title: Joplin Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Kidnapping That Resulted in Torture, Death of Victim

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Joplin, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for his role in a kidnapping conspiracy that resulted in the torture and death of the victim, as well as another conspiracy to kidnap a woman who was rescued from his attack at a Neosho, Mo., hotel room. Freddie Lewis Tilton, also known as “Ol’ Boy,” 52, of Joplin, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to life in federal prison without parole. Tilton pleaded guilty on Sept. 19, 2023, to his role in a kidnapping conspiracy that resulted in the torture and death of the victim, as well as two counts of being a felon in possession of firearms. The court sentenced Tilton to one term of life in prison and two terms of 10 years in prison, to be served concurrently, in this case. In a separate case involving a second victim, Tilton was found guilty at trial on Sept. 17, 2024, of one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, one count of kidnapping, and one count of stalking. The court sentenced Tilton to two terms of 30 years in prison and one term of 10 years in prison, to be served concurrently to the sentence in the first case, for a total sentence of life in prison. Tilton pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to kidnap the victim, identified as “M.H.,” in July 2020. Tilton is among six defendants who pleaded guilty and have been sentenced in this case. James B. Gibson, also known as “Gibby,” 42, of Neosho, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison without parole. Lawrence William Vaughan, also known as “Scary Larry,” 53, of Neosho, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison without parole. Amy Kay Thomas, 41, of Webb City, Mo., was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison without parole. Carla Jo Ward, 50, of Joplin, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison without parole. Russell Eugene Hurtt, also known as “Uncle,” 53, of Greenwood, Mo., was sentenced to seven years in federal prison without parole. Tilton offered Ward and Vaughan $5,000 each to locate and secure M.H. for him. Ward picked up M.H., whom she knew was being sought by Tilton, and took him to Vaughan’s residence. Tilton, Thomas, and Gibson arrived at Vaughan’s residence in the early morning hours of July 15, 2020. They bound M.H.’s hands with handcuffs, and duct tape was placed around his mouth and other parts of his body. Gibson, Thomas, and others assaulted M.H. for a period of time. M.H. was cut, beaten, and shot at. Gibson burned M.H. with a blowtorch. Tilton fatally shot M.H. in the head. Thomas and others cleaned up the blood and damage created during the assault and shooting of M.H. They wrapped M.H.’s body in plastic wrap and Thomas, Tilton, and Gibson transported it to Hurtt’s property. Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Hurtt’s property on July 28, 2020, based on information that a deceased body was located on the acreage. When officers attempted to contact the occupants of the residence, Tilton fired multiple shots from inside the residence at the officers. Tilton was apprehended. Officers found M.H.’s body on the property. Officers searched the residence and found a Rigarmi .25-caliber pistol, an Ithaca .22-caliber rifle, a Remington .22-caliber rifle without a serial number, a Harrington and Richardson 12-gauge shotgun, a Ruger 9mm handgun, and a Taurus 9mm handgun without a serial number. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Tilton has two prior felony convictions for burglary, two prior felony convictions for larceny of an automobile, and prior felony convictions for stealing, possession of a controlled substance, burglary of an automobile, possession of a chemical with intent to manufacture, receiving stolen property, unlawful use of a weapon, theft and tampering. In a separate case that involved another kidnapping a few days after M.H.’s death, before Tilton was apprehended by law enforcement, Tilton and co-defendant Alvin Dale Boyer, 39, of Rogers, Arkansas, conspired to kidnap the second victim, identified in court documents as “S.T.” Boyer also was found guilty at trial on Sept. 17, 2024, of his role in the kidnapping conspiracy and one count of kidnapping and is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 25, 2025. An employee at Boonslick Lodge in Neosho called police at approximately 11:46 p.m. on July 19, 2020, to report that a woman was being choked and dragged into a room. A police officer knocked on the door of the room, and S.T., bloody and injured, opened the door and ran out of the room. Tilton jumped out the back window and escaped. Boyer had rented a room at the motel and invited S.T. to the motel to spend time with him. Unknown to S.T., Boyer had rented the motel room for Tilton and Tilton was waiting in the room for her. S.T. had an ex parte order of protection against Tilton. When S.T. entered the room, she was assaulted by Tilton. S.T. was observed on video surveillance struggling to get out of the room, but she was dragged back in by Tilton. Tilton struck S.T. repeatedly with a firearm and his fist. Tilton attempted to shoot S.T., but the gun jammed. S.T. was assaulted inside the room by Tilton for more than eight minutes before law enforcement arrived. Tilton escaped out of a window of the motel room with a handgun. Tilton attempted to climb down a vertical rain gutter, but fell to the ground as the guttering broke then ran away. Officers searched the motel room and found numerous indications that a violent, physical assault had taken place inside the room. In addition to blood on the room floor and door, officers found a chair with rope and zip ties attached, more nylon rope and zip ties, duct tape, a pair of pliers, a blowtorch and lighter fluid, a butane torch, drop cloths, plastic gloves, a Taurus 9mm handgun, and a Kimber .223-caliber semi-automatic rifle. S.T. was transported to a hospital for treatment of her injuries. These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. They were investigated by the FBI, Newton County Sheriff’s Office, and the Neosho, Mo., Police Department.


title: Rapid City Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance Resulting in Death. Curtis Cummings, age 39, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, restitution, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Cummings was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2023. He was found guilty following a three-day jury trial on November 7, 2024. The conviction arose from a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl operating in Rapid City, South Dakota. Cummings and his wife, Katey McGruder, obtained large amounts of fentanyl from a source in Colorado on a weekly basis. They would bring the fentanyl back to their Rapid City home where it was further distributed by Christina Sanchez and other conspirators. On April 26, 2022, Cummings and McGruder provided fentanyl to Sanchez, who provided the fentanyl to Wyatt Nygaard. Nygaard then provided the fentanyl to the victim who overdosed and died in the parking lot of a convenience store within minutes of ingesting the fentanyl. This case was investigated by the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET). UNET is comprised of law enforcement from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan Dilges and Edward Tarbay prosecuted the case. Nygaard was previously sentenced to over 23 years in federal prison. McGruder and Sanchez were previously sentenced to 20 years each of federal imprisonment. Cummings was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following his sentencing.


title: Missouri Man Admits Transporting Minor for Sex

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A Missouri man has pleaded guilty and admitted transporting a minor across state lines for sex. Scott M. Arnold-Micke, 48, pleaded guilty to one count of transportation of a minor to engage in a criminal sex act. He admitted in his plea agreement that in 2021, he took the 17-year-old victim to Chicago, where they used drugs and engaged in sexual acts. Arnold-Micke met the victim that summer they used drugs on an almost daily basis after Arnold-Micke moved from Sullivan, Missouri to Rolla, Missouri. Arnold-Micke is scheduled to be sentenced April 30. Both the U.S. Attorney’s office and Arnold-Micke’s lawyers have agreed to recommend 230 months in prison. The case was investigated by the FBI, the Rolla Police Department, and the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dianna Edwards is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Martin Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing Funds from a Tribal Organization

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Martin, South Dakota, woman convicted of Larceny. The sentencing took place on January 24, 2025. Madonna Peterson, age 59, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and $150,000 in restitution to Wild Horse Butte Community Development Corporation (WHB). Peterson was indicted on one count of Larceny and one count of Embezzlement and Theft from an Indian Tribal Organization by a federal grand jury in February 2023. She pleaded guilty on September 30, 2024. Between 2014 and July 2021, while employed as the Chief Financial Officer for the Wild Horse Butte Community Development Corporation, Peterson wrote herself checks she was not entitled to and submitted fraudulent reimbursement requests to WHB for travel that she did not take and for supplies that she did not purchase. Peterson then used the stolen funds for personal gain, including gambling at various casinos. This case was investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case. Peterson was ordered to self-surrender on February 18, 2025, to begin serving her prison term.


title: North Dakota Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for 15 Years for Illegally Possessing a Firearm and Tampering with a Witness

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Bismarck, North Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and Tampering with a Witness. The sentencing took place on January 24, 2025. Henry Damon Smith, Jr., 41, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release on the firearm charge, and three years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release on the tampering charge. The sentences were ordered to run concurrently. Smith was also ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Smith was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in December 2023. He pleaded guilty on November 4, 2024. The case stemmed from a Rapid City Police Department officer finding Smith with a firearm in Rapid City. Smith is federally prohibited from owning and possessing firearms because he has previous felony convictions, including crimes of domestic violence and assault on law enforcement. After being arrested, Smith attempted to avoid the charges by convincing a witness to claim responsibility for the firearm. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case. Smith was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Criminal Complaint Charges Baltimore City Man With Sexual Exploitation of a Child and Receipt of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – Today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland filed a federal criminal complaint charging Dazhon Darien, 32, of Baltimore, with sexual exploitation of a child and receiving child sexual abuse material. Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the complaint with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office, and Chief Robert McCullough, Baltimore County Police Department. According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, investigators obtained search warrants for Darien’s phones and online accounts which contained child sexual abuse material. Additionally, the affidavit further describes how Darien used CashApp to pay a minor victim to send videos of himself engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Darien paid the victim for the videos between December 2023 and March 2024. The affidavit also shows that Darien received other child-sexual-abuse-material files, including some that depicted prepubescent minors. A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by a criminal complaint is presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding. If convicted, Darien faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years or a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison for sexual exploitation of a child. Additionally, Darien could receive a mandatory minimum sentence of five years or a maximum of 20 years in federal prison for receipt of child sexual abuse material. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. U.S. Attorney Barron commended the Baltimore FBI Field Office and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Goo and Paul E. Budlow who are prosecuting the federal case. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . Click the “Resources” tab on the left of the page for more information about Internet safety education. For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Activity in the U.S. Attorney's Office

component: USAO - Wyoming

body_text: Public Lands Violations Matthew K. Burden , 44, of West Yellowstone Montana, was sentenced to seven days incarnation, $1,550 in fines and court costs, and two years of unsupervised probation, the terms of which include a ban from entering Yellowstone National Park during that time. Mr. Burden pled guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol and operating a motor vehicle without due care considering wildlife, traffic, weather, road conditions, lighting, and road character. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariel Calmes prosecuted the crime and U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie A. Hambrick imposed the sentence on Jan. 23, 2025, in Mammoth. Drug Trafficking Gregorio Guerra , 33, of Melbeta, Nebraska, was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment with four years of supervised release to follow, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, on Feb. 9, 2024, Guerra was stopped near Cheyenne, where 470 grams of methamphetamine and related drug paraphernalia were found in his vehicle. The Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) worked with the Nebraska Western Intelligence Narcotics Group (WING) in the investigation and determined Guerra was a methamphetamine distributor in the Scottsbluff, Nebraska area. Guerra was indicted on May 16, 2024, pleaded guilty on Oct. 31, 2024, and U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson imposed the sentence on Jan. 21, in Cheyenne. DCI, WING, Wyoming Highway Patrol, and the Cheyenne Police Department investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Z. Seth Griswold prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-00063 Eddie Meliton Martinez , 55, of Fort Garland, Colorado, was sentenced to 87 months with four years of supervised release to follow, for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. According to court documents the defendant was identified by the Wyoming Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) as a source of supply for drugs being redistributed in Casper. From about Jan.1, 2023, to Sept. 13, 2023, Martinez, located in the Denver, Colorado area, was participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine with other individuals in Casper. Martinez was indicted on May 16, 2024, pleaded guilty on Nov. 1, 2024, and U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Jan. 21, in Cheyenne. DCI investigated the crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mackenzie R. Morrison prosecuted the case. Case No. 24-00069 Bobbi King aka Bobbi Arnold , 58, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was sentenced to 66 months’ imprisonment with three years of supervised release to follow, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. According to court documents, in May of 2024, agents with DCI were monitoring King’s house for potential drug trafficking. Through the investigation, they gathered enough probable cause for a search warrant. In addition to the drugs seized in her truck and residence, King admitted to distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl to several people in Cheyenne. King was indicted on Sept. 18, 2024, pleaded guilty on Nov. 8, 2024, and U.S. District Court Judge Kelly H. Rankin imposed the sentence on Jan. 24, in Cheyenne. DCI investigated the crime. Case No. 24-00063 About the United States Attorney’s Office The United States Attorney’s Office is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation involving the United States in the District of Wyoming, including all criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits brought by or against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers. The Office is involved in several programs designed to make our communities safer. They include: Project Safe Childhood Project Safe Childhood (PSC) is a DOJ initiative that combats the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The threat of sexual predators soliciting children for sexual contact is well-known and serious. Project Safe Neighborhoods Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide commitment to reducing gun and gang crime in America by networking existing local programs that target gun crime and providing these programs with additional tools necessary to be successful. Victim Witness Assistance The Victim Witness Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming is dedicated to making sure that victims of federal crimes and their family members are treated with compassion, fairness, and respect. To report a federal crime, go to: https://www.justice.gov/actioncenter/report-crime


title: Lexington Man Sentenced for Trafficking in Fentanyl and Carfentanil

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Lexington man, Eugene Laron Fishback, 32, was sentenced on Monday, by U.S. District Chief Judge Danny C. Reeves, to 40 years in prison, for five counts of drug trafficking. In June 2024, following a four-day trial and approximately 90 minutes of deliberation, the jury found Fishback guilty of conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 10 grams or more of carfentanil. Fishback was also convicted of two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and carfentanil, and two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to testimony at trial, between July 1, 2022 and December 7, 2023, Fishback conspired with others to distribute fentanyl and carfentanil. On October 11, 2023, Fishback and his girlfriend, Tedi Hawkins, were evicted from their Lexington apartment. During a court ordered eviction, Fayette County Constables and members of the Lexington Police Department found plastic bags in the apartment, which contained over 7,000 fentanyl tablets, and four semi-automatic pistols, ammunition, and large capacity clips. Fishback and Hawkins later relocated to another apartment complex and came under DEA and Lexington Police Department investigation. A federal search warrant was executed on the new residence, in December 2023. Execution of that warrant resulted in the seizure of more than 1,000 additional fentanyl tablets and a quantity of carfentanil. Fishback was later arrested from his vehicle, which contained another 1,000 fentanyl tablets and more than 10 grams of carfentanil. After Hawkins had entered a guilty plea, Fishback attempted to convince her to withdraw that guilty plea, during a recorded jail call. At the time of his indictment on these federal charges, Fishback had four pending state felony indictments in Fayette County. Additionally, Fishback has a number of prior felony convictions. Under federal law, Fishback must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon Fishback’s release from prison, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years. Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Phillip J. Burnett, Jr., Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the sentence. The investigation was conducted by DEA, KSP, and Lexington Police Department, with assistance from the Fayette County Constable’s Office Third District. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Roger West and Brittany Baker are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. — END —


title: Former Deputy Sheriff And DEA Task Force Officer Sentenced To More Than 17 Years In Federal Prison For Conspiring To Distribute Narcotics, Defrauding The United States, And Tax Evasion

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Wendy W. Berger today sentenced James Darrell Hickox (38, Callahan) to 17 years and 6 months in federal prison for multiple federal offenses including conspiring to distribute narcotics, conspiring to defraud the United States, and tax evasion. The court also ordered Hickox to forfeit or abandon the money, firearms, and ammunition involved in these offenses. Hickox pleaded guilty on May 15, 2024. According to court documents, while employed as a deputy with the Nassau County Sheriff’s and designated Task Force Officer with the Drug Enforcement Administration, Hickox and a co-conspirator engaged in extensive corrupt activity from 2017 - 2023. These acts included the theft of money and illegal drugs that were seized as evidence during criminal investigations; providing illegal drugs (including fentanyl and cocaine) to others to distribute on his behalf; and hiding from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) more than $420,000 in cash he had received because of his criminal activities. Hickox and his co-conspirator stole more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana from evidence and provided the drugs to others to sell on their behalf. They had covered up the theft by submitting falsified paperwork showing that the marijuana had been destroyed. Similarly, they stole a kilogram of cocaine from evidence and then gave it to a drug dealer to sell for them. When Hickox’s residence was searched pursuant to a federal search warrant on March 10, 2023, agents found approximately 263 grams of a powder containing fentanyl, as well as cocaine. Hickox intended to distribute these substances. Agents also found a rifle that Hickox had illegally modified to function as a machinegun, as well as four additional firearms that had been seized during law enforcement investigations and should have been in evidence or lawfully destroyed. Hickox had drilled out and obliterated the serial number of one of these firearms. The agents also located more than $195,000 in cash proceeds from Hickox’s illicit activities. A search of Hickox’s workspace at the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office revealed another 260 pills containing methamphetamine. “Law enforcement officers who operate as though they are above the law betray the badge and the citizens they swore to protect," said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Kristin Rehler. “This case exemplifies the FBI's commitment to holding public servants accountable if they violate the very laws they promised to uphold.” “He betrayed the oath he took to become a police officer and lost his career. He also let down his co-workers and our community,” said Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper. “Its law enforcement officers who do stupid things like this that erodes the confidence and trust in our profession by our citizens. His poor judgement and criminal behavior should not reflect negatively on all the good men and women at NCSO who go out every day and do it the right way to keep our citizens safe.” “As a sworn law enforcement officer, Hickox took an oath to uphold the law,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation’s Tampa Field Office. “Instead, he turned his back on that oath and profited from the very crimes he was tasked with investigating. We commend our fellow law enforcement partners for their great work coming together to put a stop to this illegal betrayal of public trust. We will continue to investigate allegations of public corruption and follow the money to prosecute any individuals that abuse their position of trust for personal gain.” This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, with assistance from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William S. Hamilton. The United States Attorney’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service–Criminal Investigation, and United States Customs and Border Protection wish to thank the Florida Highway Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office for their cooperation during this investigation.


title: Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Fentanyl Distribution

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A Cedar Rapids Man who distributed over 1,100 fentanyl pills was sentenced on January 24, 2025, to five years in federal prison. Deon Hicks, Jr., age 31, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after an August 21, 2024, guilty plea to one count of distribution of a controlled substance. Information at sentencing showed that on four separate occasions between December 2023 and January 2024, law enforcement officers conducted an undercover operation and purchased over 1,100 fentanyl pills from Hicks. Hicks was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court C.J. William. Hicks was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a 5-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Hicks is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael S.A. Hudson and investigated by the Johnson County Drug Task Force and the Cedar Rapids Police Department. The Johnson County Drug Task Force consists of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa City Police Department, the Coralville Police Department, the North Liberty Police Department, the University of Iowa Police Department, and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-46. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: New Jersey man pleads guilty to conspiracy charge related to videos depicting monkey torture & mutilation

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: CINCINNATI – A New Jersey man pleaded guilty in federal court in Cincinnati today to conspiracy related to his involvement with online groups dedicated to creating and distributing “animal crush” videos depicting acts of extreme violence and sexual abuse against monkeys. According to court documents, Giancarlo Morelli, of Wharton, conspired with others to create and distribute videos depicting acts of sadistic violence against baby and adult monkeys. The conspirators used encrypted chat applications to direct money to individuals in Indonesia willing to commit the requested acts of torture on camera. According to a statement of facts signed by Morelli, the videos in question included depictions of monkeys having their genitals burned and cut off. U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio made today’s announcement. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and FBI investigated the case. Senior Trial Attorney Adam C. Cullman of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Oakley for the Southern District of Ohio are prosecuting the case. # # #


title: Newark Man Charged With Firearm And Narcotics Offenses

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Newark man has been charged with firearm and narcotics offenses, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced. Khalif Irving, 25, of Newark, New Jersey, was charged in a three-count complaint with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He had an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court on January 24, 2025, and was ordered detained. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Irving, a/k/a “Kah Kah,” has been advertising narcotics for sale on social media and posting photos depicting firearms. On January 23, 2025, Irving stowed a loaded firearm in a utility box affixed to the side of a building at the Janice Kromer Village apartments. Minutes later, law enforcement recovered the firearm, arrested Irving, and recovered suspected narcotics from Irving’s person. The offense of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon charged in Count One of the Complaint carries a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000. The offense of possession with intent to distribute narcotics charged in Count Two of the Complaint carries a maximum penalty of 20 year’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of $1 million. The offense of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime charged in Count Thee of the Complaint carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 5 years’ imprisonment and a maximum of life imprisonment, which must run consecutively to any other term of imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000. Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna credited special agents and task force officers of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks Jr., the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda, and the North Bergen Police Department, under the direction of Chief Robert Farley with the investigation leading to today’s charges. The investigation was conducted as part of the Newark Violent Crime Initiative (VCI). The Newark VCI was formed in August 2017 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, and the City of Newark’s Department of Public Safety for the sole purpose of combatting violent crime in and around Newark. As part of this partnership, federal, state, county, and city agencies collaborate and pool resources to prosecute violent offenders who endanger the safety of the community. The VCI is composed of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the ATF, the DEA, the DHS/HSI, the USMS, the Newark Department of Public Safety, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Parole, Union County Jail, New Jersey State Police Regional Operations and Intelligence Center/Real Time Crime Center, New Jersey Department of Corrections, the East Orange Police Department, and the Irvington Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Thompson of the Organized Crime and Gangs Unit in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ### Defense counsel: Michael Thomas, Assistant Federal Public Defender irving.complaint.pdf


title: Man who Stole Guns, Other Items from Farm and Home Store Sentenced to 77 Months in Prison

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

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Thursday sentenced a St. Francois County man who stole firearms and other items from a farm and home store in Potosi, Missouri to 77 months in prison. Judge Autrey also ordered Gregory Snyder, 46, to pay $11,484 in restitution for the stolen items. On Sept. 19, 2021, Snyder hid in the store, emerging after closing time. He stole power tools, camping gear and 13 guns, including eight rifles and five shotguns. Snyder took the guns and some of the other stolen goods to a river in eastern Washington County. He returned early the next morning for more, but by then, Potosi Police Department officers had spotted evidence of the burglary. They stopped and questioned Snyder, who no longer had the stolen goods in his car. They arrested Snyder later that day. Snyder, of Bismarck, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in August to theft of firearms from a federally licensed firearms dealer and possession of body armor by a violent felon. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Potosi Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Nino Przulj prosecuted the case. Two of the shotguns have been recovered. Anyone with information about the rest of the stolen firearms is asked to contact the ATF at 314-768-3120 or online at www.atf.gov/contact/atf-tips or the Potosi Police at 573-438-5468. 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: Eleven Members Of Bronx “Washside” Gang Sentenced For Murder, Attempted Murder, Assault, Racketeering, And Firearms Offenses

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Danielle R. Sassoon, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the sentencing of YAUREL CENTENO, a/k/a “Flex,” the last of 11 defendants to be sentenced in a case involving members of a street gang known as “WashSide” or “Wash” in the Bronx, New York. CENTENO was sentenced to 24 years in prison for crimes relating to his membership in WashSide, including the murder of 20-year-old Tyrone Almodovar on June 26, 2020, and the gunpoint robbery of a pawnshop on June 27, 2020. CENTENO also participated in a crime spree in 2020 comprised of dozens of other robberies and larcenies stretching across more than 10 states between Maine and Alabama. CENTENO previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit racketeering and conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering on February 2, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman, who imposed today’s sentence. U.S. Attorney Danielle R. Sassoon said: “The WashSide gang terrorized neighborhoods in the Bronx and beyond by killing, shooting, slashing, and robbing people. Together with our law enforcement partners, we have now held WashSide’s members accountable not only for the murder of Tyrone Almodovar, a senseless killing, but for countless other crimes committed by the gang all across the country. We will not let violent gangs continue to endanger the welfare of New Yorkers.” According to the Superseding Indictment and Informations, public court filings, and statements made in court: From at least 2015 to 2022, the members of “WashSide” or “Wash,” a criminal enterprise based in the Bronx, New York, committed multiple acts of violence against members of rival street gangs and others. To make money for the gang, protect the gang’s territory, and promote the gang’s standing, members of WashSide engaged in, among other things, armed robberies and carjackings, drug trafficking, wire fraud, and violence, including murder, attempted murder, and assaults with dangerous weapons. The members of WashSide also travelled outside New York City and New York State, robbing and stealing from stores across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and Southeast, principally during the height of the pandemic in 2020. For years, WashSide engaged in disputes with rival crews in the Bronx, which resulted in numerous acts of violence. Among their violent crimes were the following offenses. On June 26, 2020, following a car chase, Boss Terrell, a/k/a “Sauce,” Centeno, Lydell Seymore, a/k/a “Bugout,” and Darrell Spencer, a/k/a “Rell,” shot and killed Tyrone Almodovar. On June 27, 2020, CENTENO, Isaiah Thomas, a/k/a “Zay,” a/k/a “Chicago,” Jacob Baker, and Tyshawn Brogdon, a/k/a “Shawn,” participated in the gunpoint robbery of a pawnshop, in which multiple victims were struck with a firearm or had a firearm held up to their heads. On July 29, 2020, TERRELL shot at rival gang members. On August 18, 2020, CENTENO robbed an electronics store, cutting open the hand of an employee who attempted to resist him. On June 13, 2021, Noel Carr, a/k/a “Noey,” participated in the assault of a rival gang member who was slashed with a knife. On September 17, 2021, BROGDON and BAKER committed an armed carjacking at an auto shop, crashing the stolen car almost immediately as an employee was dragged alongside it. On August 21, 2021, THOMAS, BAKER, and Antwan Mosley, a/k/a “Ant,” committed a drive-by shooting that targeted rival gang members but injured two innocent teenage bystanders. On December 30, 2021, SEYMORE and Mamadou Diallo, a/k/a “Haji,” a/k/a “Aladje,” committed another armed carjacking, seizing a car at gunpoint from a driver whom they also stripped of much of his clothing in the middle of winter. On August 19, 2022, BAKER and Rasheed Chapman, a/k/a “Ra,” committed another shooting that similarly resulted in an innocent bystander being struck in the chest. * * * A chart containing the names of the defendants, the charges they were convicted of, and the sentences they received is set forth below. Ms. Sassoon praised the outstanding work of the New York City Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being handled by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Courtney L. Heavey and Thomas John Wright are in charge of the prosecution. Defendant Age Convictions Sentence Boss Terrell, a/k/a “Sauce” 23 Conspiracy to Commit Murder in Aid of Racketeering and Attempted Murder and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering 22 Years YAUREL CENTENO, a/k/a “Flex” 23 Racketeering Conspiracy and Conspiracy to Commit Murder in Aid of Racketeering 24 Years Lydell Seymore, a/k/a “Bugout” 20 Racketeering Conspiracy and Interstate Transportation of Stolen Goods 20 Years Darrell Spencer, a/k/a “Rell” 26 Racketeering Conspiracy 16 Years Isaiah Thomas, a/k/a “Zay,” a/k/a “Chicago” 25 Attempted Murder and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering, Use of a Firearm for a Crime of Violence 16 Years Jacob Baker 20 Racketeering Conspiracy and Use of a Firearm for a Crime of Violence 200 Months Tyshawn Brogdon, a/k/a “Shawn” 21 Racketeering Conspiracy and Use of a Firearm for Carjacking and Robbery 100 Months Rasheed Chapman, a/k/a “Ra” 20 Attempted Murder and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering and Use of a Firearm for a Crime of Violence 150 Months Mamadou Diallo, a/k/a “Haji,” a/k/a “Aladje” 24 Racketeering Conspiracy 7 Years Antwan Mosley, a/k/a “Ant” 22 Attempted Murder and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering and Use of a Firearm for a Crime of Violence 10 Years Noel Carr, a/k/a “Noey,” 23 Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering and Aggravated Identity Theft 70 Months


title: Columbia Man Indicted on Sex Trafficking  and Child Sexual Abuse Material Charges Involving 11 Victims

component: USAO - South Carolina

body_text: COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a 22-count indictment against defendant Leon-Bobby Jones-Hubbard, 31, of Columbia, charging him with sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion; two counts of sex trafficking of a minor; nine counts of production and attempted production of child sexual abuse materials; nine counts of coercion and enticement of a minor into illegal sexual conduct; and one count of distribution of child sexual abuse material. The indictment alleges that from at least June 2023 to present, Jones-Hubbard used social media platforms including Facebook to target, recruit, and exploit 10 minor victims who ranged from 5 to 16 years old and were located in Arkansas, Michigan, Alabama, Wisconsin, and Texas. The indictment further alleges the defendant paid money through Cash App, PayPal, and Meta Pay to induce and entice minors into illegal sexual conduct, including sex trafficking and the production of child sexual abuse material. An adult with a severe developmental disorder was also targeted and exploited, according to the indictment, by Jones-Hubbard using an intermediary to coerce the victim into sex acts through physical restraint, physical force, and violence in exchange for money. Jones-Hubbard faces a penalty of up to life in prison. He also faces mandatory minimum penalties of 15 years, 10 years, and five years in prison on various counts charged. He faces fines of up to $250,0o0 per count, a special assessment of $5,000 per count, mandatory restitution payable to any victims who suffered loss in connection with criminal conduct, court-ordered supervision of life to follow any term of imprisonment, and federal and state sex offender registration requirements. Jones-Hubbard was arraigned in federal court on Jan. 23 and was ordered detained pending a detention hearing before United States Magistrate Judge Paige J. Gossett on Jan. 28 at 2:30 p.m. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc . This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels and E. Elizabeth Major are prosecuting the case. U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs stated that all charges in the indictment are merely accusations and that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ###


title: Goshen Man Found Guilty After 3-Day Jury Trial

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Late yesterday, Orlando Rodriguez-Roman, 42 years old, of Goshen, Indiana, was convicted of three felony counts after a three-day jury trial before United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty, announced Acting United States Attorney Tina L. Nommay. Rodriguez-Roman was found guilty of attempted possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, and unlawful possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. Sentencing is scheduled for April 29, 2025. This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service including the USPS Forensic Laboratory Services, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Elkhart County Intelligence and Covert Enforcement Unit and the Elkhart County Prosecutor’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lydia T. Lucius and Katelan McKenzie Doyle.


title: Two Honduran Nationals Indicted For Unlawful Possession Of A Firearm By An Alien

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal grand jury in Charlotte has returned a criminal indictment against Alexander Josue Viatoro-Arita, 20, and Olver Anacleto Amador-Calderon, 24, both of Honduras, charging them with unlawful possession of a firearm by an alien, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), and Chief Trent Conard of the Gastonia Police Department join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. According to allegations in the indictment and the criminal complaint filed in the case, over the course of an investigation law enforcement identified Viatoro-Arita and Amador-Calderon as individuals involved in suspected drug trafficking activities. On January 14, 2025, law enforcement arrived at the hotel where the defendants had been staying in Charlotte and made contact with the defendants. According to court records, over the course of the exchange, law enforcement conducted a frisk of the defendants for safety and allegedly found concealed firearms in the defendants’ waistbands. The defendants were taken into custody. It is alleged that Amador-Calderon possessed a .380 caliber Titan pistol, and Viatoro-Arita possessed a stolen 9mm Taurus pistol with a partially obliterated serial number. According to allegations in the indictment, both defendants were in the United States illegally, and both knowingly and unlawfully possessed firearms. It is further alleged in court documents that law enforcement also found in the hotel room a large quantity of U.S. currency and suspected narcotics. The defendants are currently in federal custody. The charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by an alien carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. The charges against the defendants are allegations, and they are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The FBI, CMPD, and the Gastonia Police Department are in charge of the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alfredo De La Rosa of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.


title: Madison Man Sentenced to 37 Months in Prison for Conspiracy to Defraud the United States

body_text: Jackson, MS – A Madison man was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States. According to court documents and statements made in court, Reginald Fullwood, Jr., 59, of Madison, participated in a scheme to pay kickbacks to a marketer in exchange for completed doctors’ orders so that he could cause his durable medical equipment company, Jackson Medical Supply, to bill Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans for orthotic braces that were medically unnecessary and/or ineligible for reimbursement. When Medicare initiated an investigation of Jackson Medical Supply, the defendant opened another entity in the name of a nominee owner and again paid kickbacks to a marketer in exchange for doctors’ orders so that the new entity could continue to bill Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans for orthotic braces. Overall, Fullwood caused these entities to bill Medicare and Medicare Advantage approximately $12,441,625.30 and the entities were reimbursed approximately $6,448,092.61 for durable medical equipment that was medically unnecessary and/or ineligible for reimbursement. Fullwood pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States on August 28, 2024. Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi, Special Agent in Charge Robert A. Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Special Agent in Charge Kelly Blackmon of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General made the announcement. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating the case. The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Sara Porter of the Gulf Coast Strike Force and Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie.


title: Philadelphia Man Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for House Burglary on the Choctaw Indian Reservation

body_text: Jackson, MS – A Philadelphia man was sentenced to three years in federal prison for burglarizing a home in the Tucker community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Reservation. According to court documents, Sherente Tubby, 23, burglarized the home of a tribal member in December of 2021. Tubby was indicted by a federal grand jury in March of 2022, and pled guilty in September of 2024. He was sentenced on January 14, 2025. Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick Lemon and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement. The Choctaw Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin J. Payne and Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN), a nationwide initiative that was launched in 2001 and works to reduce violent crime and gun violence. It’s a collaboration between federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement, prosecutors, and community leaders. PSN is coordinated by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in the 94 federal judicial districts throughout the 50 states and U.S. territories. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhood, please visit www.psn.gov.


title: Repeat Offender Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charges

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A registered sex offender has pleaded guilty in federal court in Worcester to child pornography charges. Corey Bouchard, 34, of Douglas, pleaded guilty to a one-count Information charging him with accessing with intent to view child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman scheduled sentencing for May 7, 2025 in Worcester. Bouchard was charged by complaint in April 2024. During a November 2023 search of Bouchard’s home, a cache file was found on Bouchard’s cell phone, which contained approximately 72 videos depicting child pornography. The file names of approximately 56 of those videos matched the file names from media files shared by others to Kik messenger group chats that Bouchard was in. Bouchard admitted to accessing child pornography with the intent to view it. Bouchard has a prior state conviction for possession of child pornography and is a registered sex offender. The charge of access with intent to view child pornography provides for a sentence of a minimum of 10 years in prison and up to 20 years in prison, a minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000, an assessment of $5,000, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3014, and assessment of up to $17,000, a mandatory special assessment of $100, restation, and forfeiture. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. United States Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Uxbridge and Douglas Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin J. Brown of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Bartlesville Man Sentenced to 35 Years for  Killing Dewey Couple

body_text: TULSA, Okla. – U.S. District Judge John D. Russell sentenced Lucas Anthony Walker, 22, for two counts of Second Degree Murder in Indian County. Judge Russell ordered Walked to serve 420 months for each count, followed by five years of supervised release. In January 2023, Washington County Sheriff’s deputies began investigating the disappearance of Deborah and Larry Dutton. After searching the Dutton’s home, deputies found Deborah and Larry deceased in a shallow grave in the backyard. Walker confessed to shooting and stabbing Deborah and stabbing Larry to death. Walker is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The FBI, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric O. Johnston prosecuted the case.


title: South Yarmouth Resident Sentenced for Being a Felon in Possession of Firearm

body_text: BOSTON – A South Yarmouth man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for possessing a firearm and ammunition. Defendant barricaded himself in basement following domestic disturbance. Michael Giampapa, 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns to 45 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In September 2024, Giampapa pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. On March 16, 2022, police responded to a call reporting a domestic disturbance at a residence in South Yarmouth involving Giampapa and a family member. Giampapa was barricaded in the basement when police arrived. He spoke by phone with a family member and during that call, stated he has a gun. After a standoff with law enforcement Giampapa eventually exited the residence and was arrested. Following a search of the residence where Giampapa was staying a Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard loaded .380 handgun was recovered inside a cereal box on open shelving in the basement. Giampapa had previously been convicted of crimes punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Chief Kevin Lennon of the Yarmouth Police Department made the announcement today. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Sullivan Jacobus of the Major Crimes Unit. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN . This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see: https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian .


title: Clinton County Man Indicted For Production Of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Middle

body_text: WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Kyle Grey, age 35, of Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, was indicted on January 23, 2025, on four charges of production of child pornography. According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that Grey produced child pornography three times on or about October 9, 2024, and once on October 29, 2024. The case was investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Alisan V. Martin is prosecuting the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood , a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . The maximum penalty under federal law for each offense is 30 years of imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Romania Native Charged With Illegal Reentry

body_text: WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Nicolae Strava, age 30, a citizen of Romania, was indicted on January 23, 2025, by a federal grand jury for illegal reentry. According to Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus, the indictment alleges that Strava was previously removed from the United States on April 23, 2019, through Houston, Texas. It is alleged that he was subsequently found in the United States on September 20, 2024, in Centre County, Pennsylvania, without having first obtained legal permission to reenter the country. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Zenzinger is prosecuting the case. The maximum penalty under federal law for the most significant offense is two years, a fine, and supervised release following imprisonment. A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged by indictment are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court. # # #


title: Roanoke Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Role in Gun Store Heist

component: USAO - Virginia, Western

body_text: ROANOKE, Va. – A third man involved in a scheme to break into a Virginia pawnshop and steal firearms was sentenced recently to 10 years in federal prison. Ronald Perry, 42, of Radford, Virginia, previously pled guilty to giving a firearm to a felon. Several men, including defendants Perry, Malcolm Stanton, and Michael Hall were charged with being involved in a burglary at a local pawn shop. Justin Cumbee and Austin Hixon were charged with being prohibited persons in possession of firearms. Cumbee and Stanton were each sentenced to 10 years. According to court documents, on November 1, 2022, Perry broke into the 1st Pawn, and stole approximately 15 firearms which he divided up with Stanton & Hall. Several of those guns were later illegally sold or traded for drugs. Acting U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Lee and Anthony Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the United States Marshals Service, the Radford Police Department, and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case with assistance from the Pulaski County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office, the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, the Christiansburg Police Department, the Virginia State Police Search and Recovery Team, and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelly McGann and Lee Brett are prosecuting the case.


title: Bridgeport Man Charged with Narcotics Distribution Offenses

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Marc H. Silverman, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that DARREN EBRON, also known as “D,” 32, of Bridgeport, was arrested yesterday on a criminal complaint charging him with narcotics distribution offenses. Ebron appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Dave Vatti in Bridgeport and was ordered detained. As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement identified Ebron as a distributor of various controlled substances in and around Bridgeport. Between August 2024 and January 2025, investigators made multiple controlled purchases of distribution quantities of fentanyl from Ebron, intercepted numerous calls and text messages through a court-authorized wiretap during which Ebron coordinated the sale of fentanyl and crack cocaine to others, and observed Ebron conducting narcotics transactions. The complaint charges Ebron with possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years and a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years; conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years; and use of a communications facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of four years. Acting U.S. Attorney Silverman stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This investigation is being conducted by the FBI Bridgeport Safe Streets Task Force, the Bridgeport Police Department, and the Stratford Police Department. The Task Force is composed of personnel from the FBI, Connecticut State Police, and the Bridgeport, Norwalk, and Trumbull Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren C. Clark.


title: KC Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Traffic Machine Guns

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City, Mo., man has pleaded guilty in federal court to his role in a conspiracy to traffic machine guns. Sheron Lamont Manning, 21, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips on Thursday, Jan. 23, to conspiracy to traffic firearms and to illegally trafficking a firearm that had been converted into a machine gun. By pleading guilty today, Manning admitted that he participated in a conspiracy that illegally distributed at least 22 firearms to other persons from May 24, 2022, to April 20, 2023. Manning also admitted that he sold a Glock .45-caliber pistol that had been converted into a machine gun to a confidential informant of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for $1,200 on Nov. 18, 2022. During the transaction, Manning stated he could get the informant more fully automatic firearms. Manning also admitted to additional criminal conduct, including four instances in which he illegally sold firearms to a confidential informant who was a felon and prohibited from possessing a firearm. Those sales included an AR-15 style, multi-caliber pistol with an obliterated serial number that had been altered into a machine gun, two Glock .40-caliber pistols that had been altered into machine guns, and an AR-15 style, multi-caliber pistol. Under federal statutes, Manning is subject to a sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Trey Alford. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Project Safe Neighborhoods This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Charges Española Man with Drug Trafficking and Possession

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A federal grand jury has indicted an Española man on multiple counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances following an incident at the Sandia Resort and Casino in Bernalillo County. According to court documents, on September 16, 2024, Pueblo of Sandia Police responded to a 911 hang-up call from a hotel room at the Sandia Resort and Casino. Upon arrival, officers made contact with Zacary Cipriano Lucero , 63, and two women in the hotel room. At that time, Lucero claimed the women had stolen money from him. During the investigation, one of the women suggested searching Lucero 's bags, alleging he was trading fentanyl for sex. Lucero denied consent to search his bags and stated he wanted to drop the charges against the women. After being read his Miranda rights, Lucero told officers he had invited the women to his room around 4 a.m. after meeting them in the casino. He claimed he discovered his cell phone and money were missing after dozing off. Officers sealed the room and obtained a search warrant. On September 17, 2024, during the execution of the warrant, police discovered: Approximately 238 grams of suspected fentanyl 16 grams of suspected cocaine 50 grams of suspected methamphetamine Approximately $3,190 in cash These items were found in bags that Lucero had previously claimed ownership of. Lucero will remain on conditions of release pending trial, which has not been scheduled. If convicted, Lucero faces up to 40 years in prison. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez made the announcement today. The Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated this case with the assistance of the Pueblo of Sandia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert James Booth II is prosecuting the case. View the Criminal Complaint (Lucero).pdf View the Indictment (Lucero).pdf An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. # # #


title: Woman pleads guilty to human smuggling conspiracy resulting in 16 deaths

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – On Jan. 21, Yaquelin Dominguez-Nieves, 26, of Sebring, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court in Miami to conspiring to smuggle aliens into the United States. According to court documents and information presented during the case’s detention hearing, around November 2022, Dominguez-Nieves, who entered the United States illegally, collected at least $11,500 from the migrants’ family members in South Florida with the promise to smuggle the migrants from Cuba into the United States. Dominguez-Nieves transferred the money she collected to her co-conspirator located in Cuba. Then, Dominguez-Nieves’s co-conspirator loaded approximately 18 migrants onto a small fishing vessel with no life jackets and with a captain who, according to the two survivors, did not appear to know how to operate the vessel. The vessel sank roughly 30 miles into its journey to the United States, killing all but two migrants aboard. Many of the 16 victims were young children and teenagers, including children ranging from nine months to seven years old, as well as two 16-year-olds. Four of the migrants’ bodies were recovered at sea, and their cause of death was ruled drowning. A sentencing hearing is set for April 11, at 11:00 a.m. in Miami. Dominguez-Nieves faces up to life in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison. Acting U.S. Attorney Michael S. Davis for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. Margelot U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS), Southeast Region, made the announcement. CGIS, Southeast Region, investigated the case with assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Key West, U.S. Border Patrol (BP) Miami Sector, Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office and Highlands County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO). Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller is prosecuting the case. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 24-cr-20223. ###


title: Maryland Man Convicted in $20M Insurance Fraud Scheme

component: Tax Division

body_text: A federal jury convicted a Maryland man yesterday for conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, money laundering, filing false tax returns and identity theft. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, James Wilson, of Owings Mills, conspired with others to defraud insurance companies by obtaining over 30 life insurance policies for applicants by mispresenting their health, wealth and existing life insurance coverage. The total death benefits from these policies exceeded $20 million. Wilson also conspired to defraud individual investors to obtain funds that he then used to pay premiums on fraudulently-obtained life insurance policies. To conceal the fraud, Wilson transferred the fraud through multiple bank accounts, including accounts in the name of trusts. Wilson filed false individual income tax returns for 2018 and 2019, which concealed approximately $5.7 million and $2 million respectively of fraud proceeds. Wilson is scheduled to be sentenced on May 1. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of conspiracy, wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering; and a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count of filing a false tax return. Wilson also faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison for each count of aggravated identity theft. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland and Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI)’s Washington, D.C. Field Office made the announcement. IRS-CI investigated the case, with assistance from the Maryland Insurance Administration and Maryland Attorney General. Trial Attorneys Shawn Noud and Richard Kelley of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Phelps and Philip Motsay for the District of Maryland are prosecuting the case.


title: Anderson Felon Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a Firearm Following Drunk Driving Crash

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS— Jonathon Jerald Ashley Jr., 30, of Anderson, Indiana, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. According to court documents, on October 22, 2023, an Anderson Police Department officer was called to a vehicle crash in the vicinity of 20th and Noble Streets. The officer arrived to find a heavily intoxicated Jonathon Ashley walking away from the accident. During a search of Ashley’s person, officers located a loaded Glock handgun in his front right pocket. At the time of arrest, Ashley had been previously convicted of domestic battery, resisting law enforcement, invasion of privacy, dealing in a narcotic drug, and pointing a firearm. His felony convictions prohibit him from ever legally possessing a firearm again. “This defendant has repeatedly demonstrated his utter disregard for the law or the safety of others, including those closest to him,” said John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Many illegally armed perpetrators of gun violence in the home and in the community have a prior history of domestic violence. That’s why our office is working together with the FBI, through the LEATH initiative, to protect the public from these offenders and save lives.” “This dangerous combination of impaired driving and illegal possession of a firearm had the potential to lead to devastating consequences and this sentence underscores the seriousness of the defendant’s actions,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “The FBI remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure those who show such reckless disregard for the law and the safety of others will be held accountable.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Anderson Police Department and investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge James P. Hanlon. Acting U.S. Attorney Childress thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jayson W. McGrath, who prosecuted this case. This case was brought as part of the LEATH Initiative (Law Enforcement Action to Halt Domestic Violence), named in honor of Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Officer Breann Leath, who was killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic disturbance call. A partnership among the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the IMPD, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana, the LEATH Initiative focuses federal, state, and local law enforcement resources on domestic violence offenders who illegally possess firearms. ###


title: U.S. Attorney and HSI Announce Federal Sex Crimes Involving a Minor Against U.S. Army Soldier

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A U.S. Army soldier has been charged with multiple federal sex crimes involving a minor, including interstate travel for sexual conduct and production of child sexual abuse material, following an investigation by federal authorities. The indictment alleges that between November 2022, and May 2024, Victor Barnett Lane allegedly coerced a minor into sexual activity, traveled from South Korea to New Mexico for purposes of sexual activity, and produced child sexual abuse imagery. Lane has been ordered to remain in custody pending trial . If convicted, Lane faces a minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Jason T. Stevens, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso, made the announcement today. Homeland Security Investigations investigated this case with assistance from the U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Division and Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaymie L. Roybal is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC. View the Indictment (Lane).pdf 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 CEO of Startup Software Company Sentenced for Payroll Tax Fraud Crimes

body_text: A New Hampshire man was sentenced yesterday to two-and-a-half years in prison for willfully failing to pay more than $14 million in payroll taxes and not filing personal tax returns. According to court documents and statements made in court, Andrew Park, 49, of Bedford, was the co-founder and CEO of a startup technology company. Park was responsible for all financial matters related to the company, including for filing the company’s quarterly employment tax returns and collecting and paying over Social Security, Medicare and income taxes withheld from the employees’ wages to the IRS, as well as the matching Social Security and Medicare taxes the company owed. From the company’s founding in 2014 through the third quarter of 2021, Park withheld federal taxes from the wages of the company’s employees but did not pay them over as required by law. He also did not pay over the portion of the employment taxes that the company owed. Park willfully failed to do so even though a payroll service company that he hired to process the employees’ payroll regularly notified him that the taxes were due, and in more than one instance was notified by an employee that the amount paid to Social Security listed on her W-2 did not match what was reported by the Social Security Administration. From 2013 through 2020, Park also did not file individual tax returns as required by law, despite the fact that he paid himself a salary of approximately $250,000 each year. In total, Park caused a tax loss to the IRS exceeding $14 million. In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Chief Judge Landya B. McCafferty for the District of New Hampshire ordered Park to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $639,821.78 in restitution to the United States and a fine of $15,000. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Karen E. Kelly of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Acting U.S. Attorney John J. McCormack for the District of New Hampshire made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Assistant Chief Eric Powers of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Hunter for the District of New Hampshire prosecuted the case.


title: Hudson County Man Charged With Defrauding Elderly Victim Out Of More Than $880,000

body_text: NEWARK, NJ. – A New Jersey man was arrested today and charged with engaging in a scheme to defraud an elderly victim investor out of out of more than $880,000, after entrusting him to invest her money on her behalf, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced today. Antonio Petrosino, a/k/a Anthony Petrosino, 59, of Union City, New Jersey, is charged by complaint with one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. He is scheduled to have his initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael A. Hammer in Newark federal court. According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court: Between March 2018 and March 2024, Petrosino fraudulently induced the victim investor to transfer approximately $916,000 to Petrosino based on his misrepresentations that he would invest those funds in brokerage accounts and other investment products for the benefit of the victim investor. To perpetuate his fraud, Petrosino provided the victim investor with falsified investment statements that purported to show that she had hundreds of thousands of dollars deposited in various investment accounts in her name. Petrosino also provided the victim investor with payments in the approximate range of $4000-$8000 that he claimed was the interest that the victim investor had earned on her investments. In reality, Petrosino failed to invest the victim investor’s funds for her benefit as promised. Instead, he misappropriated the money to pay for his personal expenses, including gambling, credit card payments, and rent on his luxury apartment unit. Petrosino also caused the transfer of the victim investor’s funds without her knowledge or consent, including transfers directly from the victim investor’s bank account to Petrosino’s landlord. Additionally, Petrosino told the victim investor he would assist her with preparing her tax returns and told her to send him approximately $40,000 that he claimed she owed in taxes, which he misappropriated for his personal benefit. In total, Petrosino stole more than approximately $888,000 from the victim investor. The wire fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The money laundering charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Both counts carry a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross amount of gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly in Newark; special agents of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System - Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian Tucker; and the Wyckoff Police Department, under the direction of Chief David V. Murphy, with the investigation leading to today’s arrest, and thanked the Union City Police Department, under the direction of Chief Anthony Facchini, for its assistance with the arrest. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Kozar of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Economic Crimes Unit in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. ### antonio_petrosino.complaint.pdf


title: U.S. Attorney's Office Sentences Standing Rock Man for 2023 Fatal Shooting

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Standing Rock man was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for the fatal shooting of a 39-year-old mother of three. There is no parole in the federal system. According to court documents, on December 30, 2023, Jane Doe and her three minor children returned to the home of Sonny Hannah , 75, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, to collect their personal belongings. An argument between Hannah and Jane Doe ensued, leading to Hannah emerging from his home with a rifle. Hannah shot twice, striking Jane Doe in the head from 20 to 35 feet away, killing her instantly. Upon his release from prison, Hannah will be subject to five years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary C. Jones is prosecuting the case. # # #


title: Corporation and Former Chief Executive Officer Plead Guilty to Health Care Fraud and Tax Conspiracy

component: Civil Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that KBWB Operations LLC, which did business as Atrium Health and Senior Living (KBWB-Atrium), and former Chief Executive Officer and Managing Member Kevin Breslin of KBWB-Atrium, both pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud and one count of tax conspiracy related to the operation of numerous skilled nursing facilities. “Americans rely on skilled nursing facilities to care for themselves, family members and other loved ones, and the operators of these institutions must live up to their obligations and the law,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to work closely with its law enforcement partners to help ensure the safety and dignity of our must vulnerable citizens.” Breslin, 58, of Hoboken, New Jersey, pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin on Dec. 17, 2024. KBWB-Atrium pleaded guilty in the same court on Jan. 21. Breslin is one of six owners of KBWB-Atrium. KBWB-Atrium’s corporate headquarters was located in Little Falls, New Jersey, and its Midwest corporate office was located in Appleton, Wisconsin. KBWB-Atrium operated and owned nursing facilities in New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Michigan. On Feb. 1, 2023, a Wisconsin grand jury returned a 12-count indictment against defendants Breslin and KBWB-Atrium (collectively the defendants) charging health care fraud and tax conspiracy, among other charges. According to court documents, from approximately Jan. 1, 2015, to in or about September 2018, KBWB-Atrium operated and owned 23 skilled nursing facilities in Wisconsin, and Breslin was responsible for overseeing all of KBWB-Atrium’s operations. The primary source of income for the KBWB-Atrium Wisconsin skilled nursing facilities was federal Medicare and Medicaid funds from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). According to court documents, the defendants’ alleged health care fraud scheme involved unlawfully diverting CMS funds intended for the operation, management, maintenance, and care of the residents of the KBWB-Atrium Wisconsin skilled nursing facilities for other purposes and personal expenses. The defendants allegedly prioritized distributions and guaranteed payments to KBWB-Atrium’s owners regardless of KBWB-Atrium’s financial situation. The defendants’ alleged actions resulted in failing to meet the required federal regulations governing skilled nursing facilities, including not operating the KBWB-Atrium Wisconsin skilled nursing facilities in a manner that would enhance residents’ quality of life. According to court documents, the defendants also knew that vendors were not being paid for extended periods of time or some were not paid at all for their services. Additionally, defendants allegedly failed to pay third-party administrators monies deducted from KBWB-Atrium employees’ paychecks for insurance premiums and 401(k) plan contributions. As a part of the tax conspiracy alleged in court documents, Breslin, acting on behalf of KBWB-Atrium, directed that income taxes and employment taxes withheld from KBWB-Atrium Wisconsin employees’ paychecks not be paid over to the IRS. This caused employees to prepare tax returns listing those withholdings as having been paid to the IRS, which was false. The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on May 7 before U.S. District Judge William M. Conleyfor the Western District of Wisconsin. Breslin faces a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison for the health care fraud count and five years in prison for the conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States count, along with a period of supervised release. Both defendants face restitution and other monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence of each defendant after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. “Healthcare fraud affects every American,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea for the Western District of Wisconsin. “My office was proud to partner with the Justice Department’s Civil Division to help prosecute these individuals who harmed seniors and exploited our health care benefits programs for personal gain.” “This guilty plea demonstrates our unwavering commitment to holding individuals accountable who exploit vulnerable populations and defraud the healthcare system for personal gain,” said Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “Breslin’s actions not only eroded public trust but endangered the well-being of patients who rely on our health care system. The FBI will continue to work tirelessly with our partners to investigate and bring to justice those who abuse positions of trust.” “The guilty pleas of Kevin Breslin and KBWB Operations LLC serve as a reminder that healthcare fraud is not only a direct violation of patient care, but also an attack on the financial systems that underpin public and private trust,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Ramsey E. Covington of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Chicago Field Office. “IRS-CI and its law enforcement partners remain dedicated to investigating and prosecuting individuals and businesses who seek to exploit public and private institutions for personal gain.” “HHS-OIG is dedicated to protecting Medicare and Medicaid funds and ensuring that health care providers uphold their responsibility to serve vulnerable populations with integrity,” said Special Agent in Charge Mario M. Pinto of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “The actions of those involved in this scheme erode the trust placed in our nation’s health care system, and we will continue working with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who misuse public funds for personal gain.” “Employers placing profit over upholding their legal fiduciary responsibilities when managing health benefit plans will not be tolerated,” said Regional Director Ruben R. Chapa of the Employee Benefits Security Administration in Chicago. “The Employee Benefits Security Administration remains committed to ensuring that those who knowingly break the law are held fully accountable.” The IRS-CI Chicago Field Office; HHS-OIG – Office of Investigations, Milwaukee Field Office; U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration, New York and Chicago Regional Offices; FBI Milwaukee Field Office; and the State of Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation, Medicaid Fraud Control and Elder Abuse Unit investigated the case. Trial Attorneys with the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch are prosecuting the case with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Wisconsin. Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts may be found at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch . For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Wisconsin, visit its website at www.justice.gov/usao-wdwi .


title: Informational: Federal Court arraignments

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt: Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Jan. 21 was: Jared Cordell Stewart, 53, of Crow Agency, on charges of abusive sexual contact of a minor and sexual abuse of a minor. If convicted of the most serious crime, Stewart faces a maximum of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and at least five years of supervised release. Stewart was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. PACER case reference. 25-10. Shawn Leon Anderson, 54, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute meth and fentanyl. If convicted of the most serious crime, Anderson faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and at least three years of supervised release. Anderson was detained pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration and Montana Division of Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 24-38. Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on Jan. 21 was: Stephen Joe Boardner, 61, of Columbia Falls, on charges of conspiracy to distribute meth and distribution of meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Boardner faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Boardner was detained pending further proceedings. The Northwest Drug Task Force conducted the investigation. PACER case reference. 22-36. The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html . To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl . XXX


title: U.S. Attorney's Office Secures Guilty Pleas from Two Zuni Men in Armed Assault Case

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Two men from Zuni, New Mexico, pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon after admitting to committing an armed assault involving four victims. According to court documents, on April 8, 2023, Kamron Kallestewa , 24, and Kaden Panteah , 20, both enrolled members of the Pueblo of Zuni, armed themselves with pistols and went to a residence within the exterior boundaries of the Zuni Pueblo, where they assaulted four individuals. There, Kallestewa struck John Doe 1 in the face and head with a pistol, causing bruising, and then pointed the weapon at John Doe 2, placing the muzzle on the back of his head. He further escalated the violence by pointing the pistol at Jane Doe 1's head and striking Jane Doe 2 in the face, resulting in a cut under her eye. Panteah participated in the assault by putting the muzzle of his pistol to the back of John Doe 2's head. Additionally, Panteah discharged a weapon in the direction of all four victims with the intent to cause bodily harm. Kallestewa and Panteah will remain in custody pending sentencing, which has not yet been scheduled. At sentencing, they each face up to 10 years in prison. Upon their release from prison, Kallestewa and Panteah will be subject to three years of supervised release. 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 Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Mia Ulibarri-Rubin and Jesse Pecoraro are prosecuting the case. # # #