title: Fargo, ND Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

component: USAO - North Dakota

body_text: Fargo – United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced that on November 20, 2024, Kadar Udai Pearson, age 20, from Fargo, North Dakota, appeared in federal court and pleaded guilty before Chief United States District Judge Peter D. Welte to one count of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Pearson is detained pending sentencing, set for March 17, 2025. As noted in court documents, in the afternoon of June 5, 2024, Fargo Police Department officers were in the area of the Arbors apartment complex after an earlier shots-fired report. They observed a person, later identified as Pearson, wearing a sweatshirt and pulling up a ski mask over his face, though the temperature was in the mid-70s. The sweatshirt pocket appeared to have something heavier than a cell phone in it. Officers further observed Pearson enter into a backyard in the neighborhood, where a resident of the home said Pearson did not have permission to be. Officers directed Pearson to halt, but he fled on foot. As officers gave chase, one officer observed Pearson throw what appeared to be a firearm beneath a vehicle in a nearby parking lot. Surveillance cameras captured the toss. On the ground beneath the vehicle, officers found a SIG Sauer 9mm pistol, loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition, which was previously reported stolen in Fargo. At the time of the offense, Pearson was an inmate on escape status with the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, under a state sentence imposed in October 2023, for his felony convictions of Possession with Intent to Deliver Fentanyl and Theft of a Firearm. “Public safety in and around the Arbors is a high priority for this office, and when that safety is threatened we will literally make a federal case out of it,” Schneider said. “As this guilty plea shows, felons in possession of firearms who target the Arbors will be on the fast track to become defendants in United States District Court. The cooperation between our career prosecutors, Main Justice, federal law enforcement, and the Fargo Police Department was critical in this case, and we look forward to continuing this successful partnership as we work to make Fargo safer.” 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. PSN is 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 Fargo Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jacob T. Rodenbiker and Trial Attorney Alyssa Levey-Weinstein in the Violent Crime and Racketeering Section of the Criminal Division at the United States Department of Justice. # # #


title: A State of Washington Man Involved in a Massive Drug Distribution Scheme  Sentenced to Over 12 Years in Federal Prison

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT – A State of Washington man was sentenced to 12 ½ years in prison for his role in an armed drug conspiracy that amassed nearly 200 pounds of methamphetamine and other controlled substances, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced. Ison was joined in the announcement by Orville O. Greene, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration(DEA) and Rodney Hopkins, Inspector in Charge of the Detroit Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). Antonio D.J. Mitchell, 39, of Seattle, Washington was sentenced to 150 months in prison by United States District Judge Linda V. Parker. According to court documents, DEA and USPIS agents learned through their investigation that Keith Haskins had been mailing kilograms of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine from California to his associate in Detroit, Kennie Smith. Federal agents intercepted several of these parcels, many of which contained drugs packaged inside of plastic buckets from a hardware store chain. Smith then managed distribution in the Detroit area from several of his properties. Haskins later recruited Mitchell to assist with transporting drugs and drug proceeds between the southwestern United States and Michigan. Haskins and Mitchell eventually moved to Detroit and expanded their operations. The pair rented a storage unit and a downtown apartment where, in November 2021, agents found over 87 kilograms of methamphetamine, 3 kilograms of fentanyl, one kilogram of cocaine, seven firearms, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, including a drum-style magazine. Four members of the conspiracy were charged in federal court. Haskins, Smith, and Mitchell each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine, as well as possessing or attempting to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Haskins, 47, of San Bernardino County, California, was previously sentenced to 18 years in prison. Smith, 46, of Clinton Township, Michigan, received 125 months in prison. The fourth defendant, Chalisa Sawyer, is awaiting trial set for January 28, 2025. “We will tirelessly pursue and prosecute drug dealers who continue to inflict harm on our communities with dangerous drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl, whether near or far,” U.S. Attorney Ison said. “The sentences imposed in this case, should underscore that goal. I commend our law enforcement partners at DEA and USPIS whose hard work helped achieve these significant results.” “At the time of his arrest, Mr. Mitchell and his co-conspirators were in possession of more than 87 kilograms of methamphetamine, 3 kilograms of fentanyl, and other illicit drugs. The fentanyl alone could provide a deadly dosage to 1.5 million people,” said Special Agent in Charge Orville. “DEA remains committed to dismantling criminal organizations who exchange lives for monetary gain and blatantly ignore the laws of this nation.” “The sentences handed down thus far for these co-conspirators underscore the seriousness of the crimes at hand and the resolve with which we strive to secure the nation’s mail system and keep our customers and communities safe,” said Inspector in Charge Hopkins. “Crucial to the success of this mission are the relationships we maintain with partners at all levels. We would like to express sincere appreciation the DEA’s Detroit Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan for their tireless work with us to achieve a successful outcome in this investigation.” This case was investigated by special agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration and inspectors from the United States Postal Inspection Service. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Franzinger. This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.


title: Former Office of Emergency Medical Services Associate Director sentenced to six years in prison for embezzling $4M from the Virginia Department of Health

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: RICHMOND, Va. – A Midlothian man was sentenced today to six years in prison for mail fraud, federal program theft, and tax evasion in connection with a scheme to misappropriate millions of dollars from the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). According to court documents, beginning on Aug. 10, 2013, Adam Lamar Harrell, 41, was an employee of VDH and on Sept. 10, 2019, became the Associate Director of the Office of Emergency Medical Services (OEMS). As OEMS’s Associate Director, Harrell was responsible for managing Virginia’s emergency response programs, epidemiology research, and the information technology systems that Virginia’s emergency medical service providers rely on, among other responsibilities. Harrell used his position to direct payments from VDH to a company he registered and controlled, Strategic Tech Innovations, LLC. Harrell concealed his ownership of and affiliation with Strategic Tech from VDH and OEMS, and used this entity to embezzle funds from his employer through two separate means. From January 2021 through May 2023, Harrell created 15 fraudulent invoices for services and technology that Strategic Tech would purportedly provide to OEMS. Harrell set exorbitant and non-market prices for the various line items on the invoices, knowing the vast majority of those items would not be provided by Strategic Tech. Without OEMS’s knowledge or approval, Harrell would submit these fraudulent invoices to the Western Virginia EMS Council (WVEMS), a regional emergency medical services council that serves as a pass-through for OEMS payments to vendors. Each of these invoices were paid by WVEMS with OEMS funds. By directing the invoices to WVEMS instead of Accounts Payable at OEMS, Harrell circumvented the requirement that Strategic Tech be approved as a vendor to VDH and OEMS and evaded scrutiny by the Accounts Payable department. As the Associate Director of OEMS, Harrell was able to unilaterally approve the same fraudulent Strategic Tech invoices he drafted. Harrell deposited each of the checks he illegally received from WVEMS into the Strategic Tech checking account he controlled and used the funds for personal expenses. In total, Harrell received $4,337,395 in OEMS funds. The Consent Order of Forfeiture imposed not only a monetary judgement for the full proceeds Harrell obtained, but also called for the forfeiture of assets purchased using the proceeds, including real estate, vehicles, approximately 95 assorted firearms, a Rolex Submariner stainless steel wristwatch, a TAG Heuer Connected Steel watch, a Breitling Navitmer chronograph watch, a 14K princess cut white gold diamond stud earrings, and proceeds from the sales of certain assets. The government has been able to recover $660,359.74 from the sales of two real properties, a vehicle, and other assets. On March 9, 2021, Harrell filed a joint federal income tax return with his spouse for tax year 2020. On the IRS Form Schedule C, Profit or Loss from Business, Harrell reported being the sole proprietor of Strategic Tech, reporting $193,076 in gross receipts. He falsely reported expenses for Strategic Tech of $200,340, for a net loss of $7,264, fraudulently lowering his taxable income and generating a refund of $934. Harrell then ceased reporting any income from Strategic Tech on the federal income tax returns he filed for tax years 2021, 2022, and 2023. From November 2020 through March 2024, Harrell evaded a total of $1,880,287.34 in income taxes. In addition to his term of imprisonment, the Court ordered Harrell to pay $6,254,458.72 in restitution to the victims of his crimes. Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Field Office; and Kareem A. Carter, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge of the Washington D.C. Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kashan Pathan, Thomas A. Garnett, and Janet Jin Ah Lee prosecuted the case. A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-92.


title: New Haven Man Sentenced to 3 Years in Federal Prison for Role in Drug Trafficking Ring

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JAQUET JACOBS, also known as “Fifty,” 33, of New Haven, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 36 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for his participation in a New Haven drug trafficking ring. According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2022, the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force initiated an investigation into a drug trafficking organization that was operating in the Fair Haven neighborhood of New Haven. The investigation included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, physical surveillance, and several controlled purchases of fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine from Jacobs and others. The investigation also identified individuals who were acquiring and distributing prescription narcotic pills. On May 18, 2023, Jacobs was intercepted on wiretap attempting to secure a firearm that he wanted to use to settle a personal dispute. Jacobs has been detained since his arrest on October 11, 2023. On June 21, 2024, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, controlled substances. Jacobs’ criminal history includes state convictions for drug, assault, escape, violation of a protective order, and other offenses. This investigation, which resulted in federal charges against 12 individuals, has been conducted by FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, which includes members from the FBI, the Connecticut State Police, the Connecticut Department of Correction, and the New Haven, Milford, East Haven, West Haven, and Wallingford Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan J. Keefe through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF .


title: Montgomery Man Sentenced to 29 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl Being Shipped Through the Mail

component: USAO - Alabama, Middle

body_text: MONTGOMERY, Ala. – On November 20, 2024, a federal judge ordered that 35-year-old Jason Steven McWilliams, a resident of Montgomery, Alabama, receive a sentence of 348 months in prison for conspiracy to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute the illegal drug. There is no parole in the federal system. According to the plea agreement and other court records, in March of 2023, McWilliams was incarcerated at a jail in Montgomery County on unrelated state charges. While there, McWilliams contacted Shykearia Darneisha Cooper, 26, also from Montgomery, to arrange for a package he was expecting from another individual containing fentanyl pills to be delivered to Cooper’s residence. On March 15, 2023, a parcel service delivered the package to Cooper’s house, and she accepted delivery. Cooper was also charged for her role in the conspiracy. During her October 17, 2023, plea hearing, Cooper specifically admitted that she knew the package contained fentanyl pills and that McWilliams intended to distribute them. Based on McWilliams’ criminal history, the sentencing judge determined that he qualified as a career offender under the federal sentencing guidelines. This ruling increased the guidelines range for McWilliams and resulted in a significant sentence. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Montgomery Police Department investigated this case, which Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson prosecuted.


title: Former Georgia Teacher Sentenced for Possessing Child Sexual Abuse Material

body_text: MACON, Ga. – A former Central Georgia teacher, coach and volunteer youth ministry leader who admitted to possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) was sentenced to serve six years in federal prison for his crime. Christian Baumgarth, 28, of Atlanta, was sentenced to serve 72 months in prison to be followed by 25 years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell on Nov. 20. In addition, he will have to register as a sex offender upon release from prison. Baumbarth pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography on July 8. There is no parole in the federal system. “People who possess photos and videos of child sexual abuse material perpetuate the victimization of vulnerable children,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Working alongside law enforcement and child advocacy groups, we will root out predators involved in the online sexual exploitation of children and hold them accountable for their crimes.” “In his role as a teacher, volunteer and coach, Mr. Baumgarth held positions of trust in the community while simultaneously exploiting the innocence of children behind closed doors,” said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Atlanta, which covers Georgia and Alabama. “HSI will continue to work tirelessly with our partners to identify, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit the most vulnerable among us.” According to court documents and statements referenced in court, federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) were investigating people using encrypted applications to distribute CSAM during the summer of 2023. Baumgarth was identified; at the time, he was a teacher and a coach at First Presbyterian Day (FPD) School in Macon, a position he held from 2018-2023. Additionally, he was a volunteer small group leader in the student ministry at Northway Church in Macon from 2019-2023. On Aug. 1, 2023, agents executed a federal search warrant at Baumgarth’s residence in Macon, seizing numerous electronic devices. Agents notified FPD about the execution of the search warrant, and Baumgarth’s employment was terminated. Two of Baumgarth’s iPhones were forensically examined and found to contain 20 images and 13 videos of CSAM, including some that depicted the sexual abuse or exploitation of an infant or toddler. Baumgarth was interviewed by law enforcement and admitted to the conduct. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Justice Department. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc . Anyone with information on suspected child sexual exploitation can contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by calling 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or online at https://report.cybertip.org . The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with assistance from the FBI. Deputy Criminal Chief Will Keyes prosecuted the case for the Government.


title: Iowa City Man Sentenced to 80 Months in Federal Prison for Receiving Child Pornography

component: USAO - Iowa, Southern

body_text: DAVENPORT, Iowa – An Iowa City man was sentenced yesterday to 80 months in federal prison for receiving child pornography. According to public court documents, law enforcement received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that Ivan Galvan, 31, had uploaded a video containing child sexual abuse material in April 2021. Law enforcement searched Galvan’s social media account and found an additional eight videos and one image containing child sexual abuse material. In November 2021, law enforcement searched Galvan’s Iowa City residence and found electronic devices, some of which contained additional videos and images of child sexual abuse material. After completing his term of imprisonment, Galvan will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Galvan was also ordered to pay $9,000 in restitution. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Joint Forensic Analysis Cyber Team (JFACT). This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Clinton Man Sentenced to 97 Months in Federal Prison for Receipt of Child Pornography

body_text: DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Clinton man was sentenced today to 97 months in federal prison for receipt of child pornography. According to public court documents, Brent Michael Fisher, 48, possessed fifteen devices that contained child sexual abuse material, including cell phones and memory cards. Fisher came to the attention of law enforcement after his then-wife found two memory cards with child sexual abuse material of minor victims and reported it to law enforcement. The Clinton Police Department obtained search warrants for the two memory cards, as well as Fisher’s house, car, and work trailer the same day they received the report. In total, Fisher possessed more than 36,000 images and nearly 10,000 videos containing child sexual abuse material. After completing his term of imprisonment, Fisher will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Fisher was also ordered to pay $93,000 in restitution. Fisher is required to register as a sex offender. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Clinton Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: New Jersey Man Admits Using Postal Keys to Steal Mail from Mail Collection Boxes in New Haven and West Haven

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, announced that IXAVIER HOLMAN, JR., 33, of Secaucus, New Jersey, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to theft of mail. According to court documents and statements made in court, on at least eight dates between December 2022 and June 2023, Holman used stolen mail collection box keys to steal mail from blue collection boxes at post offices located at 95 Fountain Street in New Haven, 589 Campbell Avenue in West Haven, and 844 Jones Hill Road in West Haven. Holman was arrested on June 12, 2023, after he returned to the Fountain Street post office in West Haven and accessed the collection box in an attempt to steal mail. At the time of his arrest, Holman possessed two mail collection box keys. A search of his residence on that date revealed more than 3,000 pieces of stolen mail, USPS mail collection bins, and a credit card reader and embosser. The stolen mail included thousands of checks and money orders, separated and organized by bank, with a face value of more than $1.5 million. Theft of mail carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years. Judge Nagala scheduled sentencing for March 12. Holman is released on bond pending sentencing. This investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the West Haven and New Haven Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel E. Cummings. Individuals who believe they are a victim of mail theft may file a complaint by calling 877-876-2455 or by visiting https://www.uspis.gov/report . Victims can receive updates about this case at https://www.justice.gov/usao-ct/us-v-ixavier-holman .


title: Davenport Man Sentenced to 192 Months in Federal Prison for Child Pornography Charges

body_text: DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Davenport man was sentenced today to 192 months in federal prison for distribution and receipt of child pornography. According to public court documents, in 2023, law enforcement received multiple CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that child sexual abuse material was uploaded and shared from an account on a digital storage platform. Law enforcement determined that Bob Arthur Phillips, 37, uploaded the child sexual abuse material to the digital storage account. Following multiple residential search warrants at Phillips’ residence, law enforcement seized numerous electronic devices belonging to Phillips, found to contain evidence of distributing and receiving child sexual assault material. After completing his term of imprisonment, Phillips will be required to serve an eight-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. Phillips was also ordered to pay $38,000. In addition, Phillips will be required to register as a sex offender. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Scott County Sheriff’s Office. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc . For information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the resources tab.


title: Justice Department Seizes Cybercrime Website and Charges Its Administrators

component: Criminal Division

body_text: The Justice Department today announced the seizure of PopeyeTools, an illicit website and marketplace dedicated to selling stolen credit cards and other tools for carrying out cybercrime and fraud, and unsealed criminal charges against three PopeyeTools administrators: Abdul Ghaffar, 25, of Pakistan; Abdul Sami, 35, of Pakistan; and Javed Mirza, 37, of Afghanistan. According to a criminal complaint unsealed today, Ghaffar, Sami, and Mirza are charged with conspiracy to commit access device fraud, trafficking access devices, and solicitation of another person for the purposes of offering access devices, arising from their roles as administrators of the PopeyeTools website. As part of the actions announced today, the United States obtained judicial authorization to seize the domains www.PopeyeTools.com, www.PopeyeTools.co.uk, and www.PopeyeTools.to, which long hosted and facilitated access to the PopeyeTools website. According to the affidavit filed in support of these seizures, since in or around 2016, PopeyeTools served as a significant online marketplace dedicated to selling sensitive financial data and other illicit goods and tools of cybercrime to thousands of users around the world, including users associated with ransomware activity. Some of the stolen information included bank account, credit card, and debit card numbers and associated information for conducting transactions. Since its inception, PopeyeTools has offered for sale the access devices and personally identifiable information (PII) of at least 227,000 individuals and generated at least $1.7 million in revenue. PopeyeTools Splash Page “As alleged, Ghaffar, Sami, and Mirza founded and ran a longstanding online marketplace that sold illicit goods and services for use in committing cybercrimes, including ransomware attacks and financial frauds,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s announcement of the takedown of the PopeyeTools domains, the criminal charges against its operators, and the seizure of cryptocurrency is yet another example of the department’s ‘all-tools’ approach to combatting cybercrime. Working with our domestic and international partners, the Criminal Division is committed to disrupting illicit enterprises through every available means, including by taking over their websites, charging culpable individuals, and seizing their illicit proceeds.” “Cybercrime knows no boundaries,” said U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross for the Western District of New York. “I continue to commend the work of our federal law enforcement partners, who joined forces with law enforcement across the globe, to disrupt this illicit marketplace. The perpetrators of this illegal marketplace allegedly sold the credit card information and personally identifiable information of hundreds of thousands of victims, some who live in western New York. Because of the incredible work of law enforcement, this illegal website has been seized and taken down so no one else can be victimized.” “Dismantling the infrastructure of cyber criminals and seizing their funds are key aspects of the FBI’s cyber strategy,” said Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran of FBI’s Cyber Division. “Today’s announcement marks success on both fronts. In addition to unsealing charges against the administrators of PopeyeTools, we’ve also seized domains and cryptocurrency associated with the cybercriminal marketplace. The FBI will continue to relentlessly pursue the facilitators of cyber crime along with their tools and resources.” “Today’s seizure of PopeyeTools, an illegal website and marketplace, highlights the FBI’s dedication to weaken cybercrime,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Miraglia of the FBI Buffalo Field Office. “This takedown is a significant example of the FBI’s technical capabilities, as well as our strong relationships with our international partners to protect people from cybercriminals operating these types of online marketplaces.” According to court documents, the PopeyeTools marketplace’s motto was “We Believe in Quality Not Quantity,” and the website made a name for itself by allegedly selling stolen access devices and other illicit goods and services that were valid and thereby suited to committing financial fraud. For instance, the “Live Fullz” section offered unauthorized payment card data and PII for cards that were marketed as “live” — i.e. , could be used to conduct fraudulent transactions — at a price of approximately $30 per card. Other sections included “Fresh Bank Logs,” which offered logs of stolen bank account information, “Fresh Leads” or email spam lists, “Scam pages,” and “Guides and Tutorials.” To attract members to the marketplace, PopeyeTools allegedly promised to refund or replace purchased credit cards that were no longer valid at the time of sale. In addition, at different times, PopeyeTools provided customers with access to services that could be used to check the validity of bank account, credit card, or debit card numbers offered through the website. As part of the actions announced today, the United States also obtained judicial authorization to seize approximately $283,000 worth of cryptocurrencies from a cryptocurrency account controlled by Sami. If convicted, Ghaffar, Sami, and Mirza face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each of the three access device offenses. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI Buffalo Field Office investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided assistance. The Justice Department appreciates the significant assistance provided by law enforcement partners in the United Kingdom and Malaysia. Senior Counsel Aarash A. Haghighat of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Bonanno for the Western District of New York are prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Palma for the Western District of New York also assisted with the announced seizures. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Dallas Anesthesiologist Convicted of Tampering with IV Bags Sentenced to 190 Years in Prison

component: USAO - Texas, Northern

body_text: A Dallas anesthesiologist who injected dangerous drugs into patient IV bags, leading to one death and numerous cardiac emergencies, was sentenced today to 190 years in prison, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. Raynaldo Riviera Ortiz Jr., 60, was charged by criminal complaint in September 2022 and indicted the following month on charges related to tampering with IV bags used at a local surgical center. In April, following an eight-day trial, a jury convicted him of four counts of tampering with consumer products resulting in serious bodily injury, one count of tampering with a consumer product and five counts of intentional adulteration of a drug. He was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge David Godbey, who found that Dr. Ortiz caused the death of his colleague and called his other acts “tantamount to attempted murder.” “The defendant betrayed the trust of patients by tampering with critical medical supplies, and the result was death and serious bodily injury,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of these offenses and should make clear that the Department will work tirelessly to investigate and prosecute anyone who endangers patients by tampering with drugs.” “This disgraced doctor acted no better than an armed assailant spraying bullets indiscriminately into a crowd. Dr. Ortiz tampered with random IV bags, apparently unconcerned with who he hurt. But he wielded an invisible weapon, a cocktail of heart-stopping drugs, concealed inside an IV bag designed to help patients heal,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “On at least nine separate occasions, he essentially attacked unconscious patients lying on an operating table, and even killed a colleague. I am so proud of our office’s work in bringing Dr. Ortiz to justice and bringing a measure of solace to his victims and their families.” “Patients expect that their doctors will use only safe and effective medical products during their surgeries. The illicit tampering in this case demonstrated a gross disregard for patient safety,” said Special Agent in Charge Charles L. Grinstead of the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA-OCI). “This investigation uncovered that adulterating the IV bags caused serious adverse health consequences. This sentencing is a clear demonstration that FDA will not stop pursuing and bringing to justice those who risk patients’ health and safety through their criminal actions.” According to evidence presented at trial, between May and August 2022, numerous patients at Surgicare North Dallas suffered cardiac emergencies during routine medical procedures performed by various doctors. About one month after the unexplained emergencies began, an anesthesiologist who had worked at the facility earlier that day died while treating herself for dehydration using an IV bag. In August 2022, doctors at the surgical care center began to suspect tainted IV bags had caused the repeated crises after an 18-year-old patient had to be rushed to the intensive care unit in critical condition during a routine sinus surgery. A local lab analyzed fluid from the bag used during the teenager’s surgery and found bupivacaine (a nerve-blocking agent), epinephrine (a stimulant) and lidocaine (an anesthetic) — a drug cocktail that could have caused the boy’s symptoms, which included very high blood pressure, cardiac dysfunction and pulmonary edema. The lab also observed a puncture in the plastic shell that had been around the IV bag. Evidence presented at trial showed that Ortiz surreptitiously injected IV bags of saline with epinephrine, bupivacaine and other drugs, placed them into a warming bin at the facility, and waited for them to be used in colleagues’ surgeries, knowing their patients would experience dangerous complications. Surveillance video introduced into evidence showed Ortiz repeatedly retrieving IV bags from the warming bin and replacing them shortly thereafter, not long before the bags were carried into operating rooms where patients experienced complications. Video also showed Ortiz mixing vials of medication and watching as victims were wheeled out by emergency responders. Evidence also showed that Ortiz was facing disciplinary action at the time for an alleged medical mistake made in his one of his own surgeries, and that he potentially faced losing his medical license. At trial, doctors testified about the confusion they felt when their patients’ blood pressures suddenly skyrocketed. Reviewing medical records, they all noted the emergencies occurred shortly after new IV bags had been hung. Patients recalled waking up unexpectedly intubated in intensive care units they had been transported to via emergency medical transportation services, in pain and in fear for their lives. At Wednesday’s sentencing hearing, patients and their families testified about the “life-altering” pain they’d endured. The son of one victim told the Court that his 10-year-old son no longer trusts doctors, because “a doctor tried to kill Pops.” The father of another recalled with horror seeing Dr. Ortiz’s “dead fish stare” on surveillance video as his victims were wheeled out of the surgery center on gurneys. And a victim who spent five days in the hospital after his cardiac incident said he woke up feeling “all chewed up” and has never been the same since. Dr. John Kaspar, the husband of the doctor who died after treating her dehydration with a tainted bag, told the Court the image of his wife’s “lifeless eyes” would never leave him. She was “my life,” “the strongest woman” he’d ever met, he said. FDA-OCI Special Agents Chad Medaris and Daniel Allgeyer investigated the case with support from the Dallas Police Department. Assistant Director Patrick Runkle of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney John de la Garza for the Northern District of Texas prosecuted the case with the help of Assistant U.S. Attorney Errin Martin. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gail Hayworth for the Northern District of Texas provided appellate support.


title: Syracuse Man Sentenced to a Total of 133 Months for Possession of Controlled Substances with the Intent to Distribute and Violating his Supervised Release

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Jamal Harris, age 45, of Syracuse, was sentenced today to serve 87 months in federal prison for his possession of methamphetamine and fentanyl with intent to distribute. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, made the announcement. As part of his prior plea, Harris admitted that, on November 8, 2023, he possessed approximately 1,199 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine in his bedroom, and approximately 2 grams of fentanyl in his vehicle. He further admitted that, before he committed this offense, he had previously been convicted in federal court in the Northern District of New York of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of heroin. In addition to the 87-month sentence, Harris was sentenced to serve an additional 46 months in prison for violating the conditions of supervised release from his prior drug offense. Senior United States District Judge Glenn T. Suddaby also ordered Harris to serve a 6-year term of supervised release following his release from prison. The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated the case with assistance from the United States Probation Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica N. Carbone prosecuted the case.


title: Schenectady County Man Sentenced to 30 Months for Possession of Child Pornography

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Timothy (“Mitch”) Duell, age 48, of Schenectady County, New York, was sentenced today to serve 30 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 10 years of supervised release for possessing child pornography. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Special Agent in Charge Matthew Scarpino of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Buffalo, New York Field Office made the announcement. When Duell pleaded guilty he admitted that he possessed sexually explicit images of a child under the age of 12 and participated in online chats where he discussed his interest in engaging in sex acts with that child. In addition to the imprisonment and supervised release terms, United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino also ordered Duell to pay the victim $3,000.00 in restitution and to forfeit the electronic device he used to commit the offense. Duell will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from imprisonment. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the New York State Police investigated this case, and Assistant United States Attorney Michael D. Gadarian prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Tennessee Resident Arrested After Driving to Clifton Park for Sexual Abuse of Minor

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Donald Jenkins, age 37, of Clarksville, Tennessee, was arrested yesterday and charged with traveling across state lines to the Capital Region with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations, made the announcement. According to a criminal complaint, in September 2024 Jenkins began communicating with an individual to discuss and plan his sexual abuse of an 11-year-old child residing in Clifton Park, New York. Jenkins ultimately devised a plan to rent a car in Tennessee and drive to Clifton Park in order to sexually abuse the child. On November 19, 2024, Jenkins was arrested after arriving in Clifton Park at a prearranged meeting location. He allegedly took a sexually transmitted disease (STD) test earlier in the day and brought numerous pairs of child’s underwear as a gift for the minor. The charges in the complaint are merely accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Jenkins had his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Stewart today and was ordered detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for Monday, November 25 . He faces a maximum term of 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life, and mandatory registration as a sex offender. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors. HSI and the New York State Police are investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin S. Clark is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: New Jersey man pleads guilty to nationwide conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act by remotely disabling pollution control devices on diesel trucks

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Tacoma – A 44-year-old Columbia, New Jersey man pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to violate the Clean Air Act for his scheme to interfere with pollution control software on diesel trucks, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Jonathan Achtemeier admitted that between 2019 and 2022, he removed the pollution control software on hundreds of vehicles nationwide. U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright scheduled sentencing for February 14, 2025. According to records filed in the case, Achtemeier conspired with mechanics in garages and operators of truck fleets to disable the anti-pollution software installed on diesel trucks. Coconspirators who wanted to disable their trucks’ pollution control hardware system—a process commonly known as “deleting”—sought Achtemeier’s help to trick the truck’s software into believing the emissions control systems were still functional, a process known as “tuning.” Monitoring software on a deleted truck will detect that the pollution control hardware is not functioning and will prevent the truck from running. Achtemeier disabled the monitoring software on his client’s trucks by connecting to laptops he had provided to various coconspirators. Some of the coconspirators would pass the laptop on to others seeking to have the anti-pollution software disabled on their trucks. Once the laptop was hooked up to the truck’s onboard computer, Achtemeier could access it from his computer and tune the software designed to slow the truck if the pollution control device was missing or malfunctioning. Achtemeier could “tune” trucks remotely, which enabled him to maximize his environmental impact and personal profit. Removing the pollution control equipment and disabling the software results in trucks polluting at 30 to 1,200 times the level of a truck with pollution control systems. Tampering with pollution control software is a violation of the Clean Air Act. Achtemeier charged as much at $4,500 per truck for work that often took him two hours or less. Achtemeier advertised his services on social media nationwide, doing business as Voided Warranty Tuning (VWT) or Optimized Ag. Between 2019 and 2022 his company took in more than $4.3 million in gross profits. The coconspirators in this case have service garages or truck fleets in various areas of Washington State. The trucks that were altered range from pick-ups such as a Dodge R3500 to Kenworth and Freightliner semi-trucks. Conspiracy is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The case was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division (EPA-CID). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Watts Staniar, Dane Westermeyer, and Seth Wilkinson, with Special Assistant United States Attorney Karla Perrin. Ms. Perrin is an attorney with the EPA.


title: Guatemalan Man Sentenced to Prison for Document Fraud

component: USAO - Iowa, Northern

body_text: A man who possessed a fraudulent permanent resident card was sentenced today to almost three months in federal prison. Rodolfo Duran-Matul, age 27, a citizen of Guatemala residing in Belmond, Iowa, received the prison term after an October 8, 2024, guilty plea to one count of unlawful possession of an identification document. In a plea agreement, Duran-Matul admitted he had previously been deported from the United States and illegally reentered the United States without the permission of the United States government. Duran-Matul was previously deported in August 2018. Duran-Matul also admitted that in August 2024, when he was arrested on state charges, he possessed a fraudulent permanent resident card (“green card”) bearing his name and photograph. The number on the green card was assigned to someone else. Permanent resident cards are documents prescribed by statute or regulation for entry into or as evidence of authorized stay or employment in the United States. As an alien unlawfully in the United States, Duran-Matul was not authorized to work in the United States. Duran-Matul was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams. Duran-Matul was sentenced to 85 days’ imprisonment. He must also serve a three-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Duran-Matul is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be turned over to immigration officials. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel C. Tvedt and investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-2038. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Guatemalan Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine in Dubuque, Iowa

body_text: A Guatemalan man who conspired to distribute methamphetamine pled guilty today in federal court in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Jose Eleazar Aceves-Garcia, age 30, from Guatemala, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute at least 500 grams of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and 50 grams of actual (pure) methamphetamine. In a plea agreement, Aceves-Garcia admitted that between January 2019 and January 2022, he distributed at least 400 pounds of ice methamphetamine to a co‑conspirator in the Dubuque, Iowa, area. His fingerprints were on two packages, which contained a total of more than seven pounds of ice methamphetamine, that he mailed to the co-conspirator in Dubuque. Aceves-Garcia also distributed a kilogram of heroin to the co-conspirator. Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge C.J. Williams will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Aceves-Garcia remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Aceves-Garcia faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a $10,000,000 fine, and a life term of supervised release following any imprisonment. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Devra T. Hake and was investigated by the Dubuque Drug Task Force, Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office, Dubuque Police Department, Quad City Metropolitan Enforcement Group, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Criminalistics Laboratory. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 23-CR-1022. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Sioux City, Iowa, Man Pled Guilty to  Possession of Child Pornography

body_text: Joshua Dale Peterson age, 42, from Sioux City, Iowa, pled guilty November 20, 2024, to possession of child pornography. In a plea agreement, Peterson admitted that from January 1, 2023, until October 18, 2023, he received, distributed, and possessed child pornography. A CyberTip from Snapchat showed that Peterson uploaded a file that contained child pornography. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Peterson’s phone and found over 50 photos and videos of child pornography. Law enforcement spoke to Peterson, and he admitted he would meet people on Snapchat and move conversations to Telegram. Peterson also admitted he sent child pornography to a user on Snapchat on at least five different occasions. The Snapchat user later identified themselves as a minor child and Snapchat terminated the conversation. Peterson further admitted he was in at least one group chat on Telegram that was sharing child pornography and he stayed in the group for a couple of weeks. The images and videos found on Peterson’s phone contained material that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct as well as prepubescent children and toddlers. Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Peterson remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Peterson faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of supervised release following any imprisonment of 5 years to life. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.” The case was investigated by the Sioux City Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kraig R. Hamit. Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl . The case file number is 24-CR-04036. Follow us on X @USAO_NDIA.


title: Members Of Manatee County Methamphetamine Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced To Federal Prison

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced five Bradenton residents to federal prison terms for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Clemente Betancourt (29) was sentenced to 15 years and 8 months, Estevan Betancourt (20), Adonis Bonilla (29), and Omar Mejia (29) were each sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, and Alexander Perez (30) was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in federal prison. Each previously pleaded guilty for their roles in this case. According to court documents, these individuals were involved in a conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine in Bradenton and throughout Manatee County. In addition to the conspiracy charges, they were charged with narcotics transactions on specific dates. Specifically, Clemente and Estevan Betancourt distributed methamphetamine quantities to the defendants and others. The sales of the narcotics were conducted at their home in Bradenton, as well as other locations throughout Manatee County. The defendants distributed more than 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine in Manatee County. At the time of the arrests, a search warrant was executed at Clemente and Estevan Betancourt’s house in Bradenton. Three firearms, approximately one pound of methamphetamine, 22 cellphones, cocaine, and marijuana were seized. This case was investigated by a joint Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) which includes Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The Central Florida Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), which includes the Bradenton Police Department, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the North Port Police Department, the United States Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Palmetto Police Department, the Sarasota Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also assisted with the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Maria Guzman, David Sullivan, and Suzanne Nebesky. This case was 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. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.


title: Duo sentenced for illegally selling machine guns

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – Two individuals have been sentenced for their roles in firearms trafficking, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Dallas resident Luis Azael Berlanga, 21, and Juan Jose Moreno Jr., 20, a Laredo resident, both pleaded guilty Nov. 20. U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo has now imposed a 60-month term of imprisonment for Berlanga, while Moreno received 48 months. Both must serve three years of supervised release following their sentences. At the hearing, the court heard the extensive evidence that showed Berlanga led the illegal operation, which involved numerous firearm sales in the Laredo area. The firearms contained machine-gun conversion devices (MCDs) modifying semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic (and illegal) machine guns. The court noted how such machine guns are often linked to devastating mass shootings. Judge Marmolejo also emphasized the serious consequences of the duo’s actions and noted they had chances every step of the way to say no. “It only hits home when this happens to you or one of your family members,” she said. “MCDs present a unique and insidious threat to our communities – criminals can conceal something as small as a paperclip, install it in a legal gun, quickly converting the legal handgun into a machinegun, capable of firing hundreds of rounds of ammunition per minute,” said Hamdani. “MCDs often ending up in the hands of dangerous criminals, gang members and cartel assassins. This case represents the Southern District of Texas’ continued commitment to do everything it can to keep these types of weapons off the streets of Laredo and elsewhere.” Between Jan. 24 and May 15, authorities coordinated with Berlanga to conduct three controlled purchases of the machine guns. Undercover members of law enforcement bought six functional machine guns from Berlanga. As part of the plea agreement, Moreno admitted to participating in the sale of machine guns alongside Berlanga. Berlanga and Moreno have been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Laredo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leslie Ann Cortez prosecuted the case. The case is part of “ Operation Texas Kill Switch ,” a statewide initiative taking aim at MCDs, which transform commercially available semi-automatic firearms into fully-automatic weapons capable of firing faster than military-grade machine guns. U.S. Attorneys Hamdani, Leigha Simonton, Damien Diggs and Jaime Esparza of the Southern, Northern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas, respectively, have spearheaded Operation Texas Kill Switch which relies on partnerships with state and local law enforcement as well as rewards Crime Stoppers offers.


title: Owner of North Carolina Automotive Business Sentenced for Employment Tax Crimes

component: Tax Division

body_text: A North Carolina man was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison for not paying more than $2 million in employment taxes. According to court documents and statements made in court, George Taylor Jr., of Wilmington, North Carolina, owned and operated National Speed, a high-performance automotive services business. As the chairman and president of National Speed, Taylor was responsible for withholding Social Security, Medicare and income taxes from his employees’ wages and paying those taxes to the IRS. From 2014 through 2021, Taylor withheld employment taxes from his employees’ paychecks but did not pay those taxes over to the IRS, nor did he file the necessary employment tax returns. He executed the scheme by using an accounting software to calculate the taxes to be withheld from his employees’ paychecks, but after withholding the taxes, he simply kept the funds for himself and his business ventures. In total, Taylor caused a tax loss to the IRS of $2,272,072. In addition to the term of imprisonment, U.S. District Judge Richard Myers II for the Eastern District of North Carolina ordered Taylor to serve three years of supervised release and pay approximately $2,615,534 in restitution to the United States. Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley Jr. for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case. Trial Attorney Brian Flanagan of the Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan Ontjes for the Eastern District of North Carolina prosecuted the case.


title: Florida Nurse Charged with Fraudulently Diverting Fentanyl from Hospital Employer

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Florida nurse was arrested today for diverting fentanyl from his hospital employer, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. David L. Shaeffer, 35, of St. Petersburg, Florida, is charged by complaint with unlawfully acquiring or obtaining controlled substances by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception and subterfuge. Shaeffer appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher Tuite in Tampa federal court, and was released on $50,000 bond. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From Jan. 22, 2024, through Feb. 14, 2024, Shaeffer used his position as a travel nurse to fraudulently acquire and steal vials of fentanyl on at least 143 occasions while employed at a New Jersey hospital. Shaeffer took vials of fentanyl from the hospital’s automated medication dispensing cabinets by using an override in the system to bypass the requisite doctor’s order for the dispensing of fentanyl. Shaeffer prescribed the fentanyl himself to a specified patient even though he was not authorized to prescribe controlled substances. Shaeffer would dispense fentanyl and fail to administer the substance to the specified patient or dispose of the substance; dispense fentanyl and improperly dispose of the substance; and dispense fentanyl for a specified patient who had been discharged from the hospital. Shaeffer also fraudulently obtained fentanyl in a similar way while employed as a nurse in hospitals in Florida and Pennsylvania. The charge of unlawfully obtaining or acquiring controlled substances by fraud carries a maximum penalty of up to four years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited task force officers and diversion investigators of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New Jersey Division, Newark District Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz; the Jersey City Police Department, Detective Bureau, under the direction of Public Safety Director James Shea; the Drug Enforcement Administration, Tampa Field Office; and the St. Petersburg Police Department with the investigation leading to the arrest. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chelsea D. Coleman of the Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. schaeffer.complaint.pdf


title: Former St. Louis Circus Official Accused of Embezzlement

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A former official with a St. Louis-based non-profit circus was indicted Wednesday and accused of embezzling over $120,000 in three ways from December 2022 through at least September 2023. George S. Pace, 61, of Ladue, was indicted in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on six felony counts of wire fraud. The indictment accuses Pace of using two credit cards that he’d surreptitiously obtained to charge thousands of dollars in unauthorized personal purchases, including in restaurants and for horseback riding-related expenses. Pace was not authorized to have a circus credit card. When asked about the charges, Pace falsely claimed that the card had been stolen and that he’d already contacted the bank about the issue, the indictment says. He forged account statements to falsely show that the fraudulent charges had been resolved, the indictment says. Pace was the president of the circus’ board of directors at the time. The indictment says Pace also diverted to himself over $50,000 in circus checks that were supposed to go to pay down a line of credit at a bank and deposited thousands of dollars’ worth of checks donors sent to the circus into his own account. Finally, the indictment says Pace fraudulently applied for a $18,200 U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Assistance Loan on Aug. 9, 2022, misrepresenting his income and bank account balance. On Aug. 20, 2022, he fraudulently applied for a second loan for $11,200, the indictment says, concealing that he’d also received two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans through the Small Business Administration totaling $38,515. Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. Each wire fraud charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both prison and a fine. The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwendolyn Carroll is prosecuting the case.


title: Chinese National Admits Taking $95,000 in Elder Fraud Case

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A man from China on Tuesday admitted taking $95,000 from a 79-year-old Missouri fraud victim. Dongyi Guo, 28, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He admitted that co-conspirators began contacting the victim in March of 2024 via telephone calls and electronic messages, claiming to represent her financial institutions and/or the Social Security Office. They falsely claimed that her financial accounts had been compromised, and that she need to pay to prevent her money from being stolen. They told her that an employee of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) would pick up the money. Guo flew from New York City to Chicago and then rented a car to drive to the woman’s home. On March 4, he picked up $40,000 in cash. He took another $35,000 in cash the next day, and $20,000 on March 6. Guo’s co-conspirators continued to pressure the victim into providing more money. Guo was arrested on March 7 during his attempt to take an additional $15,000. Guo is scheduled to be sentenced March 6, 2025. The conspiracy charge carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both prison and a fine. The Knox County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman is prosecuting the case. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting and provide resources and referrals. Reporting frauds can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish, and other languages are available. The Federal Trade Commission also provides a hotline at 877-FTC-HELP and a website at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov to receive consumer complaints.


title: Colombian Drug Kingpin Known as “Don T” Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for International Cocaine Distribution Conspiracy

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Tito Aldemar Ruano Yandun, also known as “Don T,” “Don Ti,” “Don Tito,” “Pedro Linares,” “Pedro AK2,” “Santos,” “Don Tuma,” “Viejo” and “Viejo Loco,” was sentenced by United States District Court Judge William F. Kuntz, II to 20 years in prison for leading an international cocaine distribution conspiracy. Ruano Yandun pleaded guilty to the charge in March 2024. The defendant was also ordered to forfeit $1.5 million in drug proceeds. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Division (DEA), announced the sentence. “Today’s sentence significantly punishes the defendant for leading a prolific drug trafficking organization that exported thousands of kilograms of cocaine destined for our streets,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “International drug kingpins must face American justice for the misery they have caused in our district and country.” Mr. Peace extended his appreciation to the DEA’s office in Bogota, Colombia, the United States Department of State, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the Colombian National Police and the Government of Colombia. As detailed in court documents, the defendant led a sophisticated drug trafficking organization that operated in southwestern Colombia and Ecuador. His organization regularly exported multi-ton quantities of cocaine to Central America and Mexico so that it could eventually be smuggled into the United States. The defendant’s drug trafficking organization trafficked cocaine on behalf of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (i.e., the FARC), helping to fund the FARC’s long-running campaign to overthrow the Government of Colombia. During the investigation, foreign and U.S. authorities seized thousands of kilograms of cocaine that were being transported by members of the defendant’s organization. In November 2017, pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Ruano Yandun and his organization as Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers for their significant role in international narcotics trafficking. At the time of the designation, OFAC stated that Ruano Yandun’s organization was “a key contributor to the increased cocaine production in the Nariño department of Colombia in recent years.” Ruano Yandun was extradited to the Eastern District of New York in October 2023. The conviction and sentencing of Ruano Yandun are the result of an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation led by the Office and the DEA. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. OCDETF uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s International Narcotics and Money Laundering Section. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Wang is in charge of the prosecution. The Defendant : TITO ALDEMAR RUANO YANDUN (also known as “Don T,” “Don Ti,” “Don Tito,” “Pedro Linares,” “Pedro AK2,” “Santos,” “Don Tuma,” “Viejo” and “Viejo Loco”) Age: 49 Colombia E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 17-CR-27 (WFK)


title: Oklahoma City Man Sentenced to Serve Eight Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Ammunition Possession Following Domestic Assault Investigation

component: USAO - Oklahoma, Western

body_text: OKLAHOMA CITY – ANTOINE LASHAWN SMITH , 43, of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve 96 months in federal prison for illegal possession of ammunition after a previous felony conviction, announced U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester. On August 7, 2024, a federal Grand Jury charged Smith with being a felon in possession of ammunition. According to public record, on February 13, 2024, officers with the Oklahoma City Police Department responded to a Metro-area apartment on a report of a domestic assault. Officers spoke with the victim, who said she and Smith got into a verbal argument, and as she attempted to leave the apartment complex Smith confronted her in the parking lot and struck her in the head and face with a broom several times, causing visible injuries. Smith then ran back to his apartment, but was taken into custody early the next morning by law enforcement. Officers then executed a search warrant and seized a box of live ammunition inside the apartment. On September 11, 2024, Smith pleaded guilty and admitted he possessed ammunition despite his criminal record. At the sentencing hearing on November 20, 2024, U.S. District Judge David L. Russell sentenced Smith to serve 96 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In announcing the sentence, the Court noted the continuing threat to society Smith poses as well as his history of violence, particularly violence against women. Public record reflects that Smith has a lengthy criminal history, with charges in Oklahoma County District Court including: possession of cocaine base in case number CF-1998-3201; possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of drug proceeds in case number CF-2014-2736; felon in possession of a firearm, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm with a defaced or mutilated serial number, possession of meth, possession of cocaine-base, and possession of drug paraphernalia in case number CF-2018-1403. This case is the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Oklahoma City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary E. Walters prosecuted the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice program to reduce violent crime. In October 2017, the Department announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop crime-reduction strategies that incorporate lessons federal law enforcement have learned since the program’s launch in 2001. This case is also part of “Operation 922,” the Western District of Oklahoma’s implementation of PSN, which prioritizes prosecution of federal crimes connected to domestic violence. For more information about PSN, please visit https://justice.gov/psn and https://justice.gov/usao-wdok . Reference is made to public filings for additional information.


title: Oklahoma City woman sentenced for federal drug trafficking, money laundering,  and financial crimes in Eastern District of Texas

component: Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces

body_text: SHERMAN, Texas – An Oklahoma City, OK woman has been sentenced to 16 years in federal prison for various crimes related to an international drug trafficking conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. Debra Lynn Mercer-Erwin, 61, was convicted at trial of money laundering; wire fraud; conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine; and conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine knowing it would be imported into the United States. Mercer-Erwin was sentenced to 192 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant on November 20, 2024. “Mercer-Erwin is no different than her drug dealing clients,” said U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs. “She knowingly and intentionally helped them hide their identities, transport their drugs, and launder their money. A jury of her peers convicted her for this and the punishment that she received is just. The agents who investigated this case and the prosecutors who tried it are to be commended for their efforts.” “The impact of this successful investigation on the aviation industry and international drug trafficking is immense. This defendant conspired with numerous transnational criminal organizations, facilitating money laundering, the trafficking of cocaine and other dangerous drugs throughout South, Central and North America using aircraft registered in her name to evade law enforcement,” said Mary Magness, Deputy Special Agent in Charge of HSI Dallas. “HSI remains committed to collaborating with federal, local and international law enforcement partners to dismantle these multi-faceted criminal networks that endanger the well-being of our citizens.” “Our ability to trace the wire transfers and show how the illegally obtained money comingled with Mercer’s business funds are how we do business at IRS-CI. Even after the money mixed into her accounts, we could still track where it was sent and what it was used to buy,” said Lucy Tan, acting Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Houston Field Office. “The illegal narcotics trade is about money and we’re elite criminal financial investigators.” According to information presented in court, between 2010 and 2020, Mercer-Erwin conspired with others to enable the distribution of cocaine in the United States by purchasing and illegally registering aircraft under foreign corporations and other individuals for export to other countries. Non-US citizens are allowed to register an aircraft with the FAA if the aircraft is placed in a trust that is managed by a U.S. trustee. Mercer-Erwin was the owner of Wright Brothers Aircraft Title (WBAT) and Aircraft Guaranty Corporation (AGC). WBAT often served as an escrow agent for transactions involving AGC and was the designated party responsible for FAA filings related to AGC aircraft. AGC, a corporation at that time operating out of Onalaska, Texas, an east Texas town in the Eastern District of Texas, without an airport. AGC acted as trustee to over 1,000 aircrafts with foreign owners. This allowed the foreign nationals to receive an “N” tail number for their aircrafts. The “N” tail number is valuable because foreign countries are less likely to inspect a U.S.-registered aircraft for airworthiness or force down an American aircraft. According to prosecutors, several of the illegally registered and exported aircraft were used by transnational criminal organizations in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico to smuggle large quantities of cocaine destined for the United States. The illicit proceeds from the subsequent drug sales were then transported as bulk cash from the United States to Mexico and used to buy more aircraft and cocaine. Aircraft purchases were typically completed by foreign nationals working for transnational criminal organizations who came to the United States with drug proceeds and purchased aircraft valued in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Mercer-Erwin exploited her position as trustee to circumvent U.S. laws by disguising the true identity of the foreign owners, failing to conduct due diligence as to the identity of the foreign owners, providing false aircraft locations, and falsifying and forging documents. Trial testimony revealed the investigation was initiated after aircraft filing irregularities were discovered in tandem with numerous AGC aircraft found carrying substantial amounts of cocaine. The testimony further revealed additional aircraft in AGC’s trust were not seized but found by foreign officials destroyed or abandoned near clandestine landing strips in several South American countries. Some of these wrecked or abandoned aircraft still contained muti-ton kilos of cocaine onboard, and few, if any, of the seized or destroyed aircraft were in the location they were reported to be located. When authorities confronted Mercer-Erwin as the representative of AGC, she refused to comply and each time law enforcement would seize an AGC registered aircraft laden with drugs, Mercer-Erwin attempted to distance herself from the narcotic’s trafficking by transferring ownership of the aircraft using fictitious information to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the aircraft. Additionally, Mercer-Erwin and co-defendants participated in a series of bogus aircraft sales transactions in order to conceal the movement of illegally obtained funds. The co-defendants would provide buyers and investors with fabricated documents and supply false representations regarding the bogus sale of an unsellable aircraft. The aircraft was unsellable because, unbeknownst to the buyers, the true owners of the aircraft had no knowledge or intention of selling the aircraft. Other bogus sales presented to buyers consisted of aircraft that was owned by a commercial airline and previously decommissioned and inoperable. None of the aircraft presented to the buyers were for sale. The defendants would convince the buyer to place a deposit into an escrow account with WBAT, the title company owned by Mercer-Erwin, pending the completion of the sale. Once the money was placed in WBAT’s escrow account, the buyers were responsible for the interest accrued, and an escrow fee would be charged. In a typical sale, the deposit would remain in the escrow account. However, Mercer-Erwin would transfer the money from the escrow account to bank accounts controlled by the co-conspirators. Since the aircraft was not truly for sale, the purchase of the aircraft would inevitably fall through, and the deposit would have to be returned. The co-conspirators would repeat the process by luring another buyer for the purchase of another unsellable aircraft. Each transaction would pay for the previous one, and Mercer-Erwin would receive an escrow fee ranging from $25,000 to $150,000 for her participation in the scheme. This is an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) case and was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (Dallas, Brownsville, Laredo, Guatemala, Colombia, Honduras, Mexico, and Transnational Criminal Investigative Units); Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (Dallas and Houston offices); Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG); Office of Export Enforcement; Polk County Constable Precinct 1; Southeast Texas Export Investigations Group; Internal Revenue Service; Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); Estado Mayor De La Defensa Nacional Guatemala; Fuerza Aerea Guatemalteca; and Fuerza Aerea Colombiana. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather Rattan and Lesley Brooks. ###


title: Couple who led drug trafficking conspiracy connected to Aryan prison gang plead guilty

body_text: Seattle – Two leaders of a drug trafficking organization connected to the Aryan Family prison gang pleaded guilty to drug trafficking, money laundering, and firearms related charges today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Jesse James Bailey, 40, and his wife, Candace Bailey, 42, are scheduled for sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge David G. Estudillo on February 28, 2025. Jesse Bailey pleaded guilty to possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute in a quantity that triggers a ten-year mandatory minimum sentence. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which adds a mandatory five-year term to his prison sentence. Bailey also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder money. Prosecutors and the defense have agreed to recommend a sentence of 210 months in prison. Candace Bailey pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, illegally transferring a firearm to a prohibited person, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Prosecutors have agreed to recommend no more than ten years in prison for Candace Bailey. Chief Judge Estudillo is not bound by the recommendations and can impose any sentence allowed by law. On Wednesday March 22, 2023, the FBI led a coordinated takedown of this criminal drug trafficking organization. They arrested two dozen people, including the Baileys. On that day law enforcement seized 177 firearms, more than ten kilograms of methamphetamine, 11 kilos of fentanyl pills and more than a kilo of fentanyl powder, three kilos of heroin, and more than $330,000 in cash from eighteen locations in Washington and Arizona. The Baileys are forfeiting $699,268 seized from them as proceeds of criminal activity as well as 42 firearms, silencers, body armor, ammunition, scopes, and tripods seized from various storage lockers and their residence. They are also forfeiting dozens of pieces of jewelry as proceeds of their criminal conduct. In their plea agreements, the Baileys admitted to their drug trafficking conduct. The plea agreements describe how the couple discussed various suppliers of illegal narcotics and the pricing. They discussed drug buyers as well. Due to his criminal history, Jesse Bailey was prohibited from possessing firearms, and Candace Bailey admitted she transferred firearms to Jesse Bailey knowing he was a previously convicted felon. Finally, the Baileys admitted in their plea agreements how the couple sought to launder their drug proceeds through various casinos and bank accounts. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. This investigation was led by the FBI with critical investigative teamwork from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Washington State Department of Corrections and significant local assistance from the Tacoma Police Department, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, and the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force, led by the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office. Throughout this investigation the following agencies assisted the primary investigators: Washington State Patrol, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Lakewood Police Department, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Zach Dillon and Max Shiner.


title: Mexican National Who Killed Pedestrian in Drunken Crash Sentenced to 15 Years for Immigration Violations

body_text: A Mexican man twice convicted of driving drunk – once with fatal consequences – was sentenced today to 15 years in federal prison for entering the U.S. illegally, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton. Guadalupe Gerardo Reyes-Gonzalez, a citizen of Mexico, was charged with illegal re-entry after removal from the United States shortly after his second DWI. He pleaded guilty in August and was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Ada Brown to 15 years in federal prison. According to state court records, Mr. Reyes-Gonzalez was convicted of intoxicated manslaughter in 1997 after he slammed his vehicle into a pedestrian, causing such severe trauma to his head that he died that same day. Mr. Reyes-Gonzalez’s blood alcohol content was 0.15, nearly twice the legal limit. He was sentenced to eight years imprisonment by the state. After serving his sentence, the defendant was deported and returned to the U.S. several times. In 2021, Mr. Reyes-Gonzalez once again drove drunk. He was convicted of DWI and sentenced to three days imprisonment. At his federal sentencing hearing, Judge Brown noted that the defendant had already killed one U.S. citizen and she was sentencing him to 180 months in federal prison in order to protect the public. U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement conducted the investigation with the cooperation of the Mesquite Police Department, which responded to the DWI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Walt Junker prosecuted the case.


title: South Florida Resident Arrested for Attempting to Bomb a U.S. Business Located in New York City

component: USAO - Florida, Southern

body_text: MIAMI - Harun Abdul-Malik Yener, 30, of Coral Springs, Fla., was arrested today based on a criminal complaint charging him with attempt to use an explosive device to damage or destroy a building used in interstate commerce. Markenzy Lapointe, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General for National Security; and Jeffrey Veltri, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, Miami Field Office, made the announcement. According to court documents, the FBI initiated an investigation into Yener in February after receiving a tip that he was storing bombmaking schematics in an unlocked storage unit. The FBI searched the unit and found bombmaking sketches, numerous watches with timers, electronic circuit boards, and other electronics that could be used for constructing explosive devices. The FBI also uncovered multiple internet searches from Yener’s Google account for aspects of bombmaking since as early as 2017. In June, Yener told an FBI confidential source of his desire to join an anti-government militia and to construct an explosive device. After meeting an FBI undercover employee, whom Yener believed to be part of a militia, Yener indicated he wanted to target a U.S. business located in New York City the week before Thanksgiving. His stated motivation for bombing the business was to attain a “reboot” and/or “reset” of the United States government. Yener constructed a remote-trigger for the explosive device and conducted research on where to plant the bomb. Yener tasked FBI undercover employees with procuring the explosive element for the device, conducting surveillance of the business, and obtaining photos of the building to identify the precise location for detonating the explosive device. Yener planned on wearing a disguise when planting the explosive device outside the business and recorded a message to be delivered to the press about his reasons for the attack. Yener anticipated the impact of the explosion would be “like a small nuke went off” and that “[a]nything outside” the building “will be wiped out” and “anything inside there would be killed.” Yener had his initial appearance this afternoon and stipulated to pretrial detention with the right to request a hearing at a later date. The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the Coral Springs Police Department and the Joint Terrorism Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Thakur and Abbie D. Waxman of the Southern District of Florida and Trial Attorney Elisa Poteat of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint contains allegations. 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 24-mj-04432. ###


title: Burlington Man Sentenced to 230 Months in Federal Prison for Distributing Meth

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Burlington man was sentenced yesterday to 230 months in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine. According to public court documents, David Lee Davis, Jr., 38, distributed approximately two pounds of methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement officer in October 2022. At the time, Davis was under a term of federal supervised release for a 2012 conviction for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Davis’s term of supervised release was revoked, and he was sentenced to 51-months consecutive to his 230-months sentence. After completing his term of imprisonment, Davis will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Quad Cities Metropolitan Enforcement Group, Southeast Iowa Narcotics Task Force, Davenport Police Department, Scott County Special Operations Unit, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.


title: Lincoln Man Sentenced to 30 months in Prison for Possessing Unregistered Suppressors

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

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Dillon M. Salvo, age 29, of Lincoln, Nebraska, was sentenced November 20, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, after having pled guilty to receiving and possessing unregistered firearm suppressors. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Salvo to 30 months’ imprisonment that will run consecutive to his Nebraska state convictions in unrelated theft cases. There is no parole in the federal system. After Salvo’s release he will begin a 2-year term of supervised release. As part of this prosecution, over 26 firearms were forfeited, along with firearm suppressors and ammunition. On March 19, 2023, the Lincoln Police Department and Nebraska State Patrol obtained a state search warrant for the common residence of Dillon Salvo and codefendant William Rader. During the search, law enforcement located four suspected unregistered firearm suppressors inside the residence along with numerous firearms. A database check was completed for registered items with the National Firearms Act Branch (NFA) of the ATF, which revealed that neither Rader nor defendant Salvo had registered firearm suppressors in the database, making their possession illegal. 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Lincoln Police Department and Nebraska State Patrol.


title: Walthill Woman Sentenced for Involuntary Manslaughter in Indian Country

body_text: United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Dawnika Walker, age 30, of Walthill, Nebraska, was sentenced on November 20, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for involuntary manslaughter in Indian Country. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Walker to 80 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Walker’s release from prison, she will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. Judge Buescher also ordered Walker to pay approximately $23,000 in restitution to the deceased victim’s family. In February 2024, Walker was driving a minivan on the Winnebago Indian Reservation in Nebraska when she struck and killed a 63-year-old male motorcyclist on US Highway 75. Through lab testing, law enforcement determined Walker had been intoxicated well above the legal limit in Nebraska. Walker struck the victim motorcyclist while attempting a left turn, even though she lacked the right of way. Walker has multiple prior convictions for driving while under the influence, a major factor cited by Judge Buescher when handing down Walker’s 80-month sentence. This case was prosecuted in federal court because the offense was a felony and occurred on the Winnebago Indian Reservation in Nebraska. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.


title: Tampa Man Indicted For Possessing Firearm And Ammunition As A Convicted Felon

body_text: Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces the return of an indictment charging Shannon Pernell Brown (39, Tampa) with possessing a firearm or ammunition as a convicted felon. If convicted, Brown faces a minimum penalty of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison under the Armed Career Criminal Act. The indictment also notifies Brown that the United States intends to forfeit a Glock firearm and ammunition used in the commission of the offense. According to the indictment, on August 31, 2024, Brown was in possession of a Glock firearm and ammunition. Prior to possessing the firearm and ammunition, Brown had previously been convicted of multiple felonies, including conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, trafficking in cocaine, and possession of cocaine with intent to sell or deliver. 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 is part of the 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 for occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tampa Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Chang.