title: Rensselaer County Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Machinegun

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK –Ahmed AlSaadi, age 18, of Troy, New York, pled guilty today to possessing a machinegun. The announcement was made by United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; James Smith, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and Troy Police Chief Daniel DeWolf. AlSaadi admitted that on August 2, 2023, he possessed three machinegun conversion devices and a Glock handgun that had been modified with a machinegun conversion device that allowed the Glock to shoot and function as a machinegun. AlSaadi also admitted to selling machinegun conversion devices from March to July 2023. AlSaadi, who is in custody, is scheduled to be sentenced on April 16, 2024, in Albany, by United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino. He faces up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of up to $250,000. The court may also require AlSaadi to serve a term of supervised release of up to 3 years to begin after imprisonment. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. ATF, FBI, and Troy Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.


title: Indian Trail, N.C. Man Is Charged With Committing Fraud Using Stolen Identities Of Military Service Members

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A federal indictment charging Shabazz Emmanuel McCarthan, 38, of Indian Trail, N.C., with committing fraud using the stolen identities of military service members was unsealed today, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. A federal grand jury in Charlotte returned the criminal indictment in October 2023. The indictment remained sealed until McCarthan’s arrest in Arizona yesterday. McCarthan had his initial appearance today in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona. Robert M. DeWitt, Special Agent in Charge of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in North Carolina joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. According to allegations in the indictment, beginning no later than January 2019 through October 2019, McCarthan and his co-conspirators engaged in an extensive identity fraud scheme. As alleged in the indictment, McCarthan and others obtained personal identifying information (PII) of military service members and used their PII to manufacture fictitious forms of identification in the victims’ names. Then, McCarthan allegedly used these fictitious forms of identification to fraudulently open bank accounts, lease apartment units, purchase furniture, and rent multiple vehicles, that were subsequently stolen and transported in interstate and foreign commerce. The indictment alleges that, during the scheme, McCarthan and his co-conspirators fraudulently obtained and attempted to obtain more than $250,000 in fraudulent goods and damaged the credit of military members, including at least one service member deployed overseas. McCarthan is charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison; wire fraud, which has a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; financial institution fraud, which carries a statutory prison sentence of 30 years; interstate transportation of a stolen motor vehicle, that has a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison; and three counts of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory sentence of two years in prison for each charged offense consecutive to any other prison term imposed. The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the FBI for their investigation which led to the charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Savage and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Frick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte are prosecuting the case.


title: Drug Trafficking Ring Distributing Fentanyl And Methamphetamine Dismantled, Six Charged With Drug And Gun Crimes

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A superseding criminal indictment has been unsealed in U.S. District Court, charging six members of a drug trafficking ring with conspiracy to traffic fentanyl and methamphetamine and related drug or gun charges, announced Dena J. King U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Marshals Service deputies, and officers with the Hickory Police Department (HPD) arrested four defendants earlier this week. Two defendants were already in custody. “My Office has an important mission: to ensure the safety of our communities. We do that when we confront drug trafficking and drug-fueled violence head on, with the full support of our law enforcement partners,” said U.S. Attorney King. “Drug trafficking fuels a great deal of the gun violence in our communities,” said Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF in Charlotte. “That’s why these collaborative efforts are so critical. When we can disrupt drug trafficking networks, we’re not just removing drugs from our streets. We’re recovering firearms and preventing violent gun crime.” “We are grateful for the continued partnerships that produce these kinds of impactful results in our community. Working together has proven to be one of the most effective ways to make a real difference in reducing these kinds of drug and gun crimes,” said Chief Reed Baer of the Hickory Police Department. The indictment is the result of a 10-month joint ATF and HPD investigation aimed at reducing drug distribution and drug-induced criminal activity in Catawba County and surrounding areas, including in Mecklenburg County. According to allegations in the indictment, filed court documents, and court proceedings, the drug trafficking ring operated out of Hickory, North Carolina, and distributed large quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the area. To identify the drug conspirators and their operations, ATF agents and HPD officers utilized controlled drug purchases, conducted physical surveillance, and executed search warrants. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement determined that members of the drug ring allegedly used several residences either as “stash houses” to store drugs and/or guns, or to conduct drug sales and other drug trafficking activities. One of the alleged stash houses was located two blocks from the federal courthouse in Charlotte. During the investigation, law enforcement seized more than 4.5 kilograms of fentanyl, over 3.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, and more than 200 pounds of marijuana. Law enforcement also seized seven firearms used by some of the traffickers to support their drug distribution, including an AR-15 rifle and a privately made firearm or “ghost gun,” and ammunition. The superseding indictment charges the six defendants with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. Their names and additional charges are: Ashton Durrell Farley , also known as Hood, 35, of Hickory, is charged with multiple counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine and distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Farley allegedly engaged in the charged criminal activity while he was under federal and state court supervision for prior drug-related offenses. Dustin Eric Wilson , 36, of Charlotte, is charged with multiple counts of distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl, and possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking. Whitney Necole Bryant , 30, of Hickory, is charged with distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Tonya Quantina Jackson , also known as New York, 42, of Hickory, is charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine and distribution of fentanyl. Harold Marquis Wilfong , 36, of Hickory, is charged with distribution of fentanyl. Thomas Eugene Ikard , 44, of Lenoir, N.C., is charged with distribution of methamphetamine. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. In making the announcement U.S. Attorney King commended the ATF, HPD, and the Catawba County Sheriff's Office for their investigative efforts and thanked the U.S. Marshals Service for their invaluable assistance with the arrests. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Kent of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is in charge of the prosecution. 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: Owner And Employee Of Medical Supply Distributor Charged With Medical Device And Over-The- Counter Drug Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Fernando McMillan, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations (“FDA-OCI”), and Daniel B. Brubaker, the Inspector in Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging MOSES RABINOWITZ, a/k/a “Mark Rabin,” and MENACHIM SAMBER with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to obtain pre-retail medical products by fraud or deception in connection with a scheme to obtain medical devices and over-the-counter (“OTC”) drugs not approved for sale in the U.S. at discounted prices under the false pretense that they would be sold outside the U.S. RABINOWITZ and SAMBER were arrested today and will be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Victoria Reznick. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, the defendants defrauded manufacturers producing medical devices and over-the-counter drugs of millions of dollars and sold foreign medical products not approved for sale in the U.S. to unwitting consumers. These charges should serve as a warning to fraudsters who think they can benefit financially by undermining the safety of our country’s medical supply chain.” FDA-OCI Special Agent in Charge Fernando McMillan: “The FDA is fully committed to the vigorous criminal investigation and prosecution of individuals who threaten the health and safety of American consumers by causing misbranded drugs and medical devices to be distributed. Our office will continue to pursue and bring to justice those who place profits above the public health.” USPIS Inspector in Charge Daniel B. Brubaker: “One of the USPIS's top priorities is to protect consumers from individuals who seek to profit from selling FDA-regulated products not intended for sale in the U.S. Postal Inspectors relentlessly pursue criminals who further their criminal enterprises through the U.S. Mail. In this case, Postal Inspectors collaborated with agents from FDA-OCI to help safeguard both the U.S. health care industry and American public. I applaud their efforts on this investigation.” According to the allegations contained in the Indictment: [1] RABINOWITZ was the owner and president of medical supply distributor Trasco, LLC (“Trasco”) and the owner of Trasco affiliates GlobalMed International, Ltd. (“GlobalMed”) and Panamedica Trading, Inc. (“Panamedica”). SAMBER was an employee of Trasco whose functions included purchasing and sales. From at least in or about January 2014 up to and including on or about January 3, 2019, RABINOWITZ and SAMBER engaged in a conspiracy to obtain FDA-regulated medical devices and OTC drugs that were not intended for sale in the U.S. at deeply discounted prices from manufacturers (the Victim Companies”) by falsely and fraudulently representing that the products would be sold and distributed outside of the U.S. when, in fact, RABINOWITZ and SAMBER, from the outset, intended to and did sell and distribute those medical devices and OTC drugs at a substantial profit to wholesalers, distributors, and others in the U.S. The manufacturers relied on RABINOWITZ, SAMBER, and other co-conspirators’ false and fraudulent representations and sold their products to RABINOWITZ, SAMBER, Trasco, GobalMed, and Panamedica at deeply discounted prices, resulting in losses of more than $5 million. RABINOWITZ, SAMBER, and other co-conspirators created and caused to be created false and fraudulent documentation, which they provided and caused to be provided to the Victim Companies to conceal their fraudulent scheme. At times, RABINOWITZ, SAMBER, and other co-conspirators arranged for the fraudulently obtained products to be diverted directly to locations within the U.S. and for “dummy” shipments to be exported instead in order to generate documentation to provide to the Victim Companies as proof of export. RABINOWITZ, SAMBER, and other Trasco employees acting at their direction often removed the foreign language packaging or labeling on the medical devices and OTC drugs so that the provenance of the foreign medical products would also be hidden from the domestic consumers and distributors to whom they were sold. * * * RABINOWITZ, 42, of Clifton, New Jersey, and SAMBER, 29, of Hollywood, Florida, were both charged with one count of wire fraud conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to obtain pre-retail medical products by fraud or deception, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FDA-OCI and the USPIS. This case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Coffman is in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.


title: Rhode Island Man Sentenced To 68 Months In Prison For Trafficking Over One Hundred “Ghost Guns” To The Dominican Republic

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ROBERT ALCANTARA was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick to 68 months in prison for trafficking firearms. ALCANTARA previously pled guilty to conspiring to traffic firearms and conspiring to launder money. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Robert Alcantara alone trafficked over 100 untraceable ghost guns to the Dominican Republic. The proliferation of unlawful ghost guns is a threat to public safety, and our response is clear: we will not let up.” According to the charging documents and other filings and statements made in court: From approximately 2017 until January 2022, ALCANTARA operated a “ghost gun” factory out of his home in Rhode Island. ALCANTARA purchased ghost gun kits at gun shows and other places and then machined the kits into working firearms. Once he had completed the untraceable firearms, he exported and sold them to the Dominican Republic. Most of those guns were handguns, but a number were rifles. ALCANTARA and others then laundered the proceeds of his gun sales. On November 20, 2021, ALCANTARA was stopped in his vehicle in possession of kits to build approximately 45 ghost guns. ALCANTARA was interviewed by law enforcement agents and stated that he was planning to turn the 45 kits into working firearms, and he had 50 additional similar ghost guns at his home. A photograph of the 45 ghost gun kits is below: Below are photographs of ALCANTARA’s home ghost gun factory: Below are photos ALCANTARA sent of firearms he had available for sale in the Dominican Republic: * * * In addition to the prison term, ROBERT ALCANTARA, 36, of Providence, Rhode Island was sentenced to three years of supervised release. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement, New York Field Office. Mr. Williams also thanked the New York City Police Department, the New York State Police Department, the Providence Police Department, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island for their assistance in the case. The case is being handled by the Office’s Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mead is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Stoneboro Man Pleads Guilty to Theft of Government Property Charge

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: ERIE, Pa. - A resident of Stoneboro, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of theft of government property, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. Martin Meade Kobsik, age 42, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that in April 2020, Kobsik obtained a $150,000 COVID-19 Disaster Assistance Loan from the Small Business Administration, falsely representing that he needed the money to maintain his business. Kobsik then used the proceeds from the loan for personal expenses, a vacation, and improvements to his home. Judge Baxter scheduled sentencing for April 12, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant. Pending sentencing, the court continued Kobsik on bond. Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Kobsik.


title: United States Reaches $9.1 Million Civil Settlement with Total Access Urgent Care Over False Claims Allegations

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ST. LOUIS – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri announced today that Total Access Urgent Care (TAUC) has agreed to pay $9,150,794 to settle allegations that TAUC submitted false claims for medical services, including COVID-19 testing. “This settlement will fully repay three federal health care programs for TAUC’s overbilling for COVID tests and office visits,” said U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming. According to the United States’ allegations, from April of 2017 through November of 2021, TAUC submitted claims for payment to Medicare and TRICARE indicating that a physician performed office visits when a non-physician practitioner had actually done so, thereby receiving reimbursement at a higher rate. From November of 2015 through November of 2021, TAUC submitted claims to Medicare and TRICARE for office visits that were upcoded. During the latter portion of that period, it also submitted upcoded office visit claims to a program that reimbursed for the testing or treatment of, and vaccination against, COVID-19 for people who were uninsured, the Health Resources and Services Administration’s COVID-19 Claims Reimbursement to Health Care Providers and Facilities for Testing, Treatment, and Vaccine Administration for the Uninsured Program (UIP), the government alleges. TAUC voluntarily disclosed during the investigation that from April 1, 2021 through Dec. 31, 2021, it submitted false claims to Medicare, TRICARE and the UIP for COVID testing using improper billing codes, again receiving reimbursements at a higher rate. All of these false claims resulted in TAUC receiving reimbursement from federal health care programs to which it was not entitled, the government alleges. TAUC fully cooperated in the investigation. The company did not admit liability in the settlement agreement. The settlement also resolved TAUC’s self-disclosure made in March of 2021 to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in which TAUC reported that bonuses paid to certain physicians it employed were in part based on the volume or value of their referrals for designated health services, a prohibited practice. “Today’s outcome illustrates HHS-OIG’s unwavering commitment to detecting, investigating, and shutting down fraud against Medicare, the HRSA Uninsured Program and protecting federal health care programs under any circumstance — especially during a public health emergency,” said Acting Special Agent Curt L. Muller from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. “Our agency, working with our law enforcement partners, will continue to investigate health care fraud schemes, including those involving providers submitting fraudulent claims in violation of the False Claims Act.” “When actors within our healthcare system are focused on profit rather than patient care, it undermines the integrity of the medical decision-making process,” said Gregory P. Shilling, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DOD-OIG-DCIS), Southwest Field Office. “DCIS remains steadfastly committed to rooting out fraud and safeguarding the funds entrusted to the Defense Health Agency, which serves our military members and their families.” This civil settlement is part of ongoing efforts by the Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to recover funds diverted from the Medicare Trust Account and is the result of the combined work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri, HHS-OIG, DOD-OIG-DCIS, and the FBI.


title: Albuquerque Investment Broker Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for Mail and Wire Fraud and Failure to File Tax Returns

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Albert A. Childress, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, announced today that Richard Kessler was sentenced to 24 months of imprisonment for the fraud charges and 12 months for the tax charges, to run concurrently. Kessler, 52, of Albuquerque, pleaded guilty on April 18, 2022, to one count each of mail fraud and wire fraud and four counts of failure to file tax returns. According to court documents, Kessler was self-employed as a financial advisor and investment broker doing business as Guardian Group Investments LLC. In that capacity, Kessler earned commissions by managing retirement accounts for small businesses. Those businesses included an oil and gas company in Farmington, New Mexico. Kessler occasionally made presentations to employees of that business regarding retirement planning and financial investments. He used those interactions—and the private conversations that followed—to convince several of that business’s workers to take funds out of their established retirement accounts and entrust their retirement funds to him. Between 2013 to 2016, several investors entrusted Kessler with retirement funds totaling more than $161,000. Kessler represented to those investors that he would place their retirement funds in qualified investment accounts. Instead, Kessler deposited investors’ retirement funds into his company’s business savings account. From there, Kessler converted and expended those funds through transfers to personal bank account, cashier’s checks that he would use for personal expenses, and cash withdrawals. Kessler also used a portion of investors’ retirement funds to make payments to earlier investors to replace funds that he had previously misappropriated. In addition to defrauding investors and converting their retirement funds his personal purpose and to perpetuate his Ponzi scheme, Kessler also failed to file federal tax returns or pay federal income tax for tax years 2014 through 2017. During that time period, Kessler earned commissions from legitimate investment management, as well as the illicit income from his frauds. Kessler’s income over these four years—legitimate and illegitimate—came to $446,925. This resulted in a tax liability of $82,627. Kessler knew he was required to pay taxes on his income from his company, having done it from the company’s inception in 2008 through 2011. In his plea agreement, Kessler admitted that he devised and executed this scheme with the intent to defraud the investors. Upon his release from prison, Kessler will be subject to 3 years of supervised release with the special condition that he make full restitution to the victims of his fraudulent scheme and pay the income taxes owed to the United States. At the time of his sentencing, Kessler had prepaid $82,500 of the $97,481.35 owed to his victims. Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy S. Vasquez is prosecuting the case. View the Indictment View the Plea Agreement # # # 23-294


title: Philadelphia Used Car Salesman Charged with Stealing Over $2.5 Million from Customers Who Sought Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Edward Scott Rock, 47, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was arrested and charged by Indictment on charges of mail and wire fraud for conducting a non-delivery sales scheme in which Rock accepted payment for, but failed to deliver, automobiles to approximately 120 purchasers. The Indictment alleges that between 2019 and 2023, Edward Scott Rock obtained used vehicles from automobile auctions, and then listed and advertised them for sale on the Internet. The majority of vehicles sold by Rock to victims were accessible vehicles equipped for wheelchair-users or people with disabilities. Despite signing bills of sale for the vehicles, and accepting payment, Rock did not deliver the vehicles as agreed upon. In total, Rock defrauded approximately 120 victims across 36 states, and caused losses exceeding $2.5 million. Approximately two-thirds of Rock’s victims were persons with a physical or mobility disability, persons over the age of 65, or businesses which provided transportation services to those populations. On several occasions, Edward Scott Rock sold the same vehicle to multiple customers. After agreeing to sale terms and accepting payment from a customer for a particular vehicle, Rock continued to list, sell, and accept payment for that same vehicle again, this time from a new victim-purchaser. In one instance, Rock agreed to sell a particular vehicle – a wheelchair-accessible 2017 Ford T150 van – to 13 different buyers over an 11-month period between February 2022 and January 2023. Despite accepting 13 payments from 13 different buyers and collecting over $260,000 all for the same vehicle, Rock only delivered the vehicle to one buyer (albeit without proper title). Rock failed to deliver the vehicle to the other 12 victims, who had all also purchased and paid for the vehicle. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 170 years’ imprisonment, a 5-year period of supervised release, a $2,750,000 fine, and restitution and forfeiture. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Philadelphia Police Department, Major Crimes, Auto Squad, and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Samuel S. Dalke. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Arizona Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Travel with Intent to Engage in Illicit Sexual Conduct

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Jonathan John James was sentenced to 46 months in prison. James, 59, of Tsaile, Arizona, pleaded guilty to travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct on April 5, 2023. According to court documents, on April 20, 2022, James followed a child as she shopped with her grandfather at a Home Depot in Gallup, New Mexico. When her grandfather went to the bathroom, James approached the child, told her she was attractive and gave her his telephone number, written on a wet wipe package, in hopes they would communicate. The child told her grandfather what had occurred and provided a physical description of James. Afterwards, the grandfather began communicating with James. He told James his name was “Simone,” he was 11 years old, and would turn 12 years old next week. The communication became sexual in nature and James shared he did not care that “Simone” was only 11 years old. After about a week, the grandfather called the FBI and consented to a search of his phone and for them to assume the identity of “Simone” and continue communicating with James. James’s communications with the FBI continued to be sexual in nature. James sent adult pornography – approximately 25 images, including an image that is likely of his own penis - and requested to meet up so he could perform sexual acts on “Simone.” James shared he lived near Tsaile, Arizona, but could come to Gallup, New Mexico to meet with “Simone.” James stated the graphic sexual things he planned to do to “Simone” when they met up. They formed a plan to meet on May 5, 2022, and “Simone” requested that he bring a Dr. Pepper for her when they met in the park, and he replied he would bring her a bracelet too. When James arrived at the meeting time in the park, the FBI arrested him. James possessed a bracelet and a Dr. Pepper. James waived his rights and admitted he was at the park because he drove across state lines to engage in sexual activities with a 12-year-old named “Simone.” He also confirmed his cell phone number. As part of the search of his vehicle law enforcement found two types of condoms and a USB thumb drive. Upon his release from prison, James will be subject 5 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender upon his release from prison. The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the FBI Child Exploitation Human Trafficking Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Nicholas J. Marshall is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC). PSC is a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices and DOJ’s 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 http://www.justice.gov/psc/. View the Indictment View the Plea Agreement # # # 23-295


title: Dover Man Indicted for Threatening to Kill Three Presidential Candidates

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A Dover man has been indicted in connection with sending threatening text messages to three presidential candidates, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Tyler Anderson, 30, was charged with three counts of transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure the person of another. Anderson was arrested on December 9, 2023, and he made an initial appearance in federal court on December 11, 2023. On December 14, 2023, the Court released him on conditions. According to the charging documents, Anderson sent a series of threatening text messages to three separate presidential campaigns going back to November 2023. On November 22, 2023, Anderson threatened to “impale” and “disembowel” one candidate. On December 6, 2023, Anderson threatened a second candidate in a series of text messages, including that he would “blow” the head off of the candidate and conduct a “mass shooting.” On December 8, 2023, Anderson threatened via text message that he would “blow” the “brains out” of a third candidate and “kill everyone” who would attend a then-upcoming campaign event. Each charge provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Dover Police Department and the Portsmouth Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Rombeau is prosecuting the case. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Fort Hall Man Sentenced for Assault with a Machete

body_text: POCATELLO – Cody Ray Preacher, 30, of Fort Hall, was sentenced to 51 ½ months in federal prison for assault resulting in serious bodily injury, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit announced today. According to court records, on August 15, 2022, Preacher attacked a woman at a residence on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, causing serious bodily injury. Fort Hall police officers and an ambulance crew discovered the victim after receiving a call about a woman covered in blood walking down a street on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. The woman was taken to the hospital for serious injuries to her knee and hand, which required surgery. At the hospital, the woman stated that she had been attacked at a residence and that her attacker was Preacher. A witness stated that Preacher told the victim to clean his house, and when she refused, Preacher struck the victim with a machete, with crutches, and with his hands. The 51 ½ month sentence imposed by Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye was in addition to the 5 ½ months that Preacher had already served in the tribal jail based upon the same conduct, resulting in a total of 57 months incarceration. Judge Nye also ordered Preacher to serve three years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Preacher pleaded guilty to the charge on September 26, 2023. U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit commended the cooperative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Hall Police Department, which led to charges. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Haycock prosecuted the case. ###


title: Man Sentenced for Illegally Distributing Over $16M of Adulterated HIV Medication

component: Criminal Division

body_text: A Florida man was sentenced today to four years and three months in prison for his role in a nationwide scheme to illegally distribute at least $16.7 million of adulterated HIV drugs that were ultimately dispensed to unsuspecting patients throughout the country. According to court documents, Armando Herrera, 43, of Miami, and his co-conspirators established companies in Florida, Texas, Washington, and California, which they used to sell and distribute adulterated prescription drugs, primarily HIV medications, to wholesale pharmaceutical suppliers. Herrera and his co-conspirators created false documentation to make it appear as though the drugs were acquired legitimately when, in fact, they were not. The pharmaceutical suppliers then sold the drugs to pharmacies, which dispensed the adulterated prescription drugs to unwitting patients. As part of the investigation, federal agents seized more than $1.5 million worth of adulterated prescription drugs from Herrera, including more than 16,000 tablets of adulterated and misbranded HIV medication. Herrera pleaded guilty on Sept. 25 to one count of conspiracy to introduce adulterated and misbranded drugs into interstate commerce. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida; Acting Special Agent in Charge Stephen Mahmood of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), Miami Regional Office; Special Agent in Charge Kyle A. Myles of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), Atlanta Region; Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; and Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office made the announcement. HHS-OIG, FDIC-OIG, and the FBI investigated the case. Trial Attorney Alexander Thor Pogozelski of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marx P. Calderón for the Southern District of Florida handled asset forfeiture. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


title: Former Swiss Executive Pleads Guilty To Tax Fraud Conspiracy

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Stuart M. Goldberg, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, announced that ROLF SCHNELLMANN, a Swiss former executive, pled guilty today to conspiring to defraud the United States in connection with a scheme to help high-value U.S. taxpayer-clients conceal more than $60 million in income and assets held in undeclared, offshore bank accounts and to evade U.S. income taxes. SCHNELLMANN pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Gregory H. Woods. According to the allegations in the Indictment, court filings, and statements made in Court: SCHNELLMANN was the former head of Allied Finance Trust AG, a Zurich-based financial services company that was a subsidiary of the Allied Finance Group in Liechtenstein. From in or about 2008 to in or about 2014, SCHNELLMANN and his co-conspirators defrauded the IRS by concealing income and assets of high-value U.S. taxpayer-clients with undeclared bank accounts at Privatbank IHAG Zurich AG (“IHAG”), a Swiss private bank. In order to assist the U.S. taxpayer-clients, SCHNELLMANN and his co-conspirators devised and implemented a scheme dubbed the “Singapore Solution” to fraudulently conceal the bank accounts of the U.S. taxpayer-clients, their assets, and their income from U.S. authorities. In furtherance of the fraudulent scheme, SCHNELLMANN and his co-conspirators conspired to transfer more than $60 million from undeclared IHAG bank accounts of the U.S. taxpayer-clients through a series of nominee bank accounts in Hong Kong and other locations before returning the funds to newly opened accounts at IHAG in the name of a Singapore-based asset-management firm that a co-conspirator helped establish. The U.S. taxpayer-clients paid large fees to IHAG and others to help them conceal their funds and assets and evade taxes. SCHNELLMANN was arrested in August 2023 in Italy and extradited to the United States. * * * SCHNELLMANN, 61, of Switzerland, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. SCHNELLMANN is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Woods on July 19, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as SCHNELLMANN’s sentence will be determined by the judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation. Mr. Williams also thanked the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, Interpol, Italian law enforcement authorities, the Prosecutor General’s Office of Trieste, and the Italian Ministry of Justice for their assistance in the extradition of the defendant. Mr. Williams thanked the Department of Justice’s Tax Division for their partnership on this case. This prosecution is being handled by the Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit and the Department of Justice’s Tax Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Olga I. Zverovich and Senior Litigation Counsel Nanette Davis of the Tax Division are in charge of the prosecution.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan Collects $68,224,759.35 in Civil and Criminal Actions for U.S. Taxpayers in Fiscal Year 2023.

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT , MI - U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today that the Eastern District of Michigan collected $68,224,759.35 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2023. Of this amount, $45,879,094.11 was collected in criminal actions and $22,345,665.24 was collected in civil actions. The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims’ Fund, which distributes the funds to state victim compensation and victim assistance programs. The largest collection came from a fine imposed in a securities fraud case against Sterling Bancorp, Inc. The largest civil collections were from affirmative civil enforcement cases, in which the United States recovered government money lost to fraud or other misconduct or collected fines imposed on individuals and/or corporations for violation of federal health, safety, civil rights or environmental laws. The office also resolved several parallel cases that involved significant civil and criminal penalties related to health care fraud. In addition to collection of outstanding obligations, the Eastern District of Michigan seized assets valued at more than $67 million dollars and finalized the forfeiture of assets valued at approximately $34 million dollars. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Fund may be used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes. “Through the hard work and commitment of our team of dedicated attorneys and support professionals, we recovered more than $68 million dollars in Fiscal Year 2023. Due to the tireless efforts of these extraordinary public servants, crime victims and taxpayers will recover funds owed to them as a result of criminal and civil violations perpetrated in this district. Our staff is a tireless advocate for victims of crime. We take actions to recover assets that have been transferred to third parties, as well negotiate for the liquidation of assets obtained by a defendant because of his or her involvement in criminal activity.”


title: Wisconsin Man Sentenced to a Year in Prison for Violating the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act

component: Energy and Natural Resources Division

body_text: A Wisconsin man was sentenced yesterday to 12 months and one day in prison for violating the Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act. Kenneth J. Herrera, 40, of Soldiers Grove, had previously pleaded guilty for creating, selling and distributing an animal crushing video. Animal crushing includes burning, suffocating, impaling or causing the serious bodily injury of animals. The judge also sentenced Herrera to three years of supervised release and to pay a $5,000 fine. In 2021, Herrera paid a videographer in Indonesia $100 for a video of a monkey being physically abused. Herrera sent specific instructions, which the videographer followed, asking that the monkey be picked up by the genitals using pliers and then hit on the head with a hammer. The videographer sent Herrera the video via an encrypted messaging application. The PACT Act makes it illegal to create or distribute depictions of animal crushing that will be sold or distributed internationally or between states. “Animal crushing videos cruelly force animals into a cycle of fear, violence and death for personal gratification or profit,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “We are committed to aggressively pursuing and prosecuting anyone who engages in the creation or distribution of animal crush videos.” “Video recordings of animal torture are cruel, inhumane and illegal,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea for the Western District of Wisconsin. “Evidence shows that animal torture can be a precursor to other violent crimes. Our office will work with law enforcement, domestically and internationally, to investigate and prosecute all crimes of this nature.” “The primary mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and our specific role in the Office of Law Enforcement, is to protect all wildlife from being unlawfully commercialized, in whatever form we find it,” said Assistant Director Edward Grace of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Law Enforcement. “The heinous crimes against wildlife that are centered in this investigation are an extreme example of that commitment. The success of this case is a direct result of our partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.” “The FBI stands resolute in our dedication to working with our federal and international partners to address animal cruelty violations,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Hensle of the FBI Milwaukee Field Office. “We view the sentence handed down in this case under the Animal Crushing Statue not only as a measure of justice served, but also as a deterrent against future violations. We appreciate the opportunity to work with our partners at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Wisconsin on this investigation and will continue to rigorously enforce the laws designed to prevent such heinous acts.” The FBI and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigated the case. Trial Attorney Mark T. Romley of the Justice Department Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chadwick Elgersma for the Western District of Wisconsin prosecuted the case.


title: Man Indicted for Possession of a Postal Service Mail Key and Stolen Mail

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that HAVON MONTGOMERY , age 19, of New Orleans, was charged on December 14, 2023 in Count 1 of a two-count indictment with for Unlawful Possession and Use of a United States Postal Service (USPS) mail “arrow” key, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1704. Such keys are used by Postal Service employees to access authorized mail receptacles. Additionally, MONTGOMERY was charged in Count 2 with Possession of Stolen Mail that had been deposited into authorized mail receptacles, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1708. According to the indictment, on August 22, 2023, the defendant was found in possession of approximately 132 pieces of stolen mail as well as the USPS mail key. If convicted, MONTGOMERY faces up to ten (10) years imprisonment on the unlawful possession of the United States Postal Service mail key count, and up to five (5) years imprisonment on the possession of the stolen mail items count. Each count carries up to three (3) years of supervised release following any prison term, up to a $250,000 fine, and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. United States Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and the New Orleans Police Department in investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jon Maestri of the General Crimes Unit is charge of the prosecution.


title: California Drug Dealer Who Shipped Methamphetamine by Mail to Iowa Sentenced to Over Two Decades in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who absconded from state court parole in Iowa for a drug trafficking offense was sentenced on December 20, 2023, to over 20 years in federal prison for participating in a methamphetamine conspiracy. Todd Alan Skalberg, age 57, from Osmond, Nebraska, received the prison term after a June 30, 2023 guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance after having previously been convicted of a serious drug felony. Skalberg, who was living in California, sent multiple pounds of “ice” methamphetamine by mail to Waterloo, Iowa, to his co-defendant, Justin Lee Hanawalt, over the course of a few months. Skalberg has three prior convictions for drug trafficking offenses. Skalberg was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Skalberg was sentenced to 262 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a ten-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Skalberg is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. Justin Lee Hanawalt was previously sentenced to 240 months in federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nicole L. Nagin, and it was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Waterloo 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 22-CR- 2065. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office discovers undisclosed  assets and collects over $535,000 for wire fraud victims

component: USAO - Wyoming

body_text: The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming operates a Financial Litigation Program (FLP) which enforces fines and restitution resulting from criminal convictions in federal court. Recent developments in a case from 2002 led to the collection of over $535,000 in victim restitution. “Through the FLP, our office seeks to collect fines and restitution efficiently and diligently,” said U.S. Attorney Nicholas Vassallo. “This includes locating debtors and hidden assets in this country and abroad, establishing repayment agreements, and initiating post-judgment remedies like wage garnishments.” The FLP initiated collection efforts under the Federal Debt Collection Procedure Act for a wire fraud case involving defendant Matthew T. Bullis. As part of his sentence, Bullis was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $647,112.50 to victims of his fraud. The FLP first obtained a garnishment order against Bullis’s employer to withhold and pay to the Clerk of District Court 25% of Bullis’s salary. In early 2022, the FLP determined that the employer had failed to withhold the correct amount owed under the garnishment and that Bullis had not accurately described his financial situation. Further enforcement activity by the FLP resulted in Bullis paying his outstanding restitution balance of $535,761.25. “ We are focused on securing restitution for crime victims, recovering taxpayer money obtained by fraud, and depriving criminals of their illegal gains,” said Vassallo. “We recovered hundreds of thousands of dollars in this case because of the tenacity and hard work of our attorneys and staff.” Payment is being distributed by the Clerk of District Court to the victims. Assistant United States Attorney Jasmine Peters handled this enforcement matter. For more information about the FLP, visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wy/civil-division .


title: Slovakian Man Accused of Running Darknet Market Selling Drugs and Personal Information

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A Slovakian man was indicted this week on charges that accuse him of running a darknet market that sold drugs and stolen personal information. Investigators have shut down the market. Alan Bill, 30, of Bratislava, was charged by complaint in U.S. District Court in St. Louis December 14. Bill was arrested December 15 at the Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey by agents with the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations. In an indictment Wednesday, a grand jury charged Bill with ten felonies: conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, four counts of distribution of a controlled substance, conspiracy to commit identity theft and fraud related to identification documents, identity theft, aggravated identity theft, misuse of a passport and money laundering conspiracy. The complaint and the indictment accuse Bill, also known as “Vend0r” and “KingdomOfficial,” of helping to set up and run Kingdom Market, which had over 25,000 active listings as of late last month. The market opened in March of 2021 and sold illegal drugs and unlicensed pharmaceuticals, stolen identities, credit card information, counterfeit money, computer malware and fraudulent identity documents including passports and drivers licenses from Missouri and other states, the charging documents say. “The use of darknet marketplaces and cryptocurrency will not protect dangerous criminals from law enforcement efforts to combat the flow of narcotics and other illegal activities,” said U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming. “This case is a result of diligent efforts by a team of U.S. and international investigators to target one of the largest darknet marketplaces in the world.” “The Kingdom Market darknet site allowed criminals to move dangerous drugs in and out of our communities and use the digital world to hide their illegal activities,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Melissa McFadden of IRS Criminal Investigation’s (CI) St. Louis Field Office. “Collaboration with our global law enforcement partners is the key to disrupting drug trafficking, money laundering and the other illicit activities that occur on the darknet.” “These darknet marketplaces present a significant danger to our communities here in the U.S. as well as those of our international partners.” said HSI Kansas City acting Special Agent in Charge Taekuk Cho. “Our HSI special agents will continue to disrupt and dismantle transnational criminal organizations wherever we find them. I would like to commend the efforts of our law enforcement partners for their work on this case, and especially thank the HSI Newark team for their assistance in arresting Bill.” Kingdom Market charged vendors 500 Euros to start selling, then charged fees on sales. Transactions were conducted in cryptocurrency and Kingdom advised users in methods to conceal their transactions, the documents say. Investigators used the market to purchase methamphetamine, pills containing fentanyl, the personally identifiable information belonging to numerous people and a United States passport, the charging documents say. Websites associated with Kingdom Market have also been seized by law enforcement. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. The drug trafficking conspiracy charge carries a penalty of at least five years in prison, with a maximum of 40, a fine of up to $5 million, or both. The identity theft conspiracy charge carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. The misuse of a passport charge carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. The money laundering conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000, or twice the value of the property involved. IRS Criminal Investigation, the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, the Bureau of Diplomatic Security and the Missouri Department of Revenue investigated the case. The investigation also involved numerous foreign law enforcement agencies, including the German Federal Criminal Police, or Bundeskriminalamt, the Frankfurt am Main Public Prosecutor's Office - Central Office for Combating Internet Crime (ZIT) as well as law enforcement agencies from Switzerland, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Bateman is prosecuting the case.


title: Three-Time Alien Smuggler Sentenced to 60 Months

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Clifford Valisto, 63, of Tucson, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge John C. Hinderaker to 60 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Valisto pleaded guilty to Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit on October 2, 2023. Valisto also was sentenced to 12 months in prison to run concurrently for violating conditions of his federal supervised release from a prior alien smuggling conviction. On July 19, 2023, Valisto picked up six undocumented non-citizens, including a 15-year-old unaccompanied minor, in a Ford F-150. Witnesses reported that Valisto was having difficulty controlling his vehicle, and appeared to be falling asleep as he approached a Border Patrol checkpoint. United States Border Patrol agents found all passengers to be present in the United States illegally. Valisto previously had been convicted of Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens for Profit, CR-18-01843-TUC-DCB, and Conspiracy to Transport an Illegal Alien, CR-11-01345-TUC-DCB. Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: 23-CR-01213-TUC-JCH RELEASE NUMBER: 2023-204_Valisto # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Pharmaceutical Company Ultragenyx Agrees to Pay $6 Million for Allegedly Paying Kickbacks to Induce Claims for its Drug Crysvita

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – Pharmaceutical company Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Inc. (Ultragenyx) has agreed to pay $6 million to resolve allegations that it caused the submission of false claims to Medicare and Medicaid. The settlement concerns Ultragenyx paying for free genetic tests for patients and buying test result information to induce prescriptions of Crysvita. Ultragenyx is a pharmaceutical manufacturer headquartered in California that manufactures Crysvita. Crysvita is an FDA-approved drug to treat X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) in adult and pediatric patients six months of age and older. XLH is a rare inherited disorder characterized by low levels of phosphate in the blood, which can lead to weak bones and, in many instances, may require a genetic test to definitively diagnose. As part of the settlement, Ultragenyx admitted and accepted responsibility for certain facts providing the basis of the settlement. Ultragenyx understood that, in some cases, an insurer (including Medicare or Medicaid) would require a positive genetic test for a genetic mutation consistent with XLH to pay for a patient’s prescription for Crysvita, or a health care provider (HCP) would require a positive genetic test to make a definitive diagnosis of XLH and prescribe Crysvita. Thus, Ultragenyx entered into an arrangement with a genetic testing laboratory (Laboratory), whereby Ultragenyx paid the Laboratory to conduct genetic tests—at no cost to HCPs or patients—and provide the results to the HCP. Ultragenyx referred to this program as its “sponsored” XLH testing program. Ultragenyx sales personnel discussed the XLH testing program with HCPs and delivered order forms for the tests to HCP’s offices. Ultragenyx separately paid the Laboratory to provide the test results to Ultragenyx, including the name of the HCP who ordered the test, a de-identified patient ID number, the date the test was ordered, and—once ready—the test result itself ( “Results Reports”). Ultragenyx used the Results Reports, in part, for marketing purposes to find potential Crysvita patients and their HCPs. Until April 2022, Ultragenyx received Results Reports and disseminated this information to its sales force with instructions to make sales calls for Crysvita to HCPs who ordered a test or who had a patient with a positive test result. Ultragenyx’s sales force followed up with HCPs regarding test results. The United States contends that, as a result of these actions, Ultragenyx caused the submission of false claims to Medicare and Medicaid by paying kickbacks to beneficiaries in the form of free genetic tests to induce their purchase of Medicare- or Medicaid-reimbursed Crysvita and to the Laboratory for the Results Reports to induce the Laboratory’s to refer to Ultragenyx the names of HCPs to whom Ultragenyx could market Crysvita. “Kickbacks, in whatever form, have no business in our federal healthcare system. We are always on the lookout for financial kickbacks that can improperly influence medical decisions, undermine patient care, and cause waste to federal healthcare programs,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “As medical practices evolve, our office is committed to ferreting out improper financial kickbacks of any permutation.” “The department is committed to protecting the integrity of federal health care programs and the medical care received by their beneficiaries,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “A primary focus of this effort is the pursuit of kickback schemes that can allow third parties, such as pharmaceutical manufactures, to insert themselves into the doctor-patient relationship and potentially undermine the objectivity of treatment decisions by physicians and patients.” “Kickback arrangements designed to improperly influence medical decisions will always be an investigative priority for our agency,” said Special Agent in Charge Roberto Coviello of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. “The goals of our continued enforcement in this area are to protect the integrity of taxpayer-funded health care programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, and to curb schemes that can inappropriately manipulate the health care choices of patients and their doctors.” “Today’s settlement makes it crystal clear that pharmaceutical companies like Ultragenyx will not be allowed to exploit patient data to target patients for treatments in order to boost their bottom line at the expense of taxpayer-funded health care programs,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Let this case be a warning to others that the FBI and our law enforcement partners are hard at work investigating allegations of health care fraud, and anyone engaging in similar conduct will face similar consequences.” The allegations resolved by the settlement agreement were, in part, originally brought in a case filed under the whistleblower, or qui tam, provision of the False Claims Act. The case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Ruggiero v. Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical, Inc. (D. Mass.) (No. 1:21-cv-11176-ADB). The False Claims Act permits private parties to sue for fraud on behalf of the United States and to share in any recovery. The act also permits the government to intervene in such actions, as the government did, in part, in this case. Of the total $6 million recovery, approximately $5.8 million constitutes a recovery for Medicare and the federal share of Medicaid and approximately $200,000 constitutes a recovery for state Medicaid programs. The whistleblower will receive approximately $1.07 million from the federal portion of the recovery. Acting U.S. Attorney Levy; AAG Boynton; HHS-OIG SAC Coviello; and FBI SAC Cohen made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian LaMacchia and Diane Seol and Senior Counsel for Health Care Fraud Augustine Ripa handled the matter.


title: Former State Employee and Her Husband Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Unlawfully Produce Tennessee Driver's Licence

component: USAO - Tennessee, Eastern

body_text: KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On December 21, 2023, Cheryl Huff, 49, of Knoxville, and Mario Paz-Mejia, 50, of Knoxville, who are married, entered guilty pleas in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee to one count of conspiracy to produce, without lawful authority, identification documents or false identification documents. Sentencing has been set for May 24, 2024, before the Honorable Katherine A. Crytzer in the United States District Court at Knoxville. Huff and Paz-Mejia each face a term of up to 15 years in Federal prison, $250,000 in fines, and supervised release of three years. As part of their written plea agreements filed with the court on March 1, 2023, Huff and Paz-Mejia waived an indictment by a Federal Grand Jury and agreed to plead guilty for their role in a conspiracy to produce hundreds of false Tennessee driver’s licenses and identification cards for individuals who were not qualified under Tennessee law to receive them. According to the plea agreements filed with the court, Huff was a District Manager for the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDSHS), which issues Tennessee driver’s licenses and identification cards at various Driver Service Centers (DSC) across Tennessee. Huff managed and supervised DSC employees in the Greater Knoxville area and had authority to issue driver’s licenses and application cards. Paz-Mejia recruited individuals who were neither citizens of the United States nor residents of Tennessee who wanted to acquire a Tennessee driver’s license or identification card. Using his association with Huff, Paz-Mejia represented to his customers that, in return for $2,500, Paz-Mejia could obtain for them a Tennessee driver’s license or identification card. Paz-Mejia also assisted his customers in obtaining false citizenship and residency documents—two requirements to obtain a Tennessee driver’s license—including fraudulent lease agreements to establish proof of Tennessee residency, and false birth certificates, Social Security cards, and driver’s licenses from other states and U.S. territories to establish proof of citizenship or legal residency in the United States. Huff knew, or deliberately ignored a high probability, that Paz-Mejia was helping his customers obtain false citizenship and residency documents and that Paz-Mejia charged his customers money to obtain a Tennessee driver’s license or identification card. Huff used her access to TDSHS’s internal software to confirm that the names and information on the false citizenship and residency documents used by Paz-Mejia’s customers could be used to obtain a Tennessee driver’s license or identification card. For example, on June 23, 2021, Paz-Mejia texted Huff the name, date of birth, and personal information used on false identification documents, asking Huff to “check that please.” Huff responded, “All of these are not on file. They’re good.” After Paz-Mejia’s customers acquired false citizenship and residency documents, Paz-Mejia arranged to meet them at a Knoxville-area DSC before business hours. With Huff’s assistance, Paz-Mejia escorted his customers into DSCs before business hours, including through a backdoor employee-only entrance. Once Paz-Mejia and his customers were inside, Huff initiated driver’s license applications for the customers using TDSHS software. Huff also instructed subordinate DSC employees to complete applications and issue driver’s licenses to many of Paz-Mejia’s customers. “Abusing a position of public trust to commit any federal crime, including conspiracy to unlawfully produce false identification documents, undermines the public’s confidence in government functions and creates a serious security risk,” said United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee Francis M. Hamilton III. “Our office will aggressively prosecute government employees who abuse their trusted employment positions for personal gain.” “I am deeply disappointed in the actions of a former Tennessee Driver Services District Manager and others who betrayed the trust and tarnished the reputation of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security,” said Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Jeff Long. “I want to thank the departmental employees for having the courage to alert and cooperate with the Tennessee Highway Patrol’s Criminal Investigation Division on this case involving one of their co-workers. Our agency cooperates and works closely with federal law enforcement partners and the United States Attorney’s Office to pursue justice to the fullest extent of the law.” This prosecution is the result of an ongoing investigation by the Tennessee Highway Patrol’s Criminal Investigation Division, the United States Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the United States Secret Service. William A. Roach, Jr., Assistant United States Attorney, represented the United States. ###


title: Nicaraguan Woman Sentenced for Illegally Using Social Security Number

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that JUNIETH BETANCO-HERNANDEZ , age 19, was sentenced on December 19, 2023 to probation for a term of one year for illegally using a social security number, in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 408(a)(7)(B). According to court documents, BETANCO-HERNANDEZ was first arrested, by the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) near Hidalgo, TX, on or about September 30, 2022. BETANCO-HERNANDEZ was later determined to be unlawfully present and inadmissible into the United States. She was released from custody by USBP and instructed to report to Immigration and Customs Enforcement in New Orleans. In conjunction with her release, BETANCO-HERNANDEZ was enrolled in the “Alternative to Detention” program, run by BI Incorporated (BI) and provided a GPS device to monitor her location in the United States. On or about March 28, 2023, BETANCO-HERNANDEZ reported to BI's office and presented her immigration documents consisting of a Louisiana state ID featuring her name and photograph, and a Social Security Card. Through investigation, Homeland Security Investigations agents determined that BETANCO-HERNANDEZ was not the individual to whom that social security number had been issued. To the contrary, agents confirmed that the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration had instead, issued that social security number to another individual. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr. of the General Crimes Unit, is in charge of the prosecution.


title: West Bridgewater Man Arrested for Child Pornography Offense

body_text: BOSTON – A West Bridgewater man was arrested yesterday for allegedly receiving child pornography from an online communication application. Juan Levano, 23, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of receipt of child pornography. Levano was arrested yesterday morning and, following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, remains in federal custody. According to the charging documents, an investigation into an internet-based communications application used for the trafficking of child pornography identified Levano as a likely user of the platform who participated in at least two groups where child pornography was disseminated. Search warrants were executed yesterday at the residence where Levano resides and seized various electronic devices. According to the charging documents, Levano rented a room at the residence, which is registered as a residential daycare. Both Levano and the owner of the residence denied that Levano worked at the residential daycare and denied that Levano had any contact with the children who attend it. It is alleged that Levano admitted to being a member of several groups on the chat application and obtaining child pornography from those groups – estimating that his collection included imagery of children ranging from infancy to 13 years old. A preliminary review of Levano’s phone allegedly revealed that Levano was a member of several active groups on the platform that included the exchange of child pornography. It is further alleged that more than 100 video and image files were identified, most of which appear to depict child pornography, and stored in a photo application on Levano’s phone. Forensic analysis of the seized devices is ongoing. The charge of receipt of child pornography provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 20years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $ 250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the West Bridgewater Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica L. Soto of the Office’s Major Crimes Unit 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 . The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Federal Prison for Trafficking Heroin and Cocaine in Chicago Area

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: CHICAGO — A man has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for trafficking heroin and cocaine in the Chicago area. From 2015 to 2022, ALFONSO HIDALGO-GOMEZ obtained heroin and cocaine from Mexico and distributed the narcotics in the Chicago area. During his trafficking activities in the Chicago area, Hidalgo-Gomez was accountable for distributing at least 13.4 kilograms of narcotics. At least two other individuals worked for Hidalgo-Gomez, distributing drugs at his direction. Hidalgo-Gomez, 37, of Chicago, pleaded guilty earlier this year to a drug conspiracy charge. U.S. District Judge Jorge L. Alonso imposed the sentence on Dec. 13, 2023, after a hearing in federal court in Chicago. The sentence was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Sheila G. Lyons, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the DEA, Robert W. “Wes” Wheeler, Jr., Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI Chicago Field Office, and Ruth M. Mendonça, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug trafficking organizations and other criminal networks that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local enforcement agencies. “The streets of Chicago are made immeasurably more dangerous because of the drug trade,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Misty N. Wright argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum. “People like defendant perpetuate the drug trafficking crisis in Chicago and all that goes with it, including addiction, crime, and violence. This type of activity endangers our communities.”


title: Former Swiss Executive Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud Conspiracy

component: Tax Division

body_text: A Swiss national pleaded guilty today to conspiring to defraud the United States for his role in a scheme to help high-net-worth U.S. taxpayers conceal their income and assets in offshore accounts. According to court documents and statements made in court, Rolf Schnellmann was the former head of Allied Finance Trust AG, a Zurich-based financial services company and a subsidiary of the Allied Finance Group in Liechtenstein. From approximately 2008 to 2014, Schnellmann and his co-conspirators defrauded the IRS by concealing income and assets of high-net-worth U.S. taxpayer-clients in undeclared bank accounts at Privatbank IHAG Zurich AG (IHAG), a Swiss private bank. Schnellmann and his co-conspirators devised and implemented a scheme dubbed the “Singapore Solution” to fraudulently conceal the bank accounts of the U.S. taxpayer-clients, their assets and their income from U.S. authorities. As part of the scheme, Schnellmann and his co-conspirators conspired to transfer more than $60 million from the U.S. taxpayer-clients’ undeclared IHAG bank accounts through a series of nominee accounts in Hong Kong and other locations before returning the funds to newly opened accounts at IHAG in the name of a Singapore-based asset-management firm that a co-conspirator helped establish. The U.S. taxpayer-clients paid large fees to IHAG and others to help them conceal their funds and assets and evade taxes. Schnellmann was arrested in August in Italy and extradited to the United States. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 19, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, as well as a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties. 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 Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York and James C. Lee, Chief of IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) made the announcement. IRS-CI is investigating the case. Mr. Goldberg and Mr. Williams also thanked the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, Interpol, Italian law enforcement authorities, the Prosecutor General’s Office of Trieste and the Italian Ministry of Justice for their assistance in the extradition of the defendant. Senior Litigation Counsel Nannette Davis of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Olga I. Zverovich for the Southern District of New York are prosecuting the case.


title: Kentwood Residents Indicted for Fentanyl Conspiracy and Distribution

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that MICHAEL WHITE , age 44, and JOHN WHITE , age 44, both of Kentwood, Louisiana, were charged in a recently unsealed indictment with one (1) count of Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute forty (40) grams or more of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846, 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B), and two (2) counts of Distribution of fentanyl, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B). According to the indictment, MICHAEL WHITE and JOHN WHITE conspired with each other and with others, to distribute fentanyl. If found guilty of any of the three counts, they face a minimum of 5 years up to a maximum of 40 years imprisonment, up to a $5,000,000 fine, and up to four years of supervised release. All three counts also carry a mandatory $100 mandatory special assessment fee. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at http://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . U. S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendants must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Drug Enforcement Administration-Fentanyl Overdose Response Team, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Hammond Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stuart Theriot of the Narcotics Unit. * * *


title: Federal Grand Jury Indicts Louisville Man for Bank Robbery and Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Louisville, KY – A federal grand jury in Louisville, Kentucky, returned a five-count indictment on November 21, 2023, charging a Louisville man with three bank robberies, possession of a firearm during a bank robbery, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Nashville, and Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel of the Louisville Metro Police Department made the announcement. According to the indictment, Corey D. Ware, 28, was charged with three bank robberies, possession of a firearm during a bank robbery, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On September 16, 2022, Ware robbed two banks in Jefferson County. On September 22, 2022, Ware possessed a firearm and robbed another bank in Jefferson County. Ware possessed the firearm after having previously been convicted of the following felony offenses. On December 20, 2017, in Jefferson Circuit Court, Ware, was convicted of trafficking in a controlled substance, first degree (three counts), trafficking in a controlled substance, second degree, and trafficking in marijuana with a firearm. The defendant made his initial court appearance yesterday, before a U.S. Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Ware remains in federal custody pending trial. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years and a maximum sentence of 80 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. This case is being investigated by LMPD, FBI, and HSI with assistance from the ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac Shannon is prosecuting this case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Christian County Woman Sentenced to Over 11 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Methamphetamine and Violating Supervised Release

body_text: Paducah, KY – A Christian County, Kentucky, woman was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine, followed by an additional 1 year and 6 months in prison for violating a previous term of federal supervised release. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the DEA Louisville Field Division, and Hopkinsville Police Chief Jason Newby made the announcement. According to court documents, Ahgeana Bailey, 29, of Hopkinsville, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, for one count of distributing over 50 grams of methamphetamine. At the time she committed this offense, Bailey was on federal supervised release for a 2019 conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. She was sentenced to an additional 1 year and 6 months in prison for violating the terms of her supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. The case was investigated by the DEA Paducah Post of Duty and the Hopkinsville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leigh Ann Dycus, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, prosecuted the case. ###


title: Former Texas Police Lieutenant Sentenced To Nearly 13 Years In Federal Prison For Attempting To Entice 11-Year-Old Child To Engage In Sexual Activity

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – Chief United States District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Seth Estes Vanover (52, Diana, TX) to 12 years and 11 months in federal prison for attempting to entice an 11-year-old child to engage in sexual activity using an online social messaging app. Vanover was also ordered to serve a 15-year term of supervised release, register as a sex offender, and forfeit four iPhone devices. He had pleaded guilty on August 21, 2023. According to court documents and evidence discussed in open court, on July 25, 2022, an undercover FBI agent began an online operation designed to identify individuals seeking to meet with and engage in sexual activity with children. Posing as a person with access to an 11-year-old child, the undercover (UC) agent posted a notice on the app and was then contacted by a user named “jattleson,” later identified as Vanover. Vanover confirmed that he was “into yung” and sent the UC agent several photos depicting child erotica and a nude adult male. Vanover and the UC agent discussed the sexual experience of the purported “child.” Vanover stated that he would “love to” meet them in Florida and would “love to be naked with” the “child.” Vanover and the UC agent engaged in more online conversations in August and September 2022, during which the two discussed, among other things, meeting in Florida so that Vanover could molest the “child.” Vanover described in graphic detail the sexual acts that he (Vanover) intended to perform on the “child,” and he directed the UC agent to talk to and prepare the “child” for the intended sexual activity. On October 12, 2022, FBI agents arrested Vanover at the Longview Police Department in Longview, Texas, and Vanover, a police lieutenant, resigned on that same day. Agents searched the patrol car used by Vanover and recovered a cellphone that belonged to Vanover. A search of Vanover’s phone revealed that it contained, among other things, at least 234 videos and 133 photos depicting the sexual abuse of children, including infants, toddlers, and other young children. This phone also contained sexually explicit online communications that Vanover had with other app users, as well as child sexual abuse videos and photos that Vanover had solicited and received during some of these conversations. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance and cooperation of the Longview (Texas) Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown. 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.justice.gov/psc.


title: Titusville Pharmacist Sentenced To Federal Prison For Distributing Opioids And Benzodiazepines Without A Prescription

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Roy B. Dalton, Jr. has sentenced Basil Samir Itani (47, Titusville) to 12 months and 1 day in federal prison for distributing and dispensing controlled substances. The court also ordered Itani to pay a $50,000 fine. Itani had pleaded guilty on September 27, 2023. According to court documents, Itani sold pharmaceutical controlled substances to a confidential source on nine different occasions between January 5 and May 24, 2023. The confidential source purchased the controlled substances from Itani for cash and without a prescription after hours at Itani’s pharmacy. The controlled substances Itani sold included over 3,500 units of oxycodone, over 1,300 units of methadone, nearly 400 units of alprazolam, 200 units of morphine, and a small quantity of methylphenidate—all for which he received thousands of dollars in cash. Itani distributed and dispensed these controlled substances in an unauthorized manner by acting outside the usual course of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Titusville Police Department and by the Opioid Fraud Abuse and Detection Unit at the United States Attorney’s Office, which focuses on opioid-related fraud and abuse by medical and health care professionals who have contributed to the prescription opioid epidemic. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman.


title: Connecticut Man Sentenced for Receiving Over $919,000 in Bribes from Contractors

body_text: BOSTON – A Connecticut man who held positions involving facility maintenance at three collegiate institutions was sentenced yesterday for receiving $919,066 of bribes in exchange for directing contracts to favored contractors. Floyd Young, 53, of Shelton, Conn., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to eight months in prison. Young was also ordered to pay restitution of $919,066 to the collegiate institutions and forfeiture of $919,066. In August 2020, Young pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and three counts of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds. Young held positions involving facility maintenance at three collegiate institutions, including American International College, located in Springfield. Young steered contracts for construction, repair, maintenance, and other work for the collegiate institutions to favored contractors who paid him bribes, typically in the amount of 15% of the contract. The contractors inflated the amount of the invoices submitted to the collegiate institutions in order to be repaid the cost of the bribe payment made to Young. In addition, as contractors received payments for work done at the collegiate institutions, they paid Young bribes on a periodic basis. On occasion, Young and the contractors arranged for no-work invoices to be submitted to the collegiate institutions and then split the payment. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow of the Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.


title: New Hampshire Man Indicted for Threatening to Kill Three Presidential Candidates

component: Office of the Attorney General

body_text: A New Hampshire man has been indicted in connection with sending threatening text messages to three presidential candidates. Tyler Anderson, 30, of Dover, was charged with three counts of transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure the person of another. Anderson was arrested on Dec. 9, and he made an initial appearance in federal court on Dec. 11. On Dec. 14, the court released him on conditions. “We have seen an increase in threats of violence against public officials and those seeking public office across the country, and I have made clear that these types of illegal threats undermine the function of our democracy,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “We will not tolerate illegal threats of violence directed at public officials or those seeking public office.” According to the charging documents, Anderson sent a series of threatening text messages to three separate presidential campaigns going back to November. On Nov. 22, Anderson threatened to “impale” and “disembowel” one candidate. On Dec. 6, Anderson threatened a second candidate in a series of text messages, including that he would “blow” the "head off" of the candidate and conduct a “mass shooting.” On Dec. 8, Anderson threatened via text message that he would “blow” the “brains out” of a third candidate and “kill everyone” who would attend a then-upcoming campaign event. Anderson faces a maximum of five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 for each charge. A federal district court judge will determine a sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Dover Police Department and the Portsmouth Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Rombeau for the District of New Hampshire is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Man Indicted on Charges Connected to Five St. Louis Area Robberies

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man from St. Louis County was indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis Wednesday on charges connected to five armed robberies in the St. Louis area since September. Ronald O. Perkins, 28, of Black Jack, Missouri, was indicted on four counts of robbery, one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, three counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and one count of transporting a firearm in interstate commerce with intent to commit a felony. The indictment accuses Perkins of robbing a Mobil Gas Mart in St. Louis on September 8, Wheeler’s Service Station and a 7-Eleven in St. Louis County on November 8 and a BP Gas Mart in St. Louis County on November 12. He is also accused of transporting a firearm across state lines on November 17 with the intent to commit an armed robbery. The Gas Mart robber was captured on surveillance video, according to an affidavit filed in support of a November 21 criminal complaint against Perkins. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. Each robbery charge carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or both prison and a fine. The discharge of a firearm charge carries a penalty of at least 10 years consecutive to the other charges, a $250,000 fine, or both prison and a fine. The brandishing charge carries a penalty of at least seven years consecutive to any other charge and the same fine. The transporting charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and the same fine. The St. Louis County Police Department, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the Collinsville Police Department, the Richmond Heights Police Department, the Columbia (Illinois) Police Department and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Bluestone is prosecuting the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.