title: Prominent Global Cryptocurrency Exchange KuCoin And Two Of Its Founders Criminally Charged With Bank Secrecy Act And Unlicensed Money Transmission Offenses

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Darren McCormack, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment against global cryptocurrency exchange KuCoin and two of its founders, CHUN GAN, a/k/a “Michael,” and KE TANG, a/k/a “Eric,” for conspiring to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business and conspiring to violate the Bank Secrecy Act by willfully failing to maintain an adequate anti-money laundering (“AML”) program designed to prevent KuCoin from being used for money laundering and terrorist financing, failing to maintain reasonable procedures for verifying the identity of customers, and failing to file any suspicious activity reports. KuCoin was also charged with operating an unlicensed money transmitting business and a substantive violation of the Bank Secrecy Act. GAN and TANG remain at large. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As today’s Indictment alleges, KuCoin and its founders deliberately sought to conceal the fact that substantial numbers of U.S. users were trading on KuCoin’s platform. Indeed, KuCoin allegedly took advantage of its sizeable U.S. customer base to become one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency derivatives and spot exchanges, with billions of dollars of daily trades and trillions of dollars of annual trade volume. But financial institutions like KuCoin that take advantage of the unique opportunities available in the United States must also comply with U.S. law to help identify and drive out crime and corrupt financing schemes. KuCoin allegedly deliberately chose not to do so. As alleged, in failing to implement even basic anti-money laundering policies, the defendants allowed KuCoin to operate in the shadows of the financial markets and be used as a haven for illicit money laundering, with KuCoin receiving over $5 billion and sending over $4 billion of suspicious and criminal funds. Crypto exchanges like KuCoin cannot have it both ways. Today’s Indictment should send a clear message to other crypto exchanges: if you plan to serve U.S. customers, you must follow U.S. law, plain and simple.” HSI Acting Special Agent in Charge Darren McCormack said: “Today, we exposed one of the largest global cryptocurrency exchanges for what our investigation has found it to truly be: an alleged multibillion-dollar criminal conspiracy. KuCoin grew to service over 30 million customers, despite its alleged failure to follow laws necessary to ensuring the security and stability of our world’s digital banking infrastructure. The defendants’ alleged pattern of skirting these vitally important laws has finally come to an end. I commend HSI New York’s El Dorado Task Force and our law enforcement partners for their commitment to the mission.” According to the allegations in the Indictment and KuCoin’s statements on its website: [1] FLASHDOT LIMITED, formerly known as “Phoenixfin Limited,” PEKEN GLOBAL LIMITED, and PHOENIXFIN PRIVATE LIMITED are three entities collectively doing business as global cryptocurrency exchange KuCoin. GAN and TANG, among others, founded KuCoin in September 2017. KuCoin solicited business from U.S. customers through its spot trading platform and, later, its futures trading platform, which was launched in July 2019. Since its founding in 2017, KuCoin has become one of the largest global cryptocurrency exchange platforms, with more than 30 million customers and billions of dollars’ worth of cryptocurrency in daily trading volume. KuCoin’s website touts public rankings of cryptocurrency exchanges that place KuCoin in the top five worldwide. One of these public rankings listed KuCoin as the fourth largest cryptocurrency derivatives exchange and fifth largest cryptocurrency spot exchange. KuCoin, GAN, and TANG sought to serve, and have in fact served, numerous customers located in the United States and in the Southern District of New York. As a result, at all relevant times, KuCoin has been a money transmitting business required to register with the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) and, since July 2019, has been a futures commission merchant required to register with the U.S. Commodity and Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”). As a money transmitting business and a futures commission merchant, KuCoin is required to comply with the applicable Bank Secrecy Act provisions requiring maintenance of an adequate AML program, including customer identity verification, or know-your-customer (“KYC”) processes. AML and KYC programs ensure that financial institutions, such as KuCoin, are not used for illicit purposes, including money laundering. GAN, TANG, and KuCoin were aware of their U.S. AML obligations but willfully chose to flout those requirements. KuCoin failed, for example, to implement an adequate KYC program. Indeed, until at least July 2023, KuCoin did not require customers to provide any identifying information. It was only in July 2023, after KuCoin was notified of a federal criminal investigation into its activities, that KuCoin belatedly adopted a KYC program for new customers. However, this KYC process applied to new customers only and did not apply to KuCoin’s millions of existing customers, including the substantial number of customers based in the United States. KuCoin also never filed any required suspicious activity reports, never registered with the CFTC as a futures commission merchant, and, through at least the end of 2023, never registered with FinCEN as a money transmitting business. In fact, GAN, TANG, and KuCoin affirmatively attempted to conceal the existence of KuCoin’s U.S. customers in order to make it appear as if KuCoin was exempt from U.S. AML and KYC requirements. Despite the fact that KuCoin gathered and tracked location information for its customers, KuCoin actively prevented its U.S. customers from identifying themselves as such when opening KuCoin accounts. And KuCoin lied to at least one investor, in 2022, about where its customers were located, falsely representing that it had no U.S. customers when, in truth, KuCoin had a substantial U.S. customer base. In fact, in a number of social media posts, KuCoin actively marketed itself to U.S. customers as an exchange where they could trade without having to undergo KYC. For example, KuCoin stated in an April 2022 message on Twitter that “KYC is not supported to USA users, however, it is not mandatory on KuCoin to do KYC. Usual transactions can be done using an unverified account-” As a result of KuCoin’s willful failures to maintain the required AML and KYC programs, KuCoin has been used as a vehicle to launder large sums of criminal proceeds, including proceeds from darknet markets and malware, ransomware, and fraud schemes. Since its founding in 2017, KuCoin has received over $5 billion, and sent over $4 billion, of suspicious and criminal proceeds. Many KuCoin customers used its trading platform specifically because of the anonymity of the services it provided. In other words, KuCoin’s no-KYC policy was integral to its growth and success. * * * GAN, 34, and TANG, 39, both citizens of China, are each charged with one count of conspiring to violate the Bank Secrecy Act and one count of conspiring to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business, each of which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. FLASHDOT LIMITED, an entity incorporated in the Cayman Islands; PEKEN GLOBAL LIMITED, an entity incorporated in the Republic of Seychelles; and PHOENIXFIN PRIVATE LIMITED, an entity incorporated in Singapore, together d/b/a “KuCoin,” are each charged with one count of conspiring to violate the Bank Secrecy Act, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of conspiring to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of violating the Bank Secrecy Act, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; and one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for information purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI New York’s El Dorado Task Force. Mr. Williams further thanked the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which today filed a parallel civil action against KuCoin. This matter is being handled by the Office’s Illicit Finance & Money Laundering Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Deininger and David R. Felton are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.


title: City Man Sentenced to More Than 15 Years in Prison for Back-to-Back Armed Robberies of Northeast Philadelphia Stores

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Michael Malcolm, 26, of Philadelphia, PA, was sentenced to 185 months’ imprisonment, five years of supervised release, and $300 restitution by United States District Court Judge Gerald J. Pappert for robbing two Northeast Philadelphia stores at gunpoint. On February 7, 2023, Malcolm pleaded guilty to one count of Hobbs Act robbery, one count of attempted Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. The charges stem from two armed robberies he committed within a matter of minutes on October 5, 2021. At approximately 8:06 p.m. that evening, Malcolm entered Illadelph by All in One Smoke Shop at 14230 Bustleton Avenue in the Northeast. He asked the clerk for cigarillo wraps and handed over money to pay for them. When the clerk opened the register, Malcolm produced a gun, racked the slide, pointed the weapon at the clerk, and demanded money. After the clerk gave him approximately $300 from the register, Malcolm fled the store. About 10 minutes later, Malcolm went to Somerton Beverage, located at 13510 Bustleton Avenue, approximately two-tenths of a mile from the smoke shop he’d just robbed. Malcolm entered the store, selected a beer for purchase, and gave money to the clerk. When the clerk didn’t open the register, Malcolm produced his firearm. The clerk yelled “he got a gun” and Malcolm fled the store with the beer. Shortly after the Somerton Beverage robbery, two officers with the Philadelphia Police Department observed Malcolm standing on the corner at 13501 Bustleton Avenue. When the officers attempted to stop him, he fled on foot. After a short foot chase, Malcolm was arrested. When police officers searched Malcolm, they recovered a loaded 9mm handgun. Officers also seized Malcolm’s jacket, which matched the jacket described by the robbery victims that night. “Anyone willing to rob a total stranger at gunpoint, let alone try it twice in a matter of minutes, is an obvious threat to our community,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “The victim clerks in this case were on the job, just trying to make a living, when someone who’d rather steal money than earn it made them fear for their lives. We and our law enforcement partners are working to identify, prosecute, and lock up violent offenders like Michael Malcolm, to make the streets — and the stores — of Philadelphia safer for all.” “The citizens who live and work in our community deserve to feel safe,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “Through the diligent work and continued collaboration with our law enforcement partners, the FBI will continue to take violent criminals off our streets.” “I would like to commend the diligent efforts of our law enforcement partners for swiftly bringing Michael Malcolm to justice,” said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel. “These back-to-back armed robberies serve as a stark reminder of the importance of collaborative efforts in ensuring the safety and security of our communities. Through initiatives like Project Safe Neighborhoods, we remain steadfast in our commitment to reducing violent crime and fostering a safer environment for all. The significance of this sentencing cannot be overstated — it underscores the gravity of the defendant’s actions, and sends a clear message that such criminal behavior will not be tolerated in our city.” 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. The case was investigated by the FBI and the Philadelphia Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Thomas M. Zaleski.


title: New Jersey Registered Sex Offender Sentenced To 15 Years In Prison For Attempted Enticement Of Minor

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that BRIAN REED was sentenced to 15 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Phillip M. Halpern for attempted enticement of a minor. The sentencing today followed REED’s guilty plea on October 23, 2023. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Brian Reed’s actions demonstrate the depths of depravity and danger potentially lurking in the digital realm that connects us all. Let this sentencing serve as a reminder that this Office will harness every tool at our disposal to hold accountable those who prey on and exploit our youth.” According to documents filed in this case and statements made in related court proceedings: On May 26, 2022, an investigator with the Rockland County’s District Attorney’s Office (“Investigator-1), who was working in an undercover capacity and posing as a 13-year-old girl on an online platform, engaged in text communications with REED. Investigator-1 told REED that she was 13 years old. During the communications, REED requested sexually explicit photos of Investigator-1 and asked her to meet with him to have sex. REED described the sexual things he wanted to do to Investigator-1 and, when she asked if he was “ok w my age,” REED responded, “Yes of course.” REED made a plan to meet Investigator-1 on the evening of May 26, 2022, in Rockland County, New York. That morning, REED told her, “Im going to make you moan so loud you are going to feel amazing” and instructed, “You should wear something thats easy to take off.” On May 26, 2022, REED drove from New Jersey to Rockland County to have sex with the purported 13-year-old. When he arrived at the designated meeting location, he was arrested. Previously, on October 17, 2016, REED was convicted in Morris County Superior Court in New Jersey of endangering the welfare of a child through sexual conduct. As a result of this conviction, on February 17, 2017, REED was sentenced to three years in prison and required to register as a sex offender. * * * In addition to the prison term, REED, 36, of Franklin, New Jersey, was sentenced to a lifetime of supervised release. Mr. Williams praised the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Rockland County Sherriff’s Office, the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office, the Clarkstown Police Department, and the Orangetown Police Department in connection with this investigation. The prosecution is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia S. Cohen is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Orange Park Man Sentenced To 10 Years For Possessing Over 5 Kilos Of Cocaine With Intent To Distribute

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – U.S. District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Peterson Fils-Aime (37, Orange Park) to 10 years in federal prison for possessing over 5 kilograms of cocaine with the intent to distribute it. Fils-Aime entered a guilty plea on December 12, 2023. According to court records, Fils-Aime was the subject of a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigation in 2022. DEA agents had received information that on June 3, 2022, Fils-Aime would be transporting large amounts of cocaine in Jacksonville in the St. Johns Bluff area. Troopers from the Florida Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop on Fils-Aime’s car. An FHP canine unit alerted to the presence of drugs inside Fils-Aime’s car and troopers recovered approximately seven kilograms of cocaine from inside the car. DEA agents interviewed Fils-Aime who admitted that he was on his way to deliver the cocaine. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Jacksonville Beach Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Talbot.


title: Justice Department Seeks Forfeiture of $14 Million Manhattan Apartments Purchased with Proceeds of Mongolian Corruption Scheme

component: Criminal Division

body_text: The Justice Department filed a civil forfeiture complaint today in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York alleging that two apartments located in New York City were purchased for $14 million with the proceeds from an international corruption scheme and are subject to forfeiture based on violations of federal money laundering statutes. “As alleged in the complaint, Sukhbataar Batbold — the former prime minister of Mongolia — abused his position as prime minister to profit from the sale of his country’s natural resources,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “He and his family used the proceeds of their corrupt scheme to buy $14 million in high-end real estate in the United States. With this action, those properties are subject to forfeiture. Kleptocrats should take note: the Criminal Division is unwavering in its resolve to recover proceeds of official corruption and take the profit out of crime.” The civil forfeiture complaint alleges that Sukhbaatar Batbold, who previously served as Prime Minister of Mongolia and is a current member of Mongolia’s parliament, used his position as prime minister to award lucrative contracts to sell copper concentrates from a Mongolian state controlled mine to entities that were owned and controlled by his known associates or his son. These intermediaries, who had little to no experience in the copper trade, played no part in providing financing for the purchase of the copper concentrates or in arranging the sale or shipment of the commodities. They simply concealed the fact that Batbold and his family were violating Mongolian anti-corruption laws by benefiting from the sale of millions of dollars’ worth of Mongolian natural resources. “As alleged, former Mongolian Prime Minister Batbold used high-end New York City real estate as a cover for his illicit corruption scheme,” said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. “Today’s forfeiture action sends a message that criminal activity is never included in the homeowner’s agreement. My office will not tolerate public corruption that undermines faith in government, wherever committed.” “While he was Prime Minister of Mongolia, the defendant allegedly used corrupt funds and a sophisticated money laundering scheme to purchase two luxury New York apartments,” said Assistant Director Michael Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Make no mistake, the FBI is dedicated to identifying assets gained through corruption and working with our partners to recover the funds, no matter how obscured.” FBI New York’s International Corruption Squad is investigating the case. Deputy Chief Adam J. Schwartz of the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara McGrath and Brian Morris for the Eastern District of New York are handing the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided assistance. The Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative is led by a team of dedicated prosecutors in the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, in partnership with federal law enforcement agencies, and often with U.S. Attorney’s Offices, to forfeit the proceeds of foreign official corruption and, where appropriate, to use those recovered assets to benefit the people harmed by these acts of corruption and abuse of office. In 2015, the FBI formed International Corruption Squads across the country to address national and international implications of foreign corruption. Individuals with information about possible proceeds of foreign corruption located in or laundered through the United States should contact federal law enforcement or send an email to kleptocracy@usdoj.gov (link sends e-mail) or https://tips.fbi.gov/ . A civil complaint is merely an allegation. The government has the burden of establishing the assets are subject to forfeiture by a preponderance of the evidence.


title: California Man Sentenced To More Than 13 Years For Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material Using Stolen Online Identity, Ordered To Pay $81,500 In Restitution To Child Victims

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States District Judge Marcia Morales Howard has sentenced Jason Charles Nicholas (54, Ramona, California) to 13 years and 4 months in federal prison for distributing child sexual abuse material over the internet using a stolen online identity. Nicholas was also ordered to serve a 10-year term of supervised release, register as a sex offender, and pay $81,500 in restitution to child victims. Nicholas was arrested in San Diego County, California on September 21, 2023, and detained. He was subsequently transported to Jacksonville for prosecution. According to court documents, on August 3, 2023, an undercover FBI agent (UC) in the Jacksonville area, posing as the parent of a minor “child,” was investigating individuals on a particular social media application (app) who were attempting to sexually exploit children. The UC began a private conversation on the app with user “cldad,” who was later identified as Nicholas. Nicholas was using an online identity stolen from a resident of northeast Florida, and Nicholas indicated his desire to meet the UC at a residence in Florida to have sex with the “child.” However, Nicholas abruptly changed this plan and began threatening to expose the UC’s purported criminal conduct unless the UC streamed live video of the “child” to Nicholas. The UC refused. Nicholas later apologized for making these threats, and online conversations between him and the UC continued for several weeks. Nicholas told the UC about his longtime practice of brushing up against and taking surreptitious photos of young girls and women in public places (Nicholas referred to these as “creep shots”), and that he had purportedly sexually abused a young child after overdosing the child with medication. Nicholas also sent the UC several photos of young women that he had digitally altered and sexualized to make them appear pornographic. During an online conversation on August 17, 2023, Nicholas sent the UC six videos and two photos that depicted young children being sexually abused. Further investigation by the FBI led to the identification of Nicholas. On September 21, 2023, FBI agents, with assistance from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, arrested Nicholas as he was driving to his workplace. When interviewed, Nicholas admitted that he had sent the videos and photos depicting the sexual abuse of minors to the UC using the app and by email, that his sexual attraction to children was “complicated,” and that he had been downloading child sexual abuse materials “for a long time.” A search of Nicholas’s cellphone revealed that it contained at least 2,500 explicit videos, many of which depicted the sexual abuse of young children, infants, and toddlers. This case was investigated by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Jacksonville and San Diego. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown. This is another case brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue child victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.


title: New Haven Resident Admits Making False Statements During Citizenship Process

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Robert Fuller, Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, today announced that MOHAMED NAJM KAMASH, also known as Mohamed Najm Mohamed Ali Kamash, 33, of New Haven, pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to making a false statement in a naturalization proceeding. According to court documents and statements made in court, Kamash is a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., having immigrated to the U.S. from Iraq in 2014. On August 17, 2021, Kamash appeared in Hartford for a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) interview about his pending Application of Naturalization (Form N-400), and was placed under oath. During the interview with a USCIS agent, Kamash knowingly and falsely stated that he did not know anyone involved with a terrorist organization and that no member of his family was involved with a terrorist organization. At sentencing, which is not scheduled, Kamash faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years. Kamash was arrested on a criminal complaint on May 5, 2022. He is released on a $250,000 bond pending sentencing. This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick Doherty and Konstantin Lantsman.


title: United States Seeks Forfeiture of Former Mongolian Prime Minister's Luxury New York City Apartments Purchased with Proceeds of Corruption Scheme

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, the United States unsealed a civil complaint seeking to forfeit two luxury apartments located in New York City at 21 East 61st Street and 230 West 56th Street, purchased for $14 million. According to court documents, the apartments were purchased, in whole or in part, with the proceeds of unlawfully awarded Mongolian mining contracts, at the direction and for the benefit of then-Mongolian Prime Minister Sukhbaatar Batbold and his family. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Nicole M. Argentieri, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the forfeiture action. “As alleged, former Mongolian Prime Minister Batbold used the profits from his illicit corruption scheme to purchase high-end real estate in violation of United States federal law. Today’s forfeiture action sends a message that corrupt officials will not use our real estate market to conceal proceeds of crimes,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “My Office will not tolerate public corruption that undermines faith in government, wherever committed.” “As alleged in the complaint, Sukhbataar Batbold — the former prime minister of Mongolia — abused his position as prime minster to profit from the sale of his country’s natural resources. He and his family used the proceeds of their corrupt scheme to buy $14 million in high-end real estate in the United States,” stated Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “With this action, those properties are subject to forfeiture. Kleptocrats should take note: the Criminal Division is unwavering in its resolve to recover proceeds of official corruption and take the profit out of crime.” “Former Mongolian Prime Minister Sukhbaatar Batbold allegedly crafted a corruption scheme, funneling millions of dollars from mining contracts through illegitimate shell companies to finance his family’s lavish lifestyle including the purchase of two luxury apartments in Manhattan. Batbold’s alleged behavior – personally profiting off of public corruption comes at the expense of the law-abiding citizens he governed. Today’s action emphasizes the FBI’s commitment to dismantling public corruption and punishing those who utilize the U.S. banking system to illegally divert resources, wherever it may occur,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Smith. The civil forfeiture complaint alleges that while Batbold was Prime Minister of Mongolia, Catrison, an entity he owned through trusted intermediaries, was awarded a $68 million mining contract. Prior to being awarded that contract, Catrison had no operational history, no mining expertise, and no financial or logistical infrastructure to execute commodity sales, and its sole director was a former linguistics teacher. Millions of dollars from the mining contracts were then siphoned into foreign bank accounts, transferred through a series of shell companies, and, among other things, directed towards the purchase of the New York City apartments for the benefit of Batbold’s family, including his eldest son who used the apartments. The civil forfeiture complaint further explains how Batbold and his family used state-owned mining contracts to funnel funds through shell companies for their personal use, consistent with the scheme used to purchase the apartments sought by the government for forfeiture. Although it had no operational history or experience in commodities, one of the shell companies was awarded a mining contract worth $30 million, and proceeds were wired to an account in the United States held by Batbold’s eldest son that was earmarked for personal use, such as car payments, travel and an interior designer. The government’s case is being handled by the Business and Securities Fraud Section of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, in coordination with the Office’s Bank Integrity Task Force, which is charged with investigating and prosecuting corporate and individual actors who launder criminal proceeds using the U.S. banking system and enforcing anti-money laundering controls under the Bank Secrecy Act, and the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS). Assistant United States Attorneys Tara McGrath and Brian Morris and Trial Attorney Adam J. Schwartz are handling the case with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Jacob Menz. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided assistance. A civil forfeiture complaint is merely an allegation that money or property was involved in or represents the proceeds of crime. These allegations are not proven until a court enters judgment in favor of the United States. The Defendants In Rem : ANY AND ALL SHARES OF 21 EAST 61 STREET APARTMENT CORP. HELD IN THE NAME OF LOVITAS, INC., TOGETHER WITH THE APPURTENANT PROPRIETARY LEASE FOR COOPERATIVE UNIT 12E WITHIN THE REAL PROPERTY AND PREMISES LOCATED AT 21 EAST 61ST STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10065 CONDOMINIUM UNIT 58D, LOCATED AT 230 WEST 56TH STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019 E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CV-2147


title: Charleston Man Sentenced to Serve 8 Years in Federal Prison for Selling Fentanyl

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: CAPE GIRARDEAU – U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming announced Tuesday that a man from Charleston, Missouri was sentenced to eight years in prison for the offense of distribution of fentanyl. Kyrron Haynes, 29, appeared Monday before U.S. District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig at the federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau. At his guilty plea hearing last year, Haynes admitted that he sold a quantity of fentanyl to an individual in Charleston on two separate occasions in March 2023. Unbeknownst to Haynes, the buyer was working as an informant for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). At the time of the offenses, Haynes was on parole supervision through the State of Missouri for a prior drug-trafficking conviction. After serving the 8-year sentence, Haynes will be placed on supervised release for three years. The DEA, the Sikeston Department of Public Safety and the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Koester prosecuted the case.


title: Bahamian National Charged and Arrested for Role in Fatal Human Smuggling Conspiracy

body_text: Remote video URL An indictment was unsealed in the Southern District of Florida today charging a Bahamian national for his alleged role in a human smuggling conspiracy that resulted in multiple migrant deaths. As a result of extensive coordination and cooperation between U.S. and Bahamian authorities, Vandrick Nelson Smith, also known as Muggy and Vans, 33, was arrested on March 6 in The Bahamas pursuant to a request by the United States involving charges filed under seal in the Southern District of Florida in November 2023. According to court documents, Smith was allegedly involved in a human smuggling organization that attempted to bring migrants illegally from The Bahamas to the United States by boat. The migrants were nationals of Colombia, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti, among other countries. The migrants (or their families and friends) allegedly paid the organization money to be smuggled to the United States. As described below, the indictment alleges that Smith was personally involved in three maritime human smuggling incidents — including one that resulted in five deaths. “Vandrick Smith has been charged with organizing dangerous human smuggling operations, sending migrants from The Bahamas to Florida by boat,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “As alleged in the indictment, the human smuggling organization’s efforts turned deadly, when a boat carrying migrants capsized in January 2022. Human smugglers exploit desperate people for money, and the consequences can be tragic. The Criminal Division is committed to combating human smuggling organizations that prey on and endanger vulnerable migrants, wherever they operate.” Smith allegedly was involved in three maritime human smuggling events that occurred on or about March 6, 2021; Jan. 22, 2022; and Aug. 8, 2022. On the evening of Jan. 22, 2022, the indictment alleges that numerous migrants boarded a vessel in The Bahamas destined for Florida. Shortly after the vessel’s departure, the engines allegedly stopped functioning and the vessel capsized. On Jan. 25, 2022, the U.S. Coast Guard rescued the sole surviving migrant, who was found clinging to the top of the overturned vessel. “Human smuggling ventures put people’s lives at risk for the sake of profit,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida. “Human smugglers prey on the migrants’ hopes for a better life. Tragically, the smugglers’ exploits pose a grave danger to migrants. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our partners to prosecute those who carry out illicit human smuggling operations to protect vulnerable migrants and save lives.” “Homeland Security Investigations remains dedicated to working with our domestic and international partners to bring to justice reckless criminals who prioritize financial gain over people’s lives and safety,” said Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami. “The risks associated with maritime human smuggling ventures are extreme. We urge the public to avoid embarking on these journeys with dangerous criminal organizations, which often result in tragedy.” Smith is charged with five counts of attempting to bring noncitizens to the United States resulting in death stemming from the January 2022 venture. He is also charged with conspiring to bring noncitizens to the United States for profit, placing in jeopardy the life of noncitizens and resulting in death; attempting to bring noncitizens to the United States for profit; and attempting to aid and assist certain noncitizens to enter the United States. If convicted of attempting to bring noncitizens to the United States resulting in death, Smith faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. HSI Fort Pierce and the HSI Assistant Attaché in Nassau, The Bahamas, investigated the case, with assistance from HSI Miami, U.S. Coast Guard, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, and Brevard County Medical Examiner’s Office. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant support with foreign legal assistance requests and securing the arrest. The Justice Department thanks the Royal Bahamas Police Force, The Bahamas’ Office of the Attorney General, The Bahamas Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Bahamas Immigration Department, and The Bahamas Department of Public Prosecutions for their assistance in the case. The investigation is being conducted under the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a joint partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI. The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks, or present grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence, and prosecutorial resources. ECT coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities. Trial Attorney Marie Zisa of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Hoover for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Indictment


title: Ciudadano de las Bahamas imputado y aprehendido por su papel en una asociación delictiva mortal de contrabandeo de personas

body_text: Hoy se dio a conocer una acusación formal en el Distrito Sur de Florida en la que se imputa a un ciudadano de las Bahamas por su presunto papel en una asociación delictiva de contrabandeo de personas que resultó en la muerte de numerosos migrantes. Gracias a una labor de amplia coordinación y cooperación entre las autoridades estadounidenses y bahameñas, Vandrick Nelson Smith, también conocido como Muggy y Vans, de 33 años, fue aprehendido en las Bahamas el 6 de marzo último en virtud de una solicitud de los Estados Unidos que involucraba cargos presentados bajo sello en el Distrito Sur de Florida en noviembre de 2023. Según documentos judiciales, Smith presuntamente estaba involucrado en una organización de contrabandeo de personas que hacía la tentativa de traer migrantes ilegalmente de las Bahamas a los Estados Unidos en barco. Los migrantes eran ciudadanos de Colombia, Jamaica, República Dominicana y Haití, entre otros países. Presuntamente, los migrantes (o sus familiares y amigos) pagaron dinero a la organización para que los ingresase de contrabando a los Estados Unidos. Como se describe a continuación, la acusación formal alega que Smith estuvo involucrado personalmente en tres incidentes de contrabandeo de personas por vía marítima, incluido uno que resultó en cinco muertes. “Vandrick Smith ha sido imputado de organizar peligrosas operaciones de contrabandeo de personas, enviando migrantes por barco de las Bahamas a Florida. Como se alega en la acusación formal, las operaciones de la organización de contrabandeo de personas se volvieron mortales cuando un bote que transportaba migrantes zozobró en enero de 2022”, señaló la fiscal auxiliar principal Nicole M. Argentieri, jefa de la División Penal del Departamento de Justicia. “Los contrabandistas de personas explotan por dinero a la gente desesperada, y las consecuencias pueden ser trágicas. La División Penal está comprometida a combatir a las organizaciones de contrabandeo de personas que se aprovechan y ponen en peligro a los migrantes vulnerables, dondequiera que operen”. Presuntamente, Smith estuvo involucrado en tres operaciones de contrabandeo de personas por vía marítima que ocurrieron alrededor del 6 de marzo de 2021, el 22 de enero de 2022 y el 8 de agosto de 2022. La acusación formal imputa que la noche del 22 de enero de 2022, numerosos migrantes abordaron una embarcación en las Bahamas con destino a Florida. Poco después del zarpe de la embarcación, supuestamente, los motores dejaron de funcionar y la embarcación zozobró. El 25 de enero de 2022, los Guardacostas de EE. UU. rescataron al único migrante sobreviviente, que se encontraba aferrado a la parte superior de la embarcación volcada. “Las operaciones de contrabandeo de personas ponen en riesgo la vida de las personas por obtener ganancias económicas”, indicó el fiscal federal Markenzy Lapointe del Distrito Sur de Florida. “Los contrabandistas de personas toman ventaja de las esperanzas de tener una vida mejor de los migrantes. Trágicamente, las hazañas de los contrabandistas representan un grave peligro para los migrantes. La Fiscalía de los Estados Unidos continuará trabajando con nuestros socios para enjuiciar a quienes llevan a cabo operaciones ilícitas de contrabandeo de personas para proteger a los migrantes vulnerables y salvar vidas”. “La Oficina de Investigaciones de Seguridad Nacional (HSI, por sus siglas en inglés) sigue dedicada a colaborar con nuestros socios nacionales e internacionales para llevar ante la justicia a delincuentes temerarios que priorizan las ganancias económicas sobre la vida y la seguridad de las personas”, dijo el agente especial a cargo Anthony Salisbury de Investigaciones de Seguridad Nacional (HSI) Miami. “Los riesgos asociados con las operaciones de contrabandeo marítimo de personas son extremos. Instamos al público a evitar aventurarse en estos viajes con organizaciones criminales peligrosas, que a menudo resultan en tragedias”. A Smith se le imputan cinco cargos de tentativa de traer extranjeros a los Estados Unidos causando su muerte como resultado de la operación de enero de 2022. También se le imputa de asociación delictiva para traer extranjeros a los Estados Unidos con fines de lucro, poniendo en peligro la vida de los extranjeros y causando su muerte; tentativa de traer extranjeros a los Estados Unidos con fines de lucro; y de ayudar e instigar a ciertos extranjeros a ingresar a los Estados Unidos. Si se le declara culpable de tentativa de traer extranjeros a los Estados Unidos causando su muerte, Smith se enfrenta a una pena máxima de cadena perpetua. HSI Fort Pierce y el Agregado Auxiliar de HSI en Nassau, Bahamas, investigaron el caso, con la asistencia de HSI Miami, los Guardacostas de EE. UU., la Oficina del Alguacil del Condado de Brevard y la Oficina del Médico Forense del Condado de Brevard. La Oficina de Asuntos Internacionales del Departamento de Justicia ofreció apoyo significativo con las solicitudes de asistencia jurídica extranjera y el logro de la aprehensión. El Departamento de Justicia agradece a la Real Fuerza de Policía de Bahamas, la Fiscalía de Bahamas, el Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Bahamas, el Departamento de Inmigración de Bahamas y el Departamento de Procesamientos Judiciales Públicos de Bahamas por su asistencia en el caso. La investigación se está llevando a cabo conforme al programa de Fuerza de Ataque de Viajes Delictivos Extraterritoriales (ECT, por sus siglas en inglés), una asociación conjunta entre la División Penal del Departamento de Justicia y HSI. El programa ECT se centra en las redes de contrabandeo de personas que pueden presentar riesgos especiales para la seguridad nacional o la seguridad pública, o que representan serias preocupaciones humanitarias. El ECT tiene recursos dedicados a la investigación, inteligencia y procesamiento judiciales. El ECT coordina y recibe asistencia de otras agencias del gobierno de los EE. UU. y de autoridades del orden público extranjeras. La abogada litigante Marie Zisa de la Sección de Derechos Humanos y Procesamientos Judiciales Especiales de la División Penal y el fiscal auxiliar Justin Hoover del Distrito Sur de Florida están procesando el caso. Una acusación formal es meramente una alegación. Se presume que todos los acusados son inocentes hasta que ante un tribunal de justicia se demuestre su culpabilidad más allá de toda duda razonable.


title: Ressortissant bahaméen inculpé et arrêté pour son rôle dans le complot de traite meurtrière d’êtres humains

body_text: Aujourd’hui, dans le District sud de Floride, la confidentialité a été levée de la mise en accusation concernant un ressortissant bahaméen pour son rôle présumé dans un complot ayant entrainé de nombreuses pertes de vie. À la suite d’une vaste coordination et coopération entre les autorités des États-Unis et des Bahamas, Vandrick Nelson Smith, alias Muggy et Vans, âgé de 33 ans, a été arrêté aux Bahamas le 6 mars en réponse à une demande des États-Unis portant sur des accusations déposées en novembre 2023 sous pli scellé dans le District sud de Floride. Selon les pièces de la procédure, Smith aurait été impliqué dans une organisation de trafic d’êtres humains cherchant à faire venir des migrants par bateau depuis les Bahamas vers les États-Unis. Les migrants étaient des ressortissants de la Colombie, de la Jamaïque, de la République dominicaine, d’Haiti et d’autres pays. Les migrants (ou leurs familles et amis) auraient versé de l’argent à l’organisation pour être introduits en contrebande aux États-Unis. Comme décrit ici, la mise en accusation allègue que Smith avait été personnellement impliqué dans trois incidents de passage de clandestins par voie maritime, dont un ayant couté la vie à cinq personnes. « Vandrick Smith est accusé d’avoir organisé des opérations dangereuses de traite d’êtres humains, en envoyant des migrants par bateau depuis les Bahamas vers la Floride. Comme l’allègue la mise en accusation, les efforts de l’organisation de traite d’êtres humains se sont révélés meurtriers lorsqu’en janvier 2022 un bateau avec des migrants a chaviré » a déclaré Nicole Argentieri, la principale sous-procureure générale adjointe et la cheffe de la Division pénale du département de la Justice. « Les trafiquants d’êtres humains exploitent les gens désespérés pour l’argent et les conséquences peuvent être tragiques. La Division pénale est vouée au combat contre les organisations de traite d’êtres humains qui s’en prennent à et mettent en danger les migrants vulnérables où qu’elles opèrent ». Smith aurait été impliqué dans trois instances de traite d’êtres humains par voie maritime vers le 6 mars 2021, le 22 janvier 2022 et le 8 aout 2022. La mise en accusation allègue que dans la soirée du 22 janvier 2022, aux Bahamas, de nombreux migrants sont montés à bord d’un vaisseau à destination de la Floride. Peu après le départ du vaisseau, les moteurs se seraient arrêtés et le vaisseau a chaviré. Le 25 janvier 2022, la Garde côtière des États-Unis a sauvé le seul survivant, accroché à la coque du vaisseau chaviré. « Les entreprises de passage de clandestins mettent les vies en danger au nom du profit » a déclaré Markenzy Lapointe, procureur fédéral pour le District sud de Floride. « Les passeurs exploitent les espoirs pour une vie meilleure des migrants. Tragiquement, les agissements des passeurs mettent sérieusement en péril les migrants. Aux fins de protéger les migrants vulnérables et de sauver des vies, le parquet fédéral continuera à travailler avec ses partenaires pour poursuivre ceux qui font du trafic illicite d’êtres humains ». « La section des enquêtes de la sécurité intérieure est déterminée à travailler avec nos partenaires nationaux et internationaux pour traduire en justice les criminels imprudents qui accordent la priorité au gain financier sur les vies et la sécurité des personnes » a déclaré Anthony Salisbury, agent spécial responsable des enquêtes de la sécurité intérieure (HSI) à Miami. « Les risques associés aux opérations de traite des humains par voie maritime sont extrêmes. Nous exhortons le public à éviter de se lancer dans ces voyages avec des organisations criminelles dangereuses, lesquelles se soldent parfois par une tragédie ». Suite à l’opération de janvier 2022 ayant entrainé des pertes de vies, cinq chefs d’accusation de tentative de faire passer des étrangers aux États-Unis ont été retenus contre Smith. Il est aussi accusé d’entente en vue de faire passer des étrangers aux États-Unis contre profit ; de mise en danger des vies d’étrangers ayant entrainé la mort ; de tentative de faire passer des étrangers aux États-Unis contre profit et de tentative d’aider et assister certains étrangers à entrer aux États-Unis. S’il est trouvé coupable de tentative de faire passer des étrangers aux États-Unis ayant entrainé la mort, Smith est passible d’une peine maximale de prison à vie. HSI Fort Pierce et l’attaché adjoint de HSI à Nassau, aux Bahamas, ont enquêté sur le dossier avec l’aide de la Garde côtière des États-Unis, du bureau du sheriff du comté de Brevard et du service du médecin légiste du comté de Brevard. Le bureau des Affaires internationales du département de la Justice a apporté un appui important en matière des demandes d’entraide juridique internationale et les efforts menant à l’arrestation. Le département de la Justice remercie la Police royale des Bahamas, le ministère des Affaires étrangères des Bahamas, le Département de l’Immigration des Bahamas ainsi que le département des Poursuites pénales des Bahamas pour leur aide dans cette affaire. L’enquête est menée dans le cadre du programme de la force de frappe extraterritoriale dite Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT), un partenariat entre la Division pénale du département de la Justice et le HSI. Le programme ECT se concentre sur les réseaux de traite d’êtres humains pouvant présenter un risque spécial pour la sécurité nationale ou à la sécurité du public ou qui sont une sérieuse source de préoccupation humanitaire. ECT dispose de ressources d’enquête, de renseignement et de poursuite dédiées. ECT coordonne et est assistée par d’autres organismes gouvernementaux américains et les services de détection et de répression étrangers. La substitute du procureur Marie Zisa de la section des Droits de l’homme et de poursuites spéciales de la Division pénale ainsi que le procureur fédéral adjoint Justin Hoover du District sud de Floride poursuivent le dossier. Une mise en accusation n’est qu’une allégation. Tous les accusés sont présumés innocents jusqu’à ce que leur culpabilité soit prouvée au-delà de tout doute raisonnable devant un tribunal.


title: Yo Akize ak Arete yon Resòtisan Bahamas pou Wòl li nan Konplo Fatal Kontrebann Moun

body_text: Yon akizasyon te pibliye nan Distri Sid Eta Florid jodi a ki akize yon sitwayen Bahamas pou swadizan wòl li nan yon konplo kontrebann moun ki te lakòz plizyè lanmò imigran yo. Kòm rezilta anpil kowòdinasyon ak koperasyon ant otorite Etazini ak Bahamas yo, Vandrick Nelson Smith, ke yo rele tou Muggy ak Vans, 33, te arete 6 mas nan Bahamas dapre yon demann Etazini ki enplike akizasyon ki te depoze anba sele nan Distri Sid Eta Florid la nan mwa novanm 2023. Dapre dokiman tribinal yo, Smith te swadizan patisipe nan yon òganizasyon kontrebann moun ki te eseye mennen imigran ilegalman soti nan Bahamas nan peyi Etazini pa bato. Imigran yo te sitwayen Kolonbi, Jamayik, Repiblik Dominikèn, ak Ayiti, pami lòt peyi. Imigran yo (oswa fanmi yo ak zanmi yo) swadizan te peye òganizasyon an lajan pou yo te ka rantre yo klandestinman Ozetazini. Jan sa dekri pi ba a, akizasyon an akize ke Smith te patisipe pèsonèlman nan twa ensidan kontrebann maritim moun - ki gen ladan youn ki te lakòz lanmò senk moun. “Yo akize Vandrick Smith ak òganizasyon operasyon danjere kontrebann moun, voye imigran soti Bahamas nan Florid pa bato. Jan yo pretann nan akizasyon an, efò òganizasyon kontrebann moun nan vin mòtèl, lè yon bato ki t ap pote imigran te chavire an janvye 2022,” Asistan Pwokirè Jeneral Adjwen Prensipal Nicole M. Argentieri, ki se chèf Divizyon Kriminèl Depatman Jistis la te di. "Kontrabandye imen eksplwate moun dezespere pou lajan, e konsekans yo ka trajik. Divizyon Kriminèl la angaje l pou l konbat òganizasyon kontrebann moun ki eksplwate imigran vilnerab yo epi mete yo an danje, kèlkeswa kote yo opere.” Smith swadizan te enplike nan twa evènman maritim kontrebann moun ki te fèt nan oswa anviwon 6 mas 2021; 22 janvye 2022; ak 8 out 2022. Nan aswè nan jou ki te 22 janvye 2022 a, akizasyon an pretann ke anpil imigran te monte nan yon bato nan Bahamas ki te destine pou Florid. Yon ti tan apre depa bato a, motè yo swadizan sispann fonksyone epi bato a chavire. Nan dat 25 janvye 2022, Gad Kòt Ameriken an te sove sèl imigran ki te siviv la, yo te jwenn li kwoke sou tèt bato ki te chgavire a. Avoka Ameriken Markenzy Lapointe pou Distrik Sid Florid di: “Antrepriz kontrebann moun mete lavi moun a risk pou yo fè yon pwofi.” “Kontrabandye moun yo ap pwofite sou espwa imigran yo pou yon lavi miyò. Malerezman. eksplwatasyon kontrebandye yo poze yon gwo danje pou imigran yo. Biwo Avoka Ameriken an pral kontinye travay ak patnè nou yo pou pouswiv moun ki fè operasyon kontrebann ilegal moun pou pwoteje imigran vilnerab yo epi sove lavi yo.” “Envestigasyon Homeland Security yo rete devwe a travay ak patnè domestik ak entènasyonal nou yo pou mennen devan lajistis kriminèl ensousyan ki bay benefis finansye priyorite sou lavi ak sekirite moun,” te di Ajan Espesyal an chaj Anthony Salisbury nan Envestigasyon Homeland Security yo (HSI) Miami. “Risk ki asosye ak antrepriz kontrebann maritim moun yo ekstrèm. Nou ankouraje piblik la pou evite anbake nan vwayaj ak òganizasyon kriminèl danjere sa yo, ki souvan abouti nan trajedi.” Yo akize Smith ak senk akizasyon pou eseye mennen moun ki pa sitwayen ameriken Ozetazini ki lakòz lanmò ki soti nan antrepriz janvye 2022 la. Yo akize l tou li konplote pou mennen moun ki pa sitwayen ameriken yo pou pwofi, mete lavi moun ki pa sitwayen yo an danje epi sa ki lakòz lanmò; eseye mennen moun ki pa sitwayen ameriken pou pwofi; epi eseye ede ak ede sèten moun ki pa sitwayen yo antre Ozetazini. Si yo kondane li poutèt li te eseye mennen moun ki pa sitwayen ameriken Ozetazini sa ki lakòz lanmò, Smith ap fè fas ak yon penalite maksimòm lavi nan prizon. HSI Fort Pierce ak HSI Asistan Atache nan Nassau, Bahamas, te mennen ankèt sou ka a, avèk asistans HSI Miami, Gad Kòt Etazini, Biwo Sheriff Konte Brevard, ak Biwo Egzaminatè Medikal Brevard County. Biwo Afè Entènasyonal Depatman Jistis la te bay yon sipò enpòtan nan demann asistans legal etranje yo epi pou yo te asire arestasyon an. Depatman Jistis la remèsye Fòs Polis Royal Bahamas, Biwo Pwokirè Jeneral Bahamas, Ministè Afè Etranjè Bahamas, Depatman Imigrasyon Bahamas, ak Depatman Lajistis Piblik Bahamas pou asistans yo nan ka a. Envestigasyon an ap fèt nan kad pwogram Ekstraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT), yon patenarya ansanm ant Divizyon Kriminèl Depatman Jistis la ak HSI. Pwogram ECT a konsantre sou rezo kontrebann moun ki ka prezante risk sekirite nasyonal an patikilye oswa sekirite piblik, oswa prezante gwo enkyetid imanitè. ECT a konsakre resous pou envestigasyon, entèlijans ak pouswit jidisyè. ECT kowòdone ak resevwa asistans nan men lòt ajans gouvènman Ameriken yo ak otorite ki fè respekte lalwa etranje yo. Avoka Tribinal la Nonmen a Marie Zisa nan Seksyon Divizyon Kriminèl Dwa Moun ak Seksyon Pwosekisyon Espesyal yo ak Asistan Avoka Ameriken an Justin Hoover pou Distri Sid Florid la ap pouswiv ka a. Yon akizasyon se jis yon akizasyon. Tout akize yo sipoze inosan jiskaske yo pwouve yo koupab san okenn dout rezonab nan yon tribinal


title: Statement of U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron Regarding the Collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore

component: USAO - Maryland

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland - United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron stated, “There is no evidence at this time to suggest that today’s collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore has any ties to terrorism. My office will continue to coordinate with our federal, state, and local partners to provide any support necessary.” U.S. Attorney Barron added, “I am praying for the families and friends of the victims and everyone affected by this tragic event.” For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: Two Men Sentenced to a Combined 44 Years in Federal Prison After Armed Robberies of Ten Indianapolis Businesses in One Month

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: INDIANAPOLIS- Adam Reed and William Dodd have both been sentenced for their roles in a string of armed robberies across Indianapolis in the summer of 2020. Adam Reed, 25, of North Carolina has been sentenced to 29 years in federal prison after robbing ten Indianapolis businesses at gunpoint and pleading guilty to ten counts of interference with commerce by robbery and four counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Reed must also pay $7,850.29 in restitution. William Dodd, 23, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after robbing three Indianapolis businesses at gunpoint with Reed and pleading guilty to two counts of interference with commerce by robbery and two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Dodd must also pay $2,429.29 in restitution. According to court documents, on August 17, 2020, Reed and Dodd robbed the El Rey Del Taco on North High School Road. Reed and Dodd took turns pointing a handgun at employees and demanding cash from the register. The duo also robbed three employees of the cash in their wallets. Just two days later, Reed and Dodd robbed the Dollar General on North Arlington Avenue. Dodd pointed the gun at an employee and demanded he open the register and safe. Reed emptied the register, while Dodd emptied the safe, before both men ran from the store. Seven additional robberies were conducted solely by Adam Reed. In each instance, Reed threatened and held employees at gun point before stealing cash from the registers or safes. On September 15, 2020, Reed robbed a T-Mobile store and fired four shots at the front door, after an employee told Reed she had called the police. Just a few hours later, Reed robbed a Dollar General. When an IMPD officer arrived at the store, Reed grabbed the store manager and pointed a gun at her neck, using her as a human shield to get to the back of the store. Reed fled from the store and tossed the firearm over a fence before surrendering to police. In total, Reed robbed ten businesses at gunpoint, and Dodd participated in three of the robberies: # DATE LOCATION DEFENDANT 1 August 17, 2020 El Rey del Taco N, High School Rd. Reed & Dodd 2 August 19, 2020 Dollar General N. Arlington Ave. Reed & Dodd 3 August 25, 2020 Dollar General 38 th St. & and N. College Ave. Reed 4 August 28, 2020 Dollar General S. Emerson Ave. Reed 5 September 6, 2020 Family Dollar E. Morris St. Reed 6 September 8, 2020 Boost Mobile E. Washington St. Reed 7 September 10, 2020 O’Reilly Auto Parts E. Raymond St. Reed & Dodd 8 September 14, 2020 Family Dollar E. Washington St. Reed 9 September 15, 2020 Metro by T-Mobile E. Washington St. Reed 10 September 15, 2020 Dollar General English Ave. Reed “For a month, these criminals terrorized innocent employees and customers across Indianapolis, holding their victims at gunpoint as they wondered if they’d ever see their loved ones again,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “No one should fear for their lives simply because they went shopping or to work. The serious federal prison sentences imposed here demonstrate that IMPD, the FBI, and our federal prosecutors are committed to protecting our communities from gun violence and holding armed criminals accountable.” “The defendants chose to engage in these violent attacks that put the community at risk and these lengthy sentences should send a clear message that those who jeopardize the safety of others will be held accountable,” said FBI Indianapolis Special Agent in Charge Herbert J. Stapleton. “This is just another example of the value of collaborating with our law enforcement partners to fight violent crime.” The FBI and IMPD investigated this case. The sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson. Judge Stinson also ordered that Reed and Dodd must be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for three years each following their release from federal prison. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle M. Sawa and Meredith Wood, as well as former Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence Hilton, who prosecuted this case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. ###


title: Former D.C. Corrections Officer Pleads Guilty to Federal Civil Rights Violation for Assaulting a Handcuffed Inmate

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: A former District of Columbia Department of Corrections Officer, Marcus Bias, 27, pleaded guilty today to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law. “People held inside our jails and prisons should never be subject to the kind of violent and unjustified assault that was carried out by this corrections officer,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This defendant violently rammed an inmate’s head into a metal doorframe while he was handcuffed and posed no threat. When jail officials violate their oath and betray the trust placed in them by abusing people in their custody, the Justice Department will investigate and prosecute these offenses and will stand up for the civil rights of the victims of these crimes.” “Corrections officers, like any other member of law enforcement, are sworn to protect the people in their custody,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia. “Officer Bias violated this oath and the Constitution when he pushed the head of a handcuffed inmate in his care into a metal doorframe, causing substantial injuries to the inmate. Such abuses of power will not be tolerated and this office, along with our federal partners, will investigate and charge any member of law enforcement who deprives a citizen of their civil rights.” “The defendant, a former corrections officer, pushed a handcuffed inmate’s head into a metal doorframe, causing significant physical and emotional distress,” said Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Today’s guilty plea is another example of prison officials who have been held accountable for civil rights violations, and the FBI remains committed to protecting the dignity and civil rights of individuals in custody. We will continue to investigate violations under color of law and work with our partners to hold responsible anyone who commits these crimes.” “One of the FBI’s core missions is to protect the civil rights of every person within the United States,” said Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the FBI Washington Field Office. “Law enforcement officers are given authority and responsibility, but if they abuse that power, they will be held accountable for those actions. Today’s plea is an example of the FBI and our partners at the D.C. Department of Corrections working together to ensure that no one is above the law and that justice is served.” According to court documents, Bias, intentionally and without provocation, pushed a detainee’s head into a metal doorframe while escorting him within the Department of Corrections on June 12, 2019, causing serious injuries. At the time, the detainee, J.W., had his hands handcuffed behind his back, was suffering from the effects of O.C. spray, was surrounded by five other officers and was not resisting. J.W.’s injuries required outside emergency medical attention. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 28. Bias faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case. Trial Attorney Anna Gotfryd of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section, Rebekah J. Bailey, formerly a Trial Attorney with the Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Truscott for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case.


title: New Orleans Man Indicted for Possession of a Firearm by Felon

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on Friday, March 8, 2024, CURTIS SQUIRE , age 27, was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). On February 27, 2024, SQUIRE allegedly did knowingly possess a firearm having previously been convicted of a felony. Specifically, SQUIRE is accused of possessing a Glock Model 23C, .40 caliber pistol, and ammunition, said firearm and ammunition having been in and affecting interstate commerce. If convicted, squire faces up to 15 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. U. S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. 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. The case was investigated Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Dawkins of the Violent Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Hiding meth in shoes lands smuggler in prison

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: McALLEN, Texas – A 30-year-old Edinburg resident has been sentenced following his conviction of importing meth, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Oscar Salazar pleaded guilty Aug. 4, 2022. U.S. District Chief Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Salazar to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence of Salazar’s prior criminal history including a felony conviction for trafficking marijuana through a Border Patrol checkpoint. On Dec. 11, 2020, Salazar drove to the Hidalgo Port of Entry attempting to enter the United States from Mexico. Law enforcement conducted a search of his vehicle and found multiple packages of meth hidden within the center console, glove compartment and a pair of shoes within his vehicle. The meth weighed approximately three pounds with an estimated street value of $5,000. Salazar will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Garcia prosecuted the case.


title: New Orleans Man Indicted for Being a Felon in Possession of Firearm

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on March 8, 2024, PAUL WILSON , age 23, of New Orleans, was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm, a violation of 18 U.S.C. Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(8). On February 27, 2024, WILSON allegedly did knowingly possess a firearm having previously been convicted of a felony. Specifically, WILSON is accused of possessing a Glock Model 23, .40 caliber pistol, and ammunition, said firearm and ammunition having been in and affecting interstate commerce. If convicted, WILSON faces up to 15 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. 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. The case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Dawkins of the Violent Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Repeat drug trafficker gets significant sentence

body_text: McALLEN, Texas –A 63-year-old Pharr resident has been sentenced following his conviction of possession with intent to distribute 11 kilograms of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Gilberto Eloy Ramirez pleaded guilty Oct. 1, 2020. U.S. District Chief Judge Randy Crane has now ordered Ramirez to serve a 262-month sentence to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional evidence detailing his extensive criminal history including seven prior convictions for drug trafficking. In handing down the sentence, Judge Crane noted Ramirez is a career offender who has spent a substantial amount of years in prison for his past crimes and yet continued to make poor choices. In May 2019, authorities conducted a traffic stop on a Ramirez drove. He was found in possession of two plastic bags of cocaine in his pocket. Law enforcement then searched his residence and property. They discovered multiple bricks of cocaine with a combined weight of 11 kilograms, a scale, plastic wrap, razor blades, heat seal bags and a loaded 9 mm caliber pistol. Ramirez has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys M. Alexis Garcia and Laura Garcia prosecuted the case.


title: Washburn Man Sentenced for Crop Insurance Fraud, Ordered to Pay $379,317.00 in Restitution, and Agrees to 5-Year Benefits Debarment

component: USAO - North Dakota

body_text: BISMARCK – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on March 26, 2024, U.S. District Court Judge Daniel L. Hovland sentenced Kent Pfaff, age 60, from Washburn, North Dakota, to pay $379,317.00 in restitution to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and to serve a three-year period of supervised release on a charge of False Statement to Influence the United States Department of Agriculture – RMA, colloquially known as “crop insurance fraud.” On December 20, 2023, pursuant to a plea agreement, Pfaff pleaded guilty to this offense. As part of the plea agreement in this case, Pfaff voluntarily agreed, for a period of five years, to be excluded from receiving benefits from any federal procurement transaction authorized or funded by the USDA. As further stated in the indictment and plea agreement, during farm year 2019, Pfaff severely understated his soybean production yield numbers to his crop insurance providers to falsely increase his crop insurance indemnity payments. In early 2020, based upon an independent appraisal of unharvested portions of Pfaff’s soybean units, insurance adjusters discovered that the appraised soybean yield amounts were actually between four to five times higher than what Pfaff reported to his insurance company, the Risk Management Agency (RMA), and the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC). Based upon this appraisal, and other information learned during a subsequent criminal investigation, agents from the United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General and the Special Investigations Staff of the Risk Management Agency uncovered evidence that Pfaff was “shifting production,” which is a fraud scheme where a person will overreport production from one or more fields and underreport production from one or more different fields to manufacture or inflate claims to which they are not entitled. “This result protects the integrity of the federal crop insurance program,” Schneider said. “The United States Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement will aggressively pursue fraud to protect honest producers and American taxpayers. I credit our career prosecutors and their partners for seeing that justice was done in this case.” This case was investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General and the Special Investigations Staff of the Risk Management Agency – United States Department of Agriculture. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan J. O’Konek and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Rappenecker prosecuted this case. ######


title: New Orleans Man Indicted for Armed Bank Robbery and Attempted Carjacking

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on Friday, March 8, 2024, JOSEPH CARSICE , age 38, of New Orleans, was charged in a five-count indictment for armed bank robbery, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and attempted carjacking. On December 15, 2023, CARSICE allegedly robbed a branch of the Hancock Whitney Bank, while brandishing a firearm. CARSICE is also alleged to have attempted to carjack three separate vehicles, a 2016 Toyota Prius, 2010 Toyota Camry, and a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado. In Count 1 of the indictment, CARSICE is charged with armed bank robbery, in violation of 18 U.S.C. Sections 2113(a) and 2113(d). If convicted of Count 1, Carsice faces up to 25 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. In Count 2, CARSICE is charged with brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(ii). If convicted of Count 2, CARSICE faces up to 7 years imprisonment, to run consecutively to any other term of imprisonment imposed, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release. In Counts 3 through 5, CARSICE is charged with attempted carjacking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2119(1). If convicted of Counts 3 through 5, CARSICE faces up to 15 years imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. As to each count charged in this indictment, CARSICE also faces payment of a mandatory special assessment fee of $100. U. S. Attorney Evans reiterated that the indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. 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. The case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Dawkins of the Violent Crimes Unit is in charge of the prosecution.


title: Sex Offender Sentenced to 19 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Exploitation of Several Minors

body_text: Baltimore , Maryland - U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced Lewis Ismael Blandon, age 37, of Edgewood, Maryland, to 19 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for sexual exploitation of a child to produce a visual depiction of the sexual conduct. Judge Maddox also ordered that, upon his release from prison, Blandon must continue to register as a sex offender in the places where he resides, where he is an employee, and where he is a student, under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (“SORNA”). The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr., Superintendent of the Maryland State Police. According to his guilty plea between 2002 through 2006, Blandon sexually abused a minor victim who was 12 years old at the time the abuse began. Blandon coerced and enticed the victim to engage in the sexual conduct by using cell phone calls to arrange visits and using the chat feature on video games. In addition, between 2020 and 2021, Blandon used several different online accounts with social media companies to exploit his victims. Using a variety of aliases and handles on these platforms, Blandon communicated with several minor males, coercing and enticing them to produce sexually explicit images. Blandon admitted that he also sent images of his own genitalia to the minor males in order to cause them to reciprocate. Finally, Blandon also distributed commercially available child pornography on a messaging application to another user. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc and click on the “Resources” tab on the left of the page. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the FBI and Maryland State Police for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Elizabeth McGuinn, who is prosecuting the federal case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


body_text: WASHINGTON – A former District of Columbia Department of Corrections Officer, Marcus Bias, 27, pleaded guilty today in federal court to one count of deprivation of rights under color of law. The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, FBI Assistant Director in Charge David Sundberg of the Washington Field Office, and Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Corrections officers, like any other member of law enforcement, are sworn to protect the people in their custody,” said U.S. Attorney Graves. “Officer Bias violated this oath and the Constitution when he pushed the head of a handcuffed inmate in his care into a metal doorframe, causing substantial injuries to the inmate. Such abuses of power will not be tolerated and this Office, along with our federal partners, will investigate and charge any member of law enforcement who deprives a citizen of their civil rights.” “When corrections officers carry out acts of violence against those who are entrusted to their care, they will be held accountable,” said Assistant Attorney General Clarke. “The Justice Department will continue to prosecute those who abuse their authority, while standing up for the civil rights of the victims of these crimes.” “One of the FBI’s core missions is to protect the civil rights of every person within the United States,” said Assistant Director in Charge Sundberg. “Law enforcement officers are given authority and responsibility, but if they abuse that power, they will be held accountable for those actions. Today’s plea is an example of the FBI and our partners at the D.C. Department of Corrections working together to ensure that no one is above the law and that justice is served.” According to court documents, Bias pushed a handcuffed detainee’s head into a metal doorframe while escorting him within the Department of Corrections on June 12, 2019, resulting in injury to the detainee, J.W. Specifically, intentionally and without provocation, Bias, who was holding J.W., pushed J.W.’s head into the doorframe while J.W. was handcuffed behind his back, suffering from the effects of O.C. spray, surrounded by five other officers and compliant with transport. J.W. sustained significant injuries, which required outside emergency medical attention. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 28, 2024. Bias faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case. Trial Attorney Anna Gotfryd of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section, Rebekah J. Bailey, formerly a Trial Attorney with the Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Truscott for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case.


title: St. Albans Man Charged with Aggravated Identity Theft and Fraud

component: USAO - Vermont

body_text: Burlington, Vermont – The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced that on March 14, 2024, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Jonathan Whalley, 50, of St. Albans, Vermont, with aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, mail fraud, and bank fraud. Whalley entered a plea of not guilty to the charges during an arraignment on March 20, 2024 before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin J. Doyle. Judge Doyle ordered that Whalley be detained during the pendency of this matter. According to court records, a Burlington resident reported the theft of several of his identity documents from his vehicle in Burlington in March 2022. In April and May 2022, Whalley used that individual’s identifying information and identity documents to purchase six vehicles in the State of Georgia, finance and insure those vehicles, obtain Vermont vehicle registrations, open a bank account, and create a Gmail account to facilitate the fraud scheme. The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that an indictment contains allegations only and that Whalley is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. If convicted, Whalley faces a mandatory term of 2 years in prison on the aggravated identity theft charge, up to 20 years in prison on the wire and mail fraud charges, and up to 30 years in prison on the bank fraud charge. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors. United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the investigatory efforts of the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles’ Enforcement and Safety Division (Investigative Section) and Homeland Security Investigations. The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Corinne Smith. Whalley is represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender.


title: Washington man indicted on cyberstalking, child pornography charges

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal grand jury in Alaska returned an indictment charging a Washington man with cyberstalking victims and distributing child sexual abuse materials. The defendant, Kaden Ollila, 20, of Tacoma, Washington, was arrested on March 21, 2024. According to court documents, on Jan. 19, 2024, the defendant allegedly distributed child pornography. On Jan. 24 and 25, 2024, Ollila allegedly used a social media platform to send messages to a victim describing his desire to sexually assault her. On Feb. 4 and 5, 2024, Ollila also allegedly used a different social media platform to send a victim unsolicited sexual images of himself and unsolicited images depicting child sexual abuse. Ollila is charged with one count of sexual exploitation of a child – distribution of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§2252A(a)(2)(A) and (b)(1), and two counts of cyberstalking in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§2261A(2)B and 2261(b)5. The defendant made his initial court appearance on March 22 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. His appearance before the U.S. District Court in Alaska will be scheduled at a later date. If convicted, he faces a sentence of 5 to 20 years for distribution of child pornography, and up to 5 years on each count of cyberstalking. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker of the District of Alaska and Special Agent in Charge Robert Hammer, who oversees Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in the Pacific Northwest Region, made the announcement. HSI, with assistance from the Alaska State Troopers, Nisqually Police Department, Nisqually Tribal Gaming Agency and Washington State Gaming Agency, is investigating the case. If anyone has information concerning Ollila’s alleged actions or may have encountered someone in person or online using the name Kaden Ollila, please contact the HSI tip line at 866-347-2423. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Will Taylor and Bill Reed are prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###


title: Laboratory Owner Pleads Guilty to $30M Medicare Fraud Scheme

body_text: A Florida man pleaded guilty today to his role in a scheme to defraud Medicare by billing for over-the-counter COVID-19 test kits and genetic tests that were ineligible for reimbursement and procured by paying illegal kickbacks and bribes. According to court documents, Robert M. Clark, 29, of Pompano Beach, was the figurehead owner of Clear Choice Diagnostics Inc. (Clear Choice). Clark and his co-conspirators, including the true owner of Clear Choice, purchased Medicare Beneficiary Identification numbers without lawful authority and then used those numbers to bill Medicare for over-the-counter COVID-19 test kits. Clark and his co-conspirators also paid illegal kickbacks and bribes to marketers in exchange for referrals of Medicare beneficiaries for genetic tests. In total, Clark and his co-conspirators caused Clear Choice to submit approximately $30 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare for these tests, of which Medicare paid approximately $15 million. Clark pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States, to pay illegal health care kickbacks, and to purchase Medicare Beneficiary Identification numbers without lawful authority. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 20 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Assistant Director Michael D. Nordwall of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; and Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement. The FBI and HHS-OIG are investigating the case. Trial Attorney S. Babu Kaza of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


title: Five Arrested in South Texas for Allegedly Trafficking Military Grade Firearms to Mexican Drug Cartel

body_text: Five individuals were arrested in Laredo, Hebbronville, and Falls City, Texas, last week for allegedly trafficking military grade firearms to a drug cartel in Mexico. According to court documents, Gerardo Rafael Perez Jr., also known as Jerry, 23, of Laredo, allegedly coordinated the acquisition of more than 100 firearms throughout Texas to be smuggled across the international border and delivered to a drug trafficking cartel in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Perez’s organization allegedly used straw purchasers, including co-defendants Francisco Alejandro Benavides, also known as Frankie, 23, and Mark Anthony Trevino Jr., 24, to procure the firearms from a variety of sources in the Western, Southern, and Northern Districts of Texas. Court documents allege that the organization would acquire guns from unlicensed dealers of firearms, or from federal firearm licensees, where straw purchasers would make false representations to secure the firearms. “Stopping the trafficking of high-caliber and military grade firearms to Mexico is a top priority for the Justice Department — and especially the ATF and HSI agents and Department prosecutors that lead Operation Southbound,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “Working with our Mexican partners, we will disrupt and dismantle the drug cartels responsible for so much destruction in both nations, and as demonstrated by these charges, we will bring to justice the alleged firearms traffickers who would arm those cartels.” “Preventing firearms from getting into the black market is one of ATF’s top priorities,” said Director Steven Dettelbach of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “When guns are diverted to unlawful markets in Mexico, they are often going to arm dangerous drug cartels. ATF will continue to work with all our partners, like those at HSI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, to bring important cases like this and hold gun traffickers accountable.” “The successful outcome of these arrests is a direct result of the steadfast efforts of HSI and our federal partner to prevent firearms from falling into the hands of transnational criminal organizations that pose a threat to public safety both here and abroad,” said Executive Associate Director Katrina W. Berger of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “These arrests send a strong message to weapons traffickers that law enforcement will work aggressively with our federal law enforcement partners to combat this egregious and dangerous criminal activity.” Luis Matias Leal also known as Wicho, Poncho, and El Tio, 30, allegedly provided cash and instructions to facilitate the conspiracy, while Antonio Osiel Casarez, 26, would smuggle the firearms into Mexico and return to the United States with bulk cash. The high-powered firearms allegedly acquired by Perez’s organization included FNH SCAR rifles, Barrett .50 caliber rifles, FNH M294S rifles, and M1919 rifles. Perez, Casarez, Leal, Benavides, and Trevino were all named in a superseding indictment filed March 6. They were arrested March 20. The five new defendants are all charged with one count of conspiracy to traffic firearms, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to straw purchase firearms, which carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. Perez, Casarez, Leal, and Benavides are further charged with one count of conspiracy to smuggle goods from the United States, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Perez faces two additional firearms trafficking charges. Leal, Benavides, and Trevino are also charged with falsifying information when buying a firearm, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison; and an additional count of straw purchasing. All of the charges also carry a fine up to $250,000. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Co-defendants Jose Emigdio Q. Mendoza, Gerardo Antonio Ibarra Jr., and Gerardo Corona Jr. were initially named in an earlier indictment. Mendoza was allegedly engaged in the business of dealing firearms without a license, selling military-grade weapons to members of the Perez conspiracy. Ibarra and Corona were allegedly straw purchasers for the organization. Several of the defendants are alleged to have contacted Mendoza to purchase the firearms, including SCAR rifles, Barrett .50 caliber rifles, and M249 rifles. Mendoza is alleged to have sold at least 22 such firearms to his co-conspirators from December 2022 to March 2023 and received approximately $169,900.00, at a markup from the retail price of the guns so he could derive a profit for himself. Mendoza was arrested in San Antonio on March 11, 2023. Ibarra and Corona were arrested in September and October 2023, respectively. Deputy Attorney General Monaco, ATF Director Dettelbach, HSI Executive Director Berger, and U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas made the announcement. ATF and HSI are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney William Calve for the Western District of Texas is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Recidivist offender sentenced for firearm possession

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A Richmond man was sentenced today to four years and nine months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. According to court documents, on March 22, 2023, Richmond Police Department (RPD) detectives were patrolling an apartment complex in the 3400 block of Walmsley Boulevard following a recent homicide in the area. They observed Brandon Stephon Brown, 31, approach and quickly enter a breezeway. Brown reached into his pants and detectives saw a black handgun fall between Brown’s legs. The detectives detained Brown and recovered the 9mm handgun, which was loaded with a magazine containing 17 rounds, with an additional round in the chamber. The handgun was later determined to have been reported stolen. At the time, Brown had four previous felony convictions, including robbery involving a firearm in 2012, two convictions in 2016 for possession of controlled substances, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in 2017. As a previously convicted felon, Brown cannot legally possess firearms or ammunition. Brown was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 20, 2023, and convicted at a bench trial by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney, Jr, on Nov. 15, 2023. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; and Rick Edwards, Chief of Richmond Police, made the announcement after sentencing by Judge Gibney. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen Hubbard, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen E. Anthony prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:23-cr-94.