component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – The Justice Department today announced the court-authorized seizure of 27 internet domains associated with some of the world’s leading DDoS-for-hire services, as well as criminal charges against two defendants who allegedly oversaw computer attack platforms commonly called “booter” services. Federal law enforcement is now seizing the websites that allowed paying users to launch powerful distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks that flood targeted computers with information and prevent them from being able to access the internet. Booter services such as those named in this action allegedly attacked a wide array of victims in the United States and abroad, including educational institutions, government agencies, gaming platforms and millions of people. In addition to affecting targeted victims, these attacks can significantly degrade internet services and can completely disrupt internet connections. The websites targeted in this operation were used to launch millions of actual or attempted DDoS attacks targeting victims worldwide. While some of these services claimed to offer “stresser” services that could purportedly be used for network testing, the FBI and DCIS determined these claims to be a pretense, and “thousands of communications between booter site administrators and their customers…make clear that both parties are aware that the customer is not attempting to attack their own computers,” according to an affidavit filed in support of court-authorized warrants to seize the booter sites. “Booter services facilitate cyberattacks that harm victims and compromise everyone’s ability to access the internet,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California. “This week’s sweeping law enforcement activity is a major step in our ongoing efforts to eradicate criminal conduct that threatens the internet’s infrastructure and our ability to function in a digital world.” “Cybercrime service providers, such as those criminals operating DDoS for hire booter websites, affect victims in Alaska and across the world,” said United States Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “Because of the scope of the threat, we have partnered with law enforcement in the United States and abroad to achieve meaningful disruptions of these services in order to protect critical internet infrastructure and services.” “Whether you launch a DDoS attack or hire a DDoS service to do it for you, the FBI considers it a crime. Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting essential services and our critical infrastructure with DDoS attacks that can cost victims valuable time, money and reputational harm,” said Akil Davis, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. “With the FBI’s mix of unique authorities, capabilities, and partnerships, potential users and administrators should think twice before buying or selling these illegal services. Victims of cybercrime are urged to contact their local FBI field office or file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov.” “DDoS attacks are a potent cyber weapon with the proven potential to disrupt critical information systems and infrastructure,” said Special Agent in Charge Kenneth DeChellis of the Defense Criminal Investigative Services (DCIS), Cyber Field Office. “Today’s action against DDoS-for-hire services demonstrates the resolve of the DCIS and global law enforcement partners to disrupt the use of these services by hacktivist groups and cybercriminals.” “In this coordinated law enforcement effort, the FBI seized and disabled powerful computer attack platforms that offered DDoS-for-hire services,” said Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “This action demonstrates our shared commitment with domestic and international law enforcement partners in combatting cybercrime and defending our digital infrastructure.” Law enforcement has conducted interviews with U.S. customers of these services, with future interviews expected, and authorities are continuing to investigate both administrators and customers of booter services around the world. This coordinated law enforcement action comes shortly before the Christmas holiday period, which typically brings a significant increase in DDoS attacks across the internet. Relatedly, one defendant has been charged federally in Los Angeles and one defendant has been charged federally in Anchorage, Alaska, in connection with DDoS-for-hire services. Central District of California Prosecutors in Los Angeles this week unsealed one indictment charging one defendant with running booter services. Ricardo Cesar Colli, a.k.a. “TotemanGames,” 22, of Brazil, is charged with conspiracy to violate and violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act related to the alleged operation of a booter service named Securityhide.net (formerly known as Securityhide.com). Assistant United States Attorney Aaron Frumkin of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section is prosecuting the case. Assistant United States Attorney James E. Dochterman of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section is handling the seizure of the domains. District of Alaska Prosecutors in Alaska have indicted one defendant with being the administrator of significant booter services. That indictment remains under seal, as the United States continues to work with international partners to pursue an arrest and extradition. Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Alexander, Ainsley McNerney, and Seth Brickey are prosecuting the case. In conjunction with the website seizures, Homeland Security Investigations, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency, and the Netherlands Police have launched an advertising campaign using targeted placement ads in search engines, which are triggered by keywords associated with DDoS activities. The purpose of the ads is to deter potential cyber criminals searching for DDoS services in the United States and around the globe, as well as to educate the public on the illegality of DDoS activities. In recent years, booter services have continued to proliferate as they offer a low barrier to entry for users looking to engage in cybercriminal activity. These types of DDoS attacks are so named because they result in the “booting” or dropping of the targeted computer from the internet. For additional information on booter and stresser services and the harm that they cause, please visit: https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/anchorage/fbi-intensify-efforts-to-combat-illegal-ddos-attacks. The cases announced today are being investigated by the FBI’s Anchorage and Los Angeles field offices, Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s Cyber East and Cyber West field offices, and HSI’s Columbus field office. Invaluable assistance was provided by Germany’s Bundeskriminalamt (BKA); the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency; the Netherlands Police; Polish Central Cybercrime Bureau; Brazilian Federal Police, High Tech Crimes Coordination; EUROPOL; and the Brandon Police Service in Manitoba, Canada. Akamai, Cloudflare, Digital Ocean, Entertainment Software Association, Flashpoint, Google, Oracle, PayPal, Unit 221B, Amazon Web Services, the University of Cambridge, and other valued private sector partners provided additional assistance. These law enforcement actions were taken in conjunction with Operation PowerOFF, an ongoing, coordinated effort among international law enforcement agencies aimed at dismantling criminal DDoS-for-hire infrastructures worldwide, and holding accountable the administrators and users of these illegal services. In previous law enforcement actions involving prosecutors and investigators in Los Angeles and Anchorage over the last four years, the Justice Department charged nine defendants who facilitated DDoS-for hire services and seized more than 75 internet domains associated with DDoS-for-hire services. The multi-prong investigation announced today builds on the success of the prior cases by targeting all known booter sites, shutting down as many as possible, and undertaking a public education campaign.


title: Brockton Man Sentenced to Over Six Years in Prison for Illegally Receiving a Firearm, Distributing Fentanyl and Possessing Cocaine

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Brockton man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston to firearm, cocaine, fentanyl and conspiracy offenses. Antonio Denziah Fernandes, 23, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to 78 months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release. In September 2024, Fernandes pleaded guilty to two counts of illegally receiving a firearm while under indictment, two counts of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and cocaine, and one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. In September 2023, Fernandes was indicted by a federal grand jury and on Sept. 11, 2024, additional charges were brought in a Superseding Information. In late 2021, law enforcement learned that Fernandes was trafficking firearms and narcotics in the Brockton area, including large quantities of fentanyl. In January 2022, while under indictment in state court for trafficking more than 10 grams of fentanyl, Fernandes received and sold a Glock Model 48, 9mm pistol for $1,700 in the Taunton area. In each of two subsequent transactions in January and February 2022, Fernandes distributed and possessed with intent to distribute approximately 50 grams of fentanyl, for a total of approximately 100 grams. These two transactions took place in the vicinity of Fernandes’s Brockton residence. Fernandes and a co-conspirator were storing and packaging narcotics in an abandoned van parked outside Fernandes residence and distributing them with a different vehicle. Fernandes was arrested in the passenger seat of the latter vehicle, and a loaded firearm was found wedged against his seat. Fernandes had 2.8g of fentanyl and $1,215 in cash on his person. During a search of the abandoned vehicle, large quantity of drugs was found inside including approximately 174.7 grams of Fentanyl, 51.5 grams of cocaine, 18.2 grams of Percocet pills and eight grams of mushrooms. Twenty-seven rounds of 9mm ammunition was also recovered. The van also contained various packaging materials for narcotics, such as plastic baggies, corner cut bags, a trash bag full of various used drug packaging materials with white residue, mixing bowls with white residue and latex gloves. United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office; the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office; and the Brockton, Taunton, Whitman, West Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, Bridgewater and Bridgewater State University Police Departments; the Drug Enforcement Administration; and the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Meghan C. Cleary of the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN .


title: Suburban Chicago Businessman Charged With Covid-Relief Fraud

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: CHICAGO – A suburban Chicago businessman has been indicted on federal charges for allegedly scheming with a California man to fraudulently obtain more than $6.3 million in small business loans and grants under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”). FRANCESCO DISTEFANO, 28, of Addison, Ill., and SARGIS URUMIEH, 57, of Glendale, Calif., allegedly engaged in fraud related to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program (EIDL), two sources of relief under the CARES Act. Pursuant to the Act, a PPP loan allowed the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spend a certain amount of the proceeds on essential expenses, such as payroll and rent. The EIDL Program provided loan assistance or grants to cover working capital and other operating expenses. According to a superseding indictment returned in the Northern District of Illinois, Distefano and Urumieh applied for and obtained loans and grants for West Coast POS Inc. and National POS Inc., two companies where Urumieh served as a corporate officer. Distefano also applied for and obtained loans for Distefano Enterprises LLC, an entity that he owned and controlled, the indictment states. The applications contained numerous false statements and misrepresentations regarding the companies’ operations, including the number of employees, gross revenues, and payroll expenses, the indictment states. The indictment alleges that Distefano used the fraud proceeds to purchase, among other things, numerous luxury automobiles, including a Lamborghini Huracan, Maserati Ghibli, and Porsche 911. The indictment also accuses Distefano and Urumieh of using fraud proceeds and a fraudulent mortgage application to purchase a residential property in Glendale, Calif. The indictment charges Distefano with eleven counts of wire fraud, five counts of money laundering, and one count of knowingly making a false statement to a bank. Urumieh is charged with eight counts of wire fraud. Arraignments in federal court in Chicago have not yet been scheduled. The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, Ramsey E. Covington, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation Chicago Field Office, and Hannibal “Mike” Ware, Inspector General of the U.S. Small Business Administration. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey S. Snell. The public is reminded that an indictment contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Each count of wire fraud and money laundering is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison, while the maximum sentence for the false statement count is 30 years. Anyone with information about attempted fraud involving Covid-19 can report it to the Department of Justice by calling the National Center for Disaster Fraud at (866) 720-5721, or by filing a complaint online at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form . 0039_-_0000_-_second_superseding_indictment_as_to_francesco_distefano.pdf


title: Sex Offender Sentenced to More Than 11 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation Offense, Violating Supervised Release

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHAEL SZWARC, 36, of Derby, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to 134 months of imprisonment, followed by 25 years of supervised release, for a child exploitation offense, and for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction. According to court documents and statements made in court, Szwarc was convicted in 2013 in state court of possession of child pornography in the second degree, and in 2022 in federal court of receipt of child pornography. In January 2024, while Szwarc was on federal supervised release, his probation officer conducted an unannounced visit to his home and discovered that Szwarc was in possession of an unauthorized laptop. The probation officer seized the laptop. A forensic examination of the device revealed multiple images of child pornography, and the investigation revealed that Szwarc had used the dark web to access websites used to traffic and distribute images and videos of child sexual abuse. On August 13, 2024, Szwarc pleaded guilty to accessing with intent to view child pornography. Judge Thompson sentenced Szwarc to 120 months of imprisonment for the offense, and a consecutive 14 months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release. The penalties in this matter were enhanced because of Szwarc’s prior federal and state convictions for possessing child pornography. Szwarc has been detained since his arrest on February 9, 2024. This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings. This prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Project Safe Childhood Initiative, which is aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com .


title: 56 Members of a Violent Gang Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearms Violations in San Juan, and Carolina, Puerto Rico

body_text: SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – On December 5, 2024, a federal grand jury in the District of Puerto Rico returned an indictment charging 56 violent gang members from the municipalities of San Juan, Carolina, and areas nearby with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, possession and distribution of controlled substances, firearms violations, and murder, announced W. Stephen Muldrow, United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico. This investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Puerto Rico Police Bureau Carolina Strike Force, with the collaboration of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the United States Marshals Service. “The prosecution of this drug trafficking organization exemplifies our ongoing efforts to dismantle drug gangs, and reduce violent crime and gun violence,” said U.S. Attorney Muldrow. “I want to thank our federal, local, and state law enforcement partners, as well as the prosecutors and investigators in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, for their relentless work in this case. As demonstrated by this prosecution, our valiant police officers serve and protect our communities with courage, dedication, and bravery every day -- at great risk to their own safety.” “Combatting violent gangs requires a whole-of-society-approach and I am proud to say that this large-scale gang disruption is the result of the different government components, especially law enforcement, working together with and for the communities,” said Joseph González, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s San Juan Field Office. “I am convinced that, with the help of the public and our partners, we can continue to make tangible progress towards peace in the streets of Puerto Rico.” The indictment alleges that from in or about 2021 through the date of the indictment, the charged drug trafficking organization distributed heroin, fentanyl, cocaine base (commonly known as “crack”), cocaine, marijuana, Tramadol, and Clonazepam within 1,000 feet of the Sabana Abajo Public Housing Project (PHP), the Luis Lloréns Torres PHP, the Los Mirtos PHP, the Lagos de Blasina PHP, the La Esmeralda PHP, the El Coral PHP, the Monte Hatillo PHP, and other areas near those locations, all for significant financial gain and profit. The drug trafficking organizations that operated in and around these areas (hereinafter The Alliance) reached an agreement to conduct their drug trafficking operations as allies, which they referred to as “La Paz” (The Peace). At that time, each housing project organization was controlled by their own leadership and structure. As part of The Alliance, there would not be war between these organizations and members would be able to rely on each other for protection, drugs, and weapons. The goal of The Alliance was to control all the drug trafficking activities within the municipalities of Carolina, San Juan, and areas nearby using force, threats, violence, and intimidation. In preserving power and protecting territory, the members of the alliance profited from the illegal distribution of narcotics, including transportation to and distribution of kilogram quantities of cocaine in the continental United States. Members of the alliance conducted meetings and frequented each other’s housing projects and the same bars and clubs together; performed in concerts and music videos together, recording videos at each other’s housing projects using real weapons to project their alliance’s power. Members would identify their gang affiliation with jewelry such as pendants allusive to their housing project, organization, or names of record labels, including, but not limited to, “LFC” (La Familia Carolina), “LMM” (Loyalty Music Money) and “LMG” (Loyalty Music Group). The investigation revealed that during the conspiracy the defendants and their co‑conspirators participated in acts of violence and shootings to further their drug trafficking operations. They also engaged in the trafficking of illegal firearms and ammunition using their social media accounts and other social media applications and platforms. It is also alleged that the defendants obtained information from corrupt police officers to surveil rival gang members and to avoid law enforcement detection. On occasions, the corrupt police officers accessed law enforcement databases to obtain privileged information such as vehicle registration data and personal identifying data. The defendants acted in different roles to further the goals of the drug trafficking conspiracy, including as leaders, suppliers, drug point owners, enforcers, runners, sellers, lookouts, and facilitators. The 56 defendants charged in the indictment are: [1] Victor J. Pérez-Fernández, a.k.a. “La Cone/Vitu/Vitikin/Enano” [2] David A. Isaac-Febus, a.k.a. “Durant/Davicito” [3] Jan C. Dalmau-Román, a.k.a. “Yankee/El Árabe” [4] Charlie J. Dalmau-Román, a.k.a. “Tres Deos/Tres Dedos” [5] Luis R. Pérez-Vizcarrondo, a.k.a. “Tío/Raúl” [6] Samuel Santiago-Delgado, a.k.a. “Kule” [7] Michael J. García-Marquez, a.k.a. “Maco/Menor” [8] Luis N. Isaac-Sánchez, a.k.a. “Chimbo/CDobleta/Dobleta” [9] Eli Y. Couvertier-Pollock, a.k.a. “Tata/Maike/Maike Casiano” [10] Gerald O. Rodríguez-Rodríguez, a.k.a. “Patrón” [11] Onix Y. Couvertier-Pollock, a.k.a. “Gato/Gatito/Yamil” [12] Ángel L. Agosto-Andino, a.k.a. “Bilito/Bartolo/Birlito” [13] Vicyael C. Hernández-Díaz, a.k.a. “Menor/Ozu” [14] Paul W. Herrera-Rivera, a.k.a. “Polito/Agua Sucia/Negro” [15] Luis R. Pérez-Colón, a.k.a. “Mencho/Luisito” [16] Lino J. Calcaño-Rodríguez [17] Eddie G. Roque-Sánchez, a.k.a. “Edito/Coco” [18] Ángel L. Sanjurjo, a.k.a. “Vaca” [19] William E. Boria-Rosa, a.k.a. “Boria” [20] Christian Luna-Ilarraza, a.k.a. “Chiqui” [21] Carlos F. Mercado-Molina, a.k.a. “Blanco Perla/Payco” [22] Orlando Resto-García, a.k.a. “Luli/Potala” [23] Andyel González-Sáez, a.k.a. “Martino” [24] Olvin O’Neill-Concepción-Tapia, a.k.a. “Sinfo” [25] Daniel J. López-Vega, a.k.a. “Dany” [26] Edwin Y. Flores-Tavárez, a.k.a. “Chizguis/Película/Cheese Wiz” [27] Jeremy Millán-Isaac, a.k.a. “Pequeño/Zepe” [28] Bernardo De La Cruz-Pizarro, a.k.a. “Caravela/Armandito” [29] Yasiel Morales-López, a.k.a. “Pausa/Rubio” [30] Joshua E. Bula-Cartagena, a.k.a. “Inquilino/El Corista” [31] José A. González-Herrera, a.k.a. “Teta/Ted” [32] Josué Isaac-Febus, a.k.a. “Tonto/Doble T” [33] Ramsell Maldonado-Tatis, a.k.a. “R” [34] Joshua Jeriel Rivera-Cruz, a.k.a. “Joshi/J” [35] Jazhiel Ocasio-Herrera, a.k.a. “BV” [36] Frambel Rijos-Hernández, a.k.a. “Domi” [37] José Martínez-Serrano, a.k.a. “Tio/Denzel” [38] Wilfredo Hernández-Vizcarrondo, a.k.a. “Machacho” [39] Jean C. Fernández-Garay, a.k.a. “Logan/Bebo” [40] Harold Reynoso-Isaac, a.k.a. “Jandi/Pichi” [41] Carlos A. Delgado-Torres, a.k.a. “Peter/Papi/Papa Candela” [42] Isaías Caleb De Jesús-Valentín, a.k.a. “Minor/Mynor/Mynol” [43] Ángel M. Franqui-González, a.k.a. “Blanquito” [44] Juan L. Tereforte-Bello, a.k.a. “Tostin” [45] Justin Landrau-Cirino, a.k.a. “Cheo” [46] Edgardo D. Rivera-Rivera, a.k.a. “Limba” [47] Danny Díaz-Soto, a.k.a. “Shorty” [48] Alexander Y. Encarnación-Febus, a.k.a. “Bebo” [49] Kevin E. Soto-Peña, a.k.a. “Mostri” [50] Jacob J. Monge-Vigo [51] Yander C. Santos-Ramos, a.k.a. “Mingui” [52] Michael Rodríguez-Seib, a.k.a. “Teco” [53] Victor Z. Sifonte-Rivera [54] Eduardo A. Tolentino-Meléndez [55] Fernando Torres-Galarza, a.k.a. “Perro” [56] Destiny Crespo-Correa Thirty-seven defendants are facing one count of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and fourteen of those defendants are facing one count of possession of a machinegun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Count Nine charges the murder of Sergeant Eliezer Ramos Vélez that occurred on March 29, 2024 - during and in furtherance of the conspiracy. Defendants [1] Victor J. Pérez-Fernández, [8] Luis N. Isaac-Sánchez, [23] Andyel González-Sáez, [24] Olvin O’Neill-Concepción-Tapia, and [25] Daniel J. López-Vega are charged with one count of firearm-related murder and are eligible for the death penalty. If convicted on the drug charges, the defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, and up to life in prison. If convicted of both the drug trafficking and the firearms charges in Count Seven, the defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, and up to life in prison. The defendants charged with possession of machineguns in furtherance of drug trafficking in Count Eight face a mandatory sentence of thirty years in prison to be served consecutive to any sentence imposed on the drug trafficking charges. All defendants are facing a narcotics forfeiture allegation of $31,347,400 that represent a calculation of the proceeds generated from their illegal drug trafficking activities. Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) and Chief of the Gang Section Alberto López-Rocafort; Deputy Chief of the Gang Section, AUSA Teresa Zapata-Valladares; and AUSAs Laura Díaz-González, R. Vance Eaton, and Joseph Russell are prosecuting the case. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: U.S. Attorney Reaches $1.47 Million Civil Fraud Settlement With Owner Of Footwear Business For Submitting False Information To Obtain Paycheck Protection Program Loans

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Amaleka McCall-Brathwaite, the Special Agent in Charge of the Eastern Regional Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General (“SBA-OIG”), announced that the United States has filed and settled a civil fraud lawsuit against STEFANO MARONI for including false information in applications for Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans he submitted on behalf of two related New York City-based companies he owned and operated, in violation of the False Claims Act. The settlement resolves claims that MARONI improperly obtained separate first-draw and second-draw PPP loans for GMI USA Corp. (“GMI”) and Belovefine, Ltd. (“Belovefine”), when the two entities in fact operated essentially the same footwear design and importation business during the relevant timeframe, using a single office space and sharing the same employees. The U.S. alleged, among other things, that MARONI inflated payroll figures in the PPP loan and forgiveness applications by double-counting the salaries of shared employees when only one entity paid these employees’ salaries a at a given time, and improperly sought loan forgiveness for certain payroll costs in excess of allowable forgiveness amounts. Under the settlement agreement approved by U.S. District Judge Jennifer H. Rearden on December 9, 2024, MARONI will pay the U.S. $1,470,085.65 and has agreed to the entry of a consent judgment in that amount. As part of the settlement, MARONI admitted and accepted responsibility for certain conduct alleged in the Government’s Complaint, including that he misrepresented and inflated the total payroll and employee headcounts in Belovefine’s and GMI’s first and second-draw PPP applications and loan forgiveness applications, which increased the amount of the PPP loans received and the amounts forgiven. Belovefine and GMI are no longer doing business or in operation. The PPP was an emergency loan program established by Congress in March 2020 under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act and administered by the SBA. The PPP was created to provide forgivable loans to support small businesses struggling to pay employees and other business expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the PPP, eligible businesses could obtain SBA-guaranteed loans to spend on payroll costs, rent or mortgage, and other specified business expenses. The amount of PPP funds a business was eligible to receive was determined by the number of individuals employed by the business and average payroll costs. When applying for PPP loans, borrowers were required to certify that they were eligible for the requested loan and that the information provided in the loan application was true and accurate. To receive forgiveness, borrowers were required to submit signed loan forgiveness applications and documents containing certain information and certifications. In December 2020, Congress approved funding for a second round of PPP loans, which became available to borrowers beginning in January 2021. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Stefano Maroni submitted false information and false certifications to receive Paycheck Protection Program loans to which he and his businesses were not entitled. PPP loans were intended to help small businesses stay afloat and retain their employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. This Office will continue its efforts to root out fraud and misconduct in the PPP and other pandemic-related assistance programs and hold those responsible accountable.” As alleged in the Complaint filed in Manhattan federal court: Belovefine and GMI operated essentially the same footwear business from the same office space in Manhattan. At various times, MARONI alternately used Belovefine or GMI as the corporate entity performing certain business functions. During the relevant period, MARONI repeatedly transferred employees of the footwear business from GMI’s payroll to Belovefine’s payroll, or the reverse, even though there was no material difference in employees’ job functions when they were paid by one company as opposed to the other. MARONI sought and received first-draw and second-draw PPP loans on behalf of both Belovefine and GMI as though they were two distinct businesses, each with its own separate employee payroll. MARONI personally signed the PPP loan and forgiveness applications on behalf of Belovefine and GMI. In total, the companies received more than $1 million in PPP loan funds, nearly all of which was forgiven by the SBA. MARONI misrepresented and inflated the total payroll and employee headcounts of Belovefine and GMI in their PPP applications and loan forgiveness applications, which increased the amount of the PPP loans received and the amounts forgiven. MARONI essentially double-counted the salaries of shared employees of both GMI and Belovefine, when in fact only one of these entities paid these employees’ salaries and payroll taxes at a given time. MARONI falsely certified in Belovefine’s PPP loan applications that Belovefine had employees for whom it paid salaries and payroll taxes as of February 15, 2020, which was a PPP loan eligibility requirement. However, between January and April 2020, MARONI paid all employees of the footwear business through GMI’s payroll. Belovefine had no employee payroll during this period and was thus ineligible to receive PPP loans. Moreover, in GMI’s first-draw PPP loan forgiveness application, MARONI misrepresented and inflated the total payroll amounts eligible for forgiveness because GMI had reduced covered employees’ total wages by amounts in excess of 25 percent of the total salary or wages of the employee during the most recent full quarter that preceded the relevant period covered by the loan. As part of the settlement, MARONI admits, acknowledges, and accepts responsibility for the following conduct: MARONI was the sole owner and CEO of GMI and Belovefine. Both entities operated the same footwear business and shared the same leased office space in Manhattan. In 2019, the footwear business’s employees were all paid by Belovefine. In early 2020, prior to applying for PPP loans, MARONI transferred all of the footwear business’s employees to GMI’s payroll. MARONI personally signed the PPP loan and forgiveness applications on behalf of Belovefine and GMI. These applications included certain inaccurate information. Prior to signing both the PPP loan and forgiveness applications, MARONI recklessly failed to confirm the accuracy of the information contained in the applications and that the applications complied with the PPP program’s rules. During all periods covered by Belovefine and GMI’s first-draw and second-draw PPP loans, the two companies shared the same office space at 3 Columbus Circle, Suite 2410, New York, New York. GMI listed this address in its PPP loan applications. However, Belovefine incorrectly listed a different suite number in its loan applications, which gave the impression that the entities were distinct and operated in separate locations. In order to be eligible for a PPP loan, the applicant needed to be in operation as of February 15, 2020, and have employees for whom it paid salaries and payroll taxes. The first and second-draw PPP applications submitted on behalf of Belovefine misrepresented that the company had employees for whom it paid salaries and payroll taxes as of February 15, 2020. As noted above, Belovefine actually had no employee payroll between January and April 2020, because all employees of the footwear business were being paid by GMI. Belovefine did not file an Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return for the first quarter of 2020. In Belovefine’s and GMI’s first- and second-draw PPP applications and loan forgiveness applications, MARONI misrepresented and inflated their total payroll and employee headcounts, which increased the amount of the PPP loans received and the amounts forgiven. During the periods covered by the loans, MARONI repeatedly transferred employees from one entity’s payroll to the other’s payroll. MARONI included the wages of the employees in both Belovefine’s and GMI’s PPP loan and forgiveness applications, when in fact only one entity was paying salaries and payroll taxes to employees of the footwear business at a given time. In GMI’s first-draw PPP loan forgiveness application, MARONI falsely certified that GMI “did not reduce salaries or hourly wages of any employee by more than 25 percent for any employee during the Covered Period compared to the most recent quarter before the Covered Period.” In fact, during the covered period for the forgiveness application, GMI had reduced the salaries of multiple covered employees by 50% as compared to their pay during the first quarter of 2020, the most recent quarter preceding the relevant covered period. Thus, MARONI misrepresented and inflated the GMI payroll costs that were eligible for forgiveness under the first-draw PPP loan. As a result of the above-referenced conduct and misrepresentations, MARONI requested and received PPP loans on behalf of Belovefine and GMI for amounts substantially in excess of what the footwear business was entitled to receive. In connection with the filing of the lawsuit and settlement, the Government joined a private whistleblower lawsuit that had been filed under seal pursuant to the False Claims Act. * * * Mr. Williams praised the SBA-OIG for its assistance with this case. The case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Frauds Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Dolinger is in charge of the case.


title: Businessman Indicted for Manipulating Five Publicly Traded Companies and Defrauding Investors of Over $200M

component: Criminal Division

body_text: Note : A copy of the indictment can be found here . A federal grand jury in Dallas, Texas, returned an indictment yesterday charging a Texas businessman for his role in a yearslong scheme involving at least five publicly traded companies. According to court documents, Philip Verges, 59, of Dallas, controlled five publicly traded companies, which he used to engage in an investment fraud scheme from approximately January 2017 through August 2022. As part of the alleged scheme, Verges concealed his involvement in these five companies from the investing public by appointing trusted friends to serve as nominees. Verges then allegedly entered into sham consulting agreements with the companies that allowed the companies to execute convertible notes, which could be converted to shares at a steep discount from their fair market value. Verges allegedly artificially inflated the price and trading volume of shares by, among other things, issuing false public press releases and financial statements. As further alleged, Verges then sold his convertible notes to intermediaries who converted the notes into shares at below-market prices, sold the shares into the market for a profit, and shared the proceeds from the sales with Verges. In total, the alleged scheme resulted in approximately $211 million in losses to the public. Verges is charged with one count of securities fraud and two counts of money laundering. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the securities fraud count and 10 years in prison on each money laundering count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Special Agent in Charge Gregory D. Nelsen of the FBI Cleveland Field Office made the announcement. The FBI is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Brandon Burkart and Matt Kahn of the Criminal Division’s Fraud 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: Colombian National Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Kidnap and Assault U.S. Army Soldiers in Colombia

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI - A Colombian national pleaded guilty today to his role in kidnapping and assaulting two members of the U.S. military who were on temporary duty in Bogotá, Colombia. According to court documents, Pedro Jose Silva Ochoa, 47, of Bogotá, and his co-defendants targeted, incapacitated, and kidnapped two U.S. soldiers in Bogotá. The two victims, who were serving on orders in Colombia, went to an entertainment district in Bogotá to watch a soccer game on the evening of March 5, 2020. They went to a pub, where one of Silva Ochoa’s co-conspirators incapacitated the victims by putting drugs, including benzodiazepines, in their drinks. Silva Ochoa’s co-conspirators then escorted the victims into a waiting car driven by Silva Ochoa, kidnapped them, and took their wallets, debit cards, credit cards, and cell phones. Silva Ochoa and his co-conspirators used one victim’s credit card and the other victim’s debit card to make purchases and withdraw money. The two victims lost consciousness until the following day, by which point they had been separated. Pursuant to a plea agreement, Silva Ochoa pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to kidnap an internationally protected person. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Silva Ochoa was extradited in May from Chile to the United States, and he is the second co-defendant to plead guilty in this criminal scheme. Co-defendant Arango Castellanos was extradited in May 2023 from Colombia to the United States, pleaded guilty in January to the charges in the indictment, and was sentenced in May to 48 years and nine months in prison. Co-defendant Uribe Chiran was extradited in September from Colombia to the United States; she is currently scheduled for trial in February 2025. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida; Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole A. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Miami Field Office’s Extraterritorial Squad investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of the Judicial Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá, and FBI’s Office of the Legal Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Santiago, Chile, provided significant assistance. The Justice Department also thanks Colombian and Chilean law enforcement authorities for their valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bertila Fernandez for the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorneys Clayton O’Connor and Elizabeth Nielsen of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section are prosecuting the case. ###


title: Billings meth trafficker sentenced to more than 10 years in prison

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: BILLINGS — A Billings man who admitted to trafficking methamphetamine as part of multi-state drug organization was sentenced today to 10 years and eight months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. The defendant, Anthony Enemyhunter, 37, pleaded guilty in August to possession with intent to distribute meth. U.S. Attorney Susan P. Watters presided. In court documents, the government alleged that Enemyhunter was among a group of individuals involved in a multi-state drug trafficking organization that operated from a residence on Sugar Avenue in Billings. A group of males from Washington brought pounds of meth into Montana and used these individuals to distribute meth and fentanyl. Enemyhunter was identified as selling meth from a Billings hotel. A probation search of his hotel room resulted in the seizure of a firearm, ammunition and a small amount of meth. Enemyhunter also sold meth to a confidential source on two occasions. In February, the Montana Highway Patrol stopped his vehicle and found Enemyhunter to be in possession of meth and several firearms, including one that was stolen. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN . XXX


title: Former CEO of Long Island Public Telecommunications Company Charged with Insider Trading

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, an indictment was unsealed charging Ken Peterman, the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (Comtech), a publicly traded company based in Melville, New York, with insider trading and securities fraud. Peterman was arrested this morning in San Diego and is scheduled to make his initial appearance tomorrow in federal court in the Southern District of California. He will be arraigned in the Eastern District of New York at a later date. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the arrest and charges. “As alleged, the defendant exploited for his own personal benefit confidential information, including derogatory news of his own impending termination, that was meant to be available only for corporate purposes,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “In doing so before he was shown the door, Peterman breached the trust and confidence placed in him by his former employer and its shareholders. My Office will vigorously prosecute those, like Peterman, who would seek to enrich themselves at the expense of ordinary investors and the integrity of the securities markets.” Mr. Peace also expressed his appreciation to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, New York Regional Office for its work on the case. “Ken Peterman allegedly acted on non-public information of the company’s confidential fiscal reporting and his pending termination to avoid financial repercussions. This alleged attempt at self-preservation exploited a respected position and disrupted public confidence in future financial leadership. The FBI remains committed to apprehending those who fraudulently prioritize personal wealth over adherence to the regulations of our economic system,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy. As alleged, Peterman was the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors for Comtech. In his capacity as an officer and director of the company, Peterman obtained material, non-public information concerning the company’s financial performance and internal decision-making. For example, in early March 2024, Peterman received a confidential briefing from Comtech’s Chief Financial Officer, during which Peterman was informed of an upcoming negative earnings release. In addition, around the same time, Peterman was informed that, based on an alleged improper relationship with a subordinate employee, Comtech’s Board had resolved to terminate Peterman for cause. The indictment alleges that on March 12, 2024, shortly after learning of the negative earnings report and his impending ouster, and prior to the public release of such information, Peterman hurriedly sold and/or attempted to sell tens of thousands of shares of Comtech’s stock, which he held in two brokerage accounts. The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Peterman faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of securities fraud, and up to 20 years in prison if convicted of wire fraud. 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, including frauds affecting the integrity of the markets, such as those Peterman is alleged to have committed. The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division. Assistant United States Attorney Anthony Bagnuola is in charge of the prosecution. The Defendant : KEN A. PETERMAN Age: 67 Encinitas, California E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-489 (JMA) 24-cr-489_peterman.indictment.pdf


title: Armed Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison

body_text: RALEIGH, N.C. – Daryl Cromartie, 32, of Wilmington, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for possession of a firearm by felon and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and phencyclidine (PCP). On February 27, 2024, Cromartie pled guilty to the charges. According to court records and evidence presented in court, in February 2023, the Wilmington Police Department (WPD), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office (NHCSO) began investigating the drug trafficking activities of Daryl Cromartie. From February 23, 2023, to July 14, 2023, law enforcement utilized confidential informants (CIs) to purchase narcotics from Cromartie. Most of the controlled buys occurred outside of Cromartie’s residence in Wilmington. Prior to the transactions, Cromartie and the CIs communicated via cellphone. On July 17, 2023, the FBI obtained a search warrant for Cromartie’s residence in Wilmington. Cromartie was present during the search and acknowledged there were various controlled substances, a handgun, and U.S. currency in the home. Officers seized 8.01 grams of cocaine, 42.8 grams of crack cocaine, 55.2 grams of heroin/fentanyl, 37.2 grams of marijuana, a digital scale, $4,360 in U.S. currency and a loaded 9mm handgun from a safe in the master bedroom. Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The FBI, WPD, and NHCSO investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leonard Champaign prosecuted the case. Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:23-CR-00094-M.


title: St. Cloud Man Sentenced To More Than Eight Years For Child Sexual Abuse Materials

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron today sentenced James Edward Cox, Jr. (80, St. Cloud) to eight years and one month in federal prison for receipt and possession of child sexual abuse materials. Cox entered a guilty plea on August 14, 2024. According to court documents, on January 19, 2024, officers from the St. Cloud Police Department conducted a search of Cox’s home. Images discovered during the examination of devices at Cox’s home led to a subsequent search warrant and arrest of Cox on March 5, 2024. Hundreds of images and multiple videos on one of the devices located at that residence was determined to be used by Cox. Those images and videos showed sexual abuse of infant and young girls, including one that had been uploaded by Cox to a website in his effort to look for similar materials. Cox later characterized his conduct in a recorded and monitored jail call as looking for “little girls.” “Actively scouring the dark web to find and collect sexual abuse content of children perpetuates the suffering of innocent victims around the world,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Orlando David Pezzutti. “This sentencing reflects the gravity of this predator’s crimes, as well as HSI’s commitment to shedding a light on the dark web to protect children from harm.” This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the St. Cloud Police Department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dana E. Hill. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: Waco Man Sentenced to Life in Federal Prison for Coercion and Enticement of a Minor

body_text: WACO, Texas – A Waco man was sentenced today to life in federal prison for one count of coercion and enticement of a minor. According to court documents, Bailey Warren Lowe, 25, used a Snapchat account to request sexually explicit images from a 13-year-old girl on multiple occasions. If she acted slowly or the photos did not meet his expectations, Lowe would become angry and threaten to expose her. On one occasion, in early 2022, Lowe drove the minor’s residence, where they engaged in sexual activity in his vehicle. Lowe did not use a condom and, when the minor repeated that she was 13 years old, he demanded she not tell anyone about them because he was 22 and could get in trouble. Lowe was enlisted in the Navy at the time. An FBI investigation revealed multiple chat conversations and instances of sexual exploitation between Lowe and additional victims between the ages of 10 and 15 years old. He was arrested July 28, 2023 and pleaded guilty Dec. 5, 2023. U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas made the announcement. The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Gloff prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: Philadelphia Man Convicted of Solicitation to Commit Murder Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Darnell Jackson, aka “Major Change,” 52, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Nitza I. Quiñones Alejandro to 240 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for murder-for-hire solicitation and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. On February 28, 2023, after a five-day trial, a jury found the defendant guilty of use of interstate commerce facilities in the solicitation of a murder-for-hire and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. The murder-for-hire plot the defendant orchestrated stemmed from an ongoing state drug trafficking investigation. On July 19, 2021, and in the days immediately following, Jackson communicated with an individual via cell phone calls and text messages, in an effort to arrange the killing of another person, sending a photo of the intended victim and indicating that he was willing to pay $5,000 to have someone commit the murder. When the individual reported to Jackson that he had located the intended victim, they allegedly agreed that the killing would occur on the evening of July 21, 2021. That same evening, the individual called Jackson to report that the intended victim had been killed, which was false. In response, Jackson replied that he was on his way to meet the individual to pay him for carrying out the murder. A few minutes later, Jackson was stopped by law enforcement while driving a vehicle in the vicinity of 65th Street & Guyer Avenue in Southwest Philadelphia. Jackson was found in possession of a Glock-style “ghost gun” loaded with 16 live rounds of ammunition. He was immediately arrested and charged by federal complaint. “If you’re willing to casually order a hit — if you have so little respect for human life — you forfeit your right to walk around free with everyone else,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Darnell Jackson has proven he’s a dangerous man and this sentence holds him accountable. My office, the FBI, and the Philadelphia Police Department will continue to identify, arrest, and prosecute our city’s most violent offenders.” “By orchestrating this egregious plot, Jackson underestimated both the capability of law enforcement to uncover his actions and our unwavering commitment to protecting citizens from violence,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Philadelphia. “The FBI, in close partnership with the Philadelphia Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, remains steadfast in our mission to keep our communities safe.” The case was investigated by the FBI and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Justin Ashenfelter.


title: Delaware County Woman Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Armed Carjacking in South Philadelphia

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

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Nateirah Ortiz, 25, of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, was sentenced today to 96 months in prison, five years of supervised release, and a $300 special assessment by United States District Court Judge Chad F. Kenney, for one count of carjacking; one count of carrying and using a firearm during, and in relation to, the commission of a crime of violence; and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. Ortiz was indicted on those violations in April of this year. She pleaded guilty in August, admitting to carjacking a man at approximately 7 p.m. on January 31, 2024, in South Philadelphia. As part of her plea, the defendant also admitted to carrying and using a firearm to commit this offense. According to the publicly filed documents in this case, the victim reported being carjacked on the 1100 block of Washington Avenue. He relayed that, while walking to his vehicle, a silver 2018 Toyota RAV4, the defendant demanded his car keys and pointed a gun at him. The victim complied, giving the defendant his key, and ran to a nearby business for assistance calling 911. The defendant entered the victim’s vehicle and fled the scene. Information about the incident was soon broadcast via police radio citywide. At approximately 9:17 p.m., 24th District police officers on patrol observed the carjacked vehicle traveling on the 3100 block of Kensington Avenue and attempted to conduct a vehicle investigation. The officers stopped their vehicle in front of the RAV4 and another police unit stopped behind it. After waiting for the officers to get out of their car and approach her, Ortiz fled at a high rate of speed, nearly striking their police vehicle in the process. The officers immediately went over the air requesting assistance, and units in the area began searching for the carjacked vehicle. As police officers drove down Richmond Street, they observed that a RAV4 fitting that description had crashed into several cars parked on the 3700 block of Richmond. The officers saw the defendant walking away from the scene and apprehended her, with police recovering a loaded handgun from underneath a parked van a few feet away. “Gunpoint carjackings are terrifying for victims and unsettling for the entire community,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “That’s why this office will continue to work hand-in-hand with the Philadelphia Police Department and ATF to prosecute these violent offenders. As Nateirah Ortiz’s sentence shows, committing a carjacking in our city is a life-changing decision. A crime that took just moments will land you in prison for years.” “Nateirah Ortiz is going back to prison for a senseless and dangerous crime — carjacking a man at gunpoint, endangering the neighborhood and police as she sped away, and wrecking multiple cars,” said Eric DeGree, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Philadelphia Field Division. “Working together with the Philadelphia Police Department in the Carjacking Task Force, we will continue to hold carjackers accountable and help keep Philadelphia’s streets safe.” “Today’s sentencing is a powerful reminder of the impact we can have when law enforcement agencies stand shoulder-to-shoulder,” said Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel. “Through constant collaboration with our federal partners — particularly the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the ATF — we’ve sent a clear message that violent crime will be met with swift, decisive action. By working together, we ensure that those who endanger our communities are held fully accountable, and we reinforce our shared commitment to keeping every Philadelphian safe.” 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 and the Philadelphia Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony J. Carissimi and Robert E. Eckert.


title: Justice Department Agrees to $215 Million Settlement Agreement Related to Assets of Internet Prostitution Ad Service Backpage.com

body_text: LOS ANGELES – The Justice Department today filed a settlement agreement reached between the parties in the civil forfeiture case involving Backpage.com, a now-shuttered internet forum for prostitution ads that included ads depicting sex work of children, in which $215 million in assets traceable to Backpage’s profits, and previously seized by the government from Backpage and its agents, will be forfeited to the United States. The forfeited assets – comprised of cash, cryptocurrency, and one parcel of real estate in San Francisco – will be available for a remission process to compensate victims of the crime. Details about the remission process will be announced at a later date. The forfeiture represents more than 80% of the value of the property seized or restrained in the case. “This settlement agreement marks a significant milestone in a criminal case involving the sexual exploitation and trafficking of countless women and children,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “The nine-figure dollar amount forfeited in this case will allow for victims to recover and show that individuals who profit from such exploitation and trafficking risk both prison time and financial ruin.” For most of its 14-year existence, Backpage dominated the online market for illegal sex work advertising in the United States. While Backpage offered many categories of advertisements, in most years, more than 90% of Backpage’s revenue and activity occurred in the adult-related ad sections. Backpage monetized these advertisements by allowing a variety of pay-for options such as posting ads across multiple geographic areas and increased ad promotion. The company’s CEO eventually admitted that most of the website’s adult ads were for prostitution. In April 2018, several Backpage-related corporate entities, including Backpage LLC, pleaded guilty in Arizona federal court to conspiracy to engage in money laundering. Several Backpage owners and executives also have been convicted in this matter, including Michael Lacey, 76, of Paradise Valley, Arizona, was sentenced to five years in prison; Scott Spear, 74, of Phoenix, was sentenced to 10 years in prison; and John “Jed” Brunst, 72, of Phoenix, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Lacey is free on bail pending appeal. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from September 2010 until its seizure by the United States in April 2018, Backpage was the internet’s leading forum for prostitution ads. The conspirators knowingly promoted prostitution via various marketing strategies. For example, they engaged in a reciprocal link program with an independent web forum that permitted “johns” to post reviews of prostitution acts with specific women. Additionally, the conspirators used an automated filter and human moderators to remove terms known to indicate sex-for-money, while still allowing the ads to be posted. Through this attempt to sanitize the ads, the conspirators sought “plausible deniability” for what the conspirators knew to be ads promoting prostitution. Over the life of the conspiracy, the conspirators earned more than $500 million. To preserve the money earned, Lacey, Spear, and Brunst laundered the money through numerous shell companies they created in multiple foreign countries. The United States Postal Inspection Service, the FBI, and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, which prosecuted the underlying criminal cases, provided substantial assistance. Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan S. Galatzan of the Asset Forfeiture and Recovery Section is prosecuting this case. The case name and number in this matter are United States of America v. $1,546,076.35 In Bank Funds Seized from Republic Bank of Arizona Account 1889, et al. , CV 18-08420 (C.D. Calif.).


title: Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Statement on FBI Director Christopher Wray’s Resignation Announcement

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: The Justice Department issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland following FBI Director Christopher Wray’s resignation announcement: “Chris Wray has served our country honorably and with integrity for decades, including for seven years as the Director of the FBI under presidents of both parties. In a heightened threat environment, Director Wray has worked tirelessly to protect the American people and to lead an agency of 38,000 dedicated public servants, many of whom put their lives on the line every day to serve their communities. Under Director Wray’s principled leadership, the FBI has worked to fulfill the Justice Department’s mission to keep our country safe, protect civil rights, and uphold the rule of law. He has led the FBI’s efforts to aggressively confront the broad range of threats facing our country — from nation-state adversaries and foreign and domestic terrorism to violent crime, cybercrime, and financial crime. There are few leadership positions more central to keeping the American people safe than the Director of the FBI. The Director of the FBI is responsible for leading employees located across the country and around the world who dedicate themselves each day to disrupting complex plots and preventing horrific tragedies before they can occur. The Director of the FBI is responsible for leading the federal law enforcement agency that serves as the connective tissue among the intelligence community, state and local law enforcement agencies across the country, and our international law enforcement partners. And the Director of the FBI is responsible for protecting the independence of the FBI from inappropriate influence in its criminal investigations. That independence is central to preserving the rule of law and to protecting the freedoms we as Americans hold dear. Director Wray has done that job with integrity and skill. He has my gratitude, the gratitude of the FBI agents and employees whose respect and admiration he has earned, and the gratitude of the American people.”


title: New Haven Nurse Admits Tampering with and Stealing Lorazepam Vials

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that SEAN FALZARANO, 38, of Southbury, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver in Hartford to tampering with and stealing Lorazepam vials at the hospital where he was employed as a nurse. Falzarano was employed at Yale New Haven Hospital (YNHH) as a Registered Nurse. As part of his employment, Falzarano was granted access to secure locations used by YNHH to store controlled substances, including Lorazepam. On January 31, 2022, Falzarano took vials containing Lorazepam solution that he knew were intended to be dispensed to patients. He removed a portion of the Lorazepam solution from at least one of the vials, replaced the contents with an inert solution, and returned the vial to the secure location where it was available for distribution to patients. Falzarano also kept at least one vial that he had taken. Falzarano pleaded guilty to one count of tampering with a consumer product, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, and one count of acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of four years. Judge Oliver scheduled sentencing for March 5. Falzarano is released on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing. Falzarano’s nursing license is currently suspended. This matter has been investigated by the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations; the DEA’s Hartford Diversion Control Division; and the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Drug Control Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Miller.


title: Five Indicted for Alleged Multi-State, Transnational Conspiracy to Obtain Driver's Licenses for Ineligible Applicants

body_text: BOSTON – An indictment was unsealed yesterday charging five individuals with conspiring to obtain driver’s licenses for ineligible applicants, principally undocumented individuals without legal status residing in the United States (the customers). The following defendants have been indicted on one count of conspiracy to unlawfully produce and possess with intent to transfer identification documents, two counts of possession with intent to use or transfer unlawfully identification documents and one count of furnishing a false passport to another for use: • Edvan Fernandes Alves De Andrade, 34, formerly of Worcester, currently of Brazil; • Leonel Texeiera De Souza Junior, 38, formerly of Milford, currently of Brazil; • Gabriel Nascimento De Andrade, 26, of Boston; • Cesar Agusto Martin Reis, 28, of Waterbury, Conn; and • Helbert Costa Generoso, 39, of Danbury, Conn. Gabriel Nascimento De Andrade, Cesar Agusto Martin Reis and Helbert Costa Generoso were arrested, and appeared in federal court in Worcester for an initial appearance. Gabriel Nascimento De Andrade was ordered detained pending trial. Cesar Agusto Martin Reis and Helbert Costa Generoso were ordered detained pending a detention hearing on Dec. 16, 2024. According to the charging document, the defendants conspired, from in or about November 2020 through in or about September 2024, to fraudulently procure driver’s licenses for customers who resided in states that prohibited undocumented individuals from obtaining driver’s licenses. Prior to July 2023, undocumented individuals residing in Massachusetts were not permitted to obtain Massachusetts driver’s licenses. Beginning in 2019, undocumented individuals residing in New York became eligible to obtain New York driver’s licenses. The defendants allegedly conspired to fraudulently obtain New York driver’s licenses for customers who did not reside in New York, including Massachusetts residents, and after July 2023 they also conspired to fraudulently obtain Massachusetts driver’s licenses for customers who did not reside in Massachusetts. The defendants allegedly typically charged the customers approximately $1,400 to obtain the driver’s licenses. In New York, before obtaining a driver’s license, applicants were required to pass a written permit test and complete driver’s education coursework from a New York driving school. The New York Department of Motor Vehicles (NY DMV) required online permit test-takers to allow the NY DMV to take pictures of the test-takers, with a web camera, during the test. This was to ensure that the test-taker was the applicant, and that there was not a person sitting with and helping the applicant with the test. To avoid the customers having to take the permit tests, the defendants allegedly conspired to obtain, from the customers, several pictures of the customers, sitting down, making it look as if the customers were taking the tests. The defendants then allegedly completed the permit tests for the customers online, and during the tests, when prompted by the NY DMV, caused the pictures that the customers took of themselves to be uploaded, purporting to show that it was the customers who were taking the tests, not the defendants. The defendants also allegedly created fraudulent driver’s education certificates of completion, purportedly from New York driving schools, forged the signatures of driving school staff on the fake certificates, and gave these documents to the customers to provide to the NY DMV. The NY DMV also required that applicants appear at a NY DMV location and provide documents to prove their identity and residence in New York. The defendants and other co-conspirators allegedly conspired to meet the customers who were Massachusetts residents at locations in Massachusetts, and drove them to NY DMV branch locations, typically several customers at a time. When they arrived at the NY DMV locations, the defendants allegedly gave the customers fraudulent documents falsely purporting to demonstrate that the customers resided in New York. The customers provided these fake records to the NY DMV staff, and the NY DMV relied on the misrepresentations to issue New York driving permits to the customers. The defendants allegedly arranged for the NY DMV to mail the permits to locations in New York that were controlled by the defendants, who then provided the permits in hand to the customers. The defendants allegedly scheduled road driving license tests for the customers with the NY DMV, and drove the customers again to New York, where the customers took the road tests. If the customers passed the tests, the NY DMV mailed the driver’s licenses to addresses in New York, which the defendants allegedly controlled, and the defendants and other co-conspirators then provided the licenses to the customers. The defendants allegedly conspired to obtain Massachusetts driver’s licenses for out-of-state residents, in generally the same manner as they obtained the New York licenses for Massachusetts residents. In Massachusetts, it is alleged that the defendants conspired to fraudulently obtain purported foreign passports to provide to the customers to use as proof of identity with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (MA RMV), in support of customer driver’s license applications. Collectively, the defendants allegedly conspired to fraudulently apply for licenses for more than 1,000 customers, obtained licenses for more than 600 of customers and collected at least hundreds of thousands of dollars. The investigation remains ongoing. The charges of conspiracy to unlawfully produce and possess with intent to transfer identification documents, and possession with intent to use or transfer unlawfully identification documents, carry up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of furnishing a false passport to another for use carries up to up to 10 years in prison, supervised release of up to three years and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Kelly Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the NY DMV Division of Field Investigation, the Boston, Danbury (Conn.) and Waterbury Police Departments, the Bridgeport Branch Office of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut and Offices of the New York State Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan O’Shea of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 24-40030_indictment_-_de_andrade_et_al.pdf


title: Chicago Attorney Convicted of Tax Fraud and Witness Tampering Charges

body_text: CHICAGO — A federal jury has convicted a Chicago attorney of committing tax fraud, attempting to tamper with a witness, and violating a court order. MICHAEL ABRAMSON, 75, of Wilmette Ill., was convicted Tuesday on all 15 tax fraud, witness tampering, and violation of court order charges against him. The jury returned the verdicts after a week-long trial in federal court in Chicago. U.S. District Judge Manish S. Shah set sentencing for May 1, 2024. Abramson was an attorney in Chicago when he filed and caused to be filed false individual tax returns for himself and false corporate returns for a company in which he held an ownership interest – Illinois-based Leasing Employment Services Co., Inc. Evidence at trial revealed that Abramson provided more than $1 million for personal expenses to a woman with whom he was romantically involved. He then took deductions on what were falsely characterized as commissions or loans and included the fraudulent loans as an asset on the company’s tax returns. The expenses Abramson characterized as purported loans included funds expended on behalf of the woman related to a condo in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood, several luxury automobiles, and payments for travel, shopping, and restaurants. Following the indictment in this case, the Court ordered Abramson not to have any contact with witnesses, including Abramson’s bookkeeper, whom Abramson knew would be an important witness at trial. Weeks before trial was initially set to begin on Feb. 5, 2024, Abramson gave the bookkeeper a copy of her previous court testimony, on which he had made handwritten notes changing, supplementing, or otherwise scripting her answers, and told her to review it before trial. Although Abramson told the bookkeeper not to bring the notes to a meeting with law enforcement, the bookkeeper nonetheless turned the scripted transcript over to law enforcement. The jury convictions were announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Ramsey E. Covington, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Chicago Field Office, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard M. Rothblatt and Edward A. Liva, Jr.


title: Former Maintenance Director Indicted on Charges Alleging Scheme to Defraud Boone County Schools Out of $3.4 Million

component: USAO - West Virginia, Southern

body_text: CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A federal grand jury returned an 18-count indictment yesterday charging Michael David Barker, 47, of Foster, with mail fraud, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, and money laundering. The indictment was unsealed today following Barker’s arrest by law enforcement officers. The indictment alleges that from in or about November 2019 through in or about December 2023, Barker was serving as maintenance director when he entered into a scheme to defraud the Boone County Board of Education out of approximately $3,400,000. Barker was maintenance director from in or about 2015 through in or about November 2023, and was responsible for ordering supplies necessary for the maintenance of the Boone County schools. Barker falsified documents showing that the Boone County Board of Education was receiving large amounts of janitorial and custodial products including hand soap, trash can liners, and face masks from Rush Enterprises, a Kentucky business with an office in Kenova, West Virginia, when the Boone County Board of Education was only receiving a small amount of those products. Acting in his capacity as maintenance director, Barker submitted fraudulent invoices and purchase orders that caused the Boone County Board of Education to pay for more than $4,000,000 of products from Rush Enterprises. During calendar years 2022 and 2023, for example, Barker submitted invoices to the Boone County Board of Education that caused them to pay Rush Enterprises for 4,993 cases of hand soap when, in fact, the Boone County Board of Education had only received approximately 829 cases. The Boone County Board of Education paid approximately $474,696 for hand soap that was never delivered. Rush Enterprises was operated by Jesse Marks, who is named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the indictment. Barker and Marks conspired to overbill the Boone County Board of Education for the undelivered products and split the proceeds from the fraudulent scheme. Barker received approximately $2,000,000 as a result of the fraudulent scheme, and then used his share of the proceeds to make extravagant purchases for his personal benefit. From at least in or about March 2020 through in or about December 2023, Barker, Marks and other persons conspired to commit mail fraud as part of the scheme to defraud the Boone County Board of Education. The fraudulent invoices and purchase orders submitted by Barker caused the Boone County Board of Education to send a series of checks through the United States Mail to Rush Enterprises. Marks deposited those checks into his business account for Rush Enterprises, wrote checks from his business account to himself, cashed those checks at multiple banks, and paid Barker his share of the proceeds from the fraudulent scheme with the cash. Marks delivered cash payments to Barker in person at various locations in Boone County during the time period. The Boone County Board of Education received federal funds annually in excess of $10,000 during the 2021, 2022 and 2023 fiscal years, and the money fraudulently obtained by Barker through his scheme included federal funds. Barker also laundered proceeds of his fraudulent scheme by purchasing a utility vehicle and making down payments toward the purchase of a track loader and excavator. Barker is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, 11 counts of mail fraud, three counts of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, and three counts of money laundering. If convicted, Barker faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the conspiracy count and each mail fraud count, and up to 10 years in prison for each theft and money laundering count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. “At a time when Boone County Schools faced significant challenges, particularly while responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Barker used his position of authority to enrich himself at the expense of the children of Boone County,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “Mr. Barker’s scheme siphoned millions of much-needed dollars from our public schools, and the indictment unsealed today seeks to hold him accountable for his criminal actions.” Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI), the West Virginia State Police, and the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office (WVSAO) Public Integrity and Fraud Unit (PIFU), and the assistance provided by the West Virginia Department of Education. “This scheme not only defrauded the public of their money, but it also directly impacted the health, safety, and wellbeing of the most vulnerable in our community: our children,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek. “Rather than supporting educators and ensuring resources for students were available, this individual instead sought to line his own pockets. The FBI and our partners remain committed to holding those responsible accountable and seeking justice for victims.” “Today’s action alleges that Mr. Barker not only abused his position of trust for personal gain but did so at the expense of Boone County students. That is unacceptable,” said John Carlo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General Eastern Regional Office. "OIG will continue to aggressively pursue those who misappropriate education funds for their own purposes. West Virginia’s students and taxpayers deserve nothing less.” “Mr. Barker was entrusted with the responsibility of ordering supplies necessary for the maintenance of the Boone County schools. Instead, he allegedly exploited his position at the school to launder millions of dollars to enrich himself", said Kareem Carter, Executive Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (CI), Washington, D.C. Field Office. "Today’s indictment should serve as an example of IRS Criminal Investigation and our law enforcement partners commitment to continue to work together to hold accountable and disrupt bad actors like the defendant.” “Barker isn’t just accused of stealing much needed funds from Boone County schools and its students, he stole from all West Virginians and taxpayers throughout the country,” said West Virginia State Auditor JB McCuskey. “This type of fraud has not been tolerated under my watch in local government through our PIFU and I’m proud of the work we have done to help our partners in the United States Attorney’s Office to root out this behavior and send the message that you will be held accountable.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabriel Price is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 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. 2:24-cr-194. ###


title: Athens Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Sexually Exploiting a Child

component: USAO - Georgia, Middle

body_text: ATHENS, Ga. – An Athens resident received the statutory maximum prison sentence allowed under federal guidelines for the sexual exploitation of a 7-year-old child resulting from a Project Safe Childhood investigation. Chris Adam Valentine, 37, was sentenced to serve 360 months in prison to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release and $90,000 restitution by U.S. District Judge Tilman E. “Tripp” Self, III on Dec. 10. In addition, Valentine will have to register as a sex offender upon release from prison. Valentine previously pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a child on May 28. There is no parole in the federal system. “Our office is determined to identify and remove child predators from our communities and hold them fully accountable for their heinous crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Protecting the most vulnerable citizens from harm is a priority for law enforcement at every level.” “Thanks to the diligent efforts of Homeland Security Investigations and its law enforcement partners, this predator will now spend three decades behind bars for his appalling actions,” said Steven N. Schrank, the Special Agent in Charge of HSI Atlanta, which covers Georgia and Alabama. “This investigation underscores our commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals and pursuing justice for those who seek to exploit and harm children.” "Cases like these exemplify the value of partnerships between local, state and federal agencies,” said Athens-Clarke County Police Chief Jerry Saulters. “These heinous crimes will not be tolerated in our community. We will continue to work with our partners to protect the children of this community and will pursue those who prey on them." According to the plea agreement, Valentine admitted that between Jan. 1, 2022, and Dec. 31, 2022, he used his cellular phone to film a 7-year-old child engage in sexual conduct with an adult male. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Peach prosecuted the case for the Government.


title: Crew Member Sentenced to 19 Years for East Coast Gun-Point Robberies of Six South Asian Jewelers That Netted Millions

body_text: WASHINGTON – William Hunter, 28, of Washington D.C., was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 228 months in federal prison for participating in a multi-state string of violent gun-point robberies of South Asian jewelry stores that netted millions of dollars in cash and gold for the 15-member crew, allegedly led by Trevor Wright, aka rapper “Taliban Glizzy.” The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves; ATF Special Agent in Charge Anthony A. Spotswood of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; FBI Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the Washington Field Office; FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado of the Newark Field Office; U.S. Marshal Peter Marketos of the United States Marshals Service; and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department. Hunter, aka “Ill Will,” pleaded guilty on September 4, 2024 to interfering with interstate commerce by robbery (aka Hobbs Act robbery) and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. In his plea, Hunter accepted responsibility for six robberies across Virginia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania that not only stole millions of dollars in jewelry, but terrorized multiple victims and left behind a wake of destruction and financial loss. In addition to the prison sentence, U.S. District Court Judge Christopher R. Cooper ordered Hunter to serve 48 months of supervised release. According to court documents, over the course of 18 months, Hunter and his co-conspirators engaged in a scheme to rob multiple South Asian jewelry stores of heavy gold jewelry of high purity. The conspiracy began in January 2022 and continued until August 2023 when several of the co-conspirators had been charged and arrested. Each robbery was carefully coordinated in advance of its commission and employed a similar modus operandi, one that the co-conspirators seemed to hone and perfect over time and with each new criminal act. The co-conspirators researched stores to select their targets before meeting in Washington, D.C. and traveling in one or more getaway vehicles to the stores. To evade law enforcement detection, some of the suspect vehicles were stolen or outfitted with stolen tags. At least one of the vehicles was carjacked by Hunter and others at gunpoint on September 11, 2022, and later used in a robbery on September 20, 2022. The co-conspirators often cased the stores in advance of the robbery and gained access by a variety of means, including using sledgehammers to shatter a store’s door or windows before storming in. The co-conspirators employed a show of force to gain compliance from their victims, with at least one co-conspirator armed with a firearm in each instance. They used hammers to smash the glass display cases, filling bags with gold jewelry and resulting in significant damage throughout the stores. In every single instance, however, Hunter and his co-conspirators terrorized the store’s owners, employees, and customers by engaging in an armed takeover of the store and then ransacking it before fleeing. Often, following the robberies, the stolen gold would be melted to bars and ultimately converted to cash. Hunter and his co-conspirators would then flaunt their ill-gotten gains on social media. On March 6, 2023, in Washington, D.C., law enforcement arrested Hunter on an outstanding arrest warrant issued out of Maryland arising from an October 22, 2022, armed carjacking. At the time of his arrest, Hunter had a loaded Glock 23 .40 caliber handgun with an obliterated serial number in his waistband. That same day, law enforcement executed a residential warrant at Hunter’s D.C. residence and recovered, among other items, 135 live rounds of assorted ammunition, four rifle magazines, one speed loader, and an AR-15 rifle drum magazine. They also recovered clothing that appeared consistent with some worn by Hunter during the commission of robberies, along with a crowbar and a hammer. In April 2023, a federal grand jury indicted Hunter and Trevor Wright, aka rapper “Taliban Glizzy,” in connection with the armed robbery of Paradise Jewelry Store. On August 17, 2023, a federal grand jury returned a 19-count Superseding Indictment, charging Hunter and his co-conspirators in connection with nine armed robberies in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Virginia, with substantial planning and coordination occurring in D.C. On March 12, 2024, a Second Superseding Indictment was filed, adding charges related to two additional robberies, including one in D.C., as well as charges related to the recovery of firearms and narcotics from multiple residences associated with the various co-conspirators. According to his plea agreement, Hunter accepted responsibility for his roles in: (1) the January 7, 2022, armed robbery of Yasini Jewelers in Falls Church, Virginia; (2) the September 20, 2022, armed robbery of Sonia Jewelers and Boutique in Springfield, Virginia; (3) the October 25, 2022, armed robbery of Paradise Jewelry in Paterson, New Jersey; (4) the November 10, 2022, armed robbery of Baral Jewelers and Gift Center in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; (5) the November 27, 2022, armed robbery of Sara Emporium Jewelry in Jersey City, New Jersey; and (6) the January 27, 2023, armed robbery of Princess Diamonds in Falls Church, Virginia. This case was investigated by the ATF, Metropolitan Police Department, and FBI Newark and Washington Field Offices. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sitara Witanachchi and Andrea Duvall. DEFENDANT AKA HOME CHARGES/SENTENCE Trevor Wright, 33 Taliban Glizzy Washington DC Interfering with interstate commerce by robbery (aka Hobbs Act robbery); conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; possessing a firearm during a crime of violence; money laundering; conspiracy to engage in monetary transactions in property derived from unlawful activity. William Hunter, 28 Ill Will Washington DC Sentenced to 228 months on Dec. 11, 2024, after pleading guilty to interfering with interstate commerce by robbery (aka Hobbs Act robbery); and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. Avery Fuller, 29 Deavry Cordell Fuller, Fully Ace Washington DC Pending sentencing after pleading guilty in the Middle District of Florida to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. Franklin Hunter, 30 Gino Washington DC Interfering with interstate commerce by robbery (aka Hobbs Act robbery); conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence; conspiracy to engage in monetary transactions in property derived from unlawful activity. Davon Johnson, 31 YB Washington DC Sentenced to 111 months on November 20, 2024, for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. Decarlos Hill, 30 Los Maryland Sentenced to 57 months on November 6, 2024, for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery. Lamont Marable, 28 Washington DC Sentenced to 93 months on November 11, 2024, for interfering with interstate commerce by robbery (aka Hobbs Act robbery); and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. Keith McDuffie, 27 California Interfering with interstate commerce by robbery (aka Hobbs Act robbery); conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. Jameise Christian, 33 Safety, Safe, Safe Play Washington DC Pending sentencing after pleading guilty in the Middle District of Florida to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. Andrew Smith, 30 Drewso, Drew Maryland Sentenced to 138 months in prison on October 17, 2024, for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. Robert Sheffield, 33 Real Lifaa Washington DC Interfering with interstate commerce by robbery (aka Hobbs Act robbery); conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; possessing a firearm during a crime of violence; felon in possession of a firearm. Jaylaun Brown, 22 Lil Launy Washington DC Conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by robbery (aka Hobbs Act robbery). Timothy Conrad, 33 Twin Washington DC Sentenced to 168 months on October 1, 2024, for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and for possessing a firearm during a crime of violence. Antonio Tate, 21 Washington DC Sentenced to 120 months for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Delonte Martin, 35 Washington DC Sentenced to 108 months for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery; and for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Photo introduced into evidence depicts the robbery of $250,000 in jewelry from Princess Diamonds in Falls Church, Virginia Surveillance photo depicts William Hunter walking with a tray of jewelry in one hand and a gun in the other during the January 7, 2022, armed robbery of Yasini Jewelers. Images posted on October 29 and November 1, 2022, to Hunter’s Instagram account depict him with stacks of cash, a firearm, and a wristwatch. 23cr137