title: Medical Billing Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Scott Newcombe, age 40, of Plattsburgh, New York, pled guilty today to health care fraud. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Naomi Gruchacz, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), New York Regional Office, made the announcement. Newcombe admitted that from approximately April 2020 through April 2023, he acted as the office manager and health care claims biller for two physicians’ practices in Plattsburgh through a company that he formed called SJ Healthcare Management Services, LLC (SJHMS). SJHMS charged a fixed monthly fee under which Newcombe performed various management, administrative, and billing services for the practices. He admitted that he submitted false and fraudulent claims to public and private insurers on behalf of those practices for services that, in some instances, were never provided and, in other instances, were provided at lower reimbursement rates than the amounts billed. For example, Newcombe admitted that he submitted claims to insurers for medical procedures that were purportedly performed by a provider on him but which, in fact, never occurred. Newcombe is scheduled for sentencing on February 28, 2025. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of up to 3 years. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant violated, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. The FBI and HHS investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael D. Gadarian and Adam J. Katz are prosecuting the case.


title: Last of Four Defendants Sentenced in 2018 Attempted Armed Robbery of Lancaster City Pharmacy

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Andrew Garrett, 30, of Steelton, Pennsylvania, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Juan R. Sánchez to 84 months in prison and three years of supervised release for attempted robbery which interferes with interstate commerce (“Hobbs Act robbery”), for his role in the October 2018 attempted armed robbery of Smithgall’s Pharmacy in Lancaster, Pa. Garrett is the last of four defendants in the case to be sentenced. Garrett, Brandon Galette, Johnny Straining, and Lamar Black were charged in 2019 in connection with the attempted robbery, in which they sought to steal prescription opioids. Straining and Black were also charged in connection with another armed pharmacy robbery they committed in York, Pa., the day before they attempted to rob Smithgall’s. All eventually admitted participation and entered guilty pleas. Galette, 30, of Harrisburg, Pa., was sentenced this February to 148 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and $12,650 in restitution for attempted Hobbs Act robbery and possession of a firearm by a felon. Straining, 28, also of Harrisburg, was sentenced in August 2023 to 168 months in prison and two years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery and attempted Hobbs Act robbery. Black, 35, also of Harrisburg, was sentenced in August 2023 to 180 months in prison and two years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, attempted Hobbs Act robbery, and possession of a firearm by a felon. On the afternoon of October 23, 2018, Galette entered Smithgall’s with a loaded firearm, given to him by Black, and demanded prescription opioid pills at gunpoint. He assaulted a customer, then tried to corral pharmacy employees into a back room. As he did, the owner of the pharmacy pulled a gun from his desk drawer and shot Galette three times. Galette lunged at the owner, and they wrestled on the ground for several seconds. Galette then tried to flee but collapsed from his injuries on the sidewalk outside the pharmacy. Upon hearing shots, Straining, who had entered the pharmacy to help take the pills, ran out of the store and fled with Black and Garrett in a getaway car. “This attempted armed robbery was a terrifying experience for the employees and customers of Smithgall’s,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “My office and our law enforcement partners won’t stand for these armed robbery crews targeting our stores, businesses, and the people in them. We’ll continue to take violent offenders off the street and hold them accountable for their actions, making our communities safer for one and all.” “This sentencing makes clear, even the attempt to commit an armed robbery carries serious consequences,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “Alongside our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Lancaster City Bureau of Police, we will continue our efforts toward safer communities.” The case was investigated by FBI Philadelphia’s Capital Area Resident Agency and the Lancaster City Bureau of Police and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy M. Stengel.


title: Berks County Businessman Indicted on Tax Fraud Charges

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Alan C. Redmond, 42, of Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, was charged by indictment with six counts of failure to pay over employment taxes between 2019 and 2021 for Bene Market LLC, a call center in Reading, Pa., that purported to act as a broker of insurance, selling health insurance and related products over the telephone. The defendant made his initial appearance in federal court on these charges this afternoon. The indictment alleges that, as the 96% general partner of Bene Market, and as the individual with ultimate and final decision-making authority for the corporation, Redmond was legally obligated to withhold Social Security, Medicare and income taxes from wages paid to employees (known as “trust fund taxes”) and to pay over these taxes to the IRS each quarter, along with matching contributions from the employer for Social Security and Medicare taxes. The indictment further alleges that between 2019 and 2021, Redmond caused Bene Market to withhold over $1 million in trust fund taxes from the wages and paychecks of its employees, but Redmond did not pay over these withheld amounts to the IRS on behalf of the employees, as required. Instead of paying over the trust fund taxes withheld from employee paychecks, Redmond caused Bene Market to make thousands of dollars of expenditures for his own personal benefit, including property purchases, airline tickets, limousine services, vehicle purchases, event tickets, mortgage payments, and partnership distributions. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment, a three-year period of supervised release, and a $1,500,000 fine. The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Mary Crawley and Samuel Dalke. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Man Sentenced to 50 Years for First-Degree Murder in 2014 Christmas Eve Killing of Waitress

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON –Marvin Lopez, 45, of El Salvador, was sentenced to 50 years in prison for the 2014 Christmas Eve murder of his ex-girlfriend, Evelyn Yamileth Arroyo Guerra, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). On October 25, 2024, Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe sentenced Lopez to the prison sentence for first degree murder while armed and a seven-year prison term for possession of a firearm during a crime of violence to be run concurrently. According to the government’s evidence presented during an eight-day trial in November 2023, a pair of MPD Lieutenants were driving south on 14 th Street on Dec. 24, 2014 when they heard two gunshots. Citizens on the 3900 block of 14 th Street pointed in the direction the gunman had run. One of the Lieutenants gave chase on foot but lost the shooter in a wooded area at the end of Shepherd St, NW. The other Lieutenant found Yamileth on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant at 3910 14th Street NW, suffering from a gunshot wound to her chest and a graze wound to her head. Yamileth had been shot as she was arriving for work, as a waitress, at El Sabor Latino. Two witnesses who knew Yamileth told police that they had seen Lopez—the victim’s recent ex—approaching her outside of the restaurant moments before the killing. One of the witnesses showed police Facebook messages between Lopez and Yamileth from days before the murder in which he threatened to kill her. Although an arrest warrant was obtained the next day, Lopez was not located by police before he fled to El Salvador. He was extradited back to the United States and arrested in March of 2023. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Supervisory Paralegal Specialist Tasha Harris; Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin; Victim/Witness Advocates Karina Hernandez; Maenylie Watson, Tonya Jones, and Katina Adams-Washington, of the Victim/Witness Assistance Unit; Supervisory Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling and Paralegal Specialists Grazy Rivera, April Urbanowski and Maria Sanchez. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian Natiello who investigated and indicted the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristian Hinson and Sarah Prins who prosecuted the case.


title: Valentine Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Abusive Sexual Contact

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Valentine, Nebraska, man convicted of seven counts of Abusive Sexual Contact. The sentencing took place on October 28, 2024. Christopher Franklin Beauvais, 41, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $700 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and $1,426 in restitution to one of his victims. Beauvais was indicted by a federal grand jury in July of 2022. He pleaded guilty on July 22, 2024. Between June of 2006 and November of 2012, in Mission, South Dakota, within the Rosebud Indian Reservation, Beauvais sexually abused three adolescent girls. He repeatedly touched the girls’ buttocks, breasts, and genital areas in a home, at his workplace, and in public. The children were between 12 and 15 years old. That abuse ended in 2012 when Beauvais solicited a picture of the youngest girl’s bare breasts. Later, in 2020 in Mission, Beauvais touched yet another 12-year-old girl’s genital area over the clothing while she slept in her bed. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain serious crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carl Thunem and Wayne Vanhueizen prosecuted the case. Beauvais was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Miami Resident Charged with Kidnapping  Resulting in Death

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – Today, Miami resident Gustavo Alfonso Castano Restrepo, 55, appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge on an indictment charging him with kidnapping resulting in death. According to the unsealed indictment, on or about May 30, 2016, in Miami-Dade County, in the Southern District of Florida, and elsewhere, Restrepo, did willfully and unlawfully seize, confine, inveigle, decoy, kidnap, abduct, and carry away and hold a person, that is, Liliana Moreno, for reward and otherwise, and did use a means, facility, and instrumentality of interstate commerce, that is, a cellular telephone, the internet, a motor vehicle, and the Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike, in the commission and in furtherance of the offense. The kidnapping resulted in the deaths of Liliana Moreno and Daniella Moreno. Restrepo is currently being detained, following today’s hearing in Miami. A pre-trial detention hearing in Miami Magistrate Court is scheduled for Nov. 1. If Restrepo is convicted of the charged offense, the mandatory minimum sentence is life in prison and the maximum penalty is death. U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, Chief Edwin Lopez of the Doral Police Department, and Director Stephanie V. Daniels of the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) made the announcement. FBI Miami, the Doral Police Department, MDPD, and FBI’s South Florida Violent Crime/Fugitive Task Force are investigating this matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwayne Williams is prosecuting the case. Anyone with information about this matter or any other federal crime is urged to contact the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or filing a report at tips.fbi.gov . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl . Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 24-cr-20463 ###


title: Previously Convicted Sex Offender Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Receiving and Distributing Child Pornography

component: USAO - Alabama, Southern

body_text: MOBILE, AL – Charles Joseph Thorne Floyd, age 31, was sentenced today to 20 years in prison after entering a guilty plea one count of receiving and distributing child pornography. Floyd entered his guilty plea on June 25, 2024. According to court documents, in the months of July and August 2023 a detective with the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force was utilizing investigative software to identify subjects involved in the dissemination of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). The detective identified an IP address that was making CSAM available for download. Over seven different dates, the detective was able to download approximately 90 videos containing CSAM from that IP address. The detective was able to identify a residence in Foley that was associated with the IP address. Floyd was a resident of that address. Floyd’s phone was seized examined and revealed search terms indicative of CSAM and 321 images of CSAM. The images included depictions of prepubescent children. On November 21, 2023, Floyd entered a guilty plea in Conecuh County to one count of Sodomy, 2nd Degree for offenses that occurred in 2016 involving a minor child. At sentencing, United States District Judge William Steele imposed a 240-month sentence of incarceration and a 25-year term of supervised release upon his future release. During his term of imprisonment, Floyd will be subject to sex offender treatment, substance abuse testing and treatment, and mental health treatment. Floyd will be required to register as a sex offender and is to have no contact with minors. Floyd was ordered to pay $100 in special assessments. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Unit investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kacey Chappelear prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. For more information about Internet safety education, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc/publications-resources


title: Parmelee Man Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Shooting Another Man

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Parmelee, South Dakota, man convicted of Assault With a Dangerous Weapon. The sentencing took place on October 29, 2024. Brent Lester, age 28, was sentenced to five years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Lester was indicted by a federal grand jury in March of 2023. He pleaded guilty on July 17, 2024. The conviction stems from an incident that occurred in October of 2022 within the boundaries of the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. On October 14, 2022, Lester visited the residence of the victim, an adult male, in Mission, South Dakota. Lester was invited into the residence, but subsequently became loud and confrontational prompting the victim to demand Lester leave. Lester then produced a pistol and fired one shot at the victim, causing superficial wounds to the victim’s abdomen. Lester fled the scene but was apprehended by law enforcement later that day. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Senior Litigation Counsel Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case. Lester was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Pine Ridge Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Over Three Years for Involuntary Manslaughter

body_text: RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man convicted of Involuntary Manslaughter. Devin White Calf, age 23, was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. White Calf was indicted for the charge by a federal grand jury in December of 2023. He pleaded guilty on April 5, 2024. In September of 2023, White Calf consumed alcohol with a group of friends and relatives. At some point, White Calf drove his group to a place called “Top of the World.” This location is just west of Pine Ridge. At this location, the group continued to drink alcohol. While leaving “Top of the World,” White Calf lost control of the vehicle. One of the passengers, a 16-year-old female, was ejected from the vehicle and sustained fatal injuries. Multiple other passengers were also ejected from the car and sustained bodily injuries. Law enforcement was dispatched to the scene because individuals nearby could hear screaming and crying. When law enforcement arrived on scene, White Calf told them that he was not driving and that someone with the last name “Titus” was driving. Several months later, White Calf eventually admitted to law enforcement that he was the driver. This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court. This case was investigated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe – Department of Public Safety and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted the case. White Calf was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: Drug Dealer Sentenced To 15 Years In Federal Prison

body_text: MOBILE, AL – An Elberta man was sentenced on October 28, 2024, to 15 years in federal prison for his possession with intent to distribute of methamphetamine and fentanyl in Baldwin County, Alabama. Marcus Allen Heaton, 38, was identified during several encounters with Baldwin County sheriff’s investigators from 2019 through 2021. Court documents show that in May of 2021, Heaton was driving a vehicle displaying improper rear lights. Baldwin County sheriff’s deputies stopped the vehicle and initiated an investigation. A drug detecting dog was used to walk around the outside of the vehicle, and the dog gave a positive alert for the odor of drugs emanating from the vehicle. The deputies searched the vehicle and found 132.6 grams of methamphetamine divided among five plastic bags, packaged in that manner for resale. The deputies also found 6.58 grams of fentanyl divided among three other plastic bags, also packaged for resale. Heaton’s phone was seized during the stop and deputies obtained a search warrant to examine the contents. In the phone, deputies found numerous texts and electronic messages relating to Heaton’s distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl. Heaton pled guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, one for methamphetamine and one for fentanyl, in June of 2024. United States District Court Judge Jeffery Beaverstock imposed a sentence of 15 years imprisonment for Heaton’s illegal possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The sentence was the minimum mandatory sentence under federal law based on the amount of methamphetamine involved in the offense and Heaton’s prior convictions for serious drug felonies. On the charge for Heaton’s illegal possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, the judge imposed a sentence of 130 months imprisonment, which will run concurrently with the sentence on the methamphetamine charge. When Heaton is released from custody, he will serve 5 years of supervised release. Heaton’s supervision includes a set of standard conditions as well as a special condition requiring drug testing and treatment and permitting the probation officer to search his person or property upon a showing of reasonable suspicion that he is in violation of any of the conditions of his supervision. No fine was imposed but Heaton was ordered to pay $200 in special mandatory assessments. The case was investigated by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.


title: Former Employee Pleads Guilty to Embezzling More Than $135,000 from Dupo School District

body_text: EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A Waterloo woman admitted guilt to a federal charge Monday for embezzling more than $135,000 as a former employee of Dupo Community Unit School District #196. Linda J. Johnson, 58, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of theft from a federally funded program. According to court documents, Johnson committed the embezzlement while employed in an administrative support role in the superintendent’s office between 2020 and 2022. In this role, Johnson was responsible for depositing cash and checks into the district’s activities account intended to support student athletics, clubs, and extracurriculars. To conceal her crime, she would prepare bank deposit slips reflecting the correct amount of cash and checks received, but later she prepared a second set of fraudulent deposit slips that only accounted for the checks, while she kept the cash. “Stealing funds from student activities directly deprives children of opportunities within their extracurriculars,” said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. “Although the defendant tried to conceal her crime from school officials by preparing two sets of records, her deceit was discovered, and she will be held accountable.” The loss to the school district is $135,566.80. “The FBI works to protect the well-being of our children on many levels, and investigating the embezzlement of school funds is no different,” said FBI Springfield Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson. “FBI Springfield would like to thank the Dupo Police Department for their vital role in this investigation.” Theft from a federally funded program convictions are punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment and fines up to $250,000. Johnson’s sentencing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 27, 2025, at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis. Officials with the Dupo School District said the plea agreement reached Monday represents accountability for a serious breach of public trust that impacted their students, staff, and the entire Dupo School District community. They said they are grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their diligent work in securing justice for our students and taxpayers. The Dupo Police Department and the FBI Springfield Field Office are directing the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Weinhoeft is prosecuting the case.


title: Pembroke Township Man Sentenced to 6 ½ Years in Prison for Filing False Tax Returns

component: Department of Justice

body_text: URBANA, Ill. – Larry Dean Gibbs, 63, of Pembroke Township in Kankakee County, Illinois, was sentenced on October 28, 2024, to 6 ½ years of imprisonment for filing false tax returns. Gibbs was convicted of filing three false federal tax returns following a jury trial held at the U.S. Courthouse in Urbana in March of this year. During the trial, the government presented evidence to establish that, in January 2017, Gibbs filed three federal income tax returns for the tax years 2012, 2013, and 2014, each falsely claiming that he had earned $10 million in annual income from the “Larry Dean Gibbs Estate.” Gibbs further falsely claimed that the IRS withheld over $3 million per year from his earnings each year and that he was entitled to refunds totaling over $6.8 million. In contemporaneous filings, Gibbs claimed that he had changed his name to Mulumbua Humraukn El Taikem Bey and that he was the Ambassador for the Al Moroccan Empire National Republic, which is not officially recognized by the U.S. State Department. At the time Gibbs filed the three false tax returns, he had just been released from federal prison for a prior conviction for filing a false federal tax return in 2005, when he had obtained a $66,282 refund to which he was not entitled. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Colin S. Bruce found that Gibbs had obstructed justice during the trial by falsely claiming that he was a member of the Maipuri Arauan Nation and that a treaty between that tribe and the United States required tribal members to be seated on his jury. Judge Bruce found that Gibbs “continues to file nonsensical sovereign citizen documents with the court, despite the court’s clear warnings against such frivolous, docket-clogging activity.” The statutory penalties for filing a false tax return are up to three years of imprisonment and up to a $100,000 fine on each of the three counts of conviction. In addition to imprisonment, Judge Bruce sentenced Gibbs to serve one year of supervised release following his release from the federal Bureau of Prisons. Judge Bruce directed Gibbs to report to the Bureau of Prisons to begin serving his sentence of imprisonment on January 7, 2025. In the meantime, Gibbs remains released on conditions of bond, which include home detention. “Fraud upon the government ultimately harms honest taxpayers,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Harris. “Our office will vigorously prosecute these important cases, including those involving repeat offenders such as the defendant. We are grateful to our federal law enforcement partners for their dedicated work on this case.” “Tax fraud undermines the trust between taxpayers and their government,” said Ramsey E. Covington, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office. “By filing false tax returns, Larry Gibbs not only cheated the system but also imposed an unjust burden on honest taxpayers. His frivolous court filings further clogged our legal system, wasting valuable resources that could be better used to serve the community. IRS Criminal Investigation and its fellow law enforcement partners remain committed to holding accountable those who seek to exploit our tax laws for personal gain.” “The FBI is proud to work with its law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to ensure that taxpayer dollars aren’t used to line the pockets of repeat offenders,” said Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. “Our tax system is predicated on the principal that every American pays their fair share, and this sentencing reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring equity for hardworking Americans.” The IRS Criminal Investigation, Chicago Field Office, and FBI, Chicago Field Office, investigated the case. Supervisory Assistant United States Attorney Eugene L. Miller represented the government in the prosecution.


title: Paving Contractor Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – The owner of a paving company doing business north of Boston pleaded guilty yesterday to a multi-year income tax evasion scheme. Richard Cooper, 71, of Billerica, pleaded guilty to four counts of tax evasion. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled Cooper’s sentencing for Jan. 30, 2024. Cooper was charged in September 2024. From 2017 to 2020, in addition to depositing customer payments to his company, Rick Cooper Paving, Cooper also cashed over $4.3 million in customer checks. When Cooper had his taxes prepared, he did not tell his preparer about the checks he was cashing, resulting in his tax returns underreporting the gross receipts of the business by millions. As a result, Cooper kept over $1 million that he should have paid in federal and state income taxes. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kriss Basil, Deputy Chief of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit, prosecuted the case.


title: Federal Jury Finds Man Guilty of Defrauding UConn

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal jury in Hartford has found DICKSON ALORWORNU, also known as “Dixon Al,” 35, a citizen of Ghana residing in Greenwich, guilty of fraud offenses. The trial before U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala began on October 23 and the jury returned guilty verdicts on both counts of an indictment this afternoon. According to the evidence presented during the trial, in December 2017, Alorwornu used other individuals’ names, fake Social Security numbers, and email addresses to submit two non-degree student applications to the University of Connecticut (“UConn”). He then used American Express card information that had been stolen from three victims to fund the two student accounts with a total of more than $62,000 in fraudulently obtained funds. In early 2018, Alorwornu withdrew from the courses and requested that UConn refund the money he had deposited. UConn subsequently transferred tens of thousands of dollars to bank accounts Alorwornu controlled. The investigation revealed that the email accounts that Alorwornu used to defraud UConn were also used to commit fraud at other universities. The jury found Alorwornu guilty of two counts of wire fraud, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years on each count. Judge Nagala scheduled sentencing for February 19. Alorwornu was arrested on February 1, 2023. He is released on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing. This investigation has been conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the UConn Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward Chang and Elena Coronado.


title: Jesup Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Firearms as a Drug User

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who possessed twenty-one firearms as a drug user was sentenced today to five years in federal prison. Douglas Gilbert Uchytil, age 61, from Jesup, Iowa, received the prison term after a May 1, 2024, guilty plea to possession of firearms by a drug user. Evidence at the sentencing hearing showed that when law enforcement officers searched Uchytil’s residence on April 6, 2023, they found twenty-one firearms, over $25,000 in cash, and over half a pound of ice methamphetamine. Uchytil possessed the methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it. He also admitted that he was a methamphetamine user. Uchytil was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand. Uchytil was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment and must also serve a two-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Uchytil 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 Devra T. Hake and investigated by Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Fire Marshal Division, and Iowa Department of Public Safety Division of Narcotics Enforcement. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-CR-2056. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Former Detroit Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Lying to Federal Agents

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – A former Detroit Police Officer pleaded guilty today to lying to federal agents who were investigating bribery allegations, announced United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison. Ison was joined in the announcement by Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Detroit Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Dametri J. Wade, age 26, of Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement to a federal agent before United States District Judge Mark A. Goldsmith. According to the plea agreement, while employed by the Detroit Police Department and driving a Detroit Police scout car, Wade was present at the scene of a larceny that occurred on August 11, 2022, on Saint Maron Street in the City of Detroit. The perpetrators of the larceny used false documents to make it appear like they had legal authority to access the property. Wade was present at the scene in his Detroit Police Department vehicle to further the ruse that the perpetrators of the larceny were legally permitted to enter the home in question. Wade was interviewed about this incident by FBI agents conducting a bribery investigation on December 19, 2022. Wade denied any knowledge of a larceny at the Saint Maron street property. In fact, Wade knew that there was going to be a larceny at the property, and that his presence was necessary to further the fiction that the larceny’s perpetrators were entering the property for a legally valid purpose. At the time he made the statement to the FBI agents, Wade knew that the statement was false, and he further knew that making false statements to the FBI was unlawful. “Lying to law enforcement is never acceptable, but for an officer sworn to uphold the law to do so is inexcusable,” stated U.S. Attorney Ison. “Today’s conviction should send a strong message that no one, even a police officer, is above the law.” "Today’s guilty plea from former Detroit Police Officer Dametri Wade reinforces our unwavering commitment to enforcing the highest standards of integrity in law enforcement," said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Detroit. "We appreciate the crucial collaboration with Detroit Police Chief White and his department throughout this investigation. Let it be clear: Wade’s actions do not represent the exemplary standards of the Detroit Police Department. The FBI's Detroit Area Public Corruption Task Force will relentlessly pursue any acts of public corruption, ensuring accountability for those who break the law and safeguarding the public's trust in those dedicated to protecting our great community." Sentencing for Wade is scheduled for February 5, 2025. Wade faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The case was investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with Investigators of the Detroit Police Department's Professional Standards Bureau. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Moran.


title: Federal jury convicts Belgrade man of unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition

body_text: MISSOULA — A federal jury on Monday convicted a Belgrade man of a firearms crime after he was accused of illegally possessing two handguns and ammunition while he was the subject of a court restraining order, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. After a one-day trial that began on Oct. 28, the jury found the defendant, Jordan Charles Kirsch, 34, guilty of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Kirsch faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for March 12, 2025. Kirsch was detained pending further proceedings. “Firearms involved in domestic disputes often lead to tragic results. Here, Kirsch was under a court order of protection restraining him from any violence against the petitioner, and yet he illegally possessed two guns in violation of federal law. I am pleased the jury agreed with us and convicted him, and I am grateful to our prosecution team and law enforcement partners for their work to protect the safety of our fellow Montanans,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said. In court documents and at trial, the government alleged that on Dec. 19, 2023, a state district court judge in Gallatin County conducted a hearing and issued a final Order of Protection for 10 years against Kirsch. The court’s order found that the petitioner was in danger of harm, restrained Kirsch from committing or threatening to commit any acts of violence to the petitioner and ordered Kirsch not to threaten, harass, abuse, follow, stalk, annoy or disturb the petitioner. In April 2024, a court order was issued for Kirsch to be removed from a Belgrade residence and for possession of the residence to be delivered to the petitioner. A sheriff’s office detective conducting surveillance observed Kirsch exit the residence with a black semi-automatic handgun and fire it 10 to 20 times toward a berm near the property. On May 2, 2024, Kirsch was arrested and evicted from the property. A search warrant was executed on the property, and law enforcement found two firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in various calibers. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI, Missouri River Drug Task Force and Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN . XXX


title: Crystal Springs Man Sentenced to over 9 Years in Prison for Brandishing a Firearm During a Carjacking in Jackson

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

body_text: Jackson, Miss. – A Crystal Springs man was sentenced today to 110 months in prison for brandishing a firearm while carjacking a woman in front of her home in Jackson. According to court documents, Christopher Lawrence Murray, 31, brandished a pistol during a carjacking in the Jackson area. In May of 2021, Murray and another man approached a woman sitting in her car in front of her home. Working in tandem, both men pointed pistols at the woman and demanded she hand over her cellular phone and the keys to her car. The woman, at gunpoint, complied with the demands and the men left in the woman’s car. Murray was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 6, 2023, and he pled guilty on July 31, 2024, to brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the announcement. The Jackson Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway prosecuted the case. In an effort to focus resources on carjacking in Jackson, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Jackson Police Department and the Capitol Police Department formed a carjacking task force in April of 2024. In keeping with the Justice Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime , the task force represents a strategic enforcement priority for the department, focusing federal resources on identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the most significant drivers of violent crime.


title: Drug Dealer Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison for Opioid Pill Mill Scheme That Illegally Distributed More Than 1.2 Million Oxycodone Pills

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Michael Kent was sentenced by United States District Judge Ann M. Donnelly to nine years in prison for his role in recruiting sham patients, paying off complicit pharmacists and illegally distributing oxycodone in a Brooklyn-based narcotics conspiracy. Kent pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone in September 2023. Kent also paid $635,875 in forfeiture in advance of his sentencing. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Frank A. Tarentino, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division (DEA), Naomi Gruchacz, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and Thomas M. Fattorusso, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, New York (IRS-CI), announced the sentence. “The opioid epidemic has destroyed countless families and communities in our district, New York City and across the country,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “The proliferation of pill mill clinics, like the medical office involved in this case, significantly contributes to the opioid crisis. Today’s sentencing holds the defendant accountable for his role in callously diverting highly potent and addictive drugs from medical offices to the streets of New York.” Mr. Peace also thanked the New York City Department of Investigation, the New York City Police Department and the New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, for their assistance on the case. “Michael Kent knew the harmful effects of his pill mill scheme, and knowingly jeopardize the health and safety of those individuals he profited from, all while exacerbating the opioid crisis. Today’s sentencing sends a clear message to those individuals putting profits over human lives and looking to capitalize from the illegal sale of addictive opioids” stated DEA Special Agent in Charge Tarentino. “The DEA remains committed to fighting this opioid crisis head on and those who exploit it.” “The defendant in this case was involved in a scheme to steer controlled substances to the street, which is especially egregious given the ongoing opioid epidemic,” stated HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Gruchacz. “HHS-OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure individuals involved in fraud schemes that exploit federal health care programs and threaten patient safety are held accountable.” “Kent created an extravagant, multi-layered scheme in order to earn a simple title—drug dealer. He had no regard for the welfare of those buying the oxy as long as he lined his pockets, which were fat enough to buy three buildings in New York City. Unlucky for him, this elaborate scam was not too tricky for law enforcement to figure out, and he is now sentenced to time behind bars,” stated IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Fattorusso. As set forth in the indictment and publicly filed documents, between December 2018 and October 2022, Kent and his co-defendants operated a drug distribution ring out of a medical practice on Linden Boulevard in East New York, Brooklyn. Together, they unlawfully distributed more than 11,000 prescriptions for oxycodone, amounting to more than 1.2 million oxycodone pills, which carry a street value of at least $24 million. They made millions of dollars from the scheme. Nine defendants have been charged in this matter, including one doctor and four Brooklyn-based pharmacists. In addition to Kent, five co-defendants have pleaded guilty. Three co-defendants are scheduled for trial in January 2025. As part of his role in the scheme, Kent recruited approximately 45 sham patients who were prescribed more than six kilograms of medically unnecessary oxycodone over a four-year period. Kent paid these individuals for the use of their names, picked up the oxycodone from pharmacists, whom he paid off, and sold the oxycodone to dealers for distribution on the street. Kent then laundered the drug proceeds through a shell company he created called “Michael’s Cleaning Service,” using the money to buy three buildings in New York City. When he was arrested in October 2022, law enforcement officers recovered two loaded firearms from his home and seized thousands of dollars in cash. Oxycodone is a highly addictive opioid used to treat severe and chronic pain conditions. Every year, millions of Americans abuse oxycodone, and the misuse of prescription painkillers like oxycodone leads to hundreds of thousands of annual emergency room visits. More than 14,000 Americans died from prescription opioid overdoses in 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Oxycodone prescriptions have enormous cash value to drug dealers. For example, one oxycodone 30 mg tablet, which was the dosage prescribed in this case, can be sold by dealers on the street for between $20 and $30 in New York City. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Public Integrity Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Laura Zuckerwise, Victor Zapana and Gilbert Rein are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from paralegal specialists Rachel Friedman and Nadya Osman. Assistant United States Attorney Claire Kedeshian of the Office’s Asset Recovery Section is handling forfeiture matters. The Defendant : MICHAEL KENT Age: 51 Brooklyn, New York E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-464 (AMD)


title: Eight-Time Mail Robbers Sentenced to Combined 21 Years in Prison

component: USAO - Texas, Northern

body_text: The men responsible for eight mail carrier robberies were sentenced today to a combined 21 years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. Jerrad Coleman, 18, and Louis Dixon, 18, were charged via criminal complaint in April. Mr. Dixon pleaded guilty in June to robbery of property of the United States and conspiracy to rob and unlawfully possess property of the United States, while Mr. Coleman pleaded guilty to the same charges the following month. The pair were sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman, who noted that the U.S. Postal Service is critical to the functioning of our country and called their crime a “heinous offense.” Mr. Coleman was sentenced to 60 months on count one and 91 months on count two to run consecutively, for a combined 151 months (12 ½ years) in federal prison; Mr. Dixon was sentenced to 60 months on count one and 108 months on count two to run concurrently for a total of 108 months (9 years) in federal prison. “Violence against letter carriers not only puts federal workers in fear for their lives, but also undermines the functioning of the U.S. postal system,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to aggressively pursue and prosecute individuals that endanger our Postal colleagues and the system as a whole.” “Today’s sentencing serves as a notice to those who wish to commit violent acts against U.S. Postal Service employees that the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, along with our law enforcement partners, are committed to finding those responsible and bringing justice to the victims. U.S. Postal Service employees are delivering across America and deserve to work in their communities free from danger,” said Kai Pickens, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Fort Worth Division. According to court documents, the men trawled the streets of DFW looking for U.S. Postal Service letter carriers to rob in hopes of obtaining an Arrow Key, a master key used by letter carriers to gather mail deposited in blue collection boxes. Unauthorized possession of these keys, prized by mail thieves, allows individuals to illicitly access mailboxes to steal victim mail, checks, credit cards, bank account information, and other sensitive information. Over the course of about four months, the men conspired to commit robberies against U.S. Postal Service Letter Carriers, including those on Jan. 17 in Fort Worth, Jan. 18 in Fort Worth, Jan. 25 in Dallas, Jan. 29 in Dallas, March 15 in Fort Worth, March 28 in Arlington, April 4 in Frisco, and April 17 in Fort Worth. After robbing the mail carriers, often at gunpoint, the men fled in getaway vehicles. They then unlawfully used, sold, or disposed of the Arrow Keys. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation with the help of the Arlington, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Frisco Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Levi Thomas prosecuted the case.


title: Montgomery County Man Sentenced To Federal Prison For Fentanyl And Firearm Offenses

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Possessed more than 900 pills purporting to be Oxycodone Hydrochloride in his home, with the intent to distribute them. Greenbelt , Maryland – Today, the Honorable Lydia K. Griggsby sentenced Darnell Palmer, 23, Germantown, Maryland, to 84 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute and possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon. Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the guilty verdict with Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Washington Division, and Chief Marc R. Yamada, Montgomery County Police Department. According to the guilty plea, in April 2022, law enforcement received information that Palmer was distributing fentanyl in Montgomery County, Maryland. Law Enforcement officers observed Palmer selling 10 round blue pills purporting to be Oxycodone Hydrochloride, and actually contained fentanyl, to an individual in front of Palmer’s residence. On June 1, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Palmer’s residence. In Palmer’s bedroom, law enforcement located approximately 918 fentanyl pills (appearing as Oxycodone Hydrochloride ), distributed within several zip-top bags; a plastic bag containing three bags of marijuana and a black digital scale; a loaded Glock 27 handgun; four firearm magazines, including an empty Glock magazine; a clear magazine containing six rounds of ammunition; a loaded drum magazine; and a packaged Glock magazine; and approximately $3,611 in U.S. currency, among other items. Palmer possessed the fentanyl pills with the intent to distribute them. The 928 fentanyl pills recovered in the investigation weighed more than 100 grams. The pills Palmer distributed, and that were seized from his bedroom, purported to be Oxycodone Hydrochloride in that they were small light blue pills stamped with “M” and “30” to match legitimate Oxycodone Hydrochloride 30 milligram pills when in fact, they contained fentanyl instead of Oxycodone Hydrochloride. U.S. Attorney Barron commended the DEA and the Montgomery County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Wright and Christopher Sarma, who prosecuted the federal case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Alabama Man Sentenced for Threatening Fulton County Sheriff and District Attorney

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA - Arthur Ray Hanson, II has been sentenced to federal prison for transmitting interstate threats to injure Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis because of their connections to the Fulton County, Georgia investigation and prosecution of former President Donald Trump. “Public servants have a responsibility to enforce our criminal laws, and anyone who threatens to harm or intimidate them will face the consequences of their actions,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “We are grateful to our law enforcement partners who diligently worked to ensure public officials are free to perform their essential work without the threat of physical attack.” “Threats against public servants are not only illegal, but also a threat against our democratic process,” said Sean Burke, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI’s mission is to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution. We take this responsibility very seriously and seek to punish those who engage in this type of criminal behavior, and to send the message that such conduct will not be tolerated.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court: On August 6, 2023, Hanson called the Fulton County Government customer service line twice and left two voicemails—the first for Sheriff Labat and the second for District Attorney Willis. During both calls, Hanson threatened violence against these officials. In his message for Sheriff Labat, Hanson made statements that included the following: “If you think you gonna take a mugshot of my President Trump and it’s gonna be okay, you gonna find out that after you take that mugshot, some bad [expletive]’s gonna happen to you;” “If you take a mugshot of the President and you’re the reason it happened, some bad [expletive]’s gonna happen to you;” “I’m warning you right now before you [expletive] up your life and get hurt real bad;” and “Whether you got a [expletive] badge or not ain’t gonna help you none;” and “you gonna get [expletive]ed up you keep [expletive]ing with my President.” In Hanson’s message for District Attorney Willis, he made statements that included the following: “Watch it when you’re going to the car at night, when you’re going into your house, watch everywhere that you’re going;” “I would be very afraid if I were you because you can’t be around people all the time that are going to protect you;” “There’s gonna be moments when you’re gonna be vulnerable;” “When you charge Trump on that fourth indictment, anytime you’re alone, be looking over your shoulder;” and “What you put out there, [expletive], comes back at you ten times harder, and don’t ever forget it.” Arthur Ray Hanson, II, 59, of Huntsville, Alabama, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge J. P. Boulee to one year, nine months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $7,500 fine. Hanson was convicted on these charges on July 3, 2024, after he pleaded guilty to one count of transmitting interstate threats. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bret R. Hobson and Brent Alan Gray prosecuted the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Six Charged in Scheme to Defraud the Federal Government

component: Antitrust Division

body_text: Six defendants have been charged for their roles in schemes to rig bids, defraud the government and pay bribes and kickbacks in connection with the sale of IT products and services to federal government purchasers, which resulted in overcharges of millions of dollars to the U.S. government, including the Department of Defense (DoD). On Oct. 9 and Oct. 16, a federal grand jury in Baltimore returned indictments against two defendants. Four other defendants were also charged. These are the first charges in the Justice Department’s ongoing investigation into IT manufacturers, distributors and resellers who sell products and services to government purchasers, including to the intelligence community. “Antitrust crimes can undermine competition for products and services that are vital to our national security,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “When fraudsters siphon taxpayer funds, the Antitrust Division and its Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF) partners across the government will hold accountable those who collude to subvert competition, line their pockets with federal procurement dollars and compromise the integrity of our intelligence community programs.” “This office and our partners will use all available resources to hold accountable those who would undermine and distort the government’s procurement of goods and services, especially those related to our cybersecurity infrastructure,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland. “This investigation demonstrates the vital need to protect the DoD procurement process, particularly within the Intelligence Community,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard of the DoD Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “The Defense Criminal Investigative Service is committed to identifying fraudsters who abuse public trust and enrich themselves through criminal schemes.” “There is no place for fraudsters and crooks scheming to manipulate the government bidding process for personal gain,” said Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. “The FBI remains steadfastly committed to identifying, investigating and bringing to justice those conspiring to enrich themselves by cheating taxpayers.” “Investigating complex fraud schemes is a top priority of ours,” said National Security Agency Acting Inspector General Kevin Gerrity. “I commend our team, our law enforcement partners and the Justice Department for their work protecting the integrity of federal contracting.” “Each part of the government must do its part to detect and prosecute instances of waste, fraud and abuse, and CIA’s Office of Inspector General was pleased to join its law enforcement partners in investigating this egregious case,” said CIA Inspector General Robin C. Ashton. United States v. Victor Marquez Victor M. Marquez, a Maryland resident and owner of two IT companies with significant government contracts, was charged in a four-count indictment with wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud and major fraud against the United States for rigging bids and inflating the amount of money obtained from valuable IT contracts. Antwann C.K. Rawls, an employee of one of Marquez’s companies, and Scott A. Reefe, an IT sales executive, have been charged for their respective roles in the conspiracy. As alleged in the indictment, Marquez, Rawls, Reefe and their co-conspirators used their positions of trust to learn sensitive, confidential procurement information, including procurement budgets for large U.S. government IT contracts. The co-conspirators used that inside information to craft bids at artificially determined, non-competitive and non-independent prices, ensuring Marquez’s company would win the procurement. According to court documents, the co-conspirators shared their bids in advance of submitting them to the government, with one co-conspirator emailing that he would submit a “high price third bid.” Marquez and his co-conspirators submitted their collusive bids despite knowing the government sought independent, competitive bids for the valuable contracts, and despite Marquez’s certification of independent bidding. If convicted, Marquez faces maximum penalties of 20 years in prison for each conspiracy and wire fraud count and 10 years in prison for the major fraud charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. United States v. Breal L. Madison Jr. Breal L. Madison Jr., a Maryland resident, was charged in a 13-count indictment with conspiracy, bribery of a public official, mail fraud and money laundering for orchestrating a years-long scheme to defraud his employer and the United States out of over $7 million in connection with the sale of IT products to various government agencies. Brandon Scott Glisson, an IT contractor providing IT services to the U.S. government, and Glisson’s supervisor, Lawrence A. Eady, a former senior government employee, have also been charged for their respective roles in the scheme. According to court documents, through multiple misrepresentations, Madison and his co-conspirators conspired to steal money from Madison’s employer and government agencies, illegally siphoning over $9 million in stolen proceeds to Madison’s shell company, Trident Technology Solutions, and another shell company. They used the money to purchase luxury items and to pay approximately $630,000 in bribes to Eady in exchange for Eady’s ensuring the purchase of additional products sold by Madison. Madison used his ill-gotten gains to buy a Vanquish VQ58 yacht, 2020 Lamborghini Huracan and multiple other vehicles, all of which the United States seeks to forfeit in the indictment. If convicted, Madison faces maximum penalties of five years in prison for the conspiracy count, 15 years in prison for each bribery count, 20 years in prison for each mail fraud count and 10 years for each money laundering count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The DCIS, the FBI Baltimore Field Office, CIA Office of Inspector General and NSA Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Acting Assistant Chief Michael Sawers and Trial Attorneys Zachary Trotter and Elizabeth French of the Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron S.J. Zelinsky, Sean M. Delaney and Darren Gardner for the District of Maryland are prosecuting the case. Anyone with information about this investigation or other procurement fraud schemes should notify the PCSF at www.justice.gov/atr/webform/pcsf-citizen-complaint . The Justice Department created the PCSF in November 2019. It is a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government — federal, state and local. For more information, visit www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. View the Rawls information. View the Eady information. View Reefe information. View the Glisson information. View the Madison indictment. View the Marquez indictment.


title: Mansfield Tax Preparer Sentenced to More Than 15 Years After Touting False Credentials

body_text: A would-be lawyer who falsely inflated dozens of client tax returns was sentenced Tuesday to more than 15 years in federal prison for tax fraud, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. John Anthony Castro, 40, owner of the virtual tax preparation business Castro & Company, was indicted in January. Following a five-day bench trial before Senior U.S. District Judge Terry R Means, he was convicted on all 33 counts of assisting in the preparation of a fraudulent return and was immediately taken into custody. Judge Means sentenced him Thursday to 188 months in prison and ordered him to pay $277,243 in restitution. “Far from an ‘international tax expert,’ this defendant was an international fraudster, plain and simple,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “Not only did he defraud the U.S. government, he bullied and berated clients who dared question his methods. Today’s sentencing should send a message to tax preparers nationwide: Lie on clients’ returns at your own peril.” “Mr. Castro prepared and filed completely fraudulent and fabricated tax returns for one reason: greed,” stated Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan, IRS Criminal Investigation, Newark Field Office. “Today’s sentence highlights IRS-CI’s diligence in rooting out dishonest tax return preparers whose only motive is to cheat the system and make themselves richer in the process.” According to evidence presented in court, Mr. Castro – who had graduated law school but repeatedly failed the bar exam – held himself out as an “international tax expert” and “federal practitioner.” (He also falsely claimed to be a graduate of West Point.) He was successful at marketing to clients around the world, claiming to be an expert on certain tax issues related to Australian ex-pats, among other things. Between 2017 and 2019, he filed more than 1,900 tax returns on behalf of individuals from all over the world. As part of his pitch, Mr. Castro promised his clients a significantly higher refund than they would receive from other preparers, claiming he knew how to identify and claim deductions that others did not. He added there was no risk, as he would simply split the additional refund amount with them to account for his fee. He would not share the tax return with clients before filing, but would instead simply inform them of the amount of the anticipated refund. On many occasions, he filed tax returns on behalf of clients without their permission or knowledge. In other instances, he claimed deductions that had no basis in fact. For example, for one client, who made approximately $103,000 in income, Mr. Castro claimed over $90,000 in deductions related to unreimbursed employee expenses. Mr. Castro claimed deductions based on extreme and unsupported legal theories, including deductions such as (1) those for any expense related to preventing an illness qualified as an “impairment related work expense,” (2) those for expenses related to commuting to and from work, (3) the full value of one’s mortgage and utilities as long as the taxpayer had some type of Schedule C business to claim, (4) those related to dry-cleaning for work clothes, and (5) the full value of one’s cell phone bill even when their employer provided them with a work phone. For example, with respect to one client, Mr. Castro deducted over $26,000 in expenses that he claimed related to a nascent cupcake business that had generated only $250 in revenue. According to trial testimony, in February 2018, an undercover IRS – CI agent contacted Mr. Castro for assistance. The agent asked to meet with Mr. Castro in person, but Mr. Castro’s office told him that in-person meetings required a $5,000 retainer. They spoke via email instead. On February 13, 2018, the undercover agent submitted a W2 and a Form 1098-T showing wages of $142,217. About two weeks later, one of Mr. Castro’s employees called the agent to discuss deductions, noting that Mr. Castro would make any decisions regarding what items would be included on the tax filing. The agent denied having any unreimbursed employee expenses, charitable contributions, or other items that could lead to deductions. On March 12, 2018, Mr. Castro sent the undercover agent his tax analysis. He said that if the agent used another preparer, he would receive a refund of $373, but that if he used Mr. Castro, he would receive a refund of $6,007. Mr. Castro would take half, netting him $3,008. The analysis said the return would include $29,339 in deductions but did not specify which deductions would be used. Two days later, Mr. Castro filed the agent’s return, which claimed $29,339 in fraudulent deductions, including $2,400 in employee expenses, and 28,600 in other expenses that the undercover agent had never discussed with Mr. Castro or his employees. According to evidence presented at trial, Mr. Castro engaged in a similar pattern with his other clients. When the victim-taxpayers learned what Mr. Castro had done, many of them demanded copies of their tax returns. Mr. Castro refused to engage in conversation and even delayed providing returns for months at a time. Mr. Castro often acted in a highly vindictive manner when questioned or challenged by clients or others, often berating individuals in emails, threatening legal actions, or by filing amended tax returns, without clients’ permission or knowledge, that removed all deductions, causing the taxpayer-victim to then owe the IRS tens of thousands of dollars. During the trial, Mr. Castro took the stand in his own defense, and upon cross-examination, admitted that his positions were extreme, outlandish, and not supported by the law. He also admitted to a bevy of prior falsifications and vindictive actions. Many of the victim-taxpayers have since been audited and/or filed amended returns, causing them significant financial hardship. IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys P.J. Meitl and Nancy Larson are prosecuting the case.


title: Turtle Creek Man Indicted on 18 Counts of Violent Robberies of Multiple Businesses, Carjackings, and Firearms Offenses

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Western

body_text: PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of Hobbs Act robbery, carjacking, and firearms violations, United States Attorney Eric G. Olshan announced today. The 18-count Indictment named Jamal Martel Brooks, 33, as the sole defendant. Brooks was previously prosecuted and convicted in the Western District of Pennsylvania in 2019 for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and sentenced to 17 months of incarceration. According to the Indictment, from January 3, 2023, to January 2, 2024, Brooks committed numerous violent crimes, including robberies of multiple businesses in the greater Pittsburgh area and two carjackings. Brooks is alleged to have brandished and possessed a firearm in connection with each of these crimes. The law provides for a maximum sentence of not less than seven years and up to life in prison for each count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, and the sentence on each such count must be imposed consecutively to any other sentence. Due to the number of robberies alleged to have been committed by Brooks, he is facing a maximum total sentence of not less than 63 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $4.5 million, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant. Brooks also is currently facing charges in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas in relation to his alleged shooting of a Monroeville Police Sergeant on January 3, 2024. Assistant United States Attorneys Douglas C. Maloney and DeMarr W. Moulton are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Allegheny County Police Department, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Monroeville Police Department, and Robinson Township Police Department conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment. An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Three Men Arrested in Connection with Methamphetamine Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Jose Gracia-Vega, 28, of Tucson, was arrested on October 17, 2024, by members of the Arizona Strike Force for Possession with Intent to Distribute 27 Pounds of Methamphetamine and was charged by criminal complaint on October 18, 2024. Ulises Yescas-Garcia, 23, of Tucson, and Sebastian Higuera-Fuentes, 22, of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico were also arrested for their involvement in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and the distribution of methamphetamine in Tucson beginning in February of this year. Yescas-Garcia and Higuera-Fuentes were both charged earlier by indictment. On October 2, 2024, Yescas-Garcia and Higuera-Fuentes were charged in a seven-count indictment with Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Distribution of Methamphetamine, and Aiding and Abetting Distribution of Methamphetamine in United States District Court, case CR-24-6720-TUC-RCC. The indictment alleges that they conspired with one another and others to distribute large amounts of methamphetamine in Tucson beginning in February 2024, and distributed that methamphetamine on at least six occasions during the time of the conspiracy. On October 17, 2024, Gracia-Vega was arrested after being found in possession of approximately 27 pounds of methamphetamine destined for sale in Tucson. According to the complaint, Gracia-Vega met with Higuera-Fuentes that morning and provided him methamphetamine for later distribution. Higuera-Fuentes and Yescas-Garcia were arrested that same day on the charges set forth in the October 2nd indictment. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force operation. The OCDETF Strike Force Initiative identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . The investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Marana Police Department, the Pima County Sheriff’s Office, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney David Petermann, District of Arizona, Tucson, is handling the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-24-6720-TUC-RCC 24-mj-9730-N/A-EJM RELEASE NUMBER: 2024-146_Gracia-Vega, Yescas-Garcia, Higuera-Fuentes # # # 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: November 5, 2024 Elections

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: New Orleans, Louisiana - United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that Assistant United States Attorney M. Irene González will coordinate our Office’s efforts in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. AUSA González serves as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Eastern District of Louisiana, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington. United States Attorney Evans said: “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.” The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations. Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying, or selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English). United States Attorney Evans stated that: “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice.” In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO González will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. She can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: (504) 680-3077. Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at: (800) 253-3931, or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov . United States Attorney Evans said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.” Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.


component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland – Six defendants have been charged for their roles in schemes to rig bids, defraud the government and pay bribes and kickbacks in connection with the sale of IT products and services to federal government purchasers, which resulted in overcharges of millions of dollars to the U.S. government, including the Department of Defense (DoD). On Oct. 9 and Oct. 16, a federal grand jury in Baltimore returned indictments against two additional defendants. Four other defendants were also charged. These are the first charges in the Justice Department’s ongoing investigation into IT manufacturers, distributors and resellers who sell products and services to government purchasers, including to the intelligence community. “This office and our partners will use all available resources to hold accountable those who would undermine and distort the government’s procurement of goods and services, especially those related to our cybersecurity infrastructure,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland. “Antitrust crimes can undermine competition for products and services that are vital to our national security,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “When fraudsters siphon taxpayer funds, the Antitrust Division and its Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF) partners across the government will hold accountable those who collude to subvert competition, line their pockets with federal procurement dollars and compromise the integrity of our intelligence community programs.” “This investigation demonstrates the vital need to protect the DoD procurement process, particularly within the Intelligence Community,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard of the DoD Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “The Defense Criminal Investigative Service is committed to identifying fraudsters who abuse public trust and enrich themselves through criminal schemes.” “There is no place for fraudsters and crooks scheming to manipulate the government bidding process for personal gain,” said Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. “The FBI remains steadfastly committed to identifying, investigating and bringing to justice those conspiring to enrich themselves by cheating taxpayers.” “Investigating complex fraud schemes is a top priority of ours,” said National Security Agency Acting Inspector General Kevin Gerrity. “I commend our team, our law enforcement partners and the Justice Department for their work protecting the integrity of federal contracting.” “Each part of the government must do its part to detect and prosecute instances of waste, fraud and abuse, and CIA’s Office of Inspector General was pleased to join its law enforcement partners in investigating this egregious case,” said CIA Inspector General Robin C. Ashton. United States v. Victor Marquez Victor M. Marquez, a Maryland resident and owner of two IT companies with significant government contracts, was charged in a four-count indictment with wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud and major fraud against the United States for rigging bids and inflating the amount of money obtained from valuable IT contracts. Antwann C.K. Rawls, an employee of one of Marquez’s companies, and Scott A. Reefe, an IT sales executive, have been charged for their respective roles in the conspiracy. As alleged in the indictment, Marquez, Rawls, Reefe and their co-conspirators used their positions of trust to learn sensitive, confidential procurement information, including procurement budgets for large U.S. government IT contracts. The co-conspirators used that inside information to craft bids at artificially determined, non-competitive and non-independent prices, ensuring Marquez’s company would win the procurement. According to court documents, the co-conspirators shared their bids in advance of submitting them to the government, with one co-conspirator emailing that he would submit a “high price third bid.” Marquez and his co-conspirators submitted their collusive bids despite knowing the government sought independent, competitive bids for the valuable contracts, and despite Marquez’s certification of independent bidding. If convicted, Marquez faces maximum penalties of 20 years in prison for each conspiracy and wire fraud count and 10 years in prison for the major fraud charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. United States v. Breal L. Madison Jr. Breal L. Madison Jr., a Maryland resident, was charged in a 13-count indictment with conspiracy, bribery of a public official, mail fraud and money laundering for orchestrating a years-long scheme to defraud his employer and the United States out of over $7 million in connection with the sale of IT products to various government agencies. Brandon Scott Glisson, an IT contractor providing IT services to the U.S. government, and Glisson’s supervisor, Lawrence A. Eady, a former senior government employee, have also been charged for their respective roles in the scheme. According to court documents, through multiple misrepresentations, Madison and his co-conspirators conspired to steal money from Madison’s employer and government agencies, illegally siphoning over $9 million in stolen proceeds to Madison’s shell company, Trident Technology Solutions, and another shell company. They used the money to purchase luxury items and to pay approximately $630,000 in bribes to Eady in exchange for Eady’s ensuring the purchase of additional products sold by Madison. Madison used his ill-gotten gains to buy a Vanquish VQ58 yacht, 2020 Lamborghini Huracan and multiple other vehicles, all of which the United States seeks to forfeit in the indictment. If convicted, Madison faces maximum penalties of five years in prison for the conspiracy count, 15 years in prison for each bribery count, 20 years in prison for each mail fraud count and 10 years for each money laundering count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The DCIS, the FBI Baltimore Field Office, CIA Office of Inspector General and NSA Office of Inspector General investigated the case. Acting Assistant Chief Michael Sawers and Trial Attorneys Zachary Trotter and Elizabeth French of the Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron S.J. Zelinsky, Sean M. Delaney and Darren Gardner for the District of Maryland are prosecuting the case. Anyone with information about this investigation or other procurement fraud schemes should notify the PCSF at www.justice.gov/atr/webform/pcsf-citizen-complaint . The Justice Department created the PCSF in November 2019. It is a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government — federal, state and local. For more information, visit www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . View the Rawls information . View the Eady information. View Reefe information. View the Glisson information. View the Madison indictment. View the Marquez indictment. ###


title: 10 people charged in Alaska drug trafficking ring

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska announced today that 10 people have been charged through three indictments in connection with a drug trafficking organization operating in Anchorage. According to court documents, Rodney Godwin, 50, is allegedly the leader of a drug trafficking organization responsible for trafficking kilograms of controlled substances in Alaska. From April 2023 to May 2024, Godwin allegedly conspired with at least nine other people to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and other controlled substances in Alaska. Court documents allege that members of the organization used firearms during and in relation to drug trafficking crimes. On Nov. 13, 2023, Jeremy Nichols, 40, allegedly possessed a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On May 31, 2024, Reigna Archuleta, 39, also allegedly carried or used a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime. According to a detention memo, Archuleta allegedly attempted to body smuggle roughly $21,000 in cash through the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport while traveling to Seattle with Godwin. The cash was seized at security. Court documents also allege that Godwin and Miles Apatiki, 37, conspired to launder money as part of the enterprise. In total, law enforcement has seized approximately 3.8 kilograms of fentanyl, 1.8 kilograms of methamphetamine, 1.6 kilograms of cocaine, 1.3 kilograms of heroin and tens of kilograms of assorted other controlled substances allegedly connected to this drug trafficking organization. Defendants in these cases include: Rodney Godwin, of Anchorage, is charged with one count of continuing criminal enterprise, one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and one count of money laundering conspiracy. If convicted, Godwin faces up to life in prison. Calvin Oktollik, 37, of Anchorage, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. If convicted, Oktollik faces up to 20 years in prison. Miles Apatiki, of Anchorage, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of money laundering conspiracy. If convicted, Apatiki faces up to 20 years in prison. Jennifer Godwin, 40, of Anchorage, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. If convicted, Godwin faces up to 20 years in prison. Andrew Akulaw, 41, of Anchorage, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted, Akulaw faces up to 20 years in prison. Reigna Archuleta, of Anchorage, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, one count of attempted possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and one count of carrying firearms during a drug trafficking crime. If convicted, Archuleta faces up to 20 years in prison. David Henry, 50, of Palmer, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted, Henry faces up to 20 years in prison. Page Peak, 25, of Sterling, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted, Peak faces up to 20 years in prison. Corabelle Bolden, 55, of Anchorage, is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. If convicted, Bolden faces up to 20 years in prison. Jeremy Nichols, of Black Diamond, Washington, is charged with one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession of a firearm during and in relations to a drug trafficking crime. If convicted, Nichols faces up to 20 years in prison. The defendants were arrested and made their initial court appearances over the last five months before U.S. Magistrate Judges of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Anchorage Field Office made the announcement. The FBI Anchorage Field Office, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Anchorage Domicile, IRS Criminal Investigation, Alaska State Troopers and Anchorage Police Department, is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cody Tirpak is prosecuting the case. Case numbers: United States v. Godwin et al.: 3:24-cr-00049 United States v. Nichols: 3:24-cr-00061 United States v. Bolden: 3:24-cr-00085 An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. UPDATE: This release has been updated to include IRS Criminal Investigation, the Alaska State Troopers and the Anchorage Police Department as investigating agencies. ###


title: McAlester Resident Pleads Guilty To Federal Firearm Crime

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Leslie Ray Upchurch, age 35, of McAlester, Oklahoma, entered a guilty plea one count of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. The Indictment alleged that on April 28, 2023, Upchurch, having been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, and knowing of such conviction, knowingly possessed one Ruger 9mm Luger caliber semi-automatic pistol and several rounds of assorted 9mm Luger caliber ammunition. The charges arose from an investigation by the McAlester Police Department, the Pittsburg County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Honorable Jason A. Robertson, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, accepted the plea and ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report. Upchurch was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshal Service pending sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob R. Parker represented the United States.


title: Convicted Felon Who Fled Police at High Speed in a Stolen SUV Sentenced for Possessing a Loaded Machine Gun

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Jamal Fleming, 32, of Washington D.C. was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 46 months in federal prison for possessing a loaded machine gun as he led police on a chase in a stolen SUV while under the influence of cocaine. Fleming crashed the vehicle into a utility pole and then attempted to elude officers on foot before becoming stuck in a fence. The conviction, which is Fleming’s third for possessing an illegal firearm, involves a weapon that had been modified into a fully automatic machine gun. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Fleming pleaded guilty on March 8, 2024, to unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In addition to the 46-month prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Jia M. Cobb ordered Fleming to serve 36 months of supervised release. On October 11, 2023, at about 10 p.m., Prince George’s County police observed a black Jeep Grand Cherokee driving in the 4200 block of 58th Avenue in Bladensburg, Maryland. The officers were aware of a recent rash of commercial armed robberies in the county involving a black Grand Cherokee. The officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The SUV fled, pursued by police by several police cruisers. MPD’s Falcon helicopter also followed the SUV as it entered Washington, D.C. About five miles from the start of the pursuit, the SUV crashed into a utility pole in the alleyway behind the 4200 block of Eads Street NE. Leaving the SUV running, Fleming jumped out of the vehicle and fled on foot, dashing through an alleyway, until he was caught on a fence where officers apprehended him. Fleming crashed the SUV into a utility pole following a five-mile high-speed chase. Officers searched Fleming and recovered a key fob to the SUV that they used to unlock it. Inside the SUV, officers found a black Glock 29 loaded with 16 rounds of 10mm ammunition. The weapon was outfitted with a “switch,” which converted the gun into a fully automatic firearm, and a laser sight. Later DNA testing linked the firearm to Fleming. Officers determined that the SUV had been stolen the week before from an automotive repair shop in Beltsville. Officers discovered a loaded Glock -- outfitted with a laser sight and a “switch” that made the weapon fully automatic – on the floor of the SUV on the driver’s side. Fleming has been barred from possessing a gun since 2016 after he was convicted of illegal possession of a firearm. On May 5, 2022, Fleming was driving when he was stopped by police. He had an open bottle of champagne in the vehicle’s cupholder, a bag containing more than a pound of marijuana, cocaine, pills and a Glock 27 .40 caliber handgun. On December 12, 2022, Fleming was sentenced to five years in prison with all but one year suspended, along with three years of supervised probation. In October 2023, at the time of his most recent arrest, Fleming was still on probation. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron Tepfer. 23cr0370