title: Peruvian National Extradited For Facilitating Peruvian Call Center Scheme That Threatened and Defrauded Spanish-Speaking U.S. Consumers

component: Civil Division

body_text: A resident of Lima, Peru, was extradited to the United States and was arraigned today in a federal court in Miami, where he stands accused of facilitating fraud schemes perpetrated by numerous Peruvian call centers that defrauded victims across the United States, the Justice Department and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) announced today. David Cornejo Fernandez, 36, will face federal wire fraud, extortion and conspiracy charges. Cornejo was arrested on May 17, by Peruvian authorities pursuant to a U.S. extradition request. He has remained incarcerated since that time. According to the indictment, the defendant provided Internet-based telephone lines, caller-ID spoofing services, and recording capabilities to fraudulent call centers from November 2012 through June 2019. Cornejo provided his co-conspirators in Peru with the technology to place fraudulent and extortionate calls to vulnerable Spanish-speaking individuals in the United States. Cornejo’s co-conspirators falsely told victims that they had been selected to receive a prize, such as a tablet containing an English language course. Many victims expressed interest in receiving the prizes. In later calls, victims were told that they were required to make large payments to receive the prizes. When victims objected, the callers falsely claimed that victims would face severe consequences — including court proceedings, arrest or harm to their immigration status — if they did not pay. The callers impersonated attorneys, court officials, federal agents and police officers to threaten and intimidate victims into making payments. Cornejo provided his co-conspirators with the software — and at times, the training — to convincingly impersonate government officials and extort payments from victims. Cornejo provided his co-conspirators with the technology to manipulate the phone numbers on victims’ caller IDs, which enabled them to place threatening calls that appeared to be coming from U.S. federal agencies, court officials or law enforcement agencies. Cornejo also placed recordings on his co-conspirators’ inbound phone lines that appeared to be recordings from actual U.S. courts, police departments and federal agencies, including the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). These recordings enhanced the apparent legitimacy of the threatening calls and were used to extort payments from vulnerable consumers in the Southern District of Florida and across the United States. “The Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch will pursue and prosecute transnational criminals who seek to take advantage of vulnerable U.S. consumers,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department and U.S. law enforcement will continue to work closely with law enforcement partners across the globe to thwart criminals who defraud and extort U.S. victims from outside the United States. I thank the Republic of Peru, including the Peruvian National Police, for its assistance extraditing this individual to face charges here in the United States.” “The long arm of the American justice system has no limits when it comes to reaching fraudsters who prey on our nation’s most vulnerable populations, to include the elderly and recent immigrants,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “We will not allow transnational criminals to use fear tactics and intimidation to steal money from the public we serve. Individuals who defraud American consumers will be brought to justice, no matter where they are located.” “Today’s initial appearance of David Cornejo Fernandez is strong evidence of the dedication between the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida who will stop at nothing to bring those who victimize our citizens to justice,” said Inspector in Charge Juan A. Vargas of the USPIS Miami Division. “I want to thank the Republic of Peru and all our law enforcement partners who work tirelessly to combat these transnational schemes that defraud U.S. consumers. Together, we continue to send a strong message, that justice has no borders and this collaboration between countries demonstrates those efforts to preserve the rule of law.” A six-count federal indictment was filed against the defendant in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in February 2023 and was unsealed upon the defendant’s extradition to the United States. The defendant has been charged with conspiracy, wire fraud, and extortion. If convicted, Cornejo faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. USPIS investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Florida, the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Peruvian National Police and the Peruvian Attorney General’s Office provided critical assistance. Senior Trial Attorney and Transnational Criminal Litigation Coordinator Phil Toomajian and Trial Attorney Carolyn Rice of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch prosecuted the case. The Justice Department continues to investigate and bring charges in other similar matters involving threats against Spanish-speaking residents of the United States. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available. More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch . Consumer complaints may be filed with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov . For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its fraud enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Ciudadano peruano extraditado por facilitar una red de centros de atención telefónica que amenazaban y estafaban a consumidores estadounidenses de habla hispana

body_text: El Departamento de Justicia y el Servicio de Inspección Postal de los Estados Unidos (USPIS, por sus siglas en inglés) anunciaron hoy que un residente de Lima, Perú, fue extraditado a los Estados Unidos y fue procesado ante un tribunal federal de Miami en el día de la fecha, tras ser acusado de facilitar redes de fraude en las que actuaron varios centros de atención telefónica peruanos y que estafaron a víctimas de todos los Estados Unidos. David Cornejo Fernández, de 36 años y natural de Lima, Perú, enfrentará cargos federales de fraude electrónico, extorsión y conspiración. Las autoridades peruanas detuvieron a Cornejo el 17 de mayo en virtud de una solicitud de extradición estadounidense, momento desde el cual se encuentra detenido. Según la acusación formal presentada, desde noviembre de 2012 hasta junio de 2019, el acusado suministró líneas telefónicas a través de internet, servicios de suplantación de identidad de llamadas y funciones de grabación a centros de llamadas fraudulentos. Cornejo facilitó a sus cómplices en Perú la tecnología necesaria para hacer llamadas fraudulentas y extorsivas a personas vulnerables de habla hispana en los Estados Unidos. Los cómplices mentían a las víctimas diciéndoles que habían sido elegidas para recibir un premio, por ejemplo, una tablet que incluía un curso de inglés. Muchas víctimas manifestaron su interés en recibir los premios. En llamadas posteriores, se exigía a las víctimas pagos cuantiosos para recibir los premios. Ante la negación de las víctimas, las personas que llamaban afirmaban falsamente que, si no pagaban, afrontarían graves consecuencias, como procesos judiciales, detenciones o perjuicios a su condición migratoria. Los autores de las llamadas fingían ser abogados, funcionarios judiciales, agentes federales y policías para amenazar e intimidar a las víctimas y obligarlas a realizar los pagos. Cornejo facilitó a sus cómplices el software (y, en ocasiones, la capacitación) para fingir, de manera convincente, que eran funcionarios públicos y extorsionar a las víctimas. Con la tecnología aportada por Cornejo, los cómplices manipularon los números de teléfono de los identificadores de llamadas de las víctimas, lo que les permitió hacer llamadas intimidatorias que simulaban proceder de agencias federales estadounidenses, funcionarios judiciales o autoridades policiales. Cornejo también instaló grabaciones en las líneas telefónicas entrantes de sus cómplices que aparentaban ser grabaciones genuinas de tribunales, departamentos de policía y agencias federales estadounidenses, incluido el Servicio de Ciudadanía e Inmigración de los Estados Unidos (USCIS, por sus siglas en inglés). Estas grabaciones aumentaban la supuesta legitimidad de las llamadas intimidatorias y se utilizaban para extorsionar a consumidores vulnerables del Distrito Sur de Florida y de todos los Estados Unidos. El fiscal general interino de los Estados Unidos, Brian M. Boynton, jefe de la División Civil del Departamento de Justicia, declaró: «La Subdivisión de Protección del Consumidor del Departamento de Justicia perseguirá y procesará a los delincuentes transnacionales que intenten aprovecharse de los consumidores vulnerables de los Estados Unidos. El Departamento de Justicia y las autoridades policiales estadounidenses seguirán colaborando estrechamente con sus socios policiales en todo el mundo para frustrar a los delincuentes que estafan y extorsionan a víctimas estadounidenses desde fuera de Estados Unidos. Agradezco a la República del Perú y a su policía nacional por ayudarnos en la extradición de esta persona a fin de que afronte los cargos aquí en los Estados Unidos». El fiscal federal del Distrito Sur de Florida, Markenzy Lapointe, manifestó que «la jurisdicción extraterritorial de la justicia de nuestro país no conoce límites a la hora de encontrar a los estafadores que se aprovechan de los habitantes más vulnerables de nuestra nación, entre ellos, las personas mayores y los nuevos inmigrantes. No permitiremos que los delincuentes transnacionales utilicen tácticas de miedo e intimidación para robar el dinero de los ciudadanos a los que prestamos servicio. Aquellos que defrauden a los consumidores estadounidenses responderán ante la justicia, sin importar dónde se encuentren». Según las declaraciones del inspector a cargo de la División Miami del USPIS, Juan A. Vargas, «la comparecencia inicial de David Cornejo Fernández en el día de la fecha es una prueba contundente del compromiso conjunto del Servicio de Inspección Postal de los Estados Unidos, la División de Protección al Consumidor del Departamento de Justicia y la Fiscalía del Distrito Sur de Florida, que no se detendrán ante nada para juzgar a quienes atentan contra nuestros ciudadanos. Quisiera agradecer a la República de Perú y a todos nuestros colaboradores en las fuerzas del orden que trabajan sin descanso para combatir estas redes transnacionales que buscan estafar a los consumidores estadounidenses. Juntos seguimos enviando un mensaje firme: la justicia no tiene fronteras y esta colaboración entre países demuestra los esfuerzos por preservar el Estado de derecho». En febrero de 2023, se presentó una acusación formal federal de seis cargos contra el acusado en el Tribunal de Distrito de los EE. UU. para el distrito Sur de Florida, cuyo contenido fue revelado tras la extradición a los Estados Unidos. Los cargos contra el acusado son de conspiración, fraude electrónico y extorsión. Una acusación formal se limita a alegar que se han cometido delitos; de ser declarado culpable, Cornejo enfrenta una pena máxima de 20 años de prisión. Un juez de un tribunal federal de distrito dictará sentencia después de evaluar las directrices federales para la imposición de penas de los Estados Unidos y demás cuestiones legales. Todos los acusados se presumen inocentes hasta que se demuestre su culpabilidad más allá de toda duda razonable. El caso está a cargo de Phil Toomajian, abogado litigante sénior y coordinador de litigios penales transnacionales, junto con la abogada litigante Carolyn Rice, de la División de Protección al Consumidor del Departamento de Justicia. El USPIS investigó el caso y contó con la ayuda fundamental de la Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales del Departamento de Justicia, la Fiscalía del Distrito Sur de Florida, el Servicio de Seguridad Diplomática del Departamento de Estado, el Servicio de Marshals de Estados Unidos, la Policía Nacional del Perú y el Ministerio Público del Perú. El Departamento de Justicia continúa investigando y presentando cargos en otros casos similares relacionados con amenazas contra residentes hispanohablantes de los Estados Unidos. Si usted o alguien que conoce es mayor de 60 y ha sido víctima de fraude financiero, puede comunicarse con la línea directa nacional contra el fraude a personas mayores: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311), donde tendrá a su disposición profesionales experimentados en este tipo de delitos. La línea directa del Departamento de Justicia, gestionada por la Oficina para las Víctimas de Delitos, puede brindar ayuda personalizada a las víctimas mediane la evaluación de las necesidades de la víctima e identificación de los pasos que se deben seguir. Los coordinadores de casos identificarán los organismos de denuncia adecuados, brindarán información a las víctimas para ayudarlas a presentar la denuncia, las pondrán en contacto directamente con los organismos correspondientes y les brindarán recursos y referencias, según cada caso en particular. El primer paso es presentar una denuncia; esto puede ayudar a las autoridades a identificar a quienes cometen fraude. La denuncia inmediata de las pérdidas económicas por fraude puede aumentar la probabilidad de recuperar las pérdidas. La línea directa está abierta de lunes a viernes de 10.00 a. m. a 6:00 p. m., hora del este, y está disponible en inglés, español y otros idiomas. Puede consultar la página web de la Iniciativa de Justicia para Personas Mayores para obtener más información sobre las medidas del Departamento a fin de ayudar a las personas mayores estadounidenses. Para obtener más información sobre la División de Protección al Consumidor y las medidas adoptadas para lograr el cumplimiento de la normativa, visite el sitio web www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch . Los consumidores pueden presentar las denuncias ante la Comisión Federal de Comercio (FTC, por sus siglas en inglés) en reportfraud.ftc.gov/ o llamando al 877-FTC-HELP. El Departamento de Justicia ofrece una variedad de recursos relacionados con la victimización por fraude de personas mayores a través de su Oficina para las Víctimas de Delitos, a la que se puede acceder en www.ovc.gov Para más información sobre la División de Protección al Consumidor y sus medidas de lucha contra el fraude, visite su sitio web en www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch .


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office and FBI Announce Charges in Domestic-Violence Case

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – A Brimhall, New Mexico man has been charged with two felony crimes—Assault of a dating partner by strangling and Assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Victor Badonie , 32, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, appeared before a federal judge and was released with conditions to include home detention and GPS monitoring. Trial in this case has not been scheduled. According to the indictment, on March 6, 2024, Badonie allegedly assaulted Jane Doe by strangling, suffocating, and attempting to strangle and suffocate her. Badonie also struck Doe, which resulted in serious bodily injury. If convicted, Badonie faces a maximum of 10 years in prison per felony charge, followed by three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today. The Gallup Resident Agency of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Zuni Pueblo Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Zach Jones is prosecuting the case. An is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. # # #


title: 8-Hour Armed Standoff Leads to 5+ Year Federal Sentence for Westbrook Man Who Illegally Possessed Gun

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: A Westbrook man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for possession of a firearm by a felon. U.S. District Judge John A. Woodcock, Jr. sentenced Corey Faulkner , 39, to 64 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. According to court records, in October 2023, officers from the Westbrook Police Department responded to Faulkner’s residence following a 911 call reporting domestic violence. The victim reported that Faulkner had assaulted her, including by strangling her. After fleeing the apartment, the victim called 911 and reported to officers that Faulkner possessed firearms and had made suicidal statements. After Faulkner ceased communications with law enforcement, officers cleared a perimeter around the residence and ordered a shelter-in-place for the nearby buildings. Officers obtained a state arrest warrant for Faulkner and breached the building’s basement, using unmanned drones and a robot to locate him in a bathroom. Faulkner surrendered when the bathroom window was breached. The incident lasted more than eight hours. Officers recovered a 12-gauge shotgun, 12-gauge ammunition, a 9mm pistol case, and 9mm ammunition during an initial search of the residence. A 9mm pistol was recovered from a kitchen cabinet during a second search. Faulkner was precluded from possessing any firearms due to his conviction history. In 2013, Faulkner was convicted on state charges of operating under the influence, endangering the welfare of a child, and domestic violence assault. In 2018, Faulkner was convicted of aggravated assault after punching a woman, dousing her with rubbing alcohol and threatening to set her on fire, and strangling her. The Westbrook Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case. ###


title: Active-duty Army soldiers charged and convicted for obtaining fraudulent COVID-19 related loans

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – Two active-duty U.S. Army soldiers pled guilty to, and a third soldier was charged with, obtaining fraudulent loans through a COVID-19 relief program while stationed at Fort Gregg-Adams. Major Eduwell Jenkins, 42, pled guilty today to defrauding the Small Business Administration (SBA) by obtaining a fraudulent loan through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Also today, a federal grand jury returned an eight-count indictment charging Sergeant First Class Crispin Antonio Abad, 42, with obtaining two fraudulent PPP loans while on active duty. On Nov. 5, Sergeant Malaysia Stubbs, 30, pled guilty to obtaining a fraudulent PPP loan. According to their plea documents, Jenkins and Stubbs filed for fraudulent PPP loans in 2021. Though they were active-duty soldiers, Jenkins and Stubbs falsely represented to the SBA that they each had jobs separate from their military employment that generated over $100,000 in annual income. To substantiate this false income, Jenkins and Stubbs generated fabricated Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax return forms, submitting them to the SBA as supporting documentation for the PPP applications. Jenkins and Stubbs never submitted these falsified tax return forms to the IRS as part of legitimate tax filings. Based on their false submittals, Jenkins and Stubbs each received over $20,000 in government-backed PPP loans to which they were not entitled. Separately, an indictment alleges that, while stationed at Fort Gregg-Adams in 2021, Abad was responsible for, among other things, enforcing the Army’s Honor Code and Standards of Conduct. In April 2021, Abad allegedly applied for two fraudulent PPP loans, claiming exactly $100,000 in income in 2020 from a business named “Granny’s Delight.” Abad allegedly represented that his business was to sell his grandmother’s pies. To substantiate this false income, Abad allegedly generated a fabricated IRS tax return form, submitting this form to the SBA as supporting documentation for the PPP applications. According to the indictment, Abad never submitted this falsified IRS tax return form to the IRS as part of legitimate tax filings. As a result of his false submittals, Abad allegedly received over $41,000 in PPP loans to which he was not entitled. Abad then allegedly used fraudulently obtained funds for various luxury and recreational spending, including purchases at the Fort Gregg-Adams Golf Course, Ace Adventure Resort in West Virginia, Victoria’s Secret, Sunglass Hut, and the Virginia ABC Store. Additionally, Abad allegedly purchased jewelry at Reeds Jeweler and withdrew hundreds of dollars in fraud proceeds at the MGM Casino in National Harbor, Maryland. Jenkins is scheduled to be sentenced on March 25, 2025. Stubbs is scheduled to be sentenced on March 20, 2025. Jenkins and Stubbs face a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison. If convicted, Abad faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Keith K. Kelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Fraud Field Office; and Christopher Dillard, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s (DCIS) Mid-Atlantic Field Office, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Avi Panth is prosecuting the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-139 (Jenkins), Case No. 3:24-cr-159 (Stubbs), and Case No. 3:24-cr-178 (Abad). An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.


title: Former police officer and felon admits to illegally possessing firearm

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 44-year-old resident of McAllen has pleaded guilty to unlawfully being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. On June 25, 2023, Michael Gallegos-Martinez was driving a Cadillac CTS when he failed to come to a complete stop. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop, at which time they noticed Gallegos-Martinez appeared nervous. He claimed there were no firearms or narcotics within the vehicle. However, a K-9 alerted, and authorities conducted search of the vehicle which resulted in the discovery of a firearm Rossi, Model 461, .357 caliber magnum revolver in a grocery bag hanging from the gear shift. They also discovered 25 grams of cocaine, a bottle of Xanax pills and approximately $25,000 in cash. The investigation revealed Gallegos-Martinez had previously served as a police officer before being convicted of a felony for possession of a controlled substance. As a felon, he is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition per federal law. Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane accepted the plea and has set sentencing for Feb. 2, 2025. At that time, Gallegos-Martinez faces up to 15 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He has been and will remain in custody pending sentencing. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with assistance from the Alamo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose A. Garcia is prosecuting the case. This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods ( PSN ) Program, 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: Two men sentenced to prison for trafficking meth and machineguns

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

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – Two Virginia men were sentenced to federal prison after attempting to sell methamphetamine and machineguns. According to court documents, on Dec. 20, 2023, Damien Jahon Reynolds, 36, of Woodford, and Trey Wright, 26, of Fredericksburg, sold purported "ecstasy" pills, which were later determined to be methamphetamine, 12 machinegun conversion devices (MCDs), and 2 privately made firearms that were equipped with two additional MCDs. Reynolds and Wright sold the items to an undercover Special Agent of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Reynolds provided these items to Wright and possessed more methamphetamine and MCDs at his residence. MCDs render semiautomatic firearms capable of fully automatic fire and are considered machineguns by law. On April 24, Wright pled guilty to distribution of methamphetamine and possession of machineguns. Wright was sentenced today to two years and six months in prison. On April 25, Reynolds pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of machineguns. On Nov. 21, Reynolds was sentenced to 12 years and seven months in prison. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Anthony A. Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; and Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen Hubbard, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter S. Duffey prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-16.


title: Self-proclaimed “Short Sale Queen” and associates indicted in federal mortgage fraud scheme

component: USAO - Texas, Eastern

body_text: PLANO, Texas – Three Texas women have been charged with federal violations related to a mortgage fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. Nicole Espinosa, also known as Short Sale Queen, 35, of Plano; Stephanie Smith, also known as Stephanie Parks, 44, of Midlothian; and Selena Baltazar-Hill, 28, of Dallas, were indicted by a federal grand jury on November 20, 2024, and charged with federal violations related to a mortgage fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas. The two-count indictment charges them with conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution and conspiracy to submit false statements to a federally insured financial institution. The defendants have been arrested and are scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Aileen Goldman Durrett on December 4, 2024. According to information presented in court, beginning in 2017, Espinosa, Smith, and Baltazar, along with others, are alleged to have operated a mortgage fraud scheme using various companies, including Short Sale Queen, L.L.C. The defendants researched and located properties that were in the pre-foreclosure short sale process and approached the homeowners about listing the properties for sale. After signing a listing agreement with the homeowners, the defendants submitted various fraudulent documents to financial institutions and mortgage companies for the purpose of freezing or halting the foreclosure process. Such documents included falsified purchase agreements from purported “buyers,” as well as altered “proof of funds” letters showing the “buyers” had the means to purchase the property. Based on these representations, the financial institutions halted foreclosure proceedings, waived fees collection, and unknowingly allowed the defendants time to find a real buyer, or in other instances, cancel the deal when they could not locate a legitimate buyer. All told, the defendants are alleged to have fraudulently submitted documents for at least 88 properties totaling over $8 million in sales, obtained at least $390,000 in commissions and processing fees, and caused at least $2.5 million in losses to these financial institutions. If convicted, the defendants each face up to 30 years in federal prison. This case is being investigated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Housing Finance Agency, and Department of Veterans Affairs. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anand Varadarajan. A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Spokane Man with Multiple Domestic Violence Convictions Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Orlando L. Peterson, age 34, was sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of Person Convicted of a Misdemeanor Crime of Domestic Violence in Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition. United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke imposed a sentence of 25 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, on September 6, 2022, Peterson got into an altercation with his ex-girlfriend at his home, pushed her down some stairs, and stole a 9mm handgun from her purse. After the ex-girlfriend left the home, Peterson located her a short distance away and confronted her while he was holding the handgun. When Spokane Police contacted Peterson, he was in the car with another woman. The woman gave officers an extended pistol magazine she stated Peterson had asked her to hide. Later that day, Spokane Police executed a search warrant at Peterson’s home. Police found the handgun Peterson took, along with multiple rounds of assorted ammunition. Peterson was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition as a result of multiple convictions for misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence. In October 2022, U.S. Attorney Waldref announced her office’s Safe Homes, Safe Community Initiative to prevent domestic violence homicides and prevent abusers who have previously been convicted of domestic violence offenses from having access to firearms. Partnering with the Yakima Police Department, Yakima County Prosecutor’s Office, Spokane Police Department, and Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office, and domestic violence prevention advocates, the U.S. Attorney’s Office focuses enforcement on individuals identified as repeat domestic violence abusers who unlawfully possess firearms. “Everyone deserves to live in a safe home free of domestic violence and fear of gun violence. Here, Mr. Peterson pushed his ex-girlfriend down stairs and then later confronted her with a loaded gun, said U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref. “My office, through our Safe Homes, Safe Community initiative focuses our enforcement efforts on repeat offenders, particularly those with a history of domestic violence and, like Mr. Peterson, are prohibited from having access to firearms. In so doing, we are protecting victims, law enforcement officers who respond to volatile domestic abuse situations, and the entire community.” “Firearms in the hands of convicted domestic abusers are an extreme danger to our families and our communities,” said ATF Seattle Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais. “So, this sentence is well justified and ensures that Mr. Peterson is safely away from our community for the imposed time period. We will always focus on investigating domestic abusers who use firearms in the furtherance of their violent crimes.” This case was investigated by the ATF and the Spokane Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael L. Vander Giessen and Michael J. Ellis. 2:23-cr-00014-MKD


title: Canadian Man Sentenced To 30 Months In Federal Prison For Telemarketing Fraud

component: USAO - California, Northern

body_text: SAN FRANCISCO – Nemr Hallak was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for his role in a large-scale “Yellow Pages” telemarketing fraud scheme that he and others orchestrated from Canada. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Edward M. Chen, Senior U.S. District Judge. Hallak, 43, of Quebec, Canada, was indicted by a federal grand jury in 2016 on charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, mail fraud, and wire fraud. He was initially arrested in Greece in 2016, and was re-arrested and extradited to the United States in late 2023. Hallak pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud on Sept. 12, 2024. In his plea agreement, Hallak admitted that he conspired with co-defendants and others to carry out a “business directory” telemarketing scheme. Using a variety of means, including false and misleading cold calls and false invoices, Hallak and his co-conspirators caused victims to pay for business directory services they neither ordered nor received. Co-defendants Tolga Suatac and Michelina Perna pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and were sentenced in March 2023. Co-defendant Roberto Mancini’s case is pending. “The defendant and his co-conspirators devised a scheme that targeted small businesses, misleading those businesses into believing they owed money for fake directory listings,” said United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey. “Regardless of where they are operating, fraudsters who cheat and deceive U.S. businesses will be investigated and brought to justice.” “To protect the public, Postal Inspectors worked closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our partners at the IRS’s Criminal Investigation Division to arrest and prosecute those individuals responsible for fraud schemes committed against small businesses and the public,” said San Francisco Division Inspector in Charge Stephen M. Sherwood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). “Nemr Hallak’s sentencing demonstrates IRS-CI’s commitment to bringing to justice those who prey upon American businesses. The intricacy of the telemarketing scheme that victimized thousands of individuals out of more than $5 million was complicated by it largely being run abroad,” said IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Oakland Field Office Special Agent in Charge Linda Nguyen. “What Hallak and his co-conspirators did not account for is the global reach of IRS-CI international operations and our partnerships with international law enforcement. We are committed to following the money no matter where it takes us.” Court documents described that Hallak and others caused shell companies to be formed in Florida and Delaware in the names of nominees, who were paid in cash to be listed as officers and directors of the shell companies but did no meaningful work and did not really control the companies. Many of the shell companies used the term “Yellow Pages” to suggest their operations were legitimate. According to Hallak’s plea agreement, thousands of victims were cold called and told that they had a pre-existing business relationship with a “Yellow Pages” or other entity formed by members of the conspiracy, that they had previously purchased business directory services from the defendants, and that they owed money for those services. Victims were told that they owed anywhere between $400 and $1,800 for a previously purchased business directory listing, and were sent fake invoices. When such initial misrepresentations were not sufficient to induce payment, some victims were harassed and threatened with legal action and sent additional false invoices with additional charges. In addition to the terms of imprisonment, Judge Chen sentenced Hallak to three years of supervised release. Hallak was also ordered to pay $5,381,702.86 in restitution. Hallak is currently in federal custody and will begin serving his sentence immediately. Assistant United States Attorney Lloyd Farnham is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Kathy Tat and Helen Yee. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by USPIS and IRS-CI. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided critical assistance in securing the extradition of Hallak. The Justice Department thanks the Ministry of Justice of the Hellenic Republic and the Hellenic Police which provided excellent cooperation in the arrest and re-arrest of Hallak and his subsequent extradition.


title: Grass Valley Woman Sentenced to Jail for Trespassing at Beale Air Force Base

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Today, after a one-day bench trial, Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn K. Delaney found Shirley L. Osgood, 76, of Grass Valley, guilty of two-counts of unauthorized entry onto a military installation and sentenced her to five days in jail, 100 hours of community service, and a one-year term of probation, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to evidence presented at trial, Osgood was arrested on Oct. 19, 2023, and again on March 14, 2024, after entering onto Beale Air Force Base without lawful authority. On both dates, Osgood was specifically advised that she was trespassing on the base, but she ignored law enforcement commands to stay off base property. Osgood testified at trial and admitted that she knew that she was trespassing and that she was not authorized to enter onto the base. Osgood said that she was protesting and trespassed because she wanted to speak to the base commander. Osgood has previously been arrested and convicted for trespassing on Beale Air Force Base. In 2013, Osgood was convicted in federal court for trespassing at the base, and she was barred from entering. This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Air Force Security Forces. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Lee prosecuted the case.


component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: Note: View the Spanish translation here. MIAMI — A resident of Lima, Peru, was extradited to the United States and was arraigned today in a federal court in Miami, where he stands accused of facilitating fraud schemes perpetrated by numerous Peruvian call centers that defrauded victims across the United States, the Justice Department and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) announced today. David Cornejo Fernandez, 36, will face federal wire fraud, extortion and conspiracy charges. Cornejo was arrested on May 17, by Peruvian authorities pursuant to a U.S. extradition request. He has remained incarcerated since that time. According to the indictment, the defendant provided Internet-based telephone lines, caller-ID spoofing services, and recording capabilities to fraudulent call centers from November 2012 through June 2019. Cornejo provided his co-conspirators in Peru with the technology to place fraudulent and extortionate calls to vulnerable Spanish-speaking individuals in the United States. Cornejo’s co-conspirators falsely told victims that they had been selected to receive a prize, such as a tablet containing an English language course. Many victims expressed interest in receiving the prizes. In later calls, victims were told that they were required to make large payments to receive the prizes. When victims objected, the callers falsely claimed that victims would face severe consequences — including court proceedings, arrest or harm to their immigration status — if they did not pay. The callers impersonated attorneys, court officials, federal agents and police officers to threaten and intimidate victims into making payments. Cornejo provided his co-conspirators with the software — and at times, the training — to convincingly impersonate government officials and extort payments from victims. Cornejo provided his co-conspirators with the technology to manipulate the phone numbers on victims’ caller IDs, which enabled them to place threatening calls that appeared to be coming from U.S. federal agencies, court officials or law enforcement agencies. Cornejo also placed recordings on his co-conspirators’ inbound phone lines that appeared to be recordings from actual U.S. courts, police departments and federal agencies, including the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). These recordings enhanced the apparent legitimacy of the threatening calls and were used to extort payments from vulnerable consumers in the Southern District of Florida and across the United States. “The long arm of the American justice system has no limits when it comes to reaching fraudsters who prey on our nation’s most vulnerable populations, to include the elderly and recent immigrants,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “We will not allow transnational criminals to use fear tactics and intimidation to steal money from the public we serve. Individuals who defraud American consumers will be brought to justice, no matter where they are located.” “The Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch will pursue and prosecute transnational criminals who seek to take advantage of vulnerable U.S. consumers,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department and U.S. law enforcement will continue to work closely with law enforcement partners across the globe to thwart criminals who defraud and extort U.S. victims from outside the United States. I thank the Republic of Peru, including the Peruvian National Police, for its assistance extraditing this individual to face charges here in the United States.” “Today’s initial appearance of David Cornejo Fernandez is strong evidence of the dedication between the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida who will stop at nothing to bring those who victimize our citizens to justice,” said Inspector in Charge Juan A. Vargas of the USPIS Miami Division. “I want to thank the Republic of Peru and all our law enforcement partners who work tirelessly to combat these transnational schemes that defraud U.S. consumers. Together, we continue to send a strong message, that justice has no borders and this collaboration between countries demonstrates those efforts to preserve the rule of law.” A six-count federal indictment was filed against the defendant in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in February 2023 and was unsealed upon the defendant’s extradition to the United States. The defendant has been charged with conspiracy, wire fraud, and extortion. If convicted, Cornejo faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. USPIS investigated the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Southern District of Florida, the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Peruvian National Police and the Peruvian Attorney General’s Office provided critical assistance. Senior Trial Attorney and Transnational Criminal Litigation Coordinator Phil Toomajian and Trial Attorney Carolyn Rice of the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch prosecuted the case. The Justice Department continues to investigate and bring charges in other similar matters involving threats against Spanish-speaking residents of the United States. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available. More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch . Consumer complaints may be filed with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov . For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its fraud enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Former local police officer sentenced to more than 5 years in prison for conspiring to traffic drugs

component: USAO - Ohio, Southern

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A former Columbus police officer was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 65 months in prison for conspiring with another police officer to traffic more than eight kilograms of fentanyl and for conspiring with a confidential informant to traffic 40 kilograms of cocaine. John J. Kotchkoski, 36, of Marengo, Ohio, conspired to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. “Failing to uphold his oath to serve the residents of this great community, Kotchkoski forever stained his badge, not the badge of all the incredible men and women of the Columbus Division of Police. He should be held accountable for his misdeeds. This sentence of more than five years in prison for conspiring to distribute this poison in our community should send a message to every member of law enforcement that any such failure to uphold our oath to the community will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker. According to court documents, from at least June 2021 through his September 2021 arrest, while assigned to investigate drug crimes, Kotchkoski conspired with a fellow Columbus police officer and with a confidential informant to illegally traffic drugs. Kotchkoski provided the confidential informant approximately 40 kilograms of cocaine to be sold and then kept most of the proceeds. The defendant conspired with the other officer to receive a portion of the drug proceeds made from selling kilogram quantities of fentanyl. For example, on at least three occasions, the coconspirator distributed fentanyl to another individual and accepted $32,500 for approximately one of the kilograms of fentanyl. Kotchkoski received a portion of these drug proceeds. In late August 2021, Kotchkoski expected to receive an additional portion of drug proceeds for more than eight kilograms of fentanyl being provided by his coconspirator but was arrested before he was able to do so. Kotchkoski pleaded guilty to a bill of information in April 2022. As part of his conviction, Kotchkoski will forfeit a Cadillac Escalade, a Chevrolet Corvette, more than 20 firearms and a money judgment totaling half a million dollars. Coconspirator Marco R. Merino was sentenced in February 2023 to nine years in prison. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant; Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the FBI’s Public Corruption Task Force, announced the sentence imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Edmund A. Sargus, Jr. Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate and Elizabeth A. Geraghty are representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Mexican Man Sentenced to Prison for Illegally  Reentering the United States After Being Deported

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who illegally returned to the United States after being deported was sentenced December 2, 2024, to six months in federal prison. Arturo Reyna-Arajo, age 31, a citizen of Mexico illegally present in the United States and residing in Postville, Iowa, received the prison term after a September 12, 2024, guilty plea to one count of illegal reentry into the United States after having been deported. At the guilty plea, Reyna-Arajo admitted he had previously been deported from the United States and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Reyna-Arajo was previously deported in February 2016. On June 22, 2024, immigration officials learned Reyna-Arajo had illegally returned to the United States following Reyna-Arajo’s arrest in Allamakee County on state charges. Reyna-Arajo was previously convicted in 2015 in the Clayton County, Iowa of falsifying public documents, a felony. Reyna-Arajo was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Reyna-Arajo was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Reyna-Arajo is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be turned over to immigration officials. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-1022. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Minnesota Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Escape from Custody

body_text: A man who escaped from custody in the Gerald R. Hinzman Center was sentenced today to 18 months in federal prison. Joshua Taylor Watson, age 35, from Rochester, Minnesota, received the prison term after a June 10, 2024 guilty plea to one count of escape from federal custody. At the plea hearing, Watson admitted that he was in custody at the Hinzman Center under a federal court order pursuant to his prior conviction for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. On January 22, 2024, Watson left the facility without permission and did not return. Watson was found in Rochester, Minnesota, and he was arrested on January 25, 2024. Watson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Watson was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Watson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and the Northern Iowa Fugitive Task Force. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-9. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Cedar Rapids Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Cocaine

body_text: A man who committed a drug trafficking offense was sentenced today to 14 years in federal prison. Darryl Fonte Jackson, age 51, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the prison term after a July 1, 2024 guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. Evidence at the plea and sentencing hearings showed that, on July 25, 2022, law enforcement officers utilized a confidential informant to purchase methamphetamine and synthetic cannabinoids from Jackson. About a week later, officers searched Jackson’s home and place of work. At his home, officers located methamphetamine, marijuana, cocaine, and synthetic cannabinoids. At his place of work, officers located methamphetamine, cocaine, and a loaded firearm. Jackson was previously convicted in 2006 for federal drug and gun crimes. Jackson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Jackson was sentenced to 168 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. Jackson is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Adam J. Vander Stoep and was investigated by the High Risk Unit of the Sixth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Task Force consisting of the DEA; the Linn County Sheriff's Office; the Cedar Rapids Police Department; the Marion 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 23-CR-69. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Waterloo Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison in Check Fraud Scheme

body_text: A Waterloo woman who stole nearly $250,000 from three financial institutions between 2020 and 2022 was sentenced today to more than two years in federal prison. Angela Celina Hernandez, formerly known as Angela Celina Sermeno, age 40, from Waterloo, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 31, 2024, guilty plea to one count of bank fraud. In a plea agreement, Hernandez admitted that she was the sole signatory on a checking account for a roofing company at a credit union in Dubuque. In January 2020, Hernandez repeatedly redeposited previously cleared checks from a Wisconsin contractor in order to falsely and temporarily inflate the balance of the account. Hernandez then caused over $150,000 in rapid transfers and withdrawals on this fraudulently and temporarily inflated balance. Then, in July 2021, Hernandez passed bad checks at a second credit union, resulting in over $75,000 in loss to that credit union. Finally, in February 2022, defendant passed more bad checks at a third financial institution, resulting in an additional $12,000 in loss. Hernandez was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Hernandez was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment. She was ordered to make $248,005.28 in restitution the three financial institutions. She must also serve a five-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Hernandez was released on the bond previously set and is to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on a date yet to be set until she can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy L. Vavricek and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-CR-1031. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Jury finds Columbus man guilty on all charges, including murdering 3 victims, directing others to dismember & bury 2 of the bodies

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A federal jury has convicted a Columbus man of murdering three victims as part of a narcotics conspiracy to rob a local marijuana dealer of drugs and cash. Williams had others dismember and bury two of the bodies to dispose of evidence of his crimes. Larry J. Williams, Jr., also known as “J Streets” and “J”, 43, was found guilty of all 16 counts as charged against him in a second superseding indictment in September 2021. The verdict was announced today following a three-week trial before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. According to court documents and trial testimony, Williams was a leader of a narcotics conspiracy in 2018 to rob a local marijuana dealer of drugs and cash in his residence, which ultimately resulted in the shooting death of another person within that house. To cover up for this murder, Williams murdered a man and a woman with knowledge of the first murder. Williams had solicited others in the conspiracy to learn of potential drug traffickers to rob of their drugs and drug proceeds. As a result, on June 27, 2018, defendants robbed at gunpoint a drug premises at 847 E.N. Broadway in Columbus. The coconspirators planned and carried out the robbery to steal one of the resident’s marijuana and cash and then profit from the sale of the drugs; they recruited Williams to help in the robbery. During the robbery, Williams murdered a different individual present at the residence, Connor Reynolds, a 23-year-old from Grove City. In August 2018, Williams then murdered Henry Watson, a 52-year-old from Columbus, to prevent him from providing information regarding Connor Reynolds’s murder to law enforcement. On the same day, and immediately following the murder of Henry Watson, Williams murdered Tera Pennington, a 48-year-old from Columbus, to prevent her from serving as a witness to the previous crimes. Williams then instructed individuals to clean the crime scene with bleach and other chemicals. Williams conspired to obstruct justice by concealing the bodies of Henry Watson and Tera Pennington. He directed others to dismember and remove the bodies from the crime scene and bury the victims’ remains at a different location. Williams used the residence at 121 Stevens Ave. as a drug premises to sell fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine and allow addicts to use narcotics. On more than one occasion, users overdosed in the basement of the home and coconspirators provided Narcan to revive the users. A total of 13 defendants have been charged in this case. Williams was found guilty today of: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances Murder related to drug trafficking crime Robbery Murder related to crime of violence (3 counts) Conspiracy to destroy evidence Murder of a witness (2 counts) Obstruction of justice Conspiracy to obstruct justice Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin Possession with intent to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, heroin Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime Possession with intent to distribute fentanyl Distribution of cocaine “We hope this verdict brings closure to the victims’ families and serves as a significant step towards justice for our Ohio communities,” said HSI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Angie M. Salazar. “Drug traffickers will go to any lengths to further their violent enterprise, but thankfully Larry Williams’ crimes have come to an end. HSI Special Agents and task force officers worked tirelessly over the course of five years to investigate this case. These agents call central Ohio home and are fully committed to safeguarding the communities where they work and live. I’d like to thank the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and the Columbus Police Department and all our law enforcement partners across Ohio for their efforts and relentless pursuit of justice in this case." Williams faces a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. Congress sets minimum and maximum statutory sentences and sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court at a future hearing based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Angie M. Salazar, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations Detroit (HSI); Franklin County Sheriff Dallas Baldwin and Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant announced today’s verdict. Assistant United States Attorneys Elizabeth A. Geraghty and Timothy D. Prichard are representing the United States in this case. The joint investigation includes assistance from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), Franklin County Coroner’s Office, Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center (ONIC), U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Columbus Division of Fire and the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office. # # #


title: Registered sex offender sentenced to more than 20 years in prison for again distributing, possessing child sexual abuse material

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Knox County man who was previously convicted of a crime against children was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 250 months in prison for new, similar offenses. Lee Allen Goudy, 30, of Howard, Ohio, distributed and possessed child pornography after being convicted of an offense relating to sexual abuse of a minor. According to court documents, in August 2023, the FBI received a tip that Goudy was a Tier II registered sex offender and was believed to have uploaded child pornography online. At least four cyber tipline reports related to Goudy were generated from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The investigation revealed that Goudy had distributed child pornography from a Reddit account via Kik messenger and on Twitter. Approximately 650 videos and 100 images of child sexual abuse material were recovered from Goudy’s iPhone. His collection included sexual abuse of infants and toddlers, and the sexual torture of babies. For example, one video depicted a newborn infant being smacked in the face, grabbed by the throat and shaken back and forth. Goudy’s iPhone search history also included searches like “supervised release monitoring iPhone” and “does federal monitoring work on iPhone.” A second cell phone of Goudy’s also revealed searches for content related to violence, rape and sex acts against infants and toddlers. That phone included 150 images of child sexual abuse material that Goudy had traded on Discord. Goudy was arrested in September 2023 for violating his federal supervised release warrant; he pleaded guilty in April 2024 to the instant child pornography crimes. Goudy was originally sentenced in April 2018 to 78 months in prison. Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division, announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson. Assistant United States Attorney Emily Czerniejewski is representing the United States in this case. # # #


title: Pelham Man Sentenced to 80 Years in Prison on Child Exploitation Charges

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Pelham man was sentenced today on charges of sexual exploitation of a child, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Kelly J. Blackmon. U.S. District Court Judge L. Scott Coogler sentenced Neal Richard Goodacre, 54, to 960 months in prison, followed by a life term of supervised release. In July, Goodacre pleaded guilty to two counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. These convictions will require Goodacre to register as a sex offender in accordance with the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). According to the plea agreement, in July 2023, the Queensland, Australia, Child Exploitation Task Force discovered images of child pornography on a Russian file-sharing website. Queensland officers connected the account used to post the images to Goodacre at a residence in Pelham, Alabama. On September 13, 2023, HSI executed a search warrant at Goodacre’s residence. Agents recovered two electronic devices containing 29 images and one video of child pornography. Goodacre produced some of the child pornography he possessed. Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case along with the Queensland, Australia, Child Exploitation Task Force and the Pelham Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel S. McBrayer prosecuted the case. If you suspect or become aware of possible sexual exploitation of a child, please contact law enforcement. To alert the FBI Birmingham Office, call 205-326-6166. Reports can also be filed with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) or online at www.cybertipline.org. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov .


title: Two Individuals Charged in Conspiracy to Sexually Exploit Children

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Two individuals have been indicted on multiple child sexual exploitation charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples. A five-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court charges Wisam A. Sharieff, 43, of Euless, Texas, and Blake Miller Barakat, aka “Hamna,” 50, of Shelby County, Alabama, with conspiracy to engage in the sexual exploitation of children, conspiracy to receive and distribute child pornography, sexual exploitation of children, distribution of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. According to the indictment, between September 27, 2024, and October 15, 2024, Sharieff and Barakat conspired together to coerce a minor child to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing visual depictions of that conduct; and they conspired to receive and distribute child pornography. FBI Birmingham’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force investigated the case along with the FBI Dallas-Fort Worth Violent Crimes Task Force and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney R. Leann White is prosecuting the case. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . An indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to Nine Years for Conspiring to Launder Cybercrime Fraud Proceeds

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A recidivist money launderer from Pennsylvania has been sentenced for his role in an international money laundering conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton Peeples. U.S. District Court Judge L. Scott Coogler sentenced Toochukwu Michael Okorie, 46, of Bristol, Pennsylvania, to 108 months in prison. Okorie was convicted in July of conspiracy to commit money laundering. In 2011, Okorie was convicted of wire fraud and money laundering in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. According to evidence presented at trial, from June 2017 through May 2019, Okorie helped launder hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraud proceeds through two front companies: TMO Consulting LLC and Collective Intelligence Forensics LLC. During the conspiracy, Okorie and his co-conspirators would receive wire transfers from business email compromise, romance scam, and other frauds—including from victims in the Northern District of Alabama. Okorie and his co-conspirators would then move the fraud proceeds among bank accounts in an effort to disguise their origin and conceal their fraudulent nature. After paying themselves a commission, members of the conspiracy ultimately would wire the proceeds to bank accounts in Nigeria or use them to purchase automobiles that were shipped overseas. U.S. District Court Judge Anna M. Manasco previously sentenced two other individuals involved in the money laundering conspiracy: On January 20, 2022, Paulinus Ebhodaghe , 40, of Clementon, New Jersey, was sentenced to 37 months in prison; and Ohimai Asikhia , 37, of Glassboro, New Jersey, was sentenced to 18 months in prison. The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward J. Canter and John M. Hundscheid prosecuted the case. The U.S. Secret Service Cyber Fraud Task Force provided assistance during the investigation. For more resources on cybercrime, visit www.ic3.gov .


title: Manager of Chatham County company charged with skimming hundreds of thousands of dollars from employer with fake invoices

body_text: SAVANNAH, GA: The manager of a Chatham County company has been charged in a newly unsealed indictment with creating fraudulent invoices for fake vendors to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from a building materials company. John Laakso, a/k/a “John Larson, a/k/a “John Trebesch,” 56, of Sarasota, Florida, is charged in a federal indictment with four counts of Wire Fraud, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. Conviction on each charge would subject Laakso to a statutory penalty of up to 20 years in prison, along with substantial fines and restitution, and a period of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. “This indictment alleges a scheme in which an employee betrayed the trust of an employer for self-enrichment at the employer’s expense,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “We commend the work of our law enforcement partners in unraveling this fraudulent operation.” As described in the indictment, Laakso worked as a contractor, and later as engineering manager, with GAF Materials Corporation. One of his duties was to procure equipment and services for the GAF facility in Savannah. The indictment alleges that from 2021 to 2023, Laakso “assumed fictitious personas and created pass-through companies, hiding these activities from GAF.” He would award contracts to those fictitious companies which, in turn, would subcontract with an actual vendor to provide the product or service at a lower cost. Laakso would then keep the difference in price “for his own use and enjoyment.” The scheme resulted in GAF paying more than $1.3 million in fraudulent invoices, with Laakso keeping hundreds of thousands for himself from the marked-up costs. Criminal indictments contain only charges; defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case is being investigated by the FBI, and is prosecuted for the United States of America by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darron J. Hubbard and Bradford C. Patrick.


title: American Health Imaging, Inc. and Scott Arant to Pay Over $5 Million to Resolve Allegations of Healthcare Kickbacks

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA – American Health Imaging, Inc. (“AHI”) and its former founder and CEO, Scott Arant, will pay the United States and the State of Georgia $5,250,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by: (1) providing physicians with meals, tickets to sporting events, and other gifts to induce those physicians to refer diagnostic scans to AHI’s independent diagnostic testing facilities; and (2) entering into above fair market value personal services agreements with referring physicians to induce those physicians to refer scans to AHI. “The use of inducements to obtain referrals from medical professionals jeopardizes the integrity of our healthcare programs,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “This settlement demonstrates our Office’s commitment to hold accountable providers who ignore Medicare and Medicaid’s strict prohibition against using kickbacks for personal greed.” “Paying or accepting kickbacks for referrals undermines the integrity of the Medicare program,” said Special Agent in Charge Kelly J. Blackmon of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG, in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, remains committed to safeguarding federal health care programs.” “We won’t allow for any provider to take advantage of a system meant to care for our most vulnerable Georgians,” said Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr. “We will continue to protect the interests of Georgia patients and taxpayers by putting a stop to Medicaid fraud and abuse in our state.” The government alleges that, between 2011 and 2019, AHI relied on a variety of inducements – sporting events, fishing trips, happy hours, sponsorships of “open houses” at physician offices, and gifts of alcohol, gas cards, and free scans – to generate referrals for diagnostic scans. Many of AHI’s marketing events involved no discernible educational purpose. Examples include tickets to the SEC football championship game, tickets to concerts, monthly dinners with referral sources, and outings to nail salons. The government also alleges that AHI entered into personal services agreements with referring physicians that were above fair market value. Under these agreements, physicians were compensated to interpret the scans that they referred to AHI. The settlement resolves allegations filed by Tanya Benjamin, a former AHI employee, under the qui tam , or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act, which authorizes private parties to sue for false claims on behalf of the United States and share in the recovery. The lawsuit was filed in the Northern District of Georgia and is captioned United States and State of Georgia ex rel. Benjamin v. Arant et al. , No 1:15-cv-3242-RWS (N.D. Ga.). Ms. Benjamin will receive a share of the settlement. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Inspector General, and the Georgia State Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Division investigated this case. The civil settlement was reached by Assistant U.S. Attorney Austin Hall and Georgia State Assistant Attorneys General Sara Vann and Mary Bryan. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga . AHI Settlement Agreement: ahi_settlement_agreement.pdf


title: Glenwood Man Indicted for Production, Receipt of Child Sexual Abuse Material

component: USAO - Minnesota

body_text: MINNEAPOLIS – A Glenwood man has been indicted on multiple counts related to the production and receipt of child sexual abuse material, announced U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger. According to court documents, between approximately January 21, 2020, until June 3, 2024, Patrick Wayne Baker, 51, surreptitiously recorded six minors for the purpose of creating sexually explicit images. The indictment charges Baker with two counts of production of child pornography and three counts of receipt of child pornography. Baker made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Tony N. Leung on November 26, 2024. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Pope County Sheriff’s Office, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Assistant U.S. Attorney William C. Mattessich is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of la


title: El Paso Medical Equipment Supplier Sentenced to Federal Prison for $1.7 Million Healthcare Fraud Scheme

body_text: EL PASO, Texas – An El Paso woman was sentenced in a federal court in El Paso to 60 months in prison for conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud. According to court documents, Edelmira Marquez, 59, engaged in fraudulent billing practices as the owner of Marquez Medical Supply, a durable medical equipment company located in El Paso. Marquez’s scheme involved substituting and providing lesser valued items to Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries/patients, then billing Medicaid and Medicare for the greater valued items. The items were primarily continence supplies including adult diapers. wipes and bed liners. Marquez was summoned to court Dec. 21, 2023. She made her initial appearance Jan. 19, 2024, and was released on bond. She pleaded guilty to the single count on March 7. Upon sentencing, Marquez was remanded into federal custody. In addition to her imprisonment, Marquez was fined $20,000 and ordered to pay $1,739,608.59 in restitution to Medicaid. U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas made the announcement. The FBI and the Texas Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Kanof prosecuted the case. ###


title: U.S. Trustee Program Obtains Denial of Discharge Based on Chapter 7 Debtor’s Failure to Preserve Records

component: U.S. Trustee Program

body_text: The United States Trustee Program (USTP) recently obtained denial of bankruptcy discharge for a chapter 7 debtor who had not filed tax returns for many years and did not maintain records for his business. On October 31, the Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky granted the U.S. Trustee’s motion for summary judgment and denied a discharge to chapter 7 debtor Charbel Joseph, the sole proprietor of an unincorporated construction business. The debtor claimed assets of just over $21,000 and debts of more than $10 million. An investigation by the U.S. Trustee’s Lexington office revealed that the debtor had not filed tax returns in 16 years, did not maintain any bank accounts and operated a construction business on a cash basis. The debtor produced copies of dozens of checks totaling more than $1.4 million payable to him and dated within two years of the bankruptcy filing, but he was unable to account for the disposition of about $1.3 million of those funds. The U.S. Trustee filed a complaint seeking to bar the debtor’s discharge and, after discovery closed, filed a motion for summary judgment. After oral argument, the court granted the motion over the debtor’s objection and entered judgment in the U.S. Trustee’s favor. One of the USTP’s core functions is to combat bankruptcy fraud and abuse through civil enforcement actions against debtors who engage in fraud or otherwise abuse the bankruptcy system. When circumstances warrant, the USTP takes action to deny those debtors a discharge. Under section 727(a)(3) of the Bankruptcy Code, debtors are not entitled to a discharge if they unjustifiably conceal, destroy, mutilate, falsify or fail to maintain or preserve records about their financial condition or business transactions. “The bankruptcy discharge is the key to a fresh start and comes with obligations, including transparency about the debtor’s financial condition” said Director Tara Twomey of the Executive Office for U.S. Trustees. “Although the vast majority of debtors are honest people who simply want to overcome their financial challenges, cases such as this one require action to prevent unfair manipulation of the bankruptcy system.” The USTP’s mission is to promote the integrity and efficiency of the bankruptcy system for the benefit of all stakeholders – debtors, creditors and the public. The USTP consists of 21 regions with 89 field offices nationwide and an Executive Office in Washington, D.C. Learn more about the USTP at www.justice.gov/ust .


title: Indianapolis Man Sentenced to Fifty Years in Federal Prison for Four Violent Online Marketplace Robberies, Including a Fatal Shooting

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS— Demetris Campbell, 29, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to fifty years in federal prison, followed by the maximum period of supervised release, following his convictions for commercial robbery conspiracy, four counts of aiding commercial robbery, and three counts of aiding the brandishing of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Campbell was convicted by a federal jury in June 2024. According to court documents and evidence introduced at trial, between July 19 and 28, 2020, Campbell orchestrated at least four armed robberies of victims he lured to an apartment complex via the online marketplaces LetGo and OfferUp under the false premise that they were meeting to complete a sale. Campbell conspired with others to execute the robberies, including Angel Montano. On July 19, 2020, a fifteen-year-old boy and his father agreed to purchase an iPhone from Campbell, who was using the account “Man with a Plan” on Offer Up. Campbell lured the victims to an address in Indianapolis to complete the fake transaction. When the victims arrived, three people, including Campbell and Angel Montano, approached the vehicle, and showed the victims what appeared to be an iPhone. The robbers then brandished pistols and demanded the victims’ money, striking the fifteen-year-old child in the face with a pistol. The robbers ultimately stole the victims’ cash for the purchase and from their wallets, as well as the Nike Air Jordan tennis shoes the child was wearing. The next day, Campbell used the same Offer Up account to lure a mother and her two young children to the same apartment complex. When these victims arrived, Montano reached into her vehicle and placed the muzzle of a pistol against her body, while her two children were still in the car. He then stole the victims’ iPhones and cash. Two days later, on July 22, 2020, Campbell used a LetGo account under the name of “Simone” to lure a woman to the same apartment complex under the false premise that she was going to be able to purchase an iPhone. Upon her arrival, Angel Montano brandished a pistol and stated “I’ll shoot you! Give me the cash!” She complied by giving him $560 in cash that she had brought for the transaction, as well as her Samsung cell phone. Between July 21 and 28 of 2020, another victim participated in ongoing contact with Campbell who was using an account in the name of “Tony Reed” on OfferUp regarding the advertised sale of two iPhones for $1400. They ultimately arranged to meet on July 28 at a location near Adams and 21st Street in Indianapolis. This victim brought his brother with him to meet and complete the transaction. Upon their arrival, the brothers felt uneasy and attempted to leave. Angel Montano then blocked them with his car, approached their vehicle, and fired into it killing the purchaser’s brother and seriously wounding the purchaser. Campbell was present with Montano, and watched the shooting occur. The following morning, on July 29, 2020, IMPD officers arrested Campbell after tracing his name and location to the fake usernames used in the robberies. It was later discovered that Campbell was coordinating the schemes with Angel Montano, then selling the stolen phones and splitting the profit. In February 2023, Montano was sentenced to forty years in federal prison after pleading guilty to two counts of commercial robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. “The man who was taken from his family by these vicious criminals should still be here today. His brother should never have been shot, and the other victims—including multiple children—should never have suffered the traumas inflicted on them by these men,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “For years, violent criminals have been using online marketplaces like OfferUp and LetGo to lure victims to armed robberies, resulting in multiple shootings and deaths. Most local police departments will allow people to use their properties as a safe place to meet when buying and selling online, which can help keep everyone safe during these transactions. You often don’t know who is on the other end of an online communication, or what their intentions might be, and exercising caution with these transactions could save your life. I want to thank the FBI, U.S. Marshals, IMPD and our federal prosecutors for their work to secure a measure of justice for the victims and ensure that these violent offenders will never again menace our community.” “This lengthy sentence sends a clear message that any form of violence or exploitation on online marketplaces will not be tolerated. This string of crimes and the senseless death resulting from them are an unfortunate reminder of the real-world consequences that can result from crimes committed in the digital space,” said Herbert J. Stapleton, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners are committed to holding those who exploit online marketplaces for criminal activity accountable. No one using legitimate online services should ever have to fear for their safety.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, and IMPD investigated this case. The sentence was imposed by Chief U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tiffany J. Preston and Carolyn A. Haney, who prosecuted this case, as well as the Victim Witness Coordinators and Paralegal Specialist who supported this trial. ###


title: Rio Rico Man Indicted After Attempting to Flee Nogales Port of Entry

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – On November 13, 2024, a federal grand jury indicted Miguel Soto-Morando, of Rio Rico, on one count of Smuggling Ammunition from the United States, Assault on a Federal Officer with a Deadly or Dangerous Weapon, and Possession of Ammunition by a Prohibited Person. According to the complaint filed in this case, on October 16, 2024, Soto-Morando attempted to leave the United States through the DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales. After Soto-Morando was referred to secondary inspection, he tried to flee into Mexico. The victim, a United States Customs and Border Protection officer, reached into Soto-Morando’s truck and attempted to prevent Soto-Morando’s escape. With the officer’s arm inside the vehicle, Soto-Morando accelerated toward the gate leading into Mexico but crashed into a pillar located in the United States. The collision caused the officer to be ejected from Soto-Morando’s vehicle. When Soto-Morando got out of his vehicle, two officers, including the victim officer, discharged their firearms, striking Soto-Morando twice. A subsequent search of a spare tire from the vehicle uncovered 3,140 rounds of ammunition destined for Mexico. Soto-Morando is also alleged to be a convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. A conviction for Smuggling Goods from the United States carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A conviction for Assault on a Federal Officer – Deadly or Dangerous Weapon carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A conviction for Possession of Ammunition by a Prohibited Person carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. Each offense also carries a fine of up to $250,000 and three years of supervised release. An indictment is simply a method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is conducting the investigation in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Nathaniel J. Walters, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-24-07997-RCC RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-167_Soto-Morando # # # 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 X @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office And ATF Highlight Emerging Threat Posed by Machinegun Conversion Devices

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Wisconsin and the ATF Madison Field Office are joining together to highlight the dangers of machinegun conversion devices (MCDs). The devices are an emerging threat, and law enforcement agents are increasingly finding them in Wisconsin. About an inch-long, an MCD is an illegal after-market device that converts a semi-automatic firearm into a fully functioning machinegun. A firearm equipped with a machinegun conversion device is extremely dangerous, even for experienced firearms users, because it is difficult to control and is capable of firing 50 rounds in four seconds with a single pull of the trigger. For more information about the devices, please see the attached ATF materials and video link below. “Machinegun conversion devices are extraordinarily dangerous,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy M. O’Shea. “These devices are often used in weapons that are not designed to function as machine guns, thus making the weapons incredibly difficult to aim. Discharging a weapon equipped with such a device in a public area endangers every child and adult within range. Keeping these illegal devices off the streets in Wisconsin and keeping our citizens free of fear from these weapons is one of my highest priorities,” said O’Shea. “The proliferation of machinegun conversion devices adds another, even more deadly, layer to firearms violence” said Special Agent William Fulton, Resident Agent in Charge of the ATF Madison Field Office. “These devices, in the wrong hands, can have catastrophic consequences. ATF will continue to aggressively work with our partners to take these devices off the streets.” “Machinegun conversion devices pose a significant threat to public safety,” said Eric Rice, resident agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations in Wisconsin. “Through enforcement, investigation, and education, we are committed to raising awareness about the dangers of these devices. Law enforcement agencies will continue to collaborate to dismantle networks involved in their distribution and use. By enhancing our investigative capabilities and educating the public about the risks, we can better protect our communities and ensure public safety.” To combat the rise in MCDs, U.S. Attorney O’Shea also announced that his office is partnering with law enforcement agencies, including ATF, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the U.S. Postal Service to implement a district-wide strategy. On November 21, 2024, U.S. Attorney O’Shea and ATF SA Fulton explained the district’s strategy on a call with Wisconsin law enforcement and district attorneys. The strategy has three parts: enforcement, investigation, and education. Regarding enforcement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will vigorously prosecute cases involving MCDs. Although MCDs may be advertised as legal online to avoid law enforcement detection or to defeat internet advertising protocols, that is not true. The possession, manufacture, and/or sale of MCDs is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $250,000. An MCD on its own is considered an illegal machine gun under federal law and cannot be possessed, even without a firearm.] Regarding investigation, U.S. Attorney O’Shea explained that ATF has provided MCD guides for local law enforcement agencies and will provide training on MCDs and ATF resources throughout the state. Also, because many MCDs are shipped through the U.S. Mail and other carriers, the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Postal Service are working with ATF to identify for further investigation packages potentially containing MCDs that were shipped to individuals involved in gun violence or affiliated with criminal gangs. Finally, regarding the education part of the strategy, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and ATF are reaching out to local media, Crime Stoppers groups, and local public health departments to get the word out about the danger of MCDs. During 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has prosecuted the following cases involving MCDs. Several more MCD cases are under investigation. Federal sentences are served without the possibility of parole. Name Sentence Investigating Agencies Byron Ellison 3.5 years Dane County Narcotics Task Force ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force Byron D. Broomfield 6.5 years Beloit Police Department DCI Drug Enforcement Administration Wisconsin State Patrol ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force Damarion Jackson 21 months Monona Police Department Madison Police Department Fitchburg Police Department ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force Ramogi Carr 54 months Madison Police Department Fitchburg Police Department ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force Jontrae M. Larsen Case pending ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force DCI Waunakee Police Department Deforest Police Department Monona Police Department Donald R. Spivey, Jr. Case pending Madison Police Department ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force Damon L. Clark Case pending Eau Claire Police Department FBI ATF Madison Crime Gun Task Force Attachment : ATF Factsheet.pdf atf_fact_sheet_machinegun_conversion_devices_switches_osiicid-22-118.pdf ATF Video can be found here: https://youtu.be/7VKocW4Qk4k # # # #


title: Multiple Conspirators Sentenced In $54.3 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan has sentenced Luis Lacerda (37, West Palm Beach) to three years and five months in federal prison, Omar Solari (36, Fort Lauderdale) to 2 years and six months in federal prison, Michael Murphy (38, Fort Lauderdale) to 15 months in federal prison, and Joelson Viveros (45, Boca Raton) to 5 years’ probation for their respective roles in a $54.3 million health care fraud scheme in which the defendants paid kickbacks and bribes to telemarketers and telemedicine providers to secure orders for medically unnecessary prescriptions that were billed to Medicare. The court also ordered Lacerda to forfeit $15,600,333.30 and pay $54,303,526 in restitution; Solari to forfeit $6,341,240.58 and pay $36,246,251 in restitution; Murphy to forfeit $3,650,943.36 and pay $8,374,175 in restitution; and Viveros to forfeit $894,116.45 and pay $3,017,135 in restitution. Each previously pleaded guilty to their role in a conspiracy in which the co-conspirators owned and operated pharmacies that participated in the Medicare program, including one located in Jacksonville. According to court documents, from approximately 2018 through 2021, the co-conspirators paid kickbacks and bribes to telemarketing companies in exchange for recruiting Medicare beneficiaries to accept prescriptions for various medications – mainly topical creams – which the beneficiaries did not want or need. Some of the co-conspirators also operated companies that engaged in telemarketing activities to develop beneficiary leads. The co-conspirators then paid kickbacks and bribes to telemedicine companies that employed or contracted with physicians who signed the prescriptions. The physicians had no physician-patient relationship with the beneficiaries and typically signed the prescriptions after a cursory telephone conversation with the beneficiary or with no contact at all. After obtaining Medicare beneficiary information and the signed prescriptions, the co-conspirators submitted claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary medications, sometimes through multiple pharmacies they owned and controlled in a practice known as “recycling.” Over the course of the conspiracy, the defendants’ pharmacies were reimbursed more than $54.3 million for medically unnecessary prescriptions by Medicare Part D. This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David B. Mesrobian and Trial Attorney Gary Winters of the Department of Justice – Criminal Division, Fraud Section. The forfeiture was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer M. Harrington and Mai Tran.