title: November Federal Grand Jury 2024-B Indictments Announced

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Northern

body_text: United States Attorney Clint Johnson today announced the results of the November Federal Grand Jury 2024-B Indictments. The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury. The return of an indictment is a method of informing a defendant of alleged violations of federal law, which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome a defendant’s presumption of innocence. Tony Eugene Bahe. Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute; Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute; Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime; Felon in Possession of a Firearm; Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises. Bahe, 37, of Tulsa and a member of the Cherokee Nation, is charged with knowingly possessing fentanyl, cocaine, and more than 500 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. He allegedly possessed a firearm while drug trafficking and was previously convicted of felonies that prohibited possession of a firearm. Additionally, Bahe is charged for maintaining two separate residences for drug distribution. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mandy M. Mackenzie is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-364 Clinton Dewayne Collins. Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Collins, 56, transient, is charged with possessing a firearm, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew P. Cyran is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-366 Wilmer Henry Cummings, Jr. Failure to Disclose an Event Affecting Supplemental Security Income Benefit Payments; Theft of Government Property. Cummings, 66, of Tulsa, is charged with intent to receive unauthorized payments by failing to disclose the death of a spouse. Cummings is further charged with stealing and disposing of more than $4k in unauthorized payments from the Social Security Administration and the IRS. The SSA Office of the Inspector General is the investigative agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheryl L. Baber is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-357 Justin Scott Graham. Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition. Graham, 42, of Jenks, is charged with possessing a firearm and ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Brandon is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-362 Kial Deawuan Logan. Felon in Possession of Ammunition. Logan, 43, of Muskogee, is charged with possessing ammunition, knowing he was previously convicted of felonies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Hockenbury is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-373 Jose Jesus Lozano-Gonzalez. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Lozano-Gonzalez, 25, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Feb. 2022. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Harris is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-374 Francisco Luevanos. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Luevanos, 52, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Feb. 2018. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Harris is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-375 Angel Ruiz-Mosqueda. Unlawful Reentry of a Removed Alien. Ruiz-Mosqueda, 38, a Mexican national, is charged with unlawfully reentering the United States after having been removed in Mar. 2017. U.S. Immigration and Custom’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Goodrum is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-376 Anthony Clay Russell. First Degree Murder in Indian Country; Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Russell, 32, of Tulsa and a member of the Osage Nation, is charged with maliciously killing Tasha Shepard on Oct. 22, 2024. He is further charged with discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam D. McConney and John Brasher are prosecuting the case. 24-CR-365 Devin James Woodis. Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor; Receipt and Distribution of Child Pornography. Woodis, 23, of Tulsa, is charged with attempting to coerce and entice a minor child to engage in sexual activity. He is additionally charged with knowingly receiving, possessing, and distributing visual images and videos depicting the sexual abuse of children. Homeland Security Investigations and the Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-358 Zane Patrick Yargee. First Degree Murder in Indian Country; Causing Death by Using and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Yargee, 30, of Tulsa and a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, is charged with maliciously killing Dusten Fuentes in Jun. 2016. He is further charged with causing death by discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen N. Scaife and Dennis Fries is prosecuting the case. 24-CR-359


title: Spring resident sent to prison for embezzling nearly $1M from local HVAC company

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A 52-year-old woman has been sentenced in a wire fraud embezzlement scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Sonia Yvonne Rodriguez pleaded guilty Aug. 15. U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett has now ordered Rodriguez to serve 23 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by one year of supervised release. At the hearing, the victim testified that the defendant, once considered one of her best friends, had deeply betrayed her. “This sentencing sends a clear message that those who abuse positions of trust for personal gain will face serious consequences,” said Hamdani. “Embezzlement schemes like this not only harm businesses financially but also shatter personal and professional relationships built on trust. We remain committed to holding offenders accountable and seeking justice for victims.” For approximately 26 years, Sonia Yvonne Rodriguez worked as an office manager for a local heating, ventilating and air-conditioning company. At the time of her plea, Rodriguez admitted to embezzling $938,387.26 in business funds allocated for federal tax payments from 2015 to 2020. Rodriguez would key payments into the company’s accounting software for tax payments and subsequently clear out the payments from the check register upon making the payments into her personal bank account. She was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The Secret Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sherin Daniel and James Hu prosecuted the case.


title: Jamaican National Sentenced to Prison for Illegally Reentering U.S.

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JASON CASTON WILLIAMS, also known as Jason Fitzgerald and Terry Barrington Stewart, 51, a citizen of Jamaica, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to 30 months of imprisonment for illegally reentering the United States after being deported. According to court documents and statements made in court, Williams was admitted to the U.S. as a Lawful Permanent Resident in October 1982. In June 1991, Williams was convicted in Connecticut state court of robbery in the second degree. He received a sentence of 10 years of imprisonment, execution suspended, and five years of probation for that offense. He subsequently violated his probation and, in March 1997, was sentenced to three years of imprisonment. In September 1997, Williams was convicted in New York of burglary second degree and criminal possession of a weapon, and received a sentence or 30 months to five years of imprisonment. In May 2001, after an immigration judge ordered Williams removed, he was deported to Jamaica. Williams unlawfully returned to the U.S. and, on October 20, 2022, was arrested by Norwalk Police and charged with second-degree assault related to his use of a knife to assault another individual. On October 11, 2023, he was convicted of that charge and sentenced to five years of imprisonment, suspended after two years, and three years of probation. On September 11, 2024, Williams pleaded guilty in federal court to illegal reentry. He has completed his state sentence and is now in federal custody. This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shan Patel.


title: Co-Owner of Westfield Transport, Inc. Sentenced for Charges Stemming from 2019 Crash That Killed Seven Motorcyclists

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A former owner of the now-defunct Westfield Transport, Inc., was sentenced today on federal charges related to a June 2019 collision involving one of the company’s vehicles that caused the deaths of seven motorcyclists in New Hampshire. Dunyadar Gasanov, a/k/a Damien Gasanov, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to two months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised release, during which he is prohibited from driving commercially. The government recommended a sentence of one year in prison. In August 2024 , the defendant pleaded guilty to three counts of making false statements to federal investigators. He was indicted in February 2021 along with co-defendant Dartanyan Gasanov. “Today’s sentencing brings a measure of accountability for the defendant’s reckless and illegal actions. By falsifying safety records and lying to investigators, this defendant put profits over public safety, with potentially devastating consequences,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Adhering to federal safety regulations is critical to protecting public safety and our office is committed to holding accountable anyone who flouts them in this manner. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the victims’ families and loved ones as they continue to endure the aftermath of this tragedy." “The sentence announced today reinforces that there are real consequences for those who endanger the safety of the traveling public by flagrantly circumventing federal laws and regulations,” said Christopher A. Scharf, Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Northeastern Region. “We hold in our thoughts the loved ones affected by the tragedy that occurred in 2019, as we continue our work to support safety on our nation’s roads.” According to court filings, the defendant owned now-defunct Westfield Transport, Inc. – a for-hire interstate motor carrier that transported vehicles primarily in the northeastern United States. On June 18, 2019, Dunyadar Gasanov hired a driver despite knowing that the driver had a history of operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. On June 21, 2019, on his first trip as an employee for Westfield Transport, the driver was involved in a crash that killed seven motorcyclists in New Hampshire. A subsequent investigation revealed that, from May 3, 2019 to June 23, 2019, Dunyadar Gasanov and, allegedly, Dartanyan Gasanov falsified driving logs in order to evade federal regulations designed to ensure the safety of roadways and drivers. Dunyadar Gasanov instructed at least one Westfield Transport employee to falsify records, thereby exceeding the number of permissible driving hours, and then made false statements to federal inspectors regarding the manipulation of recording devices that track drivers’ on and off duty hours in order to evade regulations. Additionally, Dunyadar Gasanov falsely stated to inspectors that he met the driver involved in the June 2019 fatal crash driver on the day he had hired him. In fact, Dunyadar Gasanov had known the driver for years prior and knew that the driver had been charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol years before. Dartanyan Gasanov has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial. Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and DOT OIG SAC Scharf made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil L. Desroches of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Jacksonville Man Pleads Guilty For Role In Drive-By Shooting On I-95 In St. Johns County

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that James Toney (19, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana, committing a drive-by shooting in furtherance of a major drug offense, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Toney faces a minimum sentence of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. Toney has also agreed to forfeit $1,000, which represents illicit proceeds derived from drug trafficking. According to court documents, between October 2022 and July 2024, Toney served as an armed distributor for a Jacksonville-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) operated and led by Toney’s brother, Nathaniel Hatcher, III. The DTO trafficked bulk marijuana from Northern California to Jacksonville by smuggling marijuana on commercial airlines, shipping marijuana through the U.S. mail system, and transporting marijuana by vehicle across state lines. Once the marijuana arrived in Jacksonville, Toney and other DTO members transported the marijuana to various short-term rental homes throughout Jacksonville. Members of the DTO rented these homes to store, package, and distribute the marijuana. Toney and other members of the DTO routinely carried and possessed firearms at these residences to protect themselves, their drugs, and their drug proceeds during drug sales. Federal agents determined that Toney was responsible for trafficking between 100 and 400 kilograms of marijuana during the conspiracy. In addition to trafficking, transporting, smuggling, and selling marijuana, Toney was also responsible for carrying out violence on behalf of the DTO. On September 18, 2023, Toney and other DTO members arranged a drug transaction with subjects they had met that evening in Jacksonville. The drug transaction, which occurred at a gas station along Old St. Augustine Road, failed. The other subjects never provided the promised marijuana, and instead, stole approximately $45,000 in cash from Hatcher and Toney. After the failed drug transaction, Hatcher contacted a former police officer who illegally accessed law enforcement databases to provide Hatcher with the names and home addresses of the subjects who had stolen the money. In the following days, Toney and other DTO members tracked, surveilled, and cyberstalked the other subjects and their family members. In text messages, Toney and others discussed and plotted retaliation for the robbery, including committing acts of violence. On October 17, 2023, Toney traveled to the Duval County courthouse for a scheduled court date in an unrelated pending criminal matter. Toney and other DTO members were aware that one of the subjects from the September 18 drug transaction also had a court hearing that day for a separate criminal matter. After court concluded, Hatcher, Toney, and other DTO members surveilled this subject as he exited the Duval County courthouse, accompanied by a female, and enter his white sedan. Hatcher, Toney, and other DTO members, operating multiple vehicles, including a red sedan and a gray SUV, followed the white sedan from downtown Jacksonville to I-95, traveling southbound toward St. Johns County. Toney was traveling in the red vehicle and Hatcher was traveling in the gray SUV. At approximately 11:20 a.m., during the pursuit along I-95 South, the red and gray vehicles boxed the white sedan into the left lane of traffic. Then, individuals from the red and gray vehicles discharged dozens of rounds of 7.62 caliber ammunition at the white sedan. Following the shooting, the red and gray vehicles fled the scene. Deputies with the St. Johns County Sheriffs’ Office and emergency medical personnel arrived on scene and secured the area. The driver of the white sedan, who was the male subject from the courthouse, sustained one gunshot wound but survived and was airlifted to a trauma unit. The front passenger of the white sedan, the female subject from the courthouse, suffered injuries from broken glass. Emergency personnel also transported her to a nearby hospital. The white sedan sustained gunshots to the passenger side, the rear, the front and hood, the front windshield, the interior, and the engine block. On scene, deputies recovered approximately 25 spent 7.62 caliber shell casings. According to ballistics analyses, two different firearms were used during the shooting. On June 28, 2024, federal agents secured a criminal complaint for Toney based on his alleged role in the drug conspiracy. On July 3, 2024, federal agents and detectives with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office attempted to arrest Toney on the federal warrant, but Toney and an associate fled, and a high-speed chase ensued through populated areas of Jacksonville. Toney ultimately escaped and fled to Gainesville. On July 8, 2024, agents located Toney in Jacksonville and arrested him. In Toney’s possession was his cellphone and $1,000 in cash. Toney’s co-defendant, Al’Donta Easterling, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He faces a minimum of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison. Hatcher’s case is pending, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Highway Patrol. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Aakash Singh and Kirwinn Mike. This case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. 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 www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: U.S. Trustee Program Prevails on Motion to Dismiss Nine Related Cases for Lack of Good Faith

component: U.S. Trustee Program

body_text: The United States Trustee Program (USTP) recently obtained dismissal of nine related bankruptcy cases involving a chain of fitness businesses that lacked a good-faith basis for seeking bankruptcy relief. On October 2, the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Kansas entered an order dismissing the cases of Blush Bootcamp LLC and eight affiliates based on a motion filed by the USTP’s office in Wichita, Kansas. The debtors and their owners engaged in a tangled web of transfers both before and after bankruptcy, using some of the companies’ income to cover others’ debts and commingling funds across multiple accounts without regard to corporate formalities. Some of the companies had stopped operating, leaving no business to rehabilitate. Some entities lacked insurance to protect their assets, and none had workers’ compensation coverage. And the owners—a married couple—each drew a monthly salary of $12,500 out of the bankrupt companies even though they also operated two cash-positive entities that did not file for bankruptcy. The debtors filed their cases under the streamlined provisions of subchapter V, which provides eligible small businesses with a more flexible, efficient and cost-effective path through chapter 11. The USTP plays an integral role in administering subchapter V cases in accordance with the Bankruptcy Code. This includes seeking dismissal or conversion of cases to chapter 7 liquidations when warranted, and raising objections to eligibility and confirmation of a plan of reorganization when appropriate. “Subchapter V was designed to help debtors remain in business, so long as they abide by the Bankruptcy Code’s requirements,” said Director Tara Twomey of the Executive Office for U.S. Trustees. “Unfortunately, these entities did not follow the requirements and there was no reasonable likelihood of rehabilitation.” The USTP’s mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders – debtors, creditors and the public. The USTP consists of 21 regions with 89 field offices nationwide and an Executive Office in Washington, D.C. Learn more about the USTP at www.justice.gov/ust .


title: Orleans Parish Man Sentenced For Federal Gun Control Act Violations

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

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – JAMAUR JOHNSON (“JOHNSON”) , age 36, of New Orleans, was sentenced on November 20, 2024, by United States District Judge Sarah S. Vance, after previously pleading guilty to four counts of being a convicted felon in possession of firearms and ammunition and one count of being a convicted felon in possession of firearms, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). Specifically, JOHNSON was sentenced to 87 months of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and a $500 mandatory special assessment fee. As part of “Operation Big Easy,” agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, identified individuals involved in trafficking firearms in New Orleans. Between August 30, 2023 and October 26, 2023, agents conducted multiple undercover purchases of firearms from JOHNSON . This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Lynn E. Schiffman of the Narcotics Unit.


title: Former Southern Illinois Police Chief Facing Federal Charges, Accused of Public Corruption

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A federal grand jury returned an indictment charging the former Wayne City police chief with selling forfeited items confiscated by the department for his personal benefit. Anson Fenton, 46, of Belle Rive, is facing one count of misapplication of property from federally funded programs and one count of interstate transportation of stolen property. “Officials in positions of power must be held to the highest ethical standard, and those accused of defrauding the public will be held accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. Asset forfeiture is a legal process to confiscate the means or proceeds of a crime and can apply to a range of property, including money, vehicles, and real estate, among other assets. Wayne City stores forfeited items at the Wayne City Police Department until city officials pass an ordinance to authorize the sale of the property. “During our investigation, the ISP Special Investigations Unit found evidence of a public official trying to defraud Wayne City," said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. "The public must be able to trust those who work in public service and ISP will continue to work with the U.S. Attorney's Office to investigate violations of the public trust." According to court documents, Fenton is accused of selling two motorcycles valued at more than $5,000 and trading one motorcycle for a 1991 Ford Mustang for his personal benefit. “The cornerstone of the public’s trust in law enforcement relies on the expectation that each person who takes the oath to protect and serve the public will do so with integrity,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson. “The FBI Is committed to investigating anyone who undermines the rule of law and tarnishes the reputation of the many dedicated, honest, and hard-working officers who serve their communities every day.” An indictment is merely a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, a defendant is presumed to be innocent of a charge until proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt to the satisfaction of a jury. If convicted, Fenton could face up to 10 years’ imprisonment and fines up to $250,000 per count. Wayne City is a village in Wayne County in the Southern District of Illinois. The Illinois State Police is leading the investigation with support from the FBI Springfield Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Weinhoeft is prosecuting the case.


title: Ashland City Sex Offender Convicted on Possession of Child Pornography Charges

component: USAO - Tennessee, Middle

body_text: NASHVILLE – A federal jury yesterday convicted Scott Michael Nelson, 61, of Ashland City, Tennessee, of Possession of Child Pornography Depicting a Prepubescent Minor or a Minor who has not Attained the Age of 12 years, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Thomas J. Jaworski. According to the evidence presented at trial, on October 16, 2021, Probation Officers with the Tennessee Department of Corrections searched Nelson’s cell phone as part of Operation Blackout whereby Probation conducted a home search of every registered sex offender on probation prior to Halloween. A video of child sexual abuse material was found on the Defendant’s cell phone during the search by Probation. Nelson admitted the cell phone was his. Probation contacted the Metro Nashville Police Department, who seized the cell phone and obtained a search warrant for the cell phone. At the time authorities found the video on Nelson’s phone, he was a registered sex offender who was on probation in Davidson County after serving a 10-year sentence in Florida for 2009 convictions for multiple child exploitation crimes. After serving his sentence in Florida, the Defendant was ordered to serve 10 years’ probation, which was transferred to Tennessee when he moved to Ashland City. Nelson will be sentenced on March 27, 2025. At sentencing, Nelson faces a mandatory minimum term of incarceration of 10 years and a maximum term of incarceration of 20 years in federal prison. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Monica R. Morrison and Katy Risinger prosecuted the case. # # # # #


title: Fresno Doctors Agree to Pay $2.4 Million to Resolve Kickback Allegations

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: FRESNO, Calif. – In two separate settlements, Fresno physicians have agreed to collectively pay more than $2.4 million to resolve allegations that they solicited and received unlawful kickbacks in exchange for directing prescriptions to a group of mail-order pharmacies controlled by an individual named Matthew H. Peters, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced today. The United States contends that these arrangements violated the Anti-Kickback Statute and the False Claims Act. In the first settlement, Fresno podiatrist Dr. Jagpreet Mukker and his medical corporation, Jay Mukker, DPM Inc., have agreed to pay a total of $1,598,891 to the United States to resolve allegations that they participated in the unlawful kickback arrangement causing Dr. Mukker to issue prescriptions for beneficiaries of federal health care programs (including Medicare, TRICARE, and Medi-Cal), which the United States alleges violated the False Claims Act. As part of the settlement, Dr. Mukker acknowledged, accepted, and agreed not to dispute certain facts surrounding the kickback scheme. In particular, Dr. Mukker agreed that from 2016 through 2020, he accepted payments in connection with prescriptions he issued to a series of indistinguishable mail-order pharmacies controlled by Matthew Peters. Under this arrangement, Dr. Mukker received financial payouts, described as investment returns, in connection with investments in “management service organizations” created by Peters. Financial payouts from those investments reached multiple times the amount of capital paid into the venture, within just the first few months. After a small initial investment, Dr. Mukker received up to $117,400 per year in kickbacks, which caused Dr. Mukker to send prescriptions to Peters’ pharmacies. These payouts were described as a “reward[] for scripts” that Dr. Mukker sent to Peters’ pharmacies. As described in the settlement agreement, Dr. Mukker acknowledged that, as the arrangement continued, he received additional opportunities to invest in Peters’ management service organizations, which resulted in greater financial payouts. Peters awarded additional investment opportunities based on the number and value of prescriptions that Dr. Mukker had directed to the pharmacies. In connection with one such opportunity, Peters made clear that Dr. Mukker’s payout would double. Peters then explained that the scheme could offer him more shares as Dr. Mukker’s prescription “performance” increased. The arrangement included an agreed-upon exchange of payments for prescriptions, with prescriptions being a condition of investment—described by one representative such that if a clinician “doesn’t write, he can’t have shares.” Similarly, when monthly payouts were less than expected, Dr. Mukker requested to be “made whole” and that he and another investor “have held up our end of the bargain” and “prescrib[ed] a lot of the compounding to our patients.” The first settlement agreement also resolves separate allegations that Dr. Mukker and Jay Mukker, DPM Inc. submitted false claims for peripheral venous studies that they knew were not covered by Medicare, under the guise of covered evaluation and management services. With respect to these allegations, under the settlement announced today, Dr. Mukker also acknowledged, accepted, and agreed not to dispute that he and his practice submitted claims to Medicare for peripheral venous studies between January 2017 and November 2023 that were not reimbursable, and that Dr. Mukker and his practice billed those services to Medicare using a code for a physician evaluation and management service that was not consistent with what had been furnished to the patient. In the second settlement announced today, Fresno pain medicine specialist Amitabh Goswami, D.O., and his medical corporation, California Pain Consultants, agreed to pay $835,000 to resolve allegations that they participated in the same unlawful kickback arrangement that the United States alleges violated the Anti-Kickback Statute and the False Claims Act. “The payment of kickbacks corrupts medical decision-making and increases the cost of health care,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “We will hold accountable those who pay or receive such kickbacks, ensuring they do not profit at the expense of American taxpayers and patients.” “Kickback schemes jeopardize medical decision-making and undermine the integrity of the Medicare program,” said Special Agent in Charge Steven J. Ryan of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “We are dedicated to safeguarding taxpayer-funded health care and ensuring the well-being of the patients who depend on it.” “The fraudulent schemes encompassed by these settlements wasted patient care resources and taxpayer dollars,” said Special Agent in Charge Bryan D. Denny of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Western Field Office. “DCIS will continue to work with its partners to hold accountable those who seek to defraud federal health care programs, particularly as it relates to our military’s TRICARE program.” The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated investigation conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Thiess and Steve Tennyson handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The United States has also initiated a lawsuit against Peters and a number of his related pharmacies, management service organizations, and other entities, alleging violations of the False Claims Act based on the unlawful kickback scheme that formed the basis for the settlements announced today. United States v. Matthew H. Peters, et al. , Case No. 2:24-cv-00287. That litigation is ongoing. The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. mukker_settlement_executed.pdf goswami_settlement_fully_executed.pdf


title: Justice Department, EPA and Pennsylvania Announce Settlements to Reduce Climate- and Health- Harming Emissions

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: The Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced two settlements with oil and gas operators in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In separate agreements, XTO Energy Inc. (XTO) and Hilcorp Energy Company (Hilcorp) agreed to resolve alleged Clean Air Act and Pennsylvania Air Pollution Control Act violations involving their oil and gas production operations in Pennsylvania. Under the settlements, XTO agrees to pay a $4 million civil penalty and Hilcorp agrees to pay a $1.275 million civil penalty. Each of these amounts will be shared equally by the United States and the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which is a co-plaintiff in both cases. In addition to the civil penalties, both companies will undertake compliance measures to achieve major reductions in harmful emissions at their oil and gas production facilities in Butler County, Lawrence County and Mercer County facilities. “These actions are the result of our continuing efforts to ensure that oil and gas operators comply with the Clean Air Act,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The commitments under the settlements will significantly reduce pollution from these companies’ operations, including volatile organic compounds that contribute to ground-level ozone, and methane, a potent greenhouse gas.” “Hilcorp and XTO Energy’s violations contributed to smog that reduces air quality, as well as methane releases that are a primary driver of near-term climate change,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “These settlements are the latest in EPA’s urgent efforts to limit the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change and hold corporate polluters accountable for jeopardizing public health.” “Today’s settlements reinforce a simple message: if your company contaminates the air in this district with harmful pollution, you will be held accountable under federal law,” said U.S. Attorney Eric G. Olshan for the Western District of Pennsylvania. “Through the hard work of our office and our law enforcement partners, XTO Energy and Hilcorp will be required not only to pay penalties related to the pollutants they already released, but also to protect against future harm through compliance measures that will reduce emissions of harmful pollutants. We remain steadfast in our efforts to protect the people of western Pennsylvania and the air they breathe.” “Pennsylvanians have a right to clean air, and the Shapiro Administration continues to hold polluters accountable for infringing on that right,” said Acting Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) Secretary Jessica Shirley. “Today’s settlement will result in lower emissions and cleaner air for the people of the Commonwealth.” As part of the settlement, XTO must undertake a project to mitigate harm attributable to XTO’s alleged violations. Specifically, by Dec. 31, 2027, XTO will be required to work with PADEP to identify the heaviest polluting abandoned oil and gas wells in western Pennsylvania and spend at least $1.4 million to plug or remediate them. Many of these “orphan” wells are existing significant sources of methane. The work that XTO will do will result in the reduction of over 1,960 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions per year released as methane, similar to the reductions achieved by taking 420 cars off the road for one year. The settlement will also eliminate nearly 120 tons of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions annually. The XTO settlement resolves allegations by EPA and PADEP that XTO failed to comply with federal and state requirements to capture and control air emissions from 11 of its oil and gas production facilities in Butler County. EPA identified the alleged violations through field investigations conducted in 2018 and 2019. Hilcorp must also undertake a project to mitigate harm attributable to the company’s alleged violations. Hilcorp will retrofit at least 164 pneumatic controllers that emit pollution with non-emitting process controllers at eight of the company’s facilities located in Lawrence and Mercer counties at least three years earlier than required under law. EPA projects that the Hilcorp agreement will result in the reduction of over 160 tons of VOC emissions annually and 5,200 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions per year released as methane. The reductions in methane from the settlement are similar to the reductions that would be achieved by taking 1,120 cars off the road for one year. The Hilcorp settlement resolves allegations by EPA and PADEP that the company failed to comply with federal and state requirements to capture and control air emissions from six of its oil and gas production facilities in Lawrence and Mercer counties. As a result of these alleged violations, both XTO and Hilcorp released methane and VOCs directly into the air instead of capturing and controlling the gas using specially designed equipment. Methane, a climate super pollutant, is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change, and VOCs contribute to ground-level ozone, which adversely affects human health. XTO is a natural gas extraction and production company that is a directly held, wholly owned subsidiary of ExxonMobil. Its operations stretch from the Great Plains to Appalachia. It holds interests in more than 50,000 producing oil and natural gas wells. These holdings include operations in 15 counties (including Butler County), covering 534,000 acres in western Pennsylvania. Hilcorp is a privately owned company registered to do business in Pennsylvania and headquartered in Houston. Hilcorp engages in oil and gas exploration, development, and production across the United States, with active production operations in Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wyoming. These settlements are part of EPA’s National Enforcement and Compliance Initiative Mitigating Climate Change . This initiative focuses, in part, on reducing methane emissions from oil and gas and landfill sources. The consent decrees were filed with the United States District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania and are each subject to a 30-day comment period. The complaints and the proposed consent decrees are available at www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees . More information on these settlement agreements is available on the agency’s Hilcorp Energy Company Settlement web page and XTO Energy Inc. Settlement web page. EPA and PADEP investigated the cases. Attorneys from the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Enforcement Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania handled the cases.


title: Kanawha County Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Federal Robbery and Firearms Crimes

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Camri Calrissian White, 26, of Cross Lanes was sentenced today to 25 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, for robbery, discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. A federal jury convicted White on July 25, 2024, following a three-day trial. Evidence at trial proved that White robbed a Cross Lanes convenience store shortly before 5:15 a.m. on July 11, 2023, while armed with a Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm pistol with an extended magazine. White entered the business while wearing a mask and fired one round from the pistol into the ceiling. White held two store employees at gunpoint while ordering them to retrieve money from both registers and a locked safe under the front counter. Before fleeing the store, White told the employees that he would return and kill them if they called the police within the next 10 minutes. Surveillance video from the store and other nearby locations helped law enforcement officers identify White as the culprit of the robbery. On July 17, 2023, officers arrived at the Cross Lanes apartment where White was staying. Officers recovered the pistol with the extended magazine after White tossed it from a rear window of the apartment following the officers’ arrival. Officers searched the apartment and found clothing worn by White during the robbery. During the search, officers learned that White had access to a vacant and unlocked apartment nearby. Officers searched that apartment and found more clothing worn by White during the convenience store robbery. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. White was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for first-degree robbery with a firearm in Kanawha County Circuit Court on December 11, 2017. In that case, White pleaded guilty to his role in a January 31, 2017, home invasion robbery, during which he pressed a sawed-off shotgun to the chest of the 84-year-old victim while threatening to kill her. The Court cited White’s criminal history when imposing today’s sentence and agreed with the United States that “the only thing that will determine his next brazen violent crime appears to be his release date.” “The defendant has demonstrated a penchant for violence and a shocking disregard for the law and other people,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “The sentence imposed today protects the public from further crimes of the defendant.” Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the South Charleston Police Department, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorneys JC MacCallum and Jennifer Rada Herrald prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-168. ###


title: Springfield Man Sentenced for Distributing Ghost Guns and Machinegun Conversion Devices

body_text: BOSTON – A Springfield, Mass. man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Springfield on firearms charges. Edward Nathan Gale, 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to three years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Gale was also ordered to forfeit various firearms, ammunition and tools and accessories. In February 2024, Gale pleaded guilty to one count each of being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition, unlawful firearms dealing and unlawful possession of machineguns. Between Feb. 22, 2022, and Dec. 2, 2022, Gale manufactured and distributed approximately 50 privately manufactured firearms (commonly known as “ghost guns”) to individuals located in Kansas and Massachusetts. Between approximately Oct. 11, 2022, and Dec. 8, 2022, Gale also imported from China approximately 100 Glock-style machinegun conversion devices (commonly known as “Glock switches”), approximately 60 of which he distributed in Massachusetts and elsewhere, along with other firearms and a silencer. On Jan. 5, 2023, a search of Gale’s residence resulted in the recovery of a Pioneer Arms semi-automatic rifle; numerous rounds of ammunition; assorted tools, parts and accessories used to manufacture ghost guns; and evidence of Gale’s importation and distribution of Glock switches. Gale is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to a prior conviction of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison. Additionally, Gale was not licensed to manufacture or distribute firearms, therefore his manufacturing and distribution of the ghost guns and the Glock switches was also illegal. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Feld Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance provided by the Springfield Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuted the case.


title: Four Individuals Indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Healthcare Fraud At Sober Homes

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON, KY- Four individuals, Delores Jordan, 56, of Charlotte, NC, Dashawn Dawkins, 33, of Lexington, Ky., Jerome Davis, 51, of Indianapolis, Ind., and Ernest Williams, 51, of Lexington, Ky., have been indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, healthcare fraud, and conspiracy to receive kickbacks. According to the indictment, Serenity Keeper’s, LLC (“Serenity Keepers”) was a sober home company based in Fayette County, Ky., that purported to provide mental health and substance abuse treatment services and housing for individuals enrolled in its program. Serenity Keepers allegedly used urine drug tests for their clients for non-medical reasons, such as ensuring sobriety. The indictment alleges that beginning in August 2019, Jordan, Serenity Keepers’ owner, solicited kickbacks from a co-conspirator in exchange for the referral of Serenity Keepers’ urine drug tests to various laboratories. The kickbacks were allegedly paid in the form of checks, cash payments, and wire transfers of approximately $1,300 every two weeks to Jordan’s son, Dawkins. Beginning in October 2021, Jordan allegedly demanded the kickback amount increase to $5,000, based on the increased volume of urine drug tests referred by Serenity Keepers to the labs. Jordan allegedly received the increased amount through payments sent every two weeks to her boyfriend, Davis, paid through his company, X-Tremly for Christ LLC. The indictment also alleges that the urine drug tests performed for Serenity Keepers’ clients were not used for medical diagnosis and treatment, nor were they ordered by a treating medical provider, which are requirements for reimbursement by Medicare and Medicaid. According to the indictment, the medical providers who signed orders for urine drug tests were allegedly not providing any treatment to Serenity Keepers’ clients for addiction, nor were they reviewing the results of the tests. The indictment alleges that Jordan, Dawkins, and Williams conspired to defraud Medicare and Kentucky Medicaid by causing approximately $26.7 million in these medically unnecessary urine drug tests to be fraudulently billed to Medicare and Kentucky Medicaid from August 2019 to March 2022. In addition, the indictment alleges that Jordan, Dawkins, and Williams further defrauded Kentucky Medicaid by causing Serenity Keepers to fraudulently bill for peer support services. Between August 2019 and February 2022, Serenity Keepers allegedly billed Medicaid for six hours of peer support services per day, for every client enrolled in their program who had Medicaid coverage. The indictment alleges that a majority of the services billed were not provided by registered peer support specialists, not supervised by appropriate personnel, not provided at all, or not provided in accordance with state regulations governing such services. Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, and Russell Coleman, Kentucky Attorney General, jointly announced the indictment. The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI and the Kentucky Attorney General, Office of Medicaid Fraud and Abuse. The indictment was presented to the grand jury by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Smith. Dawkins, Davis, and Williams’ initial appearances have already been held. Jordan’s initial appearance is scheduled for December 4. Jordan, Dawkins, and Williams each face a maximum of 10 years in prison, and Davis faces a maximum of 5 years in prison. They each face a $250,000 fine, plus any restitution determined by the Court. However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by the Court, after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes. Any indictment is an accusation only. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. — END —


title: Honduran Native Pleads Guilty to Being an Illegal Alien  in Possession of a Firearm

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JOAN E. ESCOBAR-REYES (“ESCOBAR-REYES”) , age 26, a native of Honduras, pled guilty on November 19, 2024, to being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(5)(A). According to court documents, on or about June 30, 2024, ESCOBAR-REYES , an alien illegally present in the United States, was found in possession of a Glock Model 32, .357 SIG caliber, semi-automatic pistol and a H&R Model 92, .22 LR caliber revolver. ESCOBAR-REYES faces up to 15 years of imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan set sentencing for February 20, 2025. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Enforcement and Removal Operations and the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office, in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Spiro G. Latsis of the General Crimes Unit oversees the prosecution.


title: Gary Man Sentenced to 60 Months in Prison

body_text: HAMMOND- Darrius L. Smith, 34 years old, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philip P. Simon after pleading guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Smith was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, on January 11, 2023, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Smith. During a search of the vehicle, a loaded semi-automatic .40 caliber firearm was recovered. The firearm was previously reported stolen. Smith’s criminal history revealed that he had prior felony convictions for burglary and auto theft, and as such, is prohibited from possessing the firearm in this case. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Gang Response Investigative Team with the assistance of the Lake County Sheriff’s Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Padilla. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: North Carolina Man Indicted for Civil Rights Offenses Due to Bias-Motivated Threats

component: Civil Rights Division

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


title: Berwick Woman Sentenced, Ordered to Repay $118,251 for Defrauding Social Security Administration

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: A Berwick woman was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for Social Security fraud. U.S. District Judge Nancy Torresen sentenced Suzanne Hercock , 47, to four years of probation and ordered her to pay $118,251 in restitution. Hercock pleaded guilty on May 24, 2024. According to court records, from about December 2008 to February 2020, Hercock lied to the Social Security Administration (SSA) about the presence of her husband, her children’s father, in the household, to fraudulently collect Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments on behalf of the children. In multiple benefit eligibility reviews, Hercock falsely represented to the SSA that she and her husband lived separately. She failed to disclose her husband’s presence and income despite knowing that she was required to and that it would affect her eligibility to receive benefits. SSA’s Office of the Inspector General investigated the case. ###


title: Stockton Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine Distribution and Being a Felon in Possession of Ammunition

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gary Wayne Stuckey, 58, of Stockton, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Daniel J. Calabretta to 12 years in prison for possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and being a felon in possession of ammunition, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, in June 2022, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop of Stuckey’s vehicle and observed several pounds of marijuana inside the vehicle. A search revealed over 500 grams of methamphetamine and several items indicative of drug sales, including digital scales, plastic baggies, and hundreds of dollars of U.S. currency in small denominations. Wedged between the driver’s seat and center console of the vehicle was a Polymer 80 handgun, a privately made firearm or “ghost gun” lacking a serial number, that was loaded with a live round of ammunition in the chamber and five additional rounds in the magazine. Stuckey is prohibited from possessing ammunition due to multiple state felony convictions, including a prior conviction for being a felon in possession of ammunition. This case was the product of an investigation by the Stockton Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alstyn Bennett and Whitnee Goins and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew De Moura prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice 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: Florida Man Sentenced to 18 Months in Computer Intrusion Case

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Rutland, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on November 20, 2024, Desmond Ipaye Adebiyi, age 37, of Miami, Florida was sentenced by United States District Judge Joseph N. Laplante to a term of 18 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Ipaye previously pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting unauthorized access of a computer. According to court records, Ipaye worked with others who infiltrated the email system of a Vermont business to receive emails intended for the company’s president and to send emails masquerading as from the company’s president. This ruse allowed Ipaye’s confederates to misdirect $450,000 intended for the Vermont business to a bank account that Ipaye and his conspirators had established for receiving crime proceeds. Fortunately, fast action by the Vermont business and law enforcement enabled complete recovery of the $450,000. United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Drescher and Colin Owyang. Ipaye was represented by Heather E. Ross, Esq. from the law firm of Sheehey Furlong & Behm.


component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: WASHINGTON – The Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced two settlements with oil and gas operators in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In separate agreements, XTO Energy Inc. (XTO) and Hilcorp Energy Company (Hilcorp) agreed to resolve alleged Clean Air Act and Pennsylvania Air Pollution Control Act violations involving their oil and gas production operations in Pennsylvania. Under the settlements, XTO agrees to pay a $4 million civil penalty and Hilcorp agrees to pay a $1.275 million civil penalty. Each of these amounts will be shared equally by the United States and the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which is a co-plaintiff in both cases. In addition to the civil penalties, both companies will undertake compliance measures to achieve major reductions in harmful emissions at their oil and gas production facilities in Butler County, Lawrence County and Mercer County facilities. “Today’s settlements reinforce a simple message: if your company contaminates the air in this district with harmful pollution, you will be held accountable under federal law,” said U.S. Attorney Eric G. Olshan for the Western District of Pennsylvania. “Through the hard work of our office and our law enforcement partners, XTO Energy and Hilcorp will be required not only to pay penalties related to the pollutants they already released, but also to protect against future harm through compliance measures that will reduce emissions of harmful pollutants. We remain steadfast in our efforts to protect the people of western Pennsylvania and the air they breathe.” “These actions are the result of our continuing efforts to ensure that oil and gas operators comply with the Clean Air Act,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The commitments under the settlements will significantly reduce pollution from these companies’ operations, including volatile organic compounds that contribute to ground-level ozone, and methane, a potent greenhouse gas.” “Hilcorp and XTO Energy’s violations contributed to smog that reduces air quality, as well as methane releases that are a primary driver of near-term climate change,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “These settlements are the latest in EPA’s urgent efforts to limit the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change and hold corporate polluters accountable for jeopardizing public health.” “Pennsylvanians have a right to clean air, and the Shapiro Administration continues to hold polluters accountable for infringing on that right,” said Acting Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) Secretary Jessica Shirley. “Today’s settlement will result in lower emissions and cleaner air for the people of the Commonwealth.” As part of the settlement, XTO must undertake a project to mitigate harm attributable to XTO’s alleged violations. Specifically, by Dec. 31, 2027, XTO will be required to work with PADEP to identify the heaviest polluting abandoned oil and gas wells in western Pennsylvania and spend at least $1.4 million to plug or remediate them. Many of these “orphan” wells are existing significant sources of methane. The work that XTO will do will result in the reduction of over 1,960 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions per year released as methane, similar to the reductions achieved by taking 420 cars off the road for one year. The settlement will also eliminate nearly 120 tons of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions annually. The XTO settlement resolves allegations by EPA and PADEP that XTO failed to comply with federal and state requirements to capture and control air emissions from 11 of its oil and gas production facilities in Butler County. EPA identified the alleged violations through field investigations conducted in 2018 and 2019. Hilcorp must also undertake a project to mitigate harm attributable to the company’s alleged violations. Hilcorp will retrofit at least 164 pneumatic controllers that emit pollution with non-emitting process controllers at eight of the company’s facilities located in Lawrence and Mercer counties at least three years earlier than required under law. EPA projects that the Hilcorp agreement will result in the reduction of over 160 tons of VOC emissions annually and 5,200 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions per year released as methane. The reductions in methane from the settlement are similar to the reductions that would be achieved by taking 1,120 cars off the road for one year. The Hilcorp settlement resolves allegations by EPA and PADEP that the company failed to comply with federal and state requirements to capture and control air emissions from six of its oil and gas production facilities in Lawrence and Mercer counties. As a result of these alleged violations, both XTO and Hilcorp released methane and VOCs directly into the air instead of capturing and controlling the gas using specially designed equipment. Methane, a climate super pollutant, is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change, and VOCs contribute to ground-level ozone, which adversely affects human health. XTO is a natural gas extraction and production company that is a directly held, wholly owned subsidiary of ExxonMobil. Its operations stretch from the Great Plains to Appalachia. It holds interests in more than 50,000 producing oil and natural gas wells. These holdings include operations in 15 counties (including Butler County), covering 534,000 acres in western Pennsylvania. Hilcorp is a privately owned company registered to do business in Pennsylvania and headquartered in Houston. Hilcorp engages in oil and gas exploration, development, and production across the United States, with active production operations in Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Louisiana, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wyoming. These settlements are part of EPA’s National Enforcement and Compliance Initiative Mitigating Climate Change . This initiative focuses, in part, on reducing methane emissions from oil and gas and landfill sources. The consent decrees were filed with the United States District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania and are each subject to a 30-day comment period. The complaints and the proposed consent decrees are available at www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees . More information on these settlement agreements is available on the agency’s Hilcorp Energy Company Settlement web page and XTO Energy Inc. Settlement web page. EPA and PADEP investigated the cases. Attorneys from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania and Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Enforcement Section handled the cases.


title: Virginia Man Sentenced To 14 Years In Prison For Trafficking Over 40 Firearms And Selling Counterfeit Pharmaceutical Pills Containing Fentanyl

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JYSHUN TROWER was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote to 14 years in prison for trafficking firearms and selling counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl. TROWER previously pled guilty to illegally transporting and distributing firearms and conspiring to distribute narcotics. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Jyshun Trower placed countless New Yorkers’ lives in danger, attempting to flood the City with over 40 illegal firearms, including military-style assault weapons, that destroy human bodies and lives. Trower also sold thousands of counterfeit pharmaceutical pills containing deadly fentanyl. He now faces significant time in prison for his crimes.” According to the Indictment, and statements made in court proceedings and filings: From on or about June 5, 2023, through on or about December 14, 2023, TROWER illegally transported and sold firearms in Manhattan and the New York City Area. In almost a dozen transactions, TROWER illegally sold approximately 43 firearms to an undercover law enforcement agent and others. The firearms included multiple semiautomatic pistols, semiautomatic rifles, assault style rifles and pistols, ammunition, high-capacity magazines, a ghost gun, and components used to convert a semiautomatic pistol into a fully automatic pistol—that is, a machine gun. Images of several of the firearms that TROWER sold are below. Firearms TROWER sold in Manhattan on July 21, 2023. Firearms TROWER sold in Manhattan on July 31, 2023. Firearms TROWER sold in Manhattan on August 17, 2023. Firearms TROWER sold in Manhattan on August 25, 2023. Firearms TROWER sold in Manhattan on September 29, 2023. Firearms TROWER sold in Manhattan on December 14, 2023. In addition, TROWER conspired to sell 10,000 fentanyl pills to an undercover law enforcement agent. TROWER also had arranged with the undercover agent to include several firearms in the transaction. On or about December 14, 2023, TROWER arrived at the sale location with the firearms, where law enforcement apprehended TROWER and recovered a bag containing over hundreds of counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl. * * * In addition to the prison term, TROWER, 27, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, was sentenced to five years of supervised release. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration New York Division, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations New York Field Office. The case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Daniels is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Detroit Man Sentenced to Over 7 years in Prison For Two-Day Crime Spree

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT –A Detroit man was sentenced to 7 ½ years in prison yesterday for stealing nearly 50 firearms from a gun store in Dearborn Heights, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced. Ison was joined in the announcement by James Deir, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF). Deon Bell, 29, was sentenced to 90 months’ imprisonment, which will run consecutive to a 102-month sentence imposed on Bell in a separate armed robbery case involving a T-Mobile store. According to court documents, for the first burglary, Bell recruited three young men, one of whom was a juvenile, to help him steal guns from a licensed gun store in Dearborn Heights. The group stole a car, crashed it into the front of the store, and stole 22 weapons. Bell did it again the next night, this time recruiting two other juveniles to join his crime spree. The group again stole a car, crashed it into the front of the gun store, and stole 25 more weapons. After this second robbery, Bell led police officers on a high-speed chase, putting all on the road at risk. Several of the stolen guns were recovered by law enforcement in other investigations, but many are still unaccounted for. This was the most recent conviction for Bell, who has a long criminal history including drug trafficking, carrying a concealed weapon, criminal sexual conduct 3 rd degree, and armed robbery. “Stealing cars, crashing them into gun stores to rob them, and putting nearly 50 stolen guns on the street endangered our community in so many ways,” U.S. Attorney Ison said. “Worse still is the fact that Bell recruited juveniles to commit these crimes with him. Deon Bell’s repeated, reckless violent conduct has no place in our community.” “Deon Bell is a menace to our community’s safety. He concocted a burglary scheme to funnel illegal weapons into our community. Furthermore, Mr. Bell cowardly recruited and manipulated juveniles in our community to further perpetrate his criminal acts putting our community’s safety at risk. Burglaries of federal firearms licensees continue to be one of ATF’s top priorities,” said Detroit Field Division Special Agent in Charge James Deir Simply put: “Greed is bad. There is no place in our community for illegal firearms traffickers whose personal greed to make a quick buck leads them to burglarize firearm dealers in our community. They will be held accountable.” This case was investigated by agents from ATF, but started with Dearborn Heights Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin Ramamurthy, Meghan Bean, and Hank Moon.


title: Former U.S. Navy Officer Sentenced in Conspiracy to Steal and Sell U.S. Military Gear to Countries Around the World

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE, RI – A former United States Navy Petty Officer First Class who served for more than 20 years in the Navy has been sentenced to eighteen months in federal prison for orchestrating a conspiracy that stole more than $850,000 worth of military gear earmarked for fellow Navy members and then sold the goods to high bidders from more than fifty countries, including China and Russia, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. Richard Allen, 53, of Citrus Heights, CA, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Providence, RI, by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to eighteen months of incarceration to be followed by three years of federal supervised release. Allen pleaded guilty on August 29, 2024, to conspiracy and six counts of money laundering. “Sworn to serve his country, Richard Allen instead chose to serve his own shameless greed at the expense of the taxpayer and his fellow men and women in uniform,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. “Today’s reckoning is a testament to the tenacity of our law enforcement partners and it should serve as a warning: stealing from the United States is a path to prison, not profit.” “Mr. Allen betrayed his oath to the Navy and defrauded the American taxpayer by initiating and perpetuating an illegal scheme to steal and sell U.S. Government property to unauthorized buyers for his and his co-conspirators’ private financial benefit,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael T. Wiest of the NCIS Northeast Field Office. “NCIS remains committed to rooting out criminality within the ranks that threatens warfighter capabilities and readiness.” "The Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the law enforcement arm of the Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Inspector General, is fully committed to protecting the integrity of the DoD supply chain,” said Patrick J. Hegarty, Special Agent in Charge of the DCIS Northeast Field Office. "Profiting from the sale of stolen DoD property betrays the public's trust and negatively impacts our military members. Today’s sentencing demonstrates DCIS' ongoing commitment to working with its law enforcement partners to hold individuals who harm the DoD accountable." “Allen was driven by greed to not only steal and attempt to profit from his crime, but to endanger the very national security he was sworn to uphold. Today’s sentence holds him accountable for this egregious betrayal,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol for Homeland Security Investigations in New England. Court documents detail that, while stationed at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown-Cheatham Annex, in Williamsburg, VA, Allen used his familiarity with the base – a base responsible for supplying ships in the Navy’s Atlantic Fleet with military gear – and unfettered access to warehouses to devise and execute a scheme to steal and sell $856,433 worth of Navy gear and supplies, including working uniforms, winter gear, flame retardant shirts and pants, soft body armor, goggles, infrared flag patches, Navy SEAL Trident insignia, and Small Arms Protective Insert plates. Allen and his co-conspirators stored the items in various locations, including in Rhode Island. Allen and others identified bulk-sale domestic and international customers for the stolen goods and arranged for delivery either in person or via commercial shipping. Payment for the stolen goods was frequently made and received via PayPal, including dozens of payments made from an account in China. The proceeds were transferred to co-conspirators bank accounts, including Allen’s, in increments of less than $10,000, in an effort to avoid bank reporting requirements. As part of the scheme, the stolen goods were delivered to paying customers in China, Russia, South Korea, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Bahrain, Vietnam, Ukraine, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Germany, Singapore, Taiwan, the Czech Republic, Poland, Australia, New Zealand, France, Spain, Ireland, Portugal, Italy, Greece, the United Kingdom, Norway, Switzerland, Finland, Turkey, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, Belgium, Brazil, Philippines, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, Uruguay, Chile, Estonia, Malta, Lithuania, Bermuda, and Canada, and conspirators assisted him in also distributing to Argentina, Luxembourg, Latvia, Belarus, Denmark, and Martinique. Allen continued to direct the conspiracy and to receive payments after he retired from the U.S. Navy. “Richard Allen decided to steal from the United States Navy and selfishly profit from selling the goods globally. Today, he was held accountable for his actions,” said Special Agent in Charge James Guanci, U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement, Boston Field Office. “The Office of Export Enforcement will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue those who commit export-related crimes.” “Americans – especially the men and women who have served in uniform – deserve public employees who do their jobs honestly and with integrity,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Richard Allen failed to do both when he selfishly took advantage of his position with the Navy to commit fraud, cheating both his fellow officers and taxpayers. This sentence holds him accountable for his crimes and sends a message loud and clear that this is not the way to go about boosting your bank account.” The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christine D. Lowell and Paul F. Daly, Jr. The matter was investigated by Naval Criminal Investigative Service-Northeast Field Office; Defense Criminal Investigative Service-Northeast Field Office; Homeland Security Investigations; Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement-Boston Field Office; and the FBI. ###


title: Two Former Employees of Brooklyn Based Non-Profit Charged with Fraud and Bribery Offenses

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, an indictment was unsealed charging Gary DSilva, also known as “Pankaj DSilva,” Jonathan Velazquez and Luis A. Camarena with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, bribery and money laundering, as well as substantive counts of wire fraud and federal-program bribery, for their roles in a yearslong kickback scheme. The defendants were arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Jocelyn E. Strauber, Commissioner, New York City Department of Investigation (DOI) and James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the charges. “These defendants misappropriated public funds through a brazen kickback scheme,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “When corrupt employees siphon public funds to line their own pockets, the neediest New Yorkers bear the brunt. My Office will relentlessly pursue those who try to compromise the integrity of our community organizations.” DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said, “These employees of a City-funded nonprofit participated in an illegal kickback scheme, enriching themselves by stealing from their employer, an entity providing critical services to New Yorkers in need, as alleged in the indictment. Theft of precious public funds deprives deserving members of our community of resources and I am thankful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the FBI for their shared commitment to protect those funds for the benefit of their intended recipients.” “Gary DSilva and Jonathan Velazquez, two non-profit organization workers, allegedly received more than $500,000 in illicit kickback payments from Luis Camarena, a contractor hired to install security services in some of the city’s homeless shelters. This alleged quid pro quo agreement only enriched the involved parties and deprived the city of vital infrastructural improvements. The FBI will never tolerate corrupt individuals who selfishly steal public funds intended to support our city’s vulnerable populations,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy. As alleged in the indictment, DSilva and Velazquez were employed in the Management Information Systems department of a Brooklyn-based non-profit entity (the Organization) that supplied a number of services to indigent New Yorkers, including administering multiple homeless shelters. DSilva and Velazquez, as part of their work for the Organization, were responsible for soliciting vendors to complete various projects involving information technology. DSilva solicited bids from one such vendor (the Vendor) for multiple projects involving the installation or replacement of security cameras at the Organization’s homeless shelters. Camarena was the principal of the Vendor. The Vendor ultimately received approximately $1.6 million in payments from the Organization for work related to these security-camera projects from approximately 2017 to 2021. During that same period, the Vendor paid a total of over $500,000 in kickbacks to DSilva and Velazquez. These illegal payments took the form of payments to credit cards in the names of DSilva and Velazquez and their spouses and payments to shell companies registered to DSilva’s spouse. In one email obtained during the investigation, Camarena, DSilva, and Velazquez discussed how they would divide the “profit” from the business the Vendor received from the Organization among themselves. The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. In July 2022, Mr. Peace was selected as the Chairperson of the White Collar Fraud subcommittee for the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC) . As the leader of the subcommittee, Mr. Peace plays a key role in making recommendations to the AGAC to facilitate the prevention, investigation and prosecution of various financially motivated, non-violent crimes . The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Laura Zuckerwise and Turner Buford are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Kavya Kannan. The Defendants : Gary DSilva (also known as “Pankaj DSilva”) Age: 46 Manalapan, New Jersey Jonathan Velazquez Age: 54 Massapequa Park, New York Luis A. Camerena Age: 57 Jackson Township, New Jersey E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-471 (HG) 24-cr-471_gary_dsilva_et_al_indictment.pdf


title: Federal Jury Convicts Muskegon Man Of Conspiracy To Distribute Kilograms Of Cocaine And Other Drug Crimes

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: Conspirators used the U.S. Postal Service to Mail Kilograms of Cocaine from Texas to Michigan LANSING – U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten today announced that a federal jury convicted Srecko Darnell Walker, 35, of Muskegon, of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, distribution of cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Walker is scheduled to be sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Hala Y. Jarbou on April 9, 2025, and faces a statutory mandatory minimum term of 15 years in prison and a maximum term of life in prison. “Mr. Walker and his associates were trafficking large quantities of drugs into Michigan, which ruin lives and fracture neighborhoods,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten . “As part of our mission to keep Michigan safe, we’re focused on disrupting the supply lines that bring these poisons into our communities. This case is a good example of that work.” Evidence admitted at trial showed that in 2021 and 2022, Walker worked with Steven Rasic, a Muskegon-based U.S. Postal Service mail carrier, to import kilograms of cocaine into West Michigan from Hugo Benavides, their Texas-based cocaine supplier. Walker coordinated the cocaine shipments, which were sent to vacant addresses on Rasic’s mail route. Both Rasic and Benavides pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge prior to trial and await sentencing. During trial, the jury heard that over the course of the investigation, law enforcement agents seized five kilograms of cocaine from the mail that Walker and his co-conspirators intended to distribute in West Michigan. In March 2022, investigators seized two kilograms of cocaine. After the seizure, Rasic tried to recover the parcel containing cocaine, falsely stating that he was acting on behalf of the U.S. Postal Service. In fact, Rasic was trying to recover the cocaine on Walker’s behalf, and text messages from Rasic’s phone showed that Rasic had alerted Walker to the cocaine seizure. Months later, in October 2022, investigators saw Walker distribute cocaine to a woman in Muskegon, and later, inside Walker’s residence, investigators found more cocaine, a cutting agent, and digital scale used to weigh cocaine. The jury also learned that after the search of his residence, Walker admitted to importing cocaine through the mail, and told investigators that he sold his first kilogram of cocaine sometime in 2021. Walker also admitted to tracking some of the mail parcels that contained cocaine, including one parcel with over one kilogram of cocaine inside. “Today’s verdict sends a clear message that the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, alongside our law enforcement partners, is committed to dismantling drug trafficking organizations that misuse the U.S. Mail for their illegal activities, including drug distribution,” said Acting Inspector in Charge Felicia B. George of the Detroit Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service . "Our inspectors will aggressively pursue individuals like Walker, who recruit U.S. Postal Service employees to exploit their trusted positions in the distribution of dangerous drugs within our communities. Walker and his co-conspirators will now be held accountable for their role in spreading these dangerous substances across West Michigan." “The men and women of the DEA Detroit Division remain committed to working with our state and federal partners to make our communities a safer place,” said Orville Green, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Division of DEA . “Individuals like Mr. Walker who are distributing multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine into our communities must be held accountable for their actions.” The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Michigan State Police (MSP) West Michigan Enforcement Team (WEMET) are investigating this case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Austin J. Hakes and Stephanie M. Carowan are prosecuting it. # # #


title: Norwalk Gang Member Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison for Possessing Loaded Handgun with Obliterated Serial Number

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that PATRICK ELMORE, 33, of Norwalk, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kari A. Dooley in Bridgeport to 37 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a firearm. According to court documents and statements made in court, the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force has been investigating gang violence in Bridgeport, Norwalk, and Stamford. Elmore is a member of a violent Norwalk street gang. In 2021 and 2022, law enforcement made four controlled purchases of ecstasy, which contained both MDMA and fentanyl, from Elmore. On April 12, 2023, Elmore was arrested on a state warrant. At the time of his arrest, he possessed a loaded SCCY, model CPX-2, 9mm semiautomatic handgun with an obliterated serial number. Elmore’s criminal history includes state convictions for felony drug distribution and weapon possession offenses. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce. Elmore has been detained since his federal arrest on May 25, 2023. On July 11, 2024, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. This matter was investigated by the FBI’s Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force, the Bridgeport Police Department, and the Norwalk Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Gresham. This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In May 2021, the Justice Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit www.justice.gov/psn .


title: Two Men Indicted On Charges Connected To Violent Robbery Of Mail Carrier

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Marquis Taylor, 28, and Elijah Woods, 21, were indicted by a federal grand jury on one count each of conspiracy, assault with intent to rob a U.S. Postal Carrier, and mail theft. According to the indictment and connected court filings, in September of 2023, Taylor, Woods, and a third man, Dravell Emon Ross, 28, committed a strong-arm robbery of a postal carrier while she was on duty in her mail truck taking her lunch break. The robbery occurred near Utah Park in Aurora in the middle of the day. The three men attempted to obtain a universal mailbox key from the postal carrier in order to access community mailboxes. The men were unable to steal the universal key, but did steal various pieces of mail, packages, and a postal scanner. The postal carrier suffered minor injuries as a result of the robbery. On July 17, 2024, Ross was sentenced to federal prison for four years in connection with his role in the robbery. On November 13, 2024, Taylor was arrested and is detained pending trial. Woods was released on bond while the charges remain outstanding. The trial for Taylor and Woods is currently scheduled in federal district court for March 31, 2025. The case is being investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Tim Neff.


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

component: Office of the Attorney General

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


title: McAllen felon convicted of possessing multiple firearms

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 34-year-old man has pleaded guilty to possessing firearms while a felon, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. On Sept. 11, law enforcement stopped David Michael Saenz for a traffic violation, at which time they also smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Saenz informed law enforcement he was in possession of firearms. A search of the vehicle revealed two handguns in a holster and two additional firearms in his vehicle. Authorities also found methamphetamine and marijuana in the vehicle. Further investigation revealed Saenz was previously convicted of aggravated robbery in 2021. As a convicted felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms per federal law. Saenz also admitted to possessing one of the firearms to protect himself while engaging in drug dealing. Chief U.S District Judge Randy Crane accepted the plea and set sentencing for February 4, 2025. At that time, Saenz faces up to 15 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Saenz has been and will remain in custody pending his sentencing. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Rio Grande City Police Department conducted the joint investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cahal P. McColgan is prosecuting the case as part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods ( PSN ) Program. In May 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced a new effort to reduce violent crime, including the gun violence that is often at its core. Integral to that effort was the reinvigoration of PSN, a two-decade old, evidence-based and community-oriented program focused on reducing violent crime. The updated PSN approach, outlined in the department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime is guided by four key principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.