title: Ada, Oklahoma Podiatrist Agrees To Pay $7,000,000.00 To Resolve False Claims Act Allegations

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Eastern

body_text: MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced today that Dr. Bryan Andrew Blanck, a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) who formerly owned and operated the Valley View Foot and Ankle Center, located in Ada, Oklahoma, has agreed to pay $7,000,000.00 to the United States to resolve allegations he violated provisions of the False Claims Act (FCA). The settlement resolves allegations that Dr. Blanck submitted false claims to the VA Choice/Patient-Centered Community Care programs for excessive medical services and for higher levels of service than what were medically reasonable or necessary for veterans receiving bioengineered skin substitutes and skin substitute related treatment. The Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration (VHA), provides integrated health care to U.S. Military Veterans in the United States through VA Medical Centers and VA Outpatient Clinics. VHA provides health care services similar to traditional hospitals. Veterans enrolled in VA health care have the option to receive care at the VA or at health care facilities within the local community. TriWest oversees the scheduling, claims processing and billing functions for veterans receiving care in the community. Dr. Blanck accepted and treated veterans at the Valley View Foot and Ankle Clinic. An audit conducted by the VA revealed that from February 14, 2017 – June 14, 2018, Dr. Blanck was the #1 billing podiatrist out of 4,014 podiatrists nationwide in VA Choice and accounted for 23.7% of total podiatrist billings in the VA Choice program. During the same time period, Dr. Blanck was the #1 billing provider out of 280,073 individual providers in the entire VA Choice program across the nation. These high billing numbers sparked an investigation by the VA-Office of Inspector General. Based on the investigation, it was alleged Dr. Blanck misrepresented the seriousness of patients’ wounds to Tri-West in order to obtain authorization to administer bioengineered skin substitutes and copy and pasted medical notes as justification for his billing. For skin substitutes to be used, a detailed treatment history is required of standard wound care for a minimum of four weeks. At the end of the minimum four weeks, documentation must be shown as to why standard wound care has failed and it is necessary to use skin substitutes. It was alleged Dr. Blanck regularly administered skin substitutes without performing standard preliminary wound care and billed the VA Choice program for these medically unnecessary services. “Protecting the citizens of our district against unscrupulous health care providers who do not play by the rules is a priority for my office,” said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. “Billing for and receiving payment for medically unnecessary and inappropriate levels of care is wrong and a waste of taxpayer dollars. The False Claims Act is a valuable weapon in the government’s arsenal to combat these types of abuses.” “Subjecting veterans to unnecessary medical procedures at the expense of the taxpayer cannot be tolerated. Such activities put at risk VA’s ability to provide timely, quality health care within the local community,” said Special Agent in Charge Kris Raper with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General’s South Central Field Office. “The VA OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure the integrity of VA’s programs and services.” This civil settlement illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Since January 2009, the Justice Department has recovered a total of more than $26.7 billion through False Claims Act cases, with more than $16.8 billion of that amount recovered in cases involving fraud against federal health care programs. This case was a coordinated effort among the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma and the Office of the Inspector General of Veteran Affairs. The lawsuit is captioned United States v. Bryan Blanck , Case No. 6:23-cv-00003-JAR (E.D. Okla.). Assistant United States Attorneys Michael O'Malley and Clay Compton represented the United States. The claims settled or pursued by the government are only allegations; there has been no determination of liability.


title: Carjackers Each Sentenced to More than a Decade in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Colorado

body_text: DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Brian Armando Diaz Montellano, age 29, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for carjacking and for discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Co-defendant Alexis Michele Ruder-Iturrino, age 27, was sentenced to 11 years in prison. According to the terms of the plea agreement, Douglas County deputies pursued Diaz Montellano and Ruder-Iturrino on June 19, 2022, while they were driving in a stolen Dodge truck at speeds of approximately 100 miles per hour. After fleeing from law enforcement, Diaz Montellano drove the truck directly in front of a moving 2022 Subaru Cross Trek, forcing the Subaru to stop. Diaz Montellano and Ruder-Iturrino got out of the truck and approached the Subaru, demanding the two occupants get out of the car. Ruder-Iturrino held an AR-15 rifle, pointed it at the victims, and then fired a round into the ground. Diaz Montellano opened the driver’s side door as Ruder-Iturrino screamed at the driver to get out. The co-defendants then got into the Subaru and drove away. Diaz Montellano was later arrested in possession of a loaded 9mm pistol. “The defendants terrorized their carjacking victims, making them afraid for their lives,” said U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan. “Based on their conduct they will each have more than ten years in federal prison to consider their actions.” United States District Court Judge Raymond P. Moore pronounced the sentences for both defendants on April 17, 2023. This case was investigated by the FBI Denver Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, and the Denver Police Department. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Brian Dunn. 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. Case No. 22-cr-0260 For more information about the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado, visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-co/pr Follow us on Twitter USAO_CO for the latest news.


title: Purvis Man Pleads Guilty to Assisting in the Preparation of False Tax Return

component: USAO - Mississippi, Southern

body_text: Hattiesburg, Miss. - A Purvis man pled guilty to aiding and assisting in the preparation of a materially false tax return, announced U.S. Attorney Darren J. LaMarca and Special Agent in Charge James E. Dorsey of the Internal Revenue Service- Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office. According to court documents, Terance Dewune Price, 41, was identified in an investigation by the IRS as a tax preparer who, on or about February 5, 2018, in Hattiesburg, aided and assisted in, procuring, counseling, and advising in the preparation and presentation to the IRS, of a false U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, Form 1040. Price is scheduled to be sentenced on August 7, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., in Hattiesburg, and faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $100,000 fine. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations is investigating this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones is prosecuting the case.


title: Jackson, Mississippi Drinking Water and Sewer Overflow Issues - Request for Community Statements

body_text: Jackson, Miss. - The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency want to ensure that all community members have an opportunity to comment on long-term solutions for drinking water and sewer overflow issues in Jackson, Mississippi. Therefore, we are asking Jackson residents and workers to submit Community Statements. The Federal Government, the City of Jackson, and the State of Mississippi will consider comments in the Community Statements when developing long-term solutions. Please submit Community Statements online (available in both English and Spanish) at https://dojenrd.gov1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0cbGlkoP7ik3eZg .


title: Three Rhode Island Fisherman Among Seven Charged with Tax Evasion and Failing to File Returns

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE - Federal grand juries in Providence and Boston returned separate indictments charging seven commercial fishermen with tax evasion and failing to file returns. According to the indictments, the commercial fishermen each worked for fishing companies operating primarily out of New Bedford, Massachusetts, or Point Judith, Rhode Island, and received substantial compensation. The companies allegedly paid the fishermen as independent contractors and documented that income by, among other things, filing Forms 1099 with the IRS that reported the funds paid to the fishermen. It is alleged that notwithstanding the receipt of this income, each fisherman did not file individual tax returns or pay all the taxes owed on that income – for some defendants, they allegedly failed to file and/or pay taxes for a decade or more. To conceal the source and disposition of their income, the fishermen allegedly cashed paychecks and then used the cash to fund their lifestyles. One of the defendants allegedly also used the name and Social Security number of another individual to conduct business as a further effort to hide income. In some instances, the fishermen allegedly filed false tax returns for certain years by either not reporting their fishing income or by reporting false business expense deductions to reduce the amount of taxes they owed. Each allegedly evaded tax on between $900,000 and $1.9 million in income. The seven fishermen indicted are: Jorge Cazarin of New Bedford, Massachusetts, was charged with five counts of tax evasion and five counts of willful failure to file tax returns for 2016 through 2020. Christopher Garraty of Newport and East Greenwich, Rhode Island, was charged with three counts of tax evasion and three counts of willful failure to file for 2016 through 2018, and a fourth count of tax evasion related to taxes he allegedly owed for 2007 through 2011. Wojciech Kaminski of West Warwick, Rhode Island, was charged with five counts of tax evasion for 2014 and 2016 through 2019 and four counts of willful failure to file tax returns for 2016 through 2019. Brian Kobus of Durham, Connecticut, was charged with five counts of tax evasion for 2017 through 2021. Rodolfo Membreno of Fall River, Massachusetts, was charged with six counts of tax evasion for 2012 and 2017 through 2021 and four counts of willful failure to file tax returns for 2017 through 2019 and 2021. John Doe of New Bedford, Massachusetts, was charged with six counts of tax evasion for 2016 through 2021 and three counts of willful failure to file tax returns for 2016 through 2018. Miguel Cruz Rubio of New Bedford, Massachusetts, and Elizabethtown, North Carolina, was charged with four counts of tax evasion for 2016 through 2019. If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison for each evasion count and one year in prison for each failure to file a tax return charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division thanked and U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha for the District of Rhode Island and U.S. Attorney Rachael S. Rollins for the District of Massachusetts for their help and assistance in the investigation and prosecution of these cases. IRS-Criminal Investigation is investigating these cases. Assistant Chief John Kane and Trial Attorneys Samuel Bean, Matthew Cofer, Christina Grimes, and Ezra Spiro of the Justice Department’s Tax Division are prosecuting the cases. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Note: Indictments returned in this matter are available for review and/or download at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/seven-new-england-fishermen-charged-tax-evasion-and-failing-file-returns ###


title: United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins Honors First Responders in Commemoration of the Tenth Anniversary of the Boston Marathon Bombing

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – In commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Boston Marathon Bombing, United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins held a private ceremony honoring the selflessness, commitment and bravery demonstrated by first responders and the medical community in the tragic events that occurred during the week of April 15, 2013. “Ten years ago today, the City of Boston changed forever. On April 15, 2013 and the days following, four innocent lives were stolen and nearly three hundred others were maimed and wounded in a terrorist attack near the finish line of the 117th annual Boston Marathon. The tragedies of that day and the days that followed will forever remain as one of the most significant events in our Commonwealth’s – and our nation’s – modern history. We continue to honor and fight for the hundreds of victims and their families who were devastatingly affected by this act of terrorism,” said United States Attorney Rollins. “The impact of this horrific event has been far reaching. However, so has that of the countless first responders who demonstrated momentous bravery and selflessness in response. It was medical professionals’ incredible expertise, commitment and round-the-clock care that served as our guiding light through the dark, devastating week. It was law enforcement’s courage, persistence, and unprecedented collaboration that unified the Cities of Boston, Cambridge and Watertown along with the campus of MIT during a time of uncertainty and fear. Now a decade past, they remain our heroes whose selfless service – both highly visible and behind the scenes – made Boston and our Commonwealth stronger than ever. Inspired by the first responders and unsung heroes who brought our community together in the aftermath of April 2013, young artists from the YMCAs and Boys and Girls Clubs in six Project Safe Neighborhood cities have produced artwork depicting their view of peace, community, and love. The art exhibit is displayed in the John Joseph Moakley Federal Courthouse in Boston and is available for viewing now through June 30, 2023.”


title: Statement from Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco on the 10th Anniversary of the Boston Marathon Bombings

component: Office of the Deputy Attorney General

body_text: The Deputy Attorney General is a native of Boston. On April 15, 2013, she was the Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Advisor to the President of the United States. The Justice Department issued the following statement from Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco on the 10th anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings: “Today marks the 10th anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombings. We remember the innocent lives lost and the many survivors who were injured in a senseless act of terrorism. We also remember their loved ones, whose lives were forever changed that day. And we honor the dedication and heroism of the first responders whose swift actions saved many. “Ten years ago we saw the very worst in the actions of two terrorists, but we also saw the very best in the resilience of a great city—and in the actions of the law enforcement officers, medical professionals, and bystanders who acted heroically in the wake of the attack. Their strength and resilience showed the world the true meaning of Boston Strong. “This day, and every day, the professionals of the Department of Justice honor the memory of victims of terrorism by working tirelessly to prevent terrorist acts and by holding those who commit them accountable.”


title: Bowling Green Bank Robber Sentenced to 7-Plus Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Kentucky, Western

body_text: Bowling Green, KY – A Bowling Green man was sentenced yesterday to 87 months in prison followed by a 3-year term of supervised release for committing three bank robberies in the Bowling Green area. U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Jodi Cohen of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Chief Michael Delaney of the Bowling Green Police Department made the announcement. According to court documents, Manuel G. Quiros, 60, committed three bank robberies in 2021. Quiros used a fake bomb during one robbery, brandished a handgun during another robbery, and threatened to use a gun during the third robbery. No one was injured during the robberies. In addition to the 87-month prison sentence, the Court ordered Quiros to pay $88,810 in restitution to the banks. There is no parole in the federal system. The case was investigated by the FBI’s Bowling Green Resident Agency and the Bowling Green Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Yurchisin II, of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, prosecuted the case. ###


title: USAO hosts training at Texas Medical Center on cyberintrusion safety measures

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: HOUSTON – Executives and leaders of the Texas Medical Center (TMC) have learned about the dangers of cyberattacks by malicious actors like China, Russia and transnational criminals and how to tackle those attacks, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. The U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) along with FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Food and Drug Administration provided the training which included essential tools and protocols for TMC attendees to follow if their facilities are subject to cyber intrusions. Methodist Hospital hosted the training event with attendees from Memorial Herman Hospital, Texas Children’s Hospital, MD Anderson, Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Texas Health System. Criminal organizations and nation state actors like China, Russia and Iran as well as other bad actors have become more sophisticated in their ability to launch cyber-attacks against critical infrastructure such as the health care facilities in the TMC. “It is essential to national security and crucial to the safety of patients for federal law enforcement to work closely with the health care sector to develop resilient and adaptive defenses against malicious cyberspace activity and network intrusions,” said Hamdani. “The USAO will continue to seek opportunities to enhance collaboration with our law enforcement partners and the health care industry to prevent potential network intrusions and ensure greater unity of effort in response to cyber incidents.” On a weekly basis, hundreds of cyberattacks occur on businesses all across the Southern District of Texas. There must be a quick response team in place to immediately address the intrusion in order to circumvent major damage and losses. The USAO routinely works with other prosecutors and law enforcement in the district to stay ahead of potential cyber threats. As the global economy enters another year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and China continues to seek to disrupt critical industries like the health care sector, the private industry must be reminded to be diligent about their networks and to know their response plans, have a paper copy available and review their cyber-related insurance policies. The USAO has established contact lines for assistance 24 hours a day. If you have fallen victim to an intrusion, inadvertently diverted funds to an unknown third-party or suffered a ransomware attack, please email directly or call the hotline at 713-542-5213.


title: Man Convicted Of Defrauding Elderly Widow Of $1.2 Million

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NASHVILLE – After a week-long trial, a federal jury this week, convicted Karl Hampton, 65, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, of twelve felony counts related to a scheme to defraud an elderly widow of over one million dollars, announced United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis. Hampton and his wife were indicted in 2021 for conspiracy and money laundering and Hampton was also charged with wire and mail fraud. At trial, the evidence showed that Hampton met the victim while he was working as an exterminator in her home. Between 2018 and 2020, Hampton tricked the victim into believing that he would care for her personally and financially. He held himself out as the victim’s “personal representative,” her “son” or her “godson,” and pretended that he was acting on her behalf. In April 2019, Hampton convinced the victim to sign over her Power of Attorney and to name him in her Revocable Living Trust and in her will. He then methodically drained the victim’s bank accounts, took out a $500,000 line of credit in her name using her property as collateral, and amassed huge charges on her credit cards for his own personal expenses. In total, Hampton defrauded the victim of approximately $1.2 million. He used her money to purchase luxury items and often spent over $1,000 per day on lottery tickets. The defendant’s lavish spending using the victim’s money included purchasing a Lexus GX460, a 4.3-karat diamond ring, and a $170,000 interest in a pest control business. Sentencing is scheduled for August 11, 2023. The defendant’s wife pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering in February 2023 and will be sentenced on June 16, 2023. This case was investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn Booth and Brent Hannafan prosecuted the case. # # # # #


title: Fort Dodge Man Headed Back to Federal Prison for Violating Federal Supervised Release

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who violated the terms of his federal supervised release was sentenced April 10, 2023, to three years in federal prison. Jeremiah Preston, 40, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, received the prison term after a Judge found him guilty of violating the terms and conditions of his supervised release. Preston was previously convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and distribution of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 84 months’ imprisonment. Preston began his term of supervised release in October 2022. Evidence at the hearings showed Preston began violating multiple conditions of his supervised release shortly after his release from prison. In January 2023, during a traffic stop, Preston was found with two ounces of methamphetamine which he intended to distribute to others. Preston was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Preston was sentenced to 36 months’ imprisonment. He must also serve a two-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Preston 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 Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the U.S. Probation Office, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, and the Fort Dodge Police Department. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file numbers are 15-3048 and 16-3028. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Film Producer Sentenced To 10 Years For Bank Robbery

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Orlando, Florida – U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron has sentenced Nacoe Ray Brown (55, Baltimore, Maryland) to 10 years in federal prison for bank robbery and violating the terms of his supervised release. The penalties included 8 years for the robbery offense and 2 years consecutive for violating the terms of his supervised release related to his previous convictions for bank robbery in the District of Maryland. Brown had pleaded guilty on January 4, 2023. According to the plea agreement and other court documents, Brown was previously convicted of robbing three banks in the Baltimore area in 2001. After a federal jury convicted him of the robberies, he was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison. In 2020, Brown was released early on compassionate release grounds based upon concerns over the pandemic. Brown then began serving his term of supervised release under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office in Baltimore. On June 28, 2022, while visiting Florida, Brown robbed the McCoy Federal Credit Union in Belle Isle. Wearing a baseball cap, sunglasses, a surgical style facemask, and plastic gloves, Brown passed a note to the teller threatening that he had a gun and demanding money. He fled the bank with $4,296 in stolen cash. Surveillance cameras captured Brown as he appeared to the teller during the robbery: A witness watched Brown flee the bank and enter a nearby gas station where he had staged a change of clothes. The witness reported this to the Belle Isle Police Department, who quickly responded and located Brown at the hotel where he was staying. Police recovered the demand note and the stolen cash from Brown’s bag. They also recovered the disguise he had discarded in the restroom of the gas station. After he was arrested, Brown told authorities that he committed the bank robbery because he was filming a movie in Florida and had run out of money to pay for the production. This case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Belle Isle Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Felicetta. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Air National Guardsman Charged In Murder-For-Hire Scheme

body_text: NASHVILLE – A Hermitage, Tennessee, man is facing federal charges after meeting with an undercover FBI agent to culminate a deal to murder an individual for payment, announced U.S. Attorney Henry C. Leventis. Josiah Ernesto Garcia, 21, was charged yesterday in a criminal complaint with the use of interstate facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire. According to the complaint, Garcia needed money to support his family and in mid-February began searching online for contract mercenary jobs and came across the website www.rentahitman.com . Originally created in 2005 to advertise a cyber security startup company, the company failed and over the next decade it received many inquiries about murder-for-hire services. The website’s administrator then converted the website to a parody site that contains false testimonials from those who have purported to use hit man services, and an intake form where people can request services. The website also has an option for someone to apply to work as a hired killer. Garcia submitted an employment inquiry indicating that he was interested in obtaining employment as a hit man. Garcia followed up on this initial request and submitted other identification documents and a resume, indicating he was an expert marksman and employed in the Air National Guard since July 2021. The resume also indicated that Garcia was nicknamed “Reaper” which was earned from military experience and marksmanship. Garcia continued to follow up with the website administrator indicating that he wanted to go to work as soon as possible. An FBI undercover agent then began communicating with Garcia who subsequently agreed to kill an individual for $5,000. On Wednesday, Garcia met the undercover agent at a park in Hendersonville, Tennessee, and was provided with a target packet of a fictional individual, which included photographs and other information about the individual to be killed, and a down payment of $2,500. After agreeing to the terms of the murder arrangement, Garcia asked the agent if he needed to provide a photograph of the dead body. Garcia was then arrested by FBI agents, who in a subsequent search of his home, recovered an AR style rifle. If convicted, Garcia faces up to 10 years in prison. This case is being investigated by the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brooke K. Schiferle is prosecuting the case. The charge is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. # # # # #


title: Leesburg Convicted Felon Sentenced To 15 Years In Federal Prison For Illegally Possessing A Firearm

body_text: Ocala, Florida – Senior United States District Judge Gregory A. Presnell has sentenced Timothy Eric Evans (41, Leesburg) under the Armed Career Criminal Act to 15 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The court also ordered the forfeiture of the handgun and ammunition used in the offense. Evans had pleaded guilty on June 8, 2022. According to court documents, on May 21, 2021, officers from the Tavares Police Department discovered Evans in possession of a stolen vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, officers located MDMA and a loaded handgun in the center console. Evans admitted that the MDMA belonged to him but denied possessing the firearm. An analysis of Evans’s cellphone revealed a large volume of messages and images of illegal narcotics and firearms, including messages in which Evans tried to buy and sell firearms. Evans has eight prior state felony convictions, including attempted strongarm robbery (1998), robbery with a firearm (1998), aggravated assault with a deadly weapon (1998), strongarm robbery (2003), attempted second-degree murder (2008), possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2008), sale of cocaine (2008), and possession of cocaine (2020). Therefore, he is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. 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 Tavares Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.


title: Sioux City Man Back to Prison for Violating Federal Supervised Release

body_text: A man who violated the terms of his federal supervised release was sentenced April 7, 2023, to more than one year in federal prison. Rahmaan El Herman, 41, from Sioux City, Iowa, received the prison term after a Judge found him guilty of violating the terms and conditions of his supervised release. El Herman was sentenced in October 2008 to 180 months imprisonment with 5 years of supervised release following for his conviction of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute crack cocaine. Evidence at the hearings showed El Herman violated multiple conditions of his supervised release which included multiple failures to report for drug testing and possessing a firearm during an assault of another person. El Herman was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. El Herman was sentenced to 12 months’ plus one day imprisonment. He must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. El Herman 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 Shawn S. Wehde and investigated by the U.S. Probation Office and the Sioux City Police Department. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 04-4042. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Fort Dodge Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Nearly 10 Years for Meth Conspiracy Conviction

body_text: A woman who conspired to distribute methamphetamine was sentenced on April 5, 2023, in federal court in Sioux City, to 117 months’ imprisonment. Amber Miller, 35, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, pled guilty on November 2, 2022, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. At the plea and sentencing hearings, evidence showed Miller’s involvement in a conspiracy scheme that distributed more than 15 kilograms of methamphetamine from January 2020 through April 2022. On two separate occasions in January and March 2021, Miller distributed a total of 140 grams of methamphetamine to an individual cooperating with law enforcement, during controlled purchase operations. Miller also admitted conduct obstructing justice. Sentencing was held before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Miller was sentenced to 117 months’ imprisonment and must serve a four-year term of supervised release following the imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Miller remains in custody of the United States Marshal until she can be transported to a federal prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Webster County Sheriff’s Office, and Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, DCI Laboratory. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 22-3015. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: Illinois Man Sentenced to over 13 years in Prison for Distributing Heroin and Fentanyl Near a College and Park

body_text: A man who distributed heroin and fentanyl in Dubuque, Iowa, was sentenced April 13, 2023, to more than 13 years in prison in federal court in Cedar Rapids. Menelaeus C. Watson, age 35, from Chicago, Illinois, was convicted of distribution of heroin and fentanyl within 1,000 feet of a protected location. In a plea agreement, Watson admitted to engaging in two transactions to distribute heroin and fentanyl in Dubuque. The transactions took place within 1,000 feet of a local college and two parks. Watson was previously convicted for unlawfully delivering illegal controlled substances on two separate occasions in Illinois. Sentencing was held before United States District Court Judge C.J. Williams. Watson was sentenced to serve 164 months’ imprisonment and must serve a 6-year term of supervised release following his term of incarceration. There is no parole in the federal system. Watson remains in the custody of the United States Marshal until he can be transported to federal prison. This case was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason D. Norwood. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 21-CR-1033-CJW. Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Reminds Healthcare Providers of ADA’s Effective Communication Requirements

component: USAO - Virginia, Eastern

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced today that it has sent a Dear Colleagues Letter reminding healthcare providers of the effective communication requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). To strengthen awareness and understanding of these requirements, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is inviting the public, including personnel at healthcare providers, to an informational meeting that will be held on June 6, 2023, at 1 p.m. When Congress passed the ADA, it recognized that discrimination against individuals with disabilities persists in critical areas, including health services, which often involve high stakes communication. Through the ADA, Congress established a national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities by providing strong and enforceable standards. In support of these goals, the ADA and its implementing regulations require covered entities, including healthcare providers, to furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services to individuals with communication disabilities without imposing a surcharge on the individual, including qualified sign language interpreters, computer-aided transcription services, and effective methods of making visually delivered materials available to individuals who are blind or have low vision. The ADA requirements apply to a variety of healthcare providers, including those operated by either private entities or state and local governments, such as hospitals, nursing facilities, urgent care providers, physicians, dentists, optometrists, durable medical equipment retailers, infirmaries located at institutions of higher learning and correctional facilities, and local mental health agencies. Further, the ADA applies to all services that covered entities provide, including in-person medical services, telehealth appointments, electronic kiosks, and websites. The Dear Colleagues Letter explains that “[p]ursuant to the ADA, healthcare providers are required to ensure that communication with people with disabilities is as effective as communication with people without disabilities.” Further, “healthcare providers may not decline to provide treatment to an individual solely because they have a disability and may need auxiliary aids and services.” The Dear Colleagues Letter also includes links to numerous Department of Justice publications that provide a detailed discussion of the ADA’s effective communication requirements, including publications on ADA.gov: “ ADA Requirements: Effective Communication ,” “ ADA Business BRIEF: Communicating with People Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing in Hospital Settings ,” and “ Guidance on Web Accessibility and the ADA .” In addition, the Dear Colleagues Letter provides links to settlement agreements that provide a roadmap to the steps that covered entities can take to comply with the ADA, including Settlement Agreements with Goochland Powhatan Community Services , Brookside Rehabilitation & Nursing Center , Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center , Rite Aid Corporation , and Lincare, Inc . The Dear Colleagues Letter announces that at 1 p.m. on June 6, 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will be holding a virtual meeting for the public, including personnel at healthcare providers, to share information on the steps providers can take to comply with the ADA’s effective communication requirements, and provide an opportunity for questions and collaboration. The registration link for the meeting is here . “Ensuring that healthcare providers are complying with the ADA by being accessible to individuals with communication disabilities is a critical mission of this Office,” said U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber. “We look forward to meeting with personnel from healthcare providers so that we can discuss the ADA’s effective communication requirements in healthcare settings.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office, through its Civil Rights Enforcement (CRE) Unit, and in partnership with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, works to uphold the civil and constitutional rights of all Americans, particularly some of the most vulnerable members of our society. The Office vigorously enforces a variety of federal statutes that prohibit discrimination, including the ADA and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, and Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974. The CRE Unit also enforces the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, which protect military members as they enter and return from active duty. For more information on the ADA, visit https://www.ada.gov or call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD). A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia .


title: St. Louis Man Indicted on Gun, Fentanyl Charges

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

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man arrested by police after a shooting in St. Louis was indicted in U.S. District Court this week on gun and fentanyl possession charges. Robert Eutz III, 43, was indicted Wednesday on five felonies: two counts of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The crimes are alleged to have occurred on February 1 and 21 of 2022 and March 30, 2023. A criminal complaint filed March 31 says officers with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department were called to a shooting in the 3500 block of Lafayette Avenue on March 30 and were told that someone in an older model Chrysler shot a victim multiple times. Police also were given a partial license plate number. Police stopped a Chrysler with a license plate matching that number a short distance away, and arrested Eutz, who was identified as the shooter by a witness. Eutz also had ammunition, spent cartridges and a safe in the car. A motion seeking to have Eutz held in jail until trial says he has a pending drug charge in St. Louis Circuit Court related to a February 2022 arrest, in which he is alleged to have possessed a large quantity of fentanyl. The felon in possession charges carry a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison, and the fentanyl charge carries a 20-year maximum. The possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime charge carries a mandatory minimum term of at least five years in prison, consecutive to the other charges. Charges set forth in an indictment or a criminal complaint are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski is prosecuting the case.


title: “Chapitos” Charged in Department’s Latest Actions to Disrupt Flow of Illegal Fentanyl and Other Dangerous Drugs

component: USAO - Illinois, Northern

body_text: WASHINGTON - The Justice Department today announced charges unsealed in the Southern District of New York, Northern District of Illinois, and District of Columbia, against several leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, a transnational drug trafficking organization based in Sinaloa, Mexico, and its facilitators across the globe. “Today, the Justice Department is announcing significant enforcement actions against the largest, most violent, and most prolific fentanyl trafficking operation in the world – run by the Sinaloa Cartel, and fueled by Chinese precursor chemical and pharmaceutical companies,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Families and communities across our country are being devastated by the fentanyl epidemic. Today’s actions demonstrate the comprehensive approach the Justice Department is taking to disrupt fentanyl trafficking and save American lives.” “The fentanyl crisis in America – fueled in large part by the Sinaloa cartel – threatens our public health, our public safety, and our national security,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “Today’s indictments target every element of the Sinaloa Cartel's trafficking network and reflect the Justice Department's commitment to attacking every aspect of this threat: from the chemical companies in China that spawn fentanyl precursors, to the illicit labs that produce the poison, to the networks and money launderers and murderers that facilitate its distribution. Just as we have gone on offense against terrorists and cyber criminals around the globe, the Department is now waging a relentless campaign to disrupt the production and trafficking of fentanyl – before it can reach its victims.” “Today’s indictments send a clear message to the Chapitos, the Sinaloa Cartel, and criminal drug networks around the world that the DEA will stop at nothing to protect the national security of the United States and the safety and health of the American people,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “The Chapitos pioneered the manufacture and trafficking of fentanyl – the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced – flooded it into the United States for the past eight years and killed hundreds of thousands of Americans. Over the last year and a half, the DEA proactively infiltrated the Sinaloa Cartel and the Chapitos network, obtained unprecedented access to the organization’s highest levels, and followed them across the world. I am grateful to the men and women of the DEA for their exceptional work on this case, which is the beginning of our work as ‘One DEA’ to dismantle every part of the criminal cartels that are killing Americans at record rates.” “Far too many Americans have become victims in the national fentanyl crisis. These cartels have shown us they will stop at nothing to manufacture, traffic, and push these dangerous drugs to every corner of our country,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Today’s indictments show that the FBI and our law enforcement partners will never tire in our pursuit not only to shut down their criminal enterprises, but also to go after individuals in their network. I want to thank the FBI team continuing to work on these cases everyday as we join with our law enforcement partners to tackle this national epidemic.” “This indictment is another example of how this administration is taking on the cartels and their transnational criminal networks, and sending a clear message that we are going to hold them accountable,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “I commend our workforce at Homeland Security Investigations and our federal partners who are relentless in their efforts to stop the scourge of fentanyl. Today’s announcement exemplifies a whole-of-government approach to protecting our homeland that is yielding results.” The Sinaloa Cartel is one of the most powerful drug cartels in the world and is largely responsible for the manufacturing and importing of fentanyl for distribution in the United States. Fentanyl is a dangerous synthetic opioid that is more than 50 times more potent than heroin. Fentanyl is now the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 to 49, and it has fueled the opioid epidemic that has been ravaging families and communities across the United States for approximately the past eight years. Between 2019 and 2021, fatal overdoses increased by approximately 94%, with an estimated 196 Americans dying each day from fentanyl. The Sinaloa Cartel operated as an affiliation of drug traffickers and money launderers who obtain precursor chemicals – largely from China – for the manufacture of synthetic drugs, manufacture drugs in Mexico, move those drugs into the United States, and collect, launder, and transfer the proceeds of drug trafficking. Once led by Joaquin Guzman Loera, aka El Chapo, and Ismael Zambada Garcia, aka El Mayo, the Sinaloa Cartel’s members and associates – allegedly including the sons of Guzman Loera, collectively known as the Chapitos – smuggled significant quantities of drugs through Mexico and into the United States. The Chapitos are Ivan Guzman Salazar, 40, Alfredo Guzman Salazar, 37, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, 36, and Ovidio Guzman Lopez, 33. Following Guzman Loera’s arrest in January 2016 and extradition to the United States in January 2017, the Chapitos allegedly assumed their father’s former role as leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, along with Zambada Garcia and Damaso Lopez Nunez, aka Licenciado. The Chapitos subsequently amassed greater control over the Sinaloa Cartel by allegedly threatening and causing violence against Lopez Nunez, his family, and his associates and, as a result, became principal leaders and drug traffickers within the Sinaloa Cartel. The indictments being unsealed today demonstrate that the Sinaloa Cartel has been engaged in drug trafficking activities into the United States, and violence, spanning over a decade and a half. The Chapitos are alleged to have repeatedly and consistently transported lethal amounts of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. The Chapitos allegedly used cargo aircraft, private aircraft, submarines and other submersible and semi-submersible vessels, container ships, supply vessels, go-fast boats, fishing vessels, buses, rail cars, tractor trailers, automobiles, and private and commercial interstate and foreign carriers to transport their drugs and precursor chemicals. They allegedly maintained a network of couriers, tunnels, and stash houses throughout Mexico and the United States to further their drug-trafficking activities. The Chapitos allegedly used these networks to import the drugs into the United States. Southern District of New York Fentanyl trafficking, weapons, and money laundering charges were unsealed today in the Southern District of New York against 28 defendants, including three of the Chapitos; top lieutenants and leadership of the Sinaloa Cartel; alleged manufacturers and distributors of the Sinaloa Cartel’s fentanyl; the managers of the violent armed security apparatus that protects the Sinaloa Cartel’s drug trafficking operations; the sophisticated money launderers who repatriate the Sinaloa Cartel’s drug proceeds back to Mexico; and multiple chemical precursor suppliers in China that fuel the Sinaloa Cartel’s fentanyl distribution operation. According to court documents, Ivan Guzman Salazar, Alfredo Guzman Salazar, Ovidio Guzman Lopez, and their co-conspirators allegedly controlled extensive, multi-faceted, and international operations covering the fentanyl trade. Through these efforts, the Chapitos and the Sinaloa Cartel allegedly reaped hundreds of millions of dollars in profits by flooding the United States with fentanyl. Seven defendants are in custody pending extradition proceedings. Ovidio Guzman Lopez is charged in a separate indictment alleging the same offenses. The DEA investigated the case with assistance from the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control and the Department of State’s Rewards for Justice Program. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle A. Wirshba, Nicholas S. Bradley, Sarah L. Kushner, David J. Robles, and Alexander Li for the Southern District of New York are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) provided substantial assistance. Northern District of Illinois Narcotics, money laundering, and firearms charges were unsealed today in the Northern District of Illinois against four of the Chapitos: Ivan Guzman Salazar, Alfredo Guzman Salazar, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, and Ovidio Guzman Lopez. According to court documents, the charges stem from a decades-long, collaborative, multi-district effort between the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section (NDDS), the Northern District of Illinois, the Southern District of California, and their law enforcement partners. The indictment alleges that between May 2008 and April 5, 2023, the Chapitos operated a drug trafficking Continuing Criminal Enterprise (CCE), along with additional drug, money laundering, and firearms charges. Ovidio Guzman Lopez is charged in a separate indictment alleging the same offenses, dating from May 2008 until October 2021, when Mexican authorities arrested him on Jan. 5 in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico. Ovidio Guzman Lopez remains detained in Mexico pending extradition proceedings. The FBI Washington Field Office and San Diego Field Office, Homeland Security Investigations Nogales Office, DEA’s Chicago Division and San Diego Division, and IRS Criminal Investigations Chicago Office are investigating the case. Acting Deputy Chief Katharine Wagner and Trial Attorney Kirk Handrich of NDDS, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Erskine and Erika Csicsila for the Northern District of Illinois, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Sutton for the Southern District of California are prosecuting the case. OIA provided substantial assistance. This case is supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). District of Columbia Narcotics, firearms, and witness retaliation charges were unsealed today in the District of Columbia against Nestor Isidro Perez Salas, aka Nini, 31, allegedly one of the Chapitos’ lead sicarios, or assassins. According to court documents, Perez Salas is allegedly a leader and commander of the “Ninis,” a violent group charged with providing security for the Chapitos. From at least 2012 until February 2021, Perez Salas allegedly conspired to distribute and manufacture cocaine and methamphetamine for unlawful importation into the United States, used a firearm in furtherance of the alleged drug-trafficking offense, and killed, attempted to kill, threatened, and caused bodily injury to another to intimidate a government witness and informant. The FBI Washington Field Office is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Kirk Handrich and Kate Naseef of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section are prosecuting the case. This case is supported by the OCDETF. * * * * * The U.S. Department of State, through its Narcotics Rewards Program, is offering rewards of up to $10 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Ivan Guzman Salazar, Alfredo Guzman Salazar, and Ovidio Guzman Lopez, and up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Joaquin Guzman Lopez. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco, FBI Director Christopher A. Wray, DEA Administrator Anne Milgram, Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York, U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman of the Southern District for California, Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual for the Northern District of Illinois, and HSI made the announcement. Photos of the fugitives can be obtained at www.dea.gov/fugitives . An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Four Arrested after DEA-led Investigation into Waterbury Drug Trafficking Ring

body_text: United States Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery, Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Waterbury Police Chief Fernando C. Spagnolo today announced that the following four individuals were arrested yesterday on federal criminal complaints charging each with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and cocaine base (“crack”): GAWAYNE FISHER , a.k.a. “Fruit” and “Tank,” 47, of Waterbury TERRY COLLINS , 29, of Bristol DAVID HING , a.k.a. “LA,” 57, of Waterbury DERRICK PRUDEN , a.k.a. “DP,” 53, of Waterbury As alleged in court documents and statements made in court, for approximately nine months, the DEA New Haven Task Force, the DEA Tactical Diversion Squad, the Waterbury Police Department, and other law enforcement agencies have been conducting an investigation into drug trafficking in and around the city of Waterbury by Fisher and his associates. The investigation, which has included court-authorized wiretaps on multiple phones, physical surveillance, and controlled purchases of narcotics, revealed that Fisher received heroin/fentanyl from Collins, and fentanyl/heroin and cocaine from other suppliers. He then distributed the narcotics to other drug sellers, including Hing and Pruden. It is also alleged that Fisher used an apartment at 1015 West Main Street in Waterbury to store narcotics, and that Collins used a residence at 109 Yale Street in Waterbury as a “heroin mill,” where he and others stored narcotics and processed and packaged narcotics for distribution. On April 13, 2023, in association with the arrests of the four defendants, agents and officers from the DEA, FBI, Connecticut State Police, and Waterbury, Naugatuck, Bristol and East Haven police departments, executed multiple federal and state search warrants that resulted in the seizure of drugs and cash proceeds (photos attached). A search of the apartment at 1015 West Main Street revealed an estimated 16 kilograms of cocaine, three kilograms of fentanyl, and an estimated 125,000 individual glassine bags containing a substance that field tested positive as fentanyl. A search of 109 Yale Street in Waterbury revealed drug-processing equipment, an estimated three kilograms of loose fentanyl, and an estimated 75,000 individual glassine bags containing a substance that field tested positive as fentanyl. In addition, a search of Fisher’s residence on Beverly Avenue in Waterbury revealed approximately $150,000 in cash. “As fentanyl addiction continues to cause so much misery in our state and around the country, we are determined to interrupt the flow of this deadly drug, seize drug proceeds, and prosecute those involved to the full extent of the law,” said U.S. Attorney Avery. “It is alleged that these defendants flooded the Waterbury area with fentanyl and other drugs, and yesterday’s seizures represent one of the largest we have seen in Connecticut to date. I thank the DEA, Waterbury Police and our many partner law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation for their tireless efforts in taking these drugs off the street. Their work is saving lives.” “Illegal drug distribution ravages the very foundations of our families and communities here in Connecticut,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Let these arrests and seizures serve as an example and be a warning to those who distribute poisons like fentanyl, heroin and cocaine, that DEA will aggressively and actively pursue and hold you accountable. This investigation demonstrates the strength and continued commitment of our local, state and federal law enforcement partners here in Connecticut and our solid relationship with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.” “Our partnership with the DEA and the U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to thwart drug trafficking in Waterbury,” said Chief Spagnolo. “We look forward to continuing this important work with our federal partners to remove these drugs, and those involved in distributing it, from our community.” Following their arrests, Fisher, Collins, Hing and Pruden appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria E. Garcia in New Haven. Fisher, Hing, and Pruden were ordered detained, and Collins was released on a $100,000 bond. U.S. Attorney Avery stressed that a complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This investigation is being conducted by the DEA New Haven Task Force, the DEA Tactical Diversion Squad, and the Waterbury Police Department, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, Connecticut State Police, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, and the New Haven, Naugatuck, Ansonia, West Haven, Meriden, East Haven, Branford, Shelton, and Bristol Police Departments. The DEA New Haven Task Force includes participants from the DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, Connecticut State Police and the New Haven, Waterbury, East Haven, Branford, West Haven, Ansonia, Meriden, Naugatuck, and Shelton Police Departments. The DEA Tactical Diversion Squad is composed of personnel from the DEA and the Manchester, Glastonbury, West Haven, Hamden, Newington, and Bristol Police Departments. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Caruso, Natasha Freismuth, and Daniel Cummings through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Caribou Man Faces Up to 10 Years Following Guilty Plea for Illegal Possession of a Firearm

body_text: BANGOR, Maine: A Caribou man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Bangor today to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court records, in May 2021, John Sam, 34, knowingly possessed a firearm during a traffic stop in Caribou. A 2017 Maine conviction for robbery precluded Sam from possessing firearms. Sam faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. He also faces up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Caribou Police Department investigated the case. # # #


title: Columbia County man sentenced to federal prison for possession of child sexual exploitation material

body_text: AUGUSTA, GA: A Columbia County man has been sentenced to nearly eight years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography. Robert James Thompson, 35, of Grovetown, was sentenced to 90 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to Possession of Child Pornography, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. U.S. District Court Chief Judge J. Randal Hall also ordered Thompson to pay $8,000 in restitution to victims, to register as a sex offender, and to serve 15 years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. “The safety of our community demands that predators like Thompson be identified and taken off the streets,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “With our law enforcement partners, we will be diligent in protecting our most vulnerable citizens.” As described in court documents and testimony, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children shared a cybertip with the FBI indicating the online presence of multiple electronic images depicting sexual exploitation of children. FBI agents conducted a search of Thompson’s electronic devices in July 2022 and found dozens of images of child pornography. Thompson was on felony probation for a state burglary conviction at the time of his arrest. “Child pornography is abuse of society’s most vulnerable population. It is also a second victimization for a child who has already been traumatized,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. “The FBI remains committed to protecting our children and is thankful for the law enforcement partnerships that make it possible to stop people like Thompson from victimizing anyone else.” The case was investigated by the FBI, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremiah L. Johnson. Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678, or https://report.cybertip.org/ .


title: Washington man admits attempting to coerce minor for sexual activity in undercover investigation

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: MISSOULA — A Washington man who was accused of traveling to Missoula expecting to meet a child for sex and was arrested in an undercover investigation admitted to a coercion crime today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Kenton Alan Shaull, 59, pleaded guilty to attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. Shaull faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and not less than five years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for July 26. Shaull was detained pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents and in statements in court that from January to May 2022, Shaull used his cellular phone to communicate on an internet-based social media service with a profile he believed belonged to a child, identified as “E,” who was under the age of 14. Shaull reaffirmed multiple times his belief that “E” was a child under the age of 14. Shaull also expressed his desire to engage in sexual activity with “E” and sent several sexually explicit videos of himself. Shaull further expressed his desire to meet “E” in person for sexual activity and traveled to Missoula on May 14, 2022 to meet with “E” at a pre-determined location, where law enforcement officers arrested him. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian C. Lowney is prosecuting the case. The FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force and Missoula County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. XXX


title: Tucson Man Sentenced for Coordinating Alien Smuggling Conspiracy

component: USAO - Arizona

body_text: TUCSON, Ariz. – Adrian Duran-Estrada, 39, of Tucson, Arizona, was sentenced last week by United States District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps to 120 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Zipps also ordered Duran-Estrada to pay a $200 special assessment and a $20,000 money judgment. Duran-Estrada pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. From at least May 2019 through May 2021, Duran-Estrada conspired with co-defendants to transport undocumented non-citizens in southern Arizona. As the coordinator and leader of the conspiracy, he used WhatsApp, text messages, and voice calls to coordinate the movement of undocumented non-citizens. Examples of Duran-Estrada’s actions in furtherance of the conspiracy include: On May 30, 2019, Duran-Estrada coordinated the transport of 10 undocumented non-citizens, who were later apprehended by Border Patrol agents on Highway 286 near Sasabe, Arizona. Later that same day, a juvenile co-conspirator became lost and died in the desert east of Highway 286 while attempting to guide another group of undocumented non-citizens at the direction of Duran-Estrada. About one week later, on June 7, 2019, Duran-Estrada coordinated with co-defendant Bruce Rivera to pick up two undocumented non-citizens near San Miguel, Arizona, including providing Rivera with GPS coordinates to locate the two individuals. Although Rivera traveled to a location near San Miguel intending to pick up the two undocumented non-citizens, he was stopped by Border Patrol agents before he was able to pick them up. On July 23, 2019, Duran-Estrada coordinated with co-defendants Kaitlan Cox and Arturo Alday Cordova to pick up a group of undocumented non-citizens near Sasabe, Arizona. In addition, a May 4, 2021, search of his residence revealed evidence that, in November 2020, Duran-Estrada knowingly possessed a .22 caliber rifle that he used to poach a deer on the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge. At the time Duran-Estrada possessed the firearm, he was a convicted felon, having previously been convicted of two separate felony offenses. Duran-Estrada’s co-defendants, Kaitlan Cox, Arturo Alday Cordova, and Bruce Rivera, were previously convicted of Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens, Conspiracy to Transport Illegal Aliens, and Attempted Transportation of Illegal Aliens, respectively, for their involvement in the conspiracy. Cox was sentenced to 27 months in prison; Cordova was sentenced to eight months in prison; and Rivera was sentenced to a term of three years’ probation. Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection’s United States Border Patrol conducted the investigation in this case, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution. CASE NUMBER: CR-21-0883-TUC-JGZ (BGM) RELEASE NUMBER: 2023- 053_Duran-Estrada # # # For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/ Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.


title: Gary Man Sentenced to 2 Consecutive Terms of Life In Prison

body_text: HAMMOND- Hailey Gist-Holden, age 28, of Gary, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Philp P. Simon after a jury found him guilty of armed bank robbery, and using, carrying, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during that bank robbery. The jury specifically found that, as part of the bank robbery and the discharging of the firearm, Gist-Holden killed/murdered the bank security guard. This prosecution arose out of the June 11, 2021, armed robbery of a First Midwest Bank on Ridge Road in Gary, Indiana. Gist-Holden received two consecutive life sentences in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, Gist-Holden and other individuals formulated a plan to rob the Bank on Ridge Road in Gary, Indiana. Before actually entering the Bank, Gist-Holden, at point blank range, shot the Bank’s security guard. Gist-Hilden then proceeded into the Bank to complete the robbery. While another member of the robbery crew entered the Bank building and stole approximately $9,000.00, Gist-Holden remained in the doorway of the building firing bullets that shattered windows. After the robbery, Gist-Holden and a co-defendant fled Indiana. Gist-Holden, was subsequently apprehended in Georgia by local law enforcement following a high-speed car chase. Previously, co-defendants James Anthony King and Kenyon Hawkins pled guilty to armed bank robbery and murder resulting from the discharge of a firearm during the robbery. Both are awaiting sentencing. Another alleged participant in this bank robbery is set to be tried separately. “First, I want to express by sincerest condolences to the victims in this case. I fully recognize that Gist-Holden’s prosecution does not diminish the anxiety you face or the sorrow that you are – and will continue—to experience because of this senseless act of violence,” said United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. “Second, as this case proves, my office, with the support and assistance of federal, state and local enforcement agencies, will prosecute vigorously persons who commit volent crimes that destroy the peace of Northern District of Indiana residents and businesses.” “While this senseless act of violence will have a lifelong impact on the victims, I hope that knowing this defendant has been held accountable for his crimes helps their healing process,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “Violent acts such as this in our communities are intolerable and the FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue our efforts to remove dangerous individuals such as the defendant from our streets.” “I commend the efforts of the numerous law enforcement agencies who participated in this investigation and the United States Attorney’s Office for their partnership in prosecuting those accountable for this tragedy,” commented Special Agent in Charge Christopher Amon. “ The men and women of ATF stand shoulder to shoulder with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to ensure our communities are safe.” This investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Gang Response Investigative Team with the assistance of the Lake County Sheriff’s Department; the Lake County Prosecutor’s Office; the Indiana State Police; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the Gary Police Department. Additional investigative assistance was provided by the FBI Offices in Chicago, Miami, and Atlanta along with the Georgia State Police, the Atlanta Police Department, and the Lowndes County (GA) Sheriff’s Department. Additional investigative assistance was provided by the FBI Offices in Chicago, Miami, and Atlanta along with the Georgia State Police, the Atlanta Police Department, and the Lowndes County (GA) Sheriff’s Department. Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Northern District of Georgia, Middle District of Georgia, and the Middle District of Florida were involved in this cooperative effort. This case was tried by Assistant United States Attorneys Caitlin M. Padula and Michal J. Toth, who are joined by the prosecution team which includes Assistant United States Attorneys David Nozick and Kimberly Schultz.


title: North Carolina Woman Admits Participating in Health Care Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A North Carolina woman today admitted her role in a health care fraud conspiracy in which she paid for doctors’ orders for durable medical equipment (DME), namely orthotic braces, Attorney for the United States Vikas Khanna announced. Ircania Vargas, 50, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty by videoconference before U.S. District Judge Kevin McNulty to an information charging her with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Vargas owned and operated various entities in New Jersey, through which she obtained doctors’ orders for DME. From December 2017 through May 2019, Vargas agreed to pay an individual and others a set amount for each DME order for a back, knee, shoulder or ankle brace provided to her DME supply companies. Vargas then billed Medicare for the DME orders that she obtained in exchange for kickbacks. Vargas observed indicators that these DME orders were not medically necessary, in part because Medicare beneficiaries would frequently call to complain that they had not ordered the DME that they received. To disguise the scheme, Vargas put her companies in the names of nominee owners, including her sisters and a friend. Vargas also received sham invoices which indicated that her companies had performed “marketing services” for an individual, when in reality, the invoices were for kickback payments for the purchase of DME orders. Vargas’s scheme resulted in an actual loss to Medicare of at least $5.5 million. Conspiracy to commit health care fraud carries a maximum potential punishment of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 12, 2023. Attorney for the United States Khanna credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark; and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emma Spiro of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark. vargas.information.pdf


title: Four of Chapo’s Sons Indicted for Large-Scale Drug Trafficking, Money Laundering and Violent Crimes as Alleged Leaders of Sinaloa Cartel

component: USAO - California, Southern

body_text: NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY – April 14, 2023 SAN DIEGO – Four sons of Joaquín Guzmán Loera, the imprisoned former Sinaloa Cartel leader known as El Chapo, were indicted by a federal grand jury for large-scale drug trafficking, money laundering and violent crimes in connection with their assumption of cartel leadership following their father’s arrest and extradition to the United States. The defendants, known collectively as the “Chapitos,” are Ivan Guzman Salazar, Alfredo Guzman Salazar, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, and Ovidio Guzman Lopez. Three brothers remain at large; Ovidio Guzman Lopez was arrested Jan. 5, 2023, by Mexican authorities in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico. He remains detained in Mexico pending extradition proceedings. The charges, unsealed today, were announced by Attorney General Merrick Garland, U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman and others at a news conference this morning at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. The charges stem from a decades-long, multi-district investigation by the Southern District of California, the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, the Northern District of Illinois, and their law enforcement partners. A related indictment charging three of the brothers was also unsealed by the Southern District of New York. To view press conference, please see https://www.justice.gov/live . For related Department of Justice press release, indictments and link to DEA fugitive photos, please see https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-charges-against-sinaloa-cartel-s-global-operation . According to the indictment, filed in the Northern District of Illinois, the defendants are charged under the “Continuing Criminal Enterprise Statute,” which targets large-scale drug traffickers who are responsible for long-term and complex drug conspiracies. They are also charged with additional drug trafficking, money laundering, firearms and violent crimes. The indictment offers the most comprehensive look yet at the operations of the Sinaloa Cartel dating back 15 years. The indictment describes the cartel’s alleged drug transportation and distribution networks; its financial infrastructure that has laundered hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit proceeds; and the extensive use of violence to maintain power, including an internal power struggle The Chapitos are alleged to have repeatedly and consistently obtained and transported multi-ton quantities of cocaine from and through Central and South America, including Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Guatemala, into Mexico, stored that cocaine throughout Mexico, and transported it across the U.S.-Mexico border for further distribution throughout the United States. The Chapitos and members of the Sinaloa Cartel also allegedly obtained, manufactured, and transported other drugs, including marijuana, heroin, and methamphetamine, knowing and intending that such drugs would be imported into and distributed throughout the United States. The Chapitos also allegedly obtained precursor chemicals for the manufacture of synthetic drugs and operated laboratories to manufacture methamphetamine. The indictment said the defendants and other members and associates of the Sinaloa Cartel used, and caused to be used, various means to evade and escape law enforcement and military personnel and to protect their drug distribution activities, including on October 17, 2019, at what is known as the “Battle of Culiacán,” when the Mexican National Guard captured and then released Ovidio Guzmán López during a gunfight in Sinaloa state. The indictment said the defendants obtained guns and other weapons; bribed corrupt public officials; and incited, threatened and engaged in violence, including murder, kidnapping, assault, and battery against law enforcement, rival drug traffickers, and members of their own drug trafficking organization. The Chapitos allegedly used cargo aircraft, private aircraft, submarines and other submersible and semi-submersible vessels, container ships, supply vessels, go-fast boats, fishing vessels, buses, rail cars, tractor trailers, automobiles, and private and commercial interstate and foreign carriers to transport their drugs and precursor chemicals. They allegedly maintained a network of couriers, tunnels, and stash houses throughout Mexico and the United States to further their drug-trafficking activities. The Chapitos allegedly used these networks to import the drugs into the United States. “Today, the Justice Department is announcing significant enforcement actions against the largest, most violent, and most prolific fentanyl trafficking operation in the world – run by the Sinaloa Cartel, and fueled by Chinese precursor chemical and pharmaceutical companies,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Families and communities across our country are being devastated by the fentanyl epidemic. Today’s actions demonstrate the comprehensive approach the Justice Department is taking to disrupt fentanyl trafficking and save American lives.” “Today, we deliver the most crushing blow to the Sinaloa Cartel since the conviction of Chapo Guzman,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman. “We have charged Chapo’s four sons with leading a criminal enterprise built on trafficking tons of deadly drugs into our nation, money laundering, and murder. This case and others we have brought out of the Southern District of California demonstrate our unwavering resolve to dismantle the Sinaloa Cartel by attacking it at every level.” Grossman thanked the prosecution team and dedicated law enforcement partners at the FBI, HSI, DEA and IRS for their extraordinary work on this case. “These indictments have been a long time in the making and we wouldn’t be here without the collaboration of our local, state, federal, and international partners,” said Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy of the FBI’s San Diego Field Office. “While there will always be more work to be done, these indictments will continue the dismantlement of an extremely vicious criminal enterprise that has been a primary driver of violence in our communities. We will continue to leverage our law enforcement partnerships to keep pressure on transnational criminal organizations like Los Chapitos.” “Dismantling this notorious criminal organization flooding the U.S. with deadly narcotics and brutal criminal activity takes the collaboration of a multitude of law enforcement agencies and we are seeing the results of our collective efforts in today’s indictment,” said Special Agent in Charge Chad A. Plantz, HSI’s San Diego Field Office. “HSI proudly stands with our local, state and federal partners as we disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations such as the Sinaloa Cartel to end the violence they fuel across the country. “The indictment alleges that for years, Joaquín Guzmán Loera’s (El Chapo) sons have destroyed lives and communities through drug trafficking and violence: their time is up,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Shelly Howe. “These indictments were made possible by our cooperation with local, state, and federal partners. These partnerships demonstrate our collective commitment to tracking down, apprehending, and dismantling one of the strongest drug trafficking cartels from the top down.” “The indictment alleges that the Chapitos moved drugs and money on a grand scale, and secured and maintained power with intimidation and violence,” said IRS-CI Chief Jim Lee. “Today, we say, no more. For the special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, the work of investigating dangerous criminals never stops. This indictment shows our commitment to aggressively go after those committing financial crimes who are profiting from their illegal activities no matter who they are or where they commit the crime.” Once led by the Chapitos’ father, Joaquin Guzman Loera, aka El Chapo, and Ismael Zambada Garcia, aka El Mayo, the Sinaloa Cartel’s members and associates – allegedly including the Chapitos – smuggled significant quantities of drugs through Mexico and into the United States. Following Guzman Loera’s arrest in January 2016 and extradition to the United States in January 2017, the Chapitos allegedly assumed their father’s former role as leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, along with Zambada Garcia and Damaso Lopez Nunez, aka Licenciado. The Chapitos subsequently amassed greater control over the Sinaloa Cartel by allegedly threatening and causing violence against Damaso Lopez Nunez, his family, and his associates and, as a result, became principal leaders and drug traffickers within the Sinaloa Cartel. The U.S. Department of State, through its Narcotics Rewards Program, is offering rewards of up to $10 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Ivan Guzman Salazar, Alfredo Guzman Salazar, and Ovidio Guzman Lopez and up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Joaquin Guzman Lopez. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Sutton for the Southern District of California and Acting Deputy Chief Katharine Wagner and Trial Attorney Kirk Handrich of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Erskine and Erika Csicsila for the Northern District of Illinois, are prosecuting the case. U.S. Attorney Grossman thanked federal, state and local law enforcement for the coordinated team effort in the culmination of this investigation. The FBI San Diego Field Office and Washington Field Office, Homeland Security Investigations San Diego and Nogales Office, DEA’s San Diego Division and Chicago Division, and IRS Criminal Investigation are investigating the case. This prosecution is also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. DEFENDANTS Case Number 09-CR-383 (ND-IL) *Ivan Guzman Salazar Age: 40 Sinaloa, MX *Alfredo Guzman Salazar Age: 37 Sinaloa, MX *Joaquin Guzman Lopez Age: 36 Sinaloa, MX Ovidio Guzman Lopez Age: 33 Sinaloa, MX *Fugitives An indictment and or complaint is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. SUMMARY OF CHARGES Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 and 846 Term of custody including a mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life imprisonment, $10 million fine. Continuing Criminal Enterprise, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 848(a) and (b) Term of custody including a mandatory minimum 20 years and up to life imprisonment, $2 million fine. The defendants are charged as the principal administrators, organizers or leaders of the enterprise or is one of several such principal administrators, organizers, or leaders; and the violation involved 300 times the quantity of a substance described in subsection 841(b)(1)(B) (100 grams of heroin, 500 grams of cocaine, 100 kilograms of marijuana or 50 grams of Methamphetamine mixture), which is mandatory life imprisonment. Conspiracy to Import Controlled Substances, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 952, 960 and 963. Term of custody including a mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life imprisonment, $10 million fine. Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances for Purpose of Unlawful Importation, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. §§ 959, 960 and 963; Term of custody including a mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life imprisonment, $10 million fine. Distribution of a Controlled Substance, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1); Term of custody including a mandatory minimum 10 years and up to life imprisonment, $10 million fine. Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956 (a)(2)(A) and (h); Term of custody up to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of the greater of $500,000 or twice the value of the monetary instrument or funds involved. Use and Possession of a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime, in violation of 924(c)(1)(A), (c)(1)(B). Term of custody up to life imprisonment, and a mandatory consecutive sentence of 30 years imprisonment. AGENCIES Federal Bureau of Investigation Homeland Security Investigations Drug Enforcement Administration Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation United States Marshals Service Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations Customs and Border Protection Office of Border Patrol Department of Justice, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces Department of Justice, Narcotics and Dangerous Drug Section Department of Justice, Office of International Affairs Department of Justice, Office of Enforcement Operations, Electronic Surveillance Unit U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Asset Control San Diego County District Attorney’s Office San Diego Law Enforcement Coordination Center Interpol


title: Mexican Man Sentenced for Using Social Security Number to Obtain Employment

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS , LOUISIANA – MARIO MATEO TOMAS JOSE , a native of Mexico, was sentenced on April 13, 2020 for illegally using a social security number to qualify for employment, in violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 408(a)(7)(B), announced United States Attorney Duane A. Evans. United States District Court Judge Eldon E. Fallon sentenced JOSE to (1) one year of probation and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100.00. According to court documents, on March 29, 2022, Homeland Security Investigations received information that certain individuals had used fraudulent Social Security cards in an initial application to obtain employment. Prior to finalizing employment with their prospective company, the individuals had to report to the Gulf Coast Safety Council, which provides safety courses to applicants applying to work with companies servicing petrochemical processing plants. On March 30, 2022, TOMAS JOSE arrived at the Gulf Coast Safety Council office in St. Rose, Louisiana to complete the safety course to finalize his employment with Company “A”. On that day, TOMAS JOSE presented a fraudulent United States Social Security card bearing the name and United States Social Security number of a United States citizen, which he represented to be his own, in order to obtain employment. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of Homeland Security Investigations in investigating this matter. Assistant United States Attorney Jon M. Maestri is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Informational: Federal Court arraignments

body_text: The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty: Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on April 13 was: Jesse Ray Blackman, 40, of Billings, on charges of interstate threats and cyberstalking. If convicted of the most serious crime, Blackman faces a maximum of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Blackman was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services, with assistance from the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-123. Appearing on April 11 was: Camille Ann Rounds, 45, Deborah Lynn Renenger, 32, and Keegan Tait Roll, 28, all transients, on fentanyl trafficking charges. Rounds and Renenger are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute meth and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Roll is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. If convicted of the most serious crime, Rounds and Renenger face a mandatory minimum of five years to 40 years in prison, a $5 million fine and at least four years of supervised release on the meth trafficking crime, and a mandatory minimum of five years to life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release, on the firearm crime. Roll faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $1 million fine and at least three years of supervised release. All defendants were detained pending further proceedings. The Billings Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, Montana Highway Patrol and Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-40. Cynthia Rae Pruett, 51, of Acton, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. If convicted of the most serious crime, Pruett faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Pruett was detained pending further proceedings. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Billings Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol, Laurel Police Department, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office and Montana Highway Patrol investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-39. Appearing on April 10 was: Paul Nomee III, 60, of Lodge Grass, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. If convicted of the most serious crime, Nomee faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Nomee was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-29. Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on April 11 was: Nikki Marie Snell, 38, of Wolf Point, on charges of possession with intent to distribute meth, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Snell faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the crime of prohibited person in possession of a firearm and a mandatory minimum five years to life in prison, consecutive to any other crime, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the crime of possessing a firearm in a drug trafficking crime. Snell was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations and Great Falls Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-31. Shacotta Keenan St. Onge, aka Shaq, 30, of Great Falls, on charges of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and distribution of controlled substances. If convicted of the most serious crime, St. Onge faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. St. Onge was detained pending further proceedings. Homeland Security Investigations, the Great Falls Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-33. The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl. XXX


title: Clinton business owner admits COVID-19 relief loan fraud

body_text: MISSOULA — A Clinton roofing company owner today admitted to allegations that he used a federal business loan of more than $400,000 intended for economic relief caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to instead buy personal items, including an ATV, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and a camper, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Damon Alexander Wahl, 46, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and to money laundering. Wahl faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Wahl also admitted to a forfeiture count and agreed to forfeit a 2021 Harley-Davidson motorcycle, a 2018 Hideout camper trailer and a 2013 Polaris RZR all-terrain vehicle. U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The court set sentencing for July 26. Wahl was released pending further proceedings. The government alleged in court documents that in July 2021, Wahl, who operates Wahls Roofing LLC in Clinton, received a $405,400 loan from the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program (EIDL), which was authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. EIDL loans were intended to provide economic relief to small businesses and nonprofit organizations that experienced a temporary loss of revenue during the pandemic. Business owners seeking EIDL loans were required to certify under penalty of perjury that they would use the money solely for business operating expenses, such as payroll, rent and mortgage payments, utilities and business debt. The government further alleged that in his loan application, Wahl wrote that he intended to use the money to finish his shop, buy equipment for the roofing business and pay a second crew. Instead, Wahl used at least $160,000 for personal expenses, including $13,900 for an ATV, more than $21,000 for a new Harley-Davidson motorcycle and $14,700 for a camper. When interviewed about the loan, Wahl said he knew he needed to spend the loan on his business and admitted he did not. U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Racicot are prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI and IRS. XXX