drove to a location in or near Churubusco, New York, within about 2.5 miles of the United States-Canadian border. When Vidals-Escamilla arrived, four people were waiting by the side of the road near a wooded area. All four were citizens of Mexico and had unlawfully entered the United States. The people entered Vidals-Escamilla’s car and he drove away. Border Patrol agents stopped Vidals-Escamilla’s car and arrested him a few minutes later. Chief United States District Judge Brenda K. Sannes also imposed a 1-year term of supervised release. The United States Border Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Sutcliffe prosecuted the case.


title: Federal Firearms Licensee Sentenced on Violation of Gun Laws

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Butler, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 45 days imprisonment followed by one-year of supervised release and a $400,000 fine on his conviction of violating federal firearm laws, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today. Chief United States District Judge Mark R. Hornak imposed the sentence on Grant Williams, age 61, of Butler, Pennsylvania. According to information presented to the court, between the dates of March 10, 2021 and March 3, 2022; June 28, 2022 and January 13, 2022; March 6, 2020 and April 26, 2022; July 14, 2021 and October 21, 2021; and June 23, 2020 and January 31, 2022, Williams failed to make entry in a record as a federal firearms dealer. Assistant United States Attorney Brendan J. McKenna prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. Acting United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Williams.


title: Russian Nationals Charged With Hacking One Cryptocurrency Exchange and Illicitly Operating Another

component: Criminal Division

body_text: The Justice Department unsealed charges related to the 2011 hack of the cryptocurrency exchange Mt. Gox and the operation of the illicit cryptocurrency exchange BTC-e. According to court documents, Alexey Bilyuchenko, 43, and Aleksandr Verner, 29, both Russian nationals, are charged with conspiring to launder approximately 647,000 bitcoins from their hack of Mt. Gox. Bilyuchenko is also charged with conspiring with Alexander Vinnik to operate BTC-e from 2011 to 2017. “This announcement marks an important milestone in two major cryptocurrency investigations. As alleged in the indictments, starting in 2011, Bilyuchenko and Verner stole a massive amount of cryptocurrency from Mt. Gox, contributing to the exchange’s ultimate insolvency. Armed with the ill-gotten gains from Mt. Gox, Bilyuchenko allegedly went on to help set up the notorious BTC-e virtual currency exchange, which laundered funds for cyber criminals worldwide,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These indictments highlight the department’s unwavering commitment to bring to justice bad actors in the cryptocurrency ecosystem and prevent the abuse of the financial system.” “As cyber criminals have become more sophisticated in their methods of thievery, our career prosecutors and law enforcement partners, too, have become experts in the latest technologies being abused for malicious purposes,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York. “As alleged, Alexey Bilyuchenko and Aleksandr Verner thought they could outsmart the law by using sophisticated hacks to steal and launder massive amounts of cryptocurrency, a novel technology at the time, but the charges unsealed demonstrate our ability to tenaciously pursue these alleged criminals, no matter how complex their schemes, until they are brought to justice.” “For years, Bilyuchenko and his co-conspirators allegedly operated a digital currency exchange that enabled criminals around the world – including computer hackers, ransomware actors, narcotics rings, and corrupt public officials – to launder billions of dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey for the Northern District of California. “The Department of Justice will work tirelessly to identify cyber criminals, no matter where they are. And Bilyuchenko and his co-conspirators will learn that the Department of Justice has long arms and an even longer memory for crimes that harm our communities.” Southern District of New York indictment According to court documents unsealed in the Southern District of New York (SDNY), in or about September 2011, Bilyuchenko, Verner, and their co-conspirators allegedly gained unauthorized access to the server holding the cryptocurrency wallets for Mt. Gox. At the time, Mt. Gox was the largest Bitcoin exchange in existence, servicing thousands of users worldwide. Mt. Gox stored the cryptocurrency wallets containing its customers’ bitcoin, and the corresponding private keys used to authorize bitcoin transfers from those wallets, on a computer server in Japan. “The FBI will continue to work with our U.S. government and international partners to relentlessly pursue and disrupt malicious cyber actors wherever they may reside,” said Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “When cyber criminals engage in fraudulent activity, such as hacking and illicitly operating cryptocurrency exchanges, it is critical that we impose cost on the bad actors and ensure they face justice.” Bilyuchenko, Verner, and their co-conspirators allegedly used their unauthorized access to Mt. Gox’s server to fraudulently cause bitcoin to be transferred from Mt. Gox’s wallets to bitcoin addresses controlled by Bilyuchenko, Verner, and their co-conspirators. From September 2011 through at least May 2014, Bilyuchenko, Verner, and their co-conspirators allegedly caused the theft of at least approximately 647,000 bitcoins from Mt. Gox, representing the vast majority of the bitcoins belonging to Mt. Gox’s customers. Bilyuchenko, Verner, and their co-conspirators allegedly laundered the bulk of the bitcoins stolen through Mt. Gox principally through bitcoin addresses associated with accounts Bilyuchenko, Verner, and their co-conspirators controlled at two other online bitcoin exchanges. “Cryptocurrency offers a new way for criminals to steal and launder money, but greed and deceit are nothing new,” said Chief Jim Lee of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). “IRS-CI is specially equipped to follow the complex financial trail left by criminals, and we are dedicated to holding those accountable for crimes committed. IRS-CI is proud to stand with our law enforcement partners to announce this indictment.” In furtherance of the money laundering scheme, in or about April 2012, Bilyuchenko, Verner, and their co-conspirators allegedly negotiated and entered into a fraudulent contract (the “Advertising Contract”) to provide purported advertising services to a Bitcoin brokerage service based in the Southern District of New York (the “New York Bitcoin Broker”). Under the guise of the Advertising Contract, in order to conceal and liquidate the bitcoins stolen from Mt. Gox, Bilyuchenko and Verner allegedly made regular requests to the owner and operator of the New York Bitcoin Broker to make large wire transfers into various offshore bank accounts, including in the names of shell corporations, controlled by Bilyuchenko, Verner, and their co-conspirators. In accordance with these requests, between in or about March 2012 and in or about April 2013, the New York Bitcoin Broker allegedly transferred more than approximately $6.6 million to overseas bank accounts controlled by Bilyuchenko, Verner, and their co-conspirators. In exchange for the wire transfers, the New York Bitcoin Broker allegedly received “credit” on Exchange-1, through which Bilyuchenko, Verner, and their co-conspirators allegedly laundered more than 300,000 of the bitcoins stolen from Mt. Gox. The fraudulent Advertising Contract with the New York Bitcoin Broker allegedly enabled Bilyuchenko, Verner, and their co-conspirators to conceal and liquidate bitcoins stolen through the Mt. Gox Hack. Mt. Gox ceased operations in 2014 after the theft was revealed. Northern District of California indictment According to court documents unsealed in the Northern District of California (NDCA), Bilyuchenko allegedly worked with Vinnik and others to operate the BTC-e exchange from 2011 until it was shut down by law enforcement in July 2017. During that time period, BTC-e was one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges and was one of the primary ways by which cyber criminals around the world transferred, laundered, and stored the criminal proceeds of their illegal activities. BTC-e served over one million users worldwide, moving millions of bitcoin worth of deposits and withdrawals, and processing billions of dollars’ worth of transactions. BTC-e received criminal proceeds of numerous computer intrusions and hacking incidents, ransomware events, identity theft schemes, corrupt public officials, and narcotics distribution rings. “The Secret Service has a long tradition of pursuing and bringing to justice those who aim to exploit our financial systems and target innocent victims,” said Special Agent in Charge William Mancino of the U.S. Secret Service’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Working together with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, we will continue to investigate criminal organizations that operate in the ever-evolving cyber domain.” “Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) continues to investigate cyber criminals illicitly operating in virtual spaces, and we are proud to have worked collaboratively with our law enforcement partners to bring these two individuals to justice,” said Acting Executive Associate Director Katrina W. Berger of HSI. “Our special agents continue to investigate transnational criminal organizations operating in emerging technologies, leveraging our broad authorities to identify, and dismantle those behind sophisticated crypto-scams.” The SDNY indictment charges Bilyuchenko and Verner with conspiracy to commit money laundering. The NDCA indictment charges Bilyuchenko with money laundering conspiracy and operating an unlicensed money services business. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit is handling the SDNY case. The FBI and IRS-CI are investigating the case and SDNY Assistant U.S. Attorney Olga I. Zverovich is prosecuting the case. The Corporate and Securities Fraud Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California and the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) are handling the NDCA case. The FBI; IRS-CI Oakland Field Office and Cyber Crime Unit in Washington, D.C.; U.S. Secret Service Criminal Investigative Division; and HSI are investigating the case. CCIPS Trial Attorney C. Alden Pelker and NDCA Assistant U.S. Attorney Claudia Quiroz, both members of the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team, and NDCA Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Lloyd-Lovett are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided invaluable assistance. A criminal indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Pharmacist Convicted for $1M Opioid Distribution Conspiracy

body_text: A federal jury in the Southern District of Texas convicted a Texas pharmacist today for conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense opioids and maintaining a drug-involved premises. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from May 2018 to August 2019, Sokari “Momma” Bobmanuel, 63, of Houston, was the owner and pharmacist-in-charge of Cornerstone Rx Pharmacy, which illegally distributed nearly 160,000 opioid pills, including oxycodone and hydrocodone. Bobmanuel, through Cornerstone, distributed controlled substances outside the scope of professional practice, and without a legitimate medical purpose, to individuals who bought prescriptions in the names of other people. These individuals then sold the pills they bought from Cornerstone on the black market. Bobmanuel charged exorbitant prices for her pills – often over $1,000 for a single oxycodone prescription – generating over $1 million from the scheme. The jury convicted Bobmanuel on one count of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense controlled substances and one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises. Her sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 20 and she faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. To date, 11 other defendants, including a physician and two nurse practitioners, have pleaded guilty to the conspiracy. Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas, Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the DEA Houston Division, and Special Agent in Charge James Smith of the FBI Houston Field Office made the announcement. The DEA Houston Division and FBI investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Emily Petro, Monica Cooper, Ariel Glasner, and Courtney Chester of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Bauman for the Southern District of Texas is handling forfeiture.


title: U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor Addresses Latin American Judges at Justice Department’s Judicial Studies Institute

body_text: Yesterday at the Judicial Studies Institute (JSI) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor virtually addressed 22 judges from Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, and Peru as part of a Department of Justice training program for the judiciaries of the Western Hemisphere. Justice Sotomayor stressed the importance of their contribution to the rule of law in the hemisphere and lauded them for their role in the transformation of Latin American justice. JSI Program Manager Vivian Durieux Rodriguez (third row, far right, standing), Dean of Interamerican University School of Law Julio Fontanet (third row, first on the far left), and JSI Program Analyst Suzette Escamilla Morales (second row, far right, standing) with the 22 participant judges during the special session. With the support of Justice Sotomayor, and in partnership with the Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, the Justice Department’s Office of Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) launched JSI in 2012 as a response to the wave of justice sector reforms in Latin America that saw many countries transition from an inquisitorial to an adversarial system of justice. Through Spanish instruction, practical exercises, and observations of courtroom proceedings, participating judges learned about evidentiary guidelines, the role of judges, courtroom management in an adversarial justice system, human smuggling, and judging without gender bias, among other important topics. This capacity building is critical to the region as there are significant differences between the two judicial system models. For example, in an inquisitorial system, judges investigate charges and determine guilt through written deliberations behind closed doors. In an adversarial system, the judge acts as an impartial referee responsible for weighing evidence and guaranteeing the rights of both the victim and the accused in an open courtroom setting. JSI offers judges practical skills, and JSI alumni become agents of change within their judiciary. Many have been able to impart what they have learned through trainings within their own judiciary system and at OPDAT-sponsored events. Since establishing JSI in 2012, OPDAT and its partners at the University of Puerto Rico and Inter-American University law schools, the Puerto Rico State Judiciary, and the U.S. Federal Judiciary have trained over 1,114 Latin American judges. Please visit www.justice.gov/criminal-opdat for more information about OPDAT’s capacity building efforts around the world.


title: Man Sentenced for Sex Trafficking of Minors

body_text: A Pennsylvania man was sentenced today to 25 years in prison for trafficking four minors in Philadelphia. According to court documents, from at least February 2016 to 2017, Andre Felts, 35, of Philadelphia, led a prostitution ring and trafficked at least four minors ranging in age from 15 to 17 years old. Felts kept a significant portion of the money paid to the minor victims and he and others, at his direction, posted advertisements on the internet for commercial sex with the minors, provided transportation to and from sexual encounters, and identified locations for commercial sex acts to occur. His co-defendants, Ryan Keel and Kevin Francis, allowed Felts to use their homes for commercial sex encounters with the minors in exchange for a portion of the proceeds. On one occasion, Felts assaulted a minor victim. Felts was also sentenced to a lifetime of supervised release. On May 31, Keel was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. On July 27, 2022, Kevin Francis was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. All three defendants were ordered to jointly pay $235,000 in restitution to the victims as part of their sentences. Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division made the announcement. The FBI investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Gwendelynn Bills and Jessica Urban of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexandra Lastowski and Priya De Souza for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the 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 www.justice.gov/psc .


title: District Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Assaulting 11-Year Old

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON - Dwayne L. Curtis, Sr., 61, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to sexually assaulting an 11-year old girl in January of 2021, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Interim Chief Ashan Benedict, of the Metropolitan Police Department. Curtis, Sr. pleaded guilty to one count of first degree child sexual abuse, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, before the Honorable Michael K. O’Keefe who scheduled sentencing for August 11, 2023. Curtis admitted that between January 12 and January 14, 2021, he twice engaged the child in a sex act at his home in Northwest Washington, D.C. As part of his guilty plea, the parties agreed that Curtis should be sentenced to 180 months in prison, with half of that time suspended. They also agreed that, upon his release from prison, he will be on supervised probation for five years, and will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. The sentence is pending the court’s approval. In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Graves and Interim Chief Benedict commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the work of those who handled the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocate Veronica Vaughan; paralegal Garcia Clarke; former paralegal Brenda Williams; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter V. Taylor, who prosecuted the matter.


title: District Man Arrested in Shooting Death of 62-year-old man

body_text: WASHINGTON – Demarcus Barnett, 20, of Washington, D.C., was arrested yesterday for second degree murder while armed, stemming from the shooting death of 62-year-old Lasanta Qumar McGill, on June 8, 2023, in the Westminster neighborhood, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Interim Chief Ashan Benedict, of the Metropolitan Police Department announced. Mr. Barnett was arraigned today in Superior Court in the District of Columbia, where he entered a not guilty plea. The court found probable cause that the defendant committed the murder and held him without bond pending a preliminary hearing on June 20, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Raffinan. An arrest on a complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty. In announcing the arrest, U.S. Attorney Graves commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.


title: Justice Department Announces Improvements to Conditions in Erie County Holding Center and Erie County Correctional Facility

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that it has joined with Erie County, New York, to request that the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York terminate the consent decree regarding the Erie County Holding Center and the Erie County Correctional Facility. The county successfully achieved substantial compliance with the decree and maintained compliance for more than 18 months, as required by the decree. If the U.S. District Court grants the parties’ joint motion, it will end federal compliance monitoring and return oversight of the facilities back to the county. “Under the consent decree, Erie County made fundamental improvements to conditions in the Erie County Holding Center and the Erie County Correctional Facility,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Although the Erie County facilities continue to face the same challenges as other jails in caring and treating for people with serious medical and mental health issues, more than a decade of hard work has significantly improved how care and treatment is provided inside these facilities. The Civil Rights Division will continue to prioritize addressing and improving conditions inside jails and prisons across the country.” The department brought this case under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), which prohibits a pattern or practice of deprivation of constitutional rights of individuals confined to state or local government-run correctional facilities. Specifically, the department found systemic deficiencies related to suicide prevention, medical care and mental health care which resulted in preventable death of incarcerated individuals. The facilities also had fundamentally inadequate policies and practices related to the use of force and the protection of incarcerated individuals from violence and sexual misconduct. These problems were exacerbated by a flawed housing classification system. Since the District Court entered the consent decree in August 2011, the county has made substantial progress in the facilities’ medical and mental health programs, protection of incarcerated individuals from harm, and environmental health and safety. For example: The county has established a Medical Review Committee that oversees the implementation of medical policies and procedures, performs quarterly quality management reviews of the sick call process and analyzes medical data to ensure access to quality care. The county has developed a Stabilization Treatment Unit designed for the therapeutic benefit of individuals with serious mental illness. In addition, the county has implemented provisions of the consent decree requiring constant observation and frequent assessments by mental health professionals for individuals requiring a crisis level of care, who may be at risk of suicide. This program is overseen by a constant observation treatment team, which reviews the cases of all individuals in the program as well as those recently discharged. The county implemented a detox program administered by a nurse practitioner with specialized training on the management of this high-risk population. The detox program recently added a Medication-Assisted Treatment program, which addresses potentially life-threatening risks for individuals experiencing opiate withdrawal. The county appointed a senior-level staff person to serve as the sexual abuse prevention coordinator and supervise improvements in policies, staff training and education of incarcerated individuals. The county improved its staff training on use of force, and all uses of force are now reported to the New York State Commission of Correction. These reports are then reviewed by an independent auditor to ensure they are consistent with accepted correctional practices. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt/special-litigation-section . Individuals who believe their civil rights may have been violated may file a complaint at www.civilrights.justice.gov .


title: Midway Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - Arkansas, Western

body_text: FAYETTEVILLE –A Midway, Arkansas, man was sentenced on June 7, 2023, to 240 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release on one count of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. The Honorable Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearing for the United States District Court in Fayetteville. According to court documents, on September 8, 2022, investigators with the State of Arkansas 14 th Judicial District Drug Task Force assisted Arkansas Department of Community Corrections Parole Officers with a search of the residence of Bobby Joe Amescua Gray, II , age 34, in Midway, Arkansas. Upon the arrival of investigators, Gray attempted to flee out of the rear of the residence but was quicky apprehended. Gray’s vehicle was searched, resulting in the discovery of 4.467 kilograms of 100% pure methamphetamine, a firearm, packaging and scales associated with methamphetamine sales and over $5,000 in United States Currency derived from methamphetamine sales. U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement. The State of Arkansas 14 th Judicial District Drug Task Force and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Carter prosecuted the case for the United States. Today’s announcement is part of the Western District of Arkansas’ Operation Home on Ice, which is part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program. The OCDETF program is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s drug supply reduction strategy. OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multilevel attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illicit drug supply. Related court documents may be found on the Public Access to Electronic Records website @ www.pacer.gov , WDAR Case No. 3:22 CR 30013-001.


title: Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Illegal Possession of a Firearm

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – A Minneapolis felon has been sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for illegally possessing a firearm as an armed career criminal, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, on October 30, 2022, the Brooklyn Center Police Department located a vehicle that had previously been used to flee from law enforcement. Three people were inside the vehicle, including Kevin Ronnell Lynch, 55, who was seated alone in the backseat. During a pat down search of the driver, the officers observed Lynch moving around inside the vehicle. The officers removed Lynch from the vehicle and recovered a loaded firearm from his jacket. The recovered firearm was a Ruger model EC9 semiautomatic pistol. At the time of his arrest, Lynch was on pretrial release for two other firearm-related offenses. Since 1986, Lynch has at least 14 felony convictions, including for aggravated robbery, assault, domestic violence, and terroristic threats. On February 2, 2023, Lynch pleaded guilty to felon in possession of a firearm as an armed career criminal. Lynch was sentenced yesterday to 15 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson. This case was the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Brooklyn Center Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan L. Sing prosecuted the case.


title: Wagoner County Homicide Sentencings Completed

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Martha Christine Simpson, age 46, of Henryetta, Oklahoma, Jabaica Lee Tecumseh, age 43, of Morris, Oklahoma, and Tommy Glen Tecumseh, age 36, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a 2019 homicide. Simpson was sentenced to 99 months for Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country. Tommy Glen Tecumseh was sentenced to 120 months for one count of Murder in Indian Country. Jabaica Lee Tecumseh was sentenced to 169 months for one count of Murder in Indian Country. The charges arose from investigations by the Broken Arrow Police Department, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On May 4, 2022, a federal jury found Simpson guilty of one count of Voluntary Manslaughter in Indian Country. During the trial, the United States presented evidence that on July 15, 2019, Jabaica Lee Tecumseh and Tommy Glen Tecumseh beat the victim before Simpson fatally stabbed him in the neck. The crime occurred in Wagoner County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation. Tommy Glen Tecumseh and Jabaica Lee Tecumseh each pleaded guilty to Murder in Indian Country in February of 2021. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings in Muskogee. The defendants were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve non-paroleable sentences of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States at the sentencing.


title: Wagoner County Resident Sentenced For Manslaughter In Indian Country

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Lonnie Leonard Swarer, III, age 25, of Wagoner County, Oklahoma, was sentenced to probation for Manslaughter in Indian Country. The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On May 17, 2022, Swarer entered a guilty plea to one count of Manslaughter in Indian Country. During the plea hearing, Swarer admitted that on June 13, 2020, he lost control of his vehicle while doing a burnout and crashed into another vehicle. A passenger in Swarer’s vehicle was killed in the collision. The crime occurred in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation Reservation. The Honorable John. F. Heil, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma in Muskogee, presided over the sentencing.


title: Spiro Resident Sentenced For Manslaughter

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Hunter Caleb Spence, age 20, of Spiro, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 42 months for manslaughter. The charges arose from investigations by the Poteau Police Department, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. On March 9, 2022, Spence pleaded guilty to a Superseding Indictment charging him with one count of Manslaughter in Indian Country for killing another while operating a motor vehicle under the influence of one or more intoxicating substances. On October 28, 2020, Spence flipped his car on US Highway 270, near Wister, Oklahoma while attempting to pass another vehicle. A passenger in Spence’s vehicle was ejected and died. Spence admitted to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper investigating the scene that he had smoked marijuana prior to the crash. Blood tests confirmed the presence of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in his system. The crime occurred in Leflore County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation and within the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Charles B. Goodwin, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the hearing in Oklahoma City. Spence will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States at the sentencing.


title: Muskogee Resident Sentenced For Federal Firearm Crime

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

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Nika Daniel Alexander, age 20, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 84 months for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The charge arose from investigations by the Muskogee Police Department, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. On October 21, 2021, Alexander pleaded guilty to one count of Use, Carry, and Brandish of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence. During the plea hearing, Alexander admitted that he participated in a robbery, during which he beat the victim, held a shotgun to his head, and took his wallet, necklace, and cell phone. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted this case because the defendant is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crime occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation and the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Timothy D. DeGiusti, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting by assignment, presided over the sentencing hearing in Oklahoma City. Alexander will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney T. Cameron McEwen represented the United States.


title: Omaha Man Sentenced as Felon in Possession of a Firearm

body_text: United States Attorney Steven A. Russell announced that Jermaine L. Lewis, 24, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha for being a prohibited person (felon) in possession of a firearm. Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr., sentenced Lewis to 43 months imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After his federal sentence is complete, Lewis will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. On May 7, 2021, officers observed several parties congregating at an abandoned Omaha residence, including Lewis. While there, Lewis reached into the passenger side of a car and appeared to wrap an unknown item inside the car. Lewis then appeared to bend down outside the vehicle near the front porch. Later that evening, shot spotter alerted law enforcement to 35 shots fired near a residence within 400 feet of the abandoned residence. Digital surveillance showed that Lewis’ car was at the residence during this time. Officers discovered a rifle and box of ammunition concealed in a blanket under the front porch of the abandoned residence. On May 8, 2021, officers saw Lewis’ car arrive at the abandoned residence and observed him walking up to the house and bending down to look for the rifle. On July 12, 2021, officers submitted swabs taken from the rifle to the University of Nebraska Medical Center DNA lab, which compared it to a buccal swab taken from Lewis. The DNA results concluded that Lewis could not be excluded as a contributor, and that it was eleven thousand times more likely to be his DNA than that of another unrelated individual. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.