title: Members of Drug Trafficking Conspiracy in the Natchitoches, Louisiana Area Receive Federal Prison Sentences Totaling over 109 Years

component: USAO - Louisiana, Western

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, La. – Seven members of a drug trafficking conspiracy in the Natchitoches, Louisiana area have all been sentenced, announced United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. United States District Judge Dee D. Drell sentenced all of the defendants for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. The last remaining one was sentenced on December 22, 2023. The names of those defendants and their sentences are as follows: James Christopher Weeks, 51, of Montgomery, Louisiana, was sentenced to 360 months (20 years) in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. Weeks pleaded guilty to the charge on October 14, 2022. Savannah Maria Weeks, 31, of Arcadia, Louisiana, was sentenced to 78 months (6 years, 6 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release. S. Weeks pleaded guilty to the charge on June 29, 2022. Eric Joseph Sandifer , 36, of Pineville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 120 months (10 years) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release. Sandifer pleaded guilty to the charge on November 29, 2022. Ashley Danielle Dowden , 39, of Natchitoches, Louisiana, was sentenced to 96 months (8 years) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release. Dowden pleaded guilty to the charge on August 3, 2022. Candiace Shree Bronson , 39, of Alexandria, Louisiana, was sentenced to 78 months (6 years, 6 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release. Bronson pleaded guilty to the charge on September 26, 2022. Louis Vernon Jackson , 39, of Natchitoches, was sentenced to 360 months (30 years) in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. Jackson was the only defendant who went to trial and was convicted of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, felon in possession of firearms and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, by a jury in April 2023. Adam James Johnson , 41, of Natchitoches, was sentenced to 235 months (19 years, 7 months) in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release. Johnson pleaded guilty to the charge on March 16, 2023. In early March 2020, agents with the Natchitoches Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force (“NMJDTF”) received information regarding a group of individuals selling large amounts of methamphetamine in the Natchitoches area. Law enforcement agents began an investigation into these illegal drug trafficking activities and learned that James Weeks, his daughter, Savannah Weeks, Adam Johnson, Louis Jackson, and Eric Sandifer, were major methamphetamine distributors in northwest Louisiana. Dowden and Bronson were working closely with them in this drug trafficking organization. Through their investigation, agents conducted surveillance of these defendants on numerous occasions and in both Natchitoches and Alexandria, Louisiana. They were also able to obtain information from other sources as to the drug trafficking activities of these defendants. Through their investigation, agents learned that J. Weeks, who was serving a 192-month imprisonment sentence in the Yazoo City Medium federal prison facility on a Western District of Louisiana drug conspiracy conviction, was conducting drug trafficking operations from the federal prison facility. J. Weeks was communicating through Facebook Messenger with S. Weeks, Johnson, and other co-conspirators about methamphetamine trafficking. On March 26, 2020, a K9 utilized by HSI-Riverside, California, alerted on a package at the San Bernardino, California, shipping facility destined to J. Weeks’ mother and daughter, S. Weeks, in Arcadia, Louisiana. A state search warrant was obtained, and six pounds of methamphetamine were recovered. J. Weeks admitted to agents that he had met a methamphetamine source of supply through another inmate in prison and that he was involved in the package being sent to his mother’s residence. J. Weeks introduced these sources to Johnson, who purchased the methamphetamine from them on several occasions. In March 2020, agents conducted surveillance on Johnson’s home in Natchitoches and observed Dowden arrive and enter the residence. Shortly thereafter, both Dowden and Johnson left in separate vehicles. They were subsequently stopped for a traffic violation and agents recovered suspected drugs in Dowden’s possession. A search warrant was also later executed at Johnson’s residence which resulted in the discovery of approximately 3,720 grams of methamphetamine in the attic of Johnson’s home. Dowden hid two large bags containing the suspected methamphetamine in the attic at the direction of Johnson and also took trips to Dallas with him to retrieve the methamphetamine in exchange for large amounts of cash. A chemical analysis conducted by the North Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory determined the substance was in fact methamphetamine, having a total net weight of 3,716.7 grams and ranging between 89.4 and 98.4% purity level. On March 3, 2020, while on supervised probation by Louisiana State Probation and Parole, Sandifer was arrested on a drug charge out of Oklahoma. Officers responded to his residence and found Sandifer who advised that there was methamphetamine in the vehicle in his yard and he admitted that he had been using the vehicle for several weeks. A search warrant was obtained and executed, and officers seized approximately 127 grams of actual methamphetamine, a digital scale, and baggies from inside the vehicle. Sandifer also had messages on his cell phone in which he was communicating with Johnson regarding methamphetamine trafficking in Natchitoches. During their investigation, agents conducted surveillance at the Motel 6 in Natchitoches and the Best Western in Alexandria. On April 16, 2020, they observed Jackson pull into the parking lot of the Motel 6 and then depart the property. Agents obtained search warrants on those rooms which yielded 34 Tramadol pills, a Marlin rifle; model: 336CS; caliber: 30-30, a SCCY pistol; model: CPX-1, and several pieces of paperwork with Bronson’s name. On May 13, 2020, agents observed S. Weeks and a male arrive at the Best Western hotel and enter a room. S. Weeks departed and was subsequently pulled over in a traffic stop. Agents seized approximately 132 grams of actual methamphetamine from her, and it was confirmed to be actual methamphetamine. A search warrant was obtained and executed on the Best Western hotel room, where Bronson and Jackson were present. Agents seized approximately 498 grams of methamphetamine, $11,300 in U.S. currency, and a purse belonging to Bronson. Bronson and Jackson were subsequently arrested. A chemical analysis was conducted on the suspected narcotics by the North Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory and determined the substances seized from S. Weeks and the Best Western hotel room were in fact methamphetamine, having a net weight of 132.7 grams with 89.9% purity and 498.2 grams with 92.7% purity level, respectively. “The successful investigation by the local and federal law enforcement agents in this case has resulted in over 20 pounds of methamphetamine being taken off the streets of northwest Louisiana,” stated U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “These types of investigations take a lot of hard work and man hours to develop, and our communities are much safer after getting these bad actors off the streets. I commend the efforts of these local and federal partners and we will continue to prosecute those who choose to traffic drugs in our district.” “This investigation, and its subsequent successful prosecutions, were the result of a complete law enforcement team effort,” stated Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright. “The Natchitoches Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force invested significant resources over the past three years and joined with other sheriff’s offices and federal law enforcement partners to take action and remove over 600 grams of methamphetamine from our community. And seven narcotics distributors are now in prison as a result of their dangerous criminal activity." “We appreciate the diligent and ongoing effort of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in prosecuting these cases in federal court,” stated Natchitoches Parish District Attorney Billy Jo Harrington. “Some of the defendants, including Johnson, are also facing charges in Natchitoches Parish. I also commend our local law enforcement agencies for their hard work and effort in removing illegal narcotics from our parish." This case was investigated by the Natchitoches Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force (NMJDTF), Department of Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, ATF, Natchitoches City Police, and Rapides Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) Unit, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Cytheria D. Jernigan and Brian C. Flanagan and United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown. # # #


title: Eastern District of Pennsylvania Reaches Agreement with Temple University Health System to Provide Greater Education and Equal Access

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced today that Temple University Health System, Inc. (“Temple Health”) has reached an agreement with the United States to improve employee training and awareness of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), to resolve allegations that Temple Universal Hospital – Episcopal Campus (“Episcopal Hospital”) violated the ADA by denying full and equal access to Episcopal Hospital’s Emergency Department (“ED”) based on an individual’s disability and use of a service animal. Under the ADA, all hospitals, as places of public accommodation, must provide emergency services to members of the general public. This resolution arises out of an investigation into whether Episcopal Hospital denied an individual with a service animal access to its ED, which is in violation of the ADA. “All individuals, including individuals with disabilities who require the use of service animals, should have equal access to all hospital services, especially vital emergency services.” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “Episcopal Hospital cooperated with the investigation and has recognized the importance of raising awareness of the ADA and service animals.” To resolve the matter, Episcopal Hospital has agreed to make improvements to both the timing and frequency of employee training related to the ADA and service animals. Specifically, it will require all newly hired staff and security contractors to review its service animal policy, and complete ADA training, within the first week of employment with Episcopal Hospital and on an annual basis thereafter. Episcopal Hospital has further agreed to post a quick-reference reminder about the ADA and service animals at the entrance of the ED. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania is committed to investigating alleged violations of the ADA. Those interested in learning more about obligations under the ADA may access www.ada.gov or call the Department of Justice’s toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TDD). Information about filing a complaint, including instructions for filing a complaint online, can be found at https://www.justice.gov/crt/how-file-complaint. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mansi G. Shah and Deborah W. Frey handled the matter.


title: New Haven Man Admits Committing Multiple Gunpoint Robberies in 2022

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CHRISTIAN BORRERO, 20, of New Haven, pleaded guilty today in New Haven federal court to offenses stemming from his gunpoint robberies of Connecticut convenience stores and an armed carjacking last summer. According to court documents and statements made in court, ATF and the New Haven Police Department investigated a series of gunpoint robberies and a carjacking that occurred in late June and early July 2022. The investigation revealed that Borrero committed an armed robbery of a Citgo Gas Station located at 957 Foxon Road in East Haven on June 29, 2022; an armed carjacking followed by an armed robbery of a 7-Eleven Convenience Store located at 1089 Campbell Avenue in West Haven on July 3, 2022; and an armed robbery on an Xpress Mart Gas Station located at 180 Wakelee Avenue in Ansonia on July 7, 2022. In addition, on July 6, 2022, Borrero and his associate, Robert Smith, committed an armed robbery of a Shell Gas Station located at 195 State Street in North Haven. Borrero pleaded guilty to two counts of carrying, using, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, an offense that mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment of at least seven years, on each count. A sentencing date is not scheduled. On September 28, 2023, Smith, of New Haven, pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting Hobbs Act robbery and one count of aiding and abetting the carrying, using, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. He also awaits sentencing. Borrero has been detained since July 13, 2022, and Smith has been detained since January 3, 2023. This matter has been investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) with the assistance of the New Haven, East Haven, West Haven, Ansonia, and North Haven Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel J. Gentile. U.S. Attorney Avery thanked the State’s Attorneys for the Judicial Districts of New Haven and Ansonia/Milford for their cooperation in investigating and prosecuting this matter. The prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.


title: Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against the State of Texas Regarding Unconstitutional SB 4 Immigration Law

component: Civil Division

body_text: The Justice Department today filed suit against the State of Texas to challenge Senate Bill 4 (SB 4) under the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause and Foreign Commerce Clause. The Constitution assigns the federal government the authority to regulate immigration and manage our international borders. Pursuant to this authority, Congress has established a comprehensive framework governing the entry of noncitizens into the United States and the removal of noncitizens from the country. Because SB 4 is preempted by federal law and violates the U.S. Constitution, the Justice Department seeks a declaration that SB 4 is invalid and an order preliminarily and permanently enjoining the state from enforcing the law. “SB 4 is clearly unconstitutional,” said Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta. “Under the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution and longstanding Supreme Court precedent, states cannot adopt immigration laws that interfere with the framework enacted by Congress. The Justice Department will continue to fulfill its responsibility to uphold the Constitution and enforce federal law.” “Texas cannot disregard the United States Constitution and settled Supreme Court precedent,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department's Civil Division. “We have brought this action to ensure that Texas adheres to the framework adopted by Congress and the Constitution for regulation of immigration.” As outlined in the complaint, Texas’s law would create two new state crimes that attempt to regulate immigration, with charges ranging from a misdemeanor to a felony. Additionally, SB 4 would give state judges the ability to order removal from the United States. The Supreme Court, in Arizona v. United States , has previously confirmed that decisions relating to removal of noncitizens from the United States touch “on foreign relations and must be made with one voice.” SB 4 impedes the federal government’s ability to enforce entry and removal provisions of federal law and interferes with its conduct of foreign relations. The suit was filed on behalf of the United States, including the Justice Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of State. Complaint


title: Colchester Man Who Defrauded Technology Company Sentenced

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MYRON WARE, 49, of Colchester, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in New Haven to three years of probation for defrauding a computer technology company. According to court documents and statements made in court, between 2017 and 2020, Ware identified companies and organizations that previously had purchased computer parts and components from a Texas-based computer technology company. On approximately 30 occasions, Ware contacted the victim company and falsely represented himself to be speaking on behalf of a customer he had identified. Ware typically reported that a previously delivered part or component was not functional and requested a replacement. After the victim company shipped a replacement item to an address Ware had provided, and which was in the vicinity of the customer he was posing as, he traveled to the address to receive delivery of the package. Ware sold most of the parts and components he received to others and kept some for his own use. Ware stole tens of thousands of dollars in products from the victim company through this scheme. Judge Bolden ordered Ware to pay restitution of $77,068.40. On March 9, 2023, Ware pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud. This investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Secret Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine E. Boyles.


title: Jacksonville Man Pleads Guilty To Smuggling Firearms And Conspiring To Commit Murder-For-Hire

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Antonio Jose Melean Reyes (29, Jacksonville) today pleaded guilty to smuggling firearms from the United States and conspiracy to use a facility of interstate commerce in the commission of a murder-for-hire. Reyes faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison for each offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to his plea agreement, on May 15, 2021, Reyes attempted to smuggle 3 firearms and 57 rounds of ammunition from Jacksonville to Venezuela. Reyes concealed the firearms and ammunition in a futon that he attempted to mail using a freight forwarding service. Employees from the freight service observed the firearms during a routine x-ray of the parcel carrying the futon and contacted law enforcement. On May 22, 2021, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents seized the 3 firearms, which included a Glock 17 pistol and 2 Smith and Wesson M&P 15 rifles. The Glock pistol and one of the Smith and Wesson rifles had obliterated serial numbers. Forensic technicians at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) restored the obliterated serial numbers, which allowed ATF agents to trace the firearms to a subject in Jacksonville. The shipping documents also included Reyes’s phone number and address. Following Reyes’s arrest on unrelated state charges on August 11, 2023, federal agents from ATF, HSI, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) searched Reyes’s cellphone and found conversations between Reyes and another individual discussing trafficking firearms to Venezuela. From Reyes’s phone, agents also learned Reyes and others were involved in a murder-for-hire plot. Between July 12 and August 9, 2023, Reyes and others surveilled two intended victims to murder them based on a $60,000 debt. Reyes and others followed the two victims to various locations around Jacksonville, including outside their home. Reyes attempted to hire a hitman for $15,000, but federal agents prevented any murder from occurring by arresting Reyes on a criminal complaint. This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Aakash Singh. 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: Baltimore BGF Gang Member Pleads Guilty to a Federal Racketeering Conspiracy Charge, Including Murder

component: Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces

body_text: Baltimore, Maryland – Wayne Prince, a/k/a “Taz,” age 24, of Baltimore pleaded guilty today to conspiring to participate in a violent racketeering enterprise known as the Black Guerilla Family (“BGF”) gang. The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Baltimore Field Division; Acting Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; Commissioner Richard Worley of the Baltimore Police Department; and Chief Robert McCullough of the Baltimore County Police Department. According to his plea agreement and other court documents, beginning in 2018 Prince was a member and associate of the BGF, also known as “Jamaa,” and participated in the BGF criminal enterprise, including a murder, a drug distribution conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute drugs and robbery. BGF is a nationwide gang which began operating in prisons and is now involved in criminal activity, including murder, murder-for-hire, robbery, extortion, drug trafficking, obstruction of justice and witness intimidation, in cities throughout the United States, including Baltimore and throughout Maryland. As detailed in his plea agreement, on August 7, 2018, Prince and two co-conspirators attempted to murder an individual at a home that the target owned and was having renovated. A construction crew was on site at the time. During the assault, Prince and a co-conspirator shot and killed one of the construction workers using a .40 caliber handgun. They also shot a second construction worker in the head, but that person survived the attack. Later that day, Prince bragged to an associate during a recorded jail call, “I’m about to get some money soon,” referring to an expected payment from Co-Conspirator 2 for Prince’s role in the attempted murder of the target. From August 7 to August 9, 2018, Prince exchanged messages with a now-deceased member of Co-Conspirator 2’s inner circle, in which Prince made arrangements to collect payment from Co-Conspirator 2 for his role in the attempted murder of the target. Prince and the government have agreed that, if the Court accepts the plea, Prince will be sentenced to between 20 and 29 years in federal prison. Chief U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar has scheduled sentencing for March 26, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin . This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case is also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. United States Attorney Erek L. Barron commended the ATF, the FBI, the Baltimore City Police Department, and the Baltimore County Police Department for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter J. Martinez, Patricia C. McLane, and Ari D. Evans, who are prosecuting the case. For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-neighborhoods-psnexile and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach . # # #


title: New Orleans Woman Pleads Guilty to Possessing Four Cars Stolen from Norfolk Southern Railyard

component: USAO - Louisiana, Eastern

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – DARIAL MAYE , age 25, a resident of New Orleans, pleaded guilty on January 2, 2024 before U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey to four counts of possessing goods stolen from an interstate shipment, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 659. According to court documents, MAYE participated in vehicle thefts from the Norfolk Southern Automotive Distribution Facility on two separate occasions in March of 2023. During those thefts, MAYE and others stole a 2023 Ford Explorer King Ranch, a 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor Crew Cab 4x4, a 2023 Ford F-150, and a 2023 Ford Bronco Sport Outer Banks from the Facility. The cars were moving as part of interstate shipments of freight and destined for Ford dealerships in Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi when MAYE and her accomplices stole them. During the following week, MAYE was captured on surveillance video driving or riding as a passenger in all four vehicles. As to each count of possessing the stolen cars, MAYE faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years, up to a $250,000 fine, up to three years of supervised release and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the Louisiana State Police, and the New Orleans Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David Berman of the Violent Crime Unit.


title: Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – A Philadelphia man was sentenced today to 216 months in prison for trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl in southern New Jersey and Philadelphia, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Glenn Long, 29, of Philadelphia, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Noel L. Hillman in Camden federal court to one count of a superseding indictment charging him with conspiring to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Long conspired with other individuals who acted as “runners” or “couriers” for a drug-trafficking organization that distributed methamphetamine and fentanyl. Drug customers would call Long to place orders for drugs, and the runners would deliver the drugs. Long admitted that on a date on which law enforcement agents executed search and arrest warrants in connection with the investigation into his conduct, Long’s conspirators possessed more than 2,700 grams of methamphetamine and 400 grams of fentanyl for the conspiracy. Long participated in this conspiracy while he was a fugitive on a federal drug trafficking indictment in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, to which he has since pleaded guilty. In addition to the prison term, Judge Hillman sentenced Long to five years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration, Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. He also thanked the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; Drug Enforcement Administration, Philadelphia Division; U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Marshals Service; FBI; Bensalem Police Department; Berlin Borough Police Department; Berlin Township Police Department; Bucks County District Attorney’s Office; Camden County Prosecutor’s Office; Clayton Police Department; Delaware County District Attorney’s Office Narcotics Task Force; Deptford Township Police Department; Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office; Gloucester Township Police Department; New Jersey State Police; New Jersey National Guard Counter Drug Task Force; Pennsylvania State Police; Pennsville Police Department; and Winslow Township Police Department for their assistance. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Bender of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden.


title: Charlotte Man Is Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison For COVID-19 Fraud, Drug Distribution, And Illegal Firearms Possession

component: USAO - North Carolina, Western

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Donte O’Neill Clements, 35, of Charlotte, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay $993,081 in victim restitution for participating in a COVID-19 fraud scheme, drug distribution, and illegal gun possession, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Jason Byrnes, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Charlotte Field Office, Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in North Carolina and South Carolina, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement. According to filed court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, from June 2020 to September 2021, Clements conspired with Kaila Leaann Shanteau-Jackson to defraud the U.S. Department of Labor and the State of Arizona, by fraudulently receiving and cashing COVID-19 unemployment insurance (UI) payments diverted to Clements by Jackson. During the relevant time period, Jackson was employed as a vendor-contractor and held the position of Pre-Paid Claims Initiation Agent for a financial institution that serviced the UI benefit program in Arizona. As part of her employment, Jackson had access to the financial institution’s Pre-Paid Administration System (PAS) and was responsible for mailing UI benefits to qualified recipients in the form of pre-paid debit cards. According to court documents, Jackson used her employment credentials to divert and re-route UI benefits payments intended for 138 victims to Clements, herself, and others. To effectuate the scheme, Jackson changed in the PAS database the rightful recipients’ address information to addresses in Charlotte to which Clements and others had access. Once Clements and others received the re-routed pre-paid debit cards, they either withdrew the benefits in cash from ATMs or conducted retail purchases with the stolen funds. During the scheme, Clements and Jackson diverted approximately $993,000 in UI benefits to themselves. In August 2022, Clements pleaded guilty to wire fraud for the COVID-19 fraud scheme. In addition, Clements pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, stemming from criminal charges brought against him under a separate indictment filed in the Western District of North Carolina. Clements remains in federal custody. He will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. In July 2022, Jackson pleaded guilty to wire fraud for her role in the COVID-19 scheme and is awaiting sentencing. The U.S. Secret Service, HSI, and CMPD investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Warren of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is in charge of the prosecution. Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Illinois Man Pleads Guilty to Failure to Register as a Sex Offender in Mississippi

component: USAO - Mississippi, Southern

body_text: Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Peoria, Illinois man pled guilty to failure to register as a sex offender in Mississippi. According to court documents, Shontia Berry, 47, was convicted in 2009 of a sex offense that required him to register as a sex offender for life in any jurisdiction in which he resides, works, or attends school. The Mississippi Sex Offender’s registry showed Berry registering in Mississippi in July of 2022. Berry then relocated to Alabama and registered there, but then moved back to Lamar County, Mississippi and did not register or update his Mississippi Registration as required by law. The United States Marshal Services located Berry in February, 2023, in the Hattiesburg, Mississippi area. An investigation revealed that Berry had been working and residing in Mississippi since July 29, 2022. Berry will be sentenced on April 9, 2024, and faces up to 10 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine Berry’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. United States Attorney Todd W. Gee and United States Marshal Mark Shepherd made the announcement. The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda R. Haynes is prosecuting the case.


title: Two Sentenced For Distributing Fentanyl Resulting In Death

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Patrick Tylicki, 32, of Matthews, North Carolina, and his co-conspirator, Gregory Alan Kirk, 28, of Charlotte, were sentenced today for their role in distributing fentanyl that resulted in a victim’s death, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Tylicki was sentenced to 144 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release. Kirk was sentenced to 235 months in prison followed by six years of supervised release. “Fentanyl kills,” said U.S. Attorney King. “It’s a lethal drug that devastates our communities and shatters families affected by accidental drug poisonings and fatal overdoses. Fentanyl dealers like Tylicky and Kirk will be brought to justice and held accountable for their role in bringing this deadly substance into our communities.” “Dangerous drugs continue to flow into our communities at the expense of too many lives. This successful operation has ensured these drug traffickers have been taken off our streets, ultimately making the communities safer for everyone,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which oversees the Charlotte District Office. “Nothing will bring back the victim nor ease the unnecessary pain the family was subjected to from losing a loved one. However, I hope knowing these drug traffickers are off the streets helps the family with grieving and aiding in closure,” said Chief Joseph A. Hatley of the Mint Hill Police Department. “It is sad to see the impact that this terrible drug has had across our nation. With the known devastation that the illegal use of fentanyl brings, it makes it that much harder to see that some are so willing to take part in profiting from it with no concern whatsoever for life,” said Interim Chief Roy Sisk of the Matthews Police Department. “We are grateful for the strong alliance with the United States Attorney’s Office and their commitment to helping protect the citizens of our community. We also want to thank the DEA for their continued partnership in investigating these types of crimes in our area. We hope that this collaborative effort of holding Tylicki and Kirk accountable for their crimes serves as a compelling deterrent for all others.” According to filed court documents and court proceedings, on January 26, 2021, Tylicki sold fentanyl supplied by Kirk to an individual who later died from a drug overdose. Over the course of the investigation into the victim’s overdose death, law enforcement recovered text messages between the victim and Tylicki arranging the drug transaction. Court documents further show that law enforcement officers working undercover conducted multiple controlled fentanyl purchases from Tylicki and determined that Tylicki continued to sell fentanyl knowing that the victim had died due to a drug overdose from the fentanyl supplied by Kirk. According to court records, during a conversation with an undercover officer, Tylicki told the officer that the drugs came from Kirk, that the drugs were “strong,” that customers should be warned about their potency, and that people will “drop dead” if they don’t heed that warning. Court documents further show that in addition to being Tylicki’s drug supplier, Kirk was present or nearby during Tylicki’s controlled fentanyl sales to undercover officers. As part of the investigation, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Kirk’s residence, where they recovered nearly a kilogram of fentanyl, which is approximately 10,000 usage units, 13 pounds of marijuana, digital scales, a pill press, a kilogram press used for preparing cocaine for large-scale distribution, and more than $4,800 in cash. In August 2022, Tylicki pleaded guilty to fentanyl trafficking conspiracy resulting in death, distribution of fentanyl resulting in death, and distribution of fentanyl. In September 2022, Kirk pleaded guilty to fentanyl trafficking conspiracy, distribution of fentanyl and aiding and abetting, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to court records, at the time Kirk was engaged in the distribution of fentanyl, he had three prior felony drug trafficking convictions. As a result, Kirk’s sentence was enhanced due to his classification as a “career offender” under the United States Sentencing Guidelines. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King commended the DEA, the Mint Hill Police Department, and the Matthews Police Department for their investigation of the case, and thanked the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for assisting with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven R. Kaufman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and remains the deadliest drug threat in the United States. According to the DEA’s One Pill Can Kill public awareness campaign, the agency seized a record of 74.5 million fentanyl pills in 2023. Laboratory testing indicates that seven out of 10 pills seized by the DEA contained a lethal dose of fentanyl. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , in 2022, more than two thirds (68%) of the reported 107,081 drug overdose deaths in the United States involved synthetic opioids and primarily fentanyl. For information and resources related to substance use disorder, please call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or visit the online treatment locator .


title: New Orleans Man Indicted for Drug and Weapons Violations

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that on December 21, 2023, RAKHEEM KENNER , age 20, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was indicted by a federal grand jury in a two-count indictment for drug and weapons violations. In Count 1, KENNER is charged with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). If convicted, KENNER faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, at least 3 years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment of $100.00. In Count 2, KENNER is charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c). If convicted, KENNER faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, with the minimum being at least 5 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to 5 years of supervised release, and a mandatory special assessment of $100.00. This sentence must be imposed consecutively to any other sentence. According to a federal complaint previously filed against KENNER , on November 27, 2023, investigators obtained a signed search warrant for a vehicle involved in a shooting incident. Investigators collected various narcotics and firearms inside the vehicle. It was determined that KENNER was the driver of the vehicle. U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven guilty 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. U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New Orleans Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Inga Petrovich of the Violent Crime Unit of the U.S. Attorney's Office.


title: Second Aryan Brotherhood Prison Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Murder in Aid of Racketeering

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Pat Brady, 53, of Lake Forest, pleaded guilty today to murder in aid of racketeering as part of a long-running investigation into the California Aryan Brotherhood prison gang, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. According to court documents, between 2011 and 2016, Aryan Brotherhood (AB) members and associates engaged in racketeering activity, committing multiple acts involving murder, conspiracies to murder, and drug trafficking crimes. The charges allege that AB members oversaw a significant heroin and methamphetamine trafficking operation from their California prison cells using smuggled cellphones to direct drug trafficking activities, order murders, and oversee other criminal activities inside and outside of the prisons. According to the plea agreement, on July 28, 2018, Brady murdered an inmate at High Desert Prison as part of an AB-related killing. Brady admitted that he committed the murder because the victim falsely claimed to be an AB member and had run up a significant drug debt at his previous prison — both violations of the AB’s expected codes of conduct. Brady willfully, deliberately, and with premeditation, murdered the victim in order to maintain his status within the gang. This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Vallejo Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office, and the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jason Hitt, Ross Pearson, and David Spencer are prosecuting the case. U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller is scheduled to sentence Brady on March 25, 2024. Brady faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison. Four remaining defendants, Ronald Yandell, Billy Sylvester, Danny Troxell, and Jason Corbett are scheduled for trial in February 2024. The charges against them are only allegations; they are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, please visit Justice.gov/OCDETF . brady_-_plea_agreement_-_filed_-_ecf_1781.pdf


title: Fitchburg Man Sentenced to Four Years for Illegal Gun Possession

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

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Calvin Henderson, 46, Fitchburg, Wisconsin was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to four years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a felon. Henderson pleaded guilty to this charge on October 19, 2023. On January 26, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Henderson’s apartment in Fitchburg and recovered three handguns, along with drug packaging. Henderson admitted that one of the handguns was his. He also admitted that he flushed cocaine down the toilet just before law enforcement entered the apartment. Henderson cannot legally possess firearms because he has prior felony convictions for offenses including substantial battery and possessing a firearm as a felon. In selecting a four-year sentence, Judge Conley noted Henderson’s lengthy and violent criminal history beginning when he was 18 years old. When Henderson was 27 years old, he pistol-whipped another person in what Judge Conley described as a horrific beating. Finally, Judge Conley pointed to the danger associated with Henderson’s possessing firearms while dealing drugs. The charge against Henderson was the result of an investigation conducted by the Fitchburg Police Department, Dane County Sheriff’s Office, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Stephan. This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms.


title: Mission Man Sentenced for Domestic Assault by a Habitual Offender

component: USAO - South Dakota

body_text: PIERRE - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Mission, South Dakota, man convicted of Domestic Assault by a Habitual Offender. The sentencing took place on January 3, 2024. John Red Bird, age 41, was sentenced to two years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Red Bird was indicted by a federal grand jury in May of 2023. He pleaded guilty on October 10, 2023. On April 15, 2023, Red Bird got into an argument with his intimate partner at their shared residence in Mission, and he struck her in the face multiple times. A family member called 911 and Red Bird was subsequently arrested by Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services officers. At the time of this incident, Red Bird had six prior convictions in Rosebud Sioux Tribal Court for domestic assaults against the same intimate partner. This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case. Red Bird was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.


title: St. Charles Felon Caught with Ammunition Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp on Wednesday sentenced a convicted felon accused of a 2021 shooting in St. Louis, Missouri to 57 months in prison. After watching video of the shooting and its aftermath and hearing from a St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department detective and a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Judge Schelp said it had been proven that Deantre Brown, 34, had fired into a crowd outside the Reign nightclub on Aug. 18, 2021. Video showed the shooter leaving the scene and returning to a nearby parking garage with what appeared to be a gun. Evidence and testimony showed that the suspect used a key card belonging to the mother of Brown’s then-girlfriend to enter the garage and then leave in Brown’s Dodge Charger. Brown, of St. Charles, pleaded guilty in October to two felony counts of being a felon in possession of ammunition. He admitted in his plea agreement that he was present at the shooting but disputed that he fired a gun. He did admit “both the power and the intention to exercise dominion or control over the ballistic cartridge casings” found at the shooting scene. He also admitted possessing ammunition in his vehicle when he was arrested on Sept. 22, 2021, at his parole officer’s office. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Szczucinski prosecuted the case.


title: Shiprock Man Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for Assault Against a Child

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced that Myron Benally was sentenced to 27 months in prison. Benally, 39, of Shiprock, and a registered member of the Navajo Nation, pled guilty in federal court to assault resulting in serious bodily injury on Aug. 18, 2023. According to court documents, on June 27, 2019, Benally assaulted a 13-month-old infant in his care, causing serious bodily injury including a broken arm. Upon his release from prison, Benally will be subject to 3 years of supervised release. The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance from the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Mark Probasco is prosecuting the case. View the Indictment View the Plea Agreement # # # 24-6


title: Two More Defendants Sentenced to Probation for Wire Fraud and Money Laundering Conspiracy

body_text: NEW ORLEANS – DILLON ARCENEAUX , age 33, a resident of Marrero, Louisiana, and ZEB SARTIN , age 37, a resident of Duson, Louisiana, were sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Jane Triche-Milazzo, after previously pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. ARCENEAUX received 3 years of probation, with the first 12 months to be served in home confinement, a $10,000 fine, and he was ordered to pay $1,604,581 in restitution to the victim. SARTIN received 3 years of probation, with the first 12 months to be served in home confinement, and he was ordered to pay $2,100,690 in restitution to the victim from U.S. District Court Judge Jane Triche-Milazzo. ARCENEAUX and SARTIN were also ordered to pay a mandatory special assessment of fee $100 per count. As according to court documents, ARCENEAUX and SARTIN conspired with RYAN MULLEN, DUANE DUFRENE , GRANT MENARD, and LANCE VALLO to use several shell Louisiana corporations that were devoid of assets, to defraud a Georgia based merchant cash company. MULLEN and DUFRENE helped establish ARCENEAUX , VALLO , MENARD , and SARTIN as the owners of the existing corporations. MULLEN and DUFRENE then created fake vendor accounts for the corporations, and MULLEN , along with another person, created falsified bank records for the corporations. MULLEN then used an alias and represented himself to be a broker for the shell corporations he helped create. Through the aid of another broker, MULLEN supplied the victim merchant cash advance company with the fake vendor accounts and false bank records in order to obtain funding. The victim cash advance company approved the advances and electronically wired ARCENEAUX, VALLO, MENARD , a nd SARTIN millions of dollars in advances. ARCENEAUX, VALLO, MENARD , and SARTIN laundered a some of the funds by paying MULLEN and DUFRENE percentages of the funds. ARCENEAUX, VALLO, MENARD , and SARTIN then closed their non-existent corporations before fully repaying the victim merchant cash advance company, resulting in overall losses of approximately $6.4 million. ARCENEAUX was responsible for approximately $1.6 million in losses to the victim, and SARTIN was responsible for $2.1 million in losses. U.S. Attorney Evans commended the special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS-Criminal Investigation for their handling of the matter. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Edward J. Rivera of the Financial Crimes Unit and Andre J. Lagarde of the Public Integrity Unit.


title: Santa Domingo Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Sexual Abuse

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced today that Santiago Quintana was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Quintana, 70, of Santo Domingo, and a member of the Santo Domingo Pueblo, pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact on Sep. 21, 2023. According to court documents, on Jan. 25, 2023, the Bureau of Indian Affairs received an allegation involving the sexual abuse of children from a school principal. A Forensic Interviewer from the FBI interviewed the victim who stated that she and her sibling had been sexually abused by Quintana for about six years, beginning when they were 6 and 7 years old, and the siblings had both witnessed Quintana sexually abusing the other. In his plea agreement, Quintana admitted to engaging in sexual contact with the victim who was over the age of twelve years but had not yet attained the age of sixteen years. Upon his release from prison, Quintana will be subject to 15 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender. The FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with assistance of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant United States Attorney Robert James Booth II is prosecuting the case. View the Indictment View the Plea Agreement # # # 24-7


title: New Orleans Man Pleads Guilty to Murder, and Drug, Firearm, and Hobbs Act Robbery Conspiracies

body_text: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced today that on December 4, 2023 LARRY ROWEL , a/k/a “Lah, a/k/a “Lah Hood,” pled guilty to murder, as well as to various violations of the Federal Controlled Substances Act, the Federal Gun Control Act, and Hobbs Act robbery. Specifically, ROWEL pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo to Counts 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the superseding bill of information pending against him. Count 1 charged ROWEL with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute, a quantity of cocaine hydrochloride and marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 84l(a)(l), (b)(l )(C), (b)(1)(D), and 846. For this charge, ROWEL faces up to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $1,000,000.00, at least three years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee. Count 2 charged ROWEL with conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(o). For this charge, ROWEL faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee . Count 3 charged ROWEL with causing death through the use of a firearm, stemming from his role in a December 2019 murder, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(j)(1). For this charge, ROWEL faces up to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to five years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee. Count 4 charged ROWEL with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act Robberies, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951. For this charge, ROWEL faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000.00, up to three years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100.00 special assessment fee. According to court documents, in 2019, the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated a group for committing various violent crimes and illegal drug trafficking, primarily in New Orleans East and the Ninth Ward section of New Orleans. Thereafter, ROWEL, and nine others, were indicted, for conspiring to possess firearms, traffic drugs and commit armed robberies of drug dealers. ROWEL’S plea documents reveal he was a drug dealer who possessed firearms, robbed other drug dealers, and participated in a December 2019, murder. 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 Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Orleans Police Department, and the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Maurice Landrieu of the Narcotics Unit and Elizabeth Privitera, Chief of the Violent Crime Unit, are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Armed Felon Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Western

body_text: MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Robert A. Goldsberry, 29, Madison, Wisconsin was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to six years in federal prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm as a felon. Goldsberry pleaded guilty to this charge on October 19, 2023. On November 3, 2022, Dane County Sheriff’s deputies stopped Goldsberry for speeding on Highway 51 in Madison. When deputies approached the car, they smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside and observed Goldsberry—who was the lone occupant—placing his hand on the gear shift multiple times. After deputies asked Goldsberry to step out of the car, he sped away, running multiple red lights and nearly hitting two other vehicles before crashing his car into a traffic signpost. After the crash, Goldsberry jumped out of the car and ran from deputies. He was later arrested and had $3,000 in his pockets. In Goldsberry’s car, deputies recovered a loaded firearm, 54 bags of marijuana, and 156 oxycodone pills. Goldsberry has prior felony convictions for armed robbery, substantial battery, and drug dealing. At sentencing, Judge Conley stated Goldsberry has been in and out of jail and has supported himself by dealing drugs. Further, in selecting a six-year sentence, Judge Conley highlighted the need to hold Goldsberry accountable for his dangerous conduct and squandered opportunities under previous terms of state supervision. This case has been brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the U.S. Justice Department’s program to reduce violent crime. The PSN approach emphasizes coordination between state and federal prosecutors and all levels of law enforcement to address gun crime, especially felons illegally possessing firearms and ammunition and violent and drug crimes that involve the use of firearms. The charge against Goldsberry was the result of an investigation conducted by the Dane County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Reinhard prosecuted this case.


title: Gaston County Methamphetamine Trafficker Is Sentenced To More Than 23 Years In Prison

body_text: CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Today, U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr. sentenced Patrick Andrew Shomo, 42, of Gastonia, N.C., to 286 months in prison for trafficking methamphetamine and for violating the terms of his federal supervised release, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. According to filed documents and today’s sentencing hearing, between December 2021 and February 2022, Shomo was trafficking methamphetamine in and around Gaston County. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement conducted several controlled drug buys of methamphetamine with Shomo. Law enforcement conducting surveillance also observed Shomo engage in drug transactions with other individuals. On December 15, 2021, law enforcement searched the hotel room where Shomo had been staying, from which they recovered digital drug scales, Xanax pills, fentanyl, more than half a kilogram of methamphetamine, and 17 rounds of ammunition. During that time, Shomo was on federal supervised release after serving a term of imprisonment for an armed drug trafficking conviction. On February 15, 2022, law enforcement attempted to arrest Shomo at his residence on a supervised release violation arrest warrant. Shomo refused to comply and instead barricaded himself in the residence with two firearms. After several hours, law enforcement were able to arrest Shomo and recover from the residence the firearms and additional narcotics. On July 26, 2022, Shomo pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and distribution of methamphetamine. He is currently in federal custody and will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility. In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King credited an investigation led by the Western District’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), and thanked the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Gastonia Police Department, the Gaston County Police Department, and the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction’s Division of Community Supervision for their investigative efforts. Assistant United States Attorney Steven R. Kaufman of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf .


title: Iowa Woman Sentenced for Methamphetamine Conspiracy

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Johana Madrid, 29, of Sioux City, Iowa, was sentenced today in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for her involvement in a methamphetamine conspiracy. United States District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Madrid to 150 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After her release from prison, she will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. On August 17, 2022, in Wayne County, Nebraska, a call came in about two suspicious people attempting to get into a resident’s car. Nebraska State Patrol troopers responded and encountered Oscar Villa and Johana Madrid on the side of the road on Nebraska Highway 35 and 849 Road. Both claimed they were on their way to Iowa for drug treatment but couldn’t really explain how they wound up on the side of the road. Madrid admitted to having methamphetamine in her bookbag and a firearm was located on the ground nearby. They also found a large meth shard in the fitted sheet Madrid had originally draped over herself. Villa and Madrid were taken into custody. While in custody, troopers searched Madrid’s phone which showed a map of a field near the intersection where the two were encountered which contained a location pin. Using that map and pin, troopers found a bookbag that was covered by soybean plants. Inside the bookbag was approximately 20 pounds of pure meth. Villa was sentenced on November 29, 2023, to a term of imprisonment of 240 months. This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol.


title: Greenacres Man Arrested for Threatening to Kill a U.S. Congressperson and the Congressperson’s Children

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI – A 72-year-old man from Greenacres, Florida was arrested this morning on a criminal complaint charging him with threatening to kill a U.S. Congressperson and the Congressperson’s children. According to the complaint, on December 19, 2023, Michael Shapiro left five voicemail messages for a U.S. Congressperson at the Congressperson’s congressional office in Washington, D.C. In one of the messages, Shapiro stated that he was going to “come after you and kill you …” In another message, he stated that he was going to “come and kill your children …” Shapiro allegedly placed the threatening calls from his home in Greenacres. The complaint further alleges that Shapiro pleaded guilty in federal court in 2019 for making threatening communications to another victim. Shapiro made his initial appearance this morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce E. Reinhart for the Southern District of Florida. Markenzy Lapointe, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Roger B. Handberg, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, and J. Thomas Manger, Chief of the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP), made the announcement. The USCP is investigating the case, with assistance from USCP’s Tampa Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Dispoto for the Southern District of Florida and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Wheeler for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov , under case number 23-mj-8623. ###


title: Prominent Lobbyist and Political Consultant Agree to Deferred Prosecution for FARA Violations for Undisclosed Work for Foreign Government

body_text: A Virginia lobbyist and a New Jersey political consultant have entered into Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPAs) to resolve the government’s investigation into violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and related offenses. Barry P. Bennett, 60, of Alexandria, Virginia, owned and operated Avenue Strategies Global LLC, a lobbying and consulting firm in Washington, D.C. Douglas Watts, 73, of Jersey City, New Jersey, is a former presidential campaign consultant who founded and ran a public relations company. The charges arise from a scheme to wage a lobbying and public relations campaign designed to benefit one of Avenue Strategies’ clients—the government of a foreign country (Country A)—while concealing the foreign government’s connection to the effort. In 2017, Bennett signed a contract for Avenue Strategies to perform lobbying services for the embassy of Country A. As part of his lobbying strategy on behalf of Country A and for and in the interest of Country A, Bennett covertly operated Company A, a limited liability company founded by Watts at Bennett’s direction. As directed by Bennett and managed by Watts, Company A ran a lobbying and public relations campaign designed to cast one of Country A’s rivals in a negative light for its conduct, and thereby to improve Country A’s standing with the U.S. government and public relative to this rival. Through the DPA, Bennett consented to the filing of a two-count criminal information charging him with a scheme to falsify, conceal, and cover up material facts from the Justice Department’s FARA Unit and with making false statements and material omissions in FARA filings. The information will be dismissed with prejudice after Bennett complies with the DPA’s terms, which include payment of a $100,000 fine, for 18 months. Through the DPA Watts signed, he consented to the filing of a three-count criminal information charging him with acting as an agent of a foreign principal without registering under FARA and with making false statements to the FBI. The information will be dismissed with prejudice after Watts complies with the DPA’s terms, which include payment of a $25,000 fine, for 12 months. Country A paid Bennett’s Avenue Strategies $2.1 million between September 2017 and December 2017 for lobbying services, and approximately 27% of those funds (i.e., approximately $773,000) financed the operations of Company A. In return, Company A conducted a social media campaign, published opinion articles in major newspapers, produced a documentary that was distributed through a national television network, sent direct mailings to American citizens, and lobbied Congress and the former president. Company A took credit for directing 3,000 phone calls to members of the U.S. House of Representatives encouraging them to discontinue U.S. involvement in a coalition of Country A’s rivals. The House of Representatives eventually voted overwhelmingly to “deauthorize” U.S. involvement with the coalition. Neither Watts nor Company A was registered under FARA. FARA was enacted in 1938 to counter propaganda and promote transparency and disclosure. The Department of Justice recently described the purpose of the law to Congress as means of ensuring “that the American public and our lawmakers know the source of information that is provided at the behest of a foreign principal, where that information may be intended to influence U.S. public opinion, policy, and laws.” Bennett’s consulting company, Avenue Strategies, failed to disclose in its FARA filings its creation of Company A. In addition, Avenue Strategies failed to disclose Bennett’s and Avenue Strategies’ affiliation with Company A, Avenue Strategies’ disbursements to Company A, and Watts’ work on behalf of Company A and Country A. These omissions thwarted FARA’s disclosure requirements. During two separate interviews in February 2020, Watts made false and materially misleading statements to the FBI about his knowledge of Company A’s formation, its purpose and activities, and its connection to Country A. If the case had gone to trial, the government would have sought to prove that Bennett engaged in a scheme to falsify, conceal, and cover up material facts from the Department of Justice’s FARA Unit. The government also would have sought to prove that Bennett made false statements and material omissions in filings under FARA. In addition, the government would have sought to prove that Watts acted as an unregistered agent of a foreign principal and made false statements or representations to a department or agency of the United States. The FBI’s Washington Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jolie F. Zimmerman for the District of Columbia and Deputy Chief Evan N. Turgeon of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are handling the case, with valuable assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason McCullough for the District of Columbia. Bennett DPA Watts DPA


title: Two Individuals Charged With Cocaine Offenses

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the unsealing of an indictment charging Santiago Gonzalez-Rodriguez (58, Louisville, KY) and Elier Sanchez-Suasteque (37, Lehigh Acres) with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute, and possession with the intent to distribute, 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. If convicted on all counts, each faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. The indictment also notifies the individuals that the United States intends to forfeit any assets, which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense. According to the indictment, between September 23 and October 2, 2023, Gonzalez-Rodriguez and Sanchez-Suasteque conspired to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine. On October 2, 2023, they knowingly possessed over 5 kilograms of cocaine in Tampa. An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida Highway Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Tampa Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Maria Guzman and Brooke Padgett.


title: United States Settles Suit Against Telecommunications Service Provider for Assisting and Facilitating Illegal Robocalls

body_text: Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service provider XCast Labs Inc. (XCast) has agreed to a court order resolving allegations that it violated the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) by assisting and facilitating illegal telemarketing campaigns. The stipulated order, which was entered today by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, prohibits XCast from violating the TSR and has additional provisions to ensure its compliance, including required processes for screening its customers and the calls it transmits to identify potential illegal telemarketing. The order also imposes a $10 million civil penalty judgment, which is suspended based on XCast’s inability to pay. According to the complaint filed on May 12, XCast provided VoIP services that transmitted billions of illegal robocalls to American consumers, including scam calls fraudulently claiming to be from government agencies. Those robocalls delivered prerecorded marketing messages, and many of them were delivered to numbers listed on the National Do Not Call Registry. Additionally, many of the calls failed to truthfully identify the seller of the services being marketed, falsely claimed affiliations with government entities, contained other false or misleading statements to induce purchases or were transmitted with “spoofed” caller ID information. The complaint alleged that XCast continued to transmit these calls even after being alerted to their illegality. “Today’s order is another example of the Justice Department’s efforts to protect American consumers from illegal robocalls and to stop telecommunications providers from enabling those calls,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to work with the Federal Trade Commission to enforce the Telemarketing Sales Rule.” “XCast was warned several times that illegal robocallers were using its services and did nothing,” said Director Samuel Levine of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Companies that turn a blind eye to illegal robocalling should expect to hear from the FTC.” Attorneys in the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, including Trial Attorney Zachary Dietert and Assistant Director Rachael Doud, in conjunction with staff in the FTC’s Division of Marketing Practices, handled the case. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch . For more information about the FTC, visit www.FTC.gov .


title: Two Men Facing Federal Charges in Connection to Seizure of  Commercial Pill Presses, Drugs, and Firearms

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington - Today, Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that a federal grand jury has indicted Timothy Gary Maddox on 10 felony counts and Nicholas Bryan Adams on 7 felony counts in connection to the seizure of drugs, firearms, and two commercial pill presses. One of the pill presses seized by investigators is the first known commercial press associated with illegal fentanyl manufacturing in the Eastern District of Washington. The presses are believed to be able to produce thousands of pills per hour. Investigators also seized more than a dozen firearms, suppressors, switches used to convert firearms from semi-auto to full auto, and more than $57,000 in cash. Investigators also seized quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine. “Our community is safer and stronger as a result of the investigative work of the numerous law enforcement agencies, who came together to investigate this case,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “Seizures of large-scale pill presses like this are key to cutting off the deadly supply of illegal fentanyl in the Inland Northwest and elsewhere.” Maddox and Adams were arrested in connection to a months-long drug investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Regional Street Crimes Unit consisting of the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, Spokane Police Department, Spokane Valley Police Department, Customs and Border Protection, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Washington State Department of Corrections, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law .


title: Polk County Woman Sentenced For Role In Construction-Related Tax Fraud Conspiracy

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington has sentenced Gabriela Inamagua to 12 months and one day in federal prison for conspiracy to defraud the United States and the Internal Revenue Service. The court also ordered Inamagua to pay restitution to two victim insurance companies and to the Internal Revenue Service in the amount of $8,953,629.24. Inamagua had pleaded guilty on October 4, 2023. According to court documents, Inamagua owned and managed two “shell” construction companies which purported to supply construction services and labor for construction contractors and subcontractors. In order to comply with Florida law, Inamagua’s companies were required to secure and maintain adequate worker’s compensation insurance coverage. Her companies had agreements with contractors and subcontractors to use workers purported to be Inamagua’s employees at construction sites, and these workers were often undocumented aliens who were actually working for and under the daily supervision and direction of the contractors. Inamagua or others then regularly received “payroll checks” from contractors that they cashed at various financial institutions to pay Inamagua’s purported “employees” and other related expenses. During the time period charged, Inamagua falsely and fraudulently represented in insurance applications that her companies had a very limited payroll and a very limited number of employees who worked on construction jobsites. Inamagau also caused the transmission of false and fraudulent wire communications to numerous contractors representing that her companies’ employees had full worker’s compensation coverage. In reality, Inamagua’s companies received and cashed more than $34 million in checks from various construction contractors for these purported “employees.” These payroll figures far exceeded the very limited payroll figures that Inamagua had reported to her worker’s compensation insurance companies. As a result, these employees—who were, in reality, the employees of other entities—performed work on jobsites without adequate insurance coverage. In addition, the insurance companies that dealt with Inamagua’s companies lost premiums they would have charged had they been aware of the true number of workers their policies were thus being manipulated to cover. The insurance companies sustained losses on the insurance premiums that were not paid. As a result of these misrepresentations, Inamagua’s companies also disclaimed responsibility for ensuring that jobsite workers were legally authorized to work in the United States and evaded laws that required the payment of state and federal payroll taxes on behalf of these workers. Inamagua’s companies did not collect or remit all required payroll taxes to the United States. In addition, the contractors who actually paid these workers’ wages and used their services were also able to avoid responsibility for those taxes. The amount of those unpaid payroll taxes totaled more than $8.9 million. “The construction industry as a whole suffers when fraudsters exploit the system by creating fictitious shell companies to illegally pay workers off the books in order to scam insurance companies and avoid employment taxes,” said IRS-CI Acting Special Agent in Charge Tara K. Reed. “Today's sentencing is a reminder that all businesses and employees are responsible for their fair share of taxes. IRS-CI and our law enforcement partners will continue building cases with these schemes and bringing those responsible to justice.” This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and the State of Florida Department of Financial Services, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations. It is part of a lengthy investigation by those agencies into the use of shell companies and “ghost” employees in the construction industry. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay L. Hoffer.


title: Albuquerque Man Charged in a Second Superseding Indictment for Drug and Firearms Offenses

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Towanda R. Thorne-James, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s El Paso Division, announced today that a federal grand jury returned a second superseding indictment charging Buddy Eugene Gallegos, 42, of Albuquerque, New Mexico with three counts of possession with intent to distribute, one count of felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. According to the second superseding indictment, on April 13, 2022, Gallegos allegedly possessed 11 firearms and ammunition knowing he was previously convicted in New Mexico state court for a felony offense, and did so in furtherance of trafficking methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl. An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Gallegos faces up to life in prison. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s El Paso Division investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Samuel A. Hurtado is prosecuting the case. View the Second Superseding Indictment # # # 24-1


title: Man Charged with Assaulting Federal Officers with a Vehicle

component: USAO - New Mexico

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, announced that Steven O’Neil appeared in federal court on an indictment charging him with two counts of assaulting and impeding a federal employee using a deadly and dangerous weapon. O’Neil, 39, will remain in temporary custody pending a detention hearing, which has not been scheduled. According to court records, on December 21, 2021, O’Neil was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and sentenced to 27 months in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. On August 11, 2023, the court issued an arrest warrant because O’Neil absconded from his term of supervised release. On August 15, 2023, as John Doe 1 and John Doe 2, officers with the U.S. Marshals Service, executed the arrest warrant, O’Neil intentionally assaulted John Doe 1 and John Doe 2 with a black Chevrolet Suburban while the officers were engaged in their official duties. An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, O’Neil faces up to 20 years imprisonment and up to three years of supervised release thereafter. The U.S. Marshals Service investigated this case with the assistance of the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eva M. Fontanez is prosecuting the case. View the Indictment # # # 24-2


title: Founder And Former CEO Of Tingo Companies Charged With Securities Fraud

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging ODOGWU BANYE MMOBUOSI, a/k/a “Dozy Mmobuosi,” with securities fraud, making false filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and conspiracy charges. MMOBUOSI is still at large. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Dozy Mmobuosi allegedly orchestrated a massive scheme to inflate Tingo Group’s financial statements and make it appear as though the cellular and agriculture companies he founded were profitable and cash rich companies when, in fact, they were not. With this Indictment, Mmobuosi’s alleged deceitful scheme comes to an end.” FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said: “Mmobuosi’s alleged fraud is an unseemly display of greed and corruption of our financial markets. Securities schemes like this can be devastating for victim investors. That’s why the FBI is committed to bringing financial fraud to light and perpetrators like Mmobuosi to justice.” According to the allegations contained in the Indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court and court filings: [1] From at least in or about 2019 through in or about 2023, ODOGWU BANYE MMOBUOSI orchestrated a scheme to enrich himself by falsely representing that Nigerian companies he founded, Tingo Mobile and Tingo Foods, were operational, profitable businesses generating hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue respectively. MMOBUOSI then sold Tingo Mobile and Tingo Foods to companies listed in the United States, including Tingo Group (listed on Nasdaq as “TIO”) and Agri-Fintech Holdings (traded in the Over-the-Counter Markets under symbol “TMNA”). As a result, MMOBUOSI caused Tingo Group and Agri-Fintech to issue financial statements that falsely portrayed Tingo Mobile and Tingo Foods to be cash-rich, revenue-generating companies when, in fact, they were not. MMOBUOSI then looted Tingo Group and Agri-Fintech by misappropriating cash from those companies and engaged in well-timed sales of their shares at inflated prices, generating millions of dollars of profits from his scheme. * * * MMOBUOSI, 45, of Nigeria, has been charged with one count of conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, one count of securities fraud under Title 15, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of making false filings with the SEC, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purpose only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI. He also expressed appreciation for the SEC, which separately initiated civil proceedings against the defendant. This prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Peter Davis and Kiersten A. Fletcher are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is 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: Albuquerque Man Charged with Unlawful Dealing in Firearms

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Brendan Iber, Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), announced that Anthony Lutz appeared in federal court on an indictment charging him with a single count of unlawful dealing in firearms. Lutz, 41, of Albuquerque, will remain on conditions of release pending trial. According to the indictment, between approximately Sept. 21, 2019, and Aug. 4, 2023, Lutz engaged in the business of dealing firearms without a license. An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Lutz faces up to 5 years imprisonment and up to 3 years of supervised release thereafter. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated this case with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is prosecuting the case. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . View the Indictment # # # 24-3


title: Washington man sentenced for interfering with flight crew on Anchorage flight

component: USAO - Alaska

body_text: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A Washington man was sentenced on Dec. 28, 2023, to one year home confinement, followed by two years of supervised release, for interfering with a flight crew in April 2023. According to court documents, Adam Seymour, 38, of Seattle, Washington, harassed and attempted to grope a female passenger seated next to him, threatened to “kill” a second passenger and assaulted a third while aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 49 inbound to Anchorage from Seattle. In the course of events Seymour, told passengers the plane was going to crash and everyone would die. With the assistance of two off-duty police officers, flight crew removed Seymour from his seat and restrained him in the jump seat at the front of the airplane. Seymour broke free from his restraints and was restrained a second time. The off-duty police officers remained with Seymour at the front of the aircraft for the remainder of the flight. Following a recommendation for a sentence of 12 months incarceration, the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska imposed 12 months of home confinement and included a requirement to engage in community service and a two-year term of supervision. During the hearing, the Court commented regarding the increase in misconduct aboard aircraft in recent years and recognized that air travel is a necessity for Alaskans and that all passengers should be able to travel free from harassment. “For some Alaskans, air travel is the only way to travel from their home to important resources like medical appointments, making it an essential mode of transportation within the state. All Alaskans should feel safe while they travel on a plane,” said U.S. Attorney S. Lane Tucker for the District of Alaska. “Engaging in violent, harassing or obscene behavior while on an aircraft is a federal crime and can result in serious penalties. Potential perpetrators should think twice before engaging in similar conduct aboard an aircraft because we will prosecute these crimes.” The FBI Anchorage Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ainsley McNerney prosecuted the case. ###


title: Albuquerque Woman Charged with Escape and Federal Drug Trafficking Offenses

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Towanda R. Thorne-James, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s El Paso Division, announced today that a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Jennifer Lynn Miller with possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and with escape for leaving the custody of Maya’s Place, an institutional facility in which she was lawfully confined. Miller, 43, of Albuquerque, will remain in custody pending trial, which has not been scheduled. According to the criminal complaint, on Sept. 21, 2023, Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration executed a search warrant at the Querque Hotel and discovered multiple bundles of fentanyl and suspected methamphetamine in a room allegedly rented by Miller. Inside of the room, Agents found a Bill of Sale for a vehicle or vessel with the buyer’s name listed as “Jennifer Miller.” Additionally, Agents found that “Jennifer Miller” was the name associated with the room rental and the credit card used to purchase the room. The address and phone number provided for the room was linked to an address and phone number associated with the name “Miller.” On Oct. 10, 2023, as a part of Miller’s conditions of release pending indictment, Miller was released to the custody of Maya’s Place, a transitional housing program. On October 23, 2023, Miller allegedly escaped from Maya’s Place in violation of her conditions of release. An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Miller faces not less than 10 years and up to life in prison for each of the drug offenses and 0-5 years of imprisonment for the escape charge. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case with assistance from the Albuquerque Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Blake Nichols is prosecuting the case. View the Indictment # # # 24-4