title: Morgantown Business Owner Admits to Fraud of Federal Broadband Funding

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Timothy Chad Henson, the owner of Clearfiber, Inc., an internet service provider in Monongalia County, has admitted to defrauding the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Henson, 35, of Morgantown, West Virginia, pled guilty today to money laundering. According to court documents and statements made in court, the USDA’s Community Connect Program offered grants to eligible applicants providing broadband services to rural areas. As owner of Clearfiber, Henson applied and was awarded $1.96 million in USDA funding to offer high-speed internet services in Monongalia and Marion Counties. Henson then submitted false invoices to the USDA to receive more than $340,000, transferring $322,900 into another bank account for his personal use. Henson faces up to 10 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Wagner is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations and the USDA Office of the Inspector General. U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.


title: Justice Department Sues Oklahoma City Public Schools to Protect Servicemember Reemployment Rights

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: Note: View the full complaint here OKLAHOMA CITY – The Justice Department has sued Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS) to protect rights guaranteed to an Air Force Reserve Senior Airman, Michael J. McCullough, by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, alleges that OKCPS violated USERRA when it failed to reinstate McCullough in a teacher position upon his return from a military deployment. “We owe a solemn duty to protect the rights of our servicemembers when called upon to defend our nation. This lawsuit reinforces the Justice Department’s strong commitment to protecting the rights of those who wear the uniform proudly,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “USERRA provides important reemployment protections, and we must act when any employer denies them an opportunity to earn a living because they are called to duty.” “Service members are called to leave their home and work to serve and protect us,” said U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester for the Western District of Oklahoma. “It is our job to make sure their employment rights are protected once they return home. My office will continue to vigorously defend the rights justly earned by those who serve our country.” According to the complaint, McCullough was employed by OKCPS as a music teacher in January 2022. He was under contract for the remainder of the school year, and his principal told him that she wanted him to return to teach the following year. In February 2022, McCullough was ordered to perform military service. When he notified his principal, she suggested it would be easier if he just resigned his teaching position. Less than a month later, during his deployment, OKCPS advised McCullough that his contract for the 2022-2023 school year would not be renewed. Prior to and on his return from active military duty, OKCPS refused McCullough’s repeated requests for reemployment, despite available positions. The lawsuit seeks lost wages, other employment benefits and other remedies. The complaint also seeks liquidated damages because this is the second time that OKCPS’ refusal to reemploy McCullough following military service has required USERRA enforcement action. USERRA protects the rights of uniformed servicemembers to reemployment in their civilian employment following absences due to military service obligations and provides that servicemembers shall not be discriminated against because of their military obligations. The Justice Department gives high priority to the enforcement of servicemembers’ rights under USERRA. Additional information about USERRA can be found on the Justice Department’s websites at www.justice.gov/crt-military/employment-rights-userra and www.justice.gov/servicemembers as well as on the Department of Labor’s website at www.dol.gov/vets/programs/userra . The Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service investigated the case and referred the case to the Justice Department at McCullough’s request. Trial Attorney Robert Galbreath of the Civil Rights Division’s Employment Litigation Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Fagan for the Western District of Oklahoma are handling the case.


title: Orange County Man Charged With Firearm And Drug Offenses

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Joshua Grant Cobb (33, Orlando) with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted on both counts, Cobb faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. The indictment also notifies Cobb that the United States intends to forfeit the firearms and ammunition which are alleged to have facilitated the offenses. According to the indictment, on April 30, 2024, Cobb possessed with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a fentanyl mixture and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Cobb is also charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of that drug offense. 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 Drug Enforcement Administration and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman. 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: Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 24 Months in Drug Distribution Conspiracy

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Rutland, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that on May 29, 2024, Jashier Gillespie, 22, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by Chief United States District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford to a term of 24 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release. Gillespie previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute cocaine base, fentanyl and heroin in Vermont between October 2021 and January 2023. According to court records, Gillespie served as hand-to-hand distributor for the drug trafficking organization of which he was a part of, primarily in September 2022. He was arrested on related state assault charges in late September 2022 and has been detained since that time. Chief Judge Crawford ordered the federal sentence to run concurrently with any forthcoming state sentence on the assault charge. United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the collaborative investigatory efforts of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Burlington Police Department for their work in this case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugenia A. P. Cowles. Gillespie was represented by John C. Mabie, Esq. 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 Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: King and Queen County man who violated a protective order sentenced for drug trafficking

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A King and Queen County man was sentenced today to five years in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, on March 17, 2022, a King and Queen County Sheriff’s Office Deputy responded to a report that George Franklin Gibson Jr., 34, was sitting in his truck at the end of a driveway, in violation of an emergency protective order. After another deputy arrived, the deputies arrested Gibson and, based on ammunition in plain view in the truck as well as in Gibson’s pocket, searched the truck. In the center console of Gibson’s truck, the deputies found a plastic baggie with suspected meth. They also found a backpack in the backseat with more suspected meth in the front zipper pocket. The main compartment of the backpack was locked. The deputies obtained search warrants for the backpack and Gibson’s premises. The locked compartment of the backpack contained suspected marijuana, a digital scale, smoking devices, packaging materials, and suspected psychedelic mushrooms. A shed on the property contained large quantities of suspected marijuana and marijuana plants, packaging materials, a loaded 9mm handgun, and a safe containing more suspected meth and over $13,000. In total, law enforcement recovered 187.59 grams of meth. Gibson pled guilty on Feb. 29. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Division; and William R. Balderson, King and Queen County Sheriff, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Wright and Kenneth R. Simon Jr. prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-10.


title: Pepin County Man Sentenced to More than 4 Years for Illegally Possessing a Firearm and Ammunition

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Jesse Turnmire, 34, Durand, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 51 months federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Turnmire pleaded guilty to this charge on February 9, 2024. On July 7, 2023, law enforcement was dispatched to the Town of Clear Creek, Wisconsin, in response to a report of a male, later identified as Turnmire, slumped over the steering wheel of his vehicle while at a stop sign. Officers investigating his condition suspected he was under the influence of drugs and searched his car. During the search they found a firearm wrapped in a restaurant uniform shirt, which was inside a bag that was hidden under the corner of the front bumper. They also discovered a gun magazine in the center console containing seven rounds of .45 caliber ammunition. Turnmire is prohibited from legally possessing firearms because of multiple drug-related felony convictions in La Crosse and Trempealeau Counties, as well as state and federal convictions for possessing a firearm as a felon. Turnmire was on federal supervised release at the time of this offense following the federal conviction for possessing a firearm as a felon. Judge Peterson revoked Turnmire’s federal supervision and imposed a two-year sentence to run concurrently with the 51-month sentence on the new conviction. This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms. The charge against Turnmire was the result of an investigation conducted by the Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Anderson prosecuted this case.


title: U.S. Attorney Nicholas Vassallo announces his retirement

component: USAO - Wyoming

body_text: After 29 years of service with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming, U.S. Attorney Nicholas Vassallo announced that he is retiring from the Department of Justice on May 31. Mr. Vassallo began his career with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 1995 as a Civil Assistant U.S. Attorney. He served as the office’s Civil Division Chief from 2009 until 2021, when he was appointed First Assistant U.S. Attorney. He became Acting U.S. Attorney in July 2022, and in January 2023, he was appointed to the position of U.S. Attorney by Chief District Judge Scott W. Skavdahl. Mr. Vassallo obtained his law degree from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 1986. After law school, he was a law clerk for Justice G. Joseph Cardine of the Wyoming Supreme Court. Following his clerkship, he was engaged in private practice in Cheyenne until 1993. From 1993 to 1995, he served as an Assistant Attorney General with the Tort Litigation Section of the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office. As a Civil Assistant U.S. Attorney and Chief of the Civil Division, Mr. Vassallo represented the interests of the United States in a wide variety of civil litigation, appearing in hundreds of cases, primarily in federal district court. Among other things, his practice included actions involving recreational injuries, wrongful death and medical malpractice claims, and environmental and natural resources disputes. He also handled numerous cases in the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals and in federal bankruptcy court. As U.S. Attorney, he was considered the chief federal law enforcement officer in Wyoming, responsible for overseeing all federal prosecutions and civil litigation involving the United States within the district. During his term, notable criminal cases handled by his office include the prosecution for the arson of the Wellspring Health Access Clinic in Casper and the conviction of a Wyoming physician for unlawfully distributing large quantities of opioids without any legitimate medical need. Mr. Vassallo was instrumental in the creation of the Wind River Tribal Community Re-entry Court, a program intended to reduce criminal recidivism on the Wind River Indian Reservation. “It’s been a privilege to serve the citizens of Wyoming and to work with such a dedicated and talented group of attorneys and legal professionals,” said Mr. Vassallo. “I greatly enjoyed my years with the Civil Division. I can’t imagine another legal position in which you’d have such a varied and interesting practice. And for the last two years, it’s been the honor of a lifetime to serve Wyoming as U.S. Attorney.” On June 1, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Heimann will become the Acting U.S. Attorney. Mr. Heimann has been an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Wyoming since 2012 and has been the First Assistant since February 2023. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Heimann prosecuted drug felonies for the Laramie County District Attorney’s Office and prosecuted environmental and wildlife crimes for the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section in Washington, D.C. He graduated from the University of Wyoming College of Law in 2005 and began his legal career in Cheyenne as a law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Clarence Brimmer. “For 29 years, Nick Vassallo represented the people of the United States with diligence and dedication,” said Mr. Heimann. “Nick’s leadership and personal example have prepared the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Wyoming for continued success protecting the American people by enforcing federal law, representing the interests of the United States in federal court, promoting the civil rights of all Americans, and guarding our national security. He will be missed.”


title: Florida Pilot Involved in Cocaine Trafficking Schemes is Sentenced

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RUPERT DE LAS CASAS, 64, of Miami, Florida, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford to approximately 85 months of imprisonment, time already served, and three years of supervised release for his participation in two separate cocaine trafficking conspiracies. According to court documents and statements made in court, De Las Casas conspired with others to transport approximately 1700 kilograms of cocaine from South America to the U.S. On August 6, 2016, De Las Casas and Ronier Sanchez Alonso flew a private jet, which was registered in the U.S., from the Dominican Republic to Venezuela where the cocaine was to be loaded onto the jet. De Las Casas was the pilot and Sanchez was the co-pilot. From Venezuela, the jet was to fly to Honduras where the cocaine would be loaded onto trucks for transport through Mexico into the U.S. A fake flight plan filed with Dominican authorities reported that the plane was traveling to Brazil. The plane crash-landed just short of a landing strip in Venezuela. De Las Casas, Sanchez, and another co-conspirator evaded capture by Venezuelan authorities and the cocaine was diverted back to Colombia. On December 14, 2016, a grand jury in Bridgeport returned an indictment charging De Las Casas, Sanchez, and others with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine on board an aircraft registered in the U.S. De Las Casas was arrested on April 15, 2017, and pleaded guilty to the charge on October 23, 2019. He has been detained since his arrest. After his arrest, De Las Casas was charged in the Central District of California for his participation in a separate cocaine trafficking conspiracy. His case was transferred to the District of Connecticut and, on February 27, 2024, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine for the purpose of unlawful importation. Sanchez, a citizen of Mexico, was arrested in Asuncion, Paraguay, on March 25, 2021. He was extradited to the U.S., pleaded guilty, and, on December 20, 2023, was sentenced to 48 months of imprisonment . Another co-conspirator, Arrinson De La Cruz, who had worked at an airport in the Dominican Republic and helped to coordinate the travel of the jet through the airport uninterrupted, was charged separately for his role in this scheme and other drug trafficking activity. De La Cruz, a citizen of the Dominican Republic who had resided in Wolcott, Connecticut, pleaded guilty and, on November 20, 2019, was sentenced to 144 months of imprisonment . This investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration New Haven Task Force, which includes members from the DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut State Police and the New Haven, Waterbury, East Haven, Branford, West Haven, Ansonia, Meriden, Naugatuck, and Shelton Police Departments. The DEA Country Office in Paraguay, Interpol and the Paraguayan National Police assisted the investigation. U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California for its assistance in this prosecution. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rahul Kale through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. 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: Aldi Executive and Southern Illinois Contractor Plead Guilty to Rigging Construction Project Bids

component: USAO - Illinois, Southern

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A former Aldi executive and a general contractor from Breese, Illinois, admitted guilt to federal fraud offenses which involved rigging the bid system for construction projects of grocery stores throughout southern Illinois and Missouri. Louis R. Ross, Sr., 64, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, four counts of mail fraud and four counts of wire fraud. Donald E. Schniers, 73, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, one count of mail fraud and one count of wire fraud. “By colluding in the bid process, the co-defendants enriched themselves by defrauding Aldi out of millions of dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. According to court documents, Ross was the Director of Real Estate for Aldi’s O’Fallon, Missouri, Division, and Schniers owned C. Juengel Company out of Breese, Illinois. Schniers, through C. Juengel, provided general contracting services including construction and renovation to Aldi stores within Ross’s division. From at least February 2014 through March 2018, Ross and Schniers conspired to create a faux competitive bidding environment for construction projects. Schniers admitted to completing false bid forms under the guise of other construction companies without their knowledge or consent. “In his attempt for personal gain, Louis Ross’s actions undermined competitive contracting practices, which in turn affect the price consumers pay for goods and services,” said FBI Springfield Field office Acting Special Agent in Charge Joe Rodriguez. “The FBI, along with our law enforcement partners, prioritizes efforts to expose corruption and investigate illegal practices.” The fictitious bids always included higher amounts than C. Juengel’s, which led to C. Juengel being awarded the projects. Using the rigged bidding system, C. Juengel was awarded 12 contracts for general contractor services valued at approximately $20 million. Ross and Schniers also manipulated the bidding process by altering legitimate bids submitted by another construction company. Due to the stifled competition, Aldi overpaid for the projects and suffered an approximate loss greater than $2.8 million. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is charged with defending the nation’s mail system from illegal use. With the collaborative efforts of our federal law enforcement partners, Postal Inspectors investigate fraudsters who utilize the U.S. Mail to perpetuate financial schemes to defraud others in order to enrich themselves. Postal Inspectors seek justice for victims, including the multiple individual consumer and business victims in this investigation,” said Inspector in Charge Ruth Mendonça who leads the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which includes the St. Louis Field Office. For his role in the conspiracy, Schniers paid Ross monthly kickbacks totaling $554,000 from C. Juengel’s bank account. Under the sentencing guidelines, each of the counts carry a maximum term of 20 years’ imprisonment. Ross’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 16 and Schniers’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 17, both at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis. The FBI Springfield and St. Louis Field Offices and the St. Louis Field Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service are contributing to the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Gross with the Southern District of Illinois and Trial Attorney Andrew Rosa with the Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, Chicago Office are prosecuting the case.


title: Local man receives 30 years in prison for fondling minor while producing child pornography

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON - A 39-year-old resident of Montgomery County has been sentenced for sexually exploiting a child and possession of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. James Aubrey Zachary Wasson pleaded guilty Sept. 27, 2023. U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks has now sentenced Wasson to 360 months and 120 months for the sexual exploitation and production convictions, respectively. They will run concurrently for a total 30-year-term of imprisonment. At the hearing, the court heard from the victim’s mother detailing how Wasson’s actions caused the child to suffer nightmares. In handing down the prison terms, the court acknowledged that the sentence was “life altering for a reason,” noting that the victim’s life will never be the same. The judge also rejected Wasson’s excuse that he exploited the child because of a drug addiction, commenting that drug abuse does not lead preying upon children. Wasson was further ordered to pay $29,000 in restitution to multiple victims and will serve 10 years on supervised release following completion of his prison term. During that time, he will have to comply with numerous requirements designed to restrict his access to children and the internet. Wasson will also be ordered to register as a sex offender. “Wasson shattered a little girl’s life,” said Hamdani. “Today’s sentence cannot give her back the life she should have had, but it does ensure Wasson cannot hurt other children for a very long time.” “Over the course of two years, this child predator uploaded more than 500 files of child sexual abuse materials to the internet, including over 50 files of himself sexually exploiting a minor victim,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Dawson, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Houston. “Thanks to the selfless bravery of one of his victims who worked with investigators to confirm his identity, we were able to obtain his conviction and ensure he is held accountable for his heinous actions.” Authorities identified Wasson after discovering over 500 files of child pornography he had uploaded between March 2019 and March 2021. One folder contained a series of 51 photographs, all taken on a single date in December 2020. Some showed him in a state of sexual arousal next to a minor female child. He also appeared to be fondling her under her clothing. A subsequent search of Wasson’s cell phone confirmed it was the device he used to produce the series of sexually explicit photographs. The cell phone also contained other files of child pornography taken between May 2020 and May 2021. The minor victim also identified Wasson and recalled when he took the photographs. Wasson will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Bauman prosecuted the case, which was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section leads PSC, which marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children and identifies and rescues victims. For more information about PSC, please visit DOJ’s PSC page . For more information about internet safety education, please visit the resources link on that page.


title: Man previously caught illegally possessing a firearm in a music video sentenced again after carrying a firearm while shoplifting

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

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Stafford man was sentenced today to three years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. According to court documents, on Dec. 3, 2023, loss prevention personnel at a department store in McLean observed Najee O. Lewis, aka Bebo, 27, shoplifting merchandise. The personnel apprehended Lewis and contacted the Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD). FCPD officers responded and recovered a loaded .40 caliber Glock handgun from Lewis’ pants. The firearm had a round in the chamber and 22 rounds in an extended magazine. Lewis previously was convicted in Prince William Circuit Court of two separate felony robbery offenses that occurred two days apart and was subsequently sentenced at the same time for both offenses. In May 2018, Lewis was released from incarceration for these robbery convictions and began a 10-year term of supervised probation. Less than four months after his release from incarceration, while still on supervision in Virginia, a music video showing Lewis with a stolen 9mm handgun was posted to YouTube. Lewis was convicted of illegally possessing a firearm , violating the terms of his pre-existing supervised release. As a convicted felon, Lewis cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Craig Kailimai, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Kevin Davis, Fairfax County Chief of Police, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel I. Lipkowitz and Noah Sissoko prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-37.


title: SoCal Man Charged with Hate Crime for Physical Attack on Asian American Woman While Hurling Racial Slurs

component: USAO - California, Central

body_text: LOS ANGELES – A federal grand jury today returned an indictment charging a Southern California man with a hate crime for allegedly punching an Asian American woman in the head in Culver City while he shouted racial slurs at her. Jesse Allen Lindsey, 37, who is in state prison on an unrelated conviction, but whose last known address was in Fontana, was charged today with one count of committing a hate crime, a felony offense that carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. “Hate-fueled violence has no place in our society,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “We live in one of the most diverse areas of the country, and that diversity brings us strength. Our community will stay united in condemning intolerance, and my office will not hesitate to investigate and prosecute those who harm others on account of bigotry.” “The victim in this case was simply minding her own business when she was verbally abused and violently attacked based on nothing more than her appearance,” said Krysti Hawkins, the Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The FBI is committed to the protection of civil rights in the United States and will hold accountable anyone so driven by hatred that they would target innocent people based on their race.” According to the indictment, at approximately 1 a.m. on June 14, 2021, the victim was walking to work in Culver City when Lindsey, a white man, asked the victim for a lighter or cigarette. She responded that she did not smoke. Lindsey allegedly then began following her and yelled at the victim, whom he perceived to be an Asian American man, “You [expletive] Asian guy, turn around.” Lindsey allegedly called the victim “Korean” and shouted, “You [expletive] Asian guy, you don’t belong here,” the indictment states. The indictment further alleges that, as captured on surveillance video, Lindsey yelled at the victim, “You can’t say hi to a [expletive] white boy?” Lindsey then punched the victim in the head, causing her to fall into the street and hit her head. While the victim was lying face down in the street, Lindsey shouted, “You hear what I said, [N-word]? I said good morning, bitch!” Emergency personnel later transported the victim to a hospital, where she received approximately 11 stiches in her face. As a result of the attack, the victim sustained injuries to her head and ear, which left her unable to work for one month and caused ongoing pain for one year, the indictment alleges. When he later learned from news reports that law enforcement was investigating the incident as a hate crime, Lindsey, fearful that hate crimes receive greater punishment, fled California, according to the indictment. “The community we serve is rich in cultural diversity, and we are committed to maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for all,” said Culver City Police Chief Jason Sims. “Hate has no place in Culver City. I am extremely proud of the work done by the Culver City Police Department to identify and locate the suspect who is responsible for this violent hate crime. In partnership with the FBI, we are not only seeking justice for the innocent victim in this case, but also underscoring that this type of heinous crime will not be tolerated in our neighborhoods.” An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Lindsey is currently in state custody and expected to appear in federal court in the coming weeks. The FBI is investigating this case and received substantial assistance from the Culver City Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Lindsey Greer Dotson of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section is prosecuting this case.


title: Carbon County Man Sentenced for Trying to Smuggle Explosives on Plane Bound for Orlando-Sanford Airport

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Marc Muffley, 41, of Landsford, PA, was sentenced to 30 months in prison and 3 years supervised release by United States District Court Judge John M. Gallagher for attempting to place an explosive device on an aircraft and possessing an explosive in an airport. On February 27, 2023, Marc Muffley possessed a bag containing an explosive device, a can of butane, lithium batteries, and a lighter, among other items, at Lehigh Valley International Airport. Then he checked that bag on a flight bound for the Orlando Sanford International Airport in Florida. Muffley admitted that when he heard his name paged over the airport's public address system, he immediately fled the airport and contacted his girlfriend to come and pick him up. He then changed his telephone number to avoid being tracked. The FBI arrested him on a criminal complaint and arrest warrant on February 28, 2023, and pled guilty on January 17, 2024. "Today's sentencing of Marc Muffley serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to strict regulations and safety protocols in air travel," said U.S. Attorney Romero. "The possession of an explosive on a plane poses a grave risk of fire, explosion, and catastrophic consequences for everyone onboard. I commend the efforts of local, state, and federal enforcement officials in their diligence and moving swiftly, thereby ensuring the safety of all those affected. The U.S. Attorney's Office remains committed to working closely with airport authorities, airlines, and law enforcement agencies to uphold the highest safety and security standards for all passengers and crew." "Protecting the American people is the very core of our mission at the FBI, and this case demonstrates how seriously we must take this mission. Due to the swift action by airport authorities and law enforcement, a potentially deadly incident was averted," said Wayne A. Jacobs, special agent in charge of FBI Philadelphia. "The FBI and our partners remain committed to ensuring the safety and security of all who work in and travel through our airports." The case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Lehigh Northampton Airport Authority, the Transportation Security Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Transportation – Office of Inspector General and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert W. Schopf.


title: Four New York Men Sentenced Prison for Conspiring to Kidnap New Jersey Man

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – Four New York men were sentenced today to prison terms for conspiring to kidnap and hold for ransom a Fort Lee, New Jersey, resident, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Fa Deng, 44, of Staten Island, New York, was sentenced to 144 months in prison, three years of supervised release and a $200,000 fine; Chiahao Lee, 32, of Queens, New York, was sentenced to 180 months in prison and three years of supervised release; Albert Ferrelli, 52, of Queens, New York, was sentenced to 250 months in prison and five years of supervised release; and Gabriel Anthony, of Queens, New York, was sentenced to 168 in prison and three years of supervised release. All four previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit interstate kidnapping. According to documents filed in the cases, and statements made in court: On April 5, 2022, the four conspirators drove to the victim’s home in Fort Lee. Anthony and Ferrelli entered the victim’s home wearing masks. They bound the victim’s hands, placed duct tape over his eyes and mouth, and forced him into a vehicle where Deng and Lee were waiting. Law enforcement received information that kidnappers had sent the victim’s wife a photograph of the victim bound and duct-taped, demanding a ransom of approximately $680,000. When law enforcement responded to the victim’s home, they located what appeared to be duct tape with pieces of latex gloves stuck to it. After reviewing local surveillance footage, law enforcement identified a gray minivan used in the abduction. Other surveillance footage showed the minivan crossing the George Washington Bridge shortly after the kidnapping, and subsequently crossing into the Bronx and then into Queens. The following day, New York Police Department personnel responded to Prince Street in Queens, where they encountered Ferrelli guarding the door to a building. When officers approached Ferrelli, they heard a man screaming for help inside the building. Officers entered the building and found the victim with his hands bound, and duct tape over his eyes and mouth. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy; the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Prosecutor Mark Musella; officers of the Fort Lee Police Department, under the direction of Chief Matthew J. Hintze; and the New York Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Edward A. Caban, with the investigation leading to the sentencings. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn Silane of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.


title: New York Man Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison for Possessing Fentanyl with Intent to Distribute, Resisting Arrest

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. –A Bronx, New York, man was sentenced today to 70 months in prison for possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute and resisting his arrest with a deadly or dangerous weapon, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Miguel Nuñez, 50, of Bronx, New York, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty to a superseding information charging him with one count of possessing 40 grams of fentanyl with intent to distribute and one count of resisting and impeding officers with a deadly or dangerous weapon. U.S. District Judge Julien X. Neals imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: On March 24, 2021, Nuñez and Jesus Higuera-Parra, 28, of Ontario, California, drove from New York City to Elizabeth, New Jersey, for the purposes of distributing fentanyl. When they arrived to meet the drug purchaser, they were approached by members of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Nunez, the driver of the vehicle, put his car in reverse and attempted to elude the law enforcement personnel, which resulted in a collision with a DEA car. In addition to the prison term, Judge Neals sentenced Nunez to four years of supervised release. Higuera-Parra previously pleaded guilty to an information charging him with possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and is awaiting sentencing. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents and task force officers of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ray Mateo of the Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit and Benjamin Levin of the National Security Unit.


title: 96-Month Sentence for Maryland Man Who Distributed Thousands of Fentanyl Pills

body_text: WASHINGTON – Edward Steven Monge, 23, of Beltsville, Maryland, was sentenced today to 96 months in prison for participating in a fentanyl distribution conspiracy in which he sold at least 4,500 pills. The sentence was announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the Washington Division, Chief Marcus G. Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Monge pleaded guilty in the District of Columbia on January 30, 2024, to an information charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes ordered Monge to serve four years of supervised release. According to the government’s evidence, between February and August 2023 Monge sold more than 4,500 pills containing fentanyl to Jennifer Echeverria Flores, 26, of Silver Spring, MD. Echeverria Flores then sold the pills to a DEA undercover agent on five separate occasions between February 17 and July 19, 2023, in the District and Maryland. The pills were blue, marked “M” on one side, and “30” on the other. The total approximate weight of the pills was 479 grams. These pills were designed to look like authentic oxycodone “M30” pills, but instead contained fentanyl. In addition to the pills Monge distributed with Flores, he distributed thousands more fentanyl pills to other re-distributors and clients during this period. On August 3, 2023, law enforcement arrested Monge in Hyattsville, MD, and found him carrying about 1,102 identical fentanyl pills. As part of the plea agreement, Monge also admitted that he possessed a firearm in connection with his unlawful distribution of fentanyl. Echeverria Flores pleaded guilty in December to the drug conspiracy charge. Monge’s co-conspirator Mynor Josue Fernandez Alfaro was indicted in March for his role in this conspiracy, and his case is ongoing. This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. This investigation additionally was an effort of Montgomery County Police under the Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network (MCIN). MCIN was launched in 2017 and provides grant funding and strategic support through the Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services to MCIN member sites to identify, disrupt, and dismantle criminal organizations through inter-agency collaboration and data sharing to make Maryland safer. The Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services funded this project. This matter was investigated by the DEA – Washington Division. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Gaelin Bernstein of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney David T. Henek, of the Violence Reduction and Trafficking Offenses section. Valuable assistance was provided by former Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jordan Leiter and Javier Urbina. 24cr0052


title: Jamestown felon pleads guilty to drug and gun charges

component: USAO - New York, Western

body_text: BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Samuel L. Arrington, III, 41, of Jamestown, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara to possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and being a felon in possession of firearms. The charges carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, and a $5,000,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Louis A. Testani, who is handling the case, stated that on October 12, 2023, New York State Parole Officers conducted a search of Arrington’s Jamestown residence, during which they recovered suspected narcotics, including 105 grams of cocaine, 68 grams of fentanyl, two firearms, ammunition, five cell phones, $2,301 in cash, and drug paraphernalia. The fentanyl was found concealed beneath Arrington’s infant child. In April 2006 and December 2019, Arrington was convicted of drug felonies in Chautauqua County, NY, Court, and Erie County, Pennsylvania, Court, and is legally prohibited from possessing firearms. The plea is the result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Frank Tarentino, III, New York Field Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Bryan Miller, Special Agent-in-Charge, New York Field Division, the Jamestown Metro Drug Task Force, under the direction of Jamestown Police Chief Timothy Jackson, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff James Quattrone, and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III. Sentencing is scheduled for October 11, 2024, before Judge Arcara. # # # #


title: Former EDA Director Sentenced to 14 Years After Stealing Over $5.2 Million

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: HARRISONBURG, Va. – The former executive director of the Economic Development Authority of Front Royal and Warren County (EDA), who was convicted in November of last year of stealing more than $5 million dollars in authority funds, was sentenced today to 14 years in federal prison. Jennifer Rae McDonald, 45, of Front Royal, Virginia, was convicted following a 9-week jury trial in November 2023 of seven counts of wire fraud, six counts of bank fraud, sixteen counts of money laundering, and one count of aggravated identity theft. “For more than four years, Jennifer McDonald used EDA funds as her personal piggy bank, diverting public funds to purchase real estate and to pay her personal expenses” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “Today’s sentence reflects how serious this office takes fraud and the misuse of public funds. I am thankful to the FBI and the Virginia State Police for the tireless work they did to untangle the web of lies spun by this defendant.” “The FBI is committed to investigating elected officials who abuse their positions for personal gain,” Special Agent in Charge Stanley Meador of the FBI’s Richmond Division said today. “I am proud of the work our team and partners did to uncover Ms. McDonald’s complex fraud scheme and to bring her to justice.” According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, McDonald was the Executive Director of the EDA, a public entity designed to attract and support businesses in Warren County and the Town of Front Royal. The EDA was overseen by a Board of Directors and supported by an administrative assistant, but at the center of the EDA was McDonald. Beginning in 2014, McDonald began stealing money from the EDA and, for more than four years, McDonald used the bank accounts and credit facilities of the EDA to divert public funds to purchase real estate and to pay for her personal expenses. She falsified documents in order to mislead the EDA’s Board of Directors, external auditors, and Warren County and Front Royal government officials so she could continue her scheme. When confronted by law enforcement and others, McDonald drafted fake loan documents, encouraged others to lie before a grand jury and fabricated an outrageous story, alleging the fraud was part of a “secret settlement” and invented more fake documents to cover-up her fraud. In the end, McDonald pilfered the EDA’s bank accounts and is responsible for $5,201,329 in losses. At trial, evidence was presented that at least $2.4 million of the money McDonald stole was used to fund her gambling - including net losses of more than $750,000. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Virginia State Police investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Welsh and Rachel Swartz and Trial Attorney Andrea Broach are prosecuting the case for the United States.


title: Former Springfield Golf Professional Sentenced for Tax Fraud

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A former golf professional, who worked at two courses owned by the City of Springfield, was sentenced today for tax fraud. Ryan McDowell, 32, of Springfield, Mass. was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 12 months of probation and restitution of $101,050 payable to the City of Springfield and $34,236 payable to the Internal Revenue Service. McDowell pleaded guilty to six counts of tax fraud in September 2018. Between 2011 and 2016, McDowell worked as an Assistant Golf Professional for a golf management company that contracted with the City of Springfield to manage its two municipal golf courses, Franconia and Veterans Memorial Golf Courses. During that time period, McDowell skimmed approximately $101,050 from golf revenues belonging to the City and then filed false tax returns each year that intentionally omitted the stolen money. McDowell’s filing of the false tax returns resulted in a federal tax loss of $34,236. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Steven H. Breslow and Neil Desroches of the Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.


title: Convicted Felon Indicted on Murder and Other Charges For July 2023 Killing of Two Men in Northwest

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Jeremiah Jordan, 33, of Washington, D.C., was indicted on May 22, 2024, on murder and other charges for the killings of 29-year-old Luke Whitaker and 19-year-old Zion Hollingsworth-Hayes on July 22, 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Jordan was indicted by a grand jury in the Superior Court on two counts of first-degree murder while armed (premeditated), two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence or dangerous offense, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm (prior conviction). According to the charges, at about 9:49 p.m. on July 22, 2023, Jordan met with Mr. Whitaker in the 1400 block of Girard Street, NW, where they were observed arguing with each other. Shortly thereafter, several shots rang out and the defendant was seen running from the scene before turning the corner at 14 th Street NW. Numerous people were outside at the time, in and around the busy neighborhood. An arraignment is scheduled for June 14, 2024. This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel Seidel and Shauna Payyappilly of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.


title: Threats to blow up Dodson school send man to prison for more than one year

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: GREAT FALLS — A man who admitted making threats to blow up the Dodson school was sentenced today to one year and one month in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today. Jacob Edwin Wilson, 40, a transient, pleaded guilty in January to false information and hoaxes as charged in an indictment. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court also ordered $7,000 restitution. The government alleged in court documents that on Aug. 29, 2023, Wilson called both the Blaine County 911 emergency number and the Dodson school, located near the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, and said he was “about to blow Dodson school up.” Law enforcement responded, and the superintendent and principal evacuated students and staff from the school to a nearby church parking lot. Phillips County Sheriff’s Office first responders, the Malta Fire Department and U.S. Border Patrol responded, set up security around the school and searched the school for an explosive device. No explosive device was found. Wilson called 911 again and asked for someone to give him a ride off the reservation, said he was at an individual’s house and that he needed a ride from anyone except the Fort Belknap police. Officers located Wilson and arrested him. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey K. Starnes prosecuted the case. The FBI, Fort Belknap Tribal Police, Phillips County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Border Patrol and Malta Fire Department conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Former Seattle man who used fraud to obtain more than $500,000 in COVID benefits sentenced to 3+ years in prison

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Seattle – A 30-year-old New York City man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 42 months in prison for three counts of wire fraud and two counts of bank fraud related to his abuse of the COVID-19 Pandemic Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Donte McClellon was a resident of Seattle when he submitted falsified documents to obtain $500,948 in loan proceeds from three different financial institutions in May and June 2020. At today’s sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Lauren King noted that the societal costs of these crimes are serious, saying that the crimes affected taxpayers and diverted funds from struggling small businesses. Judge King added that McClellon had never accepted responsibility for his crimes, and he used the money to fund investments and personal expenses. “The negative effects of McClellon’s crime go beyond the financial loss. His fraudulent applications clogged an overtaxed application system and stole valuable resources from lending institutions working tirelessly to distribute money,” said U.S. Attorney Gorman. “McClellon even attempted to cut the line in front of actual small businesses. His fraud was not a one-time error in judgment, but rather a calculated attempt to take advantage of the relief systems set up for businesses struggling because of the COVID-19 pandemic.” According to records filed in the case, McClellon used the names of three limited liability corporations he had once registered in the State of Washington to make his claims. Each of the entities, ‘Frostlake,’ ‘Cannonlake,’ and ‘Skylake’ LLC, had been inactive and showed no signs of business activity in any state or federal registries in the years leading up to the pandemic. Nevertheless, in May and June 2020, McClellon submitted Paycheck Protection Program applications claiming the entities each had as many as 13 employees and, in one case, gross receipts of more than $1.6 million. McClellon forged multiple Internal Revenue Service forms to make it appear the three companies were operating real estate, wholesale, or retail businesses, with employees who would benefit from the Paycheck Protection Program loans. McClellon claimed the businesses operated out of his home address in Seattle. The investigation revealed there was no business activity at that address. In two cases, McClellon asked lenders to distribute the loan funds to bank accounts that McClellon had set up just days before he made the loan applications. The third loan went to McClellon’s personal bank account. McClellon consolidated most of the fraudulent proceeds in his personal account. McClellon used the money to pay his rent on a Manhattan apartment, for travel and gym memberships, and some $20,000 on Uber rides among other personal, non-business expenses. The case was investigated by The FBI Seattle Field Division with assistance from FBI New York and the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Watts Staniar, Jessica Murphy Manca, and Krista Bush. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Twin Cities Man Pleads Guilty to a Robbery Spree of Gas Stations

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – A Twin Cities man has pleaded guilty to the robberies of five gas stations throughout the Twin Cities, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, between June 26, 2023, and July 11, 2023, Mohamed Zaki Mohamed Elsayed, 28, participated in the robbery of five gas stations across the Twin Cities, including in Mounds View, Roseville, New Brighton, Fridley, and Eagan. On June 26, 2023, Elsayed aided and abetted the robbery of a gas station in Mounds View. Elsayed’s accomplice entered the gas station, approached the cashier, flashed what appeared to be a semiautomatic pistol, and demanded money from the cashier. The accomplice stole $354 from the business and fled the gas station to a vehicle where Elsayed was waiting. According to court documents, over the following two weeks, Elsayed robbed four more gas stations. In each incident, Elsayed entered the business wearing a mask, he flashed a real-looking semiautomatic pistol at the cashier and demanded the business’s money. On July 13, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Elsayed’s residence and recovered a Glock replica airsoft handgun that Elsayed admitted to using in each of the gas station robberies. Elsayed pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court before Judge David S. Doty to five counts of Hobbs Act robbery. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later time. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Mounds View Police Department, the Roseville Police Department, the New Brighton Police Department, the Fridley Police Department, the Eagan Police Department, and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan B. Gilead is prosecuting the case.


title: Georgia Woman Sentenced to 39 Months’ Imprisonment for Wire and Securities Fraud After Cheating Victims Out of $904,650

body_text: St. George, Utah – Stephanie Nicole Summers, 54, of Duluth, Georgia, was sentenced today to over three years’ imprisonment, three years’ supervised release and ordered by the court to pay $904,650 in restitution. The sentence, imposed by U.S. Senior District Court Judge David Nuffer, comes after Summers admitted to scamming victims in Southern Utah and across the United States. According to court documents and statements made at the change of plea hearing, from May 2016 to February 2022, Summers fraudulently obtained $904,650 from over a dozen victims. Summers, acting on behalf of Diversified Trade Company, LLC and Summers Companies, Inc., along with other entities, promised customers she could help obtain financing for their business ventures, when in fact she could not. Summers instructed victims to send money to bank accounts she controlled and then spent the money on personal expenses by withdrawing it in cash, making transfers to other entities she controlled, and diverted it for other unrelated business expenses. Summers did not use the victims’ money for agreed-upon purposes. Summers also persuaded victims to invest in her companies by promising high returns, misrepresenting her credentials and how she intended to use investors’ money. For example, Summers claimed she was a successful international businesswoman who controlled over 20 entities in the United States, the Bahamas, Canada, Mexico, and Panama, which she did not. Summers told victims her business, Summers Companies, Inc., successfully managed businesses in various industries, including real estate, hospitality, mining, oil and gas, technology, and mortgage finance. Summers also fraudulently claimed she could help secure financing for victims’ business ventures and represented she would use the victims’ money on their business ventures, when she did not. Summers told victims their investments were secure and were earning returns, when in fact they were not. In 2016, Summers defrauded victims in Southern Utah by falsely representing that she was an experienced and successful business owner who could secure millions of dollars in financing for their business adventure. “Ms. Summers defrauded Utah citizens and people across the country of nearly $1 million for her own personal benefit. She lied to the victims and abused their trust to take their hard-earned money,” said U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah. “Summers repeated criminal behavior shows a complete disrespect for the law and the people she victimized. My office will continue to prosecute these types of crimes to seek justice for victims and to protect Utah citizens from future financial fraud.” “Fraudsters like Summers are expert manipulators motivated by greed,” said Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha. “The FBI will investigate those who defraud others for personal gain. We also remind the public that when presented with an investment opportunity or guaranteed a high rate of return, due diligence is key.” The case was investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office. Assistant United States Attorney Stephen P. Dent and Christopher Burton of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.


title: Jacksonville Man Sentenced to 14 months in Prison  for Threats Against the President of the United States

component: USAO - Illinois, Central

body_text: Springfield, Ill. – A Jacksonville, Illinois, man, Adam Ray Mouser, 40, of the 500 block of Brooklyn Avenue, has been sentenced to 14 months imprisonment, to be followed by 24 months of supervised release, for threats against the President of the United States. At the sentencing hearing, the government presented evidence that the defendant used social media to threaten violence against the President of the United States, his family, a former President, Secretary of State, as well as various Members of Congress. At the hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Colleen R. Lawless said “words do matter” and stated, “I believe it is common sense to not threaten to kill another individual.” She also noted that the threats repeated and escalated, even with the U.S. Secret Service going to his house. Judge Lawless found that the defendant made multiple threats to multiple victims in connection with the threat to President Biden. Mouser pled guilty on January 19, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen L. McNaught to the one count indictment. He has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest on August 28, 2023. The statutory penalties for threats against the President of the United States are up to five years imprisonment, up to three years supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a $100 mandatory special assessment. The United States Secret Service investigated the case with assistance from the United States Marshals Service and the Jacksonville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah E. Seberger represented the government in the prosecution.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office announces additional charges against leader, member of Alaska organized drug crime ring

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned a superseding indictment adding new charges against the leader and a high-ranking member of a large-scale organized drug crime ring operating in Alaska. In January, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Alaska announced charges against 53 defendants allegedly connected to the drug trafficking enterprise. Conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine, continuing criminal enterprise, killing in furtherance of a continuing criminal enterprise, kidnapping conspiracy, kidnapping resulting in death and carjacking resulting in death, were among the original charges against leaders, members and associates of the organization. According to court documents, Heraclio Sanchez-Rodriguez, 57, is allegedly the leader of the transnational organized crime and drug trafficking ring targeting Alaska. Tamara Bren, 41, is a high-ranking member known as one of his “wives.” Per the new charges, from August 2022 to September 2023, Bren and Sanchez-Rodriguez allegedly conspired to launder money by directing members of the enterprise to use money transferring services, like wire transfers, mobile applications and money orders, to attempt to launder over $1.3 million in drug proceeds. Court documents also charge Sanchez-Rodriguez with allegedly altering and falsifying investigative reports by the DEA, FBI, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service, to impede, obstruct and influence the investigation on Dec. 20, 2023. According to the superseding indictment, law enforcement has seized over 92 kilograms of fentanyl, 26 kilograms of meth, 11 kilograms of heroin and 110 grams of cocaine in connection to this enterprise. In addition to the original charges, Sanchez-Rodriguez and Bren are charged with one count of money laundering conspiracy in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1956(h), and Sanchez-Rodriguez is charged with one count of obstruction of justice in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1519. U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska, Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Zahn of the Drug Enforcement Administration Anchorage District Office, Inspector in Charge Anthony Galetti of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Seattle Division, Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office and Special Agent in Charge Adam Jobes of the IRS Criminal Investigation Seattle Field Office made the announcement. The Drug Enforcement Administration Seattle Division Office and Anchorage District Office, FBI Anchorage Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation Seattle Field Office, U.S. Postal Inspection Service Seattle Division and Anchorage Domicile, Homeland Security Investigations Anchorage, Alaska Office, Alaska State Troopers, Anchorage Police Department and Palmer Police Department, with significant law enforcement support from the U.S. Marshals Service, are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephan Collins, Christopher Schroeder, Karen Vandergaw and Alana Weber are prosecuting the case. This investigation and prosecution are part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”), which identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: San Juan County Man Sentenced to 180 Months’ Imprisonment Following Deadly Crash that Killed a 5-Year-Old Girl

body_text: Salt Lake City, Utah – Qwana McCook, 30 of White Mesa, Utah, was sentenced today to 15 years’ imprisonment, five years supervised release and ordered by the court to pay $250,000 in restitution. The sentence, imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Robert J. Shelby, comes after McCook admitted to stealing a truck from a victim, who had her 5-year-old daughter in the back seat, and later crashing the vehicle which ejected and killed the child. According to court documents and statements made at the change of plea hearing, McCook pleaded guilty in March 2024 to robbery and first degree felony murder while on the White Mesa Indian Reservation. On May 8, 2022, McCook unlawfully took a vehicle from the victim’s mother without her permission while on the White Mesa Indian Reservation. Despite pleas from the child’s mother and family members, McCook did not return the child home and instead purchased alcohol. As alleged, in court documents and by McCook’s passenger and co-defendant, McCook began drinking and driving. At the time of the crash, McCook was traveling well above the speed limit. As a result of the crash, the child was ejected from the truck and declared dead at the scene. “This case is a horrific reminder that carjackings threaten the lives of innocent victims. McCook’s senseless actions are reprehensible and caused the terrible death of a young girl,” said United States Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah. “My office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who use violence to destroy the safety of our communities.” “McCook’s extremely selfish decisions that day will forever impact a family who is left grieving the loss of their young daughter,” said Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI. “Although nothing will bring the child back, we hope the sentence will send a sobering message about the devastating consequences of drinking and driving.” McCook’s co-defendant, Augustice Yellow, pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony and will be sentenced at a later date. The case was investigated jointly by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office’s Monticello Resident Agency, San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Navajo Nation Patrol and Investigations and the Utah Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney Thaddeus J. May of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.


title: Foreign Nationals Arrested and Indicted After a Large Drug Seizure, Including Over 11,000 Grams of Methamphetamine

body_text: Salt Lake City, Utah – A man and woman in Salt Lake County were indicted by a federal grand jury in Salt Lake City today for federal drug crimes after law enforcement seized approximately 11,435 grams of methamphetamine and 3,835 grams of heroin from a vehicle in which they were traveling. According to court documents, Armida Viridiana Cayetano-Ruiz, 32, and Carlos Gerardo Brindas-Guzman, 30, both foreign nationals living in Salt Lake City, became part of a criminal investigation in April 2024 for allegedly distributing large quantities of narcotics into Utah. During the investigation, agents with the FBI Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force received information that Cayetano-Ruiz was a suspected multi-state drug trafficker. On May 11, 2024, agents stopped Cayetano-Ruiz and Brindas-Guzman in Juab County, Utah, for a traffic violation. During the stop, a K-9 Officer alerted to a positive indication of narcotics on the vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, law enforcement seized 11,435 grams (package weight) of field-tested- positive methamphetamine and 3,835 grams (package weight) of field-tested positive heroin. Cayetano-Ruiz and Brindas-Guzman were arrested. Cayetano-Ruiz and Brindas-Guzman are charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute, and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Their initial court appearance on the indictment is scheduled for May 30, 2024, at 9:15 a.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement. The case is being investigated by the FBI Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Seth Nielsen of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. 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. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: King County couple indicted for drug and illegal weapons possession

body_text: Seattle – A King County couple, arrested after law enforcement discovered a drug lab and cache of firearms and explosives inside their RV were indicted today for possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and unlawful possession of a machinegun, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Braiden F. Wilson, 28, is also charged with unlawful possession of destructive devices, and unlawful possession of silencers. Wilson and his partner, 30- year-old Chandler B. Bennett were arrested following a May 12, 2024, shooting in rural King County. They will be arraigned on the grand jury indictment next week. According to the indictment and the criminal complaint filed in the case, King County Sheriff’s deputies first encountered the couple when Wilson was shot in the arm. The deputies noticed that the RV had surveillance cameras and asked to get access to the recorded video to identify the assailant. Bennett refused to allow law enforcement to enter the RV, so they sought a warrant from a King County Judge. When law enforcement entered the RV, they found a large cache of weapons as well as fentanyl powder, tablets containing fentanyl, and sundry items associated with the manufacture of tablets, including a manual pill press. Law enforcement located more than two and a half kilograms of fentanyl pills. Law enforcement seized 17 firearms, body armor, silencers, and ballistic shields. They also found gun parts made from 3D printers – making them untraceable. There were multiple destructive devices and literature on the chemistry and manufacturing of explosives, as well as literature on how to convert firearms to fully automatic capability. Possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute in this quantity, is punishable by a mandatory minimum ten years in prison and up to life in prison. Possession of a machinegun is punishable by a maximum sentence of 15 years and a fine of up to $250,000. Possession of destructive devices and possession of silencers are each punishable by a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000. The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigation (HSI), the King County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), with assistance from the Washington State Patrol. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Casey Conzatti and Brian Wynne. bennett-wilson_complaint.pdf wilson-bennett_indictment.pdf


title: Two Brothers Plead Guilty to Human Smuggling, Hostage-Taking Charges

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE - Two brothers who operated a human smuggling stash house in Sunland Park, New Mexico, where migrants were held hostage pleaded guilty to federal charges. On Jan. 18, 2023, U.S. Border Patrol agents apprehended two groups of undocumented noncitizens (UNCs) in El Paso, Texas, who stated they had escaped from a stash house in Sunland Park. Border Patrol agents were able to link the two groups to the same stash house in the “Old Anapra” neighborhood of Sunland Park. The UNCs reported being threatened at gunpoint and were told to pay additional smuggling fees. After identifying the stash house, Border Patrol agents contacted Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents, who conducted surveillance, obtained a search warrant, and found seven migrants being held against their will on the property, including a woman and her 7-year-old child. In his plea agreement, Saul Castorena , 41, admitted that between January 15 and January 18 of 2023, he intentionally detained individuals in order to compel their family to pay for their release. To that end, Saul possessed a shotgun, knowing that he had previous felony convictions. In his plea agreement, Steven Castorena , 40, admitted that he conspired with and acted independently with others to transport and harbor migrants. The Court ordered that Steven and Saul remain detained pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. At sentencing, Saul faces up to life in prison. Upon his release from prison, Saul will be subject to up to five years of supervised release. At sentencing, Steven faces up to 10 years in prison. Upon his release from prison, Steven will be subject to up to three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Eric McLoughlin, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations - El Paso, made the announcement today. Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case with the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Randy Castellano and Devon Aragon Martinez are prosecuting the case. View Steven's Plea Agreement View Saul's Plea Agreement # # #


title: Houston Man Appears in New Mexico Federal Court

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Alek Isaiah Collins , 26, appeared before a federal judge in Albuquerque this morning for arraignment on an indictment charging him with kidnapping of a minor and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence in connection with the double homicide of two female victims in Clovis, New Mexico. Collins was detained pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled. According to publicly available court documents, on May 3, 2024, two women were found dead, and a child wounded at a park in Clovis, New Mexico, with a 10-month-old baby missing. One of the homicide victims was the mother of the two young children. Evidence linked a maroon Honda rented by Collins to the scene. Collins was tracked to Abilene, Texas, where he carjacked an Uber driver. Police pursued and arrested Collins , safely recovering the child. Collins has no relation to the child and does not have legal custody of the child. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the New Mexico State Police, Clovis Police Department, Abilene Texas Police Department Narcotics Unit, Curry County Sheriff’s Office, Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office, Roswell Police Department, Portales Police Department, the Ninth Judicial District Attorney’s Office, FBI Dallas Field Office, FBI Amarillo Resident Agency and FBI Abilene Resident Agency. Assistant United States Attorneys Jaymie L. Roybal and Joseph Spindle are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. # # #


title: Former Amory School Teacher Sentenced to 192 Years for Sexual Abuse of Former Students

component: Department of Justice

body_text: GREENVILLE, Miss. – Toshemie Wilson, a former educator in the Amory School District, was sentenced today to 192 years in prison following his conviction for multiple counts of sexual exploitation of a child. Wilson was ordered to pay $123,353.34 in restitution to victims of the offense and a $5,000 trafficking assessment. In December of 2023, a jury in Greenville found Wilson guilty of eight counts of sexual exploitation of children based on his conduct while he was a teacher employed by the Amory School District. Testimony at the trial revealed that Wilson used his position as a teacher and advisor for the student group Technology Students of America (TSA) to groom students to eventually produce child sexual abuse videos and pictures in exchange for money and drugs. At the trial in this matter, seven witnesses testified that Toshemie Wilson approached them while they were students and solicited them to make masturbation videos in exchange for pay between 2005 and 2014. The witnesses identified multiple places Wilson had them make the videos including the school bathroom, an office space rented specifically for this purpose, and the Amory Wal-Mart bathroom. Several of the witnesses stated they were induced to make videos while on out-of-town school trips with TSA. An investigation in this case initially began when one former student reported the abuse to a counselor. That counselor then reported the statement to law enforcement. Following a sentencing hearing in Greenville today, Chief U.S. District Judge Debra M. Brown sentenced Wilson to 192 years in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release. “Parents and children should be able to trust teachers, and Toshemie Wilson profoundly betrayed that trust and deserves every hour of every day that he spends in prison,” opined U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “I cannot say enough about the courage of the victims who came forward, and I commend AUSA Parker King for leading the prosecution and the efforts of the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, the FBI, and our local law enforcement partners. Wilson is now exactly where he belongs.” “Protecting the innocence of society’s youth is one of the many noble missions of the FBI. Toshemie Wilson’s heinous actions of preying on children will not be tolerated. Today’s sentencing reflects the unyielding dedication of the FBI, DOJ and our local law enforcement partners in assuring offenders like Mr. Wilson, are held accountable and brought to justice,” said FBI SAC Robert Eikhoff. “Predators who seek to exploit the children that they are trusted to care for will not go unpunished,” said Attorney General Lynn Fitch. “Today’s sentencing serves as a reminder that those who abuse positions of power will be prosecuted to the fullest extent. I am thankful for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the state and local law enforcement agencies for their partnership on this case. My hope is that these victims and their families find justice and healing.” The investigation of this case was a joint effort by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, and multiple state and local law enforcement agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Parker S. King and Clyde McGee prosecuted the case. Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. The goal of Project Safe Childhood is to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children.


title: Tulsa Resident Sentenced For Tampering With A Witness

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Courtnei Quincyion Wells, a/k/a Cortnei Quincyion Wells, age 22, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 74 months in prison for one count of Tampering with a Witness. The charges arose from investigations by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. On October 5, 2023, Wells pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, in April 2023, Wells sent a series of messages via social media attempting to intimidate and threaten the victim to influence, delay, or prevent testimony before a Federal grand jury. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Wells will remain in custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration. Assistant United States Attorney Edith Singer represented the United States.


title: Kingston Resident Sentenced For Making A False Statement To Acquire A Firearm

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Steven Kenneth Reilly, age 34, of Kingston, Oklahoma, was sentenced to fifteen months imprisonment for one count of Making a False Statement During the Acquisition of a Firearm. The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. On September 12, 2023, Reilly pled guilty to charge. According to investigators, on December 24, 2022, Reilly attempted to redeem a pistol from EZ Pawn in Durant, Oklahoma. During his visit, Reilly intentionally made a false written statement on the ATF Firearms Transaction Record Form 4473 asserting that he was not under indictment or information in any court for a felony, or for any other crime for which he could be imprisoned for more than one year. In reality, at the time of the transaction, Reilly was charged with a felony crime by the state of Oklahoma in Marshall County District Court. The Honorable Ronald A. White, Chief Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearings. Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Satter represented the United States.


title: Repeat Federal Offender Pleads Guilty to Meth Distribution

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: Jermiah Preston, 41, from Fort Dodge pled guilty May 22, 2024, in federal court in Sioux City to distribution of methamphetamine. In March 2017, Preston was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and distributing a controlled substance in the United States District Court in Northern District of Iowa. At the plea hearing, evidence showed that on January 23, 2023, Preston participated in a meth transaction with a confidential informant. During a traffic stop after the transaction, Preston was observed to throw two bags of methamphetamine out the truck window. The buy money expended was found on Preston’s person, and DNA on the discarded bags of meth matched Preston’s. Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Preston remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Preston faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a $8,000,000 fine, and at least eight years of supervised release following any imprisonment. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa DCI Laboratory, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, and Iowa State Patrol. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-3029. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Sinaloa Cartel Leader Nestor Isidro Perez Salas, A/K/A “Nini,” Extradited To The United States On Drug Importation, Murder, Kidnapping, Firearms, And Money Laundering Charges

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Merrick B. Garland, the Attorney General of the United States, announced that Sinaloa Cartel leader Nestor Isidro Perez Salas, a/k/a “Nini,” was extradited Saturday, May 25, from Mexico to the U.S. based on the charges contained in two Indictments. The first, filed in the District of Columbia by the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (the “NDDS Indictment”), charges PEREZ SALAS with cocaine and methamphetamine importation, firearms offenses, and conspiracy to obstruct justice through murder. The second, filed in the Southern District of New York (the “SDNY Indictment”) charges Perez Salas with leadership of a continuing criminal enterprise resulting in the deaths of numerous victims, including a confidential source for the Drug Enforcement Administration ("DEA"), fentanyl importation and trafficking, obstruction of justice by murdering an informant, kidnapping resulting in the deaths of eight people, including a minor boy, firearms, and money laundering offenses. Perez Salas was arrested in Mexico by Mexican authorities on November 22, 2023. Perez Salas was presented on the charges contained in the SDNY Indictment today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang. Perez Salas will be arraigned before U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla on May 30, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. According to the allegations contained in the NDDS Indictment, SDNY Indictment, other court filings, and statements made during court proceedings: [1] The Sinaloa Cartel (the “Cartel”) is one of the most powerful drug cartels in Mexico and is responsible for the manufacturing and importing of fentanyl for distribution in the U.S. Fentanyl is a dangerous synthetic opioid that is more than 50 times more potent than heroin and is the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 to 49. In recent years, the Cartel has been led, in part, by the sons of the Cartel’s notorious former leader, Joaquin Archivaldo Guzman Loera, a/k/a “El Chapo”—Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, Jesus Alfredo Guzman Salazar, and Ovidio Guzman Lopez—known collectively as the “Chapitos.” [2] Like their father, who, in July 2017, was sentenced to a term of life plus 30 years in prison, the Chapitos have used violence and rely on a sophisticated security apparatus to maintain control and to protect themselves and their operations as they traffic massive quantities of narcotics, including fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, to the U.S. PEREZ SALAS is one of the senior leaders of the Chapitos’ security apparatus. Under PEREZ SALAS’s direction, armed enforcers for the Chapitos, known as sicarios , have used rampant violence to protect the Chapitos’ operation and to demolish unsupportive businesses, capture contested territory, intimidate civilians, and attack and murder law enforcement which resist their efforts. In part under the direction of PEREZ SALAS, these sicarios regularly used military-grade firearms and explosives, including machineguns and rocket launchers, to kidnap, torture, and kill anyone who opposed the Chapitos. This relentless violence has led to rampant bloodshed and taken the lives of untold victims. PEREZ SALAS has also personally committed brutal acts of violence to advance the Chapitos’ trafficking operations. For example, in or about 2017, PEREZ SALAS, with two of the Chapitos, captured, tortured, interrogated, and killed two Mexican federal law enforcement officers. In or about May 2017, PEREZ SALAS, with two of the Chapitos and others, captured three members of a rival drug cartel, Los Zetas, and tortured them with electrocution before interrogating and killing them. Also in or about 2017, PEREZ SALAS and others conspired to kill and retaliate against a witness and informant. And in or about 2022, PEREZ SALAS and another sicario tested the potency of their fentanyl on individuals, and also experimented on a woman by injecting her repeatedly with the dangerous drug until she overdosed and died. In addition, PEREZ SALAS has personally participated in the negotiation and sale of large quantities of fentanyl. More specifically, in or about the summer of 2022, PEREZ SALAS and other associates sold fentanyl (later seized by the DEA) in Los Angeles. During the course of these sales, among other things, PEREZ SALAS described that he owned his own fentanyl labs and that three fentanyl “cooks” from one of his labs had recently died from sampling the product because it was so potent. Finally, most recently, in or about October 2023, PEREZ SALAS, and other sicarios acting at his direction, kidnapped a DEA confidential source and 10 other victims in Mexico—including a U.S. citizen—whom PEREZ SALAS believed worked for or were related to the confidential source. PEREZ SALAS and his sicarios killed eight of the kidnapped victims, including the DEA confidential source, and a thirteen-year-old boy. PEREZ SALAS kidnapped and killed these victims in retaliation for the confidential source’s provision of information to the DEA in connection with the investigation of PEREZ SALAS and his associates in the Southern District of New York. * * * PEREZ SALAS, 32, a Mexican national, is charged in the SDNY Indictment with: one count of participating in a continuing criminal enterprise resulting in death, which carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison; one count of conspiring to import fentanyl into the U.S., which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of using, carrying, and possessing machine guns and destructive devices in connection with the continuing criminal enterprise and the fentanyl importation and trafficking conspiracies, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of conspiring to use, carry, and possess machine guns and destructive devices in connection with the continuing criminal enterprise and the fentanyl importation and trafficking conspiracies, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of conspiring to launder money, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of obstruction of justice by retaliating against an informant through murder, which carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison; one count of conspiring to obstruct justice by retaliating against an informant through murder, which carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison; one count of kidnapping resulting in death, including of a minor, which carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison; and one count of conspiring to commit kidnapping resulting in death, including of a minor, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison. PEREZ SALAS is charged in the NDDS Indictment with one count of conspiring to import cocaine and methamphetamine into the U.S., which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of using, carrying, and possessing machineguns and destructive devices in connection with the cocaine and methamphetamine conspiracy, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison; and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice by retaliating against a witness and informant through murder, which carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison. The mandatory minimum and maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. The DEA’s Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit and the FBI Washington Field Office investigated this case, with assistance from multiple DEA offices, as well as the assistance of the Office of International Affairs of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; the U.S. Department of State, Rewards for Justice Program; and the U.S. Marshals Service. The Justice Department also thanks Mexican authorities for their key role in securing the arrest and extradition of PEREZ SALAS. This prosecution is being handled by the Southern District of New York’s National Security and International Narcotics Unit alongside the NDDS. SDNY Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas S. Bradley, Sarah L. Kushner, Alexander N. Li, David J. Robles, and Kyle A. Wirshba, and NDDS Trial Attorneys Kirk Handrich, Kate Naseef, Samantha Thompson, and Tara Arndt, are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the SDNY Indictment and NDDS Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the NDDS Indictment and the SDNY Indictment and the description of the other court filings set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation. [2] In September 2023, Ovidio Guzman Lopez was extradited to the U.S. on charges relating to his drug trafficking operations as a leader of the Cartel.