title: Kentucky Lab Agrees to $4.9 Million Civil Judgment and Drug Treatment Center Enters Settlement to Pay $2.2 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: LEXINGTON, Ky. – The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky has entered an agreed judgment for $4.9 million, in favor of the United States and against AccuLab, LLC d/b/a Thoroughbred Diagnostics (“Thoroughbred”), holding the lab liable for submitting false claims for urine drug testing services to the Medicare and Kentucky Medicaid programs. Relatedly, the United States entered into a settlement agreement with Edgewater Recovery Center, LLC (“Edgewater”), the drug rehabilitation facility that caused the submission of those false laboratory claims, to resolve its own False Claims Act liability. Pursuant to that settlement agreement, Edgewater will pay the Government $2.2 million. Edgewater operates residential and outpatient drug rehabilitation facilities in multiple locations in Kentucky. The Government alleged that Edgewater requested the same complex panel of urine drug tests for all its patients on a weekly basis, without considering whether individual patients needed them. In typical cases, Edgewater did not even use the results of these expensive tests for the patients’ medical diagnosis or treatment. Thoroughbred is a clinical laboratory based in Bowling Green, Ky., that performed urine drug tests for Edgewater’s patients. The Government alleged that Thoroughbred performed the urine drug tests requested by Edgewater and billed them to Medicare and Kentucky Medicaid, despite knowing the tests were not typically used for patients’ medical diagnosis or treatment. The Government further alleged that Thoroughbred billed for urine drug screens – a less complex test – performed on Edgewater specimens without a proper medical order requesting the test. As a result, Thoroughbred improperly received substantial payments from Medicare and Kentucky Medicaid. The False Claims Act is a federal law that prohibits the submission of false or fraudulent claims for payment to the federal government. Medicare and Kentucky Medicaid only authorize payment for laboratory testing that is individualized to each patient, is used for medical diagnosis or treatment, and is supported by a proper medical order. As federally-funded health care programs, Medicare and Kentucky Medicaid require all tests and procedures to be medically necessary and in compliance with program rules and applicable law. Under the terms of its Settlement Agreement with the United States, Edgewater agreed to pay $2,249,632.92 to resolve allegations that it caused the submission of false claims. Edgewater also entered into a Corporate Integrity Agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, requiring the business to appoint a Compliance Officer – who will be tasked with implementing policies to ensure compliance with federal health care program requirements and monitoring Edgewater’s day-to-day compliance activities – and retain an independent compliance expert to review their compliance program. Thoroughbred separately agreed to entry of an Agreed Judgment in the case, in favor of the United States, in the amount of $4,925,441.42. To satisfy this judgment, Thoroughbred will immediately pay the United States $450,000 and then remit the proceeds resulting from its ceasing of lab operations. Thoroughbred must pay to the United States 100% of the net proceeds of the sale of its assets, 70% of its reimbursements from healthcare payors for one year, and any funds received pursuant to an Employee Retention Tax Credit. “Medicare and Medicaid are intended – and funded – to provide medically necessary health care benefits to millions of eligible Americans,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “When the valuable and limited resources of these programs are depleted, by fraud, waste, or abuse, it has a profound impact on us all. We simply must prioritize taking the steps available to us to prevent inappropriate billing like this, and to return the funds to their proper purpose – providing necessary medical care.” “Providers who participate in federal health care programs must follow the law governing the integrity of federally funded health care programs such as Medicare and Medicaid,” said Tamala E. Miles, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG is committed to protecting the integrity of the Medicare and Medicaid programs and the people they serve. We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to address allegations brought under the False Claims Act.” The settlement resolves a lawsuit brought by a private citizen under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party can file a civil action on behalf of the United States, thereby bringing allegations of fraud to the Government’s attention, and share in any financial recovery. As part of this resolution, the individual who filed the qui tam complaint will receive a portion of the settlement proceeds. This case was investigated by the Affirmative Civil Enforcement section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Benjamin Long and Katherine Sheridan represented the United States. This case is captioned United States ex rel. Katharine Coale v. Edgewater Recovery Center, LLC, et al. , Case No. 3:21-CV-00056-GFVT. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. – END –


title: U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects $9,881,859.25 in Civil and Criminal Actions in Fiscal Year 2023

component: USAO - North Carolina, Middle

body_text: Greensboro, NC -- U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Hairston announced today that the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC) collected $9,881,859.25 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2023. Of this amount, $7,799,811.20 was collected in criminal actions and $2,082,048.05 was collected in civil actions . “ Recovering criminal and civil debts, including restitution owed to crime victims, is a vital part of our mission,” said U.S. Attorney Hairston. “We appreciate the work of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners and we will continue to prioritize collections in order to hold criminals accountable, collect debts to the government, and compensate victims of crime.” Criminal collections in MDNC in FY23 included more than $6.6 million recovered from sales of properties belonging to Thomas Earl Tilley. In 2015, Tilley pled guilty to an elaborate scheme of sham trusts, fake corporations, and other nominee entities in order to hide his income and assets, including real property, from the IRS, thereby preventing the IRS from assessing and collecting Tilley’s federal tax debts. He was sentenced to 32 months of imprisonment and ordered to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $7,676,757.00. Following his conviction, Tilley continued to obstruct efforts to collect his restitution debt including the filing of fraudulent UCC financing statements, transferring properties to a trust controlled by his son, and selling, or attempting to sell, several properties without paying the proceeds toward his restitution debt. In 2019, the United States filed a civil action to void the property transfers as fraudulent and to enforce the United States’ lien. The court-ordered property sales in 2023 marked the end of years of litigation and produced funds sufficient to satisfy the remaining restitution balance of $6,650,223.25. The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs. Additionally, the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Middle District of North Carolina, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected approximately $2.0 million in asset forfeiture actions in FY 2023. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice and Department of Treasury Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes. ###


title: Federal Indictments Allege International Organized Crime Syndicate Imported and Exported Narcotics Across North America

component: Office of the Deputy Attorney General

body_text: Ten people were arrested in multiple cities over the past day in relation to two federal indictments charging members of an organized crime syndicate who allegedly conspired to traffic and import hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and other controlled substances from Mexico through Los Angeles for export to Canada or re-distribution throughout the United States. Arrest and search warrants were executed this morning by a coalition of international law enforcement partners in various cities, including Los Angeles; Sacramento, California; Miami; Odessa, Texas; Montreal; Toronto; and Calgary, Canada. In addition to those arrested, two defendants were already in state custody, and seven defendants are fugitives, including three Mexicans who allegedly supplied wholesale quantities of narcotics to the traffickers in the United States and Canada. The investigation, known as “Operation Dead Hand,” resulted in two federal grand jury indictments returned under seal in Los Angeles earlier this month. The indictments, which were unsealed today, collectively charge 19 individuals for their alleged roles in the organized crime syndicate, including Mexico-based suppliers who brought large quantities of narcotics into the United States, United States distributors, a Canadian who led an exportation organization, Canadian-based semi-truck drivers who operate in the United States, and a large-scale Canadian trafficker and Italian organized crime figure, Robert Scoppa, whom investigators allege was purchasing massive quantities of drugs on a wholesale basis. “Today’s charges and arrests across North America reflect the Justice Department’s close coordination with our Mexican and Canadian partners to disrupt international narcotics trafficking,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. “These cases provide yet another example of how our agents and prosecutors work side-by-side to uncover and dismantle organized criminal networks peddling and profiting from deadly drugs.” “Drug trafficking is a global problem being driven by sophisticated, organized crime groups who put profits over people’s lives,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California. “Motivated by greed, these criminals destroy lives, devastate families, and wreak havoc in our community. But this case shows that we will collaborate with our international partners to bring these criminal networks to justice. Those who traffic in highly addictive and dangerous drugs will be held accountable.” “Until today, the organized members of this conspiracy operated with impunity throughout the many thousands of miles that comprise the North American continent, poisoning communities along the way,” said Assistant Director in Charge Donald Alway of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. “The strength of this partnership cannot be overstated. The agents and detectives on this case did an outstanding job of pooling resources and worked seamlessly across borders toward a mutual goal of putting this massive drug pipeline out of business.” Investigators developed information indicating the organized crime group used Canadian “handlers” and “dispatchers” who travelled from Canada to Los Angeles for short amounts of time. The handlers coordinated the pick-up and delivery of large shipments of cocaine and methamphetamine, which were loaded onto long-haul semi-trucks destined for Canada. Wholesale quantities of fentanyl were seized as a result of the investigation. The transportation was coordinated by a network of drivers working with dozens of trucking companies who made numerous border crossings from the United States to Canada via the Detroit Windsor Tunnel, the Buffalo Peace Bridge, and the Blue Water Bridge. The indictments allege illicit drug trafficking activity cumulatively involving approximately 845 kilograms (1,860 pounds) of methamphetamine, 951 kilograms (2,092 pounds) of cocaine, 20 kilograms (44 pounds) of fentanyl, and 4 kilograms (nearly 9 pounds) of heroin. Over $900,000 in cash was seized during the investigation. The estimated wholesale value of the narcotics seized was between $16-28 million. “Customs and Border Protection’s partnerships with international, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies are a key component of our efforts to combat the transnational organized crime threat and prevent the movement of dangerous illicit drugs,” said Director of Field Operations Cheryl M. Davies of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)’s Los Angeles Field Office. “CBP will continue to invest in these partnerships as we work together to keep dangerous drugs out of our communities.” U.S. v. Sandoval: An 18-count indictment returned on Jan. 4 charges 10 defendants for their roles in an organization which allegedly began operating on an unknown date and continued to on or about March 2023. The charges in the indictment allege two drug trafficking conspiracies; conspiracy to import cocaine; drug exportation conspiracy; distribution/possession with intent to distribute controlled substances; possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking; and being a felon in possession of ammunition. The defendants charged in this indictment are: Jesus Ruiz Sandoval Jr., 45, of Guadalajara, Mexico; John Joe Soto, 42, of Guadalajara; Eduardo Carvajal, 50, of Guadalajara; Roberto Scoppa, 55, of Montreal; Ayush Sharma, 25, of Brampton, Canada; Subham Kumar, 29, of Calgary, Canada; Carlos Barragan, 51, of Long Beach, California; Corell Carbajal Garcia, 38, of Hemet, California; Humberto Luis Bermejo, 26, of Odessa, Texas; and Esteban Sinhue Mercado, 24, of San Jacinto, California. Sandoval Jr., who is currently a fugitive, is believed to be a large-scale drug trafficker involved in importing drugs from Mexico into the United States for distribution. John Joe Soto is believed to work under Sandoval. Eduardo Carvajal, also an alleged large-scale drug-trafficker, is believed to export drugs from the United States to Canada. Robert Scoppa is an alleged Canadian drug trafficker with close ties to an Italian organized crime family in Montreal. Barragan is an alleged drug trafficker who lives in the United States. Sharma and Kumar are semi-truck drivers involved in exporting drugs to Canada. U.S. v. Sidhu: A 23-count indictment returned on Jan. 3 charges nine defendants for their roles in a related criminal enterprise which allegedly operated from at least September 2020 through February 2023. In addition to a drug trafficking conspiracy, the indictment alleges a drug exportation conspiracy and substantive counts of distribution/possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. The defendants charged in this indictment are: Guramrit Sidhu, 60, of Brampton, Canada; Ivan Gravel Gonzalez, 32, a resident of both the Dominican Republic and Montreal; Daniel Antonio Trejo Huerta, 43, of Riverside, California; Ignacio Lopez, 53, a resident of Santa Ana, California; Daniel Joseph Alan Herrera, 27, of Miami; Orlando Velasco Jr., 29, of Stanton, California; Angel Larry Sandoval, 32, of Bell Gardens, California; Jorge Pina Nicols, 22, of Long Beach, California; and Bryan Ureta Valenzuela, 24, of Ontario, California. Sidhu, also known as King, is alleged to have orchestrated the trafficking and exportation of large-scale quantities of controlled substances to Canada working with several co-defendants described as suppliers. Ivan Gravel Gonzalez is alleged to be part of Sidhu’s exportation team based in the United States. Sidhu is charged with one count of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise. According to the indictment, Sidhu occupied a position of organizer, supervisor, and manager, and in this role obtained substantial income and resources. If convicted, each defendant faces maximum penalties ranging from 40 years to life in prison. If convicted, Sidhu would face a mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years in prison. If convicted, Sandoval and Carvajal each would face a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison. The FBI, the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Interagency Metropolitan Police Apprehension Crime Task Force (LA IMPACT), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, CBP, and law enforcement authorities in Mexico investigated the case. Significant assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the FBI’s Legal Attaché Offices in Mexico City, Ottawa, and New Delhi, and the FBI Miami, El Paso, and Buffalo Field Offices provided substantial assistance and support. Operation Dead Hand 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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittney M. Harris for the Central District of California’s International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section is prosecuting this case. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: St. Louis County Man Sentenced to 15 Months in Prison for Buying Stolen Catalytic Converters

component: USAO - Missouri, Eastern

body_text: ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Court Ronnie L. White on Tuesday sentenced a St. Louis County, Missouri man who bought thousands of dollars’ worth of stolen catalytic converters to 15 months in prison. In a Facebook post in 2021, Asmir Jasarevic, now 33, of Lakeshire, falsely claimed to be a licensed dealer who wanted to buy catalytic converters. Jasarevic admitted in his guilty plea in September that he made a “significant” number of purchases when he had direct knowledge that the catalytic converters were stolen. Jasarevic offered no receipts and paid only in cash, offering well below market value. He bought converters at his apartment or public places, kept no records and conducted business at night, his plea says. Jasarevic admitted selling nearly $50,000 worth of converters to a recycling company in Illinois, $20,000 of which came from stolen property. Catalytic converters contain trace amounts of precious metals and have been cut off vehicles around the country by thieves. Jasarevic pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to transport and sell stolen goods. Homeland Security Investigations and the Maryland Heights Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Ware prosecuted the case.


title: Queens Woman Sentenced to 25 Months in Prison for Leadership Role in Visa Fraud, Identity Theft and Human Smuggling Scheme

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: BROOKLYN, NY – Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Stella Boyadjian was sentenced by United States Chief District Judge Margo K. Brodie to 25 months in prison for her role in a multi-year visa fraud, identity theft, and immigrant smuggling conspiracy that brought Armenian citizens into the United States for profit. Boyadjian pleaded guilty in March 2019 to conspiracy to defraud the United States, commit visa fraud, and unlawfully bring aliens to the United States, visa fraud and aggravated identity theft. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Nicole M. Argentieri, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Carlos F. Matus, Director of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), announced the sentence. Boyadjian led a transnational network of co-conspirators who engaged in a widespread visa fraud scheme to bring Armenian citizens into the United States by fraudulently claiming to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that the Armenians were members of performance groups and thus qualified for P-3 “Culturally Unique Artist” visas. The P-3 nonimmigrant visa classification allows foreign nationals to temporarily travel to the United States to perform, teach, or coach as artists or entertainers, under a program that is culturally unique. A U.S. employer or sponsoring organization is required to submit a USCIS Form I-129 Petition for a Non-Immigrant Worker, along with supporting documentation, attesting that the performances in the United States are culturally unique. Boyadjian ran a non-profit organization called Big Apple Music Awards (BAMA) Foundation based in Rego Park, Queens. She used the BAMA Foundation as well as formal and informal music industry contacts in the United States and Armenia to perpetuate the scheme. Boyadjian and others solicited Armenian citizens who wanted to come to the United States and charged them between $3,000 and $15,000 to be included on the Form I-129 Petitions. Boyadjian and other associates in Armenia acquired fraudulent performer certificates and organized staged photo sessions where the aliens wore traditional Armenian folk outfits to appear to be traditional Armenian performers. After being trained by Boyadjian and her conspirators on how to answer questions from USCIS visa adjudicators, the individual aliens presented these certificates and photos to U.S. consular officers during their visa interviews. Once the Armenians entered the United States, some would pay Boyadjian and her associates additional money to be included in another fraudulent petition asking for P-3 visa extensions. Some aliens overstayed their visas and remained unlawfully in the United States. The DSS’ Criminal Fraud Investigations and Overseas Criminal Investigations Divisions investigated the case, with assistance from the USCIS Fraud Detection and National Security, Center Fraud Detection Operations in Vermont. Assistant United States Attorney John O. Enright of the Eastern District of New York and Rami S. Badawy, Chief of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section are in charge of the prosecution. The Defendant: STELLA BOYADJIAN Age: 53 Rego Park, Queens E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-57 (MKB)


title: Gainesville Man Sentenced To 320 Months In Federal Prison For Production And Distribution Of Child Pornography

component: USAO - Florida, Northern

body_text: GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA – Justin Ray Crosby, 25, of Hawthorne, Florida, was sentenced to 320 months imprisonment for one count of production of child pornography and 240 months imprisonment for one count of distribution of child pornography, the terms to run concurrent with each other. The sentence was announced by Jason R. Coody, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. “Crimes against children are among the most heinous types of offenses and deserving of the most significant sentences,” said U.S. Attorney Coody. “Those who produce child pornography facilitate the abuse of children and rob them of not only of their innocence but their very childhood. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to investigate and vigorously prosecute those who engage in such vile conduct.” In July 2022, law enforcement officers in Gainesville, Florida began an investigation related to the distribution of an image depicting the sexual abuse of a 12-year-old minor child on an instant messaging app. Investigators determined the child resided in Gainesville, Florida. The child was interviewed, and several social media accounts and electronic devices were obtained and examined, leading to Crosby’s identification. Investigators determined Crosby had met with the child on several occasions, and in one instance he filmed himself engaged in sexual contact with the child. He later distributed the video on an instant messaging application. Crosby’s prison sentence will be followed by a lifetime of supervised release. He was ordered to pay $20,000 in restitution to the victim. Crosby will also be required to register as a sex offender and be subject to all sex offender conditions. The case was investigated by Internet Crime Against Children Task Force Gainesville Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Frank Williams prosecuted the case. 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 and led by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), it 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.projectsafechildhood.gov . The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General. To access public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website. For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html .


title: Sanostee Man Charged with Aggravated Sexual Abuse

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

body_text: ALBUQUERQUE – Alexander M.M. Uballez, United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Raul Bujanda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, announced that Nathan Mescale appeared in federal court on an indictment charging him with aggravated sexual abuse. Mescale, 34, of Sanostee, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, will remain in custody pending trial. According to the indictment, between Dec. 2 and Dec. 3, 2023, Mescale caused Jane doe to engage in a sexual act by using force. An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Mescale faces up to life in prison. The Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office investigated this case with the assistance of the Navajo Police Department and Department of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mia Ulibarri-Rubin is prosecuting the case. View the Indictment # # # 24-42


title: LaPorte Man Sentenced To 144 Months

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

body_text: SOUTH BEND – Pedro Gomez Jr., 31 years old, of LaPorte, Indiana, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Damon R. Leichty after pleading guilty to distribution of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Clifford D. Johnson. Gomez was sentenced to 144 months in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. According to documents in the case, during the fall of 2022, Gomez and his co-defendant, Monica Harrington, distributed methamphetamine in the Michigan City area. In October 2022, co-defendant Amanda West supplied Gomez and Harrington with an ounce of methamphetamine. In total, Gomez distributed almost 200 grams of methamphetamine. Harrington was previously sentenced to 75 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. West was previously sentenced to 57 months in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the DEA North Central Laboratory and the LaPorte County Drug Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Katelan McKenzie Doyle.


title: Tennessee Man Sentenced to Over 11 Years in Prison for Conspiracy  to Possess with Intent to Distribute over 27 Grams of Methamphetamine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Gulfport, Miss. – A Memphis man was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over 27 grams of methamphetamine. Bryant Williams, 40, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport. According to court records, in 2015, an investigation began into a large-scale drug trafficking organization located largely in Picayune, MS (Pearl River County). In 2018, Bryant Williams and two others were identified as being part of the conspiracy. On October 24, 2018, Williams and two of his co-conspirators sold 27.9g of actual methamphetamine at 99% purity to an individual in Picayune. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Acting Special Agent in Charge Steve Hofer of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. 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: Federal Indictment Charges Man With Assaulting and Robbing Two Postal Carriers in Chicago Suburb

component: USAO - Illinois, Northern

body_text: CHICAGO — A federal grand jury has indicted a man for allegedly assaulting and robbing two postal carriers in the Chicago suburb of Evanston, Ill. EVERETT G. PULLETT, 33, of Evanston, Ill., assaulted and robbed a postal carrier on Sept. 26, 2022, and another on Sept. 27, 2022, according to an indictment unsealed Monday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. In the second robbery, Pullett displayed a firearm while assaulting and injuring the postal carrier, the indictment states. Law enforcement later recovered from Pullett a U.S. Postal Service key, the indictment states. Pullett is currently detained in law enforcement custody. He was arraigned Monday in federal court in Chicago and pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting and robbing the postal carriers and illegally possessing the key. The most serious offense – the second assault that injured and jeopardized the life of the postal carrier – carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in federal prison, while the first assault and the key possession are each punishable by up to ten years. The indictment was announced by Morris Pasqual, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ruth Mendonça, Inspector-in-Charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Valuable assistance was provided by the Evanston Police Department. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie C. Stern. “U.S. Postal Service employees delivering mail to the American people must be allowed to do so safely and securely,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Pasqual. “Individuals who use violence against postal carriers to gain access to the public's mail must be held accountable.” “This indictment is another example of the roles postal inspectors and our law enforcement partners play in protecting Postal Service employees and customers,” said Inspector-in-Charge Mendonça. “As Postal Service employees continue to play an integral role in our communities, we are clear in our resolve to aggressively investigate anyone who brings harm to these invaluable public servants.” The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Pullett indictment


title: Kevin Love Hubbard Appointed As Civil Division Chief

component: USAO - Rhode Island

body_text: PROVIDENCE – U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha announced today that he has appointed Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Love Hubbard to serve as Chief of the Office’s Civil Division, overseeing a complex and growing practice that represents the interests of the United States in litigation in the federal District Courts as well as on appeal. The Division’s work encompasses affirmative civil cases and investigations, in which the government sues to address fraud, recover federal funds, and enforce a variety of other statutes; defensive litigation, in which the United States represents the government and its agencies and employees in suits filed in federal court; and civil rights, as well as a number of other non-criminal areas of focus that defend the public interest and enforce federal law. Mr. Hubbard joined the United States Attorney’s Office in 2021; at the time, he was a partner in the law firm of Medina Orthwein. Earlier in his career, Mr. Hubbard served as a law clerk to the Honorable Neil Wake of the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, and held litigation roles with two nationally prominent law firms. He is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University and Yale Law School. He succeeds Bethany N. Wong, who has served as civil Chief for the past two years, overseeing substantial growth and expansion in the Office’s already thriving civil practice, particularly in the area of affirmative litigation; Ms. Wong will continue to focus on those critical and significant matters by serving as the office’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement Coordinator. ###


title: Federal Subcontractor Agrees to Pay $5 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations

component: USAO - Michigan, Eastern

body_text: DETROIT - Merrill Technologies Group, Inc., and its subsidiaries, Merrill Tool and Machine, Inc. (MTM), Merrill Fabricators, Inc., Merrill Engineering & Integration, Inc., Merrill Aviation and Defense, Inc. (collectively, Merrill Technologies Group) have agreed to pay $5,000,000 to resolve allegations that MTM violated the False Claims Act by falsely overstating cost or pricing data included in a subcontract proposal for work under a contract with the U.S. Department of the Army. In 2006, a government prime contractor and the U.S. Army’s Tank Automotive Command (TACOM) entered into a sole-source agreement under which the prime contractor agreed to manufacture and assemble components of upgrades to various armored vehicles. Thereafter, in 2010, the prime contractor entered into a subcontract with MTM to perform some of the work under its contract with TACOM. During that process, MTM submitted a subcontract proposal to the prime contractor, which the prime contractor ultimately relied on to negotiate a firm-fixed price contract with TACOM. The settlement announced today resolves the government’s allegations that MTM’s subcontract proposal overstated MTM’s cost or pricing data, thereby causing the prime contractor to negotiate and certify the prime contract with TACOM based on inflated costs, which in turn caused TACOM to pay overcharges at the prime and subcontractor levels. “Government contractors must be completely above board when seeking payment under government contracts,” said U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison for the Eastern District of Michigan. “This settlement demonstrates our commitment to hold accountable contractors who cause the Government to overpay, and who enrich themselves at taxpayer expense.” U.S. Attorney Ison added, “I would like to commend the leadership at Merrill Technologies Group for making things right once the government’s concerns were brought to its attention by federal investigators.” “This settlement is the result of Army CID’s commitment to protect the government, the Army, and most importantly, the taxpayer, from those whose actions can erode the trust and confidence in our military and warfighting capability. Army CID and our law enforcement partners remain committed to hold accountable those who attempt to defraud the government,” said Keith K. Kelly, Special Agent-in-Charge Army Criminal Investigation Division, Fraud Field Office. The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Chad Sibley (Relator). Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. In this case, Relator will receive $900,000.00 as part of the settlement. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Sibley v. Merrill Tool and Machine, et al., Case No 15-13066 (E.D. Mich.). The resolution was the result of a coordinated effort by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division, and the Defense Contract Audit Agency. The matter was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn Bell Harbin from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.


title: US World Gang Member Who Shot at FBI Agent Sentenced to 26+ Years in Prison

body_text: COLUMBUS, Ga. – A Columbus resident and member of a criminal street gang who fired multiple rounds at an FBI agent in the course of armed drug trafficking was sentenced to serve more than 26 years in prison for his crimes this week. Joshuia Johnathon Luke Brown aka “Black,” 26, was sentenced to serve a total of 319 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Clay Land on Jan. 29, after Brown was found guilty of one count of forcible assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon, one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, one count of distribution of methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, three counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on Sept. 18, 2023. Co-defendant Jarvis Smith, 29, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to one count of forcible assault on a federal law enforcement officer, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person on Aug. 9, 2023. Smith is facing a maximum sentence of life in prison. Smith’s sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 20. The defendants are not eligible for parole. “Joshuia Brown used a machine gun to spray a hail of bullets at law enforcement in the middle of the day in a residential neighborhood, striking an FBI agent’s car as well as a nearby private residence,” said U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary. “Brown will now have more than 26 years in federal prison to consider his utter disregard for human life.” “Anyone who assaults a law enforcement officer is dangerous and an extreme threat to public safety. Stopping violent criminals, like Brown, is one of the most important things we can do to protect our communities,” said Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. "Thankfully, no one—including our Special Agent—was injured during Brown's act of terror. Columbus is a safer community with him off the streets." “The federal system leveraged justice for both cowards involved,” said Muscogee County Sheriff Greg Countryman. “This wild west behavior is unacceptable. I am grateful for the work and courage our FBI agents displayed. I see the fruits of their labor in our community. It's making a huge impact with gang and criminal activity.” According to facts presented in court, federal agents were surveilling Brown and Smith in July 2022 as part of a larger and ongoing investigation into armed drug trafficking in the Columbus community. Through surveillance, agents observed a drug transaction involving Smith and Brown on July 28, 2022, in the vicinity of 1049 Winston Road in Columbus. At 4:35 p.m., Smith departed the scene in his car with Brown. FBI Agent S.A. conducted mobile surveillance as Smith traveled down Wade Street, turning south on Sheridan Avenue. Smith, who was driving, stopped his car in the middle of the road and he and Brown, who was a passenger, stepped outside of the car with weapons pointed in the agent’s direction and fired multiple rounds at the agent’s car, hitting the passenger door, the roof and the rear bumper of the FBI vehicle. One round traveled through the back of the FBI agent’s passenger seat, hitting a small bag on the front passenger side. Another round entered a private residence’s living room window, shattering a painting on the wall. The FBI agent was not injured during the shooting. FBI and Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office units attempted to stop Smith’s car; Smith and Brown were able to elude law enforcement in a lengthy pursuit by car and on foot. Smith was taken into custody on July 28. After a manhunt that last several days, Brown turned himself in on Aug. 10. A bag dropped by Brown during the pursuit contained a fully loaded Glock 19X handgun with an extended magazine. Two bullets recovered from the FBI agent’s vehicle matched the Glock 19X found inside Brown’s discarded bag. Law enforcement recovered a camo backpack dropped by Smith during the pursuit that held a fully loaded Glock pistol with an extended magazine, a fully loaded .380 semi-automatic pistol and ammunition. Also, several baggies containing methamphetamine, pills and other illegal drugs were found inside Smith’s backpack. Both the Glock 19X and the Glock pistol were modified to operate as machine guns. Brown is a member of US World, a hybrid criminal street gang based out of Columbus that is affiliated with other national criminal gangs. Smith is a confirmed member of the Bloods criminal street gang and has a prior conviction of aggravated assault, burglary and robbery in Muscogee County, Georgia, Superior Court, Case No. SU-13-Cr-1336. It is illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm. These cases were prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime by bringing together a broad spectrum of stakeholders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. 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 FBI and the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from multiple agencies including the DEA, the Columbus Police Department, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, the Phenix City Police Department and the Russell County, Alabama, Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Williams and Crawford Seals are prosecuting the case for the Government.


title: Six Defendants Convicted of Federal Civil Rights Conspiracy and Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act Offenses for Obstructing Access to Reproductive Health Services in Tennessee

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: A federal jury convicted six defendants today of federal civil rights offenses arising out of their blockade of a reproductive health care clinic in Mount Juliet, Tennessee, on March 5, 2021. The defendants were each convicted of a felony conspiracy against rights and a Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act) offense. According to evidence presented at trial, Chester Gallagher, Heather Idoni, Calvin Zastrow, Coleman Boyd, Paul Vaughn and Dennis Green engaged in a conspiracy to prevent the clinic employees from providing, and patients from receiving, reproductive health services, a civil right secured by the FACE Act. As part of the conspiracy, Idoni, Zastrow, Boyd and Green traveled to Tennessee from other states to participate in the clinic blockade, and Gallagher and Vaughn stalled the Mount Juliet Police Department through negotiations that Gallagher referred to as a delay tactic. Evidence at trial further proved that the defendants violated the FACE Act by using physical obstruction to interfere with the clinic’s employees and a patient because the clinic was providing, and the patient sought, reproductive health services. “These defendants are being held accountable for unlawfully obstructing access to reproductive health services,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to enforce the FACE Act to protect the rights of those who provide and those who seek access to such services.” “These defendants knowingly chose to violate laws they disagreed with,” said U.S. Attorney Henry C. Leventis for the Middle District of Tennessee. “The jury’s verdict today is a victory for the rule of law in this country and a reminder that we cannot pick and choose which laws we follow. It is also a testament to the outstanding work done in this case by the trial team and our law enforcement partners.” A sentencing hearing has been set for July 2. The defendants each face up to a maximum of 10 and a half years in prison, three years of supervised release and fines of up to $260,000. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI Memphis Field Office, Nashville Resident Agency investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.


title: Philadelphia Man Sentenced to 413 Months for Shooting Pharmacy Employee

component: USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Gregory Stevens, 25, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 413 months’ imprisonment by United States District Judge Mitchell S. Goldberg for shooting a pharmacy employee during a robbery. On February 22, 2021, at 3:55 p.m., the defendant entered Universal Pharmacy at 3908 Kensington Avenue in Philadelphia while on parole for another robbery. The defendant brandished a gun and demanded narcotics. After an employee tried to defend himself by putting the defendant into a bear hug, the defendant broke free, intentionally shot the employee, and took $8,200 in narcotics from the pharmacy. The employee survived his injuries but spent three days in the Temple University Hospital ICU and sustained severe damage to his liver. On March 9, 2021, before being arrested for the robbery and shooting, the defendant rode on South Broad Street in a group of dirt bikes in the middle of the day. The defendant suddenly slowed, and he was tapped by the car behind him near the intersection of Broad and Washington. When the car’s driver exited the vehicle to check on the defendant, the defendant assaulted the driver, grabbed a firearm, and nearly shot the driver. The defendant then threw cinder blocks at the driver’s vehicle while the driver hid inside, unable to drive away because of the vehicles in front of him. A viral video of the attack attracted national and international media attention. “Gregory Stevens has proven himself to be a vicious and violent repeat offender with no regard for others,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “He was so determined to steal drugs, he shot a pharmacy employee, inflicting life-changing injuries. Just two weeks later, his shocking assault on a driver horrified people around the world. The lengthy sentence imposed today ensures Mr. Stevens will be off the street for decades, making the city safer for all.” “Predatory violent criminals like Gregory Stevens terrorize our communities,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, FBI Philadelphia's Special Agent in Charge. “Today’s sentencing resulted from the coordinated efforts of the FBI and our community partners. The FBI and its law enforcement partners will never stop working to make our communities safer and free from violent crime.” 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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Miller.


title: Biloxi Man Sentenced to Nearly Six Years in Prison  for Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl

body_text: Gulfport, Miss. – A Biloxi man was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute over 4000 pills containing fentanyl. Raushaud Ladarius Davis, 28, was sentenced in U.S. District in Gulfport. According to court records, On June 2, 2023, Davis was pulled over for a traffic violation in Harrison County, Mississippi. Officers searched the vehicle and found over 4000 pills which tested positive for fentanyl. Davis was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 21, 2023. He pled guilty on October 4, 2023, to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Acting Special Agent in Charge Steve Hofer of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.


title: Former Fall River Man Sentenced to Thirty -Two Months in Prison for Role in Nationwide Identity Theft Fraud Scheme

body_text: PROVIDENCE, RI – A former Fall River resident was sentenced today in federal court in Boston in connection with a nationwide conspiracy to open fraudulent driver accounts with rideshare and delivery service companies. Caio Felipe Oliveira Dos Santos, 27, of Brazil, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 32 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. In October 2023, Dos Santos pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. From approximately January 2019 until April 2021, Dos Santos and others conspired to use stolen identities and/or falsified documents to open fraudulent driver accounts and/or rent or sell those accounts to individual drivers who might not otherwise qualify to drive for the rideshare or delivery services. Co-conspirators exploited referral bonus programs offered by the rideshare and delivery companies and used “bots” and GPS “spoofing” technology to increase the income earned from the companies. As a result of the scheme, Internal Revenue Service Forms 1099 were generated in victims’ names for income co-conspirators earned from the rideshare and delivery companies. Dos Santos and his co-conspirators also used victims’ identifiers to apply for driver accounts with the rideshare and delivery companies, enabling Dos Santos and his co-conspirators to pass those companies’ required background checks and create driver accounts in victims’ names. At times, co-conspirators edited victims’ driver’s license images to display photos of the drivers renting or buying the fraudulent accounts in order to circumvent facial recognition technology that the rideshare and delivery companies used as a security measure. Dos Santos and his co-conspirators obtained victims’ names, dates of birth, driver’s license information, and/or Social Security numbers from co-conspirators and other sources, including sites on the Dark Net. They also obtained driver’s license images directly from victims, by photographing victims’ licenses while completing an alcohol delivery through one of the services. Eighteen co-conspirators were indicted in connection with the scheme in May 2021. Fifteen of those defendants have been arrested, while three remain at large. Of those arrested, 14 have been convicted and sentenced. If you believe that you may be a victim of the allegations in this case, please visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/victim-and-witness-assistance-program/us-v-wemerson-dutra-aguiar-and-us-v-priscila-barbosa-et-al . United States Attorney Zachary Cunha and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Massachusetts State Police; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; National Crime Insurance Bureau; and the Concord, Lexington, Plymouth, Wilmington, Marlborough and Village of Rye Brook (N.Y.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristen A. Kearney and David M. Holcomb of the District of Massachusetts Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit prosecuted the case. Mr. Cunha was assigned to oversee this matter by the Department of Justice upon recusal of the U.S Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. ###


title: Ohio Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Firebombing a Church that Planned to Host Drag Show Events

body_text: An Ohio man was sentenced yesterday to 216 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for attempting to burn down a church because of its support for the LGBTQ+ community. Aimenn D. Penny, 20, of Alliance, Ohio, was arrested and charged last year with one count of violating the Church Arson Prevention Act, one count of using fire to commit a federal felony, one count of malicious use of explosive materials, and one count of possessing a destructive device. On Oct. 23, 2023, Penny pleaded guilty to the church arson hate crime and using fire and explosives to commit a felony. According to court documents, on March 25, 2023, Penny made Molotov cocktails and drove to the Community Church of Chesterland (CCC), in Chesterland, Ohio. Angered by the church’s plan to host two drag events the following weekend, Penny threw two Molotov cocktails at the church, hoping to burn it to the ground. Through Penny’s guilty plea, he admitted to using force through fire and explosives, intending to obstruct CCC congregants in their enjoyment and expression of their religious beliefs. “This sentence holds Mr. Penny accountable for carrying out violence against an Ohio church because he disagreed with the way congregants chose to express their beliefs,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Such acts of extremist violence have no place in our communities and the Justice Department is committed to bringing to justice those who would use or threaten violence to prevent their fellow citizens from freely exercising their fundamental rights.” “We hope this significant sentence sends a clear and resounding message that this type of hate-fueled attack against a church will not be tolerated in our country,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This defendant tried to burn down a church simply because its members created space for and provided support to the LGBTQ+ community. The Justice Department will vigorously investigate and prosecute such senseless, bias-motivated violence against people exercising their constitutionally protected right to practice their religion and express their beliefs.” “Aimenn Penny will spend the next 18 years in prison because he committed crimes fueled by hate, attempting to burn down a church because its members supported the LGBTQI+ community,” said U.S. Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio. “Hate crimes like Penny’s hurt not only the individual target, but the entire community, causing people to fear attack based on who they love and undermining the sense of safety within places of worship. Violent, bias-motivated extremism has no place in our country, and our office will aggressively prosecute those who commit such crimes.” “Aimenn Penny is being held accountable for trying to burn down a house of worship because he disagreed with the church hosting certain events,” said Executive Assistant Director Larissa L. Knapp of the FBI’s National Security Branch. “Individuals who commit acts of violence, destroy property, and interfere with the free exercise of religion will face justice for those crimes. As in this case, the FBI, together with our law enforcement partners, will use our lawful authorities to protect our communities from such violence, and ensure those responsible pay the price.” The FBI Cleveland Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Deckert and Matthew W. Shepard for the Northern District of Ohio, Trial Attorneys Jacob Warren and Justin Sher of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section, and Trial Attorney Eric Peffley of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.


title: Philadelphia Woman Charged with Interfering with Flight Crew, Simple Assault, and Indecent Exposure on Frontier Airlines Flight

body_text: PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Dulce Huertas, 60, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with interference with flight crew members and attendants, simple assault, and indecent exposure on a Frontier Airlines flight from Orlando, Florida, to Philadelphia. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of 21 years and three months in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $355,000 fine. The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Air Marshal Service, an agency of the Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration. The Philadelphia Police Department has also provided assistance. An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.


title: Justice Department Secures Agreement with MedStar Health Inc. to Provide People with Disabilities Equal Access to Medical Care

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that it filed a complaint and proposed consent decree in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland to resolve allegations that MedStar Health Inc., a leading health care provider in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., region, violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by denying people with disabilities equal access to medical care by excluding their necessary support persons. “For some people with disabilities, having a family member, aide or other support person by their side is critical to ensure they have the same access to health care as everyone else,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “When health care providers impose visitor restrictions that do not appropriately account for the needs of people with disabilities, they may run afoul of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Justice Department is committed to safeguarding the civil rights of people with disabilities, including ensuring equal access to medical care.” “Patients are entitled to equal access to health care,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland. “We appreciate Medstar Health’s cooperation in this investigation and are pleased that Medstar Health has agreed to take comprehensive steps to ensure that patients with disabilities have the same opportunities to obtain medical care and services.” Some individuals with dementia, intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder and other disabilities may require the assistance of a support person (such as a family member, companion or aide) to provide their medical history or understand medical directions when accessing medical care. The complaint alleges that MedStar Health failed on numerous occasions to modify its visitor restrictions so that people with certain disabilities which affected their ability to independently access medical care could be accompanied by their support persons. As a result, they were unable to receive equal care without the assistance of their support person. Under the proposed consent decree, which the court must approve, MedStar Health has agreed to pay a total of $440,000 to compensate multiple eligible affected individuals. MedStar Health will also revise its policies to ensure ADA compliance, train its workforce on the new policies and report to the department on any future exclusion of support persons, as defined in the decree. This matter was handled jointly by the department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. Title III of the ADA requires private hospitals and other health care providers to provide individuals with disabilities with full and equal enjoyment of their goods and services. For more information on the Civil Rights Division, please visit www.justice.gov/crt . For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TTY 1-833-610-1264) or visit www.ada.gov . If you believe you’ve been discriminated against, you may file a complaint online at www.civilrights.justice.gov/ . Anyone in the District of Maryland may also report civil rights violations by emailing USAMD.Civilrightscomplaint@usdoj.gov .


title: Springfield Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Illegal Firearm

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Springfield, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a firearm. Antowan L. Wade, 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 15 years in federal prison without parole. Wade was sentenced as an armed career criminal due to his prior felony convictions. On Aug. 3, 2023, Wade pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. On May 9, 2022, members of the U.S. Probation Office conducted a search of Wade’s apartment. Wade was on supervised release after serving a federal prison sentence for bank robbery. Officers found a Canik55 9mm semi-automatic pistol with 16 rounds of ammunition under a pillow on the bed in his bedroom. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Wade has two prior felony convictions for bank robbery, a prior felony conviction for the robbery of a Best Buy store in Joplin, Mo., and prior felony convictions for making and passing counterfeit currency and for burglary. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Project Safe Neighborhoods This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Detroit Man Convicted of Sex Trafficking and Production of Child Pornography Charges

body_text: DETROIT – A Detroit man was convicted by a federal jury today on charges of sex trafficking a minor and producing child pornography, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison announced today. Ison was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the FBI in Michigan. Lavonte Sampson, 39, was convicted following a five-day jury trial before United States District Judge Gershwin A. Drain. The jury deliberated approximately two hours before returning their verdicts. Evidence presented at the trial established the investigation began when the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Southeast Michigan Trafficking and Exploitation Crimes Task Force conducted an undercover operation to recover a missing 15-year-old girl. A search of her cellular phone uncovered Facebook messages wherein Sampson recruited her to engage in commercial sex work. He took pictures of her and advertised her online for commercial sex. He took her to a motel in Detroit, where he arranged dates between her and other men and collected the proceeds. Sampson also had sex with the victim, recorded it without the victim’s knowledge, and sent that video recording to the undercover agent when arranging a date. U.S. Attorney Ison stated, “This defendant exploited a vulnerable child. He sold her body to other men for his own personal gain. Combatting human trafficking remains one of our office’s top priorities, especially when it involves children. We will continue to use every tool in our arsenal to battle the sexual exploitation of vulnerable victims in our communities and ensure that predators are held accountable. And while we aggressively pursue this type of justice for all human trafficking victims, at all times, this verdict today, during the end of Human Trafficking Prevention Month, puts a fine point on our unwavering commitment to this important work.” “The FBI is deeply committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of our society, particularly our children, and bringing predators like the defendant to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the FBI in Michigan. “We would like to extend our appreciation to our wide network of law enforcement partners, particularly those on the FBI’s Southeast Michigan Trafficking and Exploitation Crimes (SEMTEC) Task Force, for their critical support in investigating sexual predators who commit crimes against children. The FBI encourages continued vigilance, cooperation, and reporting from the public to help identify and recover victims and bring perpetrators to justice. If you believe you may have any information on crimes of this nature, please contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST or online at report.cybertip.org.” The Court will schedule a sentencing hearing at a later date. Sampson faces a mandatory-minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a maximum up to life. January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month, a time to educate ourselves and raise awareness in our communities about this devastating crime that violates the most basic human rights –freedom. If you are a victim of human trafficking or suspect you know one, please call the FBI, your local law enforcement, or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Southeast Michigan Trafficking and Exploitation Crimes Task Force and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Cowen, Jeanine Brunson, and Ranya Elzein.


title: Repeat Offender Sentenced to 10 Years for Possessing More than 12,000 Images and 1,000 Videos of Children being Sexually Abused

component: USAO - Maine

body_text: PORTLAND, Maine: A Lewiston man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for possessing child sexual abuse material. Chief U.S. District Judge Jon D. Levy sentenced Mark A. Burns , 61, to 10 years in prison followed by eight years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $58,000 in restitution. Burns pleaded guilty on August 28, 2023. According to court records, in April 2023, the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit learned that a computer at an IP address belonging to Burns had shared a sexually explicit image of a child under the age of six. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents executed a search warrant at Burns’ residence, where he admitted that he had downloaded child sexual abuse material. A search of his tablet revealed that it contained 1,103 video files and more than 12,000 images of children ranging in age from infants to young teens. Burns has a 2016 state conviction for possessing sexually explicit material involving a child under the age of 12, which subjected him to a 10-year mandatory minimum sentence. At the sentencing hearing, Chief Judge Jon D. Levy noted that Burns’ collection of child pornography was “immense.” When imposing sentence, Judge Levy called the volume of Burns’ collection a “significant aggravating factor,” as well as the fact that Burns had previously been convicted of the same conduct. HSI and the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit investigated the case. To report an incident involving the possession, distribution, receipt or production of child pornography: Child sexual abuse material – "child pornography" – captures the sexual abuse and exploitation of children. These images document victims’ exploitation and abuse, and they suffer re-victimization every time the images are viewed. File a report with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at https://report.cybertip.org/ or 1-800-843-5678 . If you are in Maine and you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted or abused, you can get help by calling the free, private 24-hour statewide sexual assault helpline at 1-800-871-7741 . Project Safe Childhood: 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 Department’s 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, visit www.justice.gov/psc . ###


title: FINANCIAL ADVISOR INDICTED FOR WIRE FRAUD

component: USAO - Wisconsin, Eastern

body_text: Gregory J. Haanstad, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on January 17, 2024, a grand jury returned an indictment charging Robert C. Starnes with two counts of committing wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343. According to the indictment, Starnes allegedly operated Robert C. Starnes Financial Services, and was a registered investment advisor. Starnes, citing his role as an investment advisor, would seek investment funds from his clients, promising safe returns on those investments. Once someone agreed to invest, Starnes would ask for funds, which he then deposited into his personal bank account. The indictment alleges that Starnes then used these funds to pay his personal expenses. The indictment further explains that Starnes would provide investors with fabricated account statements showing fake investment returns, and, when an investor asked to withdraw money from these accounts, Starnes would send them funds to continue the scheme by persuading them that he had invested their assets. If convicted, each count carries a maximum of twenty years in prison and up to three years of supervised release. The Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation and the United States Internal Revenue Service investigated the case, which Assistant United States Attorney Carter B. Stewart will prosecute. The public is cautioned that an indictment or criminal complaint is merely a charge, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. # # # For Additional Information Contact: Public Information Officer Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov 414-297-1700 Follow us on Twitter


title: Gloucester County Man Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Filing False Tax Returns

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: CAMDEN, N.J. – A Gloucester County, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 48 months in prison for filing false claims against the IRS, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Christian L. Whittaker, 43, of Williamstown, New Jersey, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Christine P. O’Hearn to one count of an indictment charging him with making false claims against the IRS. Judge O’Hearn imposed the sentence today in Camden federal court. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Whittaker knowingly and willfully prepared, electronically signed, and filed with the IRS false U.S. Individual Income Tax Returns (Forms 1040) for the tax years 2016 to 2019. Whittaker claimed that a business paid him significant wages and incurred substantial losses, when in fact the business was fictitious. Based on the false claims, the IRS paid more than $300,000 in refunds to Whittaker. More than $80,000 was paid by the IRS and garnished to pay debts that Whittaker had previously incurred. In addition to the prison term, Judge O’Hearn sentenced Whittaker to three years of supervised release and ordered restitution of $390,682. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of IRS – Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel A. Friedman and Andrew D’Aversa of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Camden.


title: Project Manager Pleads Guilty to Kickback Scheme to Defraud a U.S. Army Facility

component: Antitrust Division

body_text: A former project manager for a government contractor pleaded guilty today for his role in a conspiracy to inflate project costs by over $200,000 and receive kickbacks related to contracts for commercial flooring services at a U.S. Army facility in Fairbanks, Alaska. Kevin Mahler pleaded guilty to a six-count felony information filed on Jan. 29, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. According to the plea, from March 2016 to March 2021, Mahler conspired to receive kickbacks from Benjamin McCulloch, the owner of a commercial flooring services company, related to construction contracts administered by the U.S. Army at Fort Wainwright. Mahler pleaded guilty to conspiring with McCulloch to inflate the costs of flooring construction subcontracts and receiving half of the proceeds as kickback payments from McCulloch. During the five-year scheme, Mahler received over $100,000 in kickbacks. As a part of his plea, he has agreed to pay restitution. According to the information, Mahler also failed to report his income from the scheme to the IRS, in violation of federal tax laws. McCulloch previously pleaded guilty for his role in the conspiracy. “Taking advantage of U.S. taxpayers by defrauding U.S. Army facilities is a crime and will not be tolerated,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Manish Kumar of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The Justice Department’s Procurement Collusion Strike Force will hold accountable individuals who conspire to illegally profit — through kickbacks or otherwise — at the expense of the public.” “We are very pleased with today's announcement,” said Special Agent in Charge Keith K. Kelly of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division’s Fraud Field Office. “This is a true testament to our continued commitment to work closely and seamlessly with our outstanding fellow law enforcement agencies to help bring those to justice who attempt to defraud the U.S. Government and U.S. Army.” “The FBI and our partners are committed to protecting the integrity of the government’s competitive contracting practices,” said Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office. “This outcome demonstrates that those who engage in fraudulent kickback schemes, harming American taxpayers in the process, will be held accountable for their crimes.” “This plea marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to combat corruption and uphold integrity within government contracting processes,” said Special Agent in Charge Bryan D. Denny of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Western Field Office. “Mahler’s actions, which involved a calculated scheme to defraud the U.S. Army and exploit American taxpayers, were brought to light thanks to the diligent work and collaborative efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies.” “‘Be all you can be’ is a resounding call by the U.S. Army for excellence, dedication and bravery. It is not a call for fraudsters to fill their coffers illegally at the Army’s expense,” said Special Agent in Charge Adam Jobes of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS:CI) Seattle Field Office. “Mahler’s disregard and theft from those who serve our country is being brought to light today, and this guilty plea emphasizes IRS:CI’s commitment to fighting fraud no matter where it is found.” Mahler faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The fine for the anti-kickback conspiracy charge may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime, if either of those amounts is greater than the statutory maximum fine. The Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska, FBI Anchorage Field Office, DCIS’s Western Field Office in Seattle and IRS:CI Seattle Office are investigating the case. Anyone with information in connection with this investigation is urged to contact the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office at 415-934-5300, Antitrust Division’s Citizen Complaint Center at 888-647-3258 or www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.html or the FBI Anchorage Field Office at 907-276-4441. In November 2019, the Justice Department created the Procurement Collusion Strike Force (PCSF), a joint law enforcement effort to combat antitrust crimes and related fraudulent schemes that impact government procurement, grant and program funding at all levels of government – federal, state and local. To learn more about the PCSF, or to report information on market allocation, price fixing, bid rigging and other anticompetitive conduct related to federal government contracts, go to www.justice.gov/procurement-collusion-strike-force .


title: Home Health Company Owner Sentenced for Nearly $2.8M Medicare Fraud

component: Criminal Division

body_text: An Indian national was sentenced today to nine years in prison for orchestrating a nearly $2.8 million health care fraud and wire fraud conspiracy and engaging in money laundering, aggravated identity theft, and witness tampering. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Yogesh K. Pancholi, 43, of Northville, Michigan, owned and operated Shring Home Care Inc. (Shring), a home health company based in Livonia, Michigan. Despite being excluded from billing Medicare, Pancholi purchased Shring using the names, signatures, and personal identifying information of others to conceal his ownership of the company. In a two-month period, Pancholi and his co-conspirators billed and were paid nearly $2.8 million by Medicare for services that were never provided. Pancholi then transferred these funds through bank accounts belonging to shell corporations and eventually into his accounts in India. After being indicted, and on the eve of trial, Pancholi, using a pseudonym, wrote false and malicious emails to various federal government agencies alleging a government witness had committed various crimes and should not be allowed to remain in the United States in an attempt to keep the witness from testifying. In September 2023, a federal jury in the Eastern District of Michigan convicted Pancholi of conspiracy to commit health care and wire fraud, two substantive counts of health care fraud, two counts of money laundering, two counts of aggravated identity theft, and one count of witness tampering. Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea “Shea” Gibson of the FBI Detroit Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Mario Pinto of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) made the announcement. The FBI Detroit Field Office and HHS-OIG investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Shankar Ramamurthy and Andres Almendarez of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case. The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s efforts to combat health care fraud through the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program. Since March 2007, this program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in 27 federal districts, has charged more than 5,400 defendants who collectively have billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $27 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with HHS-OIG, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit .


title: Collins Sex Offender Sentenced to 17 Years for Child Pornography

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Collins, Mo., man who is a registered sex offender was sentenced in federal court today for receiving child pornography on his cell phone. Billy Puckett, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 17 years in federal prison without parole. On June 6, 2023, Puckett was found guilty at trial of one count of receiving child pornography. Puckett, a registered sex offender, has two prior felony convictions for statutory rape and a prior felony conviction for statutory sodomy. A Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper initiated a traffic stop near the intersection of Highway 13 and East 316 Road in Bolivar, Mo., on Aug. 28, 2020. The trooper, who learned that Puckett was a registered sex offender, searched Puckett’s vehicle and found a cell phone plugged into a cigarette lighter. When the phone’s screen activated, the trooper noticed Puckett had Facebook and Snapchat applications on the phone, which were not authorized due to Puckett’s status as a registered sex offender. The trooper seized Puckett’s phone, on which he located multiple images of child pornography, and Puckett was arrested. Investigators conducted a forensic examination of Puckett’s phone and found hundreds of images of child pornography. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Kelleher. It was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Project Safe Childhood 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."


title: Morris County Woman Admits Compensation Fraud

body_text: NEWARK, N.J. – A Morris County, New Jersey, woman employed by the U.S. Postal Service today admitted making false statements in several claim forms seeking disability compensation, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Pamela VanSyckle, 60, of Oak Ridge, New Jersey, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Katharine S. Hayden in Newark federal court to an information charging her with one count of federal employee compensation fraud. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: VanSyckle worked for the U.S. Postal Service as a rural carrier. In September 2020, VanSyckle signed and filed a claim form alleging that she sustained an injury at work. Thereafter, she signed and filed multiple federal claim forms alleging that she had not worked or had outside employment for extended periods of time. Based on the submission of those claims, VanSyckle received $156,872 in disability payments from the federal government. During the time in which she received disability benefits, VanSyckle was in fact working as the owner and operator of a travel agency. While alleging in her claim forms that she was neither self-employed nor involved in any business enterprise, VanSyckle performed a variety of services for the travel agency including sales, marketing, and financial operations. The fraud charge carries a maximum potential sentence of five years in prison and a maximum fine equal to the greatest of $250,000 or twice the gross amount of any pecuniary gain that any persons derived from the offense. Sentencing is scheduled for June 12, 2024. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Matthew Modaferri in Newark; special agents of the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone; and members of the Jefferson Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Paul Castimore, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas S. Kearney of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutions Unit in Newark. vansyckle.information.pdf


title: Fayette Woman Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining Hydrocodone Pills

body_text: Jackson, Miss. – A Fayette woman pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining possession of a controlled substance. According to court documents and facts admitted in open court, Rosie Marie George, 57, used her position as a pharmacy technician at a pharmacy in Jefferson County, Mississippi to fraudulently acquire large numbers of prescription hydrocodone pills from the pharmacy’s inventory. George will be sentenced on April 30, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of four years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Acting Special Agent in Charge Steve Hofer of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement. The case was investigated by the DEA as well as the Mississippi Board of Pharmacy and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham is prosecuting the case.


title: Boxing Gym Owner Sentenced for COVID Fraud Scheme

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Lynnfield man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for fraudulently obtaining multiple Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act loans, including funds from the Payroll Protection Program (PPP), and unemployment benefits to which he was not entitled for his boxing gym. Daniel Olivar, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release with the first six months to be served in home confinement. Olivar was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $50,844. In August 2023, Olivar pleaded guilty to four counts of wire fraud. Olivar was the owner of Sonny’s Boxing and Fitness, Inc., a boxing club and fitness center in in Middleton. Since at least 2019, Olivar engaged in a scheme to defraud and obtain CARES Act business loans, by filing false and fraudulent applications with the United States Small Business administration (SBA). This included an Economic Injury Disaster Loan from the SBA and a PPP loan. In addition, Olivar filed a claim for unemployment benefits with the State of Massachusetts, falsely claiming that he was laid off from Gold’s Gym. As a result, from January 2020 until at least May 2021, Olivar received unemployment benefits. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura J. Kaplan of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case. On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus . Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form .


title: Summer Camp Operator Who Defrauded Over 300 Families Sentenced to Prison

body_text: BOSTON – A Florida man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for stealing tuition and deposits from families who planned to send their children to sports camps in the Boston area in July and August 2019. Mehdi Belhassan, 53, of Tampa, Fla., was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 30 months in prison and two years of supervised release. Belhassan was also ordered to pay restitution of $575,427 and forfeiture of $443,346. In October 2023, Belhassan was convicted of two counts of wire fraud following a six-day jury trial. Beginning in the fall of 2018, Belhassan falsely claimed that he would operate his annual MB Sports Camps at a Boston-area college. Later, Belhassan falsely announced that the camps would occur at a Boston-area university. The City of Boston told Belhassan that he could not have his camp anywhere in Boston because he lacked the appropriate permits; however, Belhassan continued to promote the camp and collect funds. Belhassan also defrauded a financing company to obtain operating funds for his non-existent camp using a fraudulent contract with a college that contained the forged signature of a college administrator. Belhassan used the operating funds for his camp to fly to Las Vegas where he gambled and spent the money on entertainment and hotels. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kriss Basil and Alathea E. Porter of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.


title: Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 121 Months in Prison for Strongarm Extortion Scheme

body_text: TRENTON, N.J. – A Brooklyn man was sentenced today to 121 months in prison for conspiring with others in a week-long strongarm extortion scheme in 2019, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced. Francis A. Garzon, 35, of Brooklyn, New York, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp to one count of conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act extortion and one count of attempt to commit Hobbs Act extortion. U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi sentenced Garzon today in Trenton federal court. Garzon’s codefendant, Endrit Kllogjeri, was found guilty following a jury trial in June 2023 and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 21, 2024. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: From Dec. 1, 2019 through Dec. 9, 2019, Garzon and Kllogjeri conspired and attempted to extort a resident of Monmouth County, New Jersey, and the resident’s son, who resided in Brooklyn, New York. The victim was allegedly threatened with physical harm if the victim did not recover a bag containing property allegedly valued at $100,000 from the victim’s son. Garzon and Kllogjeri further demanded an additional payment of $100,000 as “interest” for the son’s possession of the bag. Garzon admitted that he brandished a revolver at the victim in an effort to intimidate the victim. Over the ensuing week, Garzon and Kllogjeri communicated regularly with the victim’s telephone, continuing to threaten the victim and the victim’s family. Garzon and Kllogjeri were arrested together in a vehicle on Dec. 9, 2019 in Brooklyn. Moments before the arrest, Garzon had attempted to send the victim a text message confirming the victim’s plan to pay the demand. In addition to the prison term, Judge Quraishi sentenced Garzon to three years of supervised release following Garzon’s release from prison. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents with the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. He also thanked the Marlboro Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief Peter Pezzullo; and the New York City Police Department for their assistance. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric A. Boden, Attorney-in-Charge of the Trenton Office, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ian D. Brater of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.


title: Florida man pleads guilty to production of images of child sexual abuse, and traveling to sexually assault a minor

component: USAO - Washington, Western

body_text: Tacoma – A 42-year-old New Port Ritchey, Florida, man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to production of child pornography and interstate travel with intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor, announced U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Samuel Aaron Leonard was arrested July 2, 2020, in Vancouver, Washington, just outside the home of the 14‑year-old girl he had spent months enticing online for sexual abuse. Leonard communicated with the girl on a number of social media platforms and represented to the girl that he was 20 years old. Leonard is scheduled for sentencing by U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle on April 15, 2024. According to records filed in the case, Leonard contacted the girl via a social media platform around April 1, 2020. Over the next few months, Leonard communicated with the girl on various social media sites and sent her a cell phone so that they could communicate by text and telephone. Unbeknownst to the girl, Leonard had installed tracking and surveillance software in the phone so that he could monitor her location and read her texts and emails. Leonard turned the conversations with the girl to a sexual nature and convinced her to send various sexually explicit photos. The girl’s guardians became aware of the communication and contacted police in late June 2020. Law enforcement immediately seized both phones that the teen had been using to communicate and had an undercover officer take over the communication. Analyzing the communications and the cell phone information, the investigation revealed that Leonard had traveled from Florida to the Vancouver area via bus and was within a short bike ride of the girl’s home. When the officer, posing as the girl, revealed that the girl’s guardian had taken the phone Leonard had sent to her, Leonard said he would get her a new one. Police surveilled Leonard as he took a newly purchased phone, hid it in a package, and tossed the package over the fence to the girl’s backyard. Leonard was arrested shortly afterwards. A search of Leonard’s hotel room revealed that he had a number of items used to restrain someone, such as ten sets of flex cuffs and two sets of metal handcuffs, as well as duct tape and electrical tape. He also had various sex toys and lubricants. In the plea agreement Leonard admits that in 2018 he traveled to Oklahoma to sexually assault a 16-year-old. Leonard’s phone contained videos of that sexual assault. Production of child pornography is punishable by a mandatory minimum 15 years in prison and up to 30 years in prison. Interstate travel to engage in sex acts with a minor is punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Under the terms of the plea agreement, both prosecutors and defense will recommend a prison term of 20 years. Prosecutors will argue for a lifetime term of supervised release to follow prison. Judge Settle is not bound by the recommendations and can impose any sentence allowed by law. Leonard will be required to register as a sex offender. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Vancouver Police Department, and Kalama Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kristine Foerster and Sean Waite with assistance from the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.


title: Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for St. Louis Gun Crime

body_text: ST. LOUIS – A registered sex offender caught by St. Louis police with a gun during a domestic dispute was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ronnie L. White Tuesday to 10 years in prison. Mario Long, 53, was arrested at a home in the 4600 block of Louisiana Avenue on Aug. 6, 2020 by St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers. Long’s then-girlfriend had locked him out of the house during a dispute. He then shattered the glass on the home’s front door, assaulted his girlfriend, got a gun from a bedroom and pointed it his girlfriend and her daughter, according to evidence and testimony at Long’s trial in August. The jury found Long guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Long is a convicted felon and is barred from possessing a gun. His prior convictions include unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, assault, child molestation, statutory rape and statutory sodomy. The case was investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Catherine Hoag and John Ware prosecuted the case.