title: Inmate and Corrections Officer Sentenced in Bribery Scheme; Same Inmate Sentenced in Related Covid-Fraud Scheme

body_text: NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – April 24, 2024 SAN DIEGO – Shawn Brown, an inmate at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, was sentenced in federal court today to 30 months in prison for bribing a state corrections officer to smuggle contraband into prison, including dental molds and an expensive bejeweled “grill” for the inmate’s mouth. A separate consecutive sentence of 48 months was also applied for Brown’s role in a scheme to file fraudulent claims with the California Employment Development Department, effectively stealing money that was intended give economic relief to people impacted by the pandemic. Brown was ordered to pay $550,000 in restitution to the State of California. Benito Jamar Hugie, the corrections officer who helped Brown obtain the grill, was sentenced last month to 24 months in prison. Hugie, who is out on bond, was ordered to surrender by 12 p.m. on May 6, 2024. Hugie pleaded guilty in November of 2023, admitting that he smuggled the gold-and-diamond grill into the facility in early October, 2020, and delivered it to Brown, who had custom ordered it from a jeweler in Houston, Texas, using a smuggled cell phone. A grill, also known as “fronts” or “golds,” is a type of dental jewelry worn over the teeth. Grills are generally made of metal and precious gems and are generally removable. According to Brown’s plea agreement, the overall value of the scheme to acquire the custom grill, to bribe the corrections officer and to smuggle the contraband into the prison was more than $30,000. At today’s hearing, U.S. District Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo ordered Brown to turn over the grill to the government as part of his forfeiture agreement. Brown had opposed the request, arguing that he was unable to remove the grill because it was glued to his teeth. The government referred to a jail surveillance video that showed that the grill was, in fact, removeable. In this jail surveillance video, Brown was seen removing the grill from his mouth and putting it back in. The COVID-related fraud scheme was discovered during the investigation of the bribery scheme. Agents learned that while in custody at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, Brown used his contraband cellular telephone to coordinate the theft of unemployment benefits intended for Californians who were unable to pay for food and housing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Brown and co-conspirators caused an estimated $1.4 million in fraudulent claims to be filed with the state Employment Development Department, resulting in actual cash payouts of more than $695,000 to Brown and his co-conspirators. Brown was originally serving time at the state prison for first degree murder in violation of California Penal Code Section 187(a). At today’s hearing Judge Bencivengo ordered that today’s two federal sentences be served consecutively to each other and to the original underlying state sentence. “Diamonds are not always your friend,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “These schemes have cost Brown years of his life and Hugie his career and good name. Maybe regular teeth would have been a better option.” “The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain committed to ensuring the integrity of our criminal justice systems,” said FBI San Diego Acting Special Agent in Charge John Kim. “Those who abuse their positions of trust and those who corrupt the same will be held accountable as demonstrated in this investigation.” This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Orlando Gutierrez. DEFENDANTS Case Number 22CR1238 Shawn Brown Age: 28 California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Inmate Benito Jamar Hugie Age: 49 San Diego, CA DEFENDANT Case Number 22CR1239 Shawn Brown Age: 28 California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Inmate SUMMARY OF CHARGES Corruption Activities Stemming from the Grill 18 USC § 371 Conspiracy to Violate the Travel Act- Bribery (Count 1) Defendants: Hugie, Brown 28 USC § 2461(c) Criminal Forfeiture Indictment 2: Fraud Activities Involving EDD 18 USC § 1349 Conspiracy; Mail Fraud Defendants: Brown 28 USC § 2461(c) Criminal Forfeiture INVESTIGATING AGENCIES Federal Bureau of Investigation California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation


title: Mexican National Sentenced to more than 17 Years’ Imprisonment for Narcotics Charge

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced on April 24, 2024, Fausto Antonia Castro Mendoza, 37, of Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico, was sentenced in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, after having pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Castro Mendoza to 210 months’ imprisonment. After completing his term of imprisonment, Castro Mendoza will be deported to Mexico as he is not a United States citizen. On March 4, 2023, a Seward County Deputy Sheriff conducted a traffic stop on a white 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe traveling eastbound, near mile marker 382 on Interstate-80. The driver of the Tahoe was identified as Fausto Antonio Castro Mendoza. Codefendant Jesus Villanueva was identified as the front seat passenger. During the course of the traffic stop, the Deputy observed a marijuana product and subsequently searched the Tahoe discovering approximately 44 pounds of meth, and approximately 2 pounds of fentanyl pills. During a post arrest interviews both Castro Mendoza and Villanueva admitted transporting the meth and fentanyl pills from Denver, Colorado, to Omaha, Nebraska, and that each was being paid to do so. Villanueva pled guilty to the same narcotics charge and was sentenced to 235 months imprisonment on April 3, 2024. This case was investigated by the Seward County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration.


title: Grand jury indicts local man & woman in connection with conspiracy to damage grocery store with an incendiary device

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury indicted a local man and woman in connection with a conspiracy to damage a Spring Grove Village grocery store with an incendiary device in the style of a Molotov cocktail. Donald Donatelli, 28, and Angela Schweitzer, 35, are both charged with conspiring to commit malicious damage and destruction of a building in interstate commerce. Donatelli is also charged in a second count of directly causing the damage. An affidavit filed in support of a criminal complaint details that around 10pm on Nov. 26, Donatelli allegedly threw an incendiary device in the style of a Molotov cocktail into the store. The store’s owner and his wife were inside the store at the time. Donatelli and Schweitzer allegedly arrived at the store together in a white BMW. It is alleged that Schweitzer moved to the driver’s seat while Donatelli lit the device, opened the store’s door and threw it inside. According to the affidavit, Schweitzer filmed a Snapchat video of the alleged crime and sent it to Donatelli. Conspiring to commit malicious damage and destruction of a building, and the act of doing so, are federal crimes punishable by at least five and up to 20 years in prison. Donatelli and Schweitzer were originally arrested on local charges and have been moved to federal custody. Their federal case was unsealed today. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), announced the charges and acknowledged the assistance of the Cincinnati Fire Department, Cincinnati Police Department, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and Union Township Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Megan Gaffney Painter and Julie D. Garcia are representing the United States in this case. An indictment merely contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. # # #


title: Henryetta Resident Pleads Guilty To Methamphetamine Distribution

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Kenric West, age 47, of Henryetta, Oklahoma, pleaded guilty to one count of distributing methamphetamine. The Indictment alleged that on September 28, 2023, West knowingly and intentionally distributed 112 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. The charges arose from an investigation by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. The Honorable D. Edward Snow, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. West was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.


title: Federal Jury Convicts Okmulgee Resident Of First Degree Murder

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Elijha Dewayne Taylor, age 34, of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, was found guilty by a federal jury at trial of one count of Murder in the First Degree in Indian Country, one count of Causing the Death of a Person in the Course of a Violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c), and one count of Using, Carrying, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. The jury trial began with testimony on Monday, April 22, 2024, and concluded on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, with the guilty verdicts. At trial, the government presented evidence that on March 4, 2023, Taylor approached a Muskogee apartment building, entered an apartment, then intentionally shot the victim with a .22 firearm before fleeing. The victim later died at an area hospital. The guilty verdicts were the result of an investigation by the Muskogee Police Department, the Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The crimes occurred in Muskogee County, within the boundaries of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation of Oklahoma, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The Honorable Keith Starrett, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, sitting by assignment, presided over the trial and ordered the completion of a presentence report. The sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report. The defendant will remain in custody of the United States Marshal until sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Attorneys Richard Lorenz and Gregory Dean Burris represented the United States.


title: Department of Justice Commemorates  2024 National Crime Victims’ Rights Week

component: USAO - Iowa, Southern

body_text: DES MOINES, Iowa – The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa join federal, state, and local communities nationwide in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and celebrating victims’ rights, protections, and services. This year’s observance takes place April 21-27, 2024, and features the theme, “How would you help? Options, services, and hope for crime survivors,” which is focused on creating safe environments for crime victims to share what happened to them and offer support, options for life-saving services, and most importantly, hope. The 2024 theme asks all of us—friends, family members, neighbors, colleagues, community leaders, victim service providers, criminal justice practitioners, and health professionals—how we can help crime victims. As part of this observance, the Southern District of Iowa recognizes the courage and bravery of victims, and the outstanding work of law enforcement, victim advocates, and community service partners throughout Iowa. Ten individuals are recognized for outstanding service to victims: Award for Excellence in Victim Services Shannon Knudsen, SANE, S.A.F.E. Center of Iowa Emily Milke, IL Sexual Assault Medical/Legal Advocate, Family Resources Lindsay Wilson, Victim Advocate, Family Crisis Centers Law Enforcement Victim Service Award Josh Dagit, Special Agent, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Kegan Jacobson, Detective, Burlington Police Department Kevin Kohler, Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation Robert Larsen, Special Agent, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Denise Rudolph, Special Investigator, Iowa Insurance Division Chris Scanlan, Special Investigator, Iowa Insurance Division Jeremy Tosh, Investigator, Ottumwa Police Department “Every day law enforcement officers and victim service providers give priceless assistance and support to courageous crime survivors. With their unwavering support, these individuals provide hope, safe spaces and vital services to victims in our community and are a critical component of our criminal justice system. These awards proudly recognize the exceptional efforts of a number of these individuals who provided assistance to federal and state victims in the Southern District of Iowa,” said United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal for the Southern District of Iowa. The 2024 Law Enforcement Victim Service Award recognizes the performance of Josh Dagit, Special Agent, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, and Jeremy Tosh, Investigator, Ottumwa Police Department. Special Agent Dagit and Investigator Tosh provided extraordinary assistance to hundreds of immigrant victims in the investigation and prosecution of a fraudulent tax scheme. Those immigrants were literally from all over the world—Burma, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mexico, and other places. Some were refugees. Nearly all had little education and were unable to speak or read English. Special Agent Dagit and Investigator Tosh showed time and time again that they were willing to do whatever it takes to ensure the victims’ participation and comfort, all in hopes of justice being served. The 2024 Law Enforcement Victim Service Award recognizes the performance of Kegan Jacobson, Detective, Burlington Police Department. Detective Jacobson’s work in United States v. Miesha Stanley et al ., exemplified his dedication to holding sex traffickers accountable for preying on society’s most vulnerable members. Detective Jacobson’s worked with victim service specialists to utilize trauma informed interview skills, responded to safety concerns, and built a strong and trusting rapport with victims. Detective Jacobson’s investigation of this matter both provided victims a secure environment and services, and also made the Burlington community safer. The 2024 Award for Excellence in Victim Services is awarded to Shannon Knudsen, SANE Coordinator, S.A.F.E. Center of Iowa. S.A.F.E. Center of Iowa is a non-profit agency aimed at providing solutions to better serve victims of sexual assault across Iowa. Knudsen has professionally and personally proven to be dedicated to assisting both the criminal justice system and crime victim service programs. Knudsen works with Mid-Iowa Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) and Iowa State University/Story County SART as the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Coordinator, a state-wide technical assistance role for sexual assault examiner programs in the state of Iowa for the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Abuse. Shannon Knudsen assists with coordinating collaborative care at each of nine exam sites served by Mid-Iowa SART and two exam sites in Story County, as well as developing policies, and procedures and coordinating training to maintain the competency of Mid-Iowa SART and Story County SANEs. The 2024 Law Enforcement Victim Service Award recognizes the performance of Kevin Kohler, Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Denise Rudolph and Chris Scanlan, Special Investigators, Iowa Insurance Division for their outstanding work in a complex fraud and money laundering investigation involving over thirty elderly victims and millions of dollars of fraud. Victims lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in life savings, proceeds from the sale of real estate, or other assets. Other victims reported being unable to afford travel, medical care, gifts for their family members, and other items they had planned to enjoy in their later years. The 2024 Law Enforcement Victim Service Award recognizes the performance of Robert Larsen, Special Agent, Iowa Department of Public Safety-Division of Criminal Investigation. Special Agent Larsen has spent countless hours helping, supporting, and corroborating child victims accounts of abuse, reviewing cybertips, executing search warrants, interviewing suspects, meeting with victims and witnesses, developing strong cases for prosecution. He has spent many hours traveling the roads across Iowa, including Council Bluffs, Harlan, Clarinda, Shenandoah, Audubon, and other smaller counties in the Southern District of Iowa, setting up meetings with witnesses documenting the details of their abuse, explaining the court process, and preparing witnesses for plea hearings, trial, and sentencing. The 2024 Award for Excellence in Victim Services is awarded to Emily Milke, IL Sexual Assault Medical/Legal Advocate, Family Resources. Milke has assisted with hands-on child pornography cases, death cases, sex trafficking cases, and a civil case involving a landlord that has victimized female tenants. She is a strong advocate and goes above and beyond to access the needs of the victims and to get them the services they need. Emily Milke is dependable, professional, compassionate, and easily establishes a trusting relationship with victims. The 2024 Award for Excellence in Victim Services is awarded to Lindsay Wilson, Victim Advocate, Family Crisis Centers. Wilson will show up at moment’s notice if necessary. She is professional and approachable. She treats victims with respect, and they rely on her for assistance and support. Involved with victims of a large-scale overdose death investigation, many involving younger victims, Wilson provided compassionate and steadfast support to grieving parents and assisted them in navigating through the legal system. Lindsay Wilson is the ultimate team player. President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first Victims’ Rights Week in 1981, putting crime victims' rights, needs, and concerns in a prominent spot on the American agenda. He also established the President's Task Force on Victims of Crime, which laid the groundwork for a national network of services and legal safeguards for crime victims. For more information on how to create your own public campaigns to raise awareness about crime victims’ rights online and at events throughout the year, please visit: https://ovc.ojp.gov/ncvrw2024 .


title: Clearwater Men Indicted For Possessing Firearms And Ammunition As Convicted Felons

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Robert Pugh (34, Clearwater) with possession of firearm or ammunition by a convicted felon, and Leon Williams (34, Clearwater) with possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. If convicted, Pugh faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison, while Williams faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison and a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years under the Armed Career Criminal Act. According to the indictment, on January 3, 2024, Pugh was in possession of a loaded Taurus firearm and a loaded Sig Sauer firearm. Prior to possessing the firearms and ammunition, Pugh had previously been convicted of multiple felonies including aggravated battery, felonious possession of a firearm or ammunition, and the sale of cocaine. On the same date, Williams possessed multiple rounds of ammunition. Prior to possessing the ammunition, Williams had been previously convicted of multiple counts of the sale of cocaine. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Clearwater Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang. This case is part of the 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 for occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Beretta Bandit Serial Robber Convicted At Trial

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Richard Allen Randolph (44, Youngstown, Ohio) guilty of Hobbs Act robberies, namely three counts of robbery, one count of attempted robbery, three counts of brandishing a firearm, and one count of discharging a firearm during the commission of the robberies. Randolph faces a minimum statutory penalty of 100 years in federal prison on the firearm counts and a maximum of 20 years on each of the robbery counts. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 30, 2024. According to evidence presented at trial, Randolph entered four Tampa commercial businesses between January 27 and February 26, 2020, wearing a hooded sweatshirt and facial covering. During each of the robberies, Randolph brandished and threatened the victims with a Beretta Pico pistol and removed cash from the registers. During the attempted robbery on February 26, 2020, Randolph again concealed his identity, entered the store, and threatened the clerk with the firearm. However, the victim’s boyfriend, who was outside the store waiting to take her home, confronted Randolph. Randolph then discharged the pistol twice in the parking lot of the business as the victims fled. Law enforcement recovered the bullet casing from the parking lot. The case remained active and under investigation under the name “Beretta Bandit” as no subject was able to be identified. In July 2021, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop of an individual who was found to have a Beretta Pico pistol in his car. The individual did not match the description of the robber and told law enforcement that he had purchased the Beretta Pico pistol from Randolph, who was a former co-worker. Forensic examiners from the ATF laboratory later determined that the Beretta pistol was the firearm involved in the last robbery committed by Randolph. During trial, the victims testified about their terror during the robberies committed by Randolph. However, they could not identify Randolph because he was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and a mask. The evidence at trial focused on the recovered Beretta Pico pistol, the testimony of the co-worker, the forensic analyses from the ATF laboratory in Atlanta, and other location data analyses by the FBI. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Tampa Police Department, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Maria Guzman and Brooke Padgett. This case is part of the 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 for occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Two Indianapolis Men Sentenced to a Combined 17 Years in Federal Prison for Armed Robbery of Southport Road Gas Station

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Bryan Johnson-Taylor, 23, and John Wilson, 19, of Indianapolis, have been sentenced to nine and a half and eight years, respectively, in federal prison, with each followed by three years of supervised release. Both men pleaded guilty to interference with commerce by robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. According to court documents, on August 1, 2022, at approximately 3:06 A.M., Johnson-Taylor and Wilson entered the Circle K gas station on East Southport Road in Indianapolis. Once inside, the pair brandished semi-automatic handguns and pointed them at the victim employee, demanding money from the register. Both men removed cash from the register, stole cigarettes from shelf, and took the victim employee’s cell phone. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) officers were able to track the robbers whereabouts using electronic surveillance. Officers with the Beech Grove Police Department located the men approximately one-half mile north of the Circle K. In Wilson’s backpack, officers located a Glock 9mm caliber handgun, as well as the stolen cigarettes and cash. Johnson-Taylor was located hiding in nearby bushes with another backpack. Next to where Johnson-Taylor was hiding, officers located a Glock Model 45 handgun. “Armed criminals who terrorize our community must be held accountable,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “I am thankful for the quick reaction of the responding IMPD and Beech Grove officers, preventing the defendants from getting away with their crimes and further endangering the public. The serious federal prison sentence imposed here demonstrates our commitment to working closely with the FBI, and all our partners in federal, state, and local law enforcement as we seek to reduce gun violence.” The FBI investigated this case, with valuable assistance provided by IMPD and the Beech Grove Police Department. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Matthew P. Brookman. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Jayson McGrath, who prosecuted this case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. ###


title: Louisville Man Indicted for Controlled Substances Conspiracy, Heroin, and Fentanyl Trafficking Offenses and Money Laundering

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment on April 17, 2024, charging a Louisville man with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, and money laundering. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of the Homeland Security Investigations Nashville and Acting Special Agent in Karen Wingerd of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office made the announcement. According to the indictment, Garron Board, 39, was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and laundering of monetary instruments. These offenses occurred between March 24, 2023, and April 4, 2024. The defendant made his initial court appearance last week before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. The Court ordered the defendant detained pending trial. If convicted, Board faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is being investigated by HSI and IRS-CI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia P. Gomez is 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: U.S. Trustee Program Enforcement Leads to Injunctions, Fines Against Bankruptcy Petition Preparers Who Targeted Vulnerable Consumers in Foreclosure

component: U.S. Trustee Program

body_text: Two bankruptcy petition preparers who hid their involvement while providing unauthorized legal advice to debtors in foreclosure were barred from providing bankruptcy-related services, thanks to enforcement actions by the Justice Department’s U.S. Trustee Program (USTP). On Feb. 12, the Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida entered an order permanently enjoining Kafil Hamim Quaiyum Tunsill from acting as a bankruptcy petition preparer in the district. Tunsill was also fined $12,500 and ordered to refund $1,900 to the debtor. Although Tunsill answered the adversary complaint filed by the U.S. Trustee’s office in Orlando, he did not respond to the U.S. Trustee’s motion for summary judgment, which the Bankruptcy Court granted. On March 29, the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon issued a decision to permanently enjoin Keith Bray and his company Rezidential Group Inc. from acting as bankruptcy petition preparers in Oregon. Bray and Rezidential Group – who did not defend against a complaint filed by the U.S. Trustee’s office in Portland – were also fined $22,500 and ordered to return $3,995 in fees and pay $7,990 in statutory damages to the debtor. The Bankruptcy Code strictly regulates the services of bankruptcy petition preparers, commonly known as BPPs. BPPs are not attorneys, cannot give legal advice or practice law and generally are limited to typing information provided by debtors into bankruptcy forms for the debtors to file. The Code requires BPPs to disclose information about their fees and services to the debtors and to the bankruptcy court. “Unscrupulous bankruptcy petition preparers often craft schemes to exploit debtors fearful of losing their homes to foreclosure,” said Director Tara Twomey of the Executive Office for U.S. Trustees. “The Program aggressively roots out BPPs who harm consumers and taint the bankruptcy system through fraud, abuse and the unauthorized practice of law.” In the Florida case, Tunsill, who used the business name Serving Humanity, located the debtor by reviewing foreclosure dockets. He then knocked on the debtor’s door and offered to help the debtor avoid foreclosure for a fee. He gave the debtor legal advice about bankruptcy and helped prepare and file a chapter 13 bankruptcy case as well as a lawsuit against the debtor’s mortgage servicer, both of which were eventually dismissed. The court’s order against Tunsill noted that he had engaged in fraudulent, deceptive or bad-faith conduct in other cases, including four bankruptcies that he filed for himself. In the Oregon case, Bray led the debtors to believe he was a licensed attorney in California and told them bankruptcy could help save their home from foreclosure. He directed them to hand copy information he provided onto blank forms and file them with the bankruptcy court. Bray was actually a disbarred attorney who attempted to avoid detection by impersonating a licensed attorney in communications with the chapter 13 trustee. The court’s decision noted similar conduct by Bray and Rezidential Group in several other cases in other districts. The USTP’s mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders – debtors, creditors and the public. The USTP consists of 21 regions with 89 field offices nationwide and an Executive Office in Washington, D.C. Learn more about the Program at www.justice.gov/ust .


title: Steele County Man Indicted for International Sexual Exploitation of Children

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – A Blooming Prairie man has been indicted for sexually exploiting children outside the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, between November 2021 and April 2022, Steven John Sokel, 61, by aiding and abetting other individuals, coerced three minor girls outside of the United States to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions. Sokel also possessed sexually explicit images and videos of minors. The indictment charges Sokel with two counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of possession of child pornography. Sokel made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court on April 19, 2024, before Magistrate Judge David T. Schultz. He was ordered to remain in custody pending a formal detention hearing. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Assistant U.S. Attorney Campbell Warner is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Local pharmacist charged with attempted sex trafficking of a minor and child sex tourism

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – On April 19, a local pharmacist was charged by criminal complaint with attempted sex trafficking of a minor and attempted travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct. According to the criminal complaint and the underlying affidavit, law enforcement officers stopped Stefan Andres Correa, 42, of Miami, Florida, attempting to board a flight from Miami to Bogota, Colombia. It is alleged that, law enforcement officers discovered nine cellular phones in Correa’s possession containing videos of Correa engaging in intercourse with purported minor children, as well as a chat exchange with a suspected sex trafficker, where Correa allegedly paid for commercial sex with children aged between 10 to 12 years old in Colombia. According to the allegations, during the chat exchange, Correa agreed with the suspected sex trafficker to meet with the minor victims once he arrived in Colombia. Correa made his initial appearance on April 19. A detention hearing is scheduled for today, April 23, at 10:00 a.m. If convicted, Correa faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison with a maximum sentence of life in prison as well as up to a lifetime of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami made the announcement. HSI Miami investigated the case with assistance from HSI offices in Cleveland, Ohio, and Bogota, Colombia, as well as U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of the Judicial Attaché in Bogota, Colombia, also provided critical assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Astigarraga-Little is prosecuting it. A criminal complaint contains mere allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. 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. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate better, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . To report suspected human trafficking or to obtain resources for victims, please call 1-888-373-7888; text “BeFree” (233733), or live chat at HumanTraffickingHotline.org . The toll-free phone, SMS text lines, and online chat function are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Help is available in English, Spanish, Creole, or in more than 200 additional languages. The National Hotline is not managed by law enforcement, immigration, or an investigative agency. Correspondence with the National Hotline is confidential, and you may request assistance or report a tip anonymously. To report online child sexual exploitation visit https://report.cybertip.org/ or call 1-800-843-5678. The Cyber Tip Line is operated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in partnership with HSI and other law enforcement agencies. To learn more about the National Resource Hotline, visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org . To learn more about the U.S. Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking, visit www.justice.gov/humantrafficking . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 24-mj-02786. ###


title: New Orleans Man Sentenced for False Statements on an Individual Tax Return

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that CHRISTOPHER COBURN (“COBURN”) , age 51, of New Orleans, was sentenced for making false statements on an individual tax return, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(1). According to court documents, COBURN owned and operated a tax preparation business called 1040 Tax Express in New Orleans. For tax years 2016 through 2018, COBURN willfully under-reported his income from this tax preparation business by approximately $104,156 on his individual tax returns. This underreporting caused a loss of approximately $29,781 to the Internal Revenue Service. U.S. District Judge Darrell James Papillion sentenced COBURN to five years of probation and ordered him to complete 100 hours of community service. Judge Papillon also ordered COBURN to pay $29,781.00 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service and along with a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. COBURN also agreed to a permanent injunction prohibiting him from preparing, assisting in, directing, or supervising the preparation or filing of federal tax returns on behalf of others. The U.S. Attorney’s Office would like to acknowledge the work of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations on this matter. The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maria Carboni of the Financial Crimes Unit.


title: Member of Violent New Haven Gang Pleads Guilty to Racketeering Charge

body_text: SAMUEL DOUGLAS, also known as “Blamm,” 25, of New Haven, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to a racketeering offense stemming from his role in a violent New Haven street gang. Today’s announcement was made by Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut; John P. Doyle, Jr., State’s Attorney for the New Haven Judicial District; James Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division; Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England; and New Haven Police Chief Karl Jacobson. According to court documents and statements made in court, in an effort to address violence in New Haven, the ATF, FBI, DEA and New Haven Police Department, working closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office, have been investigating an ongoing gang war between members and associates of the Exit 8 street gang and rival gangs in the Hill section and other areas of the city. The Exit 8 gang is named after the geographic area accessed by exiting Interstate 91 at Exit 8 in New Haven. Recently, younger members of Exit 8 are identifying themselves with the word “Honcho,” which is derived from the street name of an Exit 8 member who was murdered on Quinnipiac Avenue in February 2020. The investigation revealed that Douglas and other members of the Exit 8 gang engaged in drug trafficking, used, and shared firearms, and, since June 2018, have committed at least three murders and 16 attempted murders. Exit 8 members and associates also stole vehicles, at times from outside of the state, and used those stolen vehicles when committing acts of violence. Gang members also promoted, coordinated, facilitated, and celebrated their narcotics distribution and acts of violence through text messaging and the use of social media applications and websites including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube. Douglas pleaded guilty to conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering activity, and specifically admitted that on June 16, 2018, he and another Exit 8 member shot at and attempted to kill a member and associate of a rival gang in the area of Fountain Street, Davis Street, and Lakeview Terrace in New Haven. In the shooting, the intended victim’s associate suffered seven gunshot wounds, but survived the attack. Investigators found 15 spent ammunition casings at the scene. Judge Bolden scheduled sentencing for August 6, at which time Douglas faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. He is currently detained. This investigation is being conducted by ATF, the FBI, the DEA, the New Haven Police Department, the Hamden Police Department, and the New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police and the Connecticut Forensic Science Laboratory. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara E. Levens, Rahul Kale and Jocelyn C. Kaoutzanis. This prosecution is a part of the Justice’s Department’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), Project Longevity and Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) programs. PSN is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Longevity is a comprehensive initiative to reduce gun violence in Connecticut’s major cities. Through Project Longevity, community members and law enforcement directly engage with members of groups that are prone to commit violence and deliver a community message against violence, a law enforcement message about the consequences of further violence and an offer of help for those who want it. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day set for April 27, 2024

body_text: BILLINGS — The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana joins the Drug Enforcement Administration in support of the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 27. The biannual event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at sites across Montana. The event is an effort to rid homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs. This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in homes are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses from these drugs. “All Montanans can help stop the epidemic of drug overdoses and those that lead to death, especially from opioids, by safely disposing of unused or expired prescription drugs in their homes. Participating in DEA’s Drug Take Back Day is an easy way to clean out the medicine cabinet and prevent these drugs from being abused. I urge everyone to help make their communities safer,” U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. “Prevention of drug misuse starts at home. For over a decade DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day has provided our community a safe and easy way to get rid of unnecessary medications,” said DEA Montana Resident Agent in Charge Cesar Avila. “This past fall we collected more than 1,100 pounds of unneeded medications throughout Montana, and, with your help, we hope to collect even more this Saturday.” Numerous sheriff’s offices, police departments and federal agencies across Montana are participating in Take Back Day. Information about collection sites and more information about event is available here: https://takebackday.dea.gov/ During the last Take Back Day held on Oct. 28, 2023, 4,383 law enforcement participants at 4,675 collection sites across the country brought in a total weight of 599,897 pounds, or 300 tons, of drugs. This brings the total weight collected to 17.9 million pounds, or more than 8,950 tons, of prescription drugs collected in the history of the program. Collection results may include materials other than prescription drugs. During the October 2023 event, Montanans turned in 1,109 pounds of prescription drugs at 21 collection sites. Nineteen law enforcement agencies participated. Total all time weight collected in Montana is 54,554 pounds. In addition to DEA’s National Drug Take Back Day on April 27, prescription drugs can be disposed of any day throughout the year at any of the 11,000 authorized collectors. For more information on collection sites, visit: https://apps2.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch/spring/main?execution=e1s1 For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 27 Take Back Day event, go to www.DEATakeBack.com. XXX


title: Consolidated Nuclear Security Agrees to Pay $18.4 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations of Timecard Fraud

component: Civil Division

body_text: Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC (CNS) has agreed to pay the United States $18.4 million to settle allegations that, between July 1, 2014, and June 30, 2020, CNS knowingly submitted false claims to the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) for time not worked at NNSA’s Pantex Site near Amarillo, Texas. The NNSA’s Pantex Site is the nation's primary facility for the assembly, disassembly and retrofitting of nuclear weapons. CNS, a Delaware company with its principal place of business in Tennessee, held a contract to manage and operate the site. “We will not tolerate the misuse of public funds by those who do business with the United States,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s settlement demonstrates that the Justice Department will ensure that government contractors fulfill their commitments particularly with respect to highly sensitive work on matters of national security.” The settlement announced today resolves admissions by CNS that certain production technicians at the Pantex Plant recorded hours on their timesheets that they did not work. The United States paid CNS for that time under the CNS contract. CNS received credit in the settlement under the department’s guidelines for taking disclosure, cooperation and remediation into account in False Claims Act cases. “Taxpayers should never be on the hook for the cost of work that was not performed,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton for the Northern District of Texas. “Government contractors who misrepresent hours will be held accountable.” The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch and Department of Energy, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ken Coffin and Brian Stoltz for the Northern District of Texas and Senior Trial Counsel Don Williamson of the Justice Department's Civil Division handled the matter. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. Settlement


title: Convicted Felon Arrested On Federal Firearm Charge

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the arrest of Anthony Donnell Pew (47, Orlando) on an indictment charging him with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. If convicted, Pew faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. A federal grand jury indicted Pew on April 2, 2024. According to the indictment, Pew was previously convicted of 14 felonies, including tampering with evidence, felony battery, and multiple sales of controlled substances. On February 28, 2023, Pew was in possession of two handguns and ammunition. Because of his prior felony convictions, Pew is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law. An indictment is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a federal criminal offense. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Eustis Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Justice Department Charges Four Iranian Nationals for Multi-Year Cyber Campaign Targeting U.S. Companies

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: An indictment was unsealed today in Manhattan federal court charging Iranian nationals Hossein Harooni (حسین هارونی), Reza Kazemifar (رضا کاظمی فر), Komeil Baradaran Salmani (کمیل برادران سلمانی), and Alireza Shafie Nasab (علیرضا شفیعی نسب) for their involvement in a cyber-enabled campaign to compromise U.S. government and private entities, including the U.S. Departments of Treasury and State, defense contractors, and two New York-based companies. Nasab was charged for the same conduct in a previous indictment that was unsealed on Feb. 29. The defendants remain at large. Concurrent with today’s unsealing, the U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice program (RFJ) is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of the group and the defendants. The RFJ program seeks information on any person who, while acting at the direction or under the control of a foreign government, engages in certain malicious cyber activities in violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA). Additionally, the Treasury Department announced sanctions against the four defendants, among other malicious cyber actors. “Criminal activity originating from Iran poses a grave threat to America’s national security and economic stability,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “These defendants are alleged to have engaged in a coordinated, multi-year hacking campaign from Iran targeting more than a dozen American companies and the U.S. Treasury and State Departments. This case represents just one part of the U.S. government’s effort to counter the range of threats originating from Iran that endanger the American people.” “The FBI is constantly working to detect and counter cyber campaigns like the one described in today’s indictment. From enabling lethal plots and repressing our citizens and residents to targeting our critical infrastructure, we’ve often seen the trail of dangerous cyber-criminal activity lead back to Iran,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Today’s announcement demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to using every lawful tool at our disposal, together with our domestic and international partners, to disrupt the threats posed from Iran to American businesses and citizens.” “Today’s charges pull back the curtain on an Iran-based company that purported to provide ‘cybersecurity services’ while in actuality scheming to compromise U.S. private and public sector computer systems, including through spearphishing and social engineering attacks,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division. “The Department is committed to using a whole of government approach to disrupt such malicious activities and impose consequences on the individuals that carry them out. Employees that continue to work at these companies risk arrest and prosecution or a lifetime as an international fugitive from justice.” “As alleged, the defendants participated in a cyber campaign using spearphishing and other hacking techniques in an attempt to compromise private companies with access to defense-related information,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York. “Cyber intrusion schemes such as the one alleged threaten our national security, and I’m proud of our law enforcement partners and the career prosecutors of this office for continuing to use innovative technologies and investigative measures to disrupt and track down these cybercriminals. If you have information leading to the to the identification or location of Harooni, Kazemifar, Salmani, or Nasab, please reach out to the Department of State at rewardsforjustice.net .” According to court documents, from at least in or about 2016 through at least in or about April 2021, Harooni, Kazemifar, Salmani, Nasab, and other conspirators were members of a hacking organization that participated in a coordinated multi-year campaign to conduct and attempt to conduct computer intrusions. These intrusions targeted more than a dozen U.S. companies and the U.S. Departments of Treasury and State. During the conspiracy, Kazemifar, Salmani, and Nasab were employed by Mahak Rayan Afraz (محک رایان افراز), an Iran-based company that purported to provide cybersecurity services, but which was, in fact, a front for the conspirators’ operations. The hacking group’s private sector victims were primarily cleared defense contractors, which are companies that have been granted security clearances by the U.S. Department of Defense to access, receive, and store classified information for the purpose of conducting activities in support of U.S. Department of Defense programs. In addition, the group targeted a New York-based accounting firm and a New York-based hospitality company. In conducting their hacking campaigns, the group used spearphishing — tricking an email recipient into clicking on a malicious link — to infect victim computers with malware. During their campaigns against one victim, the group compromised more than 200,000 employee accounts. In another campaign, the conspirators targeted 2,000 employee accounts. In order to manage their spearphishing operations, the group created and used a particular computer application that enabled the conspirators to organize and deploy their spearphishing attacks. In the course of these spearphishing attacks, the conspirators compromised an administrator email account belonging to a defense contractor (Defense Contractor-1). Access to this administrator account empowered the conspirators to create unauthorized Defense Contractor-1 accounts, which the conspirators then used to send spearphishing campaigns to employees of a different defense contractor and a consulting firm. In addition to spearphishing, the conspirators utilized social engineering, which involved impersonating others, generally women, to obtain the confidence of victims. These social engineering contacts were another means the conspiracy used to deploy malware onto victim computers and compromise those devices and accounts. Kazemifar was responsible for testing the tools utilized by the conspiracy to execute its cyber campaigns. For example, Kazemifar was involved in testing spearphishing emails used to target victim companies and was involved in developing malware utilized by the conspiracy in social engineering initiatives. During the course of his involvement in the conspiracy, from at least in or about 2014 through at least in or about 2020, Kazemifar also worked for the Iranian Organization for Electronic Warfare and Cyber Defense (EWCD). EWCD is a component of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is itself a component of the Iranian Armed Forces. Among other things, the IRGC is responsible for Iran’s offensive cyber capabilities. The United States has designated the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organization. Harooni was responsible for procuring, administering, and managing the online network infrastructure, including computer servers and customized software used to facilitate the computer intrusions. Harooni also fraudulently used the identity of a real person (Individual-1), including his use of a copy of Individual-1’s true passport, to conceal his role in procuring online infrastructure used by the conspiracy to facilitate the computer intrusion campaign. Salmani was responsible for testing tools utilized by the conspiracy to execute spearphishing campaigns, including the campaign against a hospitality company. Salmani was also involved in maintaining infrastructure used by the conspirators. Nasab was responsible for procuring infrastructure used by the conspiracy, particularly infrastructure used in furtherance of social engineering campaigns. Nasab also used Individual-1’s identity, including Individual-1’s name and passport, to register server and email accounts that were used during malicious cyber campaigns. The defendants are each charged with conspiracy to commit computer fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and wire fraud. If convicted, they face up to five years in prison for the computer fraud conspiracy, and up to 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Harooni is additionally charged with knowingly damaging a protected computer, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Harooni, Salamani, and Nasab are additionally charged with aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory consecutive term of two years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI Cyber Division is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan B. Finkel, Dina McLeod, and Daniel G. Nessim for the Southern District of New York are prosecuting the case, with assistance from Trial Attorney Matthew Chang of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Indictment


title: Justice Department Reaches Civil Settlement with Victims Abused by Lawrence Nassar

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that it has settled 139 administrative claims arising from allegations of sexual abuse committed by former physician and USA Gymnastics official Lawrence Gerard Nassar. Over the course of nearly two decades and ending in 2016 when he was arrested by the State of Michigan, Nassar sexually abused hundreds of victims under the guise of performing medical treatments. These settlements will resolve administrative claims against the United States alleging that the FBI failed to conduct an adequate investigation of Nassar’s conduct. In July 2021, the Department’s Office of the Inspector General issued a report critical of certain aspects of the FBI’s response to, and investigation of, allegations against Nassar. “For decades, Lawrence Nassar abused his position, betraying the trust of those under his care and medical supervision while skirting accountability,” said Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “These allegations should have been taken seriously from the outset. While these settlements won’t undo the harm Nassar inflicted, our hope is that they will help give the victims of his crimes some of the critical support they need to continue healing.” The settlement agreements, which have been approved by the Department, resolve 139 claims for a total of $138.7 million to be distributed to claimants. Note: The headline of this press release has been updated to remove the characterization of the number of settlements.


title: Lake County Convicted Felon Sentenced To Two Years In Federal Prison For Possession Of A Firearm

body_text: Ocala, Florida – United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Tyran Terrell Harris (24, Leesburg) to two years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Harris entered a guilty plea on February 7, 2024. According to the court records, Harris has multiple prior state felony convictions including grand theft, tampering with a witness, and grand theft auto. On September 25, 2023, officers from the Leesburg Police Department observed Harris walking around an apartment complex with a loaded firearm. Knowing Harris was a convicted felon from previous interactions with him, the officers arrested Harris and took possession of the firearm. A record check showed the firearm had been reported stolen approximately two weeks earlier. Harris subsequently admitted to the officers that he knew he could not possess the firearm as a convicted felon. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Leesburg Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Hosts HBCU Regional Forum

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA - The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia recently partnered with the Department of Justice to host the inaugural Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Regional Forum at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia. The Regional Forum introduced HBCU students, faculty, and staff to the Department’s diverse range of programs and initiatives. “Historically Black Colleges and Universities provide students with an environment for achieving academic excellence as well as the skills to serve as future leaders in their communities, in our office, and in the Department of Justice,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “We were honored to join with other federal agencies, and local officials and partners, to promote professional opportunities and development available to HBCU students through career paths with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice.” The forum was held on April 18 and 19, 2024 and featured plenary and breakout sessions that showcased the wide array of resources, partnerships, and funding opportunities available from the Department. These sessions included: A discussion between U.S. Attorney Buchanan and Dr. George French Jr., President of Clark Atlanta University, about the role of HBCUs in advancing justice and equity. A conversation between U.S. Attorney Buchanan, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brent Gray, and Officer Brandon White of the Chamblee Police Department. Officer White was the victim of a hate crime in 2012 and spoke about how he had been beaten and verbally abused outside an Atlanta convenience store. His case resulted in criminal prosecution of his attackers by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and was one of the first successful prosecutions under the federal hate crimes statute based on sexual orientation. Officer White also discussed how this experience led him to pursue a career in law enforcement. A presentation by Acting Director of the Department of Justice Community Relations Service, Justin Lock, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marissa Fallica and Rahul Garabadu about the Department’s United Against Hate community outreach program, which connects federal, state, and local law enforcement with local communities to combat unlawful acts of hate. During the two-day event, members of the HBCU community also heard from other components of the Department of Justice including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, Environmental and Natural Resources Division, the Civil Rights Division, the Criminal Division, the Justice Management Division, the Office of Justice Programs, the Office on Violence Against Women, the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, the Office of Attorney Recruitment & Management, and the Office for Victims of Crime. Representatives from the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services, the Federal Air Marshal Service, and the White House Initiative on HBCUs also made presentations. The presenters provided students with information about their work, and strategies on how students could pursue careers in federal law enforcement. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Foreign National Extradited from Mexico to the United States to Face Fentanyl Trafficking Charges

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A Mexican national made his initial appearance in federal court in Sacramento on Friday, April 19, 2024, to face charges for fentanyl-pill, cocaine, and methamphetamine trafficking and money laundering, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. On March 3, 2022, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment against Luis Felipe Lopez Zamora, aka Gordo, 28, formerly of Tijuana, Mexico, and 13 co-defendants, charging them with a variety of fentanyl-pill, cocaine, and methamphetamine trafficking and money laundering crimes. Lopez Zamora was arrested by Mexican authorities on Jan. 2, 2024, on a warrant based on an extradition request, and he remained detained in Mexico pending his extradition. He was extradited from Mexico to the United States on April 18, 2024. According to court documents, Lopez Zamora was a Tijuana-based source of supply and organizational leader of a Sacramento-based drug trafficking organization (DTO). The leader of the DTO in Sacramento was Lopez Zamora’s brother, co-defendant Jose Lopez-Zamora. From at least May 2019 until January 2021, the DTO was responsible for importing tens of thousands of fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone “M-30” pills from Mexico and distributing them in northern California and elsewhere. The DTO also distributed cocaine and methamphetamine. Lopez Zamora is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 400 grams of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl, cocaine, and at least 50 grams of methamphetamine; two counts of possession with intent to distribute at least 400 grams of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl; and one count of conspiracy to launder money. Eight defendants have pleaded guilty and six have been sentenced as follows: Rudi Jean Carlos pleaded guilty and, on Oct. 11, 2022, was sentenced to 10 years and one month in prison. Jason Lamar Lee pleaded guilty and, on Oct. 11, 2022, was sentenced to eight years and seven months in prison. Javier Hernandez pleaded guilty and, on Nov. 8, 2022, was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison. Christopher Kegan Williams pleaded guilty, and on Dec. 14, 2021, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison. Baudelio Vizcarra Jr., pleaded guilty, and on Jan. 24, 2023, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison. Mateo Elias Guerrero-Gonzales pleaded guilty and, on Oct. 11, 2022, was sentenced to two years and three months in prison. Alejandro Tello pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 3, 2024. Christian Anthony Romero pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 16, 2024. Charges are pending against the following defendants: Jose Guadalupe Lopez-Zamora, Leonardo Flores Beltran, Joaquin Alberto Sotelo Valdez, Erika Gabriela Zamora Rojo, Jose Luis Aguilar Saucedo, Rosario Zamora Rojo, and Sandro Escobedo. The charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Yuba-Sutter Narcotic and Gang Enforcement Task Force (NET‑5), the California Highway Patrol, the Butte Interagency Narcotics Task Force (BINTF), the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Team (TRIDENT), the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, the Sacramento Police Department, the Roseville Police Department, the Manteca Police Department, the Yuba City Police Department, and the West Sacramento Police Department. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with Mexican authorities to secure the arrest and extradition of Lopez Zamora. Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Spencer is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Lopez Zamora faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison on each of the drug trafficking counts and a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison on the money laundering conspiracy count. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about OCDETF, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Texas Man Sentenced To 27 Months In Prison For Sending Antisemitic Death Threats

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JEREMY JOSEPH was sentenced today to 27 months in prison for sending interstate threats to injure or kill two former co-workers. JOSEPH previously pled guilty, two days after his trial on these charges had begun, before U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken, who imposed today’s sentence. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Jeremy Joseph sent hateful, violent, and antisemitic death threats over email to two former co-workers. Joseph made these threats as part of a broader scheme in which Joseph threatened dozens of victims, many of whom were Jewish or were perceived to be Jewish. This prosecution and today’s sentence make clear that this Office will not tolerate crimes of hate and will continue to seek justice for the victims of these offensive and harmful acts.” According to Indictment, other public filings, and statements made in court: From in or about December 2022 through at least in or about January 2023, JOSEPH sent terrifying death threats over email to two former colleagues (the “Victims”) that he worked with over 10 years prior. The emails detailed how JOSEPH planned to murder his Victims and included photographs of pipe bombs, ammunition, and a firearm. The emails also included personal information about the Victims and their families. JOSEPH’s threats towards the Victims were part of a larger pattern of death threats sent to various other individuals from JOSEPH’s life, as well as politicians, judges, and prosecutors. The targets of his threats spanned multiples countries and U.S. states. In these communications, JOSEPH consistently used violent, threatening language that targeted Jewish people. * * * In addition to the prison term, JOSEPH, 41, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced to three years of supervised release. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights Unit in the Criminal Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jamie Bagliebter and Diarra M. Guthrie are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Repeat Offender Sentenced for Narcotics Trafficking and Possession of a Machinegun in a Nightclub

body_text: WASHINGTON – Bryan Rice, 35, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for trafficking fentanyl and cocaine base in an open-air drug market in Northwest and being in possession of a firearm at a District nightclub, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Rice is one of 20 defendants charged in connection with a wide-ranging investigation centered on drug trafficking in the area of 7 th and O Streets Northwest. Rice pleaded guilty January 5, 2024, to conspiracy to distribute narcotics and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a person convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. In addition to the 10-year prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Reggie B. Walton ordered Rice to serve four years of supervised release. According to court documents, Rice, aka “Ice,” sold both fentanyl and cocaine base, including distribution quantities of each, to undercover officers on five occasions between October 20, 2021, and March 24, 2022. When he was arrested on April 25, 2022, Rice was at the Rosebar Lounge, a nightclub on Connecticut Avenue. During an altercation, he was observed by police with a firearm in his waistband. The weapon, a 9mm Glock 17 with 17 rounds in the magazine, had been outfitted with a machine gun conversion device, which is designed to allow the gun to be fired as a fully automatic weapon. Rice has six prior adult convictions. His first, in 2006, came after he was involved in an armed robbery. His second came less than three years later, after he sold drugs to an undercover officer. Two years after that, he was convicted of possession of a firearm. He was convicted in 2014 and 2019 of additional robbery and theft-related offenses; in one instance, he tried to snatch someone’s phone, and in the other, he was caught trying to steal merchandise from department stores. In April 2022—the same month he was arrested for unlawful possession of a firearm in the instant case—he was convicted of possession of cocaine after he apparently sold someone drugs and was also found to be in possession of drugs for the purpose of distribution. This case stems from a collaborative investigation by the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) of MPD’s Violent Crime Suppression Division, the FBI Washington Field Office’s Cross Border Safe Streets Task Force, the Washington Division of the DEA, and the U.S. Park Police. The Cross Border Safe Streets Task Force targets the most egregious and violent street crews operating in the District of Columbia. The investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Solomon Eppel of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses Section, with valuable assistance provided by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven Wasserman and Kevin Rosenberg and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Shaunik Panse.


title: Chicago-Area Tax Preparer Sentenced for False Return Scheme

component: Tax Division

body_text: An Illinois woman was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison for preparing and filing false income tax returns for clients. According to court documents and statements made in court, Vervia Watts, of Lansing, operated a tax preparation business in Illinois and elsewhere. From at least January 2017 through June 2023, Watts prepared and filed over 900 fraudulent income tax returns for her clients, reporting false education expenses and business income to obtain larger refunds from the IRS than the clients were otherwise entitled to receive. Watts received at least $300 for each return she prepared. The IRS paid approximately $1.3 million in fraudulent refunds. In addition to her prison sentence, U.S. District Judge Lindsay C. Jenkins for the Northern District of Illinois ordered Watts to serve one year of supervised release and to pay approximately $1,349,314 in restitution to the IRS. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Meredith Havekost and Regina Jeon of the Tax Division prosecuted the case.


title: Former credit union manager admits to embezzling over $200,000 from elderly client accounts

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – A 57-year-old Prairie View woman has pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement by a federal credit union employee, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Gloria Hall was employed at Prairie View Federal Credit Union (PVFCU). From 2017 through 2019, while acting as manager, she purposefully maintained an antiquated business practice which would not allow customers to access their accounts online. Hall admitted she was able to and did access at least two elderly customer accounts and misappropriated $211,563.12 of their funds for her own personal gain. PVFCU was one of the oldest continually operational federal credit unions a historically black college or university had established in the United States. It did not survive Hall’s embezzlement. PVFCU existed for approximately 85 years prior to its failure and merger with the Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union in early 2022. “Hall’s personal greed trumped the needs of her community,” said Hamdani. “These banks often form the bedrock of our society, and their failures can have devastating impacts on the people that rely on them. Her actions had severe consequences, actions that deserve a harsh yet just punishment.” U.S. District Judge Charles Eskridge accepted the plea has set sentencing for Aug. 22. At that time, Hall faces up to 30 years in federal prison and a possible $1 million maximum fine. Hall was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing. The FBI – Bryan Resident Agency conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Grace Murphy and Thomas Carter are prosecuting the case.


title: Houstonian charged with filing over $500,000 in fraudulent disaster relief loans

body_text: HOUSTON – A 26-year-old woman is set to appear in federal court for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Khalia Douglas is expected to make her initial appearance before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Ho at 2 p.m. According to the criminal information filed April 16, from March 2020 until June 2021, Douglas allegedly submitted false and fraudulent applications to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Small Business Administration, the U.S. government and a bank for financial assistance. As part of the alleged scheme, Douglas gave instructions to co-conspirators on how to fraudulently apply for FEMA assistance and allegedly assisted others in applying for FEMA rental assistance. Douglas allegedly received payment from co-conspirators for assisting them in filing fraudulent FEMA applications for assistance with rentals, critical needs and personal property assistance. Douglas also helped others in filing false applications for Paycheck Protection Payment loans, Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance and bank loans, according to the charges. Douglas allegedly assisted in filing the false applications causing an attempted loss of $514,415. If convicted, Douglas faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. The Department of Homeland Security - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rodolfo Ramirez is prosecuting the case. An information is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.


title: Former Weymouth Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Assaulting a Man During an Arrest

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A former Weymouth Police officer pleaded guilty today to assaulting a man in custody by punching him multiple times without legal justification. Justin Chappell, 43, pleaded guilty to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for July 16, 2024. Chappell was charged on April 3, 2024. On July 2, 2022, Chappell was a police officer for the Weymouth Police Department. While on duty, he responded to a call regarding an allegedly intoxicated man causing a disturbance at a home in Weymouth. Chappell placed a man under arrest, and while attempting to put the man in the police cruiser, Chappell punched the man approximately 13 times with a closed fist without legal justification. The punches caused obvious pain and visible injuries to the man’s head. The charge of deprivation of rights under color of law resulting in bodily injury provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Weymouth Police Department and the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Torey B. Cummings and Neil J. Gallagher Jr. of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.


title: Jury Convicts Detroit-Based Cocaine And Heroin Trafficker

component: USAO - Michigan, Western

body_text: GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Mark Totten announced that a jury convicted Joseph Michael McNoriell, also known as Mike X, of Detroit, 43, of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and heroin and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The jury announced its verdict last Thursday after three days of trial. McNoriell is scheduled to be sentenced on August 7, 2024. “These illegal substances destroy lives and devastate communities,” said U.S. Attorney Mark Totten . “We will never prosecute our way out of this problem, but we will continue our work to dismantle the regional-level supply lines that distribute drugs across Michigan.” The evidence at trial showed that the McNoriell worked with other individuals to deliver two kilograms of cocaine from southeast Michigan to Lansing. On June 2, 2022, McNoriell used a female drug courier driving a different car and followed her in his car to deliver two kilograms of cocaine. McNoriell was unaware that investigators with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and troopers with the Michigan State Police (MSP) anticipated the delivery and seized the two kilograms of cocaine from the courier’s car. A photograph of the seized kilograms of cocaine is provided below: “This investigation emphasizes the mission of the DEA: combatting criminal drug networks like the one Mr. Mcnoriell was involved in,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Orville O. Greene . “Along with our local, state and federal partners, we will relentlessly pursue individuals and organizations who prioritize greed and profit over human lives.” This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Vito S. Solitro and LaToyia T. Carpenter. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Michigan State Police, Lansing Police Department, and Holland Department of Public Safety. # # #


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

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOSE OZUNA CRUZ, also known as Jose Cruz-Cruz, Jose Chapulin, Jose Ozuna-Montero, and Jose Ozun-Cruz, 48, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 12 months and one day of imprisonment for illegally reentering the United States after being deported. According to court documents and statements made in court, Ozuna was deported from the U.S. to the Dominican Republic in February 2010 following a felony conviction in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California for conspiracy to distribute cocaine, and a 37-month prison sentence. Ozuna subsequently illegally reentered the U.S. On November 21, 2022, he was arrested by Waterbury Police in Waterbury and charged with various state drug distribution and firearm possession offenses. Ozuna has been detained since his federal arrest on November 9, 2023. On January 30, 2024, he pleaded guilty to illegal reentry. The state charges against Ozuna are pending. This matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anastasia E. King.


title: Justice Department Announces Charges Against Four Iranian Nationals For Multi-Year Cyber Campaign Targeting U.S. Companies

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Merrick B. Garland, the Attorney General of the United States; Christopher A. Wray, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”); Matthew G. Olsen, the Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; and James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the FBI, announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging Iranian nationals HOSSEIN HAROONI (حسین هارونی), REZA KAZEMIFAR (رضا کاظمی فر), KOMEIL BARADARAN SALMANI (کمیل برادران سلمانی), and ALIREZA SHAFIE NASAB (علیرضا شفیعی نسب) for their involvement in a cyber-enabled campaign to compromise U.S. government and private entities, including the U.S. Departments of Treasury and State, defense contractors, and two New York-based companies. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil. NASAB was charged for the same conduct in a previous Indictment that was unsealed on February 29, 2024. The defendants remain at large. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, the defendants participated in a cyber campaign using spearphishing and other hacking techniques in an attempt to compromise private companies with access to defense-related information. Cyber intrusion schemes such as the one alleged threaten our national security, and I’m proud of our law enforcement partners and the career prosecutors of this Office for continuing to use innovative technologies and investigative measures to disrupt and track down these cybercriminals. If you have information leading to the to the identification or location of Harooni, Kazemifar, Salmani, or Nasab, please reach out to the Department of State at rewardsforjustice.net .” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said: “Criminal activity originating from Iran poses a grave threat to America’s national security and economic stability. These defendants are alleged to have engaged in a coordinated, multi-year hacking campaign from Iran targeting more than a dozen American companies and the U.S. Treasury and State Departments. This case represents just one part of the U.S. government’s effort to counter the range of threats originating from Iran that endanger the American people.” FBI Director Christopher A. Wray said: “The FBI is constantly working to detect and counter cyber campaigns like the one described in today’s indictment. From enabling lethal plots, and repressing our citizens and residents, to targeting our critical infrastructure, we’ve often seen the trail of dangerous cyber-criminal activity lead back to Iran. Today’s announcement demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to using every lawful tool at our disposal, together with our domestic and international partners, to disrupt the threats posed from Iran to American businesses and citizens.” Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen said: “Today’s charges pull back the curtain on an Iran-based company that purported to provide ‘cybersecurity services’ while in actuality scheming to compromise U.S. private and public sector computer systems, including through spearphishing and social engineering attacks. The Department is committed to using a whole of government approach to disrupt such malicious activities and impose consequences on the individuals that carry them out. Employees that continue to work at these companies risk arrest and prosecution or a lifetime as an international fugitive from justice.” FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said: “Hostile threat actors have become increasingly aggressive in their attempts to infiltrate and disrupt our country’s cyber infrastructure. These four defendants allegedly employed sophisticated techniques in a multi-year cyber hacking campaign targeting the U.S. Departments of Treasury and State and several private sector companies entrusted with supporting the work of the Department of Defense. These charges send a clear message – the FBI prioritizes cybersecurity to protect our sensitive information and will not tolerate threats or cyber-attacks by anyone.” According to the allegations contained in the Indictment: [1] From at least in or about 2016 through at least in or about April 2021, HAROONI, KAZEMIFAR, SALMANI, NASAB, and other conspirators were members of a hacking organization that participated in a coordinated multi-year campaign to conduct and attempt to conduct computer intrusions. These intrusions targeted more than a dozen U.S. companies and the U.S. Departments of the Treasury and State. During the conspiracy, KAZEMIFAR, SALMANI, and NASAB were employed by Mahak Rayan Afraz (محک رایان افراز), an Iran-based company that purported to provide cybersecurity services, but which was, in fact, a front for the conspirators’ operations. The hacking group’s private sector victims were primarily cleared defense contractors, which are companies that have been granted security clearances by the U.S. Department of Defense to access, receive, and store classified information for the purpose of conducting activities in support of U.S. Department of Defense programs. In addition, the group targeted a New York-based accounting firm and a New York-based hospitality company. In conducting their hacking campaigns, the group used spearphishing — tricking an email recipient into clicking on a malicious link — to infect victim computers with malware. During their campaigns against one victim, the group compromised more than 200,000 employee accounts. In another campaign, the conspirators targeted 2,000 employee accounts. In order to manage their spearphishing operations, the group created and used a particular computer application that enabled the conspirators to organize and deploy their spearphishing attacks. In the course of these spearphishing attacks, the conspirators compromised an administrator email account belonging to a defense contractor (“Defense Contractor-1”). Access to this administrator account empowered the conspirators to create unauthorized Defense Contractor-1 accounts, which the conspirators then used to send spearphishing campaigns to employees of a different defense contractor and a consulting firm. In addition to spearphishing, the conspirators utilized social engineering, which involved impersonating others, generally women, to obtain the confidence of victims. These social engineering contacts were another means the conspiracy used to deploy malware onto victim computers and compromise those devices and accounts. KAZEMIFAR was responsible for testing the tools utilized by the conspiracy to execute its cyber campaigns. For example, KAZEMIFAR was involved in testing spearphishing emails used to target victim companies and was involved in developing malware utilized by the conspiracy in social engineering initiatives. During the course of his involvement in the conspiracy, from at least in or about 2014 through at least in or about 2020, KAZEMIFAR also worked for the Iranian Organization for Electronic Warfare and Cyber Defense (“EWCD”). EWCD is a component of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (“IRGC”), which is itself a component of the Iranian Armed Forces. Among other things, the IRGC is responsible for Iran’s offensive cyber capabilities. The U.S. has designated the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organization. HAROONI was responsible for procuring, administering, and managing the online network infrastructure, including computer servers and customized software used to facilitate the computer intrusions. HAROONI also fraudulently used the identity of a real person (“Individual-1”), including his use of a copy of Individual-1’s true passport, to conceal his role in procuring online infrastructure used by the conspiracy to facilitate the computer intrusion campaign. SALMANI was responsible for testing tools utilized by the conspiracy to execute spearphishing campaigns, including the campaign against a hospitality company. SALMANI was also involved in maintaining infrastructure used by the conspirators. NASAB was responsible for procuring infrastructure used by the conspiracy, particularly infrastructure used in furtherance of social engineering campaigns. NASAB also used Individual-1’s identity, including Individual-1’s name and passport, to register server and email accounts that were used during malicious cyber campaigns. Concurrent with the unsealing of the Indictment, the U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice program (“RFJ”) is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of the group and the defendants. The RFJ program seeks information on any person who, while acting at the direction or under the control of a foreign government, engages in certain malicious cyber activities in violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. Anyone with information on these malicious cyber actors, or associated individuals or entities, please contact Rewards for Justice via the Tor-based tips-reporting channel at: he5dybnt7sr6cm32xt77pazmtm65flqy6irivtflruqfc5ep7eiodiad.onion . More information about this RFJ reward offer is located on the Rewards for Justice website . * * * KAZEMIFAR, 36, of Iran, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit computer fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. HAROONI, 34, of Iran, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit computer fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of knowingly damaging a protected computer, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory consecutive term of two years in prison. SALMANI, 38, of Iran, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit computer fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory consecutive term of two years in prison. NASAB, 39, of Iran, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit computer fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory consecutive term of two years in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI, including the work of the FBI Cyber Division. The case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan B. Finkel, Dina McLeod, and Daniel G. Nessim are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney Matthew Chang of the National Security Division’s National Security Cyber Section. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.