title: Mississippi man sentenced in Minnesota for multiple gun crimes

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

body_text: St. Paul, Minn. – An Indianola man was sentenced today in St. Paul to serve more than a dozen years in prison for the armed robbery of a Backyard Burgers restaurant in Cleveland, Mississippi, and other gun crimes he committed in Minnesota. According to court documents, Ladarius Snipes, 27, previously pled guilty in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota to one count of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of discharging a firearm during a crime of violence pertaining to the armed robbery of the Backyard Burgers restaurant in Cleveland, Mississippi, on August 7, 2021. Snipes further pled guilty to making a false statement during the purchase of a firearm and to possession of a stolen firearm, both arising in the State of Minnesota. Snipes was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Donovan W. Frank to serve a total of 155 months in prison, including 120 months in prison for the robbery of the Backyard Burgers and 35 months for the Minnesota firearms charges, to be served consecutively. Upon release from prison, Snipes will be on supervised release for a period of five years. Following sentencing, Snipes was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals. “This case clearly demonstrates why we endeavor to keep guns out of the hands of violent criminals,” said U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner. “We thank ATF and the Cleveland, Mississippi Police Department for their work on this case and will continue to work alongside our federal, state and local partners to combat violent crime and help keep our communities and citizens safe.” “Sending a repeat offender like this to prison is another example of our commitment to work tirelessly to protect our communities and hold accountable those who threaten our safety,” said ATF New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson. “The sentence imposed today sends a message to the community that individuals who are prohibited from possessing firearms will be held accountable as we work to keep our neighborhoods safe as the top priority for ATF.” The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Cleveland Police Department investigated the case. AUSA Robert Mims assisted in prosecution of the case. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


title: Jacksonville Man Who Led Police On High-Speed Chase Pleads Guilty To Escaping From Federal Custody

component: USAO - Florida, Middle

body_text: Jacksonville, Florida –United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that Michael A. Crider (43, Jacksonville) has pleaded guilty to escape from custody. Crider faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set. According to court documents, in 2018, Crider was adjudicated guilty and sentenced to 80 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. In January 2023, while Crider was completing that prison term, the Bureau of Prisons transferred him into the custody of Bridges Federal Reintegration Centers – Jacksonville, a residential reentry center or halfway house. While in custody there, he was subject to drug testing, and on the evening of April 11, 2023, he was provided a copy of an incident report documenting a recent positive test for cocaine. Later, around midnight, a halfway house staff member noticed that Crider was not in his assigned dormitory. Searching the facility, the staff could not find him. A month later, on May 13, 2023, at approximately 6:00 a.m., in St. Augustine, Florida, a police officer observed a minivan, which Crider was driving, traveling at over 100 mph, running red traffic lights, and weaving in and out of traffic. The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but Crider refused to pull over, and a chase ensued. Crider eventually crashed the minivan and was arrested. At the crash scene, the police officer smelled marijuana coming from the minivan. Crider initially refused to identify himself, but eventually stated that he knew that there was a warrant for his arrest. In the backseat of the minivan, police found a backpack, which contained several documents bearing Crider’s name, a scale, and a dose of Buprenorphine 8mg, a synthetic opioid and Schedule III controlled substance. This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service and the Saint Johns County Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Coolican.


title: Two Women Sentenced for Murder Committed in the Talladega National Forest

component: USAO - Alabama, Northern

body_text: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Two women were sentenced today for crimes committed in the Talladega National Forest, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona and FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton Peeples. U.S. District Court Judge R. David Proctor sentenced Yasmine Marie Hider, 21, of Edmond, Oklahoma, to 35 years in prison and Krystal Diane Pinkins, 37, of Memphis, Tennessee to life in prison. Hider accepted responsibility and pled guilty to murder, kidnapping, and robbery in October 2023. Pursuant to a plea agreement, Hider cooperated in the prosecution and testified against Pinkins at trial. Pinkins was convicted of murder, robbery, and unlawful use of a firearm during a crime of violence in September 2023. “My sincere hope is that these convictions and sentences bring justice to the victims and the victims’ families, reassuring them that these defendants have been held accountable for their actions,” U.S. Attorney Escalona said. “I want to thank our local, state, and federal partners for their tireless efforts in this investigation.” According to court documents, on August 14, 2022, college students from Florida, were driving to Cheaha State Park, in Clay County, Alabama, to hike to the waterfalls. The couple was flagged down by Hider to help “jump start” Pinkins’s car, which was broken down. Hider robbed the young male and female and shot the male as he attempted to defend himself and his girlfriend. Officers found Hider with four gunshot wounds several feet away from where the murder occurred. Pinkins provided the firearm and assisted in the planning of the robbery. She watched from the woods as the robbery and murder took place. Pinkins was found six hours later at a secluded campsite. The FBI and the Forest Service Law Enforcement Investigations - U.S. Department of Agriculture investigated the cases, with assistance from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Alabama State Park Rangers, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, St. Clair Correctional Facility K9 Tracking Team, District Attorney of the 40 th Judicial Circuit of the State of Alabama- Joseph “Joe” D. Ficquette (which includes Clay County), Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Cleburne County Sheriff’s Office, Lineville Police Department, Ashland Police Department, Clay County Rescue Squad, Shinbone Valley Volunteer Fire Department, Tri-County Children’s Advocacy Center, and Jacksonville State University Center for Applied Forensics. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Cross and John B. Felton are prosecuting the case.


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

component: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

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


title: Marksville Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Defrauding Rapides Parish Council on Aging

component: USAO - Louisiana, Western

body_text: ALEXANDRIA, La. – United States Attorney Brandon B. Brown announced that Kayla M. Vead a/k/a Kayla Lachney , 41, of Marksville, Louisiana , has been sentenced by United States District Judge Dee D. Drell to 36 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Lachney pleaded guilty on July 20, 2023, to two counts of wire fraud as a result of embezzlement of funds. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $388,946.82. According to information presented in court, Lachney began work for the Rapides Parish Council on Aging (“RPCOA”) as a bookkeeper on or about July 2018. Part of her duties included processing payroll, using the RPCOA credit card, and forwarding the Executive Director and their accounting firm with its financial records such as bank statements. Lachney had deposit accounts at financial institutions including Simmesport State Bank and Bank of Montgomery. While employed at RPCOA, Lachney caused checks to be issued on its account, purportedly payable to vendors, but she actually forged endorsements and deposited those checks into her personal account. In order to conceal her theft, which occurred while she was obtaining a discharge of debts via Chapter 13 bankruptcy, Lachney concealed and mislabeled her fraudulent checks in RPCOA’s internal accounting ledger. For example, on September 11, 2019, Lachney caused a RPCOA check to be issued on RPCOA's bank account made payable to Kayla Vead in the amount of $4,700. This check was in addition to her regular payroll check and deposited into her personal Bank of Montgomery account on or about September 11, 2019, after which she converted the funds to her own use. In another instance of her embezzlement scheme, on August 3, 2020, Lachney caused a check to be issued on RPCOA’s bank account made payable to Kayla Vead in the amount of $1,800. This check was in addition to her regular payroll check and deposited into her Bank of Montgomery account, after which she converted the funds to her own use. Lachney provided an altered version of this check to RPCOA’s accounting firm, which made it appear as though this check had been issued to D&T Wholesale Office. During her three-year scheme, Lachney wrongfully obtained over $100,000 each year on average and used those funds to establish businesses such as Southern Sass Closet and Kay’s Bridal Boutique. The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Cytheria D. Jernigan. # # #


title: Justice Department Secures Agreement with City of Miami Beach to End Premature Medical Exams of Police Applicants

component: Civil Rights Division

body_text: The Justice Department announced today that it has secured a settlement agreement with the City of Miami Beach, Florida, to resolve its claims that the city violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by asking police applicants to take medical and psychological exams too early in the hiring process. “The ADA bars employers from asking applicants about health or disability until the end of the hiring process,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Our settlement with the City of Miami Beach will ensure that police applicants know that they are being evaluated based on their skills and qualifications, rather than on their disability.” Under the ADA, employers are required to wait until a conditional job offer is made before asking about an applicant's health or disability, including medical and psychological exams. This requirement helps an applicant know if their health or disability led to their offer being revoked, so they may challenge potential disability-based discrimination. The department found that the city did not isolate medical and psychological exams at the end of the hiring process. Instead, it required police applicants to take medical and psychological exams before or at the same time as physical agility tests, and its review of information such as the candidate’s education, past employment, military service, finances, criminal history and social media posts. Under the agreement, the city will ensure that its hiring practices comply with the ADA, including the timing of medical examinations, and will continue to train its employees on this requirement. When requested, the city will provide an applicant whose conditional job offer is revoked with the reason why, including any medical or disability-related reasons. The city will also host a training on the ADA and best practices for background investigations for representatives from Florida’s municipal and county law enforcement agencies. The city fully cooperated with the department’s investigation, including by voluntarily revising its background investigation process to fully align with the ADA. This matter was handled by the Civil Rights Division’s Disability Rights Section. 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 . For more information on the Civil Rights Division, please visit www.justice.gov/crt . Individuals who believe they may have been victims of discrimination may file a complaint at www.civilrights.justice.gov . agreement_between_the_us_and_the_city_of_miami_beach_executed_1_3_2024.pdf


title: Philadelphia Man Sentenced to over 12 Years in Prison for Distributing Methamphetamine on the Choctaw Indian Reservation

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Jackson, Miss. – A Philadelphia man was sentenced to 146 months in prison for possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. According to court documents, Roger Devonta Stokes, 41, distributed more than 5 grams of methamphetamine in the Pearl River Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians in July of 2021. A federal grand jury indicted Stokes in a two-count indictment involving the distribution of methamphetamine on the Choctaw Indian Reservation. On September 7, 2023, Stokes entered a plea of guilty to one of those counts. U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee, Regional Agent in Charge Whitney Woodruff of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerly of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs, and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian K. Burns.


title: Laredo resident admits to impersonating licensed nurse

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: LAREDO– A 35-year-old woman has pleaded guilty to false statements related to health care matters, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Nora Nely Avila admitted that from January 2017 through December 2019, she impersonated a nurse and performed work she was not licensed to do at multiple hospitals and home health companies in the Laredo area. These health care providers hired Avila after she fraudulently presented a nursing license of another individual. The patients and health care providers were part of the federally funded Medicaid and Medicare programs. Avila also obtained employment as nurse trainer in the federally funded Job Corps program and was assigned to train future nurses. In total, Avila received $52,241.66 in compensation for working as a licensed nurse when she was not licensed to do so. U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo accepted the plea and has set sentencing for April 9. At that hearing, Avila faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine. Avila was permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing. FBI, Department of Health and Human Services – Office of the Inspector General (OIG), Department of Labor – OIG, Homeland Security Investigations and the Texas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit conducted the investigation. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Olson is prosecuting the case.


title: Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Illegally Entering U.S. for the Sixth Time

component: USAO - Missouri, Western

body_text: SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Mexican national in Branson, Mo., who has been deported five times pleaded guilty in federal court today to illegally reentering the United States. Oscar Ignacio Lopez-Ortega, 40, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to one count of illegally reentering the United States after having been deported. Branson, Mo., police officers attempted to apprehend Lopez-Ortega at a local hotel on March 1, 2022, but he jumped from a third-story balcony and fled into the woods. Although officers used a police dog to search for him, they were unable to track him. Branson officers apprehended Lopez-Ortega at another local hotel on Nov. 26, 2022. Police officers were dispatched to assist a Missouri Department of Social Services, Children’s Division worker who had contacted Lopez-Ortega’s wife and children at the hotel. When the officer searched their hotel rooms, he found large bags fills with marijuana under one of the beds. Lopez-Ortega was found hiding under another bed and arrested. Lopez-Ortega has been deported five times. Most recently, on May 17, 2021, he was deported from the United States to Mexico at Brownsville, Texas, after serving his prison sentence for illegally reentering the United States after having been deported. Under federal statutes, Lopez-Ortega is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall D. Eggert. It was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Branson, Mo., Police Department.


title: A Look Back at Fentanyl Prosecutions in 2023

component: USAO - California, Eastern

body_text: SACRAMENTO, Calif. — U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Brian M. Clark announce the actions taken in 2023 in the Eastern District of California to confront the continuing crisis caused by fentanyl. In 2023, large amounts of fentanyl were trafficked in or transported across our district. In total, approximately 86 individuals appeared in federal district courts in Sacramento and Fresno charged with fentanyl distribution offenses. Approximately 28 individuals were sentenced for fentanyl trafficking offenses with sentences ranging from two to 17 years in prison. Another approximately 29 pleaded guilty to fentanyl-related charges and now await sentencing, with additional cases still pending. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is approximately 50 times more potent than heroin. Just two milligrams, the equivalent of a few grains of salt, can kill a person. According to the DEA, the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels are largely responsible for the influx of fentanyl into this country. Illicit fentanyl comes in two forms: pills and powder. The cartels are mixing fentanyl powder in with cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine, and hiding fentanyl in fake pills that look similar to prescription medications like oxycodone, Xanax, and Percocet. Seven out of 10 pills tested at DEA laboratories contain a potentially deadly dose of fentanyl. The cartels and their associates often use social media applications and encrypted platforms to sell their poison. To get more facts about fentanyl, visit One Pill Can Kill . “While the work done by our office this year is significant, numbers alone cannot tell the whole story. The sons, daughters, spouses, and friends who have lost their lives due to fentanyl overdoses are not numbers, and the law enforcement officers and agents know firsthand the dangers of fentanyl,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “The DEA, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies work together to disrupt the supply chain and arrest suppliers. These efforts combined with treating addiction, educating the public, and ultimately reducing demand can end this epidemic. I urge the public to be aware of the threats and dangers of fentanyl.” “Fentanyl is the greatest drug threat facing our communities today. It is killing Americans at catastrophic rates and devastating families from coast to coast,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Clark. “The Sinaloa and Jalisco drug cartels are intentionally using synthetic fentanyl, which is cheap, man-made and potent, to increase their profits by driving addiction in the United States. They do not care how many Americans will die, they only care about lining their pockets with the proceeds. Enforcement, treatment, and prevention have never been more important. As DEA continues to pursue and hold accountable every level of the fentanyl supply chain, I encourage you to talk with your family and friends about fentanyl, it could save a life.” Case Summaries On Aug. 28, 2023, Michael Ortega , 22, of Clovis, was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison for selling fentanyl to a person under the age of 21. According to court documents, on July 2, 2020, Ortega sold one and a half counterfeit oxycodone pills that contained fentanyl to a 17-year-old. The fentanyl caused the teen to overdose with serious bodily injury. Fortunately, the teenager survived and has since recovered. This case was the product of an investigation by the DEA, the Fresno Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laurel J. Montoya prosecuted the case. On Oct. 30, 2023, Jose Santana , 46, of Shafter, in Kern County, was sentenced to 17 years and six months in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and heroin. According to court documents, on Nov. 16, 2021, Santana was found in possession of about 2.5 kilograms of fentanyl, 2.5 kilograms of heroin, two firearms, and approximately $5,000 in cash. This case was the product of an investigation by the DEA and the Bakersfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio prosecuted the case. On Aug. 14, 2023, Pedro Duran , 32, was sentenced to 17 years in prison for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. During the investigation, Duran was found in possession of 3 pounds of fentanyl in addition to 33 pounds of methamphetamine, 3 pounds of cocaine, 3 pounds of fentanyl pills, and over 3 pounds of marijuana. Duran’s residence also contained additional amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine, seven firearms, ammunition, and approximately $8,800 in cash. This case was the product of an investigation by the FBI, HSI, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, the Fresno Police Department, the Special Operations Unit of the California Department of Justice, and the California Highway Patrol, the CDCR, and the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Justin J. Gilio and Antonio J. Pataca prosecuted the case. On May 30, 2023, Vincent Jose Vasquez , 30, of Lodi, was sentenced to 12 years and six months in prison for fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking. According to court documents, in May 2021, Vasquez was found in possession of more than 10,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl, more than 900 grams of cocaine, almost 1 pound of methamphetamine, three firearms, and $21,623 in cash. This case was the product of an investigation by the DEA with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, the California Highway Patrol, the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department, and the Lodi Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney David W. Spencer prosecuted the case. On June 27, 2023, Nathaniel Opondo Hubbert , 42, of Grass Valley, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for fentanyl and methamphetamine distribution offenses. According to court documents, on June 24, 2020, Hubbert was found to be in possession of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin. Hubbert was connected to at least one overdose of a victim who had to be given medical treatment after using drugs purchased from Hubbert. This case was the product of an investigation by the DEA with assistance from the Lincoln Police Department, the Placer County District Attorney’s Office, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, and the Roseville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella prosecuted the case. On Aug. 29, 2023, Julius Rucks , 42, of Oroville, was sentenced to 12 years and nine months in prison for distribution of fentanyl. According to court documents, in 2018 and 2019, Rucks sold over 1,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl to a confidential source and undercover agent. On July 23, 2019, Rucks was found in possession of a large electric pill press, pill dies for stamping the pharmaceutical markings onto the fake pills, large amounts of powdered fentanyl, pill binder and other pill manufacturing materials, and three handguns with loaded magazines. This case was the product of an investigation by the DEA with assistance from the Calaveras Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cameron L. Desmond and David W. Spencer prosecuted the case.


title: New Rochelle Man Pleads Guilty To Bronx Shooting

component: USAO - New York, Southern

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that TYRIEK SKYFIELD pled guilty today to one count of illegally possessing ammunition after a felony conviction. The charge of conviction arises from SKYFIELD’s firing two shots at an individual (“Victim-1”), one of which hit Victim-1, on a residential street in the Bronx on July 22, 2023. SKYFIELD pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 7, 2024. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “On a summer night in the Bronx last July, Tyriek Skyfield fired two shots from a handgun at an individual from close range. One shot struck the victim in the foot, injuring him. Today’s plea underscores an important priority of my Office: We will not tolerate gun violence in the Southern District of New York.” According to court filings and statements made in court proceedings: On or about July 22, 2023, at approximately 9:56 p.m., TYRIEK SKYFIELD fired two shots with a handgun at Victim-1 near the intersection of Needham Avenue and East 223rd Street in the Bronx, New York. Surveillance video from a building overlooking the scene showed SKYFIELD brandishing a firearm at Victim-1 seconds before shooting at him. Surveillance video then captured SKYFIELD fleeing down Needham Avenue and onto East 222nd Street. During a canvass of the scene of the shooting on the following day, officers from the New York City Police Department recovered a 9mm Luger shell casing from one of the gunshots in the yard of a residential building near the shooting. SKYFIELD was not permitted to possess ammunition because of prior felony convictions. * * * TYRIEK SKYFIELD, 31, of New Rochelle, New York, pled guilty to one count of possession of ammunition after a felony conviction, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. The statutory maximum penalty is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York State Police and the Special Agents and Task Force Officers of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, and he thanked the New York City Police Department for its assistance. This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Z. Margulies and Joseph H. Rosenberg are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Woman Sentenced for Trafficking Methamphetamine Through Nebraska

component: USAO - Nebraska

body_text: Acting United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that Daisy Flores, 22, of Fresno, California was sentenced on January 3, 2024, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. United States District Court Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Flores to 121 months imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After her release from prison, Flores will begin a 3-year term of supervised release. On February 6, 2022, an Otoe County sheriff’s deputy pulled over a Ford Expedition near the Nebraska-Iowa border for a traffic violation. The Expedition was driven by Flores’s mother, Teresa Martinez, and Flores was the passenger. A search of the vehicle uncovered approximately eight pounds of methamphetamine and approximately four pounds of marijuana. Crime laboratory testing of the methamphetamine confirmed purity of approximately 89 percent. Martinez was sentenced in November to 87 months imprisonment. This case was investigated by the Otoe County Sherriff’s Department and Homeland Security Investigations. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office assisted with testing of the methamphetamine.


title: Hartford Man Admits Trafficking Fentanyl and Cocaine

component: USAO - Connecticut

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that LUIS IVAN DIAZ, 25, of Hartford, pleaded guilty yesterday in Hartford federal court before to a narcotics distribution offense. According to court documents and statements made in court, the Connecticut State Police obtained an arrest warrant for Diaz after his DNA was found on a gun that was thrown from a vehicle during a State Police pursuit on March 8, 2022. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Hartford Task Force had also identified Diaz as a fentanyl trafficker. Diaz was located and arrested on November 3, 2022. At the time of his arrest, Diaz possessed approximately 35 grams of fentanyl, 23 grams of cocaine, and five grams of crack cocaine. Diaz pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill on March 15 in Bridgeport. Diaz has been detained since his arrest. The DEA’s Hartford Task Force includes personnel from the DEA Hartford Resident Office, the Connecticut State Police, and the Bristol, Hartford, East Hartford, Enfield, Manchester, New Britain, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, and Windsor Locks Police Departments. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis and Kenneth L. Gresham.


title: Hartford Felon Who Possessed Loaded Gun While on Federal Supervised Release Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison

body_text: Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that GABRIEL HORACE WILLIAMS-BEY, 35, of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala in Hartford to 48 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for illegally possessing a handgun, and for violating the conditions of his supervised release from a prior federal conviction. According to court documents and statements made in court, Williams-Bey’s criminal history includes a state firearms conviction, multiple state narcotics convictions, and a federal narcotics conviction for which he was sentenced, in June 2016, to eight years of imprisonment and four years of supervised release. He was released from federal prison in August 2021. On June 30, 2022, Hartford Police attempted to stop William-Bey’s vehicle. Williams-Bey fled at a high rate speed, was eventually caught by police, and then attempted to flee again on foot. After Williams-Bey was apprehended, a search of his vehicle revealed a loaded semi-automatic handgun. It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce. Williams-Bey has been detained in federal custody since July 12, 2022. On October 5, 2023, he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. Judge Nagala sentenced Williams-Bey to 37 months of imprisonment for the firearm offense, and a consecutive 11 months of imprisonment for violating the conditions of his supervised release. This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Hartford Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kenneth L. Gresham and Jocelyn Courtney Kaoutzanis through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.


title: Mexican Citizen Extradited to United States on Narcotics Conspiracy Charges

component: USAO - New Jersey

body_text: NEWARK, NJ. – A citizen of Mexico who was extradited to the United States on narcotics trafficking charges had her initial appearance in New Jersey federal court, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today. Norma Flores-Fernandez, aka “Norma Camarillo,” 55, is charged by indictment with one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin. Flores-Fernandez was arrested in Mexico at the request of the United States on Sept. 24, 2023, and extradited to the United States. She had her initial appearance on Jan. 2, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor in Newark federal court, pleaded not guilty, and was detained. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Flores-Fernandez was part of a Guadalajara, Mexico-based drug trafficking organization that distributed narcotics, including cocaine and heroin, throughout the United States from March 2018 through December 2019. Flores-Fernandez coordinated the distribution of approximately 15 kilograms of cocaine in Chicago and approximately 5.6 kilograms of heroin in New Jersey, both of which were seized by law enforcement. Four of Flores-Fernandez’s conspirators – Oscar Alberto Flores-Fernandez, 53, Dario Camarillo, 60, Laura Vanessa Diosa-Giraldo, 30, and Emilio Gutierrez-Martinez, aka “Jose Silvetre-Soto,” 39 – previously pleaded guilty to narcotics offenses. Oscar Alberto Flores-Fernandez, who is also a Mexican citizen, was previously extradited to the United States from Peru. The charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to distribute heroin each carry a statutory maximum sentence of life in prison and a statutory maximum fine of $10 million. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents and task force officers of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz in Newark and Special Agent in Charge Sheila G. Lyons in Chicago, Illinois; and special agents of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Lafonda Sutton-Burke in Chicago, with the investigation leading to the charges. He also thanked the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in Lima, Peru; U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in Guadalajara, Mexico; and Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago; DEA - Los Angeles; and the U.S. Marshals Service; for their assistance in the investigation. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance in securing the arrest of Flores-Fernandez and her extradition to the United States. U.S. Attorney Sellinger thanked officials in Mexico for their assistance in the investigation. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF . The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys George M. Barchini of the OCDETF Unit and Mark J. Pesce of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark. The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. floresfernandez.indictment.pdf


title: Four Gang Members Charged With Multiple Shootings and Armed Carjackings

component: USAO - New York, Eastern

body_text: A superseding indictment was filed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging Amaury Guzmán, Ian Diez, Ruffi Fernández and Jonathan Rodríguez, members of the Trinitarios street gang, with a string of violent crimes including multiple shootings and armed carjackings between November 2022 and February 2023. The defendants were previously arrested and will be arraigned on the superseding indictment at a later date. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James Smith, Assistant Director-in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the charges. “As alleged, the defendants repeatedly and violently terrorized the community with multiple shootings and armed carjackings,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Members of our community should not have to live in fear of gun violence in their homes, on the streets, or in their cars. My Office is dedicated to ensuring the safety of the community and bringing those who shoot and rob community members to justice.” “Taking violent offenders off the street should send a message to Trinitarios members and their associates that violence and senseless murder will not be tolerated” said James Smith, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI New York Field Office. “New Yorkers should have the opportunity to live, work, and play without fear, and we ask the community to join us in our stand against violence. You can make a difference. If you have information about crime in your community, call our tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or submit information online to tips.fbi.gov to help ensure a safe environment in all our neighborhoods,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Smith. The November 19, 2022 Shooting As alleged in the indictment and other court filings, Guzmán, Fernández and others conspired to rob a marijuana dealer in Queens on November 19, 2022. Guzmán approached the victim as he sat inside his parked car with a companion in the passenger seat. Guzmán fired a shot into the victim’s car, wounding the passenger in the neck. The passenger survived but underwent extensive surgery to remove the bullet from his neck. The November 20, 2022 Murder The following day, on November 20, 2022, shortly after midnight, Guzmán and others stole a white Mercedes Benz sedan from the driveway of a residence in Carteret, New Jersey and drove it to Queens. Later that evening using the stolen Mercedes, Guzmán and Rodríguez approached the driver of a parked BMW sports coupe. Rodriguez approached the driver at gunpoint and fired in his direction as the victim attempted to flee. The victim was shot once in the back, quickly lost control of his car and then flipped over onto a sidewalk. The victim was shot once in the back and died from the gunshot wound moments later. The November 22, 2022 Armed Carjacking Two days later, on November 22, 2022, Guzmán, Rodríguez and others once again used the stolen Mercedes to approach a victim who had recently parked his BMW X5 on a residential block in Queens. The crew attacked the victim at gunpoint and stole the keys to his BMW X5. They then fled in the stolen Mercedes and in the victim’s BMW X5 only to crash into each other minutes later. Rodríguez was arrested near the scene of the collision, but Guzmán managed to escape. A 9mm ghost gun was recovered from the wrecked Mercedes which, based on ballistic analysis, was the same gun used in the fatal and non-fatal shootings days earlier based on ballistic analysis. The December 12, 2022 Shooting Several weeks later, on December 12, 2022, Guzmán, Fernández and Diez approached the driver of a Range Rover in Queens intending to carjack him. Diez menaced the driver with a hard object. As the victim attempted to flee, Fernández fired a gun towards the Range Rover causing a bullet to lodge in the center console of the victim’s car. The February 1, 2023 Armed Carjacking On February 1, 2023, Guzmán and others attacked a victim at gunpoint on a residential block in Queens and struck him in the head with their guns while stealing the keys to his Ford Mustang. They fled in the victim’s Mustang and in a stolen Dodge Charger that they used to carry out the carjacking. Lacerations to the victim’s head required hospitalization. If convicted, Guzmán and Rodriguez are facing up to a life sentence, Fernandez is facing up to 20 years, and Diez is facing up to 15 years. The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Andy Palacio and Gabriel Park are in charge of the prosecution with assistance from Paralegal Specialists Stephanie Heyward and Theodore Rader. The Defendants : AMAURY GUZMÁN Age: 24 Brooklyn, NY IAN DIEZ (also known as “Gallina”) Age: 19 Brooklyn, NY RUFFI FERNÁNDEZ (also known as “Mojatoto”) Age: 26 Staten Island, NY JONATHAN RODRÍGUEZ Age: 22 Queens, NY E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-107 (MKB)


title: Virginia Man Indicted for Sexual Exploitation of Ten-Year-Old Girl

component: USAO - West Virginia, Northern

body_text: MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – A Manassas, Virginia man was indicted today for engaging in sexual activity with a ten-year-old girl he met on social media. According to court documents, Daniel Eliazar Ramos Rosa, 23, exchanged over 1,000 messages, photos, and videos with the victim via Snapchat, pressuring her for photos and sexual favors. Rosa then traveled to the victim’s Harpers Ferry home, climbed into her bedroom window, and engaged in sexual activity with her. Rosa filmed himself having sex with the girl before fleeing after her father entered the room, leaving behind shoes, clothing, and sex toys. “This case is a grim reminder of how sexual predators utilize social media to gain access to children,” said United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld. “I applaud the work of the FBI, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, and the federal prosecutors in my office for bringing Mr. Rosa to justice.” Rosa is charged with coercion and enticement of a minor for sex, travel with intent to engage in sex with a minor, and production of child pornography. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberley D. Crockett is prosecuting this case. The FBI and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department investigated. An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.


title: Two California Men Sentenced For Insider Trading Using Information Stolen From Lumentum

body_text: Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that SRINIVASA KAKKERA and ABBAS SAEEDI were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gregory H. Woods to 18 months and five months, respectively, for their participation in a scheme to commit insider trading based on material, non-public information (“MNPI”) that a third co-defendant, Amit Bhardwaj, misappropriated from Bhardwaj’s employer, Lumentum Holdings Inc. (“Lumentum”). Judge Woods previously sentenced Bhardwaj to 24 months in prison and a fine of $975,000. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Srinivasa Kakkera and Abbas Saeedi traded on valuable material, non-public information about Lumentum’s planned acquisitions, knowing that their friend had stolen this information from his employer, Lumentum. Kakkera and Saeedi used their informational advantage to make millions in combined illegal gains in the stock market. But insider trading is not easy money: if you try to illegally profit from material, non-public information, there’s a price to be paid.” According to the allegations in the Indictment and statements made in public court proceedings: In approximately December 2020, Bhardwaj learned that Lumentum was considering acquiring Coherent, Inc (“Coherent”). Based on this information, Bhardwaj himself purchased Coherent stock and call options, and Bhardwaj tipped three associates, including SAEEDI, and these individuals all traded in Coherent securities as a result. In or about October 2021, Bhardwaj learned that Lumentum was engaged in confidential discussions with Neophotonics Corporation (“Neophotonics”) about a potential acquisition. Bhardwaj provided this information to KAKKERA, SAEEDI, and Ramesh Chitor, and these individuals all traded in Neophotonics securities. KAKKERA also caused other friends and family to purchase Neophotonics securities. When Neophotonics’ stock price increased substantially following the announcement of the Lumentum acquisition in November 2021, KAKKERA, SAEEDI, and Chitor closed their positions in Neophotonics securities and made collectively approximately $4.3 million in realized and unrealized profits. In particular, KAKKERA made $2,453,687.99 and SAEEDI made $691,104.73. After they were interviewed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) and served with federal grand jury subpoenas on approximately March 29, 2022, Bhardwaj, KAKEKRA, and SAEEDI took steps to obstruct the federal investigation of their conduct. They met in person on multiple occasions and discussed, among other things, potential false stories that would conceal their insider trading scheme as well as creating false documents to buttress lies regarding payments that were, in reality, related to the insider trading scheme. * * * In addition to the prison sentence, KAKKERA, 48, of Pleasanton, California, was ordered to forfeit $2,453,687.99. SAEEDI, 48, of Fremont, California, was ordered to forfeit $691,104.73. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the FBI. He also acknowledged the assistance of the Securities and Exchange Commission, which separately initiated civil proceedings against KAKKERA and SAEEDI. This case is being handled by the Office’s Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Adam Hobson and Noah Solowiejczyk are in charge of the prosecution.


title: Rhode Island Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Her Role in a Conspiracy to Traffick Drugs to New Hampshire

component: USAO - New Hampshire

body_text: CONCORD – A Rhode Island woman was sentenced today in federal court in Concord for her role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. Maylerin Urena, a/k/a/ Janet, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Steven McAuliffe to 27 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. On May 10, 2023, she pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. “The distribution of large quantities of drugs from northern Massachusetts into New Hampshire is a persistent problem,” said United States Attorney Jane Young. The “Ronnie and Janet” drug organization had been a substantial contributor to this problem for some time, distributing many kilograms of fentanyl and crack into our state. Today’s sentence shows that the people who operate these organizations will receive substantial punishment for their criminal conduct.” “Illegal drug distribution ravages the foundations of our families and communities here in New Hampshire,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Let this sentencing serve as an example to those who distribute poisons like fentanyl and crack cocaine, that DEA will aggressively pursue and hold you accountable. This investigation demonstrates the strength and continued commitment of our local, state and federal law enforcement partners here in New Hampshire and our solid relationship with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.” Urena’s husband, Marbin Cruz-Gonzalez, a/k/a “Ronnie” was the leader of the drug organization. Urena’s primary role was to operate the telephones maintained by the organization as a dispatcher to coordinate the meetings between drug customers and drug runners. The defendant also trained other people to work for the organization as dispatchers. The United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Department of Homeland Security led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the United States Marshal Service; the Nashua Police Department; the Manchester Police Department; the New Hampshire State Police; the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office; the Hudson Police Department; the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office; the Bedford Police Department; the Merrimack Police Department; the Keene Police Department; the Goffstown Police Department; the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Drug Task Force; the Massachusetts State Police; the Essex County Sheriff’s Department (Massachusetts); the Methuen Police Department (Massachusetts); the Haverhill Police Department (Massachusetts); the North Andover Police Department (Massachusetts); the Springfield Police Department (Vermont); the Maine State Police; the New Jersey State Police; the Essex County Sheriff’s Office (New Jersey); the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office (New Jersey); the Edison Police Department (New Jersey); the North Bergen Police Department (New Jersey); the Newark Police Department (New Jersey); the Bloomfield Police Department (New Jersey); the Edgewater Police Department (New Jersey); the Ridgefield Park Police Department (New Jersey); the Teaneck Police Department (New Jersey). Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth Aframe and Jarad Hodes prosecuted the case. ###


title: Florida Man Sentenced To 10 Years For Sale Of Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, And Firearms

body_text: Tampa, Florida – U.S. District Judge Susan Bucklew has sentenced Yvens Philone (36, Sarasota) to 10 years in federal prison for possessing firearms as a convicted felon and possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. Philone had pleaded guilty on October 30, 2023. According to court documents, between May 5 and 20, 2022, Philone sold 6 firearms, including one that Philone had described as a “Mac-10 machine gun,” to a confidential informant working with ATF and the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office. Philone also sold the confidential informant nearly 60 grams of methamphetamine and 11 grams of fentanyl. Before possessing the firearms that he sold, Philone had previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses, including robbery, burglary, and grand theft of a motor vehicle. As a previously convicted felon, Philone is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. This case was investigated by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David P. Sullivan. 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: Two-time bank fraudster sentenced to four years in prison

component: USAO - Georgia, Northern

body_text: ATLANTA - Michael Adeola Akhiero has been sentenced for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft concerning his use of victims’ personal and bank account information to create and deposit counterfeit checks totaling more than $250,000. Akhiero committed the offenses after having previously been convicted of bank fraud and while serving a term of supervised release. “Akhiero chose to reoffend rather than rehabilitate,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “His actions caused substantial financial losses to numerous victims and banks. His fraud and greed has resulted in the loss of his freedom and hopefully sends a powerful message of deterrence to others.” “Clearly, Akhiero has not learned the lesson, that crime doesn’t pay, so he will continue to face justice for his repeated fraudulent actions,” said Acting Special Agent in charge Travis Pickard who oversees Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) operations in Georgia and Alabama. “HSI will continue to aggressively investigate those criminals who attempt to defraud our nation’s financial infrastructure.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges, and other information presented in court: Shortly after Akhiero’s release from federal prison for a prior bank fraud conviction, he engaged in a fraudulent check scheme and deposited numerous counterfeit checks purportedly issued from corporate and individual victims’ bank accounts. Between October 2019 and May 2022, Akhiero used stolen identity and bank account information to create these counterfeit checks. He then deposited the fake checks into his personal and business bank accounts resulting in the withdrawal of over $250,000 from multiple victims’ accounts. Michael Adeola Akhiero, 30, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to four years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $77,200. Akhiero was convicted on these charges on August 1, 2023, after he pleaded guilty. The Court also found that Akhiero violated the terms of his supervised release from his prior bank fraud case when he committed new criminal conduct, in addition to other violations. The Court revoked his supervised release term and sentenced him to one year in prison, to run concurrently with his four-year prison term for bank fraud and identity theft. This case is being investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly K. Connors prosecuted the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: District Man Found Guilty of Assault and Other Firearms Related Charges for Threatening Several People Inside a Wawa in Northwest

component: USAO - District of Columbia

body_text: WASHINGTON – Charles Edwards, 48, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty on Jan. 2, 2024, after a trial by a Superior Court jury of two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and other firearm-related charges arising from threatening another man and a cashier with a loaded gun inside the Wawa at Thomas Circle NW in the early morning hours of January 22, 2022, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The Honorable Errol Arthur scheduled sentencing for February 23, 2024. According to the trial evidence, Edwards got into an argument with another man near the Wawa. That man ran into the store to escape Edwards, but Edwards followed him and again confronted him. A Special Police Officer (SPO) working at Wawa escorted Edwards out of the store. Minutes later, Edwards went back to the store and again chased the man around the store, and then pulled out a loaded handgun and pointed it at both that man and the Wawa’s cashier who was standing in front of him. Edwards eventually left the store, and threatened the SPO, who was on the phone with 911. Police arrived within minutes, and subsequently apprehended Edwards nearby, and recovered the loaded weapon in his tent. Edwards was later arrested on August 17, 2022. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.


title: Former Airline Pilot Accused of Threatening to Shoot Delta Captain During Flight is Scheduled to Appear in Federal Court

component: USAO - Utah

body_text: UPDATE Upon motion of the United States, the indictment described in the press release below against Jonathan J. Dunn in this case was dismissed on August 16, 2024. SALT LAKE CITY – A former pilot accused of threatening to shoot his co-pilot is scheduled to appear at a Salt Lake City Federal District Court Thursday. The pilot was serving on active duty with the U.S. military overseas at the time he was indicted in October 2023. According to court documents, Jonathan J. Dunn, 42, of Rapid City, North Dakota, and a former Delta Airlines First Officer, threatened to shoot the flight’s captain during a flight from Atlanta to Salt Lake City on Aug. 22, 2022. Dunn, a former Federal Flight Deck Officer, was a pilot authorized by TSA to carry a firearm on the flight deck for security. During the flight, a passenger had a medical issue and the flight’s captain advised Dunn the flight could be diverted to Grand Junction, Colorado, if the passenger’s condition worsened. Dunn objected to the contingency plan and described in substantial detail how he would shoot the captain multiple times for “going crazy” and he would later explain he had to shoot all the rounds he possessed because the captain was “still twitching.” Dunn is charged with interference with a flight crew. His initial court appearance on the indictment is scheduled for Jan. 4, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. U.S. Attorney, Trina A. Higgins, of the District of Utah made the announcement. The U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG) is investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Kennedy of the District of Utah is prosecuting the case. An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. jonathan_dunn._dismissal_of_felony_indictment_without_prejudice.pdf jonathan_dunn.motion_for_leave_to_dismiss_indictment.pdf jonathandunn_detentionmemo.pdf


title: Spokane Drug Trafficker sentenced to 14 Years in Prison

component: USAO - Washington, Eastern

body_text: Spokane, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that James P. LeBlanc, age 45, of Spokane, Washington was sentenced after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams of Actual (Pure) Methamphetamine. United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke imposed a sentence of 168 months imprisonment to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. According to court documents and information disclosed at sentencing, in March of 2022, LeBlanc was involved in a car accident in Spokane. When the other driver attempted to exchange insurance information with LeBlanc, he took off running. Officers with the Spokane Police Department (SPD) attempted to locate LeBlanc but were unsuccessful. Officers then obtained a search warrant for Leblanc’s GMC Yukon and found two bags of cocaine, an amount of methamphetamine about the size of a softball, blue pills, two digital scales, ammunition, marijuana, extended magazines, a flash bang, and a Glock .40 caliber pistol that had been reported stolen out of Montana. In August, following up on an anonymous tip to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), detectives found an additional $4,401 dollars located in a hidden compartment in the dashboard of the Yukon. In September of 2022, SPD officers assigned to the Violent Crimes Task Force attempted to take LeBlanc into custody at a house in northeast Spokane, but LeBlanc ran off and again was able to avoid arrest. SPD executed a search warrant on a Lincoln MKX LeBlanc was driving and seized a Glock 9mm pistol, digital scales, drug paraphernalia, and plastic baggies used in drug distribution. A DEA agent collected 169 grams of methamphetamine, 38 grams of cocaine, and approximately 1,500 fentanyl pills. In October of 2022, SPD officers responded to a domestic violence call involving LeBlanc. When officers arrived, LeBlanc tried running, but was arrested in the backyard of a home nearby. SPD again executed a search warrant on LeBlanc’s vehicle, a Pontiac G6. Offices secured two pistols, which had been reported stolen. Officers also located a large sum of cash, a substantial amount of drugs and a shotgun with a pistol grip. “Mr. Leblanc was involved in three separate instances where he was armed and in possession of a significant amount of deadly narcotics he planned to distribute on our streets. His actions contributed to the growing epidemic of drug use in our communities,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “Mr. Leblanc attempted to run from the law, but our dedicated law enforcement team put an end to Mr. Leblanc’s spree of criminal activity.” “This is another example of the success we can achieve through our cooperative approach in Eastern Washington,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division. “We are all stronger together and this sentence highlights how effective we can be as a team.” “The arrest and subsequent sentencing of James LeBlanc highlights the incredible work the officers of the Spokane Police Department undertake every day,” stated Lt. Rob Booth, SPD Tactical Operations Commander. “This arrest is another example of the interagency cooperation that exist between the Spokane Police Department and our federal partners. The dedication and tireless efforts of the Violent Crimes Task Force have taken a significant threat off the streets and made Spokane safer.” This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Spokane Police Department. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Patrick Cashman. This case was 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.


title: Former Georgia Bankers Association accountant sentenced to two years in prison

body_text: ATLANTA - Gino Lassiter has been sentenced to prison for embezzling approximately $700,000 from the Georgia Bankers Association (“GBA”) and Georgia Bankers Association Trust (“GBA Trust”) between 2014 and 2021. “Professionals, like Lassiter, who exploit their positions of trust to steal from their employers cause financial harm as well as institutional damage to the organizations they commit to serve,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “It is regrettable that Lassiter’s previous conviction for fraud did not deter him from engaging in further criminal conduct. But thanks to an investigation by the Department of Labor he has been held accountable and will return to prison.” “The extent of this fraudulent scheme represents the lengths to which these individuals went to harm hard-working employees who depend on benefits they have rightfully earned,” explained Employee Benefits Security Administration Acting Regional Director Crystal Coleman in Atlanta. “This type of fraud creates great public mistrust, hurts participants who depend on their essential benefits and the employers who provide their coverage, and increases healthcare costs for all of us.” According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: The GBA is a trade and professional organization headquartered in Atlanta that represents the interests of banks and thrift organizations in Georgia. The GBA’s membership includes virtually every FDIC-insured institution doing business in the state. The GBA Trust is an ERISA-covered multiple employer welfare arrangement (or “MEWA”). As a MEWA, the GBA Trust offered a variety of insurance plans for the employees of the GBA’s members. Lassiter, who had been previously convicted for federal bank fraud in the mid-1990s, served as the GBA’s accountant from May 1998 to March 2021. For approximately seven years, Lassiter embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from the GBA and GBA Trust by using a GBA-issued credit card to make improper and unauthorized purchases. As the GBA’s accountant, Lassiter was able to conceal his embezzlement in a variety of ways, including by making fictious entries, misrepresenting the nature of payments, and overstating the number of payments in the GBA’s general ledger. For example, Lassiter would record in the ledger overinflated payments that supposedly reflected other employees’ legitimate credit card expenditures. In actuality, the amount would be the exact same amount that Lassiter embezzled over a given period. Lassiter was also able to conceal his scheme by overinflating invoices that GBA issued to the GBA Trust. This was possible because the GBA was responsible for paying off the credit card expenses of the GBA Trust’s employees. The GBA Trust would in turn reimburse the GBA for these expenses. Lassiter inflated these invoices by the amount of his fraudulent credit card purchases. Gino Lassiter, 58, of St. Petersburg, Florida, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Eleanor M. Ross to two years in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $450,148.10. On July 12, 2023, Lassiter pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from an employee benefit plan. This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex R. Sistla prosecuted the case. For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga .


title: Butte fentanyl trafficker sentenced to four years in prison

component: USAO - Montana

body_text: MISSOULA — A Butte woman who admitted to trafficking fentanyl pills in the Bozeman area was sentenced today to four years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said. Amber Marie Cody, 40, pleaded guilty in August 2023 to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided. In court documents, the government alleged that in July 2022 in Bozeman, Cody sold 100 fentanyl pills to an individual. A Gallatin County Sheriff’s deputy later stopped a vehicle in which Cody was a passenger for a traffic violation. Cody was arrested on a parole violation and placed in a patrol car, while officers searched her backpack. Officers located a large sum of cash and methamphetamine in the backpack. When the deputy returned to the vehicle, he noticed a bag of pills in the door pocket. Cody denied knowledge of the pills, but a patrol car video showed that Cody slipped one hand out of her handcuffs and removed a large quantity of pills from her bra. Cody then placed the pills in the door pocket and slipped her hand back into the handcuff. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer S. Clark prosecuted the case. The Missouri River Drug Task Force and Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation. XXX


title: Drug trafficking indictment charges 18 defendants with meth and heroin distribution conspiracy

body_text: STATESBORO, GA: Eighteen defendants from the Laurens and Toombs County, Ga., area are in custody awaiting further legal proceedings after their initial court appearances from a 55-count drug trafficking indictment in U.S. District Court. Each of the 18 defendants is charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Methamphetamine and Heroin, with others additionally charged with possession and distribution of drugs and illegal firearms use and possession, along with multiple charges related to the use of cell phones inside and outside Georgia prison facilities to advance the conspiracy, said Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “This case once again demonstrates that small communities are not immune from the disastrous consequences of drug trafficking,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “The continued vigilance of our law enforcement partners helps ensure illegal drug distribution operations are identified and disrupted.” The case, investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces, began in response to significant drug trafficking activity in Toombs and Laurens counties. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation, along with local law enforcement agencies, coordinated with the Drug Enforcement Administration to infiltrate the network and obtain evidence to prosecute the defendants named in the indictment. Those named in the indictment include: Brett Youmans , 45, of Dublin, Ga. Youmans currently is an inmate at the Coffee County Correctional Facility serving the remainder of a state sentence for illegal gun possession. Woodrow Scott , 52, an inmate at Macon State Prison where he is serving a life sentence for murder. Constance Marie Scott , 51, of Brookhaven, Ga., sister of Woodrow Scott. Patrick Portwood , 42, of Dublin, Ga. Portwood currently is an inmate at the Burress Correctional Training Center serving the remainder of a state sentence for methamphetamine distribution. Jermaine Maurice Brown , 46, of Vidalia, Ga. John Taylor Jackson , 35, of Vidalia, Ga. Brittany Nicole Cook , 33, of Lyons, Ga. Joshua Brown , 22, of Vidalia, Ga. Stacy NeeSmith , 40, Dublin, Ga. Cordell Stallings ,55, of Lyons, Ga. Joshua James Carlo , 47, of Uvalda, Ga. Willie Brown , 52, of Vidalia, Ga. Jody Ivey , 42, of Ivey, Ga. Antone Victoria , 43, of Vidalia, Ga. Tiffany Marie Turbyfill , 33, of Twin City, Ga. Laquanta King , 35, of Atlanta. Wesley McRae , 40, of Hawkinsville, Ga. Jaquan Collier , 24, of Vidalia, Ga. Prior to his arrest, Collier worked as a jailer at Toombs County Detention Center. In addition to drug charges, several of the defendants are charged with illegal gun possession. The indictment includes notice of forfeiture of 16 firearms seized during the investigation. Indictments contain only charges. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case was investigated under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, the Toombs County Sheriff’s Office, and the Vidalia Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. Harper III.


title: Former EKU Professor Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Produce Child Pornography

component: USAO - Kentucky, Eastern

body_text: FRANKFORT, Ky. — A Richmond, Ky., man, Kyle Knezevich, 36, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, before U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, to attempting to produce child pornography. According to his plea agreement, on September 7, 2023, an Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) student located a hidden camera in a men’s bathroom on campus. An investigation revealed that the camera had been placed in the bathroom by Knezevich, who at the time was a professor at the University. After the discovery, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Knezevich's home and electronic devices. A search of those devices revealed that Knezevich knowingly produced surreptitious recordings of both adult and minor males, from approximately 2009 through 2023. The videos were recorded in bathroom settings, including locker rooms, urinals, and the bathroom of his personal residence. In these videos, minor males can be seen in various states of nudity, including using the restroom, undressing, and showering. As part of his plea, Knezevich admitted that his intent in creating the videos was to capture the minor males engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Michael Stansbury, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office; Phillip J. Burnett, Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police (KSP); and Chief Brandon Collins, EKU Police Department, jointly announced the guilty plea. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, KSP, and EKU Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Roth. Knezevich is scheduled to be sentenced on April 16, 2024. He faces a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov . -END-


title: Stanley County Man Pleads Guilty to Filing Fraudulent Tax Return

component: USAO - North Carolina, Middle

body_text: GREENSBORO – BRANTLEY TODD FORREST, of Stanly County, appeared in federal court today on tax fraud charges, announced Sandra J. Hairston, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina. FORREST pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return, a violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(1), after an investigation revealed that he had withheld information from a tax return preparer regarding income related to his business. According to court-filed documents, FORREST owned and operated a business known as Fence Pro of the Carolinas. The investigation revealed that during the years 2017-2021, FORREST concealed $2,068,864 in gross revenues from the Internal Revenue Service and his tax return preparer. The income that FORREST reported on his returns was so low that he qualified for tax credits designed for low-income, working individuals and COVID relief payments. FORREST’s conduct caused a tax loss of over $500,000. “Federal income tax compliance should be equally shared among all Americans,” said Donald “Trey” Eakins, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Charlotte Field Office. “Conspiring to defraud the government by underreporting taxable income is unlawful. Mr. Forrest’s plea today serves as an important reminder that IRS CI is committed to bringing to justice those who dodge their federal income tax responsibilities.” Sentencing is scheduled to take place on April 30, 2024, at 11:30 a.m. in Greensboro, North Carolina, courtroom number 1, before United States District Court William L. Osteen, Jr. At sentencing, FORREST faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison, a period of supervised release of up to one year, and monetary penalties. Sandra J. Hairston, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina made the announcement after United States District William L. Osteen, Jr. accepted the plea. Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation is investigating the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Waid is prosecuting the case. ###


title: Vermont Man Pleads Guilty to Firearm and Drug Offenses

component: USAO - Massachusetts

body_text: BOSTON – A Vermont man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Springfield in connection with illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Jeffrey Baird, 43, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and one count of possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for April 4, 2024. Baird was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2022. In December 2021, law enforcement stopped Baird’s vehicle travelling north on Route 91 in Northampton. Baird had a fake paper license plate taped to his back window and had been driving without any valid driver’s license. Baird was taken into custody. During a subsequent search of Baird’s vehicle, a revolver and five rounds of ammunition were found along with 207 grams of methamphetamine in a Ziplock bag – which carried a street value of between $6,000 and $10,000. Additionally, three more rounds of ammunition were found on Baird’s person inside his Hell’s Angels vest. Baird is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to prior convictions for firearms offenses. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine provides for a sentence up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and John E. Mawn, Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Deepika Bains Shukla, Chief of the Springfield Branch Office, is prosecuting the case.


title: New Hampshire Man Pleads Guilty to Receiving Child Pornography

component: USAO - New York, Northern

body_text: ALBANY, NEW YORK – Isaiah Lafoe, age 25, of Lancaster, New Hampshire, pled guilty today to receiving child pornography. United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman and Craig L. Tremaroli, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), made the announcement. Lafoe admitted that on September 30, 2020, and between October 5, 2020, and February 15, 2021, he communicated with a 13-year-old child in Troy, New York, and coerced that minor to send him, via social media applications over the internet, images and videos that depicted the child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Lafoe received these images and videos on his phone. Sentencing is scheduled for May 3, 2024, before United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino. Lafoe faces at least 5 years and up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of between 5 years and up to life. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors. Lafoe will also be required to register as a sex offender after his release from prison. This case was investigated by the FBI Child Exploitation Task Force, comprised of FBI Special Agents, and state and local police investigators, including from the New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Wentworth-Ping is prosecuting the case as part of Project Safe Childhood. Launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice, Project Safe Childhood is led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc .


title: Siblings convicted of purchasing 7,000 rounds of ammunition for transport across the border

component: USAO - Texas, Southern

body_text: LAREDO, Texas – Three siblings have admitted to buying, transporting and concealing ammunition intended to be smuggled into Mexico, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. Rolando Herrera, 26, pleaded guilty this morning in addition to another charge of conspiracy to smuggle ammunition with intent to promote a felony. His sisters, Ashley Herrera, 22, and Yamileth Herrera, 21, entered their guilty pleas Dec. 12, 2023. All are U.S. citizens and maintain residences in Laredo and in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Between May 16, 2023, through May 24, 2023, the siblings placed orders at a local sporting goods store for 7,000 rounds of 5.56-millimeter ammunition. Ashley placed the first order of 3,000 rounds which she and Rolando picked up at the store. Ashley later placed a second order in another person’s name for 3,000 rounds who picked up that ammunition and delivered it to the Herreras’ parents’ home. Yamileth later ordered and picked up 1,000 rounds of ammunition. Rolando admitted he intended to smuggle the ammunition to persons in Mexico, provided the funds for all purchases and requested his sisters order the ammunition for him. Ashley transported cartons of 6,000 rounds of ammunition to her parents’ home where she and Yamileth moved them into a bedroom where it remained concealed until Rolando would pick it up to smuggle to Mexico. Law enforcement intercepted Yamileth Herrera who was in possession of 1,000 rounds she had just purchased. Authorities collected a total of 7,000 rounds of ammunition from the Herrera sibling’s smuggling operation. U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo will impose sentencing in April. At that time, they each face up to 10 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Rolando also faces up to 15 years for the additional charge of conspiring to smuggle ammunition out of the United States to promote a felony. All three have been permitted to remain on bond pending sentencing. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Department of Commerce and Bureau of Industry and Security’s Office of Export Enforcement conducted the investigation with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations and the Laredo Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Homero Ramirez is prosecuting the case as part of the joint federal, state and local Project Safe Neighborhoods ( PSN ) Program. In May 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced a new effort to reduce violent crime, including the gun violence that is often at its core. Integral to that effort was the reinvigoration of PSN, a two-decade old, evidence-based and community-oriented program focused on reducing violent crime. The updated PSN approach, outlined in the department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime is guided by four key principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.


title: Laurel Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with  Intent to Distribute over 12 Grams of Methamphetamine

component: USAO - Mississippi, Southern

body_text: Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Laurel man pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute 12.46 grams of a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. According to court records, Danny Ray Cole, 46, was captured on audio and video recordings distributing pills to a buyer. It was determined that the pills contained methamphetamine. Cole will be sentenced on April 16, 2024. He faces up to twenty 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 of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans made the announcement. The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Jones County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen is prosecuting the case.


title: Bay St. Louis Man Pleads Guilty to Possession  with Intent to Distribute over 68 Grams of Methamphetamine

component: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

body_text: Gulfport, MS – A Bay St. Louis man pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute over 68 grams of methamphetamine. According to court documents, On July 13, 2023, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Charles Jamaal Nichols, 37. Nichols led agents on a foot chase and agents observed him throwing things as he ran. Agents recovered large shards of methamphetamine on the trail where Nichols ran. The methamphetamine was scattered throughout the grass, within gutters that were laying behind a business, and along the fence line. Agents were able to recover 68.5 grams of what was sent to the lab and confirmed to be 97% pure methamphetamine. Nichols will be sentenced on April 2, 2024, and faces a maximum of twenty 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 of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case.